William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Nightingale
In 1724 [his father] Edward Nightingale (age 28) and [his mother] Eleanora Ethelston (age 24) were married.
On 15th February 1731 Gamaliel Nightingale was born to [his father] Edward Nightingale (age 35) and [his mother] Eleanora Ethelston (age 31) at Kneesworth Hall [Map].
On 20th October 1750 [his father] Edward Nightingale (age 54) died at Bath, Somerset [Map]. His son [his brother] Edward (age 24) de jure 8th Baronet Nightingale of Newport Pond in Essex.
In 1757 Gamaliel Nightingale (age 25) commanded HMS Bagder.
In October 1758 Gamaliel Nightingale (age 27) took command of HMS Vengeance.
On 14th October 1760 [his son] Edward Nightingale 10th Baronet was born to Gamaliel Nightingale (age 29). He married 1st November 1784 his first cousin Eleanor Nightingale Lady Nightingale and had issue.
On 13th March 1761 Gamaliel Nightingale (age 30) whilst commanding the Vengeance he captured the 44-gun French ship Entreprenant by Land's End.
In 1765 [his daughter] Maria Eleanor Nightingale was born to Gamaliel Nightingale (age 33). She married 19th March 1783 Thomas Lacy Dickonson and had issue.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 14th September 1771 [his mother] Eleanora Ethelston (age 71) died. She was buried at The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bassingbourn [Map].
In July 1782 [his brother] Edward Nightingale (age 55) died unmarried. His brother Gamaliel (age 51) de jure 9th Baronet Nightingale of Newport Pond in Essex.
On 19th March 1783 [his son-in-law] Thomas Lacy Dickonson (age 23) and [his daughter] Maria Eleanor Nightingale (age 18) were married.
1st November 1784 1st November 1784 [his son] Edward Nightingale 10th Baronet (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Eleanor Nightingale Lady Nightingale were married at, firstly, Gretna Green, Dumfrieshire, and secondly, The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bassingbourn [Map]. They were first cousins.
In January 1791 Gamaliel Nightingale (age 59) died. [his son] Edward Nightingale 10th Baronet (age 30) de jure 10th Baronet Nightingale of Newport Pond in Essex.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 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 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 16 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 20 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Nightingale 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Nightingale
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Clerk of Godcaster
Great x 3 Grandmother: Millicent Clerk
Great x 1 Grandfather: Geoffrey Nightingale
GrandFather: Edward Nightingale
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Luckyn Lady Nightingale
Father: Edward Nightingale 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Slingsby of Scriven
Great x 2 Grandfather: Guildford Slingsby Controller of the Navy 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Percy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Percy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Arthur Slingsby 1st Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Anna Charlotte Slingsby 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Gamaliel Nightingale 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Charles Ethelston of London
Mother: Eleanora Ethelston