Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Paternal Family Tree: Collier
John Collier is in Painters.
In 1844 [his father] Robert Collier 1st Baron Monkswell (age 26) and [his mother] Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell (age 29) were married.
On 27th January 1850 John Collier was born to [his father] Robert Collier 1st Baron Monkswell (age 32) and [his mother] Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell (age 35).
In July 1873 [his brother] Robert Collier 2nd Baron Monkswell (age 28) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Josephine Hardcastle Baroness Monkswell (age 23) were married.
Around 1877. John Collier (age 26). Portrait of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury (age 75).
1878. John Collier (age 27). Portrait of William Kingdon Clifford (age 32).
On 30th June 1879 John Collier (age 29) and Marian "Mady" Huxley (age 20) were married. They had one child. He would marry her sister Emma aka Ethel Huxley (age 13) ten years later; Married to Two Siblings.
1880. John Collier (age 29). Portrait of John Dalton Hooker (age 62).
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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1881. John Collier (age 30). Portrait of Francis Dukinfield Astley. The portrait possible posthumous, or the date earlier?
Francis Dukinfield Astley: On 29th May 1853 he was born to Francis Dukinfield Palmer Astley. On 2nd August 1880 Francis Dukinfield Astley drowned in Canada while shooting rapids in a boat with two Indian guides whilst on a sporting holiday with a group of friends.
1881. John Collier (age 30). (Copy of) Portrait of Charles Darwin (age 71).
1882. John Collier (age 31). "Clytemnestra".
1882. John Collier (age 31). Portrait of James Prescott Joule (age 63).
Around 1883. John Collier (age 32). Portrait of [his wife] Marian "Mady" Huxley (age 24); the artist's wife.
Marian "Mady" Huxley: In 1859 she was born to Thomas Henry Huxley. On 30th June 1879 John Collier and she were married. They had one child. He would marry her sister Emma aka Ethel Huxley ten years later; Married to Two Siblings. In 1887 she died. In 1889 John Collier and Emma aka Ethel Huxley were married in Norway; marriage to a former wife's sister being illegal in England at the time. She the sister of his late wife Marian "Mady" Huxley; Married to Two Siblings.
1883. John Collier (age 32). Portrait of [his father-in-law] Thomas Henry Huxley (age 57).
Thomas Henry Huxley: On 4th May 1825 he was born. On 29th June 1895 he died.
1884. John Collier (age 33). Portrait of Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baron Shuttleworth (age 39).
Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baron Shuttleworth: On 18th December 1844 he was born to James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baronet and Janet Shuttleworth. On 26th May 1877 James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baronet died. His son Ughtred succeeded 2nd Baronet Kay-Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire. On 20th December 1939 he died. His grandson Richard succeeded 2nd Baron Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe in Lancashire, Richard Kay-Shuttleworth 2nd Baron Shuttleworth, 3rd Baronet Kay-Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire.
On 21st July 1884 [his daughter] Joyce Collier was born to John Collier (age 34) and [his wife] Marian "Mady" Huxley (age 25).
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Around 1885. John Collier (age 34). "Circe".
In 1886 [his mother] Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell (age 71) died.
On 27th October 1886 [his father] Robert Collier 1st Baron Monkswell (age 69) died. His son [his brother] Robert (age 41) succeeded 2nd Baron Monkswell of Monkswell in Devon. [his sister-in-law] Mary Josephine Hardcastle Baroness Monkswell (age 36) by marriage Baroness Monkswell of Monkswell in Devon.
In 1887 [his wife] Marian "Mady" Huxley (age 28) died.
1889. John Collier (age 38). "Lilith".
In 1889 John Collier (age 38) and Emma aka Ethel Huxley (age 23) were married in Norway; marriage to a former wife's sister being illegal in England at the time. She the sister of his late wife Marian "Mady" Huxley; Married to Two Siblings.
1890. John Collier (age 39). Portrait of [his former father-in-law] Thomas Henry Huxley (age 64).
1890. John Collier (age 39). The Death of Cleopatra.
1892. John Collier (age 41). "Lady Darling". Possibly a portrait of (possiblyMary Caroline Greathed (age 28) although it isn't clear whether she was Lady Darling in 1892?
Mary Caroline Greathed: In 1864 she was born to Major-General William Wilberforce Greathed and Alice Clive. On 16th September 1885 Charles John Darling 1st Baron Darling and she were married. On 5th November 1913 she died.
1892. John Collier (age 41). "In the Forest of Arden".
1893. John Collier (age 42). Portrait of James Laing (age 69).
James Laing: On 11th January 1823 he was born. In 1855 he and Theresa Talbot Peacock were married at St Andrew's Church, Bishop Auckland. On 15th December 1901 he died.
