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Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Biography of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey 1764-1845

Paternal Family Tree: Grey

In 1762 [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 32) and [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 18) were married.

On 13th March 1764 Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey was born to [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 34) and [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 20).

On 20th February 1792 [his illegitimate daughter] Eliza Courtenay was born illegitimately to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 27) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire (age 34) at Aix en Provence whilst she, Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire was married to William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 44). The Duchess was forced to relinquish the child shortly after her birth, to be raised by Charles Grey's parents, [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 62) and [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 48). The surname Courtenay was derived from her great-uncle, her maternal grandmother's brother, William Poyntz (age 57). She married 10th December 1814 Robert Charles Ellice and had issue.

On 18th November 1794 Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 30) and Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 18) were married. She the daughter of William Ponsonby 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly in County Cork (age 50) and Louisa Molesworth Countess Fitzwilliam (age 45). He the son of Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 65) and Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 50).

In 1796 [his daughter] Stillborn Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 31) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 19).

On 7th April 1797 [his daughter] Louisa Elizabeth Grey Countess Durham was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 33) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 21). She married 9th December 1816 John "Radical Jack" Lambton 1st Earl Durham and had issue.

On 10th July 1798 [his daughter] Elizabeth Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 34) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 22). She married 13th May 1826 John Crocker Bulteel and had issue.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 30th August 1799 [his daughter] Caroline Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 35) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 23). She married 15th January 1827 George Barrington, son of George Barrington 5th Viscount Barrington and Elizabeth Adair Viscountess Barrington.

On 17th February 1801 [his daughter] Georgiana Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 36) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 24).

On 28th December 1802 [his son] Henry George Grey 3rd Earl Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 38) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 26). He married 9th August 1832 Maria Copley 3rd Countess Grey, daughter of Joseph Copley 3rd Baronet and Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn.

On 15th March 1804 [his son] Charles Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 40) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 28). He married 26th July 1836 Caroline Eliza Farquhar, daughter of Thomas Harvie Farquhar 2nd Baronet, and had issue.

On 23rd August 1805 [his son] Admiral Frederick William Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 41) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 29). He married 20th July 1846 Barbara Sullivan.

On 2nd March 1807 [his daughter] Mary Grey Viscountess Halifax was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 42) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 30). She married 29th July 1829 Charles Wood 1st Viscount Halifax, son of Francis Lindley Wood 2nd Baronet and Anne Buck Lady Wood, and had issue.

On 14th November 1807 [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 78) died. His son Charles (age 43) succeeded 2nd Earl Grey, 2nd Viscount Grey of Howick in Northumberland, 2nd Baron Grey of Howick in Northumberland. [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 31) by marriage Countess Grey.

In 1808 [his uncle] Henry Grey 2nd Baronet (age 86) died. His nephew Charles (age 43) succeeded 3rd Baronet Grey of Howick in Northumberland.

Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

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On 13th May 1808 [his son] William Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 44) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 32). He died aged six in 1815.

On 21st March 1809 [his brother] Bishop Edward Grey (age 26) and [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Elizabeth Croft were married. He the son of [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey and [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 65).

On 16th May 1809 [his son] Admiral George Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 45) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 33). He married 20th January 1845 Jane Frances Stuart and had issue.

On 29th December 1810 [his son] Thomas Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 46) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 34).

On 2nd March 1812 [his son] John Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 47) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 35). He married (1) July 1836 Georgiana Elizabeth Charlotte Hervey, daughter of Frederick William Hervey 1st Marquess of Bristol and Elizabeth Albana Upton (2) 11th April 1874 Helen Spalding.

On 31st March 1813 [his son] Francis Richard Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 49) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 37). He married 12th August 1840 his third cousin Elizabeth Dorothy Anne Howard, daughter of George Howard 6th Earl Carlisle and Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle.

On 16th October 1814 [his son] Henry Cavendish Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 50) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 38).

On 10th December 1814 [his son-in-law] Robert Charles Ellice (age 30) and [his illegitimate daughter] Eliza Courtenay (age 22) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 50) and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire.

On 11th February 1815 [his son] William Grey (age 6) died.

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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On 9th December 1816 [his son-in-law] John "Radical Jack" Lambton 1st Earl Durham (age 24) and [his daughter] Louisa Elizabeth Grey Countess Durham (age 19) were married at Howick Hall, Northumberland [Map]. She the daughter of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 52) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 40).

On 15th February 1819 [his son] William George Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 54) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 42). He married 20th September 1858 Theresa Stedink.

1820. Thomas Phillips (age 49). Portrait of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 55).

In 1822 [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 78) died.

