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: Shaw aka Shaw-Lefevre
In 1789 [his father] Charles Shaw-Lefevre [aged 29] and [his mother] Helena Lefevre were married at which time he changed his surname from Shaw to Shaw-Lefevre.
On 22nd February 1794 Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley was born to Charles Shaw-Lefevre [aged 34] and Helena Lefevre.
On 24th June 1817 Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley [aged 23] and Emma Laura Whitbread [aged 22] were married.
Around 1823 [his daughter] Helena Shaw Lefevre Lady St John-Mildmay was born to Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley [aged 28] and [his wife] Emma Laura Whitbread [aged 28]. She married 1851 Henry St John-Mildmay 5th Baronet, son of Henry St John-Mildmay 4th Baronet and Charlotte Bouverie.
On 27th April 1823 [his father] Charles Shaw-Lefevre [aged 63] died.
In August 1834 [his mother] Helena Lefevre died.
In 1839 Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley [aged 44] was appointed Speaker of the House of Commons.
Around 1844. George Hayter [aged 51]. Portrait of Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley [aged 49].
In 1851 [his son-in-law] Henry St John-Mildmay 5th Baronet [aged 41] and [his daughter] Helena Shaw Lefevre Lady St John-Mildmay [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Lady St John-Mildmay of Farley in Southampton.
In 1857 [his wife] Emma Laura Whitbread [aged 62] died.
The London Gazette 21981. Whitehall, March 23, 1857. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Viscount of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, unto the Right Honourable Charles Shaw Lefevre [aged 63], late Speaker of the House of Commons, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style, and title, of Viscount Eversley, of Heckfield, in the county of Southampton.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 28th December 1888 Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley [aged 94] died. Viscount Eversley of Heckfield in Southampton extinct.
GrandFather: Reverend George Shaw
Father: Charles Shaw-Lefevre
Charles Shaw-Lefevre 1st Viscount Eversley
GrandFather: John Lefevre
Mother: Helena Lefevre