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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Paternal Family Tree: Gordon
On 18th June 1782 [his father] George Gordon Lord Haddo [age 18] and [his mother] Charlotte Baird [age 32] were married. He the son of [his grandfather] George Gordon 3rd Earl Aberdeen [age 59] and [his grandmother] Catherine Elizabeth Hanson Couness Aberdeen [age 52].
On 28th January 1784 George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen was born to [his father] George Gordon Lord Haddo [age 20] and [his mother] Charlotte Baird [age 34] in Edinburgh.
On 2nd October 1791 [his father] George Gordon Lord Haddo [age 27] died from a fall from a horse at Gight aka Formartine Castle.
On 8th October 1795 [his mother] Charlotte Baird [age 45] died.
On 13th August 1801 [his grandfather] George Gordon 3rd Earl Aberdeen [age 79] died. His grandson George [age 17] succeeded 4th Earl Aberdeen. His will provided for his illegitimate son [his uncle] Alexander Gorden Cavalry [age 20].
On 28th July 1805 George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 21] and Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 21] were married. She by marriage Countess Aberdeen. She the daughter of John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn [age 49] and Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn.
On 11th February 1807 [his daughter] Jane Hamilton-Gordon was born to George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 23] and [his wife] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 23].
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 28th March 1808 [his daughter] Chartlotte Catherine Hamilton-Gordon was born to George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 24] and [his wife] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 24]. She died aged ten in 1818.
On 12th July 1809 [his daughter] Alice Hamilton-Gordon was born to George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 25] and [his wife] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 25].
On 25th November 1809 [his brother-in-law] James Hamilton [age 23] and [his future wife] Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen [age 17] were married. He the son of [his father-in-law] John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn [age 53] and Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn.
On 23rd November 1810 [his son] Unamed Hamilton-Gordon was born to George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 26] and [his wife] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 26]. He died the same day.
On 20th February 1812 [his wife] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 28] died.
On 8th July 1815 George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 31] and Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen [age 23] were married. She by marriage Countess Aberdeen.
On 28th September 1816 [his son] George John Hamilton-Gordon 5th Earl Aberdeen was born to George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 32] and [his wife] Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen [age 24]. He married 5th November 1840 Mary Bailie-Hamilton Countess Aberdeen and had issue.
On 3rd July 1817 [his brother-in-law] George Sholto Douglas 17th Earl Morton [age 27] and Frances Theodora Rose Countess of Morton [age 18] were married.
On 27th January 1818 [his former father-in-law] John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn [age 61] died. His grandson [his step-son] James [age 7] succeeded 2nd Marquess Abercorn, 10th Earl Abercorn.
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 24th July 1818 [his daughter] Chartlotte Catherine Hamilton-Gordon [age 10] died.
On 18th August 1824 [his daughter] Jane Hamilton-Gordon [age 17] died.
On 17th July 1827 George Douglas 16th Earl Morton [age 66] died. His first cousin [his brother-in-law] George [age 37] succeeded 17th Earl Morton. Frances Theodora Rose Countess of Morton [age 28] by marriage Countess Morton.
On 21st April 1829 [his daughter] Alice Hamilton-Gordon [age 19] died.
In 1832 [his step-son] James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn [age 20] and Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn [age 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Abercorn. She the daughter of John Russell 6th Duke Bedford [age 65] and Georgiana Gordon Duchess Bedford [age 50]. He the son of [his former brother-in-law] James Hamilton and [his wife] Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen [age 39].
On 26th August 1833 [his wife] Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen [age 41] died.
Around 1838. Martin Archer Shee [age 68]. Portrait of George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 53].
On 5th November 1840 George John Hamilton-Gordon 5th Earl Aberdeen [age 24] and Mary Bailie-Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 26] were married. He the son of George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 56] and Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen.
In 1855 Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [age 35] appointed five Knights of the Garter:
709th George Howard 7th Earl Carlisle [age 52].
711th Francis Leveson Gower aka Egerton 1st Earl Ellesmere [age 54].
712th George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 70].
713th Emperor Napoléon III [age 46].
714th King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia [age 34].
On 14th December 1860 George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen [age 76] died. His son George [age 44] succeeded 5th Earl Aberdeen. Mary Bailie-Hamilton Countess Aberdeen [age 46] by marriage Countess Aberdeen.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 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 Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 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 12 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 26 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Gordon
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Gordon 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Gordon 1st Earl Aberdeen
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Gordon 2nd Earl Aberdeen
GrandFather: George Gordon 3rd Earl Aberdeen 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Murray 1st Earl Atholl 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Murray 1st Marquess Atholl 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jean Campbell Countess Atholl 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Murray 1st Duke Atholl 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Stanley 7th Earl of Derby 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Amelia Stanley Marchioness Atholl 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Susan Murray 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Hamilton Duchess Atholl 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret aka Mary Feilding 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Father: George Gordon Lord Haddo 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandfather: Oswald Hanson
GrandMother: Catherine Elizabeth Hanson Couness Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
GrandFather: William Baird of Branxton Merchant
Mother: Charlotte Baird