The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Astor
In 1829 Jane Waldo died. Her cousin, also Jane, inherited Hever Castle, Kent [Map]. Jane died in 1841. The castle as inherited by Edmund Wakefield Meade who was connected to the Waldo family by marriage, and had adopted the Waldo surname. Meade Waldo, great grandson of Edmund, sold the castle on the 27th of July 1903 to William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor.
On 31st March 1848 William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor was born.
On 6th June 1878 William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor [aged 30] and Mary Dahlgren Paul [aged 20] were married.
On 19th May 1879 [his son] Waldorf Astor 2nd Viscount Astor was born to William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor [aged 31] and [his wife] Mary Dahlgren Paul [aged 21]. He married 3rd May 1906 Nancy Witcher Langhorne Viscountess Astor and had issue.
On 20th May 1886 [his son] John Jacob Astor 1st Baron Astor was born to William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor [aged 38] and [his wife] Mary Dahlgren Paul [aged 28]. He married 28th August 1916 Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound Baroness Astor, daughter of Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound 4th Earl Minto and Mary Caroline Grey Countess Minto, and had issue.
On 22nd December 1894 [his wife] Mary Dahlgren Paul [aged 36] died.
1898. Hubert von Herkomer 1849 1914 [aged 48]. Portrait of William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor [aged 49].
In On 3rd May 1906 [his son] Waldorf Astor 2nd Viscount Astor [aged 26] and [his daughter-in-law] Nancy Witcher Langhorne Viscountess Astor [aged 26] were married. The groom's father gave the couple the family estate of Cliveden, Buckinghamshire [Map]. They had met on an Atlantic voyage returning to Britain
The London Gazette 29454. Whitehall, January 28, 1916.
The King has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to confer the dignity of a Baron of the said United Kingdom upon the undermentioned gentlemen, and the heirs male of their respective bodies lawfully begotten: —
Admiral Sir Charles William de la Poer Beresford [aged 69], G.C.B., G.C.V.O. (commonly called Lord Charles William de la Poer Beresford), and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style and title of Beresford of Metemmeh, and of Curraghmore in the County of Waterford.
Sir Alexander Henderson, of Buscot Park, in the County of Berks, Baronet, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style and title of Baron Faringdon, of Buscot Park in the County of Berks.
Sir Thomas George Shaughnessy, K.C.V.O., and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style and title of Baron Shaughnessy, of the City of Montreal in the Dominion of Canada, and of Ashford in the County of Limerick.
William Waldorf Astor [aged 67], of Hever Castle, in the County of Kent, Esquire, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style and title of Baron Astor, of Hever Castle in the County of Kent.
On 28th August 1916 [his son] John Jacob Astor 1st Baron Astor [aged 30] and [his daughter-in-law] Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound Baroness Astor [aged 27] were married. She the daughter of Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound 4th Earl Minto and Mary Caroline Grey Countess Minto [aged 58].
In 1917 William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor [aged 68] was created 1st Viscount Astor.
On 18th October 1919 William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor [aged 71] died. His son Waldorf [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Viscount Astor, 2nd Baron Astor.