.

Here, gathered in our beloved South Dakota, are a few members of our Williamson / Mattson Clan. Charles and Luella are to be blamed (be kind, they didn't know what they were doing). We're generally a happy bunch and somewhat intelligent (notwithstanding our tenuous grasp on reality). I'm also proud to say that most of us still have our teeth.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Our 9th Great Grandparent Francis Fincher, a Quaker. His Story of Persecution and Immigration (Williamson / Willis Line)

This is a photograph of Shell Cottage in Himbleton, Worcestershire, England, a home of members of the Fincher family from mid 1500's through 1800. The photograph was taken in November 1988 by Buel Rodgers -- his wife Bonnie Fincher Rodgers, a direct descendant of Francis the Quaker, is pictured in front of the thatched cottage.


Hello Williamsons!
Today we learn about our 9th Great Grandparents, Francis and Alice Fincher of Worcester England. Once again we discover that we descend from good Quaker families that suffered for their religious beliefs and came to America for religious freedom.

Relationship Chart

9th Great Grandparents Francis the Elder b. 1599 Himbleton, Worcester England. and Alice Hart b. 1600
to
Francis Fincher the Immigrant b. 1626 England. and Mary Achelley
to
John Fincher b. 1679 in Worcestershire England and Martha Taylor b. 1680 England.
to
Joseph Bennett and Rebecca Fincher b. 1708 PA. and Joseph Bennett of PA.
to
Phebe Bennett b. 1738 married John Willis
to
Bennett Willis 1780-1814 and Catherine Nossaman 1782-1842
to
Jonathan Willis 1807-1889 and Arabella Phelgar 1809-1865
to
Margaret Ann Willis 1835-1921 and George Matthew Williamson 1834-1928
to
William Jonathan Williamson and Effie Helen Victor
to
Vennie, Ima Della, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles, Maurice.
to
US



Francis Fincher, a Quaker from Worcester, England, arrived at Philadelphia, Pa., 7 mo., 28th day,1683 aboard the ship Bristol Comfort accompanied by his second wife, Mary (Achelley) Fincher, his small children and servants. He was called a glover. He came from Worcester, England, where along with his Quaker friends, he was severely persecuted for his religious beliefs.

In The Collection of the Suffering of the People Called Quakers, by Besse, are several accounts of Francis Fincher's hardships. Under caption 1662, Besse says:

"On the 12th of the month called January, Friends being peaceably met at the House of Robert Smith in Worcester, a marshal with a File of musquetiers (being of those called the Clergy-Band) came, and in an hostile manner forced all the men there met, being eighteen, to go with them. They shewed no Order or Warrant, but guarded them through several streets to their Captain's House, who ordered the Soldiers to carry them to the Marshal's. They were kept about three Days and three Nights, it being the time of a General Sessions there, at which, though they were never called to appear or answer for themselves, an Indictment was found against them, upon the Evidence of but one man, and he an infamous Person, who had been formerly arraigned for Murder, and was afterwards distracted (insane). From the Marshal's they were removed to the Town Gaol and there remained. Their names were ..... Francis Fincher (listed among others)."

After a long account of the trial, this follows:

"In like manner, at the same assizes, John Pike . . . . Francis Fincher (and others) were convicted of being at a meeting and sentenced to pay 5 pounds each, or to be sent to the House of Correction for three months."

Besse tells of another attack on the Quakers in 1670 at Grafton-Flyford coming with a warrant and

"from Francis Fincher was taken all His Goods for a fine of 20 pounds. They said Francis Fincher was taken on his knees in prayer and having heard that he was fined 20 pounds went to Justice Packington at Bowling Green to expostulate the case with him, whether he thought Prayer to God a Breach of the Law. Packington told him he might pray at home, and that he stood convicted on Oath of the informers. Francis, with Christian Boldness, exhorted him to Justice and Equity, which when Sands, the other Justice, who was also at Bowls, heard he threatened Francis, that if he did not hold his tongue, he would send him where he would be loth to go. A short time after, the officers brought three carts to his House and carried away the best of his goods, took possession of the rest, and sold all, and within a few weeks after he was taken from his family (he having a wife and several small children) and committed him to Worcester Gaol where he lay several months."

Again in 1681 Francis Fincher was sent to Worcester Gaol having been taken praying in the street, being kept out of the meeting place by Constables.

Small wonder that Francis Fincher was glad to come to a land where Quakers were welcome. Records show that he was a First Purchaser from William Penn. In May 1682 he had purchased 1,250 acres in the province of Pennsylvania (Samuel Hazard's Annals of Penna. - 1609-1682 - Philadelphia 1850, appendix p. 639; Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. 1, p. 42.)

"First purchasers" were entitled to both land in the country and "liberty" land in the city of Philadelphia. The location of his city land is given in Welsh Settlements of Pennsylvania, by Charles Browning, 1912, p. 438. In describing the early roads of Pennsylvania, it mentions Fincher's land on the Schuylkell River.

"Fincher's land was bounded on the west by a street or road, the one to the ferry, and he also bought land bounded on the south by this road. That is, Fincher had 35 acres on the upper side of Market Street and across the street was the Haverford Friends' Burying Ground."

Francis Fincher only lived one year after coming to America, but during that time he was active in the affairs of Pennsylvania. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly from Philadelphia in 1684. At the session of the Assembly held at New Castle, 3rd month, 10, 1684, he was elected Speaker, but declined to serve. The record states

"Francis Fincher, a member of the House, being chosen Speaker by major Votes of the House; he in modest manner was pleased to refuse that Choice, with the humble acknowledgement of his own insufficiency for so great an undertaking." (Pennsylvania Archives, Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of Province of Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, p. 46). He died three months later, 6 mo., 1684.

