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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Paternal Family Tree: Adams aka Anson
Maternal Family Tree: Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield 1800-1879
After 1800. Memorial to three children who died young of [her future husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon at All Saints Church, Sudbury [Map].
On 11th February 1819 [her father] Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield (age 23) and [her mother] Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 19) were married.
On 26th December 1827 Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon was born to [her father] Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield (age 32) and [her mother] Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 27).
1832. George Hayter (age 39). Portrait of [her mother] Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 32) with two of her children [her brother] Thomas George Anson 2nd Earl Lichfield (age 6) and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 4).
Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield: In 1800 she was born to Nathaniel Phillips. On 11th February 1819 Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield and she were married. On 20th August 1879 she died in Hill Street.
On 29th August 1843 [her brother-in-law] Francis Richard Charteris 10th Earl of Wemyss (age 25) and [her sister] Anne Frederica Anson Countess Wemyss (age 20) were married. She the daughter of [her father] Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield (age 47) and [her mother] Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 43). He the son of Francis Charles Charteris 9th Earl of Wemyss (age 47) and Louisa Bingham Countess Wemyss (age 45).
On 7th June 1851 Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (age 22) and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 23) were married. She the daughter of Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield (age 55) and Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 51). They were third cousins.
On 8th February 1853 [her daughter] Mildred Venables-Vernon was born to [her husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (age 24) and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 25). She married 2nd November 1878 Henry Augustus Stanhope, son of Philip Stanhope 5th Earl Stanhope and Emily Harriet Countess Stanhope.
On 25th February 1854 [her son] George William Henry Venables-Vernon 7th Baron Vernon was born to [her husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (age 25) and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 26). He married 14th July 1885 Frances Margaret Lawrance Baroness Vernon and had issue.
On 18th March 1854 [her father] Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield (age 58) died. His son [her brother] Thomas (age 28) succeeded 2nd Earl Lichfield, 3rd Viscount Anson of Shugborough and Orgrave in Staffordshire and 3rd Baron Soberton of Soberton in Hampshire
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 10th April 1855 [her brother] Thomas George Anson 2nd Earl Lichfield (age 29) and [her sister-in-law] Harriet Georgiana Louisa Hamilton Countess Lichfield (age 21) were married. She by marriage Countess Lichfield. She the daughter of James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn (age 44) and Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn (age 42). He the son of [her father] Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield and [her mother] Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 55).
On 18th July 1856 [her son] William Frederick Cuthbert Vernon was born to [her husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (age 27) and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 28). He married before 22nd April 1890 Louisa Frost and had issue.
On 31st May 1866 [her father-in-law] George Venables-Vernon aka Warren 5th Baron Vernon (age 62) died in Gibralta. His son [her husband] Augustus (age 37) succeeded 6th Baron Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire. Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 38) by marriage Baroness Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire.
On 12th October 1870 [her daughter] Adela Venables-Vernon was born to [her husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (age 41) and Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 42). She married before 13th January 1897 her second cousin once removed Rear-Admiral Algernon Horatio Anson, son of John William Hamilton Anson 2nd Baronet and Elizabeth Catherine Pack Lady Anson, and had issue.
On 2nd November 1878 [her son-in-law] Henry Augustus Stanhope (age 32) and [her daughter] Mildred Venables-Vernon (age 25) were married. He the son of Philip Stanhope 5th Earl Stanhope and Emily Harriet Countess Stanhope.
On 20th August 1879 [her mother] Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 79) died in Hill Street.
On 1st January 1883 Francis Charles Charteris 9th Earl of Wemyss (age 86) died. His son [her brother-in-law] Francis (age 64) succeeded 10th Earl Wemyss, 3rd Baron Wemyss of Wemyss in Fife. [her sister] Anne Frederica Anson Countess Wemyss (age 59) by marriage Countess Wemyss.
On 1st May 1883 [her husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (age 54) died. His son [her son] George (age 29) succeeded 7th Baron Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire.
After 1st May 1883. All Saints Church, Sudbury [Map]. Monument to [her former husband] Augustus Henry Vernon 6th Baron Vernon (deceased) and his wife Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 55) commissioned by their son [her son] George William Henry Venables-Vernon 7th Baron Vernon (age 29) who died before the monument was completed.
On 14th July 1885 [her son] George William Henry Venables-Vernon 7th Baron Vernon (age 31) and [her daughter-in-law] Frances Margaret Lawrance Baroness Vernon were married. She by marriage Baroness Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire.
Before 22nd April 1890 [her son] William Frederick Cuthbert Vernon (age 33) and [her daughter-in-law] Louisa Frost (age 29) were married.
On 7th January 1892 [her brother] Thomas George Anson 2nd Earl Lichfield (age 66) died. His son [her nephew] Thomas (age 36) succeeded 3rd Earl Lichfield, 4th Viscount Anson of Shugborough and Orgrave in Staffordshire and 4th Baron Soberton of Soberton in Hampshire. Mildred Coke Countess Lichfield (age 38) by marriage Countess Lichfield.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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On 22nd July 1896 [her sister] Anne Frederica Anson Countess Wemyss (age 73) died.
Before 13th January 1897 [her son-in-law] Rear-Admiral Algernon Horatio Anson (age 42) and [her daughter] Adela Venables-Vernon (age 26) were married. They were second cousin once removed.
On 15th February 1898 Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon (age 70) died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 26 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 30 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 27 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 2 Grandfather: Sambrooke Adams 
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Adams aka Anson
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Anson
Great x 2 Grandmother: Janette Anson
GrandFather: Thomas Anson 1st Viscount Anson 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Vernon 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Vernon 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Vernon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Pigot of Chetwynd in Shropshire
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Pigot
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Venables-Vernon 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Simon Harcourt 1st Viscount Harcourt 
15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Simon Harcourt 16 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton 17 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John The Younger Evelyn
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Evelyn
Father: Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gabriel Roberts
Great x 3 Grandfather: Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Roberts 15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Wenman 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Wenman Roberts aka Coke 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Coke 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Coke 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Carey Newton 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Coke 1st Earl of Leicester 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Chamberlayne of Wardington
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Chamberlayne
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Chamberlayne
Great x 4 Grandfather: Rear-Admiral Thomas Hardy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Constance Hardy
GrandMother: Anne Margaret Coke Viscountess Anson 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Naper
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Naper
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Lenox Dutton 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Dutton 1st Baronet 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Dutton 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Barwick Lady Dutton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Dutton 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Christopher Bond
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Bond
Harriet Frances Maria Anson Baroness Vernon 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Nathaniel Phillips
Mother: Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield