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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Mary Francis is in Sculptors.
On 22nd June 1801 [her father] John Francis (age 20) and [her mother] Mary Evetts (age 21) were married at Thornham, Norfolk.
In 1809 Mary Francis was born to [her father] John Francis (age 28) and [her mother] Mary Evetts (age 29).
Before 1840 [her future husband] Thomas Thornycroft (age 24) became a student of [her father] John Francis (age 59). He subsequently married his daughter Mary Francis (age 30).
In 1840 Thomas Thornycroft (age 24) and Mary Francis (age 31) were married. She the daughter of John Francis (age 59) and Mary Evetts (age 60).
On 1st February 1843 [her son] John Isaac Thornycroft was born to [her husband] Thomas Thornycroft (age 27) and Mary Francis (age 34).
On 9th March 1850 [her son] William Hamo Thornycroft was born to [her husband] Thomas Thornycroft (age 34) and Mary Francis (age 41). He was baptised on 9th June 1850 at St Pancras Old Church [Map]. He married May 1884 Agatha Cox and had issue.
On 29th January 1855 [her mother] Mary Evetts (age 75) died.
On 30th August 1861 [her father] John Francis (age 80) died at his home in Albany Street, Regent's Park. He was buried at Plot 3058 at Highgate Cemetery West.
On 21st February 1862 Sarah Cave 3rd Baroness Braye (age 93) died. Baron Braye abeyant. Monument at St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon [Map] sculpted by Mary Francis (age 53) and commissioned by her daughter Catherine Otway (age 53), widow of John Lygon 3rd Earl Beauchamp.
Catherine Otway: Before 1809 she was born to Henry Otway of Castle Otway in Tipperary and Sarah Cave 3rd Baroness Braye. On 19th October 1826 Henry Murray and she were married. He the son of Bishop George Murray. On 11th February 1850 John Lygon 3rd Earl Beauchamp and she were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. He the son of William Lygon 1st Earl Beauchamp and Catherine Denn Countess Beauchamp. On 4th November 1875 she died without issue.
Around May 1884 [her son] William Hamo Thornycroft (age 34) and [her daughter-in-law] Agatha Cox (age 19) were married at Tonbridge, Kent [Map]. He the son of [her husband] Thomas Thornycroft (age 68) and Mary Francis (age 75).
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 30th August 1885 [her husband] Thomas Thornycroft (age 70) died.
On 1st February 1895 Mary Francis (age 86) died.