In 1953 Evelyn Fincher [co-author of Fincher in the USA, 1683-1900] had a short time in England and visited Chaucer House London, where she saw Dr. Howard Collier's manuscript on the Finchers, and made brief notes. Dr. Collier, a prominent Quaker physician of Worcester, England, has worked on the Finchers there. He said that Francis Fincher was a Worcester skinner and glover who lived in Kingston (Worcester) and belonged to a well-known Puritan family that resided at Shell and Himbleton. At the time that Francis was a widower with small children he was an important man in that part of the County that lies between Pershore and Droctwich and Worcester. He was born 1626 on property called "Tomes" in Himbleton. His mother's name was Alice Hart; father known as Francis the Elder, died in 1649 when Francis, the Quaker, was 23 years old. His first wife was Elizabeth, and that marriage probably took place prior to 1660.

Photos and a Dennis family history from Cousin Diane. Grandma Violet's neice.

Hello All,
Cousin Diane from California sent the following pictures to be included in the blog. She also included corrections to other photographs throughout the blog that she was familiar with. Thank you Diane. The purpose of this blog is to give an accurate history of the family. All corrections are wanted and encouraged.

This is a hand colored picture of Grandma Vesta (Violet's mother) taken when she was 10 or 11 years old. The unsigned writing on the back said: "This was taken when you were about 10 or 12, Myra sent me these two, which were about an inch squareand very dim, had copies made, and then enlarged of course you know who it is Dear."

This photo was taken in the early 1950's. The lady sitting in the occasional chair is Martha Sarah Dennis Turner "Mattie". She was the first child of John Dennis (Violet's grandfather) and Julia Spirlock, born on January 3, 1863. She was therefore Great Grandmother Vesta's half sister. She was visiting her two daughters; Madge and Nancy.

Our Great Great Aunt Martha (Mattie) was Hot Springs, South Dakota's First Bride. Cousin Diane sent the following clipping from he Hot Spring's newspaper celebrating her 96th birthday.
(Click to enlarge and read). This clipping tells the story of our Great Great Grandfather Dennis and the family as they moved throughout the west, finally settling in Cascade, South Dakota. It is a fascinating read.




In this photo (taken in the late 1940's) you have Walter Pierce (Violet's brother), Grandmother Violet and the Josslyn family. Diane remembers running to Vesta (her grandmother) yelling that a strange lady with a suitcase was walking up the drive (a taxi was pulling away) - Vesta dropped what she was doing and ran out to meet her daughter. This was taken in Pomona, CA.


This is a photo of Great Grandmother Vesta with her husband 2nd husband Henry Deaver, taken on their wedding day.


Thanks Diane!


Simply,
Victor


Thursday, January 27, 2011

Our Cousin, Samuel Sewall. Magistrate of the Salem Witch Trials



Samuel Sewall

Hello All,
It’s getting late and time to post my evening’s research. Tonight we are privileged to meet Samuel Sewall, our 1st cousin, 12 times removed. He is known for his extensive diary detailing the live of his Puritan family. He attended Harvard University. He was an assistant magistrate in the Salem Witch Trials. In fact, he was the only magistrate that publicly regretted his role. Later in his life he became the Chief Justice of Massachusetts. Also remember from a previous post our 9th great grandparents from another line were accused of being a witch during that trial. So, our great grandparents were judged by our 12th cousin. Isn't it interesting the way our family lines twist and turn and, at times, intercept.

There is much more below in this person’s interesting life.

We begin with the Relationship Chart:

Henry Sewell and Margaret Grazebrook are my 12th Great Grandparents. The chart above takes us to my 7th Great Grandparents John and Harmon and Mary Hasty. From them the family line goes as follows:

to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella Mae Mattson and Charles Ray Williamson
to
US

The information below is taken from Wikipedia on the life of this famous cousin.

Simply,
Victor

The Life of Chief Judge Samuel Sewall.

Sewall was born in Bishopstoke, Hampshire England, on March 28, 1652, the son of Henry and Jane Sewall (née Dummer), and grandson of Henry Sewall, the mayor of Coventry, England. He emigrated with his parents from England to the Massachusetts colony in 1661 where they settled in Newbury, Massachusetts. It is there the young Samuel grew up along the Parker River and Plum Island Sound. Like other local boys he attended school at the James Noyes House, receiving his primary education from the Reverend James Noyes. A devout Puritan, he later moved Boston to attended Harvard University, (graduating in 1671), hoping to study for the ministry, but he eventually left to pursue a career in business. He also entered local politics, and was elevated to the position of assistant magistrate in the judiciary that in 1692 judged the people in Salem accused of witchcraft. Sewall was perhaps most remarkable among the magistrates involved in the trials in that he was the only magistrate who, some years later, publicly regretted his role, going so far as to call for a public day of prayer, fasting, and reparations. In Salem, Sewall's brother Stephen had opened up his home to one of the initially afflicted children, Betty Parris, daughter of Salem Village's Reverend Samuel Parris, and shortly afterward Betty's 'afflictions' appear to have subsided.

Apart from his involvement in the trials, Sewall could be very liberal in his views. In The Selling of Joseph (1700), for instance, he came out strongly against slavery, making him one of the earliest colonial abolitionists. There he argued:

"Liberty is in real value next unto Life: None ought to part with it themselves, or deprive others of it, but upon the most mature Consideration."

He regarded "man-stealing as an atrocious crime which would introduce amongst the English settlers people who would remain forever restive and alien," but he also believed that

"There is such a disparity in their Conditions, Colour, Hair, that they can never embody with us, and grow up into orderly Families, to the Peopling of the Land."

Although holding such segregationist views, he maintained that:

"These Ethiopians, as black as they are; seeing they are the Sons and Daughters of the First Adam, the Brethren and Sisters of the Last ADAM, and the Offspring of God; They ought to be treated with a Respect agreeable."

His 1725 essay "Talitha Cumi" refers to the "right of women." It is republished for the first time since 1725 in the appendix to the most recent biography of Sewall .

