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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Paternal Family Tree: Pennyman
On 9th November 1732 [his father] Ralph Pennyman [age 30] and [his mother] Bridget Gee [age 31] were married.
On or before 6th December 1736 James Pennyman 6th Baronet was born to [his father] Ralph Pennyman [age 34] and [his mother] Bridget Gee [age 35].
In 1756 James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 19] matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxford University.
On 9th December 1762 James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 26] and Elizabeth Grey Lady Pennyman. They had six sons and four daughters, all of whom died without issue.
On or before 31st January 1764 [his son] William Henry Pennyman was born to James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 27] and Elizabeth Grey Lady Pennyman. He was baptised on 31st January 1764 at St Mary and St Nicholas Church, Beverley. Dugdale's visitation however gives the baptismal date as the 21st of January 1764. He married before 3rd May 1848 Charlotte Robinson.
On 23rd August 1768 [his father] Ralph Pennyman [age 66] died.
On 14th January 1770 [his uncle] Warton Pennyman-Warton 5th Baronet [age 69] died. His nephew James [age 33] succeeded 6th Baronet Pennyman of Ormesby in Yorkshire. Elizabeth Grey Lady Pennyman by marriage Lady Pennyman of Ormesby in Yorkshire.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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On 27th November 1770 James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 33] was elected MP Scarborough at a by-election.
In 1774 James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 37] was elected MP Beverley which seat he held until 1796.
On 7th June 1774 [his mother] Bridget Gee [age 73] died.
In May 1801 James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 64] and Mary Maleham of Westminster Lady Pennyman were married a few weeks after the death of his first wife Elizabeth Grey Lady Pennyman. She by marriage Lady Pennyman of Ormesby in Yorkshire.
On 27th March 1808 James Pennyman 6th Baronet [age 71] died. His son William [age 44] succeeded 7th Baronet Pennyman of Ormesby in Yorkshire.
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pennyman
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Pennyman 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Pennyman 2nd Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Stephen Norcliffe
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Norcliffe Lady Pennyman
GrandFather: James Pennyman 3rd Baronet
Great x 4 Grandfather: Christopher Lowther 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Lowther of Lowther Hall
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Lowther 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Lowther
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Fletcher
Father: Ralph Pennyman
GrandFather: William Gee
Mother: Bridget Gee