Robert Stafford was born about 1876 in Stanton by Dale, Derbyshire.  In 1881 he was living in Stanton by Dale with his grandfather, William Stafford, an agricultural labourer and his wife, Mary.  There is no sign of Robert's parents.  In 1891 Robert was a general servant working at the Seven Oaks Inn in Stanton by Dale.

By 1901 Robert had moved south to Thornbury.  In the census he was described as a 'coachman (not domestic)' and he was boarding with Alfred Williams in the High Street.  On 12th March 1904 Robert married Emma Skuse, the daughter of George Skuse, a labourer.  The marriage record shows Robert's father was Richard Stafford, a carter.  Robert and Emma had at least 4 children: Florence Edith baptised on 31st October 1904, William George born on 4th January 1911 appeared in the Census of 1911 which showed that he was two months old at that time.  The Census shows that Robert and Emma had had two children but that one had died.  We have not yet traced the death of Florence Edith.

Two more children followed Richard Henry born 20th June 1916 and Betty born on 25th January 1919.

The baptism records of the three youngest children show that the family were living in Castle Street and that Robert became a motor driver and then chauffeur as the car became more popular.  The 1905 Rate Book shows that it was number 38 Castle Street in which the Staffords were living.  By 1910 Robert and his family were living at Oriel Cottage 6 Castle Street.  In 1917 Robert applied for exemption from military service.  He was aged 40 at the time and we are not sure if he was successful.  The application shows he had been a chauffeur for 17 years for Dr Lionel Henry Williams of Oriel House, Castle Street.  We understand the doctor may have been the first person in Thornbury to have had a car.

After the War, the family appeared to move about a bit.  William started at the National School in 1915 but left in 1917 to go to the Hackett School.  When Betty was baptised in 1919 the family had moved to Raglan Castle.  In 1920 when Richard and William started at the National School their address was 'Gloucester Road' and William had transferred from St John's School in Clifton.  When Betty started at the the same school in 1922 they were living in St Mary Street.

The electoral registers from 1927 to 1935 show Robert and Emma living in the house which later became number 10 Upper Bath Road.  By 1938 they had moved back to Oriel House, Castle Street with Dr Williams. 

We don't know what happened to Emma.  By 1946, Robert was living on his own in 17 St Mary Street and he was still listed as living there in 1950 and 1954, although in 1954 Clifford J and Eleanor R Smith were also living there.