His Journal, kept from 1673 to 1729, describes his life as a Puritan against the changing tide of colonial life, as the devoutly religious community of Massachusetts gradually adopted more secular attitudes and emerged as a liberal, cosmopolitan-minded community. As such, the diary is an important work for understanding the transformation of the colony in the days leading to the American Revolution.

In 1717, Sewall was appointed chief justice of Massachusetts.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Our 11th Great Aunt, Tried for Witchcraft.

Mary Bliss Parsons


From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Tonight we meet our 11th Great Aunt Mary Bliss Parsons, daughter of our 11th Great Grandfather and his second wife Margaret Hulins. We are descended from this same Thomas and his first wife Dorothy through another daughter with the same name "Mary Martha" who married Nathanial Harmon.

Our Great Aunt had an interesting life, to say the least. Yet once again we have a relative accused of witchcraft, providing another fascinating chapter in America's early history. We begin with the Relationship Chart:

Relationship Chart


Thomas Bliss b. abt. 1590 England married Dorothy Wheatley and 2nd wife Margaret Hulins
to
Mary Martha Bliss married Nathanial Harmon (1/2 sister Mary Bliss Parsons, daughter of 2nd wife Margaret)
to
John Harmon Sr. married Sarah Roberts
to
Sarmal Harmon married Mercy Simpson
to
John Harmon b. 1716 d. 1742 and Mary Hasty b. 1721 d. 1753
to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella Mae Mattson and Charles Ray Williamson
to
US


Mary Bliss Parsons with Daughter

The Mary (Bliss) Parsons Story

ary Parsons is perhaps the most infamous resident of Northampton's early settlement period. She was involved in witchcraft-related trials in 1656 and 1674, and possibly again in 1679. Her story is a fascinating one that sheds light on the workings of the Puritan mind and the complicated social and cultural situation of the period.

The Parsonses were one of the first families of Northampton; Historic Northampton's buildings are located on what was once Parsons family land, where Mary and her husband, Cornet Joseph Parsons, started their family in the newly settled town. The Parsonses moved to Northampton in 1654, where the were very successful. Cornet Joseph Parsons earned his title as a color-bearer in the Hampshire Troop of Horses, and held various positions of merit in the town. In his early career, he earned money and distinction working as a merchant and fur trader for the Pynchon family, and eventually kept the first house of entertainment in Northampton; the Parsonses would eventually become the wealthiest family in Northampton. Their wealth can also be measured in terms of their family size: Mary and Joseph had a total of eleven children, most of whom lived to adulthood.

But soon after the Parsonses moved to Northampton, rumors of witchcraft began to circulate, implying that the family's success came at the expense of other families, and was the result of Mary's dealings with the devil. To head off the allegations, Joseph Parsons initiated a slander case in 1656, which he won. But eighteen years later, Mary was officially accused of and tried for witchcraft in 1674. She was eventually acquitted, but it seemed that the residents of Northampton, despite any court decrees, were convinced that Mary was a witch. Mary may have been the subject of another witchcraft inquiry in 1679; however, no records remain to prove this theory. Joseph and Mary Parsons left Northampton in 1679 or 1680, amid lingering questions and gossip.

The story of Mary's trial in Northampton serves to show how the law courts worked in such complicated cases, and establishes a pattern that can be seen in witchcraft trials across New England, eventually culminating in the Salem Witch Hysteria in 1692.

For more information on our Great Aunt and detailed information on her trials please refer to the following web site:

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sam/bliss/mary.html


Simply,

Victor


Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Magna Carta, Signed by our 26th Great Grandfather and 27th Great Uncle

A Stained Glass Representation of Gilbert De Clare

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today we meet our 26th Great Grandfather, Richard De Clare and 27th Great Uncle, Gilbert De Clare, both signers of the Magna Carta (and for those of you that don't know what the Magna Carta is, Google it and learn about one of history's defining document providing the foundation of our freedoms).

We begin with the Relationship Chart.

Relationship Chart

26th Great Grandfather Richard De Clare and Adela Meschines
to
Abeliza De Clare and Lord William de Percy Brother 27th Great Uncle Earl Gilbert De Clare
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Matilda De Percy and William De Vavasour
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Robert Le Vavosour and Julian De Ross
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John De Vavasour and Alice Cockfield
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Sir William Le Vavasour and Nicholea Walleys
to
Henry Vavasour and Constance Mowbray
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Henry Le Vavasour and Annabel Fitz Hugh
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William Vavasour and Elizabeth Stapleton
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Henry Vavasour and Lady Margaret Anne Efame Skipwith
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Elizabeth Vavasour and William Sewarby
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Margaret Sewarby and Sir Geoffrey Pigott
to
Thomas Pigott and Isabel Gascoigne
to
Margaret Pigott and Sir James Metcalfe
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Margaret Metcalf and William Hilton
to
Mark Roger Hilton married Ellen Manwaring
to
Thomas Roberts married Rebecca Hilton
to
John Harmon Sr. married Sarah Roberts
to
Samual Harmon married Mercy Simpson
to
John Harmon married Mary Hasty
to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella Mae Mattson and Charles Ray Williamson
to
US

The De Clare Family Shield

The Magna Carta

In 1215, when King John confirmed Magna Carta with his seal, he was acknowledging the now firmly embedded concept that no man--not even the king--is above the law. That was a milestone in constitutional thought for the 13th century and for centuries to come. In 1779 John Adams expressed it this way: "A government of laws, and not of men." Further, the charter established important individual rights that have a direct legacy in the American Bill of Rights. And during the United States' history, these rights have been expanded. The U.S. Constitution is not a static document.

