The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Paternal Family Tree: Leighton
Before 1747 [his father] Charlton Leighton 3rd Baronet (age 31) and [his mother] Anna-Maria Mytton were married.
Around 1747 Charlton Leighton 4th Baronet was born to [his father] Charlton Leighton 3rd Baronet (age 32) and [his mother] Anna-Maria Mytton.
In August 1750 [his mother] Anna-Maria Mytton died.
Before 1752 [his father] Charlton Leighton 3rd Baronet (age 36) and Emma Maude Lady Leighton were married.
On 10th August 1755 [his grandmother] Latitia Owen (age 59) died. Charlton Leighton 4th Baronet (age 8) inherited Condover Hall, Shropshire.
In 1756 [his grandfather] Edward Leighton 2nd Baronet (age 75) died. His son [his father] Charlton (age 41) succeeded 3rd Baronet Leighton of Wattlesborough.
On 17th September 1763 Charlton Leighton 4th Baronet (age 16) was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].
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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In 1780 and 1784 Charlton Leighton 4th Baronet (age 33) was elected MP Shrewsbury unopposed.
In 1780 [his father] Charlton Leighton 3rd Baronet (age 65) died. His son Charlton (age 33) succeeded 4th Baronet Leighton of Wattlesborough.
In 1784 Charlton Leighton 4th Baronet (age 37) died unmarried. His half brother [his half-brother] Robert (age 32) succeeded 5th Baronet Leighton of Wattlesborough. [his sister] Anna-Maria Leighton and her husband Nicholas Smythe (age 54) inherited Condover Hall, Shropshire.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 21 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Leighton of Wattlesborough Castle
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Leighton 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Baldwin of Diddlebury in Shropshire
Great x 2 Grandmother: Gertrude Baldwin
GrandFather: Edward Leighton 2nd Baronet
Father: Charlton Leighton 3rd Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Forester of Dothill
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Forester of Dothill
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Forester of Dothill
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Forester 12 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Newport 
9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Newport 1st Baron Newport 10 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Lacon 16 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Newport 11 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Leveson
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Leveson Baroness Gower 10 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Christian Mildmay 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of
GrandMother: Rachel Forester Lady Leighton 10 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 
7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Cecil 8 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Cecil 3rd Earl Salisbury 9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Maxwell 1st Earl Dirletoun 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Diana Maxwell
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Cecil 9 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Manners 
6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland 7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury 8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 
9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Montagu Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cotton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of
Charlton Leighton 4th Baronet 12 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Mytton
GrandFather: Richard Mytton of Halston
Mother: Anna-Maria Mytton
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Owen of Condover
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Owen
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Owen
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Owen of Condover
GrandMother: Latitia Owen
Great x 2 Grandfather: St John Booth
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Booth