The Guldeford Baronetcy, of Hempsted Place in the County of Kent, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 4 February 1686 for Robert Guldeford. The title became extinct on his death in circa 1740. The Guldeford (or Guildford) family descended from Sir John Guldeford (d. 1493), Comptroller of the Household

Comptroller of the Household

The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...

 during the reign of King Edward IV

Edward IV of England

Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...

. After supporting the Earl of Richmond

Henry VII of England

Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....

 (later Henry VII), Sir John and his son, Sir Richard Guildford

Richard Guildford

Sir Richard Guildford , KG was an English courtier who held important positions at the court of Henry VII, including the office of Master of the Ordnance.-Life:...

, were attainted by Parliament. However, they were restored to favour after the accession of Henry in 1485. Sir Richard gained prominence under Henry and notably served as Master of the Ordnance. By his first wife Sir Richard was the father of Sir Edward Guildford, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports

Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports

The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is a ceremonial official in the United Kingdom. The post dates from at least the 12th century but may be older. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was originally in charge of the Cinque Ports, a group of five port towns on the southeast coast of England...

 and Master of the Ordnance, whose daughter John Guildford

Jane Dudley, Duchess of Northumberland

Jane Dudley , Duchess of Northumberland was an English noblewoman, the wife of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and mother of Guildford Dudley and Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. Having grown up with her future husband, who was her father's ward, she married at about age 16. They had...

 married John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland

John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland

John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death...

. Sir Richard Guildford's second son by his first wife, George Guildford, of Hempstead Place, Kent

Kent

Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

, was the father of Sir John Guldford, High Sheriff of Kent

High Sheriff of Kent

The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...

 during the reign of Edward VI

Edward VI of England

Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...

. Sir John's son Sir Thomas Guldford entertained Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...

 in 1575. Sir Thomas was the great-great-grandfather of Sir Robert Guldford, 1st Baronet.

Sir Henry Guildford

Henry Guildford

Sir Henry Guildford was an English courtier of the reign of Henry VIII, master of the horse and comptroller of the royal household.-Life:...

, the son of Sir Richard Guildford

Richard Guildford

Sir Richard Guildford , KG was an English courtier who held important positions at the court of Henry VII, including the office of Master of the Ordnance.-Life:...

 by his second wife Joan, served as Comptroller of the Household and Master of the Horse

Master of the Horse

The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...

 under Henry VIII

Henry VIII of England

Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...

.