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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Before 1823 [his father] Robert Surtees of Redworth Hall (age 40) and [his mother] Elizabeth Cookson (age 39) were married.
On 13th November 1823 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees was born to [his father] Robert Surtees of Redworth Hall (age 41) and [his mother] Elizabeth Cookson (age 40).
In 1845 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 21) was appointed Lieutenant of the 10th Royal Hussars.
In 1847 [his mother] Elizabeth Cookson (age 64) died.
In 1847 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 23) was appointed Captain of the 10th Royal Hussars.
On 25th August 1855 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 31) and Bertha Chauncey (age 22) were married.
In 1857 [his father] Robert Surtees of Redworth Hall (age 75) died.
On 13th January 1858 [his son] Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees was born to Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 34) and [his wife] Bertha Chauncey (age 25). He married 1887 Madeline Augusta Crabbe.
In 1865 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 41) was elected MP South Durham.
In 1873 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 49) was appointed High Sheriff of Durham.
In 1873 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 49) was appointed Colonel of the 3rd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.
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 5th November 1882 [his wife] Bertha Chauncey (age 49) died.
In 1887 [his son] Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees (age 28) and [his daughter-in-law] Madeline Augusta Crabbe were married.
On 22nd December 1906 Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (age 83) died at the Charing Cross Hotel.
On 27th December 1906 the funeral of Colonel Charles Freville Surtees (deceased) was held at Long Ditton, Surrey attended by Countess Walburga Ehrengarde Helena von Hohenthal (age 67), [his son] Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees (age 48),
GrandFather: Lieutenant Crosier Surtees
Father: Robert Surtees of Redworth Hall
GrandMother: Jane Surtees
Colonel Charles Freville Surtees
Mother: Elizabeth Cookson