William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 18th August 1833 [her father] John Bottomley (age 23) and [her mother] Sarah Whitworth (age 21) were married at The Minster Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Halifax [Map].
In April 1849 [her father] John Bottomley (age 39) died at Halifax.
On or before 16th September 1849 Mary Hannah Bottomley was born to [her father] John Bottomley and [her mother] Sarah Whitworth (age 37) at Sowerby Bridge [Map]. She was baptised on 16th September 1849 at St George's Church, Sowerby Bridge [Map]. Their address is given as Sowerby Street, Sowerby Bridge.
John Bottomley: On 18th August 1833 he and Sarah Whitworth were married at The Minster Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Halifax [Map]. In April 1849 he died at Halifax.
30th March 1851. 1851 Census Sowerby. 116 Heath Street, Sowerby Bridge.
[her mother] Sarah Whitworth (age 39). Head. Widow. 40. Burler. Soyland, Yorkshire?
[her brother] Charles Bottomley (age 15). Son. 16. Wool Sorter Assistant. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her brother] Jeremiah Bottomley (age 15). Son. 14. Errand Boy. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her brother] John Bottomley (age 10). Son. 11. Cotton?. Ditto.
[her brother] Frederick Bottomley (age 4). Son. Unmarried. 5. Scholar. Ditto.
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 1). Daughter. 1. Ditto.
1861. 1861 Census Yorkshire Sowerby Bridge. 108 West End, Sowerby Bridge.
[her mother] Sarah Whitworth (age 49). Head. Widow. 49. Washerwoman. Soyland?
[her brother] John Bottomley (age 20). Son. Unmarried. 20. Engine Mechanic. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her brother] William H Bottomley (age 17). Son. Unmarried. 17. Sailor. Ditto.
[her brother] Frederick Bottomley (age 14). Son. Unmarried. 14. Woolen? Ditto.
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 11). Daughter. 11. Worsted Spinner. Ditto.
2nd April 1871. 1871 Census Yorkshire Sowerby Bridge. Rayburn Cottage, Norland, Sowerby Bridge.
[her brother] Frederick Bottomley (age 24). Son-in-law. 32.
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 21). Wife. 21. Weaver.
[her future husband] Henry Oxley (age 18). Boarder. 21. Schoolmaster.
Frederick Bottomley: Around 1847 he was born to John Bottomley and Sarah Whitworth at Sowerby Bridge [Map].
On 4th July 1871 Henry Oxley (age 18) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 21) were married at The Minster Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Halifax [Map]. The witnesses were her brother Frederick Bottomley (age 24) and John Thomas.
Around 1878 [her son] Harry Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 25) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 28) at Barthomley, Cheshire. He married 10th August 1904 Edith Annie Collinson.
On 31st March 1880 [her son] Frederick Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 27) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 30). He married 23rd August 1913 Sarah Ellen Hyde and had issue.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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1881. 1881 Census Lancashire St Anns Springfield Street. 5 Springfield Street, Lancaster.
[her husband] Henry Oxley (age 28). Head. 28. Certificated Schoolmaster. Leeds [Map].
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 31). Wife. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her daughter] Ada Oxley. Daughter. 7. Scholar. Leeds [Map].
[her daughter] Edith Oxley. Daughter. 5. Scholar. Bedale.
[her son] Harry Oxley (age 3). 3. Son. Barthomley, Cheshire.
[her son] Frederick Oxley. 1. Son. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
Ada Oxley: Around 1884 she was born to Henry Oxley and Mary Hannah Bottomley.
Around 1882 [her daughter] Florence Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 29) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 32) at Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
Around 1883 [her son] Herbert Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 30) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 33).
Around 1884 [her daughter] Ada Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 31) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 34).
Around 1886 [her daughter] Sarah Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 33) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 36) at Heywood, Manchester.
Around 1886 [her daughter] Edith Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 33) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 36) at .
Around 1890 [her son] William Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 37) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 40) at Gorton.
1891. 1891 Census Manchester Gorton Church Lane. 115 Church Lane, Gorton.
