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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Paternal Family Tree: Lawson of Isel Hall in Cumbria
In or before 1697 [his father] Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet (age 32) and [his mother] Elizabeth Preston were married. They had three sons; Wilfrid, William who died a bachelor; and John, an army officer, accidentally killed during a review at Dublin, when struck by a ball aimed towards a fellow officer. Their eldest daughter Elizabeth also met an unfortunate death, falling from a horse whilst riding in the park at Castle Howard, Yorkshire. Reports suggest that she lost her life owing to an over-excess of modesty. For as her servant tried to disentangle her petticoat from the saddle she screamed, frightening the horse, which kicked her.
In 1697 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet was born to [his father] Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet (age 32) and [his mother] Elizabeth Preston.
On 11th November 1704 [his father] Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet (age 40) died. His son Wilfrid (age 7) succeeded 3rd Baronet Lawson of Isel Hall in Cumbria.
In 1713 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 16) matriculated Queen's College, Oxford University.
In 1715 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 18) was admitted to the Inner Temple.
In 1717 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 20) stood for the Cockermouth constituency after Nicholas Lechmere accepted a ministerial position and accordingly resigned the seat. However, the returning officer made a double return, returning both Lord Percy Seymour (age 20) and Sir Wilfrid Lawson. Both parties immediately petitioned against the result; Lord Percy, on the grounds that Lawson was a minor, (not having attained the age of 21), while Lawson based his petition on the grounds of bribery. Although both petitions were withdrawn, Sir Wilfrid did admit the charge and consequently, Lord Percy took the seat.
In 1718 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 21) was elected MP Boroughbridge.
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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In 1718 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 21) was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
In 1720 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 23) was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King George I (age 59) which position he held until 1725.
In 1721 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 24) was mentioned in the report of the South Sea Company committee of the House of Commons as one of the members who had accepted bribes from the company, in his case £1,000 in stock.
In 1722 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until his death in 1737.
Before 1731 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 33) and Elizabeth Lucy Mordaunt were married.
Around 1732 [his son] Wilfrid Lawson 4th Baronet was born to Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 35) and [his wife] Elizabeth Lucy Mordaunt. He died aged seven in 1739.
Around 1733 [his son] Mordaunt Lawson 5th Baronet was born to Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 36) and [his wife] Elizabeth Lucy Mordaunt. He died aged ten in 1743.
On 13th July 1737 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 40) died. His son Wilfrid (age 5) succeeded 4th Baronet Lawson of Isel Hall in Cumbria.
Around 26th November 1765 [his former wife] Elizabeth Lucy Mordaunt died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 17 Grand Son of King John of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 28 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 27 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Lawson
Great x 1 Grandfather: Wilfrid Lawson 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Bewley of Hesket
Great x 2 Grandmother: Judith Bewley
GrandFather: William Lawson
Father: Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet 16 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Strickland
11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Strickland "The Navigator"
12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Strickland
13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Strickland 1st Baronet
14 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
GrandMother: Milcah Strickland
15 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Cholmley of Whitby
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Cholmley
Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet 17 x Great Grand Son of King John of England