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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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Before 21st January 1661 [his father] Francis Le Neve and [his mother] Avice Wright were married.
In 1662 Oliver le Neve was born to [his father] Francis Le Neve and [his mother] Avice Wright.
In 1681 [his father] Francis Le Neve died.
In 1684 Oliver le Neve (age 22) and Anne Gawdy (age 28) were married.
On 18th February 1696 [his wife] Anne Gawdy (age 40) died. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Great Witchingham.
On 20th August 1698 Henry Hobart 4th Baronet (age 41) died from wounds he had received in a duel with Oliver le Neve (age 36) at Cawston Heath, Norfolk. His son John (age 4) succeeded 5th Baronet Hobart of Intwood in Norfolk.
On 20th August 1698 Oliver le Neve (age 36) and Henry Hobart 4th Baronet (age 41) fought a duel at Cawston Heath, Norfolk. Henry Hobart 4th Baronet received a fatal wound; he died the next day.
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 31st July 1707 Oliver le Neve (age 45) and Elizabeth Sheffield (age 29) were married. She died three months later.
On 8th November 1707 [his wife] Elizabeth Sheffield (age 29) died. She was buried on 12th November 1707 at St Mary's Church, Great Witchingham.
On 23rd November 1711 Oliver le Neve (age 49) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Great Witchingham where his three surviving daughters commissioned a memorial which has the inscription: "Under the earth near this stone lyeth the dust of Oliver le Neve Esq late of this parish one of the Justices of the Peace and Captain of a Foot Company of the Militia of this County Second son of [his father] Frances le Neve gentleman Citizen and Draper of London and of [his mother] Avice his wife daughter of [his grandfather] Peter Wright and sister and heir of Peter Wright of London Merchant he died on the 23rd day of November Anno Domino 1711 and was buried on the 26th of the same month leaving behind him by his first wife Anne only ye daughter of Sir John Gaudy of West Herling in this County Baronet (who lyeth by his side) three daughters and co-heirs Isabella Anne and Henrietta Le Neve who caused this Memorial to be set up As also what remains of [his former wife] Elizabeth his second wife daughter and co-heir expectant of Robert Sheffield of Kensington in Middlesex Esq grandson of Edmund Earl of Mulgrave long since deceased she died suddenly on the 8th day of November 1707 without child and was buried here on the 12th day of the same month. Tam Math quam Mercurio [As much a man of war as commerce]"