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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On 23rd February 1740 Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet was born to [his father] Alexander Emerson.
On 16th April 1762 Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 22] and Anna Maria Amcotts were married.
On 24th June 1763 [his daughter] Elizabeth Amcotts Lady Ingilby was born to Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 23] and [his wife] Anna Maria Amcotts. She married 25th October 1780 John Ingilby 1st Baronet and had issue.
On 13th May 1777 Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 37] changed his surname from Emerson to Amcotts by Royal Licence.
In 1780 Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 39] was elected MP Retford which seat he held until 1802.
On 25th October 1780 [his son-in-law] John Ingilby 1st Baronet [aged 22] and [his daughter] Elizabeth Amcotts Lady Ingilby [aged 17] were married.
In 1791 [his father] Alexander Emerson died.
On 11th May 1796 Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 56] was created 1st Baronet Amcotts of Kettlethopre Park in Lincolnshire with a special remainder to his daughter Elizabeth's [aged 32] son William Amcotts-Ingilby 2nd Baronet [aged 12].
Around 1804 [his daughter] Sophia Louisa Emerson Amcotts was born to Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 63]. She married 15th June 1826 Mathew Wilson 1st Baronet and had issue.
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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On 26th September 1807 Wharton Emerson aka Amcotts 1st Baronet [aged 67] died. His grandson William [aged 24] succeeded 2nd Baronet Amcotts of Kettlethopre Park in Lincolnshire.