This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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Paternal Family Tree: Egerton
On 28th December 1711 Samuel Egerton was born to [his father] John Egerton [aged 32] and [his mother] Elizabeth Barbour at Tatton Park, Cheshire.
Before 9th July 1720 [his father] John Egerton [aged 41] and [his mother] Elizabeth Barbour were married.
On 9th July 1720 [his father] John Egerton [aged 41] died.
On 4th January 1736 John Egerton died. His brother Samuel Egerton [aged 24] inherited Tatton Park, Cheshire.
Before 10th February 1743 [his mother] Elizabeth Barbour died.
In 1750 Samuel Egerton [aged 38] and Beatrix Copley [aged 29] were married.
In 1754 Samuel Egerton [aged 42] was elected MP Cheshire.
Before 1st May 1755 [his wife] Beatrix Copley [aged 34] died from childbirth. On 1st May 1755 she was buried.
In 1758 Samuel Egerton [aged 46] inherited the considerable estates of his uncle Samuel Barbour aka Hill of Shenstone Park [aged 67].
On 10th February 1780 Samuel Egerton [aged 68] died. On 19th February 1780 he was buried at St Mary's Church, Rostherne, Tatton [Map]. Monument sculpted by John "The Elder" Bacon [aged 39]. Figures representing Hope and Patience.
The monument inscription describes those also buried in the vault: [his father] John Egerton, his wife Elizabeth Barbour buried 10th February 1743, her mother Elizabeth Hill [aged 85] buried 17th April 1713 and John and Elizabeth's daughter-in-law Beatrix Copley [aged 22] buried 1st May 1755.
[his daughter] Beatrix Egerton was born to Samuel Egerton and Beatrix Copley.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Egerton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Sparkes of Bickerton
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Ravenscroft of Bretton
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ravenscroft
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Grosvenor 
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Egerton 2nd Earl Bridgewater 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Clifford Countess Derby 
Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Spencer 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Spencer Countess Derby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Kitson 
GrandFather: Thomas Egerton 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cavendish 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Cavendish 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Cuthbert Ogle 7th Baron Ogle 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Ogle 8th Baroness Ogle 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Carnaby Baroness Ogle 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Bridgewater 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Bassett 
13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Bassett 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzherbert 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: John Egerton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Busby
GrandMother: Hester Busby
Samuel Egerton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
GrandFather: Samuel Barbour of Preese
Mother: Elizabeth Barbour
Great x 2 Grandfather: Rowland Hill of Hawkestone
Great x 1 Grandfather: Rowland Hill
GrandMother: Elizabeth Hill