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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Paternal Family Tree: Wood of Hatherley House
Before 2nd June 1768 [his father] William Wood and [his mother] Catherine Cluse were married.
On 2nd June 1768 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet was born to [his father] William Wood and [his mother] Catherine Cluse.
On 5th November 1795 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 27) and Maria Page were married.
In 1796 [his son] Reverend John Page-Wood 2nd Baronet was born to Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 27) and [his wife] Maria Page.
In 1798 [his mother] Catherine Cluse died.
On 29th November 1801 [his son] William Page Wood 1st Baron Hatherley was born to Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 33) and [his wife] Maria Page. He married 1830 Charlotte Moor.
On 4th January 1804 [his son] Western Wood was born to Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 35) and [his wife] Maria Page.
In 1809 [his father] William Wood died.
In 1809 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 40) was appointed Sheriff of London.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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In 1815 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 46) was elected Lord Mayor of London.
In 1817 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 48) was elected Lord Mayor of London.
In June 1817 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 48) was elected MP City of London unopposed at a by-election. He held the seat until his death.
On 7th June 1820 Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville (age 26) noted in his diary "The Queen (age 52) arrived in London yesterday at seven o'clock ... She travelled in an open landau, Alderman Wood (age 52) sitting by her side and Lady Anne Hamilton (age 54) and another woman opposite. Everybody was disgusted at the vulgarity of Wood in sitting in the place of honour, while the Duke of Hamilton's (age 52) sister was sitting backwards in the carriage"
In 1830 [his son] William Page Wood 1st Baron Hatherley (age 28) and [his daughter-in-law] Charlotte Moor were married. There was no issue from the marriage.
In 1837 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 68) was created 1st Baronet Wood of Hatherley House in Gloucestershire.
On 25th September 1843 Matthew Wood 1st Baronet (age 75) died. His son John (age 47) succeeded 2nd Baronet Wood of Hatherley House in Gloucestershire.
On 2nd July 1848 [his former wife] Maria Page died.