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.
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In 1766 Maria Smith Marchioness Northampton was born to [her father] Joshua Smith of Erlestoke Merchant [aged 34].
On 18th August 1787 Charles Compton 1st Marquess Northampton [aged 27] and Maria Smith Marchioness Northampton [aged 21] were married. He the son of Spencer Compton 8th Earl of Northampton [aged 49] and Jane Lawton Countess Northampton.
On 7th April 1796 [her father-in-law] Spencer Compton 8th Earl of Northampton [aged 57] died. His son [her husband] Charles [aged 36] succeeded 9th Earl of Northampton. Maria Smith Marchioness Northampton [aged 30] by marriage Countess of Northampton.
In 1812 [her husband] Charles Compton 1st Marquess Northampton [aged 51] was created 1st Marquess Northampton, 1st Earl Compton of Compton in Warwickshire, 1st Baron Wilmington of Wilmington in Sussex. Maria Smith Marchioness Northampton [aged 46] by marriage Marchioness Northampton.
On 20th March 1819 [her father] Joshua Smith of Erlestoke Merchant [aged 87] died.
On 24th May 1828 [her husband] Charles Compton 1st Marquess Northampton [aged 68] died. His son Spencer [aged 38] succeeded 2nd Marquess Northampton, 10th Earl of Northampton, 2nd Earl Compton of Compton in Warwickshire, 2nd Baron Wilmington of Wilmington in Sussex. Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane Marchioness Northampton [aged 36] by marriage Marchioness Northampton.
On 14th March 1843 Maria Smith Marchioness Northampton [aged 77] died.
Floor tiles at Church of St Mary Magdalen, Castle Ashby [Map]: Here lies the bodies of Jane the first wife of Spencer Compton 8th Earl of Northampton, Charles Compton 1st Marquess Northampton, Mary his wife also of Spencer Second Marquis of Northampton and Margaret his wife and also his grandchildren.
Jane Lawton Countess Northampton: In 1758 Spencer Compton 8th Earl of Northampton and she were married. On 18th October 1763 Charles Compton 7th Earl of Northampton died. His brother Spencer succeeded 8th Earl of Northampton. She by marriage Countess of Northampton. On 26th November 1767 she died.