Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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Paternal Family Tree: Stafford
Maternal Family Tree: Ann Wilford
Around 1620 Mary Stafford Countess Stafford was born to [her father] Edward Stafford [aged 18] and [her mother] Ann Wilford.
Before 6th April 1621 [her father] Edward Stafford [aged 19] and [her mother] Ann Wilford were married.
On 6th April 1621 [her father] Edward Stafford [aged 19] died.
In 1625 [her grandfather] Edward Stafford 4th Baron Stafford [aged 53] died. His grandson [her brother] Henry [aged 3] succeeded 5th Baron Stafford.
On 4th August 1637 [her brother] Henry Stafford 5th Baron Stafford [aged 15] died. His first cousin twice removed Roger [aged 65] succeeded 6th Baron Stafford. His succession was disputed. Roger petitioned Parliament for the title, at the age of sixty-five. A commission was appointed to examine his claim, headed by Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester. Eventually, the claim reached King Charles I who denied it on grounds of Stafford's poverty. The judgment read "that the said Roger Stafford, having no part of the inheritance of the said Lord Stafford, nor any other lands or means whatsoever…should make a resignation of all claims and title to the said Barony of Stafford, for his majesty to dispose of as he should see fit". He surrendered the title by deed on 7 December 1639 for a sum of £800
On 11th October 1637 William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 22] and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 17] were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 14th or 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk [aged 52] and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk [aged 52]. They were half fourth cousin once removed.
In 1640 Roger Stafford 6th Baron Stafford [aged 68] died unmarried. Baron Stafford extinct. The title Baron Stafford was created again in 1640 for the husband of Roger's first-cousin twice-removed Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 20], sister of [her brother] Henry Stafford 5th Baron Stafford.
On 12th September 1640 [her husband] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 25] was created 1st Baron Stafford jointly with his wife Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 20].
In November 1640 [her husband] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 25] was created 1st Viscount Stafford. Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 20] by marriage Viscountess Stafford.
On 4th October 1646 [her father-in-law] Thomas Howard 14th or 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk [aged 61] died. His son [her brother-in-law] Henry [aged 38] succeeded 14th or 22nd Earl Arundel, 5th Earl Surrey, 2nd Earl Norfolk, 12th Baron Maltravers, 12th Baron Arundel, 15th Baron Mowbray, 16th Baron Segrave. Elizabeth Stewart Countess Arundel and Norfolk [aged 36] by marriage Countess Arundel, Countess Norfolk, Countess Norfolk.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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Around 1648 [her son] Henry Stafford-Howard 1st Earl Stafford was born to [her husband] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 33] and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 28]. He married before 1719 Claude Charlotte Gramont.
On 17th April 1652 [her brother-in-law] Henry Howard 15th or 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk [aged 43] died. His son Thomas [aged 25] succeeded 16th or 23rd Earl Arundel, 6th Earl Surrey, 3rd Earl Norfolk, 13th Baron Maltravers, 13th Baron Arundel, 16th Baron Mowbray, 17th Baron Segrave.
In 1660 [her son] John Stafford-Howard was born to [her husband] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 45] and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 40]. He married (1) Mary Southcote and had issue (2) 15th February 1708 Theresa Strickland and had issue.
On 30th April 1669 [her son-in-law] John Paulet 5th Marquess Winchester [aged 71] and Isabella Stafford-Howard Marchioness Winchester were married. She by marriage Marchioness Winchester. She the daughter of William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 54] and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 49]. He the son of William Paulet 4th Marquess Winchester and Lucy Cecil Marchioness Winchester. They were third cousin twice removed.
On 29th December 1680 [her husband] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford [aged 66] was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was attainted; Viscount Stafford forfeit. His wife Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 60], with whom he was jointly created Baron Stafford continued as Baroness.
In 5th October 1688 Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 68] was created 1st Countess Stafford for life. Her former husband William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford had been executed in 1680.
On 2nd September 1691 [her daughter] Isabella Stafford-Howard Marchioness Winchester died.
On 13th January 1694 Mary Stafford Countess Stafford [aged 74] died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey [Map]. Her son Henry [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Baron Stafford.
[her daughter] Alethea Stafford Howard was born to William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford.
[her daughter] Delphina Stafford Howard was born to William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford.
[her daughter] Ursula Stafford Howard was born to William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford.
[her son] Francis Stafford-Howard was born to William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford. He married Eleanor Stanford.
[her daughter] Isabella Stafford-Howard Marchioness Winchester was born to William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford. She married 30th April 1669 her third cousin twice removed John Paulet 5th Marquess Winchester, son of William Paulet 4th Marquess Winchester and Lucy Cecil Marchioness Winchester.
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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[her daughter] Anastasia Stafford Howard was born to William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford and Mary Stafford Countess Stafford. She married George Holman and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham and Bedford 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Stafford 3rd Baron Stafford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Pole 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Pole 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Edith St John 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ursula Pole 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George York 1st Duke of Clarence 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret York aka Pole Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Edward Stafford 4th Baron Stafford 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Strange 9th Baroness Strange of Knockin 5th Baroness Dunster 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings Baron Botreaux, Hungerford and Moleyns 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Derby 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Stanley Baroness Stafford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Moleyns 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Howard Countess Derby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Tilney 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk
Father: Edward Stafford 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Forster of Tong
GrandMother: Isabel Forster Baroness Stafford
Mary Stafford Countess Stafford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: James Wilford of Newman Hall Quendon, Essex
Mother: Ann Wilford