Just going back over this Halford connection with Margaret Halford.
The use of Stanford is interesting and I believe it originates from the marriage of Zacheus Halford, Gentleman, and Elizabeth Stanford, 12 Nov 1640 Thurnby cum Bushby, Leicestershire. Elizabeth has two possible parentages, either she is the Elizabeth Stanford, bapt 1620 Barkby. Daughter of Thomas Stanford, Esquire, Lord of the Manor of Barkby Thorpe, and Anne Staveley, daughter of Thomas Staveley, Esquire, of West Langton. Lord of the Manor of Langton or a daughter of this Thomas's uncle Henry Stanford who was living in Slawston and died there in 1647. Elizabeth could be a daughter of this Henry (Henry, I believe is a name of her son) but I cant see a baptism for her. Henry is baptising until at least 1615 but I cant see an Elizabeth. The registers are missing a little in Slawston and can only see these for Henry -
Katherine 1604 'Katherine, daughter of Henry Stanford, Gent'.
Henry 1606 'Henry, son of Henry Standforde, Gent'.
George 1609 (Register is missing half the page but likely son of Henry)
Ann 1615 'Ann, daughter of Mr Henry Stanford'.
There is a burial in 1644 Slawston for a 'Robert Stanford, a young man, the son of Mr Henry Stanford'. Baptism I believe is Leicester 1619 'Robert, son of Henry Stanford'.
Elizabeth could possibly have been born in this gap of register 1609-1615. She and Zacheus do have a daughter called Katherine and a son* called Henry. I think these later Halfords descend from this marriage as the use of Stanford is quite telling. Stanford/Sanford Halford, bapt 1697 Slawston, son of Henry Halford and Anne. This is the Henry, I believe to be a son or perhaps even grandson of Zacheus Halford and Elizabeth Stanford. This Henry and Anne also have sons called Andrew and Zacheus.
This Stanford/Stamford/Sanford family is listed in the Heralds visitation of Leicestershire 1619 and also the pedigree is in Nichols Antiquities 'Stanford of Barkby Thorpe' alongside arms and crest. Thomas Stanford, Esquire, of Barkby, son of John Stanford, Gentleman, Recorder of Leicester, of Barkby, who died 1603 by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Bainbridge, Gentleman, of Lockington. John was older brother of Henry Stanford, of Slawston, both sons of John Stanford, Gentleman, of Barkby Thorpe, Mayor of Leicester 1592, died 1602, son of Thomas Stanford, of Leicester, 3rd son of Thomas Stanford (This Thomas is thought to be the Thomas Stanford/Stamford of Rowley. see Stirnet
https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ss4tz/stamford1.php.)
Not sure who Zacheus's parents are but I assume he is of the same family which originates from Clipston, Northamptonshire and broke into three lines (Which all rose to Gentry status) Halford of Wistow, Halford of Welham and Halford of Edith Weston. All descending from the same family as Edward Hawford, Doctor of Divinity, Master of Christ's College, Cambridge who died in 1582. Family name was originally Hawford/Hawlford/Haulford before becoming standardised Halford.
There is a 'Zacheus Halford, of Slawston' who marries Mary Hunt, as her 2nd husband, daughter of Edmond Hunt, Gentleman, of North Luffenham, Rutland. See the pedigree for the Hunt family in the visitation of Rutland 1681-82.
https://archive.org/details/visitationofcoun00burg/page/n47/mode/2up?q=halford.
This marriage is recorded at Pilton, Rutland 'Zacheus Halford, of Slawston, Leicestershire and Mary Law, of North Luffenham, Widow, married 20th day of November, 1671'. Mary was married to Thomas Law/Lawe, who died 1668 North Luffenham.
Did Zacheus marry Mary after Elizabeth's death in 1670 or did Elizabeth and Zacheus have a son called Zacheus, who like Henry, the baptism has been lost?
This Zacheus Halford and Elizabeth Stanford baptise in Slawston, Leicestershire.
They have these children (of what baptism record I can see) -
Mary 1641
Andrew 1644 (I'm now wondering if this is the father of Margaret Halford who marries Thomas Holyland and not the Andrew of the Wistow line? Would make sense her naming a child 'Stanford Holyland' as this Halford family also uses this name Stanford as a first name in later generations)
Francis 1646
*Whilst there is no baptism, I believe a Henry Halford, of Slawston, who is buried 1728, is a son. He has a grandson via a son Henry (No baptism but naming custom fits being a son) called 'Stanford'.*
Ann 1649
Elizabeth 1649
Katherine 1651 - 1668
Margaret 1651
Wife Elizabeth buried 1670 Slawston. 'Mrs Elizabeth, the wife of Mr Zacheus Halford'. As was the case prior to the first half of the 19th century, the title of 'Mr' was only used for people of a certain standing. Mainly Wealthy Yeoman and Gentlemen.
Zacheus is buried 1683 Slawston. 'Zacheus Halford, an aged man'.
The lack of Stanford wills is making it slow to 100% confirm but I think its fairly likely. If anyone can find the will of Thomas of Barkby and Henry of Slawston. I've checked FindMyPast and NA and nothing seems to appear. Thomas I think dies intestate so there is no will for him.
There is another Stanford Halford, Senr (This could either be Senr or Gent) who marries in Liddington, Rutland in 1701, to Elizabeth Ireland, Widow. Most likely descending from the same above mentioned Zacheus and Elizabeth.
