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: Pierrepoint
Maternal Family Tree: Eleanor Gifford 1575
Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax was born to William Pierrepont of Thoresby and Elizabeth Harries aka Harris.
On 8th June 1628 [her father] William Pierrepont of Thoresby [aged 20] and [her mother] Elizabeth Harries aka Harris [aged 31] were married at St Martin's Church, Ludgate. He the son of [her grandfather] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 43] and [her grandmother] Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 47].
On 24th January 1644 William Savile 3rd Baronet [aged 32] died. His son [her future husband] George [aged 10] succeeded 4th Baronet Savile of Thornhill.
Around 1650. Studio of Peter Lely [aged 31]. Portrait of Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax.
In 1652 [her brother-in-law] Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 21] and [her sister] Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 21] were married. He the son of William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 59] and Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward IV of England.
On 9th June 1655 [her brother-in-law] Gilbert Holles 3rd Earl de Clare [aged 22] and [her sister] Grace Pierrepont Countess de Clare [aged 22] were married at St Giles' in the Fields Church [Map]. He the son of John Holles 2nd Earl de Clare [aged 59] and Elizabeth Vere Countess Clare.
In 1656 [her future husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 22] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Lady Savile of Thornhill. She the daughter of Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland and Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland [aged 38]. They were half sixth cousins.
On 1st July 1657 [her mother] Elizabeth Harries aka Harris [aged 60] died. She was buried at St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map].
On 2nd January 1666 John Holles 2nd Earl de Clare [aged 70] died. His son [her brother-in-law] Gilbert [aged 32] succeeded 3rd Earl Clare, 3rd Baron Haughton. [her sister] Grace Pierrepont Countess de Clare [aged 33] by marriage Countess Clare
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1672 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 38] and Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax were married. She by marriage Lady Savile of Thornhill. They were third cousins.
On 25th December 1676 William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 84] died at Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire [Map]. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son [her brother-in-law] Henry [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne, 2nd Earl Newcastle upon Tyne, 10th Baron Ogle.[her sister] Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 46] by marriage Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne.
Around 1677 [her daughter] Elizabeth Savile was born to [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 43] and Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax. She married 1692 her fifth cousin once removed Philip Stanhope 3rd Earl Chesterfield, son of Philip Stanhope 2nd Earl Chesterfield and Elizabeth Dormer Countess Chesterfield, and had issue.
On 31st December 1677 [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 44] was created 1st Viscount Halifax, 1st Baron Savile of Elland. Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax by marriage Viscountess Halifax.
On 17th July 1678 [her father] William Pierrepont of Thoresby [aged 70] died.
In 1679 [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 45] was created 1st Earl Halifax. Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax by marriage Countess Halifax.
In 1680 [her brother] Gervase Pierrepont 1st Baron Pierrepont [aged 31] and [her sister-in-law] Lucy Pelham Baroness Pierrepont Hanslape Buckingham were married.
In 1682 [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 48] was created 1st Marquess Halifax. Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax by marriage Marchioness Halifax.
On 10th August 1682 John Vaughan 3rd Earl Carbery [aged 43] and [her step-daughter] Anne Savile Countess Carbery [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 48] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile. He the son of Richard Vaughan 2nd Earl Carbery [aged 82] and Frances Altham Countess Carbery.
Before 11th April 1684 [her step-son] Henry Savile [aged 23] and Esther de la Tour de Gouvernet [aged 18] were married. He the son of [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 50] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile.
In 1686 Richard Vaughan 2nd Earl Carbery [aged 86] died. His son John [aged 46] succeeded 3rd Earl Carbery. [her step-daughter] Anne Savile Countess Carbery [aged 23] by marriage Countess Carbery.
In 1687 [her step-son] Henry Savile [aged 26] died. His will written 07 Oct 1687...