King John Signing the Magna Carta

Like Magna Carta, it has been interpreted and reinterpreted throughout the years. This has allowed the Constitution to become the longest-lasting constitution in the world and a model for those penned by other nations. Through judicial review and amendment, it has evolved so that today Americans--regardless of gender, race, or creed--can enjoy the liberties and protection it guarantees. Just as Magna Carta stood as a bulwark against tyranny in England, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights today serve similar roles, protecting the individual freedoms of all Americans against arbitrary and capricious rule.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Oh What a Tangled Web. Our 16th Great Uncles, the Princes in the Tower



The Princes in the Tower


From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
The title of this post is correct. Our family lines form an intricate, dark and tangled web around our newly discovered Great Grandfather Edward IV of England. I shall try to make this brief and to the point so you can understand.

Edward IV, as we learned in the last post (see the Relationship Chart in January 19th's Post) was our 15th Great Grandfather through his daughter Elizabeth, by his mistress Elizabeth Lucy or Waite.


Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England. 16th Great Aunt.

We also know that Edward's wife, Elizabeth Woodville, was our 16th Great Aunt along a different family line.

OK, now that we have that figured out, let me introduce you to Henry Stafford the 2nd Duke of Buckingham (4 September 1455 – 2 November 1483) was Anne Stafford’s father and our 16th Great Grandfather. When he was young he was the ward of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Consort of Edward IV of England. In May 1465 he married the Queen’s sister Catherine. He spent much of his life plotting to take the throne of England.

When Edward IV died, his son Edward V took the throne. He was 13 at the time. Edward was born in 1470 and died in 1483? His brother was Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York (1473 - 1483?). They were the only sons of Edward IV.

In May of 1483 Edward and his brother Richard, arrived in London for his coronation. They lived in the Tower of London, then a royal residence. Richard at that point was with his mother Elizabeth Woodville, our 16th Great Aunt, in sanctuary, but joined his brother in the Tower in June. Both princes were declared illegitimate by an Act of Parliament of 1483 known as Titulus Regius, and their uncle Richard Duke of Gloucester was crowned as Richard III. There are reports of the two princes being seen playing in the Tower grounds shortly after Richard joined his brother, but there are no recorded sightings of either of them after the summer of 1483. Their fate remains disputed, and many historians presume that they either died or were killed in the Tower. There is no record of a funeral.

The Murder of the two Princes, our Great Uncles.

In 1674, the skeletons of two children were discovered under the staircase leading to the chapel, during the course of renovations to the White Tower. At that time, these were believed to have been the remains of the two princes. On the orders of Charles II the remains were reburied in Westminster Abbey. In 1933, the grave was opened to see if modern science could cast any light on the issues, but precise identification of the age and gender was not then possible.

So, our two 16th Great Uncles were most likely murdered while living in the Tower of London.
And now it gets interesting. It is rumored that the two princes were murdered by our 16th Great Grandfather Henry Stafford (a Great Grandfather along a different family line).

Yes, it sets your mind spinning doesn't it?

Henry Stafford, Our 16 Great Grandfather

So to sum up, our two 16th great uncles, children of our 15th Great Grandfather Edward IV of England were murdered as children by our 16th Great Grandfather, Henry Stafford in the Tower of London in 1483.

Got it? Whew.......

Simply,

Victor

Perhaps this short video might help.


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Our 15th Great Grandfather, Edward IV King of England.



From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
A week or so ago I posted the news about an error on our family line to the Stewarts of Scotland found on the LDS Genelogy site. I've since corrected the error and started investigating our new, accurate family lines and found a direct line to Edward IV of England. This is the relationship chart:

Edward's Royal Crest

15th Great Grandfather Edward IV King of England and Mistress Elizabeth Lucy or Waite
to
Elizabeth Plantagent married Sir Thomas Lumley
to
Sybill, Baroness Hilton Lumley married Sir William Hilton
to
William Hilton married Margaret Metcalf
to
Mark Roger Hilton married Ellen Manwaring
to
Thomas Roberts married Rebecca Hilton
to
John Harmon Sr. married Sarah Roberts
to
Samual Harmon married Mercy Simpson
to
John Harmon married Mary Hasty
to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams married William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell married Jacob George
to
Frances George married Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler married Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce married Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella Mae Mattson married Charles Ray Williamson
to
Kim, Victor, Kevin, Janice, Jon, Jilane, Lisa, Anette


The Life of our Great Grandfather Edward IV

We begin with a description of Edward IV by Thomas More:


He was a goodly personage and very princely to behold; of heart courageous, politic in counsel, in adversity nothing abashed, in prosperity rather joyful than proud, in peace just and merciful, in war sharp and fierce, in the field bold and hardy, and nevertheless no further than wisdom would, adventurous.

More goes on to add ' He was of visage lovely; of body mighty, strong and clean made; howbeit in his latter days, with over liberal diet, somewhat corpulent and burly but nevertheless noy uncomely. He was in youth greatly given to fleshy wantoness, from which health of body in great prosperity and fortune, without a special grace, hardly refrains.'

The extrovert Edward was popular with the people, especially the Londoners and the ladies. Inclined to be lazy and easy going, he could act with alacrity when necessary and was highly efficient, although possessed of the ruthless streak that was inherent in the House of York.

Facts on Edward IV

Born: 28-Apr-1442
Birthplace: Rouen, France
Died: 9-Apr-1483
Cause of death: unspecified
Remains: Buried, Windsor Castle

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Royalty

Nationality: England
Executive summary: King of England, 1461-83

Edward IV, King of England, son of Richard, Duke of York, by Cicely Neville, was born at Rouen on the 28th of April 1442. As a boy he was styled Earl of March, and spent most of his time at Ludlow. After the Yorkist failure at Ludlow field in October 1459, Edward fled with the earls of Salisbury and Warwick, his uncle and cousin, to Calais. From there in the following July he accompanied them in their successful invasion of England, to be welcomed in London, and to share in the victory over the Lancastrians at Northampton. After the acceptance of Richard of York as heir to the crown, Edward returned to the Welsh marches, where early in the new year he heard of his father's defeat and death at Wakefield. Hastily gathering an army he defeated the earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire at Mortimer's Cross on the 2nd of February 1461, and then marched on London. He was acclaimed by the citizens in an assembly at Clerkenwell, declared king by a Yorkist council, and took possession of the regality on the 4th of March. Soon after the new king and the Earl of Warwick went north, and on the 28th of March won a decisive victory at Towton.

