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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Paternal Family Tree: Wemyss aka Charteris
On 23rd July 1912 [her father] Guy Lawrence Charteris (age 26) and [her step-mother] Frances Lucy Tennant (age 24) were married. He the son of [her grandfather] Hugo Charteris 11th Earl of Wemyss (age 54) and [her grandmother] Mary Constance Wyndham Countess Wemyss (age 49).
On 10th August 1915 Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough was born to [her father] Guy Lawrence Charteris (age 29).
On 8th March 1919 [her future husband] William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley (age 25) and Rosemary Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (age 25) were married. She the daughter of Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 4th Duke of Sutherland and Millicent Fanny St Clair-Erskine Duchess of Sutherland (age 51). He the son of William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 51) and [her future mother-in-law] Gertrude "Gertie" Millar Countess of Dudley (age 40).
On 17th February 1920 [her future husband] John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 22) and Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough (age 19) were married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map]. He the son of Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 48) and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough (age 42).
On 29th June 1932 William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley (age 65) died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son [her future husband] William (age 38) succeeded 3rd Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 13th Baron Ward of Birmingham.
On 14th November 1933 Walter Francis David Long (age 22) and Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough (age 18) were married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map].
On 30th June 1934 Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 62) died. His son [her future husband] John (age 36) succeeded 10th Duke Marlborough, 10th Marquess of Blandford, 10th Earl of Marlborough, 10th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 12th Earl of Sunderland, 14th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough (age 34) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 23rd February 1943 William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley (age 49) and Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough (age 27) were married. She by marriage Countess of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of William Humble Ward 2nd Earl of Dudley and Gertrude "Gertie" Millar Countess of Dudley (age 64).
On 18th April 1953 [her future husband] Michael Temple Canfield (age 26) and Caroline Lee Bouvier (age 20) were married. He the illegitmate son of Prince George Windsor 1st Duke Kent and Alice "Kiki" Preston aka Gwynne.
On 21st November 1956 [her step-son] Peter Alistair Ward (age 30) and Claire Leonora Baring (age 20) were married. They two daughters and a son. He the son of [her husband] William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley (age 62) and Rosemary Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower.
On 13th June 1960 Michael Temple Canfield (age 33) and Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough (age 44) were married. He the illegitmate son of Prince George Windsor 1st Duke Kent and Alice "Kiki" Preston aka Gwynne.
On 24th August 1961 [her step-son] William Ward, Viscount Ednam (age 41) and Maureen Swanson Countess of Dudley (age 28) were married. They had seven children. He the son of [her husband] William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley (age 67) and Rosemary Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower.
In 1967 [her father] Guy Lawrence Charteris (age 81) died.
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 20th December 1969 [her husband] Michael Temple Canfield (age 43) died of a heart-attack whilst on a flight from New York to London.
On 26th December 1969 [her husband] William Humble Eric Ward 3rd Earl of Dudley (age 75) died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son [her step-son] William (age 49) succeeded 4th Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 14th Baron Ward of Birmingham. Maureen Swanson Countess of Dudley (age 37) by marriage Countess of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire.
On 26th January 1972 John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 74) and Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough (age 56) were married. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. He the son of Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough and Consuelo Vanderbilt Duchess of Marlborough.
On 11th March 1972 [her husband] John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 74) died. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon [Map] next to the grave of his first wife Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough who died in 1961. His son [her step-son] John (age 45) succeeded 11th Duke Marlborough, 11th Marquess of Blandford, 11th Earl of Marlborough, 11th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 13th Earl of Sunderland, 15th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
On 19th February 1990 Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough (age 74) died at Portland Towers Marylebone.
Kings Wessex: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 25 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 25 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Henry IV King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 28 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Wemyss Douglas 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Charteris 8th Earl of Wemyss Douglas 4th Earl March 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Charles Charteris 9th Earl of Wemyss 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Richard Charteris 10th Earl of Wemyss 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Bingham 1st Earl Lucan 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Bingham 2nd Earl Lucan
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Smith Countess Lucan
Great x 2 Grandmother: Louisa Bingham Countess Wemyss 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Belasyse 2nd Earl Fauconberg 
12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Belasyse Duchess Norfolk 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Charlotte Lamb Countess Fauconberg
GrandFather: Hugo Charteris 11th Earl of Wemyss 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Adams aka Anson
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Anson 1st Viscount Anson 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Venables-Vernon 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Coke 1st Earl of Leicester 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Margaret Coke Viscountess Anson 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Dutton 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Frederica Anson Countess Wemyss 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Nathaniel Phillips
Great x 2 Grandmother: Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield
Father: Guy Lawrence Charteris 6 x Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Wyndham 2nd Earl Egremont 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: George O'Brien Wyndham 3rd Earl Egremont 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alicia Carpenter Countess Egremont 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Wyndham 1st Baron Leconfield 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ilive Countess Egremont
Great x 1 Grandfather: Percy Scawen Wyndham 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Reverend William Blunt
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Fanny Blunt
GrandMother: Mary Constance Wyndham Countess Wemyss 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Guy Campbell 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandmother: Madeline Caroline Frances Eden Campbell 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Fitzgerald 1st Duke Leinster 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Fitzgerald 2 x Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Emilia Mary Lennox Duchess Leinster 
Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Pamela Fitzgerald Lady Campbell 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Frances Laura Charteris Duchess of Marlborough 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland