1st Earl of Stafford.∼Eldest son of Sir William Howard, K.B. (who was created Baron of Stafford 12 Sept. and Viscount of Stafford 11 Nov. 1640, but beheaded 29 Dec. 1680, when the honours were forfeited), by Mary, dau. of Edward Stafford (see her burial Jan. 1693-4). The attainder having been reversed, 3 June 1685, he succeeded to his father's titles, and was created Earl of Stafford 5 Oct. 1688. He followed K. James II. into France in the same year, and there married, at St. Germain- en-Laye, 3 Apl. 1694, Claude-Charlotta, eldest dau. of Philibert, Count de Grammont. The marriage does not seem to have proved a happy one, as in his will, dated 2 Feb. 1699-1700, occurs the following extraordinary passage : — " I give to the worst of women, except being a . . . ., who is guilty of all Ills, the daughter of Mr Grammont, a Frenchman, who I have unfortunately married, five and forty brass half-pence, which will by her a pullett to her supper, a greater sume than her father can often make her, for I have known when he had neither money nor credit for such a purchase, being the worst of men, and his wife the worst of women, in all Debaucheries : had I known their character, I had never married their daughter, nor made myselfe unhappy." There were two codicils to this will, dated 3 Sep. 1712 and 22 Mch. 1715-16, but his wife was not again mentioned, and it was proved 2 July 1719, by Hon. Henry-Charles Howard, surviving executor. The Earl died without issue 27 Apl., according to his coffin-plate, in his seventy-second year. Le Neve, in one of his MSS., says that his wife died the same night, at Paris ; but her will, dated in London 13 May 1739, was proved three days later, by Charles, Earl of Arran, to whom she left all her possessions.
Source: The marriage, baptismal, and burial registers of the collegiate church or abbey of St. Peter, Westminster, edited by Joseph Lemuel Chester, London, 1876