This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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Paternal Family Tree: Oxenden
10th July 1690 10th July 1690 [his father] George Oxenden [aged 38] and [his mother] Elizabeth Dixwell were married.
On 26th October 1694 George Oxenden 5th Baronet was born to George Oxenden [aged 43] and Elizabeth Dixwell.
On 21st February 1703 [his father] George Oxenden [aged 51] died.
On 21st April 1720 Henry Oxenden 4th Baronet [aged 29] died without issue. His brother George [aged 25] succeeded 5th Baronet Oxenden of Dene in Kent. Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden [aged 9] by marriage Lady Oxenden of Dene in Kent.
In May 1720 George Oxenden 5th Baronet [aged 25] and Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden [aged 9] were married. They had three sons and three daughters.
On 9th May 1720 George Oxenden 5th Baronet [aged 25] was elected MP Sandwich at a by-election probably caused by the death of his brother Henry Oxenden 4th Baronet [deceased]. He was re-elected in 1722, 1727 and 1734 (when he also contested MP Kent), 1741 and 1747. He stood down in 1754.
On 5th September 1721 [his son] Henry Oxenden 6th Baronet was born to George Oxenden 5th Baronet [aged 26] and [his wife] Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden [aged 10]. He married 28th July 1755 Margaret Chudleigh Lady Oxenden, daughter of George Chudleigh 4th Baronet and Frances Davie, and had issue.
In 1725 George Oxenden 5th Baronet [aged 30] was appointed Lord of the Admiralty.
On 3rd April 1735 Robert Montagu 3rd Duke Manchester [aged 25] and [his sister-in-law] Harriet Dunch Duchess Manchester were married. He the son of Charles Montagu 1st Duke Manchester and Doddington Greville Duchess Manchester.
On 21st October 1739 William Montagu 2nd Duke Manchester [aged 39] died. His brother Robert [aged 29] succeeded 3rd Duke Manchester, 6th Earl Manchester, 6th Viscount Mandeville, 6th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. [his sister-in-law] Harriet Dunch Duchess Manchester by marriage Duchess Manchester.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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In 1750 [his uncle] Basil Dixwell 2nd Baronet [aged 85] died. Baronet Dixwell of Broome House in Kent extinct. His nephew George Oxenden 5th Baronet [aged 55] inherited the Dixwell estate. As a condition of the inheritance he was required to take on the surname of Dixwell, but although he procured an Act of Parliament in 1751, to this effect, it is not clear if he took the surname on in practice.
In 1755 [his wife] Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden [aged 44] died.
On 28th July 1755 [his son] Henry Oxenden 6th Baronet [aged 33] and [his daughter-in-law] Margaret Chudleigh Lady Oxenden [aged 31] were married at Westminster Abbey [Map].
On 20th January 1775 George Oxenden 5th Baronet [aged 80] died. His son Henry [aged 53] succeeded 6th Baronet Oxenden of Dene in Kent. Margaret Chudleigh Lady Oxenden [aged 51] by marriage Lady Oxenden of Dene in Kent.
Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 22 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 22 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 27 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 1 Grandfather: James Oxenden of Deane
GrandFather: Henry Oxenden 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Nevinson of Eastry in Kent
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Nevinson
Father: George Oxenden
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Meredith 1st Baronet
GrandMother: Elizabeth Meredith
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Barker
Great x 1 Grandmother: Susannah Barker of London Lady Meredith
George Oxenden 5th Baronet 17 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: Basil Dixwell 1st Baronet
Mother: Elizabeth Dixwell 16 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Peyton 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Peyton 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Samuel Peyton 1st Baronet 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Peyton 2nd Baronet 14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Dorothy Peyton 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England