The alleged mediæval descent of the Wiltshire family of STA

[R C]

From: "The British Gazetteer, Political, Commercial, Ecclesiastical, and
Historical ...", p. 463, col. 1

sub BROUGHTON GIFFORD (Wilts):

“The Hall is the residence of Moses William Staples, Esq., whose family is
of very considerable antiquity, and has been supposed to be of Norman
descent ; but the greater probability is, that it is of British origin, and
derived its designation from a locality in the west of England, where, at
the time of the Doomsday survey, the
Earl of Moreton held a staple, which, in King Edward's time, was taxed for
ten hides of land; there is also the hundred of Staple in Wiltshire,
described in the Exon Doomsday. The name was originally spelt Staple,
Stapul, and Stapelle, and may be traced through many ancient documents in
those countries to a distant period: but it was not until the sixteenth
century that the final letter was added. The Staples very anciently held
offices of trust and importance; as, for instance, Thomas de Staple was
serjeant-at-arms to Edward III., and held a grant of the bailiwick of the
hundred of Rochford, in Essex. He married Margaret, daughter of Robert De la
Ward, by his wife Ida, daughter of Robert Lord Fitzwalter. In 1377, Adam
Staple, who was that year lord mayor of London, was removed from his office
through the influence of the Duke of Lancaster, who had been insulted by the
citizens for having taken part with Wickliffe, and who threatened the Bishop
of London at the
Synod held at St. Paul's, to which Wickliffe had been cited on a charge of
heresy. From him was descended Alexander Staples, Esq. of Yate Court, in the
county of Gloucester, who died in 1590, seized of divers manors and lands in
Wiltshire, at Boreham, Westbury, Westburyleigh, Penleigh, Highwood,
Southwick, Wanborough, Stock, Stockley Calne, Durrington, and Millston. From
William, the brother of that gentleman, was descended Charles Staples, Esq.,
of London, who married Mary, daughter and heiress of Baron Butz, a German
noble, and died in 1779, leaving a son, Moses William of Norwood, and a
banker in London, the father of the present proprietor of Broughton-Gifford,
and by whom, in 1802, he was succeeded in the property.”



I wonder if anyone has any information on the pedigree of this family
anterior to Alexander Staples of Yate Court (d. 1590)?



How was George STAPLES, gent., of Fovant, Wilts., and Hardley, Hants.,
related to the foregoing? George’s son Alexander was born about 1600/1, and
was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1617. In 1625, he married Cicely,
elder daughter of Thomas ERNLE, gent., of Coulston, and Dilton, Wilts.,
and they had issue Alexander and Thomas.



I gather that somehow there is also a connexion with the STAPLES baronets.



Many thanks,



Richard