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: Cholmeley of Easton
On 20th March 1772 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet was born to [his father] Montague Cholmeley of Easton.
On 14th September 1801 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 29] and Elizabeth Harrison Lady Cholmeley were married.
On 5th August 1802 [his son] Montague Cholmeley 2nd Baronet was born to Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 30] and [his wife] Elizabeth Harrison Lady Cholmeley. He married 10th February 1829 Georgiana Beauclerk Lady Cholmeley, daughter of William Beauclerk 8th Duke St Albans and Maria Janetta Nelthorpe Duchess St Albans, and had issue.
In 1805 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 32] was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
On 25th February 1806 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 33] was created 1st Baronet Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire. [his wife] Elizabeth Harrison Lady Cholmeley by marriage Lady Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire.
The London Gazette 15892. Whitehall, February 25, 1806.
The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and lreland to the following Gentlemen, and the respective Heirs Male of their Bodies lawfully begotten.
Charles Hastings [age 53], of Willesley-Hall, in the County of Leicester, Esq; Lieutenant-General of His Majesties Forces.
Bysshe Shelley [age 74], of Castle Goring, in the County of Sussex, Esq.
Montagu Cholmeley [age 33], of Easton, in the County of Lincoln, Esq.
Thomas Sutton [age 51], of Molesey in the County of Surrey, Esq.
In 1820 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 47] was elected MP Grantham which seat he held until 1826 when he retired in favour of his son Montague Cholmeley 2nd Baronet [age 17].
In 1821 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 48] was Vice-President of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews.
In 1822 [his wife] Elizabeth Harrison Lady Cholmeley died.
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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On 5th August 1825 [his son-in-law] John Jacob Buxton 2nd Baronet [age 36] and [his daughter] Elizabeth Cholmeley were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square.
On 26th March 1826 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 54] and Catherine Way Lady Cholmeley were married. She by marriage Lady Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire.
On 6th March 1828 [his son-in-law] Glynne Earl Welby 3rd Baronet [age 21] and [his daughter] Frances Cholmeley were married.
On 10th February 1829 [his son] Montague Cholmeley 2nd Baronet [age 26] and [his daughter-in-law] Georgiana Beauclerk Lady Cholmeley [age 20] were married. She the daughter of William Beauclerk 8th Duke St Albans and Maria Janetta Nelthorpe Duchess St Albans.
On 10th March 1831 Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet [age 58] died. He was buried at St Andrew and St Mary's Church, Stoke Rochford where he has a monument by Robert Blore [age 51]. His son Montague [age 28] succeeded 2nd Baronet Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire. Georgiana Beauclerk Lady Cholmeley [age 22] by marriage Lady Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Cholmeley was born to Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Harrison Lady Cholmeley. She married 5th August 1825 John Jacob Buxton 2nd Baronet, son of Robert John Buxton 1st Baronet, and had issue.
[his daughter] Frances Cholmeley was born to Montague Cholmeley 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Harrison Lady Cholmeley. She married 6th March 1828 Glynne Earl Welby 3rd Baronet, son of William Welby 2nd Baronet, and had issue.