Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Paternal Family Tree: Head of Throope in Wiltshire
On 19th December 1906 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head was born to [his father] Geoffrey Head [aged 34] and [his mother] Ethel Daisy Flower.
On 30th August 1926 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 19] was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars. he later joined the Lifeguards. serving through the Second World War and achieving the rank of brigadier.
On 23rd July 1935 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 28] and Dorothea Louise Ashley-Cooper Viscountess Head [aged 28] were married. She the daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 9th Earl of Shaftesbury [aged 65] and Constance Grosvenor Countess of Shaftesbury [aged 59].
In 1937 [his son] Richard Antony Head 2nd Viscount Head was born to Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 30] and [his wife] Dorothea Louise Ashley-Cooper Viscountess Head [aged 29].
The London Gazette 35020. War Office, 20th December, 1940. The King has been pleased to approve of the undermentioned awards in recognition of gallant conduct in action with the enemy:-
THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.
Lieutenant (Temp. Major) PHILIP HARKER NEWMAN, F.R.C.S., Royal Army Medical Corps.
THE MILITARY CROSS.
Captain (Temp. Major) Antony Henry Head [aged 34], The Life Guards.
In 1945 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 38] was elected MP Carshalton.
From 1951 to 1956 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 44] served as Secretary of State for War from 1951 to 1956 and as Minister of Defence (with a seat in the cabinet) from 1956 to 1957.
On 22nd November 1955 [his father] Geoffrey Head [aged 83] died.
In 1960 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 53] was created 1st Viscount Head of Throope in Wiltshire. [his wife] Dorothea Louise Ashley-Cooper Viscountess Head [aged 52] by marriage Viscountess Head of Throope in Wiltshire.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 29th March 1983 Antony Head 1st Viscount Head [aged 76] died. His son Richard [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Viscount Head of Throope in Wiltshire.
In 1987 [his former wife] Dorothea Louise Ashley-Cooper Viscountess Head [aged 79] died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Jeremiah Head
GrandFather: Henry Head
Father: Geoffrey Head
GrandFather: Arthur Flower
Mother: Ethel Daisy Flower