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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Paternal Family Tree: Winnington
Before 28th August 1666 [his father] Francis Winnington (age 31) and [his mother] Elizabeth Salwey were married. They had four sons and three daughters
On 8th October 1669 Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys was born to [his father] Francis Winnington (age 34) and [his mother] Elizabeth Salwey.
Before 1676 [his father] Francis Winnington (age 41) and Elizabeth Herbert of Powick were married. They had one daughter.
On 18th May 1694 Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys (age 24) was called to the bar at Middle Temple.
On 1st May 1700 [his father] Francis Winnington (age 65) died.
In 1708 Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys (age 38) was elected MP Droitwich which seat he held until 20th July 1725.
In September 1709 Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys (age 39) and Jane Bloom were married. She the niece and heir of Henry Jeffreys 1634-1709, who died in July 1709, brother of her mother Jane Jeffreys, of Ham Castle who estates he inherited and who surname he adopted. According to Charles Baldwyn she was rumoured to be worth about £30,000.
In 1719 [his wife] Jane Bloom died.
Before 20th July 1725 Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys (age 55) had one of his legs amputated having developed gangrene following a hunting accident.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 20th July 1725 Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys (age 55) died without issue. His estate were inherited by his elder brother [his brother] Salwey Winnington (age 58).
GrandFather: John Winnington of Chester
Father: Francis Winnington
Edward Winnington aka Jeffreys
Great x 1 Grandfather: Humphrey Salwey of Stanford Court, Stanford-on-Teme
GrandFather: Edward Salwey
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Littleton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Littleton
Mother: Elizabeth Salwey
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Dryden of Canons Ashby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet
GrandMother: Dorothy Dryden
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Wilkes of Hodnell, Warwickshire
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Wilkes