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: Oxley
On 4th July 1871 [her father] Henry Oxley (age 18) and [her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 21) were married at The Minster Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Halifax [Map]. The witnesses were her brother [her uncle] Frederick Bottomley (age 24) and John Thomas.
Frederick Bottomley: Around 1847 he was born to John Bottomley and Sarah Whitworth at Sowerby Bridge [Map].
1881. 1881 Census Lancashire St Anns Springfield Street. 5 Springfield Street, Lancaster.
[her father] Henry Oxley (age 28). Head. 28. Certificated Schoolmaster. Leeds [Map].
[her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 31). Wife. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her sister] Ada Oxley. Daughter. 7. Scholar. Leeds [Map].
Edith Oxley. Daughter. 5. Scholar. Bedale.
[her brother] Harry Oxley (age 3). 3. Son. Barthomley, Cheshire.
[her brother] Frederick Oxley. 1. Son. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
Ada Oxley: Around 1884 she was born to Henry Oxley and Mary Hannah Bottomley.
Around 1886 Edith Oxley was born to [her father] Henry Oxley (age 33) and [her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 36) at .
1891. 1891 Census Manchester Gorton Church Lane. 115 Church Lane, Gorton.
[her father] Henry Oxley (age 38). Head. 38. Schoolmaster.
[her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 41). Wife. 39.
[her sister] Ada Oxley (age 7). Daughter. 17.
Edith Oxley (age 5). Daughter. 15. Scholar.
[her brother] Harry Oxley (age 13). Son. 13.
[her brother] Frederick Oxley (age 10). Son. 11.
[her sister] Florence Oxley (age 9). Daughter. 7.
[her brother] Herbert Oxley (age 8). Son. 6
[her sister] Sarah Oxley (age 5). Daughter. 3.
1901. 1901 Census Lancashire South Manchester Chorlton cum Medlock. 11 Abbey Street, Chorlton on Medlock.
[her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 51). 48. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
Edith Oxley (age 15). Daughter. 25. Bedale.
[her brother] Harry Oxley (age 23). 23. Son. Bookeeper. Barthomley, Cheshire.
[her brother] Frederick Oxley (age 20). 21. Son. Grocers Assistant. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her sister] Florence Oxley (age 19). 18. Fancy?? Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her brother] Herbert Oxley (age 18). 16. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her sister] Sarah Oxley (age 15). 13. Heywood, Manchester.
[her brother] William Oxley (age 11). Son. 11. Gorton.
[her sister] Winifred Oxley (age 9). Daughter. 9. Gorton.
On 30th December 1902 [her father] Henry Oxley (age 50) died at 10 Rectory Street, Leeds. He left a widow [her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 53), and six children: Edith Oxley (age 16), [her sister] Florence Oxley (age 20), [her sister] Sarah Oxley (age 16), [her brother] William Oxley (age 12), [her sister] Winifred Oxley (age 10), all single, and [her brother] Harry Oxley (age 24), married with one daughter. He was buried at Becket Street Cemetery, Leeds. He is described as a Commercial Traveller; all censuses describe him as a School-Master? Grave 8804.
1911. 1911 Census Lancashire South Manchester Didsbury. 41 Haydn Avenue, Moss Side.
[her mother] Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 61). 60. Widow. House Keeper. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
Edith Oxley (age 25). 35. Single. Milliner. Bedale. Shown as Bedale, Cheshire.
[her sister] Florence Oxley (age 29). 28. Single. Photographers Assistant. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her sister] Sarah Oxley (age 25). 23. Single. Photographers Assistant. Heywood, Manchester.
[her brother] William Oxley (age 21). 20. Single. Ships Steward. Gorton.
[her sister] Winifred Oxley (age 19). 18. Single. None. Working at home. Gorton.
[her brother] Harry Oxley (age 33). 33. Married 6 Years. 2 Born Alive and still living. Mercantile Clerk. Stone Merchant. Barthomley, Cheshire.
Madge Oxley (age 5). 5. Daughter of Harry. Didsbury, Manchester.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Oxley
GrandFather: John Francis Oxley
Father: Henry Oxley
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Richardson
GrandMother: Isabella Richardson
Great x 1 Grandfather: Jeremiah Bottomley
GrandFather: John Bottomley
Mother: Mary Hannah Bottomley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Whitworth
GrandMother: Sarah Whitworth
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sarah m Whitworth