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: Barkham
Before 19th December 1591 [her father] Edward Barkham [aged 21] and [her mother] Jane Crouch [aged 18] were married. Some sources report their marriage as 1593 which is inconsistent with the date of birth of their eldest son [her brother] Edward Barkham 1st Baronet on 19th December 1591.
Around 1593 Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard was born to [her father] Edward Barkham [aged 23] and [her mother] Jane Crouch [aged 20].
On or before 22nd December 1607 Edmund Bell [aged 45] died. He was buried on 22nd December 1607. His heirs sold the manor of South Acre, Norfolk to [her father] Edward Barkham [aged 37].
On 10th January 1608 the Ben Johnson [aged 36] Masque of Beauty was performed at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] to celebrate the completion of its refurburbishment. King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 41] attended.
The performers included:
Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland [aged 33].
Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk [aged 23].
Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford [aged 28].
Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 32].
Susan Vere Countess Montgomery [aged 20].
Lettice Perrot Baroness Chichester [aged 48].
Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham [aged 39].
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor [aged 33].
Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke [aged 17].
Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard [aged 15].
Elizabeth Somerset [aged 18].
Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton [aged 30].
Mary Neville 7th and 5th Baroness Abergavenny 3rd Baroness Despencer [aged 54].
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor.
Arabella Stewart [aged 33].
In or before 1614 John Garrard 1st Baronet [aged 23] and Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard [aged 20] were married.
Around 1614 [her son] John Garrard 2nd Baronet was born to [her husband] John Garrard 1st Baronet [aged 24] and Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard [aged 21].
In 1621 [her father] Edward Barkham [aged 51] was appointed Lord Mayor of London.
In 1622 [her husband] John Garrard 1st Baronet [aged 32] was created 1st Baronet Garrard of Lamer. Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard [aged 29] by marriage Lady Garrard of Lamer.
On 17th April 1632 Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard [aged 39] died.
On 15th January 1634 Edward Barkham [aged 64] died. His eldest son Edward Barkham 1st Baronet [aged 42] inherited all his estates except Waynflete which were inherited by his younger son Robert Barkham [aged 35]. In 1652 Jane Crouch [aged 61] died.
Church of St George, South Acre [Map].
A very rich and stately altar monument, of marble and alabaster, ornamented with several deaths heads, bones, &c. in basso-relievo, on this rests a large black marble slab, supported at each corner by a column of black marble of the Dorick order; on this slab lies a mat or bass of alabaster, curiously carved; and on that lie the statues of Sir Edward Barkham and his lady, on their backs, in their full length and proportions in alabaster, Sir Edward in armour, and (what is somewhat incompatible) with his scarlet gown and golden chain about his neck, as Lord Mayor of London, over his armour; so that the statuary was of the same opinion with the Roman orator, Cedant arma togœ (Let the arms yield to the toga or Let the sword yield to the toga); he has also a book in his right hand, and rests his head on a cushion: his lady is in a dress agreeable to the age she lived in, her hands across, and rests her head on a cushion; at the head and foot of this monument are the effigies of two sons (Edward Barkham 1st Baronet and Robert Barkham) and three daughters (Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard, Margaret Barkham [aged 29] and Jane Barkham [aged 38] Note. one daughter Susan Barkham had predeceased her father) all kneeling on cushions. To this monument is a wall-piece of the same materials, on the summit of which is this shield, argent, three pallets gules over all a chevron or, Barkham; and under it this motto, diligentia, fortunæmater (fortune, prosper through diligence, care, economy); on each side of this, is a figure; that on the right hand representing Victory, with a laurel crown in her right hand, and on the pedestal that supports her, Barkham impaling quarterly 1&4, arg. on a pale sable three crosses pattee, or, in a bordure engrailed of the 2d, Crouch; in the 2&3 arg. on a chevron sable three helmets closed, or, Scot: the figure on the left hand is, a skeleton representing death, and on the pedestal the arms of Crouch and Scott quarterly, and by these figures are two hour-glasses with wings.
In 1637 [her former husband] John Garrard 1st Baronet [aged 47] died. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 2nd Baronet Garrard of Lamer.
[her daughter] Jane Garrard was born to John Garrard 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard. She married before 1653 Justinian Isham 2nd Baronet, son of John Isham 1st Baronet, and had issue.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Edward Barkham 
GrandFather: Edward Barkham
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Berney
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Frances Berney
Father: Edward Barkham
GrandMother: Elizabeth Rolfe
Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard
GrandFather: John Crouch
Mother: Jane Crouch