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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Around 1732 [his father] Robert Hamond (age 37) and [his mother] Susanna Snape were married.
On 17th December 1738 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet was born to [his father] Robert Hamond (age 44) and [his mother] Susanna Snape in Blackheath, London.
In 1753 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 14) joined the Royal Navy in 1753 and served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution.
In April 1763 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 24) and Cecilia Sutherland were married.
On 28th November 1763 [his mother] Susanna Snape died.
On 27th March 1775 [his father] Robert Hamond (age 81) died.
In or before 1778 [his wife] Cecilia Sutherland died.
In 1778 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 39) commanded a warship during the defence of Sandy Hook, for which he was knighted.
On 8th March 1779 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 40) and Anne Graeme Lady Hamond were married.
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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On 30th December 1779 [his son] Graham Hamond 2nd Baronet was born to Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 41) and [his wife] Anne Graeme Lady Hamond. He married December 1806 Elizabeth Kimber Lady Hamond and had issue.
On 18th December 1783 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 45) was created 1st Baronet Hamond of Holly Grove in Berkshire with a special remainder to his nephew, Captain Andrew Snape Douglas. [his wife] Anne Graeme Lady Hamond by marriage [his son] Graham Hamond 2nd Baronet (age 3).
On 11th October 1804 [his son-in-law] Francis Wheler Hood (age 23) and [his daughter] Caroline Hamond were married.
In December 1806 [his son] Graham Hamond 2nd Baronet (age 26) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Kimber Lady Hamond were married.
Before 1828. James Northcote (age 81). Portrait of Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 89).
On 7th September 1838 [his wife] Anne Graeme Lady Hamond died.
On 12th October 1838 Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet (age 99) died. His son Graham (age 58) succeeded 2nd Baronet Hamond of Holly Grove in Berkshire. Elizabeth Kimber Lady Hamond by marriage Lady Hamond of Holly Grove in Berkshire.
[his daughter] Caroline Hamond was born to Andrew Snape Hamond 1st Baronet and Anne Graeme Lady Hamond. She married 11th October 1804 Francis Wheler Hood, son of Henry Hood 2nd Viscount Hood and Jane Wheler Viscountess Hood, and had issue.