William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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Paternal Family Tree: Hadfield
Charles Hadfield. Son. 4.
29th May 1884. 1884 Marriage Banns New Mills. Thomas Hadfield [aged 27] and Elizabeth Oakes [aged 32] were married. He a Farmer. His father, a farmer, Charles Hadfield deceased. Her father, a Blacksmith, Robert Oakes [aged 66] deceased.
On 25th August 1886 Charles Hadfield was born to [his father] Thomas Hadfield [aged 29] and [his mother] Elizabeth Oakes [aged 34] at Mellor, Cheshire [Map].
1901. 1901 Census Derbyshire 37 Cobden Edge. Cobden Edge [Map].
[his father] Thomas Hadfield [aged 44]. Head. 45. Railway Labourer.
[his mother] Elizabeth Oakes [aged 49]. Wife. 49.
Charles Hadfield [aged 14]. Son. 14. Calico Printer Works Labourer.
[his brother] William Hadfield. Son. 12.
Before 8th January 1903 [his mother] Elizabeth Oakes [aged 51] died. She was living at Cobden Edge [Map]. She was buried on 8th January 1890 at Mellor, Cheshire [Map].
On 30th December 1905 Charles Hadfield [aged 19] and Caroline Wood [aged 50] were married. The difference in their ages was 31 years; she, unusually, being older than him.
Around 1909 [his son] George Hadfield was born to Charles Hadfield [aged 22] and [his wife] Caroline Wood [aged 53] at Mellor, Cheshire [Map].
Before 1911 Charles Hadfield [aged 24] and [his wife] Caroline Wood [aged 55] had two children who died in infancy. See 1911 Census.
2nd April 1911. 1911 Census Derbyshire New Mills Back Meal Street. 2 Back Meal Street [Map]
Charles Hadfield [aged 24]. Head. 24. Carter Coal Merchant.
[his wife] Caroline Wood [aged 56]. Wife. 24.
[his son] George Hadfield [aged 2]. Son. 2.
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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In December 1916 [his daughter] Edith Hadfield was born to Charles Hadfield [aged 30] at Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire [Map]. She married September 1938 Harold Hyde aka Oxley and had issue.
In January 1920 Charles Hadfield [aged 33] and Edith Fletcher [aged 23] were married.
On 11th October 1937 [his wife] Caroline Wood [aged 82] died at 139 Hayfield Road [Map].
In September 1938 [his son-in-law] Harold Hyde aka Oxley [aged 25] and [his daughter] Edith Hadfield [aged 21] were married at Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire [Map].
In January 1959 Charles Hadfield [aged 72] died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Hadfield
GrandFather: Charles Hadfield
Father: Thomas Hadfield
GrandFather: Robert Oakes
Mother: Elizabeth Oakes