1893. John Collier (age 42). Portrait of Mabel Gwynedd Terry-Lewis (age 20).
Mabel Gwynedd Terry-Lewis: On 28th October 1872 she was born to Arthur James Lewis and Kate Terry. On 28th November 1957 she died.
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.
1895. John Collier (age 44). Portrait of Cecilia Loftus aka Brown (age 18).
Cecilia Loftus aka Brown: On 22nd October 1876 she was born. On 29th August 1894 Justin Huntly McCarthy and she were married in Edinburgh following an elopement. They divorced in 1899. In 1898 Cecilia Loftus aka Brown appeared in The Children of the King at the Royal Court Theatre. On 12th July 1943 she died at the Lincoln Hotel, New York. She was buried at the Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla in a plot provided by the Actor's Fund.
1896. John Collier (age 45). Portrait of Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet (age 67).
Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet: On 9th August 1828 he was born to Henry Halford 2nd Baronet and Barbara Vaughan. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.12%. On 23rd July 1853 Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Ursula Bagshawe Lady Halford were married. On 22nd May 1868 Henry Halford 2nd Baronet died. His son Henry succeeded 3rd Baronet Vaughan aka Halford of Wistow in Leicestershire. On 4th January 1897 Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet died. His brother John succeeded 4th Baronet Vaughan aka Halford of Wistow in Leicestershire; he died three months later.
In or before 1898. John Collier (age 47). "Lady Godiva".
1900. John Collier (age 49). "Queen Guinevre's Maying".
1901. John Collier (age 50). Portrait of Samuel Cunliffe Lister 1st Baron Masham (age 85).
Samuel Cunliffe Lister 1st Baron Masham: On 1st January 1815 he was born. In 1891 Samuel Cunliffe Lister 1st Baron Masham was created 1st Baron Masham of Swinton On 2nd February 1906 he died. His son Samuel succeeded 2nd Baron Masham of Swinton.
1901. John Collier (age 50). "In the Venusberg".
1901. John Collier (age 50). Portrait of Florence Rachel Hamilton-Russell (age 25).
Florence Rachel Hamilton-Russell: Around 1876 she was born to Gustavus Hamilton-Russell 8th Viscount Boyne and Katherine Frances Scott. On 3rd April 1957 she died unmarried.
In 1903. John Collier (age 52). Portrait of William Onslow 4th Earl Onslow (age 49).
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.
In 1904. John Collier (age 53). Portrait of Charles Strickland 8th Baronet (age 84).
Around 1905. John Collier (age 54). Portrait of Bishop Watkin Williams (age 59).
After 1907. John Collier (age 56). Portrait of Ella Priestly (age 21), wife of Lieutenant Colonel Harold Ritchie (age 31).
Ella Priestly: On 14th July 1885 she was born. On 6th January 1907 Lieutenant Colonel Harold Ritchie and she were married. On 12th February 1956 she died.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Ritchie: In 1876 he was born. In 1918 he died from wounds.
1908. John Collier (age 57). Portrait of George Venables-Vernon aka Warren 5th Baron Vernon.
On 22nd December 1909 [his brother] Robert Collier 2nd Baron Monkswell (age 64) died. His son [his nephew] Robert succeeded 3rd Baron Monkswell of Monkswell in Devon.
Before 1913. John Collier (age 62). Portrait of John Lubbock 1st Baron Avebury (age 78).
1913. John Collier (age 62). Portrait of Edward George Littleton 3rd Baron Hatherton (age 70).
1913. John Collier (age 62). Portrait of Herbrand Arthur Russell 11th Duke Bedford (age 54).
Around 1914. John Collier (age 63). "Clytemnestra".
1914. John Collier (age 63). Portrait of Angela McInnes
1921. John Collier (age 70). "The Sleeping Beauty".
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.
Before 1934. John Collier (age 83). Portrait of Doris Allen Lady Vernon (age 50).
Doris Allen Lady Vernon: In 1883 she was born. In 1905 Bowater Vernon 2nd Baronet and she were married. In 1962 she died.
Before 1934. John Collier (age 83). Portrait of a lady in pink carrying a bowl of pink carnations
Before 1934. Style of John Collier (age 83). Portrait of Emmeline "Nina" Welby-Gregory (age 66).
On 11th April 1934 John Collier (age 84) died.
In 1941 [his former wife] Emma aka Ethel Huxley (age 75) died.
GrandFather: John Collier
GrandFather: William Rose of Woolston Heath
Mother: Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell