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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Biography of Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem 1345-1411

Paternal Family Tree: Boteler

In 1345 Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem was born to [her father] William Boteler 3rd Baron Wem and Oversley (age 35) at Wem, Shropshire.

In December 1361 [her grandfather] William Boteler 2nd Baron Wem and Oversley (age 65) died. His son [her father] William (age 51) succeeded 3rd Baron Wem and Oversley.

On 14th August 1369 [her father] William Boteler 3rd Baron Wem and Oversley (age 59) died. Baron Wem and Oversley abeyant between his two daughters [her sister] Alice Boteler (age 29) and Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem (age 24).

Before 1373 Robert Ferrers Baron Wem and Oversley (age 31) and Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem (age 27) were married. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1373 [her son] Robert Ferrers was born to [her husband] Robert Ferrers Baron Wem and Oversley (age 32) and Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem (age 28) at Willisham, Suffolk. He married 1391 Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland, daughter of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster, and had issue.

In 1375 [her sister] Alice Boteler (age 35) died at Wem, Shropshire. Her sister Elizabeth (age 30) abeyance terminated 4th Baroness Wem and Oversley. [her husband] Robert Ferrers Baron Wem and Oversley (age 34) by marriage Baron Wem and Oversley. Some sources suggest her husband was created Baron Ferrers of Wem and Oversley in this own right. Since his son [her son] Robert Ferrers (age 2) didn't succeed to a title when his father died it appears Robert Ferrers was summoned to Parliament in right of his wife ie jure uxoris, rather than being created a Baron in his won right.

In 1380 [her son] John Saye was born to John Saye (age 37) and Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem (age 35).

Around 27th December 1380 [her husband] Robert Ferrers Baron Wem and Oversley (age 39) died.

In 1391 [her son] Robert Ferrers (age 18) and [her daughter-in-law] Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland (age 12) were married at Beaufort en Vallée [Map]. She the illegitmate daughter of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 50) and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster (age 40).

Before 29th November 1393 [her son] Robert Ferrers (age 20) died.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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On 19th June 1411 Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem (age 66) died. Baron Wem and Oversley extinct.

John Saye and Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem were married. They were fifth cousin once removed.

Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Royal Ancestors of Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem

Kings Wessex: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King John of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks

Kings France: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Queen Jane Seymour [1]

George Wharton [1]

Brigadier-General Charles Fitz-Clarence [2]

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [10]

Queen Consort Camilla Shand [14]

Diana Spencer Princess Wales [50]

Catherine Middleton Princess of Wales [1]

Ancestors of Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem

Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice le Boteler

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph III Boteler of Oversley

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Boteler

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Boteler 1st Baron Wem and Oversley

Great x 2 Grandmother: Angharad Mathrafal

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Audley

Great x 3 Grandmother: Emma Audley Princess Powys Fadog

Great x 4 Grandmother: Bertrade Mainwaring

GrandFather: William Boteler 2nd Baron Wem and Oversley

Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Unknown

Father: William Boteler 3rd Baron Wem and Oversley 5 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzalan

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fitzalan 6th Earl of Arundel 4 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel D'Aubigny 3 x Great Grand Daughter of

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Fitzalan 7th Earl of Arundel 5 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald Butler

Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Verdun Countess Arundel

Great x 4 Grandmother: Rohesia Verdun

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 1st or 8th Earl of Arundel 3 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Mortimer

Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandmother: Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw Grand Daughter of

Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabella Mortimer Countess Arundel 2 x Great Grand Daughter of

Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud de Braose

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eva Marshal

GrandMother: Margaret Fitzalan Baroness Wem and Oversley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of

Great x 3 Grandfather: Manfred III Marquess Saluzzo

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas I Marquess Saluzzo 5 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandfather: Amedeo Savoy IV Count Savoy

Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo 4 x Great Grand Daughter of

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Burgundy Countess Savoy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Saluzzo Countess Arundel 6 x Great Grand Daughter of

Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem 6 x Great Grand Daughter of