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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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Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers 1864-1937

Paternal Family Tree: Shirley

On 5th June 1864 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers was born to Walter Waddington Shirley [aged 35] at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

On 20th November 1866 [his father] Walter Waddington Shirley [aged 38] died.

Around 1876 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 11] educated at Winchester College, Winchester.

Around 1880 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 15] educated at New College, Oxford University.

On 8th July 1890 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 26] and Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers were married.

On 25th November 1891 [his daughter] Margery Joan Shirley was born to Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 27] and [his wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers. She married 22nd September 1920 Lancelot Sackville Fletcher.

On 30th December 1892 [his daughter] Elizabeth Mary Shirley was born to Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 28] and [his wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers. She died aged less than one years old.

On 9th November 1893 [his daughter] Elizabeth Mary Shirley died.

On 7th July 1894 [his son] Robert Shirley 12th Earl Ferrers was born to Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 30] and [his wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers.

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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.

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On 4th November 1896 [his daughter] Phillida Shirley was born to Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 32] and [his wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers.

On 29th December 1900 [his son] Andrew Shirley was born to Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 36] and [his wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers.

On 26th July 1912 Sewallis Edward Shirley 10th Earl Ferrers [aged 65] died. On His fourth cousin Walter [aged 48] succeeded 11th Earl Ferrers, 17th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. [his wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers.

On 22nd September 1920 [his son-in-law] Lancelot Sackville Fletcher and Margery Joan Shirley [aged 28] were married. She the daughter of Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 56] and Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers.

On 2nd February 1937 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 72] died. His son Robert [aged 42] succeeded 12th Earl Ferrers, 18th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.

On 10th January 1944 [his former wife] Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers died.

Royal Ancestors of Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers 1864-1937

                Kings Wessex: Great x 25 Grand  Son of  King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
            
                Kings Gwynedd: Great x 22 Grand  Son of  Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
            
                Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 28 Grand  Son of  Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
            
                Kings Powys: Great x 23 Grand  Son of  Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
            
                Kings Godwinson: Great x 26 Grand  Son of  King Harold II of England
            
                Kings England: Great x 16 Grand  Son of  King Edward III of England
            
                Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand  Son of  King William I of Scotland
            
                Kings France: Great x 18 Grand  Son of  King Philip III of France
            
                Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 29 Grand  Son of  Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
            
                Kings Spain: Great x 21 Grand  Son of  Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon

Ancestors of Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers 1864-1937

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers 10 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Laurence Shirley 11 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Washington Baroness Ferrers Chartley

Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Shirley 12 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Clarges 1st Baronet

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Clarges

Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Shirley 13 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Molesworth 1st Viscount Molesworth

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Phillips of Dublin

Great x 2 Grandmother: Henrietta Maria Phillips

Grandfather: Bishop Walter Augustus Shirley 14 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Newenham

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alicia Newenham

Father: Walter Waddington Shirley 15 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers 16 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England