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.

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

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

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).

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.

Charles Williamson's Home Movies 1959.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
We have a special treat for our digital family reunion this cold January day. Over the Christmas Holiday I found a few old Super 8 home movies Charles Williamson (my dad) shot in 1959 in the bottom of a box in the back of a closet. Dad was very happy when I showed him my discovery. That next day we braved heavy snow to take the movies to Allen's Camera in Orem to be converted from film to DVD. Today I'm posting them to this family history blog for all to enjoy.

A few things to remember while you watch:

1. The motion is jerky. It is the best I could do at the moment. I'm looking for a way to improve the picture quality. Please remember, these movies have been sitting in a box in the garage for over 50 years. It is a miracle they are even watchable.
2. You can pause the movie at any time to get a better look at the people in the shot. I know everyone in all the shots except for the family Williamson family reunion clips. All you Williamsons out there may recognize these folks. If so, it would be nice to know.
3. I've taken stills from the movie and put them below explaining who is in the shots and where the shots were taken. Please look at the pictures before watching the video. You'll enjoy it much better if you do.

Victor and Kim 1959. Kim was the cute one of course and made sure if there was attention to be given she had to have it. It's OK. I was content as long as I had something to put in my mouth. I wonder if there was lead in that doll hair. Could explain a lot.

Grandma Elda (Charles Williamson's mother), Victor,
Grandpa Emerson (Charles Williamson's step dad), and Kim. And once again Kim understands what to do whenever a camera is pointed in her direction.

The Williamson Reunion, 1959 in Spearfish Park. There are several minutes of footage from the Williamson family reunion of 1959. Charles and Luella remember some of the people but not all. Perhaps you do.

My Grandpa Charlie (Charles Williamson's Dad) pitching horseshoes. Charles explained that horseshoes played an important role at the family reunions. Everyone had to have a go and the loser bought the beer :) (I'm kidding. See the smiley face....)

Luella Williamson pitching a horseshoe at the reunion. If we ever have another large Williamson Family Reunion I think horseshoes must be mandatory.

Grandma Elsie (Charles Williamson's step mom). Grandma Elsie was my Grandpa Charlie's second wife. She was an awesome grandma to all of us. She never forgot a birthday. Kim and I used to spend the night with them in Deadwood when we were small.

Luella Williamson giving horseshoes another go.

Uncle Walt Willamson. Uncle Walt was awesome. We made it a point to stop and visit Walt and Francis whenever we were in Deadwood. I loved running through their grocery store.

Aunt Jo. Who didn't love Aunt Jo?

Charles Williamson. The movie is very dark here. I had to do some photoshopping to try to capture the face.

Charles and Luella Williamson. Charles had his shirt off. Those were the days when he had something to show :)

Uncle Morris Williamson playing a monkey.

A rainbow over our neighborhood on East Signal Drive, Rapid City. 1959. We lived in a duplex on the top of Signal Heights. Ahh, fond memories. It was a magical time, but that is how most people remember their childhoods.

I believe this is me. Luella thinks so. I'm not sure though.

Uncle Billy Williamson, Charles Williamson's brother.

Victor. I'm about to lose my diaper.

Victor and Kim. You'll see in this movie how she loved to torture me. It's a wonder I'm alive today.

Kim and Luella Williamson at our home at 39 East Signal Drive, Rapid City. Luella is 19 years old in this picture with two children.

Grandma Elda holding Kim. Christmas 1959

Uncle John (Luella's brother) at the Mattson home in Spearfish. In this scene you'll see Uncle John with Luella. The last shot of the movie will show baby Kim navigating the steps to the house.

This movie is priceless. We didn't have money in those days, so spending money for home movies was a real luxury. I'm so happy they did. Preserving your family memories may seem a hassle now, but years down the road, your children and grandchildren will be happy you did.

There are a few more movies at the photo store being converted. I'll post them once they are ready.

So, enjoy these scenes from over a half century ago.

Simply,
Victor

Atilla the Hun. Our 48th Great Grandfather. It Explains a Great Deal.

Grandpa Atilla

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I sensed at an early age we had barbarian blood flowing through our veins. I remember my eight brothers and sisters and I used to watch the National Geographic Specials on television. We cheered for the lions as they hunted the gazelles. We knew even back then that it was all about the survival of the fittest. We were fascinated when the animal was brought down and consumed by the pride. Our eyes glazed over and drool wet the carpet as we watched raw meat being torn from the bone. At such times Mother would quickly turn off the TV, gather the youngest and lock her in the bathroom for her own saftey. Then, to placate our animal instincts, she'd throw cheap Safeway sandwich cookies at us from the kitchen to feed on until we were satiated.

What was it about those scenes on television that pulled such feelings from the very core of our being? Today, I discoverd a possible source - our barbaric ancestor, Atilla the Hun. He was a strong, ruthless, unforgiving Scourge of God. Sounds rather cool wouldn't you say?

