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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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Gerard
In or before 1520 [his father] James Gerard of Astley (age 9) and [his mother] Margaret Holcroft (age 9) were married.
After 1522 William Gerard was born to [his father] James Gerard of Astley (age 12) and [his mother] Margaret Holcroft (age 12).
In or before 1551 William Gerard (age 28) and Dorothy Page were married.
Around 1551 [his son] William Gerard was born to William Gerard (age 28) and [his wife] Dorothy Page. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map]. He married before 23rd October 1587 Dorothy Ratcliffe and had issue.
In October 1553 William Gerard (age 31) was elected MP Preston.
On 5th March 1558 [his father] James Gerard of Astley (age 48) died.
In 1559 [his mother] Margaret Holcroft (age 49) died.
In 1559 William Gerard (age 36) was elected MP Wigan.
In 1563 William Gerard (age 40) was elected MP Wigan.
In 1571 William Gerard (age 48) was elected MP Wigan.
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 19th September 1584 William Gerard (age 62) died.
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Garrard of Kingsley and Bryn
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Gerard
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Gerard
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Gerard
GrandFather: William Gerard
Father: James Gerard of Astley
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Holcroft
GrandFather: John Holcroft
Mother: Margaret Holcroft