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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In or before 1752 [his father] Captain Henry Loftus [aged 24] and [his mother] Diana Bullock were married.
In 1752 General William Loftus was born to Captain Henry Loftus [aged 25] and Diana Bullock at Raynham Hall, Norfolk. He was baptised at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin [Map].
Around 1770 [his father] Captain Henry Loftus [aged 43] puchased a commission for his son General William Loftus [aged 18] in Ireland in the 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, which was deployed to North America in 1775, where he saw action in the American War of Independence.
On 10th April 1775 General William Loftus [aged 23] embarked at Cork [Map] for Boston, Massachusetts. He arrived on 24th May 1775.
On 17th June 1775 the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought as part of the siege of Boston, Massachusetts.
General William Loftus [aged 23] took part.
On 18th February 1778 General William Loftus [aged 26] and Margaret King were married.
Around 1783 [his son] Lt General William Francis Bentinck Loftus was born to General William Loftus [aged 31] and [his wife] Margaret King.
On 4th May 1786 [his wife] Margaret King died.
On 7th May 1790 General William Loftus [aged 38] and Elizabeth Townshend were married. She the daughter of George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend [aged 66] and Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton.
In 1792 [his father] Captain Henry Loftus [aged 65] died.
In 1796 General William Loftus [aged 44] was promoted to major-general, and lieutenant-general in 1803 and full general in 1813.
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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On 17th August 1797 George William Frederick Osborne 6th Duke Leeds [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Townshend Duchess Leeds [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Knayth, Baroness Conyers. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend [aged 73] and Anne Montgomery Marchioness Townshend [aged 45]. He the son of Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds [aged 46] and Amelia Darcy 12th Baroness Darcy 9th Baroness Conyers. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland.
On 31st January 1799 Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds [aged 48] died. His son George [aged 23] succeeded 6th Duke Leeds, 6th Earl of Danby, 6th Viscount Osborne, 6th Viscount Latimer, 6th Baron Osborne of Kinderton, 7th Baronet Osborne of Kiveton. [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Townshend Duchess Leeds [aged 22] by marriage Duchess Leeds.
In 1807 General William Loftus [aged 55] was appointed Governor of Dumbarton Castle [Map] which position he held until 1810.
On 14th September 1807 [his father-in-law] George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend [aged 83] died. His son [his brother-in-law] George [aged 54] succeeded 2nd Marquess Townshend, 5th Viscount Townsend, 5th Baron Townshend of Lynn Regis in Norfolk, 7th Baronet Townshend.
In 1810 General William Loftus [aged 58] was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London.
On 21st March 1811 [his wife] Elizabeth Townshend died.
In 1821 General William Loftus [aged 69] was appointed Colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) which position he held for life.
On 15th July 1831 General William Loftus [aged 79] died at his home at Wimpole Street, Marylebone. He was buried in the Townshend family vault Raynham Hall, Norfolk on 23rd July 1831.
Before 1898. Memorial to General William Loftus and [his former wife] Elizabeth Townshend at the Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map] sculpted by George Gammon Adams [aged 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.
[his daughter] Charlotte Elizabeth Loftus was born to General William Loftus and Elizabeth Townshend. She married before 5th November 1853 her first cousin Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend, son of George Townshend 2nd Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Mainwaring Ellerker Countess of Leicester.
Father: Captain Henry Loftus 
GrandFather: William Bullock of Sturston Hall in Norfolk
Mother: Diana Bullock