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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Katherine Dallam was born to [her father] Thomas Dallam.
Before 1533 Richard Collier and Katherine Dallam were married.
In 1533 [her husband] Richard Collier died.
Between 1533 and November 1535 Robert Pakington (age 44) and Katherine Dallam were married.
On 13th November 1536 [her husband] Robert Pakington (age 47) was shot and killed with a handgun; probably the first person to be murdered in England with a gun.
On 21st August 1539 Michael Dormer (age 98) and Katherine Dallam were married.
In 1545 [her husband] Michael Dormer died.
Before 29th January 1563 Katherine Dallam died.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 29th January 1563. The xxix day of January was bered in sant [Olave's?] in the Jury my lade Dormer, late the wyff of ser [her former husband] Myghell Dormer [knyght], latt mare of London and merser and stapuller, .... and master doctur Dalle and ser Thomas her chaplen her sekturs [executors], and ther [were four] haroldes of armes, master Somersett, master Clarenshux (age 53), Marshalle and Ry[chmond,] and the qwyre hangyd with blake and armes, and ther was .... the corse and hangyd with blake and armes, and then cam the corse [covered with a] palle of blake velvett with armes a-pon bokeram skochyons; [and there were] iij pennons of armes borne a-boutt the corse; and xxvj roset gownes for so many pore women, and a lx blake gownes and cottes; [and there] dyd pryche the vekar, callyd Busken, of the parryche; and a v dosen of skochyons of armes, and after to here plase to dener.