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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Kensington is in London.
On 23rd June 1876 Matthew Noble [aged 59] died at his home 43 Abingdon Villas, Kensington. He was buried at Brompton Cemetery, Kensington.
On 6th March 1927 Marie Spartali aka Stillman [aged 82] died at Ashburn Place, Kensington. She was buried with her husband at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking.
On 3rd October 1860 Alfred Edward Chalon [aged 80] died at Campden Hill.
From 1862 John Everett Millais 1st Baronet [aged 32] and Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais [aged 33] lived at 7 Cromwell Place, Kensington.
1871 Census. 7 Cromwell Place, Kensington.
John Everett Millais 1st Baronet [aged 41]
Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais [aged 42]
Mary [aged 11]
Geoffrey [aged 7]
John [aged 6]
Sophia [aged 3]
Effie [aged 13]
William [aged 43]
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The Nashville was located at the corner of Cromwell Road, Kensington and North End Road, Kensington.
On 24th August 1703 Lionel Boyle 3rd Earl Orrery [aged 32] died at Earls Court, Kensington.
On 5th August 1802 Richard Grosvenor 1st Earl Grosvenor [aged 71] died at Earls Court, Kensington. He was buried at Grosvenor Vault, St Mary's Church, Eccleston. His son Robert [aged 35] succeeded 2nd Earl Grosvenor, 8th Baronet Grosvenor of Eaton in Cheshire. Eleanor Egerton Marchioness Westminster [aged 32] by marriage Countess Grosvenor.
On 20th April 1848 Katherine Isabella Manners [aged 39] died of smallpox at 47 Eaton Place, Kensington.
Edwardes Place, Kensington was laid out and built from 1810 to 1819. The entire terrace was bought by Hugh Morton Shand.
Around 1878 Alexander Faulkner Shand [aged 19] moved to 1 Edwardes Place, Kensington, a property owned by his father Hugh Morton Shand [aged 62], where he lived for until he died in 1936.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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On 6th January 1936 Alexander Faulkner Shand [aged 77] died at 1 Edwardes Place, Kensington.
In 1682 Jean Chardin [aged 38] was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. He was living at Holland House at the time.
Before 1711 Francis Edwardes [aged 53] and Elizabeth Rich were married. She brought substantial estates including Holland House to the marriage being the heiress of her nephew Edward Rich 7th Earl Warwick 4th Earl Holland [aged 12]. She the daughter of Robert Rich 5th Earl Warwick 2nd Earl Holland and Anne Montagu Countess Warwick and Holland.
In 1605 Walter Cope [aged 52] commissioned the building of Cope Castle Holland House.
On 30th July 1614 Walter Cope [aged 61] died at Cope Castle Holland House.
On 6th August 1745 Henry Shirley 3rd Earl Ferrers [aged 53] died at Kensington Gore. His nephew Laurence [aged 24] succeeded 4th Earl Ferrers, 10th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 19th October 1887 Edward Albert Sassoon 2nd Baronet [aged 31] and Aline Caroline de Rothschild [aged 19] were married two days before her twentieth birthday in a ceremony in the synagogue at the Rue de la Victoire in Paris. The couple set up home at 25 Kensington Gore, where Aline, a talented artist, set up her own studio.
On 7th April 1663 William Clifton 3rd Baronet was christened at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington.
On 7th September 1759 Edward Richard 8th Earl Warwick 5th Earl Holland [aged 64] died without male issue. He was buried at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington. Earl Warwick, Earl Holland, and Baron Rich of Leez extinct.
On 7th November 1769 Charlotte Rich [aged 56] died. She was buried at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington.
On 21st December 1810 Thomas Neville Abdy 1st Baronet was born to Captain Anthony Abdy [aged 30] and Grace Rich [aged 18]. He was educated at Winchester College, Winchester. He was baptised at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington on 14th December 1811. He married 19th October 1841 Harriet Alston and had issue.
