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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Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough 1675-1732

Paternal Family Tree: Sherard

In 1675 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough was born to Bennet Sherard 2nd Baron Sherard [aged 53].

In 1675 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Rutland and Deputy Lieutenant Lincolnshire.

On 15th January 1700 [his father] Bennet Sherard 2nd Baron Sherard [aged 78] died. His son Bennet [aged 25] succeeded 3rd Baron Sherard of Leitrim.

In 1701 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 26] was elected MP Leicestershire.

In 1713 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 38] was elected MP Rutland.

On 1st January 1713 John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland [aged 36] and [his sister] Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Duchess Rutland. He the son of John Manners 1st Duke Rutland and Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland [aged 56].

On 19th October 1714 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 39] was created 1st Baron Sherard of Harborough.

In 1715 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 40] was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Rutland.

On 31st October 1718 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 43] was created 1st Viscount Sherard.

On 8th May 1719 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 44] was created 1st Earl Harborough.

On 16th October 1732 Bennet Sherard 1st Earl Harborough [aged 57] died. His first cousin once removed Philip [aged 52] succeeded 2nd Earl Harborough, 2nd Viscount Sherard, 4th Baron Sherard of Leitrim, 2nd Baron Sherard of Harborough. Anne Pedley Countess Harborough [aged 57] by marriage Countess Harborough.

St Mary Magalene's Church Stapleford, Leicestershire [Map]. Most of the memorials were moved from the earlier church. The oldest, dated 1490, is a brass to Geoffrey Sherard and his wife. There is a black and white marble tomb chest dated 1640. The chest bears two life-size reclining effigies and is carved with images of eleven children. There are a number of busts of members of the Sherard family. The finest memorial is that of the 1st Earl by John Michael Rysbrack. It is dated 1732 and consists of a seated woman with a child, and a half-reclining man, all in Roman clothing. There is also a memorial tablet and a hatchment to the 6th Earl, dated 1859.