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: Bayntun
Before 1505 [his father] Edward Bayntun (age 12) and [his mother] Elizabeth Sulyard were married.
Around 1520 Edward Baynton was born to [his father] Edward Bayntun (age 28) and [his mother] Elizabeth Sulyard.
On 18th January 1531 [his father] Edward Bayntun (age 39) and [his step-mother] Isabel Leigh were married. She the half-sister of Catherine Howard (age 8) their mother was Joyce Culpepper.
On 27th November 1544 [his father] Edward Bayntun (age 52) died.
In 1548 William Stourton 7th Baron Stourton (age 43) died. His son Charles (age 28) succeeded 8th Baron Stourton. Anne Stanley Baroness Stourton (age 6) by marriage Baroness Stourton. He left most of his estates to [his future wife] Agnes Rhys Lady Baynton leading to years of litigation between her and his son Charles Stourton 8th Baron Stourton.
Around 1553 Edward Baynton (age 33) and Agnes Rhys Lady Baynton were married. She the daughter of Rhys ap Gruffydd Deheubarth and Catherine Howard Countess Bridgewater (age 54).
In 1563 Edward Baynton (age 43) was elected MP Wiltshire.
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 1571 Edward Baynton (age 51) was elected MP Devizes.
In 1572 Edward Baynton (age 52) was elected MP Calne.
In 1573 [his son] Henry Bayntun was born to Edward Baynton (age 53). He married before 1593 Lucy Danvers and had issue.
In 1574 [his wife] Agnes Rhys Lady Baynton died.
Before 1593 [his son] Henry Bayntun (age 19) and [his daughter-in-law] Lucy Danvers (age 20) were married.
In 1593 Edward Baynton (age 73) died.
GrandFather: John Bayntun of Bromham
Father: Edward Bayntun
GrandFather: John Sulyard of Wetherden in Suffolk
Mother: Elizabeth Sulyard