Robert de Toni, was born Abt. 1039 in Normandy he died Abt. 1088 Buried: Abbey, Evesham, Worcester, England. He was the son of Roger de Toni. He married Avice de Clare Abt. 1065 in England. She was born about the year 1050 and married Robert at the age of 14 in 1064 when she gave birth to their daughter (Alice) Adeliza de Toeni in St. Saveur, Normandy, France. Her parents were Rohese Giffard and Richard Fitz Gilbert the Earl of Clare, who became the first governor of Tunbridge Castle in Kent, England Avice was a direct descendent of Rollo Rognvaldson or Rollo the Ganger a.k.a. Robert the First Duke of Normandy(the 4th Great-grandfather of William the Conqueror). She was thus a cousin of William the Conqueror, as was her husband, Robert de Stafford. The Clare name was derived from the historic treaty signed in the year 912 at the Castle St Clair- sur -Epte. In which King Charles of France ceded control of the area of France known as Normandy (Land of the Northmen or Norsemen) to Rollo Rognvaldson. Thus the name de Clare in a manner of speaking is a form of social bragging denoting as it does the family's close association with both the founder and the founding of Normandy. In fact three of the early Stafford family spouses*** see note below were relatives of King William the Conqueror. With each passing generation the Stafford family grew in wealth and power. Early on they ran a parallel course to the throne of England… (Cousins)… finally through marriage the Staffords became direct lineal descendants of King William the Conqueror. And thus potential claimants to the throne of England. The Staffords became direct descendents of William the Conqueror through the marriage of Earl Ralph de Stafford (1301-1372) to Margaret d'Audley, thus introducing Norman English royalty into the Stafford family in addition to the Saxon English royalty already possessed by the Staffords.


Avice de Clare born about 1050, a direct lineal descendent of Rollo Rognvaldson


(4th Great- grandfather of King William the Conqueror). Avice was also (through the wife of Rollo, Poppa de Senlis) a direct descendent of Charlemagne, King of France and her ancestry is readily traceable to the Emperors of Rome and numerous royal families throughout Europe.


Notes for Robert de Toni:
Son of Roger de Toni, a prominent Noble of Normandy, was a young standard bearer in the Army of William the Conqueror, In 1066 Duke William of Normandy decided to invade England and claim the Throne of England. William had the support of Pope Alexander II in this endeavor The Pope consecrated a banner (called a Gonfanon specifically for William to use during the invasion. Upon arrival in England with his invasion force, Duke William called a meeting of some of his most trusted knights, among who were his cousins, Ralph de Toeni and Ralph's younger brothers Robert de Toeni and Nigel de Toeni. Duke William offered the honor of carrying his consecrated banner into the battle of Hastings to Ralph de Toeni stating that the honor was Ralph's ancestral right. But Ralph tactfully declined the honor saying that he wanted to carry a sword into battle and fight at the side of Duke William. Duke William approved his request and gave the consecrated banner to Robert de Toeni who was next in line by ancestral right to be Duke William's Standard bearer. Thus Robert de Toeni became the Standard Bearer for William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in the year 1066. [Note: the first phase of the Battle of Hastings is also known as the Battle of Senlac hill.]

The Battle of Hastings was a ferocious battle wherein with young

Robert de Toeni (Stafford) near his side, William had to make use of four horses during the battle because three were killed from under him. After his victory at Hastings in 1066, William had to fight for several years to gain true control over all of England. As he marched through England conquering it territory by territory he established control by building a series of castles along the way: each castle was located approximately a one-day march from the other so that they could mutually support one another. One such castle was Stafford Castle. Each new castle was used to consolidate control over previously conquered territory, and to serve as a base of operations to further advance his army throughout England. He gave these castles to his most trusted and loyal officers. William built a timber and earthen castle upon the same natural hill, used earlier for a fortress built around 910-915 by Ethelfleda, Lady of the Mercians and daughter of King Alfred the Great, when she established the Burh of Staithford, which means a fortified town at the landing place of the water crossing. The name Staithford evolved into Stafford over time. William the Conqueror was a well-organized administrator. He greatly appreciated a sense of order and commanded young Robert de Toeni to change his name to Stafford to denote that he was the governor of the castle (or Castellan of Stafford) William ordered that a castle be built

Thus was born the first Stafford. Robert de Stafford was given a garrison of 60 knights to serve him at the castle. This hastily built crude castle, which served both as a fortress, and a residence was completed in the year 1066. This is suggested this for two reasons. First, it is recorded that Robert de Stafford's son Nicholas de Stafford was born at Stafford, England in the year 1066. And, secondly because just three years later in 1069, the Battle of Stafford was fought wherein Robert de Stafford with the help of King William held off and defeated invading Welshmen who had allied themselves with rebellious Staffordshire residents who were still loyal to their former Anglo Saxon leaders. ["Shire" a legal or political geographic English subdivision like a "County" is pronounced Sheer]

In addition to Stafford Castle, King William the Conqueror was very generous to his loyal cousin Robert de Stafford, the original fief granted to Robert extended into 7 counties, holding 131 manors, and thus 131 Lordships or estates. Located in Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, etc., [Note Ralph de Toeni was also rewarded for his loyal service, though not as generously.
Robert I de Stafford served as the first Sheriff of Staffordshire, his date of death is not known, but it is known that he was still alive in 1086 and counted in the remarkable 1086 Survey of England called the Domesday survey where Robert was listed as a major land holder, his brother Nigel is also shown to be a prominent land owner in Derbyshire.

http://www.barlaston.org.uk/history/index.htm

http://www.thepotteries.org/borough/007_origins.htm

It is reported that Robert I de Stafford was still alive during the reign of King Henry I, which was from the year 1100 to 1135. Robert I de Stafford founded an Augustinian Priory at Stone in Staffordshire, upon the spot where Enysan de Waltone had killed 2 nuns and a priest. Robert was buried at Priory Stone, Staffordshire, England. Usually Robert's age period is shown as (1039-1100+).

He was succeeded by his son, Nicholas.

Child of Robert de Toni:

Nicholas de Stafford , Viscount of Staffordshire.
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