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: Douglas
In or before 1724 [his father] William Douglas 2nd Earl March [aged 27] and [his mother] Anne Hamilton 2nd Countess Ruglen [aged 27] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] John Hamilton 1st Earl Ruglen 3rd Earl Selkirk [aged 59] and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Hutchinson Countess Ruglen [aged 46]. He the son of William Douglas 1st Earl March [aged 53] and Jean Hay Countess March. They were second cousins.
On 16th December 1724 William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry was born to [his father] William Douglas 2nd Earl March [aged 28] and [his mother] Anne Hamilton 2nd Countess Ruglen [aged 28]. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.66%.
On 7th March 1731 [his father] William Douglas 2nd Earl March [aged 34] died. His son William [aged 6] succeeded 3rd Earl March.
In 1744 [his grandfather] John Hamilton 1st Earl Ruglen 3rd Earl Selkirk [aged 80] died. His daughter [his mother] Anne [aged 47] succeeded 2nd Countess Ruglen.
In 1745 [his grandfather] William Douglas 1st Earl March [aged 74] died. His son [his father] William succeeded 2nd Earl March. [his mother] Anne Hamilton 2nd Countess Ruglen [aged 48] by marriage Countess March.
On 21st April 1748 [his mother] Anne Hamilton 2nd Countess Ruglen [aged 52] died. Her son William [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Earl Ruglen.
In 1760 William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry [aged 35] was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 21].
In 1770 John Kennedy Lord Kennedy [aged 98] died. His fourth cousin once removed Thomas succeeded 9th Earl Cassilis. A dispute arose between the heir general William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry [aged 45] and the heir male Thomas Kennedy 9th Earl Cassilis as to who should succeed to Earl Cassilis. On 29th February 1760 the Court of Session found the right to the estates to be with Thomas Kennedy 9th Earl Cassilis. On 27th January 1762 the House of Lords found the right to the title to be with Thomas Kennedy 9th Earl Cassilis.
On 24th August 1771 [his illegitimate daughter] Maria "Mie Mie" Seymour-Conway Marchioness of Hertford was born illegitimately to William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry [aged 46].
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 19th May 1798 [his son-in-law] Francis Charles Seymour-Conway 3rd Marquess Hertford [aged 21] and [his illegitimate daughter] Maria "Mie Mie" Seymour-Conway Marchioness of Hertford [aged 26] were married. She the illegitmate daughter of William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry [aged 73]. He the son of Francis Ingram Seymour-Conway 2nd Marquess Hertford [aged 55] and Isabella Anne Ingram Marchioness Hertford [aged 38].
Engraved 1805 based by J Jeakes based on a work by Thomas Watson. Painting of Stonehenge. "To his grace ye Duke of Queensberry [aged 80], this West view of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, supposed ye ruins of a Druid Circle, is respectfully dedicated by his graces obedt servant, Thomas Watson"
On 23rd December 1810 William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry [aged 86] died. His second cousin twice removed Francis [aged 38] succeeded 4th Earl March. He, Francis, assumed the additional surname Douglas. Earl Ruglen extinct.
On 28th June 1853 Francis Charteris 8th Earl of Wemyss Douglas 4th Earl March [aged 81] died. His son Francis [aged 56] succeeded 9th Earl Wemyss, 2nd Baron Wemyss of Wemyss in Fife. Louisa Bingham Countess Wemyss [aged 55] by marriage Countess Wemyss.
His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban Volume XL reads as follows:
THE EARL OF WEMYSS AND MARCH June 28 At Gosford House East Lothian in his 81st year the Right Hon Francis Wemyss Charteris Wemyss sixth Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho and Methel 1633 Baron Wemyss of Elcho 1628 Earl of March Viscount of Peebles and Lord Niedpath, Lyne and Munard 1697 all dignities in the peerage of Scotland Baron Wemyss of Wemyss co Fife 1821 and Lord Lieutenant of Peebleshire.
He was born on the 15th April 1772 the only son of Francis Lord Elcho son and heir apparent of the fifth Earl by Miss Susan Tracy Keck one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Charlotte the second daughter of Anthony Tracy Keck esq of Great Tew co Oxford by Lady Susan Hamilton fourth daughter of James fourth Duke of Hamilton and first Duke of Brandon KG and KT.
In early life his lordship had a commission in the army and from 1793 to 1797 was aide de camp to his grand uncle Lord Adam Gordon Commander in chief of the forces in Scotland He quitted the army in 1797.
His father Lord Elcho died on the 20th June 1808 and his grandfather on the 24th August following whereupon he succeeded to the Earldom of Wemyss and its attendant titles. On the death of William fourth Duke of Queensberry [aged 83] in Dec 1810 he inherited the barony of Niedpath and the extensive property which had belonged to his Grace in the county of Peebles in pursuance of the terms of the marriage contract of the first Earl of March his Grace's grandfather. He also succeeded to the dignities of Earl of March, Viscount of Peebles and Lord Douglas of Niedpath, Lyne and Munard the patent of creation being to Lord William Douglas et heredes masculos de ejus corpore quibus deficientibus alios ejus hæredes masin culos et talliæ contentos in ejus infeofa mentis terrarum et dominii de Niedpath.
