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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Stonhouse
On 28th August 1603 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet was born to [his father] William Stonhouse 1st Baronet [aged 47].
In 1628 [his father] William Stonhouse 1st Baronet [aged 72] was created 1st Baronet Stonhouse of Radley.
In 1632 [his father] William Stonhouse 1st Baronet [aged 76] died. His son [his brother] William [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Baronet Stonhouse of Radley.
On 14th June 1632 William Stonhouse 2nd Baronet [aged 31] died. His brother George [aged 28] succeeded 3rd Baronet Stonhouse of Radley.
On or after 22nd April 1633, the date of the licence, George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 29] and Margaret Lovelace [aged 18] were married.
Around 1638 [his son] George Stonhouse 4th Baronet was born to George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 34] and [his wife] Margaret Lovelace [aged 23].
In 1639 [his son] John Stonhouse 2nd Baronet was born to George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 35] and [his wife] Margaret Lovelace [aged 24]. He married on or after 10th October 1668 Martha Briggs and had issue.
In 1640 [his son] James Stonehouse was born to George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 36] and [his wife] Margaret Lovelace [aged 25].
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In April 1640 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 36] was elected MP Abingdon.
In November 1640 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 37] was elected MP Abingdon which seat he held until 22 Jan 1644.
On 23rd May 1660 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 56] was elected MP Abingdon.
In 1661 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 57] was elected MP Abingdon which seat he held until his death on 31 Mar 1675.
In 1665 [his son] James Stonehouse [aged 25] died.
On or after 10th October 1668 [his son] John Stonhouse 2nd Baronet [aged 29] and [his daughter-in-law] Martha Briggs were married. The license was dated 10th October 1668.
In 1670 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 66] was created 1st Baronet Stonhouse of Radley. He was attempting to disinherit his eldest son George Stonhouse 4th Baronet [aged 32], for unknown reasons, by surrendering the original Baronetcy and creating a new one with remainder to his younger sons, and with the precedency of the original creation. The plan failed when his eldest son successfully claimed the original baronetcy, while his younger brother John succeeded in the baronetcy created by the new patent. The two Baronetcies were subsequently combined on the failure of the male line of George Stonhouse 4th Baronet.
On 31st March 1675 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 37] succeeded 4th Baronet Stonhouse of Radley. His son John [aged 36] succeeded 2nd Baronet Stonhouse of Radley.
Around 1693 [his former wife] Margaret Lovelace [aged 78] died.