[her husband] Henry Oxley (age 38). Head. 38. Schoolmaster.
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 41). Wife. 39.
[her daughter] Ada Oxley (age 7). Daughter. 17.
[her daughter] Edith Oxley (age 5). Daughter. 15. Scholar.
[her son] Harry Oxley (age 13). Son. 13.
[her son] Frederick Oxley (age 10). Son. 11.
[her daughter] Florence Oxley (age 9). Daughter. 7.
[her son] Herbert Oxley (age 8). Son. 6
[her daughter] Sarah Oxley (age 5). Daughter. 3.
Around 1892 [her daughter] Winifred Oxley was born to [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 39) and Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 42).
1901. 1901 Census Lancashire South Manchester Chorlton cum Medlock. 11 Abbey Street, Chorlton on Medlock.
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 51). 48. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her daughter] Edith Oxley (age 15). Daughter. 25. Bedale.
[her son] Harry Oxley (age 23). 23. Son. Bookeeper. Barthomley, Cheshire.
[her son] Frederick Oxley (age 20). 21. Son. Grocers Assistant. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her daughter] Florence Oxley (age 19). 18. Fancy?? Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her son] Herbert Oxley (age 18). 16. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her daughter] Sarah Oxley (age 15). 13. Heywood, Manchester.
[her son] William Oxley (age 11). Son. 11. Gorton.
[her daughter] Winifred Oxley (age 9). Daughter. 9. Gorton.
On 30th December 1902 [her husband] Henry Oxley (age 50) died at 10 Rectory Street, Leeds. He left a widow Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 53), and six children: [her daughter] Edith Oxley (age 16), [her daughter] Florence Oxley (age 20), [her daughter] Sarah Oxley (age 16), [her son] William Oxley (age 12), [her daughter] Winifred Oxley (age 10), all single, and [her son] Harry Oxley (age 24), married with one daughter. He was buried at Becket Street Cemetery, Leeds. He is described as a Commercial Traveller; all censuses describe him as a School-Master? Grave 8804.
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 10th August 1904 [her son] Harry Oxley (age 26) and [her daughter-in-law] Edith Annie Collinson (age 6) were married at St Silas Church, Ardwick. He is shown as a Book Keeper. She has no profession. He is living at 109? St, Greenheys, she at 5 St Silas Street. His father's profession is a School Master, her father's a Mason. The witnesses are Joseph (possibly) Appleward and Charlotte Collinson. The service was performed by Rector James Clayton. The difference in their ages was 20 years.
Edith Annie Collinson: Around 1898 she was born.
1911. 1911 Census Lancashire South Manchester Didsbury. 41 Haydn Avenue, Moss Side.
Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 61). 60. Widow. House Keeper. Sowerby Bridge [Map].
[her daughter] Edith Oxley (age 25). 35. Single. Milliner. Bedale. Shown as Bedale, Cheshire.
[her daughter] Florence Oxley (age 29). 28. Single. Photographers Assistant. Lancaster, Lancashire [Map].
[her daughter] Sarah Oxley (age 25). 23. Single. Photographers Assistant. Heywood, Manchester.
[her son] William Oxley (age 21). 20. Single. Ships Steward. Gorton.
[her daughter] Winifred Oxley (age 19). 18. Single. None. Working at home. Gorton.
[her son] Harry Oxley (age 33). 33. Married 6 Years. 2 Born Alive and still living. Mercantile Clerk. Stone Merchant. Barthomley, Cheshire.
[her granddaughter] Madge Oxley (age 5). 5. Daughter of Harry. Didsbury, Manchester.
On 23rd August 1913 [her son] Frederick Oxley (age 33) and [her daughter-in-law] Sarah Ellen Hyde (age 24) were married.
On 14th October 1924 Mary Hannah Bottomley (age 75) died at 41 Haydn Avenue, Moss Side.
GrandFather: Jeremiah Bottomley
Father: John Bottomley
GrandFather: Charles Whitworth
Mother: Sarah Whitworth
GrandMother: Sarah m Whitworth