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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Elford, Staffordshire is in Staffordshire.
In 1349 John Arderne [aged 49] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
On 24th June 1391 Thomas Arderne [aged 54] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
In 1392 Catherine Stafford [aged 54] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
After 1392 Thomas Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 42] and Isabel Lathom [aged 28] at Elford, Staffordshire. He married before 1423 Matilda Arderne and had issue.
On 2nd July 1396 Matilda Arderne was born to John Arderne [aged 27] and Margaret Pilkington [aged 25] at Elford, Staffordshire. She married before 1423 Thomas Stanley and had issue.
Around 1420 Anne Stanley was born to Thomas Stanley [aged 27] and Matilda Arderne [aged 23] at Elford, Staffordshire. She married 1453 John Gresley and had issue.
In 1423 Matilda Arderne [aged 26] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
In 1423 John Stanley was born to Thomas Stanley [aged 30] and Matilda Arderne [aged 26] at Elford, Staffordshire. He married (1) 1428 his third cousin Cecilia Arderne and had issue (2) after 1447 his half fourth cousin Elizabeth Vernon and had issue.
In 1427 Elizabeth Vernon was born to Richard Vernon aka Pembridge [aged 38] and Benedicta Ludlow [aged 36] at Elford, Staffordshire. She married after 1447 her half fourth cousin John Stanley and had issue.
Around 1447 John Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 24] and Cecilia Arderne [aged 24] at Elford, Staffordshire. He married Anne Hanford and had issue.
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 1464 Maud Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 17] and Anne Hanford in Elford, Staffordshire. She married John Ferrers and had issue.
Before 13th October 1543 John Bowes was born to John Bowes at Elford, Staffordshire. He married (1) after 13th October 1543 Susanna Cave and had issue (2) before 3rd September 1562 Anne Huddlestone and had issue.
In 1557 Richard Huddlestone [aged 76] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
On 3rd September 1562 Anne Huddlestone [aged 52] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
On 29th January 1609 John Bowes [aged 65] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
On 7th June 1700 Craven Howard [aged 51] died at Elford, Staffordshire.
Margery Arderne was granted Elford, Staffordshire by her brother.
John Stanley was born to John Stanley and Anne Hanford at Elford, Staffordshire.
John Arden held at Elford, Staffordshire.