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 16th September 1581 [his father] Samuel Backhouse (age 26) and [his mother] Elisabeth Borlase were married.
On 17th January 1593 William Backhouse was born to [his father] Samuel Backhouse (age 38) and [his mother] Elisabeth Borlase.
On 24th June 1626 [his father] Samuel Backhouse (age 71) died.
Around 1637 William Backhouse (age 43) and Anne Richards were married.
In 1649 [his brother] John Backhouse died without issue. His younger brother William Backhouse (age 55) inherited his estates including Swallowfield House, Berkshire.
by 1651 William Backhouse (age 57) had become mentor to Elias Ashmole (age 33).
On 30th May 1662 William Backhouse (age 69) died.
On 19th October 1670 [his son-in-law] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Clarendon and [his daughter] Flower Backhouse Countess Clarendon were married. She being the sole heir of her father William Backhouse brought Swallowfield House, Berkshire to the marriage which Henry had rebuilt. He the son of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon (age 61) and Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon.
[his daughter] Flower Backhouse Countess Clarendon was born to William Backhouse and Anne Richards. She married 19th October 1670 Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Clarendon, son of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon and Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon.
Father: Samuel Backhouse
GrandFather: John Borlase of Little Marlow
Mother: Elisabeth Borlase