Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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Paternal Family Tree: Hadfield
On 3rd August 1800 [his father] John Hadfield (age 22) and [his step-mother] Ann Olerenshaw (age 24) were married.
On 20th October 1818 Charles Hadfield was born to [his father] John Hadfield (age 40) at Barnesfold. There is a list of Non-confirmists that describes his birth as 20th October 1818 and his parents.
1841. 1841 Census Derbyshire Glossop Hayfield Ollerset Page 1. Ollerset [Map].
Charles Hadfield (age 22). 22. Bleacher.
In or before 1846 Charles Hadfield (age 27) and Ann Goodwin (age 26) were married.
Around 1846 [his daughter] Anne Hadfield was born to Charles Hadfield (age 27) and [his wife] Ann Goodwin (age 26).
Around 1849 [his son] William Hadfield was born to Charles Hadfield (age 30) and [his wife] Ann Goodwin (age 29). He must have died young since he doesn't appear on the 1861 census.
30th March 1851. 1851 Census Derbyshire Mellor Page 21. Cobden Edge [Map].
Charles Hadfield (age 32). Head. 33. Farmer 38 Acres.
Ann Hadfield. Wife. 32.
[his daughter] Anne Hadfield (age 5). Daughter. 4. Cotton Factory Worker.
[his son] William Hadfield (age 2). Son. 2.
Jane Goodwin. Niece. 13. Servant.
William Goodwin. Nephew. 2.
Anne Hadfield: Around 1846 she was born to Charles Hadfield and Ann Goodwin.
William Hadfield: Around 1849 he was born to Charles Hadfield and Ann Goodwin. He must have died young since he doesn't appear on the 1861 census.
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Around 1857 [his son] Thomas Hadfield was born to Charles Hadfield (age 38) and [his wife] Ann Goodwin (age 37). He married 29th May 1884 Elizabeth Oakes and had issue.
Around 1860 [his son] John Hadfield was born to Charles Hadfield (age 41) and [his wife] Ann Goodwin (age 40). He married 26th June 1881 Hannah Redford and had issue.
1861. 1861 Census Derbyshire Mellor Cobden Edge Page 10. Cobden Edge [Map].
Charles Hadfield (age 42). Head. 43. Farmer 38 Acres.
Ann Hadfield. Wife. 42.
[his daughter] Anne Hadfield (age 15). Daughter. 14. Cotton Factory Worker.
[his son] John Hadfield (age 1). Son. 1
[his son] Thomas Hadfield (age 4). Son. 4.
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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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On 15th December 1861 [his father] John Hadfield (age 83) died.
1871. 1871 Census Derbyshire Mellor Page 10. Cobden Edge [Map].
Charles Hadfield (age 52). Head. 53. Farmer of 38 Acres.
Ann Hadfield. Wife. 56. Farmer's wife.
[his son] Thomas Hadfield (age 14). 13. Calico Print Worker.
[his son] John Hadfield (age 11). 11. Scholar.
1881. 1881 Census Derbyshire Mellor Page 3. Cobden Edge [Map].
Charles Hadfield (age 62). Head. 62. Farmer of 38 Acres.
[his wife] Ann Goodwin (age 61). Wife. 61. Farmer's wife.
[his son] Thomas Hadfield (age 24). 23. Slurry? Cotton Print Works.
[his son] John Hadfield (age 21). 21. Carter Cotton Print Works.
On 26th June 1881 [his son] John Hadfield (age 21) and [his daughter-in-law] Hannah Redford (age 21) were married at St Matthew's Church, Hayfield [Map] where they were botth resident. He was recorded as a Carder, she as a Card? Hand.
On 18th December 1882 Charles Hadfield (age 64) died at Cobden Edge [Map]. His will was probated 31st January 1882.
29th May 1884. 1884 Marriage Banns New Mills. [his son] Thomas Hadfield (age 27) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Oakes (age 32) were married. He a Farmer. His father, a farmer, Charles Hadfield deceased. Her father, a Blacksmith, Robert Oakes (age 66) deceased.
In or after 1901 [his former wife] Ann Goodwin (deceased) died. She was recorded on the 1901 Census.