This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire is in Baronetcies of England Alphabetically, Baronetcies of England Chronologically, Forfeit Baronetcies of England, Extant Baronetcies of England.
Summary
22nd May 1611. George Shirley 1st Baronet [aged 52] created. See May 1611 Creation of Baronets.
27th April 1622. Son Henry Shirley 2nd Baronet [aged 34] succeeded.
8th February 1633. Son Charles Shirley 3rd Baronet [aged 9] succeeded posthumously.
7th June 1646. Brother Robert Shirley 4th Baronet [aged 17] succeeded.
6th November 1656. Son Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet [aged 9] succeeded.
16th July 1667. Son Robert Shirley 6th Baronet succeeded posthumously.
8th March 1709. Uncle Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers [aged 58] succeeded.
25th December 1717. Son Washington Shirley 2nd Earl Ferrers [aged 40] succeeded.
14th April 1729. Brother Henry Shirley 3rd Earl Ferrers [aged 37] succeeded.
6th August 1745. Nephew Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 24] succeeded.
5th May 1760. Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers forfeit. See Trial and Execution of Earl Ferrers.
1763. Brother Washington Shirley 5th Earl Ferrers [aged 40] restored.
1st October 1778. Brother Robert Shirley 6th Earl Ferrers [aged 55] succeeded.
18th April 1787. Son Robert Shirley 7th Earl Ferrers [aged 30] succeeded.
2nd May 1827. Brother Washington Shirley 8th Earl Ferrers [aged 66] succeeded.
2nd October 1842. Grandson Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrers [aged 20] succeeded.
13th March 1859. Son Sewallis Edward Shirley 10th Earl Ferrers [aged 12] succeeded.
26th July 1912. Fourth Cousin Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 48] succeeded.
2nd February 1937. Son Robert Shirley 12th Earl Ferrers [aged 42] succeeded.
11th October 1954. Son Robert Shirley 13th Earl Ferrers [aged 25] succeeded.
13th November 2012. Son Robert William Saswalo Shirley 14th Earl Ferrers [aged 59] succeeded.
On 22nd May 1611 the first Baronets were created by James I [aged 44]
Walter Aston 1st Baronet [aged 27] was created 1st Baronet Aston of Tixall.
Nicolas Bacon [aged 71] was created 1st Baronet Bacon of Redgrave in Suffolk. The Premier Baronet being the first creation.
Henry Belasyse 1st Baronet [aged 55] was created 1st Baronet Belasyse of Newborough.
George Booth [aged 54] was created 1st Baronet Booth of Dunham Massey. Katherine Anderson Lady Dunham Massey [aged 43] by marriage Lady Booth of Dunham Massey.
Edward Carr [aged 68] was created 1st Baronet Carr of Sleaford in Lincolnshire. Anne Dyer Lady Carr by marriage Lady Carr of Sleaford in Lincolnshire.
Gervase Clifton 1st Baronet [aged 23] was created 1st Baronet Clifton of Clifton in Nottinghamshire.
Moyle Finch 1st Baronet [aged 61] was created 1st Baronet Finch of Eastwell in Kent. Elizabeth Heneage 1st Countess Winchelsea [aged 54] by marriage Lady Finch of Eastwell in Kent.
Thomas Gerard 1st Baronet [aged 51] was created 1st Baronet Gerard of Bryn in Lancashire.
Henry Hobart 1st Baronet [aged 51] was created 1st Baronet Hobart of Intwood in Norfolk. Dorothy Bell Lady Hobart by marriage Lady Hobart of Intwood in Norfolk.
Richard Hoghton 1st Baronet [aged 40] was created 1st Baronet Hoghton of Hoghton Tower in Lancashire.
Phillip Knyvet [aged 41] was created 1st Baronet Knyvet of Buckenham in Norfolk.
Thomas Mansel 1st Baronet [aged 55] was created 1st Baronet Mansel of Margam.
Thomas Pelham 1st Baronet [aged 71] was created 1st Baronet Pelham of Laughton. Mary Walsingham Baroness Pelham Laughton [aged 47] by marriage Lady Pelham of Laughton.
John Peyton 1st Baronet [aged 50] was created 1st Baronet Peyton of Isleham.
George Savile 1st Baronet [aged 61] was created 1st Baronet Savile of Thornhill.
