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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Knowsley, Lancashire is in Lancashire.
In 1364 Isabel Lathom was born to Thomas Lathom [aged 35] at Knowsley, Lancashire. She married 1385 John Stanley and had issue.
Around 1405 Thomas Stanley 1st Baron Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 19] and Elizabeth Harrington [aged 19] at Knowsley, Lancashire. He married before 1423 his fifth cousin once removed Jane Goushill Baroness Stanley, daughter of Robert Goushill and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk, and had issue.
On 20th February 1459 Thomas Stanley 1st Baron Stanley [aged 54] died at Knowsley, Lancashire. He was buried at Burscough Priory [Map]. His son Thomas [aged 24] succeeded King Mann, 2nd Baron Stanley. Eleanor Neville Baroness Stanley [aged 12] by marriage Baroness Stanley.
In 1460 George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster was born to Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 25] and Eleanor Neville Baroness Stanley [aged 13] at Knowsley, Lancashire. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England. He married 1482 his fourth cousin once removed Joan Strange 9th Baroness Strange of Knockin 5th Baroness Dunster, daughter of John Strange 8th Baron Strange Knockin 4th Baron Mohun Dunster and Jacquetta Woodville Baroness Strange and Mohun, and had issue.
In 1462 Edward Stanley 1st Baron Monteagle was born to Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 27] and Eleanor Neville Baroness Stanley [aged 15] at Knowsley, Lancashire. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England. He married (1) before November 1501 his half second cousin once removed Anne Harrington (2) before 1507 Elizabeth Vaughan Baroness Grey Wilton and had issue.
On 6th January 1588 Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon was born to Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 29] and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 38] at Knowsley, Lancashire. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She married 15th January 1601 her fourth cousin Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon and had issue.
On 31st January 1607 James Stanley 7th Earl of Derby was born to William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 46] and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 31] at Knowsley, Lancashire. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. He married 26th June 1626 Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby, daughter of Claude de La Tremoille 2nd Duke Thouars and Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau, and had issue.
On 21st April 1893 Edward Henry Stanley 15th Earl of Derby [aged 66] died at Knowsley, Lancashire. His brother Frederick [aged 52] succeeded 16th Earl Derby, 10th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe. Constance Villiers Countess Derby [aged 53] by marriage Countess Derby.
On 24th February 1660 John Murray 1st Duke Atholl was born to John Murray 1st Marquess Atholl [aged 28] and Amelia Stanley Marchioness Atholl [aged 27] at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. He married (1) before 6th May 1684 his half fourth cousin Catherine Hamilton Duchess Atholl, daughter of William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton and Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton, and had issue (2) 26th June 1710 Mary Ross Duchess Atholl and had issue.
On 23rd April 1829 Elizabeth Farren Countess Derby [aged 70] died at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire.
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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On 4th February 1948 Edward George Villiers Stanley 17th Earl of Derby [aged 82] died at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. His grandson Edward [aged 29] succeeded 18th Earl Derby, 12th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe.
In 1480 Roger Cheney [aged 38] and Anne Stanley were married at The Pype, Knowsley. The difference in their ages was 38 years.