On 9th September 1824 [his brother] Bishop Edward Grey (age 42) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Adair were married. He the son of [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey and [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey.

On 13th May 1826 [his son-in-law] John Crocker Bulteel (age 33) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Grey (age 27) were married. She the daughter of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 62) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 50).

On 8th July 1826 [his son] Thomas Grey (age 15) died.

On 15th January 1827 [his son-in-law] George Barrington (age 32) and [his daughter] Caroline Grey (age 27) were married. She the daughter of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 62) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 50).

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

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On 29th July 1829 [his son-in-law] Charles Wood 1st Viscount Halifax (age 28) and [his daughter] Mary Grey Viscountess Halifax (age 22) were married. She the daughter of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 65) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 53).

In November 1830 Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 66) was appointed Prime Minister.

In 1831 Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 66) was appointed 670th Knight of the Garter by King William IV of the United Kingdom (age 65).

Before 1st June 1831. John Jackson (age 53). Portrait of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 67).

On 20th May 1832 [his brother] Bishop Edward Grey (age 49) was consecrated as Bishop of Hereford.

On 9th August 1832 [his son] Henry George Grey 3rd Earl Grey (age 29) and [his daughter-in-law] Maria Copley 3rd Countess Grey (age 33) were married. She the daughter of Joseph Copley 3rd Baronet (age 63) and Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn. He the son of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 68) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 56).

In July 1836 [his son] John Grey (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Georgiana Elizabeth Charlotte Hervey (age 34) were married. She the daughter of Frederick William Hervey 1st Marquess of Bristol (age 66) and Elizabeth Albana Upton (age 61). He the son of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 72) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 60).

On 26th July 1836 [his son] Charles Grey (age 32) and [his daughter-in-law] Caroline Eliza Farquhar (age 22) were married. He the son of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 72) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 60).

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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On 24th July 1837 [his brother] Bishop Edward Grey (age 55) and [his sister-in-law] Eliza Innes (age 32) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years. He the son of [his father] Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey and [his mother] Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey.

On 24th July 1837 [his brother] Bishop Edward Grey (age 55) died.

1838. Monument in Grey Square, Newcastle upon Tyne [Map] to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 73) by Edward Hodges Baily (age 49).

On 12th August 1840 [his son] Francis Richard Grey (age 27) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Dorothy Anne Howard (age 23) were married. She the daughter of George Howard 6th Earl Carlisle (age 66) and Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle (age 57). He the son of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 76) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 64). They were third cousins.

On 26th November 1841 [his daughter] Louisa Elizabeth Grey Countess Durham (age 44) died.

On 20th January 1845 [his son] Admiral George Grey (age 35) and [his daughter-in-law] Jane Frances Stuart (age 22) were married. He the son of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 80) and [his wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 68).

On 17th July 1845 Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 81) died. His son Henry (age 42) succeeded 3rd Earl Grey, 3rd Viscount Grey of Howick in Northumberland, 3rd Baron Grey of Howick in Northumberland, 4th Baronet Grey of Howick in Northumberland. [his daughter-in-law] Maria Copley 3rd Countess Grey (age 46) by marriage Countess Grey.

After 17th July 1845 Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (deceased) was buried at St Michael and All Angels Howick [Map].

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 26th November 1861 [his former wife] Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 85) died.

Diary of the Times of George IV Volume 1 Section 1. In the midst of all these political speculations, Lord Grey has made the disputants a low bow, and has gone back to Northumberland, to remain there till the middle of January. I asked Lord Lauderdale, if Lord Grey's friends did not find fault with his being out of the way at such a moment? 'By no means,' answered he with great gravity; 'Lady Grey, is to be confined very soon, and he sacrifices every thing to the consideration of his wife. He was quite in the right. I always do the same thing1.'

Note 1. This is rather a strange affirmation for the man who is surnamed " The Father of Divorces."

Royal Ancestors of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey 1764-1845

Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 20 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 26 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 21 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings Godwinson: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 19 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks

Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 27 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey 1764-1845
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Diana Spencer Princess Wales [1]

Ancestors of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey 1764-1845

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Grey 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Grey 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Grey 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Grey 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: Henry Grey 1st Baronet 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Person

Father: Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Wood of Fallodon, Northumberland

GrandMother: Hannah Wood

Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: George Grey

Mother: Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Cuthbert Ogle of Bothal and Kirkley 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Ogle of Kirkley 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Ogle of Sandiford and Kirkley 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Nathaniel Ogle 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

GrandMother: Elizabeth Ogle 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England