Edward owed his throne to his kinsmen the Nevilles, and he was content for the time to be guided by them. For himself he was young and fond of pleasure. Still he made frequent progresses, and took some part in the fighting that went on in the north during 1462-63. But he was absent from the final victory at Hexham on the 14th of May 1464, and was at the very time engaged in contracting a secret marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Woodville, Lord Rivers, and widow of Sir John Grey of Groby (d. 1461). The marriage was disclosed at Michaelmas, much to the vexation of Warwick, who in pursuit of his foreign policy had projected a match with a French princess. Edward heaped favors on his new relatives; his father-in-law was made treasurer, and great marriages were found for his wife's sisters and brothers. In foreign affairs also Edward thwarted Warwick's plans by favoring an alliance with Burgundy rather than France. There was, however, no open breach until 1469, when Warwick, taking advantage of the unpopularity of the Woodvilles, and supported by the king's next brother George, Duke of Clarence, appeared in arms. Edward was surprised and made prisoner at Middleham, and Rivers was beheaded. For six months Edward had to submit to Warwick's tutelage; then on the occasion of a rising in Lincolnshire he gathered an army of his own. Sir Robert Welles, the leader of this rebellion, made a confession implicating Warwick, who fled with Clarence to France. The king thought himself secure, but when Warwick and Clarence made terms with the Lancastrian exiles, Edward in his turn had to seek refuge in Holland (September 1470). His brother-in-law, Charles of Burgundy, at first refused him any assistance, but at last furnished him with money, and on the 14th of March 1471 Edward and his brother Richard landed with a small force at Ravenspur near Hull. Marching south he was welcomed at London on the 11th of April, defeated Warwick at Barnet three days later, and the Lancastrians at Tewkesbury on the 4th of May. From that point forward, Edward's possession of the crown was secure. His position was strengthened by the birth of a son (2nd of November 1470, during his exile), and by the wealth which he acquired through the confiscation of the estates of his opponents. Clarence had made his peace with Edward, but was at enmity with his other brother Richard of Gloucester, who now married Warwick's second daughter and claimed a share in the Neville inheritance. Their rivalry and Clarence's continued intrigues furnished Edward with his chief domestic difficulty; the trouble was ended by the judicial murder of Clarence in 1478.

The only serious enterprise of these latter years was the short French war of 1475, from which Edward was bought out by the treaty of Pecquigny. As foreign policy it was inglorious, and involved a departure from Edward's earlier plan of a Burgundian alliance. However, it shows a certain recognition of England's need to concentrate her energies on her own development. The annual subsidy which Louis XI agreed to pay further served Edward's purposes by providing him with money for home government, and enabled him to avoid possible trouble through the necessity for too frequent parliaments and heavy taxation. So Edward's personal rule became in its character autocratic; but it was in the art of courting popularity and concealing despotism that he most shows himself as a type of tyranny. He lacked neither ambition nor capacity, but was indolent and only exerted himself spasmodically. He could be ruthless, but was not habitually cruel. His strongest weapons were the fine presence, the affable manners (even with citizens), and the love of pleasure and entertainments which secured his personal popularity. In his last years he was given to self-indulgence and scandalous excesses, which did not, however, alienate the London citizens, with whose wives he was too familiar. Most of the power at court was in the hands of the Woodvilles, in spite of their unpopularity; the more arduous work of administration in the north was left to Richard of Gloucester. If as a prince of the Renaissance Edward was the first to rule tyrannically in England, he also deserves credit as a patron of the new culture and friend of William Caxton; he further resembles his Italian contemporaries in the commercial purposes to which he applied his wealth in partnership with London merchants.

Edward died at Westminster on the 9th of April 1483, and was buried at Windsor. By Elizabeth Woodville, who died on the 8th of June 1492, he had two sons, King Edward V and Richard of York, who were murdered in the Tower of London; and five daughters, of whom the eldest, Elizabeth, married King Henry VII. Of his numerous mistresses the most notorious was Jane Shore. Before his marriage he had been contracted to Lady Eleanor Butler, and this was alleged by King Richard III to have made his children by Elizabeth Woodville illegitimate.

Father: Richard, Duke of York (d. 1460)
Mother: Cecily Neville
Wife: Lady Eleanor Talbot (d. 1468)
Wife: Elizabeth Woodville
Son: Edward de Wigmore (d. 1468, by Eleanor)
Daughter: Elizabeth of York (b. 11-Feb-1466, d. 11-Feb-1503, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Mary of York (b. Aug-1467, d. 23-May-1482, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Cecily of York (b. 20-Mar-1469, d. 24-Aug-1507, by Elizabeth)
Son: King Edward V (4-Nov-1470, d. c. 1483, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Margaret of York (b. 10-Apr-1472, d. 11-Dec-1472, by Elizabeth)
Son: Richard, Duke of York (b. 17-Aug-1473, d. c. 1483, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Anne of York (b. 2-Nov-1475, d. 23-Nov-1511, by Elizabeth)
Son: George, Duke of Bedford (b. Mar-1477, d. Mar-1479, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Catherine of York (b. 14-Aug-1479, d. 15-Nov-1527, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Bridget of York (b. 10-Nov-1480, d. 1517, by Elizabeth)
Daughter: Elizabeth Plantagenet. (b. c. 1464, by Elizabeth Lucy)
Son: Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle (d. 3-Mar-1542, by Elizabeth Lucy)
Daughter: Grace Plantagenet
Daughter: Mary Plantagenet
Mistress: Elizabeth Lucy

Monday, January 17, 2011

The the Queen on her 72nd Birthday


From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Queen Luella celebrated her 72nd birthday on Friday. She braved the event with little fanfare or pomp. It was a quiet day at home with her crosswords, television, diet drinks and multiple calls from family and friends.

