Biography of Charles Montagu 1564-1625

Paternal Family Tree: Montagu

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Pakenham 1485-1544

In 1557 [his father] Edward Montagu (age 27) and [his mother] Elizabeth Harrington (age 12) were married.

Around 1564 Charles Montagu was born to [his father] Edward Montagu (age 34) and [his mother] Elizabeth Harrington (age 19).

On 21st September 1585 [his brother] Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Jeffrey (age 17) were married at Weekley, Northamptonshire.

Before 1599 Thomas Malby of London and [his future wife] Letice Clifford (age 28) were married.

Before 1600 John Rotherham of Semers in Buckinghamshire and [his future wife] Letice Clifford (age 29) were married.

In 1601 Charles Montagu (age 37) and Letice Clifford (age 31) were married.

On 1st June 1601 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 38) and [his sister-in-law] Catherine Spencer (age 15) were married. The difference in their ages was 23 years.

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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On 26th January 1602 [his father] Edward Montagu (age 72) died at Brigstock, Boughton.

On 29th March 1608 [his brother] Bishop James Montagu (age 40) was elected Bishop of Bath and Wells.

On 14th May 1608 [his brother] Bishop James Montagu (age 40) was enthroned Bishop of Bath and Wells at Wells Cathedral [Map].

On 29th August 1611 [his wife] Letice Clifford (age 41) died. She was buried at All Saints Church, Barnwell [Map].

In 1612 Charles Montagu (age 48) and Mary Whitmore (age 37) were married.

In or after 1612 [his daughter] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Hatton was born to Charles Montagu (age 48) and [his wife] Mary Whitmore (age 37). She married 8th May 1630 Christopher Hatton 1st Baron Hatton and had issue.

In or after 1612 [his daughter] Anne Montagu Baroness North was born to Charles Montagu (age 48) and [his wife] Mary Whitmore (age 37). She married before 1636 Dudley North 4th Baron North, son of Dudley North 3rd Baron North and Frances Brocket, and had issue.

On 24th February 1612 [his brother] Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 49) and [his sister-in-law] Frances Cotton (age 34) were married at Weekley, Northamptonshire.

On 9th November 1613 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 50) and [his sister-in-law] Anne Wincot (age 60) were married.

In 1614 Charles Montagu (age 50) was elected MP Harwich.

In 1615 [his daughter] Mary Montagu was born to Charles Montagu (age 51) and [his wife] Mary Whitmore (age 40). She married Edward Bash.

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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In 1616 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 53) was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

On 3rd July 1616 [his brother] Bishop James Montagu (age 48) was translated to Bishop of Winchester.

On 19th May 1618 [his mother] Elizabeth Harrington (age 73) died.

On 20th July 1618 [his brother] Bishop James Montagu (age 50) died. He was buried at Bath Abbey [Map].

In 1620 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 57) was created 1st Viscount Mandeville, 1st Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

In 1620 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 57) was appointed Lord Treasurer.

On 26th April 1620 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 57) and [his sister-in-law] Margaret Crouch Countess Manchester (age 15) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Mandeville. The difference in their ages was 42 years.

In 1621 Charles Montagu (age 57) was elected MP Higham Ferrers.

In 1624 Charles Montagu (age 60) was elected MP Higham Ferrers.

In 1625 Charles Montagu (age 61) was elected MP Higham Ferrers.

On 16th February 1625 [his brother] Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 62) and [his sister-in-law] Anne Crouch Baroness Montagu (age 52) were married. She by marriage Baroness Montagu of Boughton in Northamptonshire.

On 11th September 1625 Charles Montagu (age 61) died at Barking, Essex. He was buried in Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Barking [Map].

Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses

Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.

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On 3rd July 1652 [his former wife] Mary Whitmore (age 77) died.