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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Earl Ferrers is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically, Earldoms of England Chronologically, Forfeit Earldoms of England, Extant Earldoms of England.
Summary
1711. Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers [aged 60] created.
25th December 1717. Son Washington Shirley 2nd Earl Ferrers [aged 40] succeeded.
14th April 1729. Brother Henry Shirley 3rd Earl Ferrers [aged 37] succeeded.
6th August 1745. Nephew Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 24] succeeded.
5th May 1760. Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers forfeit. See Execution of Earl Ferrers.
1763. Brother Washington Shirley 5th Earl Ferrers [aged 40] restored.
1st October 1778. Brother Robert Shirley 6th Earl Ferrers [aged 55] succeeded.
18th April 1787. Son Robert Shirley 7th Earl Ferrers [aged 30] succeeded.
2nd May 1827. Brother Washington Shirley 8th Earl Ferrers [aged 66] succeeded.
2nd October 1842. Grandson Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrers [aged 20] succeeded.
13th March 1859. Son Sewallis Edward Shirley 10th Earl Ferrers [aged 12] succeeded.
26th July 1912. Fourth Cousin Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 48] succeeded.
2nd February 1937. Son Robert Shirley 12th Earl Ferrers [aged 42] succeeded.
11th October 1954. Son Robert Shirley 13th Earl Ferrers [aged 25] succeeded.
13th November 2012. Son Robert William Saswalo Shirley 14th Earl Ferrers [aged 59] succeeded.
In 1711 Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers [aged 60] was created 1st Earl Ferrers. Selina Finch Countess Ferrers [aged 29] by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 25th December 1717 Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers [aged 67] died. His son Washington [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Earl Ferrers, 8th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Mary Levinge Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers. His granddaughter Elizabeth [aged 23] succeeded 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
On 14th April 1729 Washington Shirley 2nd Earl Ferrers [aged 51] died. His brother Henry [aged 37] succeeded 3rd Earl Ferrers, 9th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 6th August 1745 Henry Shirley 3rd Earl Ferrers [aged 53] died at Kensington Gore. His nephew Laurence [aged 24] succeeded 4th Earl Ferrers, 10th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
In 1752 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 31] and Mary Meredith Countess Ferrers were married. She by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 5th May 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 39] was hanged at Tyburn [Map] for having shot his old family steward. Earl Ferrers, Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire forfeit. He was the last peer to be hanged in England.
In 1763 Washington Shirley 5th Earl Ferrers [aged 40] was restored 5th Earl Ferrers and 11th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 24].
On 1st October 1778 Washington Shirley 5th Earl Ferrers [aged 56] died without issue. His brother Robert [aged 55] succeeded 6th Earl Ferrers, 12th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Catherine Cotton Countess Ferrers [aged 59] by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 18th April 1787 Robert Shirley 6th Earl Ferrers [aged 63] died. His son Robert [aged 30] succeeded 7th Earl Ferrers, 13th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Elizabeth Prentiss Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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On 28th September 1799 Robert Shirley 7th Earl Ferrers [aged 43] and Elizabeth Mundy Countess Ferrers were married. She by marriage Countess Ferrers. He the son of Robert Shirley 6th Earl Ferrers and Catherine Cotton Countess Ferrers.
On 2nd May 1827 Robert Shirley 7th Earl Ferrers [aged 70] died. He was buried at Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill [Map]. His brother Washington [aged 66] succeeded 8th Earl Ferrers, 14th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 2nd October 1842 Washington Shirley 8th Earl Ferrers [aged 81] died. His grandson Washington [aged 20] succeeded 9th Earl Ferrers, 15th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 23rd July 1844 Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrers [aged 22] and Annabella Augusta Chichester Countess Ferrers were married. She by marriage Countess Ferrers. She the daughter of Edward Chichester 4th Marquess Donegal [aged 45] and Amelia Ogrady Marchioness County Donegal.
On 13th March 1859 Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrers [aged 37] died at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire [Map]. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church Staunton Harold, Leicestershire [Map]. His son Sewallis [aged 12] succeeded 10th Earl Ferrers, 16th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 24th October 1885 Sewallis Edward Shirley 10th Earl Ferrers [aged 38] and Ina Maude Hedges-White Countess Ferrers were married. She by marriage Countess Ferrers. She the daughter of William Henry Hare Hedges-White 3rd Earl Bantry. He the son of Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrers and Annabella Augusta Chichester Countess Ferrers.
On 26th July 1912 Sewallis Edward Shirley 10th Earl Ferrers [aged 65] died. On His fourth cousin Walter [aged 48] succeeded 11th Earl Ferrers, 17th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 2nd February 1937 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 72] died. His son Robert [aged 42] succeeded 12th Earl Ferrers, 18th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 11th October 1954 Robert Shirley 12th Earl Ferrers [aged 60] died. His son Robert [aged 25] succeeded 13th Earl Ferrers, 19th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 13th November 2012 Robert Shirley 13th Earl Ferrers [aged 83] died. His son Robert [aged 59] succeeded 14th Earl Ferrers, 20th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.