The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 3rd March 1756 William Godwin was born.
On 29th March 1797 William Godwin [aged 41] and Mary Wollstonecraft [aged 37] were married probably because Mary Wollstonecraft was pregnant with Mary Godwin aka Shelley who was born five months later and who Mary Wollstonecraft wanted to be legitimate.
30th August 1797 [his daughter] Mary Godwin aka Shelley was born to William Godwin [aged 41] and [his wife] Mary Wollstonecraft [aged 38]. She married 30th December 1816 Percy Bysshe Shelley, son of Timothy Shelley 2nd Baronet and Elizabeth Pilfold, and had issue.
On 10th September 1797 [his wife] Mary Wollstonecraft [aged 38] died from childbirth eleven days after the birth of [his daughter] Mary Godwin aka Shelley.
On 21st December 1801 William Godwin [aged 45] and Mary Jane de Vial [aged 33] were married. She was pregnant at the time; the second marriage of his precipitated by pregnancy. The child died young.
1802. James Northcote [aged 55]. Portrait of William Godwin [aged 45].
In 1803 [his son] William Godwin was born to William Godwin [aged 46] and [his wife] Mary Jane de Vial [aged 35].
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. The upshot came on the 28th of July, when [his future son-in-law] Shelley [aged 21] aided [his daughter] Mary [aged 16] [Mary Godwin aka Shelley] to elope from her father's house, [his illegitimate step-daughter] Claire Clairmont [aged 16] deciding to accompany them. They crossed to Calais, and proceeded across France into Switzerland. Godwin [aged 58] and his wife were greatly incensed. Though he and Mary Wollstonecraft had entertained and avowed bold opinions regarding the marriage-bond, similar to Shelley's own, and had in their time acted upon these opinions, it is not clearly made out that Mary Godwin had ever been encouraged by paternal influence to think or do the like. Shelley and she chose to act upon their own likings and responsibility - he disregarding any claim which Harriet had upon him, and Mary setting at nought her father's authority. Both were prepared to ignore the law of the land and the rules of society. The three young people returned to London in September.
30th December 1816 [his son-in-law] Percy Bysshe Shelley [aged 24] and [his daughter] Mary Godwin aka Shelley [aged 19] were married.
On 8th September 1832 [his son] William Godwin [aged 29] died.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 7th April 1836 William Godwin [aged 80] died.
On 17th June 1841 [his former wife] Mary Jane de Vial [aged 73] died.
Cansisk's Monumental Inscriptions Volume 1 Old St Pancras Churchyard. Churchyard St Pancras Old Church [Map]. Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; Born 27th April 1759: Died 10th September, 1797.1
William Godwin, Author of Political Justice. Born March 3rd 1756: Died April 7th 1836, Aged 80 years.
Mary Jane [deceased], Second Wife of William Godwin, Died June I7th 1841, Aged 75 years.
Note 1. This well-known writer was bom in 1759. The place of her birth is uncertain, but is supposed to have been at a farm in Epping Forest. At an early age she engaged herself in the occupation of tuition, for which she was eminently qualified. Unhappily, her sentiments on religious subjects were most exceptional, and she had imbibed principles hostile to that system which has been long established for the regulation of civil society. It was well, therefore, that after a few years she declined the employment of tuition, and confined herself to her pen. Having a contempt for the institution of marriage, she entered into a connection with Mr. Imlay, an American merchant, whom she met at Paris in 1792, and made with him a tour in the north of Europe, of which she gave an account in an interesting volume of letters in 1796. In consequence of the desertion of this gentleman, she resolved upon destroying herself (having failed in the attempt a few months before); she went by water from London Bridge to Putney, and deliberately jumped off Putney Bridge in the month of October, 1795. She was baffled in her attempt this time; her clothes having buoyed her up, she was rescued 'by some watermen. In July, 1796, Mrs. Wollstonecraft took a house at Somers Town, in the parish of St. Pancras, not long after which she formed a connection with the well-known author of "Political Justice," &c. Their sentiments were perfectly in unison, and they both had so thorough a contempt for the rite of marriage, that it was only in consequence of her pregnancy, and the apprehension that she might incur that exclusion from the society of many valuable and esteemed friends which custom awards ip cases of this kind, that they were induced to comply with that ceremony. In April, 1797, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin took a house in the Polygon, Somers Town, where on the 10th of September following Mrs. Godwin died, eleven days after having given birth to a daughter. She was the mother of the future wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet.