The fact of Hereward's participation in the events at Ely is attested in early documents such as the annal for 1071 in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle". Another text of the "Chronicle" also tells of his involvement in the looting. Early sources say nothing about him other than the fact that he was at Ely and that he led the last band of resisters. "Estoire des Engleis" (1140) says that he had a noble family, but is unspecific. His alleged genealogy is given in the "Gesta" and the later "Historia Croylandensis", though with some variations. By the 15th century, the Wake family were claiming descent from him and elevating his ancestry by asserting that he was the son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia and Lady Godiva.