Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Text this colour are links that disabled for Guests.
Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page.
Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Biography of Elizabeth Lewes

Elizabeth Lewes was born to [her father] Thomas Lewes Vintner of Little St Helens London.

On 23rd February 1680 Thomas Whitley of Peel Hall (age 29) and Elizabeth Lewes were married.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 5th January 1690. Sonday, was not at church; dined at home with Mainwaring, his brother, my brother & Minshall; in the evening my [her husband] sonne (age 39) & his wife came to see us; past 6, I went to Woods; went with him to Nag's Head; there was also Mainwaring & Cooper; we parted before 9; came home.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 6th June 1690. Friday, Bidolph & Mainwaring dined at home; some of the King's officers came to prepare the house, &c. & provision for the King; Golding the cook came to visit us; Bidolph & Bills, &c. went to shoote; Mainwaring went to Chester; severall people came with provisions; the Gentleman Usher & 2 other King's servants with him supt, stayd all night; soe did some of the rest; my [her husband] sonne (age 39), his wife & children came from London & Jack Whitley & his wife; they went with Fowler & his coach to Chester; my sonne wife & children lay at Mr Traverse's; Roger came from London late at night, lay here;.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 17th June 1690. Tuesday, Mainwaring, Bidolph & I went to Chester (soe did my [her husband] sonne (age 39), his wife, &c.) & cosen Whitley; we dined at Angells; visited G.Mainwaring (age 47) & his wife; I went to 4 o'clock prayers; then waited on the Bishop; Dr Fog was there; then went to Jacksons; there was 2 Mainwarings Streete, Taylor (awhile) cosen Booth, Basker[ile) [fo. 119v] June. Farington, my sonne, Parry, Morgan,&c. we parted past 7; Bidolph & Mainwaring went home with me in the coach.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 3rd July 1690. Thursday, I left Ruabon, past 12; called on cosen Powell; did not light; came to Chester about 4; lighted at Angells; there was Doctor, his wife, sister Anne; my [her husband] sonne (age 39) & his wife; Streete came thither to us; he, my sonne & I went to Jacksons; the Governor came to us & Sir William Gleg; then Captaine Bub:, another Gentleman, & Bell; I left them presently, went home with my daughters.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 22nd July 1690. Tuesday, Huson came about 7 from Frodesly; went with Tomkinson to Mold faire about 10; my [her husband] sonne (age 39), his wife, children & Sidney went to Chester & Aston past 10; some men came with poll money from Manley (past 11) payed it to Houseman; about 2, Palin & 3 others brought wood from Bechin, they did eate in the buttry, & retorned about 3: 23. Wednesday, Tomkinson retorned from Mold; in the evening Radley came to see me; stayd ½ houer;,&c. in the morning Coles of Lichfeild called for some things for Bidolph, went away in a short tyme.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 5th November 1690. Wednesday, Mr Taylor & his brother Ball dined with us; went past 3; at the same tyme my [her husband] sonne (age 39), his wife, children & servants: went to Chester; soe towards London.

On 28th April 1696 [her husband] Thomas Whitley of Peel Hall (age 45) died.

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

[her son] Roger Whitley was born to Thomas Whitley of Peel Hall and Elizabeth Lewes.