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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Biography of Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds 1713-1789

Paternal Family Tree: Osborne

On 16th December 1712 [his father] Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds (age 21) and [his mother] Elizabeth Harley (age 23) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 51) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer. He the son of Peregrine Osborne 2nd Duke Leeds (age 53) and Bridget Hyde Duchess Leeds (age 50).

On 6th November 1713 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds was born to [his father] Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds (age 21) and Elizabeth Harley (age 24). His mother died from childbirth two weeks later.

On 20th November 1713 [his mother] Elizabeth Harley (age 24) died from childbirth at at Wimbledon, Surrey, having given birth to Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds two weeks before.

On 17th September 1719 [his father] Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds (age 27) and [his step-mother] Anne Seymour (age 10) were married. She the daughter of Charles Seymour 6th Duke of Somerset (age 57) and Elizabeth Percy Duchess Somerset (age 52). He the son of [his grandfather] Peregrine Osborne 2nd Duke Leeds (age 60) and [his grandmother] Bridget Hyde Duchess Leeds (age 57). They were fifth cousins.

Around 1725 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 11) educated at Westminster School [Map].

In 1729 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 15) was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.

On 25th June 1729 [his grandfather] Peregrine Osborne 2nd Duke Leeds (age 70) died. His son [his father] Peregrine (age 37) succeeded 3rd Duke Leeds, 3rd Earl of Danby, 3rd Viscount Osborne, 3rd Viscount Latimer, 3rd Baron Osborne of Kinderton, 4th Baronet Osborne of Kiveton.

In 1731 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 17) was educated at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

On 9th May 1731 [his father] Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds (age 39) died. His son Thomas (age 17) succeeded 4th Duke Leeds, 4th Earl of Danby, 4th Viscount Osborne, 4th Viscount Latimer, 4th Baron Osborne of Kinderton, 5th Baronet Osborne of Kiveton.

Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses

Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.

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In 1738 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 24) was awarded Doctor of Civil Law at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

On 26th June 1740 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 26) and Mary Godolphin Duchess Leeds were married. She by marriage Duchess Leeds. She the daughter of Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl Godolphin (age 61) and Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough. He the son of Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds and Elizabeth Harley.

1749 Creation of Garter Knights

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On 29th January 1751 [his son] Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds was born to Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 37) and [his wife] Mary Godolphin Duchess Leeds. He married (1) 29th November 1773 Amelia Darcy 12th Baroness Darcy 9th Baroness Conyers, daughter of Robert Darcy 4th Earl Holderness, and had issue (2) 1788 Catherine Anguish Duchess Leeds.

In 1757 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 43) was appointed Privy Council.

In 1764 [his wife] Mary Godolphin Duchess Leeds died.

On 29th November 1773 Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds (age 22) and Amelia Darcy 12th Baroness Darcy 9th Baroness Conyers (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Robert Darcy 4th Earl Holderness (age 55). He the son of Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 60) and Mary Godolphin Duchess Leeds.

In 1788 Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds (age 36) and Catherine Anguish Duchess Leeds (age 23) were married. He the son of Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 74) and Mary Godolphin Duchess Leeds.

On 23rd March 1789 Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds (age 75) died at St James' Square. He was buried at the Osborne Family Chapel at All Hallows' Church Harthill [Map]. His son Francis (age 38) succeeded 5th Duke Leeds, 5th Earl of Danby, 5th Viscount Osborne, 5th Viscount Latimer, 5th Baron Osborne of Kinderton, 6th Baronet Osborne of Kiveton. Catherine Anguish Duchess Leeds (age 25) by marriage Duchess Leeds.

Royal Ancestors of Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds 1713-1789

Kings Wessex: Great x 20 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 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 19 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 21 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds 1713-1789

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Osborne

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hewett Osborne

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hewett

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Osborne 1st Baronet

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Fleetwood

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joyce Fleetwood

Great x 4 Grandmother: Bridget Spring

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Osborne 1st Duke Leeds 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Walmesley

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Walmesley Lady Osborne 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Danvers

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Danvers 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Neville 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: Peregrine Osborne 2nd Duke Leeds 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Vere Baroness Willoughby of Eresby 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Montagu Countess Lindsey 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Jeffrey

Great x 1 Grandmother: Bridget Bertie Duchess Leeds 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cockayne

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cockayne

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Medcalf

Great x 2 Grandmother: Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Morris

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Morris Countess Dover

Father: Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Nicholas Hyde 1st Baronet

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Hyde 2nd Baronet

GrandMother: Bridget Hyde Duchess Leeds

Thomas Osborne 4th Duke Leeds 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Harley of Brampton Bryan

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Harley

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Harley 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Corbet 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Corbet 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Harley 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Conway of Arrow

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Conway 1st Viscount Conway 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Helen Greville 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Brilliana Conway 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Mother: Elizabeth Harley 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Foley

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Foley

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Foley

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Brindley of Willenhal

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Brindley

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Foley

GrandMother: Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer