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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Duke Marlborough

Duke Marlborough is in Dukedoms of England Alphabetically, Dukedoms of England Chronologically, Succeeded Duchesses of England, Extant Dukedoms of England.

Summary

December 1702. 1st. John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough [aged 52] created.

16th June 1722. 2nd. Daughter Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough [aged 40] succeeded.

24th October 1733. 3rd. Nephew Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 26] succeeded.

20th October 1758. 4th. Son George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough [aged 19] succeeded.

29th January 1817. 5th. Son George Spencer-Churchill 5th Duke of Marlborough [aged 50] succeeded.

5th March 1840. 6th. Son George Spencer-Churchill 6th Duke of Marlborough [aged 46] succeeded.

1st July 1857. 7th. Son John Winston Spencer-Churchill 7th Duke of Marlborough [aged 35] succeeded.

5th July 1883. 8th. Son George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough [aged 39] succeeded.

9th November 1892. 9th. Son Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough [aged 20] succeeded.

30th June 1934. 10th. Son John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough [aged 36] succeeded.

11th March 1972. 11th. Son John Spencer-Churchill 11th Duke of Marlborough [aged 45] succeeded.

16th October 2014. 12th. Son James Spencer-Churchill 12th Duke of Marlborough [aged 58] succeeded.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st December 1702. After the excess of honor conferred by the Queen [aged 37] on the Earl of Marlborough [aged 52], by making him a Knight of the Garter and a Duke, for the success of but one campaign, that he should desire £5,000 a year to be settled on him by Parliament out of the Post Office, was thought a bold and unadvised request, as he had, besides his own considerable estate, above £30,000 a year in places and employments, with £50,000 at interest. He had married one daughter [aged 21] to the son [aged 24] of my Lord Treasurer Godolphin [aged 57], another [aged 19] to the Earl of Sunderland [aged 27], and a third [aged 15] to the Earl of Bridgewater [aged 21]. He is a very handsome person, well-spoken and affable, and supports his want of acquired knowledge by keeping good company.

On 10th June 1846 George Spencer-Churchill 6th Duke of Marlborough [aged 52] and Charlotte Augusta Flower Duchess of Marlborough [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. The difference in their ages was 24 years. He the son of George Spencer-Churchill 5th Duke of Marlborough and Susan Stewart Duchess of Marlborough.

On 6th November 1895 Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough [aged 23] and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough [aged 18] were married at St Thomas' Church New York. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. The marriage arranged by Mary "Minnie" Fiske Stevens [aged 42] and encouraged by mother Alva Erskine Smith [aged 42]. The marriage was unhappy; they separated in 1906 and the marriage was annulled on 19th Augiust 1926. He the son of George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough and Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough [aged 48].

The marriage settlement provided for the Duke to receive a $2,500,000 trust that would pay $100,000 per year. Consuelo also received a further $100,000 per year. The combined annual income of $200,000 (£40,000) more than doubled the income the Duke had enjoyed from his estates prior to the marriage. Consuelo and the Duke also acquired several large gifts from her father, William K. Vanderbilt, including a palatial London townhouse and a reported sum of $1,000,000 in cash to mark the Duke's safe return from South Africa.

In 1921 Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough [aged 49] and Gladys Marie Deacon Duchess of Marlborough [aged 39] were married; she had previoiusly been his mistress. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. He the son of George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough and Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough [aged 74].