Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Craven
Maternal Family Tree: Charlotte Jenkinson Countess Verulam 1863
On 5th September 1835 [his father] William Craven 2nd Earl Craven [aged 26] and [his mother] Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Craven in Yorkshire. She the daughter of [his grandfather] James Walter Grimston 1st Earl Verulam [aged 59] and [his grandmother] Charlotte Jenkinson Countess Verulam. He the son of William Craven 1st Earl Craven and Louisa Brunton Countess Craven [aged 50].
On 16th March 1841 George Grimston Craven 3rd Earl Craven was born to [his father] William Craven 2nd Earl Craven [aged 31] and [his mother] Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven [aged 25].
On 11th August 1858 [his brother-in-law] Arthur Egerton 3rd Earl Wilton [aged 25] and [his sister] Elizabeth Charlotte Louisa Craven Countess Wilton [aged 22] were married. There was no issue from the marriage. She the daughter of [his father] William Craven 2nd Earl Craven [aged 48] and [his mother] Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven [aged 42]. He the son of Thomas Grosvenor 2nd Earl Wilton [aged 58] and Mary Smith-Stanley Countess Wilton [aged 57].
On 16th January 1865 [his brother-in-law] George Cadogan 5th Earl Cadogan [aged 24] and [his sister] Beatrix Jane Craven Countess Cadogan [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of [his father] William Craven 2nd Earl Craven [aged 55] and [his mother] Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven [aged 48]. He the son of Henry Cadogan 4th Earl Cadogan [aged 52] and Mary Sarah Wellesley Countess Cadogan [aged 56].
The Times. 25th January 1865. MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. The marriage of the [his brother-in-law] Earl of Coventry [aged 26] and [his sister] Lady Blanche Craven [aged 22], third daughter of Earl Craven [aged 55], was solemnized yesterday morning at St. George's Church, Hanover-square. The bridegroom and the friends of both families assembled at the church at 11 o'clock, and shortly afterwards were joined by the bride, accompanied by her mother, the Countess Craven [aged 48]. The bride was received by her father at the church door, and, attended by eight bridesmaids, proceeded at once to the communion table, in front ot which a numerous company had assembled, including the Earl [aged 65] and Countess of Clarendon [aged 54] and Lady Emily Villiers [aged 22], the Countess of Verulam [aged 40] and Lady Harriet Grimston [aged 20], Viscount [aged 49] and Viscountess Folkestone [aged 43] and Hon. Miss Bouverie, the Countess of Sefton [aged 27] and Lady Cecilia Molyneux, Viscount Chelsea [aged 24], and Lady Caroline Townley [aged 27] and Miss Townley, Viscount Uffington [aged 23], Sir Henry [aged 58] and Lady Sophia Des Voeux, Hon. Mr. and Mrs Coventry, Hon. Gerald [aged 35] and Lady Maria Ponsonby [aged 28], Mr. Oswald andl Miss Oswald, Dr. Quin, Mr. Cecil Boothby [aged 51], Mr. James Oswald, Miss Talbot, Viscount [aged 32] and Viscountess Grey de Wilton [aged 28], Lady Evelyn Bruce [aged 25], Hon. Mrs. Grimston and Miss Grimston, &c.
The Hon. and Rev. Edward Grimston [aged 52], uncle of the bride, performed the religious rite. After the registration of the marriage the wedding party left the church, and procceded to the Earl and Countess Craven's mansion in Charles-street, Mayfair. At 2 o'clock the newly-wedded couple took their departure for Croome Court, the Earl of Coventry's seat, near Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire [Map], there to pass the honeymoon. At Croome Pirton and Severn Stoke, Worcestershire, the marriage was celebrated yesterday by the tenantry and neighbours of the Earl of Coventry. The tenantry of the Crome Pirton and Severn Stoke estates, to ths number of about 100, dined together in two parties yesterday at Severn Stoke and High-green. At Pirton and Severn Stoke garlands of evergreens and flags were hung out over the roads, and at night a bonfire was lighted at High-green. The rejoicings have extended over all his Lordship's large estates in the southern portion of Worcestershire. The inhabitants of Worcester [Map] celebrated the marriage by hoisting flags from tile windows and streamers across the streets. The bells from the various churches rang merry peals all day.
