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: West
Around 1526 William West 1st was born to [his father] George West (age 16) and [his mother] Elizabeth Morton (age 14). His date usually given as "Around 1520" however his father was born in 1510. Adjusted to "Around 1526".
On 30th December 1538 [his father] George West (age 28) died.
On 25th September 1554 [his uncle] Thomas West 9th Baron De La Warr 6th Baron West (age 79) died at Offington Worthing. Baron West and Baron De La Warr abeyant between the two daughters of his half-brother [his uncle] Owen West. A new barony Baron De La Warr was conferred on Thomas' heir-male William West 1st (age 28).
Before 1555 William West 1st (age 28) and Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 30) were married.
Around 1556 [his son] Thomas West 2nd Baron De La Warr was born to William West 1st (age 30) and [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 32). He married 19th November 1571 Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr and had issue.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 30th June 1556. The last day of Juin was led from the Towre unto Yeld-halle Wylliam West (age 30) sqwyre odur-wyse callyd lord La Ware, and cast of he [high] treson, to be drane and quartered.
Note. P. 109. Ibid. Condemnation of lord La Warre—"for high treason," says our diarist; which statement has been adopted by Strype, Memorials, ii. p. 302, and thence by Bayley, History of the Tower of London, p. 452. But his crime was of a more private character, and one would rather suppose this was the date of his pardon than of his sentence. He had attempted to poison his [his uncle] uncle and predecessor, and was consequently by Act of Parliament, in 2 Edward VI disabled from succeeding him in title and estate. His uncle was now lately dead (see p. 339), and shortly after we find that the young lord joined the army in France, and distinguished himself at St. Quintin's. His claim to the dignity of a peer was not acknowledged until 1579; on that subject see Retrospective Review, 2d Ser. ii. 300. He died in 1595.
Around 1557 [his daughter] Mary West was born to William West 1st (age 31) and [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 33). She married before 1600 Richard Blount of London and Williton in Somerset.
Around 1558 [his daughter] Jane West was born to William West 1st (age 32) and [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 34). She married (1) 9th June 1572 Thomas Wenman and had issue (2) 2nd May 1577 Thomas Tasburgh (3) 1605 Ralph Sheldon.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th October 1561. The xiiij day they wher a-for the consell at Westmynster hall [Map] the ij lordes [Note. Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu (age 32) and William West 1st (age 35)].
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th October 1561. The xviij day of October ther was (a) fray be-twyn my lord Montyguw('s) (age 32) men and my lord Delaware('s) (age 35) men, and after the ij lordes wher sent to the Flett [Map], and the men to the Masselsay [Map].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 22nd October 1561. The xxij day of October my lord Montyguw (age 32) and my lord Delaware (age 35) wher delevered owtt of the Flett [Map] home.
On 17th November 1567 [his mother] Elizabeth Morton (age 55) died.
On 5th February 1570 William West 1st (age 44) was created 1st Baron De La Warr. [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 46) by marriage Baroness De La Warr.
On 19th November 1571 [his son] Thomas West 2nd Baron De La Warr (age 15) and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr (age 16) were married.
On 9th June 1572 [his son-in-law] Thomas Wenman (age 24) and [his daughter] Jane West (age 14) were married at St Dunstan's in the West, Fleet Street [Map].
Between 2nd May 1577 and 29th January 1603 [his son-in-law] Thomas Tasburgh (age 23) and [his daughter] Jane West (age 19) were married.
Around 5th May 1579 [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 55) died.
On 30th December 1595 William West 1st (age 69) died. His son Thomas (age 39) succeeded 2nd Baron De La Warr. [his daughter-in-law] Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr (age 40) by marriage Baroness De La Warr.
[his father] George West and [his mother] Elizabeth Morton were married.
[his daughter] Elizabeth West was born to William West 1st and Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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[his son] William West was born to William West 1st and Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas West 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas West 1st Baron West
Great x 2 Grandfather: Reginald West 6th Baron De La Warr 3rd Baron West 4 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger la Warr 3rd Baron de la Warr 5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Ware Baroness West 3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Mowbray 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard West 7th Baron De La Warr 4th Baron West 5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Thorley Baroness De La Warr Baroness West
GrandFather: Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West 6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Hungerford 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Hussey 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Hungerford 2nd Baron Hungerford 9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Peverell
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor or Catherine Peverell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Hungerford Baroness De La Warr Baroness West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Botreaux 2nd Baron Botreaux
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth St Lo Baroness Botreaux 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Botreaux 4th Baroness Botreaux Baroness Hungerford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaumont 4th Baron Beaumont 
3 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beaumont Baroness Botreaux 4 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Everingham Baroness Beaumont
Father: George West 7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Copley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Copley
GrandMother: Eleanor Copley Baroness De La Warr and West
William West 1st Baron De La Warr 8 x Great Grand Son of
GrandFather: Robert Morton of Lechlade
Mother: Elizabeth Morton