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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Paternal Family Tree: Cholmondeley
In 1747 [his father] George Cholmondeley [aged 22] and [his mother] Hester Edwardes [aged 19] were married. He the son of [his grandfather] George Cholmondeley 3rd Earl Cholmondeley [aged 43] and [his grandmother] Mary Walpole.
On 11th May 1749 George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley was born to [his father] George Cholmondeley [aged 24] and [his mother] Hester Edwardes [aged 21].
On 15th March 1764 [his father] George Cholmondeley [aged 39] died.
On 10th June 1770 [his grandfather] George Cholmondeley 3rd Earl Cholmondeley [aged 67] died. His grandson George [aged 21] succeeded 4th Earl Cholmondeley in Cheshire, 5th Viscount Cholmondeley of Kells in County Meath, 4th Viscount Malpas in Cheshire, 4th Baron Cholmondeley Nampwich in Cheshire, 3rd Baron Newburgh of Newburgh in Anglesey, 3rd Baron Newborough of Newborough in County Wexford.
In 1776 Grace Dalrymple [aged 22] became the mistress of George Cholmondeley [aged 26] for around three years.
Diary of Caroline Girlie. Here Mrs. Elliott [aged 22] remained until she was brought over to England by Lord Cholmondeley [aged 26] . She was subsequently introduced to the Prince of Wales [aged 13], who had been struck with the exquisite beauty of her portrait, which he had accidentally seen at Houghton. So celebrated was she for her personal charms that there are several portraits of her by eminent painters still in existence, among others, one by Cosway, which embellishes this volume, another, by Gainsborough, at Lord Cholmondeley's.
On 30th March 1782 Georgiana Augusta Frederica Seymour was born to King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 19] and Grace Elliott. Alternatively she may have been the daughter of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 32]; both men claimed paternity. Paternity was also claimed by Charles William Wyndham [aged 21] among others. She married 21st September 1808 Charles Cavendish-Bentinck, son of William Cavendish-Bentinck 3rd Duke Portland and Dorothy Cavendish 3rd Duchess Portland.
Before 4th February 1787 Pompeo Batoni [aged 79]. Portrait of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 37].
Around 1790 [his illegitimate daughter] Harriet Cholmondeley was born illegitimately to George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 40] and Unamed Saint Albin.
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 25th April 1791 George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 41] and Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 29] were married. She by marriage Countess Cholmondeley in Cheshire. She the daughter of Peregrine Bertie 3rd Duke Ancaster and Kesteven and Mary Panton Duchess Ancaster and Kesteven.
On 16th January 1792 [his son] George Cholmondeley 2nd Marquess Cholmondeley was born to George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 42] and [his wife] Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 30]. He married (1) 20th October 1812 Caroline Anne Julie Campbell (2) 11th May 1830 his fifth cousin once removed Susan Carolina Somerset Marchioness Cholmondeley, daughter of Henry Charles Somerset 6th Duke Beaufort and Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower Duchess Beaufort.
On 3rd September 1794 [his mother] Hester Edwardes [aged 66] died.
On 16th February 1795 [his daughter] Charlotte Georgiana Cholmondeley was born to George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 45] and [his wife] Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 33]. She married 18th May 1818 her half third cousin Hugh Henry Seymour-Conway and had issue.
On 31st March 1800 [his son] William Cholmondeley 3rd Marquess Cholmondeley was born to George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 50] and [his wife] Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 38]. He married 28th February 1825 Marcia Emma Georgiana Arbuthnot Marchioness Cholmondeley and had issue.
On 1st January 1812 [his son-in-law] John "Radical Jack" Lambton 1st Earl Durham [aged 19] and [his illegitimate daughter] Harriet Cholmondeley [aged 22] were married at Gretna Green. She the illegitmate daughter of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 62] and Unamed Saint Albin.
On 20th October 1812 George Cholmondeley 2nd Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 20] and Caroline Anne Julie Campbell were married at Gibraltar. He the son of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 63] and Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 51].
On 11th July 1815 [his illegitimate daughter] Harriet Cholmondeley [aged 25] died.