John Shelley of Mitchelgrove 1st Baronet was created 1st Baronet Shelley of Mitchelgrove in Sussex.
George Shirley 1st Baronet [aged 52] was created 1st Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Dorothy Wroughton Lady Shirley [aged 41] by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
John St John [aged 25] was created 1st Baronet St John Lydiard Tregoze in Wiltshire.
John Stradling 1st Baronet [aged 48] was created 1st Baronet Stradling of St Donats in Glamorganshire.
Thomas Temple 1st Baronet [aged 44] was created 1st Baronet Temple of Stowe.
Lionel Tollemache 1st Baronet [aged 48] was created 1st Baronet Talmash of Helmingham in Suffolk.
On 27th April 1622 George Shirley 1st Baronet [aged 63] died. He was buried at the Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill [Map]. His son Henry [aged 34] succeeded 2nd Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Dorothy Devereux Lady Shirley [aged 22] by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 8th February 1633 Henry Shirley 2nd Baronet [aged 45] died. His son Charles [aged 9] succeeded posthumously 3rd Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 7th June 1646 Charles Shirley 3rd Baronet [aged 22] died. His brother Robert [aged 17] succeeded 4th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
Before 23rd January 1647 Robert Shirley 4th Baronet [aged 18] and Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley were married. She by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 6th November 1656 Robert Shirley 4th Baronet [aged 27] died from poisoning, probably, in the Tower of London [Map]. His son Seymour [aged 9] succeeded 5th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 29th January 1666 Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet [aged 19] and Diana Bruce were married. She by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 39] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 36]. They were sixth cousins.
On 16th July 1667 Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet [aged 20] died. In January 1668 His son Robert succeeded posthumously 6th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
Around 8th March 1709 Robert Shirley 6th Baronet [aged 41] died. His uncle Robert [aged 58] succeeded 7th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 25th December 1717 Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers [aged 67] died. His son Washington [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Earl Ferrers, 8th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Mary Levinge Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers. His granddaughter Elizabeth [aged 23] succeeded 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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On 14th April 1729 Washington Shirley 2nd Earl Ferrers [aged 51] died. His brother Henry [aged 37] succeeded 3rd Earl Ferrers, 9th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 6th August 1745 Henry Shirley 3rd Earl Ferrers [aged 53] died at Kensington Gore. His nephew Laurence [aged 24] succeeded 4th Earl Ferrers, 10th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 5th May 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 39] was hanged at Tyburn [Map] (the last peer to be hanged) for having shot his old family steward. Earl Ferrers, Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire forfeit.
In 1763 Washington Shirley 5th Earl Ferrers [aged 40] was restored 5th Earl Ferrers and 11th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 24].
On 1st October 1778 Washington Shirley 5th Earl Ferrers [aged 56] died without issue. His brother Robert [aged 55] succeeded 6th Earl Ferrers, 12th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Catherine Cotton Countess Ferrers [aged 59] by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 18th April 1787 Robert Shirley 6th Earl Ferrers [aged 63] died. His son Robert [aged 30] succeeded 7th Earl Ferrers, 13th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Elizabeth Prentiss Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 2nd May 1827 Robert Shirley 7th Earl Ferrers [aged 70] died. He was buried at Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill [Map]. His brother Washington [aged 66] succeeded 8th Earl Ferrers, 14th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 2nd October 1842 Washington Shirley 8th Earl Ferrers [aged 81] died. His grandson Washington [aged 20] succeeded 9th Earl Ferrers, 15th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 13th March 1859 Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrers [aged 37] died at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire [Map]. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church Staunton Harold, Leicestershire [Map]. His son Sewallis [aged 12] succeeded 10th Earl Ferrers, 16th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 26th July 1912 Sewallis Edward Shirley 10th Earl Ferrers [aged 65] died. On His fourth cousin Walter [aged 48] succeeded 11th Earl Ferrers, 17th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Mary Jane Moon Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers.
On 2nd February 1937 Walter Shirley 11th Earl Ferrers [aged 72] died. His son Robert [aged 42] succeeded 12th Earl Ferrers, 18th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
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 11th October 1954 Robert Shirley 12th Earl Ferrers [aged 60] died. His son Robert [aged 25] succeeded 13th Earl Ferrers, 19th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 13th November 2012 Robert Shirley 13th Earl Ferrers [aged 83] died. His son Robert [aged 59] succeeded 14th Earl Ferrers, 20th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.