On 18th March 1865 John Lockwood Kipling [aged 27] and Alice Macdonald [aged 27] were married at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington.
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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On 5th May 1888 Augustine Birrell [aged 38] and Eleanor Locker [aged 34] were married at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington.
On 23rd August 1903 Alexandra Leighton [aged 74] died at 11 Kensington Park Gardens.
In 1866 Edward Coley Burne-Jones 1st Baronet [aged 32] and his family moved to 41 Kensington Square.
Around July 1866 Margaret Burne-Jones was born to Edward Coley Burne-Jones 1st Baronet [aged 32] and Georgiana Macdonald Lady Burne-Jones [aged 25] at 41 Kensington Square.
In 1881 William Hamo Thornycroft [aged 30] was living at his father's home 2A Melbury Road, Kensington [Map].
The Nashville was located at the corner of Cromwell Road, Kensington and North End Road, Kensington.
On 22nd March 1908 John William Crombie [aged 50] died at his home in Onslow Square, Kensington. His funeral was held at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen where he was buried.
3rd April 1881. Census. 2 Palace Gate, Kensington.
John Everett Millais 1st Baronet [aged 51]
Alice Millais
Geoffrey [aged 17]
Jean Gray.
William [aged 53]
Five servants.
Geoffrey William Millais 4th Baronet: On 18th September 1863 he was born to John Everett Millais 1st Baronet and Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais. On 30th September 1920 John Everett Millais 3rd Baronet died. His uncle Geoffrey succeeded 4th Baronet Millais of Palace Gate in Kensington in Middlesex. On 7th November 1941 Geoffrey William Millais 4th Baronet died. His son Ralph succeeded 5th Baronet Millais of Palace Gate in Kensington in Middlesex.
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5th April 1881. Census. 2 Palace Gate, Kensington.
John Everett Millais 1st Baronet [aged 51]
Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais [aged 52]
Mary
John, Grandchild
Euphemia, Grandchild
Albert Gray, Brother-in-law
Nine servants.
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On 21st June 1814 Gilbert Elliot 1st Earl Minto [aged 63] died at his home 4 Prince's Terrace, Kensington. He was buried in Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son Gilbert [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Earl Minto of Minto in Roxburghshire, 5th Baronet Elliot of Minto.
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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In 1909 Charles Frederick Ratcliffe and Dorothy Una Ratcliffe nee Clough [aged 21] were married at St Stephen's Church, Kensington.
On 27th May 1848 Princess Sophia Hanover [aged 70] died at Vicarage Place Kensington. Princess Augusta Hesse-Kassel Duchess Cambridge [aged 50] and Marie Luise Victoria Saxe Coburg Gotha Duchess Kent and Strathearn [aged 61] were present.
On 6th May 1879 Hilary Lushington Hunt was born to William Holman Hunt [aged 52] and Marion Edith Waugh [aged 32] at 2 Warwick Gardens, Kensington.
3rd April 1881. Census. 2 Warwick Gardens, Kensington
William Holman Hunt [aged 54]. Head. 54. Artist.
Marion Edith Waugh [aged 34]. Wife. 34.
Gladys Hunt [aged 3]. Daughter. 4.
Hilary Lushington Hunt [aged 1]. Son. 1.
Mary A Ottaway. 42. Nurse.
Josephine M Murphy. 23. Housemaid.
Ada M Clemens. 23. Nurse.
Annie Burton. 26. Cook.
Gladys Hunt: In 1878 she was born to William Holman Hunt and Marion Edith Waugh at Jerusalem [Map].
Hilary Lushington Hunt: On 6th May 1879 he was born to William Holman Hunt and Marion Edith Waugh at 2 Warwick Gardens, Kensington.
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In 1891 William Hamo Thornycroft [aged 40] was living at 18 Wynnstay Gardens, Kensington [Map] with his wife Agatha Cox [aged 26] with two children Oliver and Joan.