The London Gazette 17066. Whitehall, September 30, 1815.
His Royal, Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the Dignities of Earl and Marquess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the Right Honourable George James Earl of Cholmondeley [aged 66], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Earl of Rocksavage, in the county palatine of Chester, and Marquess Cholmondeley. [Note. [his wife] Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 54] by marriage Marchioness Cholmondeley.]
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable James Walter [aged 40], Viscount Grimston, of that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland, and Baron Verulam of Gorhambury, in the county of Hertford, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Grimston and Earl Verulam.
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Baron and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable Charles Viscount Whitworth [aged 63], Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, His Majesty's Lieutenant-General and General Governor of Ireland, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Baron Adbaston, in the county of Stafford, and Earl Whitworth.
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable John Lord Brownlow [aged 36], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Alford, of Alford in the county of Lincoln, and Earl Brownlow.
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignity of Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable John Craggs Lord Eliot [aged 54], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, stile, and title of Earl of Saint Germains, in the county of Cornwall.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable John Lord Boringdon [aged 43], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, stiles, and titles of Viscount Boringdon, of North Malton, in the County of Devon, and Earl Morley, of Morley in the said county.
His Royal Highness bas also been pleased, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable Orlando Baron Bradford [aged 53], and the heirs mile of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Newport, in the county of Salop, and Earl of Bradford, in the said, county. [Note. Lucy Elizabeth Byng Countess Bradford [aged 48] by marriage Countess Bradford.]
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable William Baron Beauchamp [aged 68], of Powyke, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Elmley, in the county of Worcester, and Earl of Beauchamp. [Catherine Denn Countess Beauchamp by marriage Countess Beauchamp.]
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty to grant the dignity of a Viscount of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable Alan Hyde Lord Gardner [aged 45], Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron of his Majesty's fleet, by the name, stile, and title of Viscount Gardner. [Note. He died before the patent had passed the Great Seal so the patent was null and void.]
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On 18th May 1818 [his son-in-law] Hugh Henry Seymour-Conway [aged 27] and Charlotte Georgiana Cholmondeley [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 69] and Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 56]. They were half third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.
In 1822 George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 72] was appointed 656th Knight of the Garter by King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 59].
On 28th February 1825 William Cholmondeley 3rd Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 24] and Marcia Emma Georgiana Arbuthnot Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 21] were married at Cholmondeley House. He the son of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 75] and Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 63].
On 10th April 1827 George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 77] died. His son George [aged 35] succeeded 2nd Marquess Cholmondeley, 5th Earl Cholmondeley in Cheshire, 2nd Earl Rocksavage of Cheshire, 6th Viscount Cholmondeley of Kells in County Meath, 5th Viscount Malpas in Cheshire, 5th Baron Cholmondeley Nampwich in Cheshire, 4th Baron Newburgh of Newburgh in Anglesey, 4th Baron Newborough of Newborough in County Wexford.
On 23rd June 1838 [his former wife] Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 76] died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 29 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 27 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh "The Younger" Cholmondeley 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Cholmondeley
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Holford
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Cholmondeley 1st Viscount Cholmondeley
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Bodville
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Cholmondeley 2nd Earl Cholmondeley
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Cradock
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cradock Viscountess Cholmondley
GrandFather: George Cholmondeley 3rd Earl Cholmondeley 16 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Adrian Heer van Ruytenburgh
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elisabeth van Ruytenburgh Baroness Newborough and Newburgh 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Prince Maurice I of Orange 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Nassau Beverweert 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaretha van Mechelen
Great x 2 Grandmother: Wilhemina Anna van Nassau 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: George Cholmondeley 17 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Walpole 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Walpole of Houghton
Great x 4 Grandmother: Susan Barkham 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Colonel Robert Walpole
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Crane 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandmother: Susan Crane
Great x 4 Grandmother: Susan Alinton
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Walpole 1st Earl Orford
GrandMother: Mary Walpole
George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley 18 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Edwardes 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Edwardes 2nd Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Edwardes 3rd Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Warburton 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Warburton
GrandFather: Francis Edwardes 4th Baronet
Mother: Hester Edwardes