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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Paternal Family Tree: Bruce of Elgin
On 20th July 1766 Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin was born to Charles Bruce 9th Earl Kincardine 5th Earl Elgin (age 34) at Broomhall House, Broomhall.
On 14th May 1771 [his father] Charles Bruce 9th Earl Kincardine 5th Earl Elgin (age 38) died. His son [his brother] Charles (age 7) succeeded 10th Earl Kincardine, 6th Earl Elgin.
After 14th May 1771 [his brother] Charles Bruce 10th Earl Kincardine 6th Earl Elgin (deceased) died. His brother Thomas (age 4) succeeded 11th Earl Kincardine, 7th Earl Elgin.
On 11th March 1799 Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin (age 32) and Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Elgin. They had two sons and three daughters. They divorced before 20th April 1808 she having been accused of having an affair with Robert Ferguson of Raith (age 29) whom she subsequently married. The Earl sued Ferguson in both England and Scotland and won £10,000. He the son of Charles Bruce 9th Earl Kincardine 5th Earl Elgin.
On 20th April 1808 Robert Ferguson of Raith (age 38) and [his wife] Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin (age 30) were married.
On 21st September 1810 Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin (age 44) and Elizabeth Oswald Countess Kincardine and Elgin (age 20) were married. The difference in their ages was 23 years. He the son of Charles Bruce 9th Earl Kincardine 5th Earl Elgin.
On 20th July 1811 [his son] James Bruce 12th Earl Kincardine 8th Earl Elgin was born to Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin (age 45) and [his wife] Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin (age 33).
On 3rd April 1822 [his daughter] Augusta Elizabeth Frederica Bruce was born to Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin (age 55) and [his wife] Elizabeth Oswald Countess Kincardine and Elgin (age 32).
On 22nd April 1841 [his son] James Bruce 12th Earl Kincardine 8th Earl Elgin (age 29) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Mary Cumming Bruce Countess Kincardine and Elgin were married. He the son of Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin 1766-1841 (age 74) and [his wife] Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin (age 63).
On 14th November 1841 Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin (age 75) died at Paris [Map]. His son [his son] James (age 30) succeeded 12th Earl Kincardine, 8th Earl Elgin. [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Mary Cumming Bruce Countess Kincardine and Elgin by marriage Countess Kincardine, Countess Elgin.
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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On 9th July 1855 [his former wife] Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin (age 77) died.
In 1860 [his former wife] Elizabeth Oswald Countess Kincardine and Elgin (age 70) died.
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Bruce
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Bruce
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Bruce 4th Earl Kincardine
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Bruce 7th Earl Kincardine
GrandFather: William Bruce 8th Earl Kincardine