I took her to see Irish Dancing on Saturday night. Together we shuffled along the icy sidewalks, she - afraid of falling and me - what choice did I have with her clinging to my arm like it was the only thing separating her from a broken hip and certain death. I got tickets on the third row thinking the closer the better with her eyes the way they are. I chuckled when I found our seats. We were sitting in a sea of gray. The entire first few rows of the theater were occupied by the county's most senior citizens. It felt good to sit with people that considered me a young man (a handsome young man according to the Titanic survivor that sat next to me. Needless to say her eyes weren't what they should have been either. Her husband had to constantly point to the stage to focus her attention).

Mother's head has a slight wobble, much like those wobble headed dolls you see in the back windows of cars. I was fascinated by the way her wobble kept in time with the fiddling and clogging during the show. She did make a right mess of things with the popcorn. Imagine having a wobble and trying to get handfuls of popcorn from the bucket into your mouth. I knew it was a mistake to buy the popcorn but she insisted, and it was her birthday. At intermission she stood and showered us all in the popcorn that had accumulated on the natural shelf beneath her mouth and neck.

The show was enjoyable and I'm glad it ended when it did. One can only take so much clogging and fake smoke.
I suggested we go out the Exit below the stage and not trek back through the lobby and out the theater's front doors.
"Are you sure that's an Exit," she questioned.
"Yes, it says Exit above the door," I replied.
"But it could be for emergencies."
"If it was it would say so."
"Does it say so?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, let's go."

We walked toward the Exit. Just before entering she stopped a man gathering his family to leave.
"Is this an Exit people can use?" she asked. I knew what he wanted to say ("No ma'am its for leprechauns only") but he didn't.
"I think so," he answered.
"He said he thinks so," she told me. She hesitated at the door wondering if alarms would ring if it was opened. I opened the door. The world didn't end and so she proceeded to shuffle along.

Anyway......... here is a short slide show of Luella through the ages to honor our Queen on her birthday. I put it together it as if it were from Charles. We all know Dad is the bastion of emotional understatement and rarely discusses his feelings, but I've seen them through thick and thin and the good and the bad and have come to realize that she really is the love of his life. So, considering he hasn't a clue how to work a computer, I put this together as if from him to her.

So, here you go mom. Something from Dad, if he only knew how to form the right words and get them out in a semi audible way :)

Two from the Dynasty Performing on CBS's "Live to Dance".


From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
And what a beautiful day it is. The sun is shining and the depressing inversion of the past few weeks is lifted bringing clean, bright fresh air into the valley. This post celebrates the dancing achievements of two members of our family, Chaz and Brock Bodily. Last week they appeared on Paula Abdul's new show "Live to Dance" on CBS. They danced with "The Vibe". Their performance was spectacular, winning them a place on the show's final and giving them an excellent chance of winning $500,000.00. They are home now for two weeks, then its back to LA for the final competition. They'll need the entire family's support so please take time to watch the next show (not this Tuesday, but next I believe. Look for further updates on the blog) and vote for them when the telephone numbers appear on the screen.

Now, as per tradition, the Relationship Chart so you can identify them;


The video below moves fast and they are filmed from a distance so to help you recognize our relations I've include three stills.

Chaz is in guy in the center with the white tie. I is currently a student at UVU and plans on becoming a sports broadcaster. He loves to dance but sports are his passion.

Bock is in the center of this picture. He is a senior at Pleasant Grove High School, Utah and is earning his Associates Degree from UVU concurrently. In addition to dance, Brock played varsity football for Pleasant Grove High and is an all around great guy.

And now, the video of their performance (there may be a 10 second commercial at the front).



Congratulations to these two outstanding members of our family.

Simply,
Victor

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Hasty Family. Our New Line to Ireland and Scotland




From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
This has been a frustrating week at the Fortress when it comes to our family history. The posts have been sparse but the research has been extensive. I've spent hours working on what I thought was a well established line on the LDS Church database, only to discover on Monday that the information posted on the official web site is incorrect! What was an established line through Scotland and then into Europe suddenly has dried up with this new information.

My goal is to make our family history as factual as possible. That means we take the good with the bad. When new information comes to light I must use it to modify and or change what was thought. It is the same in any discipline. You work with what you have until new evidence surfaces. The prudent researcher takes the new evidence, weighs it against the old and decides which is correct.

I've done that with one of our Scottish lines. What was our Hunter to Stewart line is today replaced with what I believe is our correct family line.

Let's begin with the Relationship Chart.

8th Great Grandparents
Daniel Hasty b. 1685 Ireland. d. 1758 and Mary Hasty b. abt. 1690 Ireland d. 1758
Immigrated from Ireland In 1741.
to
John Harmon b. 1716 d. 1742 and Mary Hasty b. 1721 d. 1753

to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella Mae Mattson and Charles Ray Williamson
to
US


The crucial change is highlighted in Red. Our line was correct up to Martha Harmon. The old line had William Williams' wife listed as Martha Hunter. The Hunter line then carried us to the Stewart Clan and then into the royal house of Scotland. I can find no evidence that our confirmed Great Grandfather William Williams married a Martha Hunter. There is ample evidence that he married a Martha Harmon.

With that evidence we can today meet our true 8th Great Grandparents, Daniel and Mary Hasty.

The Hasty family were protestants who moved to Northern Ireland from Scotland and settled in Londonderry and from there immigrated to America. So, we lose one Scottish line only to gain another. Your Scottish blood is as strong now as it was when you started reading this post a few moments ago.

Please take a minute and read the history of this new ancestral line my fellow Hasty Clan members.