Wheras my [her husband] father [aged 50], the Lord Marquess of Halifax, by indenture 11 Apr., 36 Chas. II, did settle the reversion of a certain fee farm rent of £550 out of the manors of Bradbury and Hilton, co. Durham, after the death of the now Queen Dowager [aged 45], unto himself, and after his decease unto me and my heirs. I give unto my dear wife Hester, Lady Eland [aged 18], and her heirs, all such rent of £550, and other rents issuing out of the said manors. I make my wife sole executrix, and give her all my money, plate, jewels, furniture, and personal estate whatsoever. In presence of Carbery [aged 44], Tho. Tenison [aged 47], Wm. Smythe, Edward Browne. Proved 8 June, 1688, by Hester Savile.
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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On 24th November 1687 [her step-son] William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax [aged 22] and Elizabeth Grimston were married. He the son of [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 54] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile.
In January 1690 [her step-daughter] Anne Savile Countess Carbery [aged 27] died in childbirth. She was buried at St Andrew's Church, Holborn [Map].
In 1692 [her son-in-law] Philip Stanhope 3rd Earl Chesterfield [aged 18] and Elizabeth Savile [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 58] and Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax. He the son of Philip Stanhope 2nd Earl Chesterfield [aged 58] and Elizabeth Dormer Countess Chesterfield. They were fifth cousin once removed.
On 2nd April 1695 [her step-son] William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax [aged 30] and Mary Finch Duchess Roxburghe [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Marchioness Halifax. She the daughter of Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea [aged 47] and Essex Rich Countess Nottingham. He the son of [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 61] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile. They were fourth cousins.
On 5th April 1695 [her husband] George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 61] died apparently as a consequence of eating undercooked chicken. He was buried in the north aisle of the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son [her step-son] William [aged 30] succeeded 2nd Marquess Halifax, 2nd Earl Halifax, 2nd Viscount Halifax, 2nd Baron Savile of Elland, 5th Baronet Savile of Thornhill. Mary Finch Duchess Roxburghe [aged 18] by marriage Marchioness Halifax.
On 23rd September 1695 [her sister] Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 65] died.
In 1702 [her brother] Gervase Pierrepont 1st Baron Pierrepont [aged 53] was created 1st Baron Pierrepont of Ardglass in Antrim in the Peerage of Ireland. [her sister-in-law] Lucy Pelham Baroness Pierrepont Hanslape Buckingham by marriage Lucy Pelham Baroness Pierrepont Hanslape Buckingham.
In July 1702 [her sister] Grace Pierrepont Countess de Clare [aged 69] died.
In 1708 [her daughter] Elizabeth Savile [aged 31] died. She was buried with her parentrrs in Westminster Abbey [Map].
In 1714 [her brother] Gervase Pierrepont 1st Baron Pierrepont [aged 65] was created 1st Baron Pierrepont of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire. [her sister-in-law] Lucy Pelham Baroness Pierrepont Hanslape Buckingham by marriage Baroness Pierrepont of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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On 22nd May 1715 [her brother] Gervase Pierrepont 1st Baron Pierrepont [aged 66] died. Baron Pierrepont of Ardglass in Antrim, Baron Pierrepont of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire extinct.
On 1st October 1727 Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax died. She was buried with her husband George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax in the North Aisle of the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map].
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 25 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Pierrepont 
7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pierrepont 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Empson
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Empson
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Pierrepont 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Thwaites
Great x 2 Grandmother: Winifred Thwaites
GrandFather: Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Cavendish 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Cavendish 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Scudamore 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cavendish 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Carrington Smith
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Smith
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Cavendish 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Harwick
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Hardwick 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Pinchbeck 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Leeke of Hasland 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Leeke 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Vaux 
Father: William Pierrepont of Thoresby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Dacre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Greystoke 6th Baroness Greystoke Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Talbot 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne St Leger Baroness Ros of Helmsley 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Paston 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bridget Heydon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandMother: Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Rayner
Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Harries of Cruckton in Shropshire
GrandFather: Thomas Harries aka Harris 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Prowde of Sutton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Prowde
Mother: Elizabeth Harries aka Harris
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Gifford
GrandMother: Eleanor Gifford