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: Baker
Around 1680 [his father] Aaron Baker (age 28) and [his mother] Martha Tompson (age 23) were married.
In 1687 George Baker was born to [his father] Aaron Baker (age 35) and [his mother] Martha Tompson (age 30).
On 10th November 1713 George Baker (age 26) and Bridget Harris were married.
On 1st January 1722 [his son] George Baker 1st Baronet was born to George Baker (age 35) and [his future wife] Mary Weston at Modbury, Devon. He married 28th June 1768 Jane Morris and had issue.
In 1725 George Baker (age 38) was appointed Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral which office he held for life.
In 1728 [his father] Aaron Baker (age 76) died.
In or before 1737 [his wife] Bridget Harris died.
On 24th January 1738 George Baker (age 51) and Mary Weston were married at Dawlish, Devon. She the daughter of Bishop Stephen Weston (age 73).
In 1740 George Baker (age 53) was appointed Archdeacon of Totnes which office he held until his death in 1772.
In 1742 [his mother] Martha Tompson (age 85) 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.
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On 28th June 1768 [his son] George Baker 1st Baronet (age 46) and [his daughter-in-law] Jane Morris were married at St James' Church, Piccadilly.
Before 1772 George Baker (age 84) was appointed Vicar of St George's Church, Modbury.
In 1772 George Baker (age 85) died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Unknown Baker
GrandFather: John Baker of Alvington, Devon
Father: Aaron Baker
GrandFather: Reverend Joseph Tompson of Exminster, Devon
Mother: Martha Tompson