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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On 3rd November 1592 [his father] Gervaise Sleigh of Ash, Derbyshire [aged 32] and [his mother] Elizabeth Cholmondeley [aged 32] were married at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.
Around 1605 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall was born to [his father] Gervaise Sleigh of Ash, Derbyshire [aged 45] and [his mother] Elizabeth Cholmondeley [aged 45].
Around 1626 [his father] Gervaise Sleigh of Ash, Derbyshire [aged 66] died.
Around 1631 [his son] Edward Sleigh of Ash was born to Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 26] and [his future wife] Judith Boys. He died aged eight in 1639.
In 1633 [his mother] Elizabeth Cholmondeley [aged 73] died.
Before 16th September 1634 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 29] and Judith Boys were married.
On 16th September 1634 [his wife] Judith Boys died. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Sutton-on-the-Hill [Map].
Judith Boys: Before 16th September 1634 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall and she were married.
On 17th February 1635 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 30] and Margaret Darcy were married.
On 11th July 1639 [his son] Edward Sleigh of Ash [aged 8] died. He was buried at St Michael's Church, Sutton-on-the-Hill [Map].
Edward Sleigh of Ash: Around 1631 he was born to Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall and Judith Boys.
In 1648 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 43] was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
In 1666 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 61] was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
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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Before 20th October 1677 [his wife] Margaret Darcy died. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Sutton-on-the-Hill [Map].
Margaret Darcy: she was born to Robert Darcy. On 17th February 1635 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall and she were married.
On 20th October 1677 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 72] and Elizabeth Harpur [aged 21] were married. The difference in their ages was 51 years.
In 1679 [his daughter] Mary Sleigh was born to Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 74] and [his wife] Elizabeth Harpur [aged 23] She married 27th May 1695 Rowland Cotton and had issue.
On 14th April 1679 Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall [aged 74] died. He was buried at St Michael's Church, Sutton-on-the-Hill [Map].
In April 1736 [his former wife] Elizabeth Harpur [aged 80] died.
Monument at St Michael's Church, Sutton-on-the-Hill [Map] to Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall, his first wife Judith Boys and a number of their children. The translations of te inscriptions taken from a sheet in the church.
Bottom left: To the memory of Samuel Sleigh of Ash and Etwall, Knight, whose bones lie unde the altar of this church. He was born from an old family in Hartington, Derbyshire. In troubled times he behaved honourably, kindly and justly, and was twice made sheriff. His first wife was Judith Boys, second Margaret D'Arcy, third Elizabeth Harpur. He died 14th April in the year of our Lord 1679, aged 76.
Top Middle: Traveller, if you ask about this sad monument of death, what it signifies or to whom It Is dedicated, whose bones this soil conceals, then listen to these brief words. Here lies Judith, sprung from the ancient line of Boys: a great ornament of her sex, serious, chaste, a faithful mariage-partner, sweet in character, of a very gentle disposition, lovely in form and most pious in mind. Snatched away by bitter death (alas) in the flower of her youth, she died and left two children [literall: yielded to a double offspring]. Here rests all that part of her which is capable of dying. But her pure soul is rising to the height of heaven, unknowing of death, shining in celestial glory. Rest, O sacred remains! God will reunite you and not allow you to decay for ever. Bottom right: Whilst her body lies in the middle of this sarcophagus, Judith awaits the second coming of Christ the Saviour. She was second-born daughter of Edward Boys Esquire, of Betshanger in Kent, wife of Samuel Sleigh of Ash, Esquire, a very chaste woman. To him she bore her first son, Gervase, and her second, Edward. However, after she had lived piously and happily with him for nearly six years of marriage, she peacefully fell asleep in the Lord, 16th Sept. A.D. 1634.
Right Middle: Here lies Eliza from the family of Boys [en Germen...?] cut off by the cruel hand of death. She was her mother's sixth child but second to none in piety, innocence, faith and a lovely, sweet character. Alas! While in the twenty fifth year of her brief life and in her first childbirth, she died, leaving a grieving husband and a little child, and as for the little one, on solace of the bereft father, he died an untimely death only three months old. Burning with eagerness to enjoy Jesus, she has moved away to heavenly bliss. Alas! Farewell dear pledges! One day Christ the Redeemer will restore me to you. Placed in grief by G.S.
Left Middle: Gervase, husband of Eliza, restored to joy after a very similar life of piety but from a different iliness, was, in case you did not know him, just, merciful, pious and, at the same time, wise, generous and sober-minded, a preserver of the faith and family and all these (marvel, reader!) to a high degree to earn heavenly bliss for his saintly soul. Rest, sacred remains! God will come as Saviour of the entire Gervase.
Middle middle roundel: To the memory of Gervase Sleigh of Radbourne, gentleman, second son of Sleigh of Ash, Esquire, who died July 23 in the year of our Lord 1641, aged 34.
