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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Farquhar
Before 27th June 1755 [his father] Walter Farquhar 1st Baronet (age 16) and [his mother] Anne Stevenson were married.
On 14th October 1776 Robert Farquhar was born to [his father] Walter Farquhar 1st Baronet (age 38) and [his mother] Anne Stevenson.
On 23rd September 1793 [his mother] Anne Stevenson died.
On 1st January 1803 Robert Farquhar (age 26) succeeded Sir George Alexander William Leith, as Lieutenant-Governor of Penang.
On 10th January 1809 Robert Townsend Farquhar 1st Baronet (age 32) and Maria Frances Geslip de Lautour were married.
On 26th October 1809 [his son] Walter Townsend-Farquhar 2nd Baronet was born to Robert Townsend Farquhar 1st Baronet (age 33) and [his wife] Maria Frances Geslip de Lautour. He married 1835 Erica Catherine Mackay and had issue.
In July 1810 Robert Farquhar (age 33)was ordered to accompany the fleet under Commodore Josias Rowley that was to invade the French colony of Île Bonaparte, known today as Réunion. The attack was successful and Farquhar remained on the island as governor, moving to Mauritius in December 1810 after a successful invasion of the island under Admiral Albemarle Bertie (age 65).
On 4th December 1810 Robert Farquhar (age 34) was appointed Governor of Mauritius which position he held until 20th May 1823.
On 30th March 1819 [his father] Walter Farquhar 1st Baronet (age 80) died. He was buried at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map]. His son [his half-brother] Thomas (age 43) succeeded 2nd Baronet Farquhar of Cadogan House in Middlesex.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
The London Gazette 17730. Whitehall, July 27, 1821. His Majesty has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for granting the dignity of a Baronet of the said United Kingdom to the following Gentlemen respectively, and to the heirs male of their bodies lawfully begotten, viz.
Sir Edward Kerrison (age 44), of Wyke-House, in the county of Sussex, Knight, Major-General in the Army.
Sir Harry Niven Lumsden, of Auchindoir, in the county of Aberdeen, Knight.
Thomas Francis Fremantle (age 23), of Swanbourne, in the county of BucKingham, Esq (eldest son of the late Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Francis Fremantle, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath); with remainder, in failure of issue male, to the heirs male of the body of the said Sir Thomas Francis Fremantle, deceased.
John Dugdale Astley, of Everleigh, in the county of Wilts, Esq.
Alexander Boswell (age 45), of Auchinleck, in the county of Ayr, Esq.
Robert Shaw, of Bushy-Park, in the county of Dublin, Esq.
Arthur Chichester, of Greencastle, in the county of Donegall, Esq.
George Pocock (age 56), of Hart, in the county palatine of Durham, and of Twickenham, in the county of Middlesex, Esq. [Note. Charlotte Mary Long Lady Pocock (age 36) by marriage Lady Pocock of Hart in County Durham and Twickenham in Middlesex.]
William George Hylton Jolliffe, of Merstham, in the county of Surrey, Esq.
Robert Townsend Farquhar (age 44), Esq. Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Island of Mauritius [Baronet Farquhar of Mauritius].
Thomas Trayton Fuller Eliott Drake, of Nutwell-Court, Buckland-Abbey, or Monachorrum, Sherford, and Yarcombe, in the county of Devon, Esq. Major in the Army; with remainder in default of issue male, to his brothers William Stephen Fuller and Rose Henry Fuller, Esqrs. Commanders in the Royal Navy, and their heirs male.
John Eardley Eardley Wilmot (age 38), of BerkswellHall, in the county of Warwick, Esq.
Robert Dundas, of Beechwood, in the county of Mid-Lothian, Esq.
James Carmichael Smyth, of Nutwood, in the county of Surrey, Esq. Colonel in the Army.
David Erskine, of Cambo, in the county of Fife, Esq.
William Young, of Baileiborough Castle, in the county of Cavan, Esq.
John D'Oyly, of Kandy, in the inland of Ceylon, Esq.
David William Smith, of the province of Upper Canada, and of Preston, in the county of Northumberland, Esq.
Astley Paston Cooper (age 52), of Gadesbridge, in the county of Hertford, Esq. Surgeon to His Majesty's Person, with remainder, in default of male issue, to his nephew, Astley Paston Cooper (age 23), Esq. and his heirs male.
Thomas Phillipps (age 29), of Middle-Hill, in the county of Worcester, Esq. [Harriet Molyneux Lady Phillipps (age 26) by marriage Lady Phillipps of Middle Hill in Worcestershire]
John Dean Paul, of Rodborough, in the county of Gloucester, and of the Strand, in the county of Middlesex, Esq.
Coutts Trotter, of West-Ville, in the county of Lincoln, Esq.; with remainder in default of issue male, to the heirs male of the body of Anne, eldest daughter of the said Coutts Trotter.
Claude Scott, of Lytchet-Minster, in the county of Dorset, Esq.
George Blackman, of Harley-Street, in the county of Middlesex, Esq.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
On 19th July 1824 Robert Farquhar (age 47) adopted the name Townsend.
On 11th February 1825 Robert Farquhar (age 48) was elected MP Newton.
On 9th June 1826 Robert Farquhar (age 49) was elected MP Hythe which seat he held until his death.
On 16th March 1830 Robert Farquhar (age 53) died. His son Walter (age 20) succeeded 2nd Baronet Farquhar of Mauritius.
GrandFather: Robert Farquhar
Father: Walter Farquhar 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: Reverend Walter Turing
GrandMother: Katherine Turing
Robert Townsend Farquhar 1st Baronet
Mother: Anne Stevenson