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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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Paternal Family Tree: Ponsonby
Before 1704 [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 24) and [his mother] Sarah Margetson (age 25) were married. They were second cousins.
In 1704 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough was born to [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 25) and [his mother] Sarah Margetson (age 25).
On 17th November 1724 [his grandfather] William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 65) died. His son [his father] Brabazon (age 45) succeeded 2nd Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 2nd Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.
In May 1733 [his mother] Sarah Margetson (age 55) died.
In 1739 [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 60) was created 1st Earl Bessborough.
On 5th July 1739 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 35) and Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 20) were married. His younger brother John Ponsonby (age 26) would marry her younger sister Elizabeth Cavendish (age 13) four years later. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 40) and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire (age 40). He the son of Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 60) and Sarah Margetson.
On 14th October 1742 [his daughter] Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans was born to William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 38) and [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 23). She married 4th May 1763 Aubrey Beauclerk 5th Duke St Albans, son of Vere Beauclerk 1st Baron de Vere and Mary Chambers Baroness Spencer, and had issue.
In 1743 [his brother] John Ponsonby (age 29) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cavendish (age 17) were married. His elder brother William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 39) had married her elder sister [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 23) four years before. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 44) and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire (age 44). He the son of [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 64) and [his mother] Sarah Margetson.
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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Around 1745. Attributed to Jeremiah Davison (age 50). Portrait of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 41).
In 1747 Bishop Richard Terrick (age 37) was elected Bishop of Peterborough through the influence of [his brother-in-law] William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire (age 26) the Prime Minister.
Before 1748 [his brother-in-law] William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire (age 27) and Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington (age 53) and Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington (age 48). He the son of [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 49) and [his mother-in-law] Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire (age 49). They were fourth cousin once removed.
On 5th December 1755 [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire (age 57) died. His son [his brother-in-law] William (age 35) succeeded 4th Duke Devonshire, 7th Earl Devonshire, 7th Baron Cavendish Hardwick.
On 24th January 1758 [his son] Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough was born to William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 54) and [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 38). He married 27th November 1780 his fifth cousin Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough, daughter of John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer and Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer, and had issue.
On 4th July 1758 [his father] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 79) died. His son William (age 54) succeeded 2nd Earl Bessborough, 3rd Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 3rd Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny. [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 39) by marriage Countess Bessborough.
On 20th January 1760 [his wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough (age 40) died. Monument in Derby Cathedral [Map] sculpted by John Michael Rysbrack (age 65).
Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough: In May 1719 she was born to William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. On 5th July 1739 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough and she were married. His younger brother John Ponsonby would marry her younger sister Elizabeth Cavendish four years later. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. He the son of Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough and Sarah Margetson. In 1743 John Ponsonby and Elizabeth Cavendish were married. His elder brother William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough had married her elder sister Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough four years before. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. He the son of Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough and Sarah Margetson. On 4th July 1758 Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough died. His son William succeeded 2nd Earl Bessborough, 3rd Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 3rd Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny. She by marriage Countess Bessborough.
On 4th May 1763 [his son-in-law] Aubrey Beauclerk 5th Duke St Albans (age 22) and [his daughter] Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans (age 20) were married. She the daughter of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 59) and [his former wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough.
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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In 1770 [his son-in-law] William Fitzwilliam 4th and 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam (age 21) and [his daughter] Charlotte Ponsonby Countess Fitzwilliam were married. She the daughter of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 66) and [his former wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough. He the son of William Fitzwilliam 1st and 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam and Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam.
On 27th November 1780 [his son] Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Bessborough. She the daughter of John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer (age 45) and Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer (age 43). He the son of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 76) and [his former wife] Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough. They were fifth cousins.
On 4th September 1789 [his daughter] Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans (age 46) died.
On 11th March 1793 William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough (age 89) died. His son Frederick (age 35) succeeded 3rd Earl Bessborough, 4th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 4th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.
[his daughter] Charlotte Ponsonby Countess Fitzwilliam was born to William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough and Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough. She married 1770 William Fitzwilliam 4th and 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam, son of William Fitzwilliam 1st and 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam and Anne Watson Wentworth Countess Fitzwilliam, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 26 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Ponsonby 
GrandFather: William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Folliott of Pirton Court
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Folliott 1st Baron Folliott 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Lygon 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Lygon 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Denys 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Folliot 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Strode of Stoke under Hampden 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Strode Countess Roscommon
Father: Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Moore of Mellifont
Great x 3 Grandfather: Garret Moore 1st Viscount Moore of Drogheda
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Moore 2nd Viscount Moore of Drogheda
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Colley of Carbury Castle
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Colley Viscountess Moore and Wilmot
Great x 1 Grandfather: Randle Moore
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Loftus 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Adam Loftus 1st Viscount Loftus
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Loftus Viscountess Moore
GrandMother: Mary Moore
William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Archbishop James Margetson
GrandFather: John Margetson
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Bonnett
Mother: Sarah Margetson 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Caulfeild of Great Milton in Oxfordshire
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Caulfeild
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Caulfeild 2nd Baron Caulfeild
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Caulfeild 1st Viscount Charlemont 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John King
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary King 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Drury 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Drury 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Carew 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandMother: Alice Caulfeild Baroness Carpenter 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Moore of Mellifont
Great x 3 Grandfather: Garret Moore 1st Viscount Moore of Drogheda
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Moore 2nd Viscount Moore of Drogheda
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Colley of Carbury Castle
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Colley Viscountess Moore and Wilmot
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sarah Moore Viscountess Charlemont
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Loftus
Great x 3 Grandfather: Adam Loftus 1st Viscount Loftus
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Loftus Viscountess Moore