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All About History Books
The 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.
In 1712 John Thomas was born to John Thomas and Ann Kelsick in Carlisle, Cumberland [Map].
In or before 1721 Charles Blackwell 2nd Baronet (age 20) and [his future wife] Anne Clayton Lady Blackwell were married.
On 27th March 1737 John Thomas (age 25) was ordained
On 27th January 1738 John Thomas (age 26) became Rector of Bletchingley in Surrey, a living in the gift of William Clayton of Hambledon in Buckinghamshire whose daughter [his future wife] Anne Clayton Lady Blackwell he would subsequently marry.
On 19th August 1742 John Thomas (age 30) and Anne Clayton Lady Blackwell were married at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall Palace. There was no issue. She the sister of his former pupil William Clayton 1st Baronet.
In 1747 [his father] John Thomas died.
In 1768 John Thomas (age 56) was appointed Dean of Westminster Abbey.
On 7th July 1772 [his wife] Anne Clayton Lady Blackwell died.
All About History Books
The 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.
In 1774 John Thomas (age 62) was appointed Bishop of Rochester.
Archaeologia Volume 3 Section XLIII. In the year 1770, our worthy and truly respectable member the Honourable Daines Barrington (age 47), whose incessant literary pursuits are confessedly employed for the emolument as well as the edification of the public, stated to the Society the above circumstances, together with his sentiments thereon. At the same time, he expressed his ardent wishies, that the corpse of Edward the First, as entombed in the collegiate church of St. Peter at Westminster, might be inspected, in order to examine the state of preservation in which it then was; and whether any remains of the composition, supposed to have been used to prevent its decay, were discoverabled. His zeal for obtaining such inspection did not however rest satisfied with having barely propounded his wishes to the Society, he frequently applied to the Reverend Dr. John Thomas (age 62), the dean of Westminstere by means of his learned friend Dr. Blair, one of the prebendaries of that church, for leave to open the royal tomb.
Note d. In three letters read at the Society of Antiquaries on the 25th of January, and 1st of February, 1770.
Note e. Now bishop of Rochester.
Before 12th January 1775 Unknown Baldwin and [his future wife] Elizabeth Baldwin were married.
On 12th January 1775 John Thomas (age 63) and Elizabeth Baldwin were married at Westminster Abbey [Map]. There was no issue.
On 22nd August 1793 John Thomas (age 81) died. He has a memorial in the South Aisle of the Nave of Westminster Abbey. A grey and white marble with a bust and relief of the Holy Lamb, with a mitre and crozier behind. On either side are a chalice and paten and other emblems of the Eucharist made by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 52). The inscription reads .... Sacred to the memory of the Right Reverend John THOMAS, Doctor of Laws, Bishop of Rochester, Dean of this Collegiate Church, and of the most honourable Order of the Bath. Having passed a well spent boyhood at Carlisle School, he gathered the riper fruits of learning at Oxford, whence, by reason of his intellect, his character, his humane and profound scholarship, he emerged as an ornament to the legal profession. His fame thereafter growing and duly spreading abroad, he adorned his offices by his worthiness, increased his riches by his bounty, governed this church with his wisdom, protected it by his authority, and instructed it by his example. Unweared in his labours, indefatigable in his studies, his constant principle was edification: until, having virtuously fulfilled all life obligations, and for long sore pressed by a cruel disease, which was borne however with indomitable patience, he resigned his soul to God on 20th August 1793 in his 81st year. It fell to the lot of his relative, G.A.T., A.M. [Master of Arts] to offer this vain tribute, this token of sorrow, mean though it be.