His Lordship was created a peer of the united kingdom by the title of Baron Wemyss at the Coronation of King George IV by patent dated 17th July 1821. He supported the Conservative party in parliament but took but little interest in politics.
He married May 31 1794 Margaret [aged 16] fourth daughter of Walter Campbell esq of Shawfield [aged 54] by his first wife Eleanor daughter of Robert Kerr of Newfield eldest son of Lord Charles Kerr second son of Robert first Marquess of Lothian. By that lady who died in 1850 he had issue two sons and nine daughters 1 Francis his successor 2 Lady Eleanor [aged 1] married in 1820 to Walter Frederick Campbell of Woodhall co Lanark esq eldest son of Colonel John Campbell [aged 26] by Lady Charlotte [aged 21] daughter of John fifth Duke of Argyle [aged 73] and died in 1832 3 the Hon Walter died 1818 4 Susan who died in infancy 5 Lady Margaret married in 1824 to Lieut Colonel John Wildman and died in 1825 6 Lady Katharine married in 1824 to her cousin George Harry Lord Grey of Groby who died in 1835 and she died in 1844 leaving issue the present Earl of Stamford and Warrington and Lady Margaret Milbanke 7 Lady Charlotte [aged 1] married in 1825 to Andrew Fletcher esq of Salton Castle East Lothian 8 Lady Louisa Antoinetta [aged 1] married in 1832 to William Forbes esq of Callendar co Stirling late MP for Stirlingshire 9 Lady Harriet [aged 1] married in 1829 to Sir George Grant Suttie Bart 10 Lady Jane and 11 Lady Caroline. The present Earls in 1796 married in 1817 Lady Louisa Bingham fourth daughter of Richard 2d Earl Lucan [aged 31] by whom he has issue Francis Lord Elcho four other sons and daughters.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Douglas 8th Lord Drumlanrig 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Earl Queensberry 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Fleming Lady Drumlanrig 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Douglas 2nd Earl Queensberry 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Mark Kerr 1st Earl Lothian 12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Kerr Countess Queensberry 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Duke Queensberry 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stewart of Traquair 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Traquair 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Stewart 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Stewart Countess Queensberry 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: David Carnegie 1st Earl Southesk
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Carnegie Countess Traquair
GrandFather: William Douglas 1st Earl March 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 9th Earl Angus 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Douglas 10th Earl Angus 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Egidia Graham Countess of Angus 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Laurence Oliphant 4th Lord Oliphant 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Oliphant Countess Angus 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Hay Lady Oliphant 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Douglas Countess Queensberry 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Gordon 5th Earl Huntley 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hamilton Countess Huntley 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox
Father: William Douglas 2nd Earl March 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Hay 5th Lord Hay 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Hay 12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Kerr 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Hay 1st Earl Tweeddale 13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Hay 1st Marquess Tweeddale 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Seton 7th Lord Seton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Seton 1st Earl Dunfermline 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isobel Hamilton Lady Seton 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jean Seton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Leslie Master of Rothes 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Grizel Leslie Countess Dunfermline 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Lindsay 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Jean Hay Countess March 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter "Bold Buccleuch" Scott 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Scott 1st Earl Buccleuch 14 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Kerr of Cessford 12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Kerr 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jean Scott Marchioness Tweddale 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Hay 8th Earl Erroll 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jean Hay 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Hay Countess Buccleuch 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 6th Earl Morton 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Douglas Countess Erroll 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Leslie Countess Morton
William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 9th Earl Angus 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Douglas 10th Earl Angus 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Egidia Graham Countess of Angus 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Laurence Oliphant 4th Lord Oliphant 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Oliphant Countess Angus 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Hay Lady Oliphant 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Gordon 5th Earl Huntley 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hamilton Countess Huntley 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Gordon Marchioness Douglas 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox
GrandFather: John Hamilton 1st Earl Ruglen 3rd Earl Selkirk 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Hamilton 1st Marquess Hamilton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Hamilton 2nd Marquess Hamilton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Lyon Marchioness Hamilton 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Cunningham 7th Earl Glencairn 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ann Cunningham Marchioness Hamilton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Basil Feilding of Newnham Paddock in Monk's Kirby in Warwickshire 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Aston
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret aka Mary Feilding 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Villiers of Brokesby 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Mother: Anne Hamilton 2nd Countess Ruglen 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hutchinson
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Hutchinson 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Sacheverell 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Sacheverell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Ireton
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Hutchinson 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Stanhope 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stanhope 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Port
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Stanhope 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Trentham
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Trentham
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Sneyd
GrandMother: Elizabeth Hutchinson Countess Ruglen 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England