The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Paternal Family Tree: Ricketts aka Jervis
On 19th April 1757 [his father] William Henry Ricketts [aged 20] and [his mother] Mary Jervis [aged 20] were married.
On 4th November 1764 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis was born to [his father] William Henry Ricketts [aged 27] and [his mother] Mary Jervis [aged 27] at Park Street, Grosvenor Square, Belgravia.
In 1781 William Ricketts [aged 16] entered the service aboard the Foudroyant commanded by his uncle John Jervis [aged 45].
On 20th April 1782 the Foudroyant captured the Pégase 74 after a long chase off Brest. William Ricketts [aged 17] was present.
On 5th September 1782 William Ricketts [aged 17] was promoted to Lieutenant, and he joined the Success.
On 5th September 1782 William Ricketts [aged 17] was promoted to Commander.
On 29th January 1790 [his brother] Edward Jervis Ricketts aka Jervis 2nd Viscount St Vincent [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Cassandra Twisleton [aged 15] were married.
In 1792 [his future wife] Elizabeth Jane Lambert [aged 16] was awarded damages of four thousand guineas against a newspaper which had alleged that she had eloped with a footman.
On 9th November 1793 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis [aged 29] and Elizabeth Jane Lambert [aged 18] were married.
In 1799 [his brother] Edward Jervis Ricketts aka Jervis 2nd Viscount St Vincent [aged 31] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Cassandra Twisleton [aged 24] were divorced.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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In 1799 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis [aged 34] and Elizabeth Jane Lambert [aged 23] were divorced by an Act of Parliament following Elizabeth's infidelity with a Captain Hargrave of the Lancashire Fencibles, whereupon Jervis was awarded a thousand guineas damages.
On 5th October 1799 [his father] William Henry Ricketts [aged 62] died. Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis [aged 34] and [his brother] Edward Jervis Ricketts aka Jervis 2nd Viscount St Vincent [aged 32] jointly inherited the estate of Mount Ricketts in Jamaica with a deferral of twenty-one years, together with the estate of Canaan on that island.
The London Gazette 15336. Whitehall, April 21, 1801. The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Viscount of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honorable [his uncle] John Earl of St. Vincent [aged 66], Knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, and Admiral of the White Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet, and to the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten by the Name, Style, and Title of Viscount St. Vincent, of Meaford, in the County of Stafford, with Remainders severally and successively to William Henry Ricketts [aged 36], Esq; Captain in the Royal Navy, and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten; to [his brother] Edward Jervis Ricketts [aged 34], Esq; Barrister at Law, Brother of the said William Henry Ricketts, and Sons of [his mother] Mary Ricketts [aged 64] by [his father] William Henry Ricketts. Esq; late of the Island of Jamaica, deceased, and Sister to the said John Earl of St. Vincent, and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, and the Dignity of Viscountess St. Vincent, of Meaford, in the said County.of Stafford, to the Right Honourable [his sister] Mary Countess of Northesk [aged 32], Daughter of the said Mary Ricketts, and Widow of William Henry Ricketts aforesaid, and the Dignity of Viscount St. Vincent to the Heirs Male of her Body lawfully be gotten.
On 26th January 1805 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis [aged 40] drowned at Brest when the four-oared gig in which he and Captain Patrick Campbell of the Doris had set off to attend Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton [aged 47] aboard his flagship San Josef capsized. Campbell survived by clinging to an oar, but Jervis died despite the valiant efforts of his coxswain who stayed with his captain until he could no longer save him.
On 17th January 1830 [his former wife] Elizabeth Jane Lambert [aged 54] died.
Father: William Henry Ricketts
Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis
GrandFather: Swynfen Jervis
Mother: Mary Jervis