The family name Hastie is believed to be descended originally from the Strathclyde Britons. This ancient founding race of the north were a mixture of Gaelic/Celts whose original territories ranged from Lancashire in the south, northward to the south bank of the River Clyde in Scotland. They were divided into 3 sub kingdoms, the Selgovians south of the Clyde, the Novantii in Galloway in south west Scotland, and the Rhiged to the south in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire. 



From 400 AD to 900 AD Their territory was overrun at first by the Irish Gaels, then the Angels from the east, and, finally the Picts and Dalriadans from the north. However, their basic culture remained relatively undisturbed. By 1000 AD, however, the race had formed into discernible Clans and families, perhaps some of the first evidence of the family structure in Britain.

By the 16th and 17th centuries many of our modern family names descended directly from this ancient race, including Hastie. Many of these families were later found scattered, not only throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, but all over the world, surnames which can now be traced back to this locality and time period. Tracing it's ancient development, the name Hastie was found in Lanarkshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated with manor and estates in that shire.

The first record was of Robert and John Hastie holding the lands of Herthorn Hill in 1376. Thomas Hastie was a monk of Beauly in 1543, and Thomas Hasite later acquired the lands of Gogar in 1567. The family of Hastie are said to have been hereditary Pipers of Jedburgh for almost three hundred years. Notable amongst the family at this time was Thomas Hasite of Gogar. 

The natural division of Scotland and England, an arbitrary line from Carlisle to Berwick, posed an artificial division to the unity of the ancient Strathclyde Britons and their family groupings. To the north they became Scottish, to the south English. However, many of the family structures would continue to be unified clans, powers unto themselves, owing little allegiance to either Scotland or England , having territories and political interests on both sides of the border.

 Soon after the Norman Conquest border life was in turmoil.

In 1246, six Chiefs from the Scottish side and six from the English side met at Carlisle and produced a set of laws veringing all Border Clans. These were unlike any laws prevailing in England or Scotland or, for that matter, anywhere else in the world. For example, it was a far greater offence to refuse to help a neighbour recover his property, wife, sheep, cattle or horses than it was to steal them in the first place. hence the expression, "Hot Trod" or a, Hot Pursuit, from which we get the modern "hot to trot". For refusals of assistance during a "Hot Trod", a person could be hanged on the instant, without trial. Frequently, the descendants of these clans or families apologetically refer to themselves as being descended from "cattle or horse thieves" when, in fact, it was an accepted code of life on the border. 



In 1603, the Union of Scottish and English crowns became reality under King James VI of Scotland who was also crowned King James 1st of England. The Crown dispersed these "unruly border clans." In 1587, an Act of Scottish parliament had condemned certain border families for their lawlessness. Scotland was moving toward breaking up the old "border code". Hence, the Border Clans were banished to England, Northern Scotland and to Ireland. Some were outlawed directly to Ireland, The Colonies and the New World. 

Many of the Border Clans settled in Northern Ireland, transferred between 1650 and 1700 with grants of land provided they "undertook" to remain Protestant. Hence they became known as the "undertakers". Many became proudly Irish.

The name Hastie may well have arrived in Ireland early in the 17th century during the reign of James I of Britain, when six counties in Ulster were confiscated and settled by the protestant "planters" or "undertakers" as these settlers were known.

But there were many who were dissatisfied with life in Ireland, and sought a more rewarding life. They looked to the new world and sailed aboardarmada of sailing ships such as the Hector, the Rambler, and the Dove which struggled across the stormy Atlantic. Some ships lost Thirty to forty percent of their passenger list, migrants who died of disease and the elements.

In North America, some of the first migrants which could be considered kinsmen of the family name Hastie and it's spelling variants were William Hastie who settled in New England in 1685; Mary Hastie settled in Boston in 1848 with her husband and five children.

And to finish, let's once again enjoy our Irish / Scottish Ancestry with this song by Celtic Thunder titled Caledonia (the Roman name for Scotland and the Celtic peoples).


Monday, January 10, 2011

Our Clan Drummond through the Mattson - Pierce - Fiddler Lines.


a Drummond clansman from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands published in 1845.


From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Bitter cold this January night. It was 18 degrees according to the Battlestar's thermomoter. All the more reason to stay home, work on family history, and enjoy the city lights from the Great Room's large windows.

In a recent post I traced our family line to the Drummonds of Scotland. Tonight I'd like to share more information on the Clan that we are now a part of. First, the Relationship Chart:

George Drummond and Agatha Podiebradia Grand Duchess of Bohemia
to
Maurice Drummond
to
Malcolm Drummond 2nd, Seneschal of Lennox
to
Maurice Drummond, 3rd Seneschal of Lennox
to
John Drummond, 4th Seneschal of Lennox
to
Malcolm Drummond, 5th Seneschal of Lennox
to
Malcolm Beg (The Little) Drummond
to
Malcolm Drummond, 7th Seneschal of Lennox
to
Malcolm Drummond, 9th Seneschal of Lennox
to
John of Stobhall Drummond and The Maid of Monfichets.
to
Sir John Drummond and Elizabeth Sinclair
to
William Drummond and Margaret Ruthuen
to
Malcolm Drummond Knight and Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar.
to
Lord John Drummond and Elizabeth Lindsay
to
Annabel Drummond and William Graham
to
Elizabeth Graham and Sir Walter Drummond
to
Lord David Drummond
to
Mary Drummond and Archibald Sterling
to
James Sterling and Anna Home
to
Mary Stirling and John Steward of Blackhall, the Younger
to
Marie Lady Steward and Alexander Baronet Cunningham
to
Elizabeth Cunningham and William Hunter
to
John Hunter and Frances Mortimer
to
Martha Hunter and William Williams
to
Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler and Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John and Marvin
to
Us


Now that our linage to the Drummond Clan is established, it is time to learn more about our family's history. First the heraldry.

This is the Drummond Coat of Arms

The Drummond Clan Crest. The Motto reads "Go Carefully"

The Drummond Tartan

There are several Clan Drummond castles in Scotland.

