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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Paternal Family Tree: Knatchbull
Maternal Family Tree: Mary Harvey Lady Dering 1629-1704
Around 1674 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet was born to Thomas Knatchbull 3rd Baronet [aged 34] and Mary Dering.
On 15th December 1696 [his uncle] John Knatchbull 2nd Baronet [aged 60] died. His brother [his father] Thomas [aged 56] succeeded 3rd Baronet Knatchbull of Mersham Hatch in Kent.
In 1698 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 24] and Alice Wyndham Lady Knatchbull [aged 21] were married. They had eight children, three daughters and five sons.
On 26th November 1699 [his son] Wyndham Knatchbull-Wyndham 5th Baronet was born to Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 25] and [his wife] Alice Wyndham Lady Knatchbull [aged 23]. He married 23rd June 1730 Catherine Harris Lady Knatchbull and had issue.
In 1702 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 28] was elected MP Rochester which seat he held until 1705.
On 12th December 1704 [his son] Edward Knatchbull 7th Baronet was born to Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 30] and [his wife] Alice Wyndham Lady Knatchbull [aged 28]. He married before 1760 Grace Legge and had issue.
After 12th December 1711 [his father] Thomas Knatchbull 3rd Baronet [deceased] died. His son Edward [aged 37] succeeded 4th Baronet Knatchbull of Mersham Hatch in Kent. [his wife] Alice Wyndham Lady Knatchbull [aged 35] by marriage Lady Knatchbull of Mersham Hatch in Kent.
Before 1712 [his father] Thomas Knatchbull 3rd Baronet and [his mother] Mary Dering were married.
In 1713 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 39] was elected MP Kent which seat he held until 1715.
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 1722 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 48] was elected MP Kent which seat he held until 1727.
On 15th April 1723 [his wife] Alice Wyndham Lady Knatchbull [aged 47] died.
On or before 24th June 1724, the date she was buried, [his mother] Mary Dering died.
In 1728 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 54] was elected MP Lostwithiel which seat he held until his death in 1730.
On 3rd April 1730 Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet [aged 56] died. His son Wyndham [aged 30] succeeded 5th Baronet Knatchbull of Mersham Hatch in Kent.
Kings Wessex: Great x 19 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 10 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Son of King David 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 1 Grandfather: Thomas Knatchbull
GrandFather: Norton Knatchbull 1st Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Astley of Hilmorton and Melton Constable
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Astley
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Wood aka Wode
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Wood aka Wode
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Astley 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wotton Marchioness Dorset 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Grey 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Father: Thomas Knatchbull 3rd Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Westrow
GrandMother: Dorothy Westrow
Edward Knatchbull 4th Baronet 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Dering of Surrenden Dering in Pluckley in Kent
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Dering 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Bell
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Bell
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmonde Beaupré of Beaupré Hall Norfolk
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothie Beaupré
GrandFather: Edward Dering 2nd Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Ashburnham
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Ashburnham
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Ashburnham Lady Dering 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Beaumont of Coleorton in Leicestershire 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Beaumont 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Saunders
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beaumont 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Farnham
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Farnham
Mother: Mary Dering 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Daniel Harvey
GrandMother: Mary Harvey Lady Dering