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: Langham
In 1631 William Langham 3rd Baronet was born to [his father] John Langham 1st Baronet (age 47).
In 1657 William Langham 3rd Baronet (age 26) and Elizabeth Haslewood were married.
In 1657 William Langham 3rd Baronet (age 26) and Alice Chudleigh were married.
In or before 1659 [his wife] Elizabeth Haslewood died.
In 1664 [his wife] Alice Chudleigh died.
On 10th July 1666 William Langham 3rd Baronet (age 35) and Martha Hay were married.
On 13th May 1671 [his father] John Langham 1st Baronet (age 87) died. His son [his brother] James (age 51) succeeded 2nd Baronet Langham of Cottesbrooke in Northamptonshire.
In 1672 William Langham 3rd Baronet (age 41) was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.
In 1679 William Langham 3rd Baronet (age 48) was elected MP Northamptonshire which seat he held until 1695.
Before 1695 [his son] John Langham 4th Baronet and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Temple (age 6) were married.
In or after 1695 [his son] John Langham 4th Baronet and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Samwell were married.
In August 1699 [his brother] James Langham 2nd Baronet (age 79) died. His brother William (age 68) succeeded 3rd Baronet Langham of Cottesbrooke in Northamptonshire.
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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In 1700 William Langham 3rd Baronet (age 69) died. His son John succeeded 4th Baronet Langham of Cottesbrooke in Northamptonshire.
[his son] John Langham 4th Baronet was born to William Langham 3rd Baronet and Martha Hay. He married (1) before 1695 Mary Temple, daughter of Richard Temple 3rd Baronet and Mary Knapp Lady Temple (2) in or after 1695 Elizabeth Samwell, daughter of Thomas Samwell 1st Baronet and Anne Godschalk, and had issue.