On 24th January 1865 George Coventry 9th Earl Coventry and Blanche Craven Countess Coventry were married. She by marriage Countess Coventry. She the daughter of William Craven 2nd Earl Craven and Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven.
On 25th August 1866 [his father] William Craven 2nd Earl Craven [aged 57] died. His son George [aged 25] succeeded 3rd Earl Craven in Yorkshire, 3rd Viscount Uffington, 9th Baron Craven of Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire.
On 2nd January 1867 George Grimston Craven 3rd Earl Craven [aged 25] and Evelyn Laura Barrington Countess Craven [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Craven in Yorkshire. He the son of William Craven 2nd Earl Craven and Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven [aged 50]. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 16th December 1868 [his son] William Craven 4th Earl Craven was born to George Grimston Craven 3rd Earl Craven [aged 27]. He married 18th April 1893 Cornelia Martin Countess Craven and had issue.
On 8th June 1873 Henry Cadogan 4th Earl Cadogan [aged 61] died at Woodrising, Norfolk. His son [his brother-in-law] George [aged 33] succeeded 5th Earl Cadogan, 5th Viscount Chelsea, 7th Baron Cadogan. [his sister] Beatrix Jane Craven Countess Cadogan [aged 28] by marriage Countess Cadogan.
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 7th March 1882 Thomas Grosvenor 2nd Earl Wilton [aged 82] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Arthur [aged 49] succeeded 3rd Earl Wilton, 3rd Viscount Grey de Wilton. [his sister] Elizabeth Charlotte Louisa Craven Countess Wilton [aged 45] by marriage Countess Wilton.
On 7th December 1883 George Grimston Craven 3rd Earl Craven [aged 42] died. His son William [aged 14] succeeded 4th Earl Craven in Yorkshire, 4th Viscount Uffington, 10th Baron Craven of Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire.
The London Gazette 25308. Whitehall, January 11, 1884. The Queen has been pleased to direct Letters Patent to be passed under the Great Seal, for appointing Ernest Augustus Charles, Marquess of Ailesbury [aged 73], to be Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the county of Berks, in the room of George Grimston, Earl of Craven, deceased.
On 9th November 1924 [his former wife] Evelyn Laura Barrington Countess Craven [aged 76] died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 24 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 21 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 27 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 22 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 30 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Henry IV King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 28 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Craven 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Craven 5th Baron Craven
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Craven of Stanton Lacy
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Craven 6th Baron Craven
GrandFather: William Craven 1st Earl Craven 3 x Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Berkeley 2nd Earl Berkeley 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Berkeley 3rd Earl Berkeley 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Noel Countess Berkeley 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Augustus Berkeley 4th Earl Berkeley Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond 
Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Louisa Lennox Countess Berkeley Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Brudenell Duchess Richmond 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley Margrave Brandenburg-Ansbach 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Drax
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drax Countess Berkeley and Nugent
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Ernle 3rd Baronet
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ernle
Father: William Craven 2nd Earl Craven 4 x Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
GrandMother: Louisa Brunton Countess Craven
George Grimston Craven 3rd Earl Craven 5 x Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Luckyn 3rd Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Grimston 1st Viscount Grimston
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Grimston 2nd Viscount Grimston
Great x 1 Grandfather: James Grimston 3rd Viscount Grimston
GrandFather: James Walter Grimston 1st Earl Verulam 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Walter
Great x 1 Grandmother: Harriet Walter Viscountess Grimston
Mother: Emily Mary Grimston Countess Craven
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Jenkinson 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Jenkinson 2nd Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: Colonel Charles Jenkinson
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Jenkinson 1st Earl Liverpool
GrandMother: Charlotte Jenkinson Countess Verulam