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: Fitzherbert of Tissington
On 29th December 1709 [his father] William Fitzherbert (age 38) and [his mother] Rachel Bagshaw were married at All Saint's Church, Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1712 William Fitzherbert was born to [his father] William Fitzherbert (age 41) and [his mother] Rachel Bagshaw.
In 1739 [his father] William Fitzherbert (age 68) died.
On 23rd June 1744 William Fitzherbert (age 32) and Mary Meynell (age 23) were married at Somersal Herbert, Derbyshire.
On 27th May 1748 [his son] William Fitzherbert 1st Baronet was born to William Fitzherbert (age 36) and [his wife] Mary Meynell (age 27). He married 14th October 1777 Sarah Perrin and had issue.
On 1st March 1753 [his son] Alleyne Fitzherbert 1st Baron St Helens was born to William Fitzherbert (age 41).
On 12th March 1753 [his wife] Mary Meynell (age 32) died. Memorial at St Mary's Church, Tissington [Map].
Mary Meynell: Around 1721 she was born to Littleton Pointz Meynell. On 23rd June 1744 William Fitzherbert and she were married at Somersal Herbert, Derbyshire.
n 1761 William Fitzherbert (age 49) was elected MP Bramber which seat he held until April 1762.
On 5th May 1762 William Fitzherbert (age 50) was elected MP Derbyshire which seat he held util his death in 1772.
On or before 22nd August 1763, the date she was buried at St Mary's Church, Tissington [Map], [his mother] Rachel Bagshaw died.
On 2nd January 1772 William Fitzherbert (age 60) committed suicide due to pecuniary troubles. Memorial at St Mary's Church, Tissington [Map] where he was buried.
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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Letters of Horace Walpole. Arlington Street, Jan. 5, 1772.
Nothing but disasters, Madam, since my last. Poor Mr. Fitzherbert (deceased) hanged himself, on Wednesday. He went to see the convicts executed, that morning; and from thence, in his boots, to his son, having sent his groom out of the way. At three, his son said Sir, you are to dine at Mr. Buller's; it is time for you to go home and dress. He went to his own stable and hanged himself with a bridle. They say his circumstances were in great disorder. There have been deep doings at Almack's, but no body has retired into a stable. This paragraph, possibly, may be as old when you receive it, as if it was in the magazine, for my letter will not set out till Thursday, as I cannot yet tell you the whole of a tragedy that happened to myself this very morning— don't be frightened. Madam, I am not wind-bound on the banks of Styx, and waiting to send back my letter by Charon.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Fitzherbert 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Francis Fitzherbert
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Fitzherbert 15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cotes 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cotes 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Fitzherbert 16 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bullock
GrandFather: Anthony Fitzherbert 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Fitzherbert of Hamstall Ridware 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fitzherbert 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud aka Matilda Cotton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Fitzherbert 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Fleetwood 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Fleetwood
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzherbert of Norbury 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: William Fitzherbert 14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
William Fitzherbert 15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Mother: Rachel Bagshaw