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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.
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Before 7th January 1643 [his father] Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet (age 39) and [his mother] Mary Croke (age 33) were married.
On 7th January 1643 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet was born to [his father] Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet (age 39) and [his mother] Mary Croke (age 33).
In 1648 [his grandfather] Harbottle Grimston 1st Baronet (age 79) died. His son [his father] Harbottle (age 44) succeeded 2nd Baronet Grimston of Bradfield.
On 21st May 1649 [his mother] Mary Croke (age 39) died.
In May 1668 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP St Albans at a by-election which seat he held until 1678. He was re-elected in 1679 and 1680.
On 14th February 1670 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet (age 27) and Elizabeth Finch (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham (age 48) and Elizabeth Harvey Baroness Finch (age 43).
On 17th April 1673 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet (age 30) and Anne Tufton Lady Grimston (age 19) were married. They had a son and a daughter both of whom died young. She the daughter of John Tufton 2nd Earl of Thanet and Margaret Sackville Countess Isle Thanet (age 58).
On 16th June 1674 [his brother-in-law] Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea (age 26) and Essex Rich Countess Nottingham (age 22) were married. She the daughter of Robert Rich 3rd Earl Warwick and Anne Cheeke Countess Warwick. He the son of [his father-in-law] Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham (age 52) and [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Harvey Baroness Finch (age 47).
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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In 1675 [his wife] Elizabeth Finch (age 25) died.
On 24th November 1679 [his brother-in-law] Nicholas Tufton 3rd Earl of Thanet (age 48) died. His brother [his brother-in-law] John (age 41) succeeded 4th Earl of Thanet, 4th Baron Tufton, 16th Baron de Clifford, 5th Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.
In 1680 [his brother-in-law] John Tufton 4th Earl of Thanet (age 42) died. His brother [his brother-in-law] Richard (age 39) succeeded 5th Earl of Thanet, 5th Baron Tufton, 17th Baron de Clifford, 6th Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.
On 8th March 1684 [his brother-in-law] Richard Tufton 5th Earl of Thanet (age 43) died. His brother [his brother-in-law] Thomas (age 39) succeeded 6th Earl of Thanet, 6th Baron Tufton, 18th Baron de Clifford, 7th Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.
On 14th August 1684 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Tufton 6th Earl of Thanet (age 39) and Catherine Cavendish Countess Isle Thanet (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess of Thanet. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne (age 54) and Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne (age 53). He the son of John Tufton 2nd Earl of Thanet and [his mother-in-law] Margaret Sackville Countess Isle Thanet. They were fifth cousin once removed.
On 2nd January 1685 [his father] Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet (age 81) died. His son Samuel (age 41) succeeded 3rd Baronet Grimston of Bradfield. [his wife] Anne Tufton Lady Grimston (age 31) by marriage Lady Grimston of Bradfield.
On 24th November 1687 [his son-in-law] William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax (age 22) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Grimston were married. He the son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax (age 54) and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile.
On 22nd January 1689 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet (age 46) was elected MP St Albans which seat he held until May 1699.
In 1694 [his daughter] Elizabeth Grimston died.
In October 1700 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet (age 57) died. Baronet Grimston of Bradfield extinct. William Grimston 1st Viscount Grimston (age 15) inherited the family estates and adopted the surname Grimston.
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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On 22nd November 1713 [his former wife] Anne Tufton Lady Grimston (age 59) died.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Grimston was born to Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Finch. She married 24th November 1687 William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax, son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile, and had issue.
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Grimston
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Grimston
GrandFather: Harbottle Grimston 1st Baronet
Father: Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Croke
GrandFather: George Croke
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Unton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Unton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Unton
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Bulstrode
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Bulstrode
Great x 2 Grandmother: Cecily Bulstrode
Mother: Mary Croke
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Bennett
GrandMother: Mary Bennett