Stobhall Castle obtained by the Drummonds in the early 15th century.

Megginch Castle was home of Cherry Drummond, 16th Baroness Strange

Drummond Castle was built in 1491 by Sir John Drummond.

Balmoral Castle was built in 1390 by Sir William Drummond

Drummond Clan History

The Drummonds were loyal to Scotland and her Kings. They served the House of Bruce and then later the House of Stuart. For over 500 years they served, and no better was an ally than a Drummond. The Drummond Chiefs held some of the highest offices in both the government and the military. The Drummond ladies were of such beauty that two were crowned Queen of Scotland. It is even rumored that there may have been a third. Drummonds have also been known for their temper. In Perth in the 17th century, there was a prayer, "From the ire of the Drummonds, Good Lord deliver us!"

According to legend, the Drummonds are descendent from Yorik de Marot. Yorik was the Royal Admiral to Hungary and a grandson of King Andrew of Hungary. It was he who took the perilous journey, in winter, to reach the Scottish shore at Stirling. It was he who delivered unto Malcolm Canmore, St. Margaret, the future queen of Scotland. This was in the early 11th century. The king was grateful and granted lands which were to become the ancestral homeland of the Drummonds. One source states that a Donald of Drymen fought in Malcolm Canmore's army against MacBeth in 1056, and that this was the reason for the grant of lands. It may be that Yorik married into the highlands clan and became its chief.

The earliest ancestor, of unbroken decent, is that of Malcolm Begg, or "Little Malcolm" of Drymen, who in 1225 was the Thane of Lennox. Malcolm received his name due to his stature. He was the Earl of Lennox's Seneschal. It was from this time, and the lands if Drymen, that the Clan Chiefs of Drummond are known as "An Drumanach Mor" - "The Great man of Drymen." It was Malcolm's son, Sir Malcolm, that took the name Drummond.

One of the families residing on the edge of the Highlands, the Drummonds have always played a prominent part in Scottish affairs. The parish of Drymen lies to the west of Stirling and appears to have derived its name from the Gaelic, ‘dromainn’, meaning a ‘ridge’ or ‘high ground’. The traditional legend narrates that the first nobleman to settle at Drymen was Hungarian, having accompanied Edgar the Aetheling and his two sisters to Scotland in 1067 on their flight from William the Conqueror. The royal fugitives were warmly received by Malcolm III, who married one of the royal sisters, Margaret, later to be made a saint. The first chief appearing in written records was Malcolm Beg, Chamberlain of Lennox, who married Ada, the daughter of the Earl of Lennox and who died some time prior to 1260. Gilbert de Dromund of Dumbarton appears on the Ragman Roll of Scottish noblemen submitting to Edward I of England in 1296. Malcolm de Drummond also swore fealty to Edward at this time. Despite this, the Drummonds firmly supported the cause of Bruce and Scottish Independence, and after the Battle of Bannockburn the king bestowed upon them lands in Perthshire. It is supposed that the four-spiked pieces of iron called ‘caltrops’, which form part of the heraldic emblems of the Drummonds, allude to Sir Malcolm’s promotion of the use of these weapons, which were highly destructive of the English cavalry.

In 1357, Annabella Drummond married, John, High Steward of Scotland, later Robert III, and she exercised considerable influence over her husband. Sir John Drummond rose to great power during the reigns of James III and IV. He was created a peer with the title of ‘Lord Drummond’ in 1488, a title borne today by the present chief. In one famous incident he was confined in Blackness Castle for having struck the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, for allegedly slighting his grandson, the Red Earl of Angus, and was only released a year later. His son, David Drummond, also fell foul of royal justice after a feud with another family resulted in his violation of the right of sanctuary. He did not escape with imprisonment, and instead paid with his life.

Around this time the Drummonds built a new castle at Concraig, and named it Drummond Castle. It is now the Scottish seat of the Earls of Ancaster, whose family name is Drummond-Willoughby. James, the fourth Lord Drummond, was created Earl of Perth in 1605. The family were staunch supporters of the Stuart kings, both during their quarrels with Parliament and after the exile of James VII. The third Earl joined the Marquess of Montrose in August 1645 and was taken prisoner at Philiphaugh the following month. James, the fourth Earl, was appointed Lord High Chancellor of Scotland in June 1684. On the accession of James VII he openly declared himself a Catholic, and enjoyed high royal favour. He was one of the founder knights at the revival of the Order of the Thistle in 1687. When James abdicated, the Edinburgh mob plundered the earl’s town house and he himself became a prisoner for nearly four years in Stirling Castle. He was freed in 1693 and went to Rome. He was summoned to France by his king, who bestowed upon him the Order of the Garter and raised him to the rank of Duke of Perth. His brother, the Earl of Melfort, also one of the founder knights of the Order of the Thistle, was with the king during his campaign in Ireland in 1690. The brothers so impressed their French hosts that their duchesses were accorded the jealously guarded right to sit in the royal presence.

James Drummond, later the second Duke, was one of the first to join in the rising of 1715. He formed a daring plan to seize Edinburgh Castle and commanded Jacobite horse at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. He escaped to France and his estates were forfeited. The third Duke joined Bonnie Prince Charlie on his arrival at Perth in September 1745. He followed his prince into England and captured Carlisle. His brother, John, later arrived with troops sent to assist in the rising by the king of France. At the Battle of Culloden, the duke commanded the left flank, and after the defeat of the Jacobite forces he was forced to flee. His escape was a harrowing ordeal and he died on the passage to France in 1746. The estates and titles of the Drummonds were once again declared forfeit. In 1853 George Drummond, Duc de Melfort, Comte de Lussan and Baron de Valrose in the peerage of France, was restored by Act of Parliament to the title of ‘Earl of Perth’, together with various subsidiary titles. The sixteenth Earl of Perth was the first secretary general of the League of Nations and his son was a Minister of State and a member of the Privy Council.