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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Paternal Family Tree: Watson
In 1730 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham was born to Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 36].
On 22nd June 1744 [his brother-in-law] William Fitzwilliam 1st and 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam [aged 24] and [his sister] Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. She by marriage Countess Fitzwilliam, Baroness Fitzwilliam of Liffer in Donegal. She the daughter of [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 50]. He the son of John Fitzwilliam 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam and Anne Stringer.
In 1746 [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 52] was created 1st Marquess Rockingham.
On 26th February 1746 Thomas Watson 3rd Earl Rockingham [aged 30] died without issue. Earl Rockingham extinct. His first cousin once removed [his father] Thomas [aged 52] succeeded 6th Baron Rockingham of Northampton, 6th Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. He left his estates to his first cousin Lewis Watson 1st Baron Sondes [aged 17] who changed his surname from Monson to Watson on 31st January 1751.
On 14th December 1750 [his father] Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham [aged 57] died. His son Charles [aged 20] succeeded 2nd Marquess Rockingham, 7th Baron Rockingham of Northampton, 7th Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire.
In 1752 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 22] and Mary Bright were married. He the son of Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham.
In 1760 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 30] was appointed 578th Knight of the Garter by King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 76].
In 1769 [his sister] Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam died.
Royal Ascot. The reign of George III. saw the institution of the " Classic " races. The Doncaster St. Leger was established by Colonel St. Leger [aged 43], who lived near Doncaster. In 1776 he proposed a sweepstakes of 25 guineas each for 3-year-old colts and fillies over a two-mile course, which was won from six competitors by the Marquis of Rockingham's [aged 46] filly, Allabuculia.
In 1778 a dinner was being held at the Red Lion Inn, Doncaster, on the entry day of the races, and the Marquis of Rockingham then proposed that the sweepstakes suggested by Colonel St. Leger two years previously should be run for annually, and bear the name of the founder. In this year it was won again by a filly, called Hollandaise, belonging to Sir Thomas Gascoigne [aged 30].
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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In 1776 the St Leger Stakes was first run - it if the oldest and longest of Britain's five Classics which is the last to be run each year. The race is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,921 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September. It was founded by Anthony St Leger [aged 43] with the assistance of Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 46].
In 1782 Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham [aged 52] died. Marquess Rockingham, Baron Rockingham of Northampton, Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire extinct.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Watson 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Watson of Rockingham Castle
Great x 2 Grandfather: Lewis Watson 1st Baron Rockingham
Great x 4 Grandfather: Kenelm Digby 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Digby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Watson 2nd Baron Rockingham 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Manners 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Manners 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Vernon 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Manners Baroness Rockingham 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Pierrepont 
10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cavendish 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandFather: Thomas Watson 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Wentworth 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Wentworth 1st Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Gascoigne 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Atkins
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Atkins Baroness Wentworth Woodhouse
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Wentworth Baroness Rockingham 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Denzil Holles
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Holles 1st Earl de Clare 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Sheffield 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Arabella Holles 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Stanhope 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Stanhope Countess de Clare 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Port
Father: Thomas Watson 1st Marquess Rockingham 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess Rockingham 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England