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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Paternal Family Tree: Curzon
On 19th February 1716 [his father] Nathaniel Curzon 4th Baronet [aged 40] and [his mother] Mary Assheton Baroness Curzon [aged 22] were married at Middleton, Lancashire.
On 2nd February 1730 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon was born to Nathaniel Curzon 4th Baronet [aged 54] and Mary Assheton Baroness Curzon [aged 36].
Around 1739 Andrea Soldi [aged 36]. Portrait of [his mother] Mary Assheton Baroness Curzon [aged 45] and her children [his brother] Nathaniel Curzon 1st Baron Scarsdale [aged 13] and Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 8].
Around 1742 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 11] educated at Brasenose College, Oxford University.
In 1751 [his brother] Nathaniel Curzon 1st Baron Scarsdale [aged 25] and [his sister-in-law] Caroline Colyear Baroness Scarsdale [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Charles Colyear 2nd Earl Portmore [aged 50].
In 1754 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 23] was elected MP Clitheroe.
In 1756 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 25] and Esther Hanmer Baroness Curzon [aged 18] were married.
Before 31st January 1757 [his son] Penn Curzon was born to Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 26] and [his wife] Esther Hanmer Baroness Curzon [aged 19]. He married Sophia Howe 2nd Baroness Howe, daughter of Richard Howe 1st Earl Howe and Mary Hartop, and had issue.
On 16th November 1758 [his father] Nathaniel Curzon 4th Baronet [aged 82] died. His son [his brother] Nathaniel [aged 32] succeeded 5th Baronet Curzon of Kedleston in Derbyshire, 5th Baronet Curzon of Nova Scotia. [his wife] Esther Hanmer Baroness Curzon [aged 20] by marriage Lady Curzon of Kedleston in Derbyshire.
On 24th December 1758 [his daughter] Esther Curzon Lady Smith was born to Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 28] and [his wife] Esther Hanmer Baroness Curzon [aged 20]. She married 8th January 1778 George Smith aka Pauncefoot-Bromley 2nd Baronet, son of George Smith 1st Baronet and Mary Howe Lady Smith, and had issue.
Before 15th March 1761 [his daughter] Mary Curzon Baroness Stawell was born to Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 31] and [his wife] Esther Hanmer Baroness Curzon [aged 23]. She married 1779 Henry Bilson Legge 2nd Baron Stawell, son of Henry Bilson Legge and Mary Stawell 1st Baroness Stawell, and had issue.
On 9th April 1761 [his brother] Nathaniel Curzon 1st Baron Scarsdale [aged 35] was created 1st Baron Scarsdale. [his sister-in-law] Caroline Colyear Baroness Scarsdale [aged 28] by marriage Baroness Scarsdale.
After July 1764 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 34] and Dorothy Grosvenor Baroness Curzon were married.
On 19th July 1764 [his brother-in-law] Richard Grosvenor 1st Earl Grosvenor [aged 33] and Henrietta Vernon Countess Grosvenor [aged 28] were married.
On 21st July 1764 [his wife] Esther Hanmer Baroness Curzon [aged 26] died.
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 13th February 1774 [his son] Robert Curzon Baron Zouche was born to Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 44] and [his wife] Dorothy Grosvenor Baroness Curzon. He married 1808 Harriet Anne Bishopp 13th Baroness Zouche, daughter of Cecil Bishopp 12th Baron Zouche, and had issue.
On 21st February 1774 [his wife] Dorothy Grosvenor Baroness Curzon died.
On 18th March 1776 [his mother] Mary Assheton Baroness Curzon [aged 82] died.
In 1777 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 46] and Anna Margaretta Meredith Viscountess Curzon Penn Buckinghamshire were married.
On 8th January 1778 [his son-in-law] George Smith aka Pauncefoot-Bromley 2nd Baronet [aged 24] and [his daughter] Esther Curzon Lady Smith [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Lady Smith of Nottingham and East Stoke in Nottinghamshire.
In 1779 [his son-in-law] Henry Bilson Legge 2nd Baron Stawell [aged 22] and [his daughter] Mary Curzon Baroness Stawell [aged 17] were married.
In 1792 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 61] was elected MP Clitheroe.
In 1802 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 71] was created 1st Viscount Curzon of Penn in Buckinghamshire. [his wife] Anna Margaretta Meredith Viscountess Curzon Penn Buckinghamshire by marriage Viscountess Curzon of Penn in Buckinghamshire.
In June 1804 [his wife] Anna Margaretta Meredith Viscountess Curzon Penn Buckinghamshire died.
On 5th December 1804 [his brother] Nathaniel Curzon 1st Baron Scarsdale [aged 78] died. His son [his nephew] Nathaniel [aged 52] succeeded 2nd Baron Scarsdale, 6th Baronet Curzon of Kedleston in Derbyshire, 6th Baronet Curzon of Nova Scotia. Félicité Anne Josephe de Wattines Lady Scarsdale [aged 39] by marriage Baroness Scarsdale.
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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In 1808 [his son] Robert Curzon Baron Zouche [aged 33] and [his daughter-in-law] Harriet Anne Bishopp 13th Baroness Zouche [aged 20] were married.
Before 21st March 1820 [his son] Penn Curzon [aged 63] died.
On 21st March 1820 Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon [aged 90] died. His grandson Richard [aged 23] succeeded 2nd Viscount Curzon of Penn in Buckinghamshire.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 16 Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Curzon 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Curzon 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Curzon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Vernon 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Vernon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Ludlow 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Curzon 1st Baronet 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Sacheverell 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Sacheverell 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Lowe
Great x 2 Grandmother: Millicent Sacheverell 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Dethick
Great x 3 Grandmother: Emma Dethick
GrandFather: Nathaniel Curzon 2nd Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Randulph Crewe 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Crew
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Crew
Great x 1 Grandmother: Patience Crewe Baroness Curzon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald Bray 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Reginald Bray of Stene and Hinton
Great x 2 Grandmother: Temperance Bray
Father: Nathaniel Curzon 4th Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Penn
GrandMother: Sarah Penn Baroness Curzon
Assheton Curzon 1st Viscount Curzon 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ralph Assheton 1st Baronet
GrandFather: Ralph Assheton 2nd Baronet
Mother: Mary Assheton Baroness Curzon 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Vavasour 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Vavasour 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Peter Vavasour of Spaldington 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Vavasour 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
GrandMother: Mary Vavasour Lady Assheton 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England