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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In or before 1839 [her father] William Smith (age 25) and [her mother] Martha m William Smith were married.
In April 1843 Sophia Smith was born to [her father] William Smith (age 30) and [her mother] Martha m William Smith at Mottram, Cheshire.
1851. 1851 Census Cheshire Mottram. Back Lane, Mottram.
[her father] William Smith (age 38). Head. 38. Butcher.
[her mother] Martha m William Smith. Wife. 34. Housekeeper.
Sophia Smith (age 7). Daughter. 8.
1861. 1861 Census Cheshire Hyde Newton District 1. Castle Street, Newton.
[her father] William Smith (age 48). Head. 48.
[her mother] Martha m William Smith. Wife. 44.
Sophia Smith (age 17). Daughter. 18.
William Smith: Around 1813 he was born. In or before 1839 he and Martha m William Smith were married. Around 1875 he died.
Around 1875 [her father] William Smith (age 62) died.
On or before 1876 George Chadwick (age 36) and Sophia Smith (age 32) were married.
On or before 13th February 1876 [her son] Harry Chadwick was born to [her husband] George Chadwick (age 36) and Sophia Smith (age 32) at Hadfield, Derbyshire [Map]. He married 1st July 1901 Alice Haigh and had issue.
Harry Chadwick: On 1st July 1901 Harry Chadwick and Alice Haigh were married at All Saints Church, Glossop [Map]. In May 1923 Harry Chadwick died at Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map].
1881. 1881 Cheshire Tintwhistle. 5 New Road, Tintwhistle.
[her husband] George Chadwick (age 41). Head. 41. General Labourer.
Sophia Smith (age 37). Wife. 38.
[her son] Harry Chadwick (age 4). Son. 5.
In 1883 Sophia Smith (age 39) died at Hadfield, Derbyshire [Map].
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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In July 1909 [her former husband] George Chadwick (age 69) died at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire [Map].