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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Church of St Mary, East Raynham is in East Raynham, Norfolk, Churches in Norfolk.
Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map].
After 9th November 1493. Memorial at the Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map] to Roger Townshend (deceased), his wife Eleanor Lunsford and his father John Townshend.
After 13th September 1852. Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map]. Memorial to Lt General William Francis Bentinck Loftus (deceased) and Major Henry Loftus (age 29).
Lt General William Francis Bentinck Loftus: Around 1783 he was born to General William Loftus and Margaret King. On 13th September 1852 he died.
Major Henry Loftus: Around 1823 he was born to Lt General William Francis Bentinck Loftus. On 22nd November 1862 he died at Murree, India.
On 5th November 1853 Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend (age 68) died. He was buried at Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map].
After 5th November 1853. Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map]. Memorial to Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend (deceased) and Charlotte Elizabeth Loftus.
Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend: On 16th September 1785 he was born to George Townshend 2nd Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Mainwaring Ellerker Countess of Leicester. Before 5th November 1853 Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend and Charlotte Elizabeth Loftus were married. He the son of George Townshend 2nd Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Mainwaring Ellerker Countess of Leicester. They were first cousins. On 5th November 1853 Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend died. He was buried at Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map].
Charlotte Elizabeth Loftus: she was born to General William Loftus and Elizabeth Townshend. On 21st March 1866 she died. She was buried in the Townshend family vault at Raynham Hall, Norfolk.
After 10th September 1863. Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map]. Memorial to John Townshend 4th Marquess Townshend (deceased) sculpted by George Gammon Adams (age 42).
After 27th January 1877. Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map]. Memorial to Elizabeth Jane Stuart (deceased), John Villiers Stuart Townshend 5th Marquess Townshend (age 45) and Nicholas Townshend Durham.
Elizabeth Jane Stuart: On 18th July 1803 she was born to George Stuart. On 18th August 1825 John Townshend 4th Marquess Townshend and she were married. On 27th January 1877 Elizabeth Jane Stuart died.
Nicholas Townshend Durham: he was born to James Cunninghame Durham and Agnes Elizabeth Audrey Townshend. He a great x 3 grandson of King William IV of the United Kingdom. On 17th March 1943 Nicholas Townshend Durham was killed in action at the Battle of the Mareth Line.
Before 1898. Memorial to General William Loftus and Elizabeth Townshend at the Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map] sculpted by George Gammon Adams (age 76).
Elizabeth Townshend: Around 1767 she was born to George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton. On 7th May 1790 General William Loftus and she were married. She the daughter of George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton. On 21st March 1811 Elizabeth Townshend died.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 18th May 1924 Major-General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend (age 63) died. Memorial in the Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map].
Major-General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend: On 21st February 1861 he was born to Charles Thornton Townshend at Great Union Street.