Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22
Genealogical Notes
Queries and ANSWERS
genealogical Editor, The Tunes
Dispatch.
I{nyul nest.ent

Royal DcSccnt
We have all read in the past week
or the dinner given ut tho San Fran
cisco Exposition 10y some gentlemen
of royal descent, and it sounded very
grand. We feel AZ if il is most mctc
ana proper that this fact should be
published in the daily papers. for II is
not everybody that can boast OF such
a peculiar privilege. Yet. when we
come to think about it. we have many
in our midst who can trace their lineage
not to one king. but to several.
For instance take the old Planter and
Colonial Governor Edward Diggcs and
Mary Horsmandcn. wife of the first Will
liam Byrd. of Wcstovcr. We couple
them for the reason that Governor
DIgges and Mrs Byrd were nearly re-
lated. and in few generations trace
TO the same ancestor. Sir Warham St
I.cscr and Ursula Nevill. his wife.
The royal descent of American citi-
zens ut the present day is a thing Of
which many are skoptical and ncrcdu-
lous. But there is no doubt about these
facts. and when one acquires a proper
knowledge OF the subject it is easy
enough to understand. In the Middle
Ages members of royal families did not
conftne their marriages to their own
rank. but married their daughters to
the great feudal lords who held them
selves almost as equal to kings The
daughters of these great lords married
lords of lower degree. and in turn their
daughters married knights or untitled
gentlemen Ii is thus easy 10 sec how
royal descents are 50 easily spread.
The two Nirginiaus mentioned above
ana OF course their descendants can be
traced In direct line To the great kings
OF England - Alfred. William the Con-
queror. Henry H.. and Edward III. Also
TO John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster
Shakespearc's Time lionorcd Lnncas-
tcr"-to that Stafford Duke of Buck
ingham. who was tho friend and after
ward the victim of Richard Ill c'On
with his head So much for BucknS-
ham. y. to Clovis. Hugh Capct. and many
other historical celebrities
Stranger ancestors than these were
once believed In by the ancient his
torians of great houses. Alfred the
GREATS ancestor. ECbcrt. was given n
descent. with every generation included
from Wooden, the great Morse god. The
mouse OF Anjou. which assembled, the
throne of England with Henry H. was
believed to have inherited some OF the
characteristics of beautiful demon
woman wife of ono of the old counts of
An3ou. This dcmon-wifc acted the part
or docile. loving helpmcct until holy
water or some such cXorcism trans
fcrred her to her original fcudish shane
when she disappeared
Waldeof, one Of the last of tho great
SaNoni Earls, ancestor of Robert Bruce
was said to he descended in some mari.
cal way from Il bear
notwithstanding these fond decisions
the descent OF "a plenty Americans from
flesh and blood kings is absolutely
proved.
In the following tables Of descent
which we trust. In the face OF the
san francisco dinner, will be interest
inG TO our readers (who arc ALWAYS
so gentle II they get the gcncalor-v
which they want. the various royal
dcscents are given in succession
Line !.
!. William the Conqucror died in
1851 Married Matilda daughter q.
Baldwin. Count OF Flanders
: Henry frs, married Matilda,
daughter OF Malcolm, King of Scot
land.
3. Matilda. married Godfrey Plan
taEcbct, Count OF Anjou.
!. Henry II. married Eleanor dauch-
ter Of William. Duke OF Aqui,aine
=. John and his Wife. Isabella dauch-
ter OF Aymcr, Count Of Toulouse
s. Henry Iii: married Eleanor
daughter Of Raymond, Count Of Prov
cncc.
:. Edward I. married Eleanor.
daughter OF Ferdinand. King OF Cas-
tile.
s. Edward H.. murdered at Berkeley
Castle 1927. married isabella. daugh-
ter Of Philip, the Fair King Of France
Q. Edward III. married Ph!lippa.
daughter OF William Count nf Hat
nault and Holland
10. John OF Gaunt, Duke OF Lam