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: Fletcher
In or before 1633 [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 32) and [his mother] Catherine Dalston were married.
Around 1633 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet was born to [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 33) and [his mother] Catherine Dalston.
In 1641 [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 41) was created 1st Baronet Fletcher of Hutton le Forest in Cumberland.
On 24th September 1645 [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 45) died. His son George (age 12) succeeded 2nd Baronet Fletcher of Hutton le Forest in Cumberland.
On 27th February 1654 or 27th February 1655 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 21) and Alice Hare were married. They had a son and three daughters.
In 1658 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Cumberland which seat he held until 1679.
In 1658 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 25) was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland.
In April 1661 [his son] Henry Fletcher 3rd Baronet was born to George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 28) and [his wife] Alice Hare.
Before 1665 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 31) and Mary Johnstone Lady Fletcher were married. They had two sons and two daughters.
Around 1666 [his son] George Fletcher was born to George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 33) and [his wife] Mary Johnstone Lady Fletcher.
In 1680 [his son-in-law] Lionel Vane (age 33) and [his daughter] Catherine Fletcher were married.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1680 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 47) was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland.
In 1681 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 48) was elected MP Cumberland which seat he held until 1685.
In 1689 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 56) was elected MP Cumberland which seat he held until his death in 1700.
On 23rd July 1700 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 67) died. His son Henry (age 39) succeeded 3rd Baronet Fletcher of Hutton le Forest in Cumberland.
[his daughter] Catherine Fletcher was born to George Fletcher 2nd Baronet and Alice Hare. She married 1680 Lionel Vane and had issue.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Fletcher
GrandFather: Richard Fletcher
Father: Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet
GrandFather: George Dalston
Mother: Catherine Dalston