Our uncivilized, barbaric behavior is seen even today in the way we interact with each other at our worse times. Remember what happens when our families get together for competitive events (the Mattson / Williamson soft ball game for example). It can be explosive with temper and tears.

I found the line to Atilla while researching our Drummond, Scottish genealogy which means I can add the Hungarian flag to our growing collection in the sidebar. Before we learn about this Scourge of God, let me show you the line as it stands now. Please realize there are some disagreements on a few names, but I'm very confident the direct line is there (or as confident as one can be when relying on medieval historians and their efforts to trace the lines of kings).

I'm thinking it's time for one of our more daring families honor this great ancestor by naming one of their sons Atilla. Imagine the fear of God he would instill in his teacher on his first day of school, and on every teacher thereafter.

So, shall we start with the Relationship Chart?

48th Great Grandfather.
Atilla King of the Huns
to
Chaba Prince of the Huns
to
Edus
to
Kadiah
to
Chazew
to
Kulchug
to
Edur
to
Vegerus
to
Elendus
to
Avarius, King of the Huns
to
Venedobel
to
Ogyek, Prince of Hungary
to
Almos, Prince of Hungary
to
Arpadius of Magyar Prince of Hungary
to
Zoltan, Prince of Magyars of Hungary
to
Taksony, Prince of Hungary and Princess of the Kumans
to
Michael Hungary, Regent of Poland and Adelaide Plast, “The White” Princess of Poland
to
Laszlo Szar Prince of Hungary and Premislava Vladimirovna, Princess of Kiev
to
Andrew, King of Hungary I and Anastasiya Agmunda Yaroslavna, Princess of Kiev
to
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

And now, the history of Atilla.

Atilla the Hun was no yellow coward in the pages of history. Rather he is known as number one in the gallery of ruthless and uncivilized barbarians. Even though there are no photos of the devastation that he delivered upon his enemies, the reports still paint a bloody picture. The sadistic terror that he instilled as he drove cities under the thumb of bondage caused him to become known as "Flagellum Dei" (The Scourge of God). While most people see Atilla as being just a ferocious warrior, the more obscure side of him shows us that as result of his lust for power, he was a great king, possessing passion and organization. He is quoted as saying, "When in a political war, a Hun must always keep an eye to the rear."

Atilla the Hun was born in approximately 406 AD to the ruling Hun family, his uncle being the king over the nomadic people that had already reached the out skirts of the Roman Empire in the late 4th century. Not much is known about Atilla's childhood other than he could shoot a bow while straddling a horse, a leg mounted in each stirrup. (The invention of the stirrup gave the Huns the advantage over those they conquered.) Atilla was obviously a sly hustler who took advantage of his athletic prowess and his political connections.

By his late teens, Atilla was no amateur at leading the Huns in merciless battle against the Visigoths and Rome. About 418 Rome and the Huns negotiated peace terms. To secure peace, important persons, such as the young Atilla, were exchanged as hostages between the Romans and the Huns. During Atilla's two years in Rome, he was awed by the sensual grandeur and wealth of the Empire. Upon his return home, he vowed to someday go back to Rome not as a hostage, but as a conqueror.
He was soon back to pillage towns, snatch young women for sexual pleasure, and cause mayhem and devastation. No one could match him in battle, and by his thirties, he had thrust himself into the most powerful position as the Huns' leading commander despite that his brother Bleda had also succeeded the throne upon the king's death in 433.

War between the Romans and the Huns broke out again in 440 when a Roman bishop was caught desecrating Hun tombs. Atilla and his army proved unbeatable as they swept into the Roman Empire defeating them time after time. The Hun had hard core women in his army who also fought and supported the main body of warriors. (This practice extended into the 12th century Golden Horde of Genghis Khan when he invaded toward the West.) In 445, Atilla murdered his brother and obtained domination over the Hun kingdom. As king, Atilla demanded large amounts of tribute from the Roman Empire and pillaged their villages when his demands were not met. For many years, the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled by Theodosius II, paid Atilla extreme amounts of money and gifts to keep an unsteady state of peace.

Even though he was very rich, Atilla led a very simple life. In the tradition of Mongol warriors, the Hun ate mare's milk, blood, and raw meat if necessary. He wore plain clothes and animal skin layered against the cold central Asian steeps (which is a far cry from the nearly nude depictions in movies like Conan the barbarian and their busty barbarian babes such as Xena the Warrior Princess). His belief system was unknown but he demonstrated little, if any, concern for local religions or Christianity. In contrast to the violent and sexual movies which play with man's temptations, the real Atilla seems to have been motivated by raw power rather than blood lust or erotic orgies. It was reported that it was uncommon for him to be drunk.

There appeared many legends surrounding the life of Atilla. He was said to have found a sword of the war god Mars buried in the ground of a field, with which he was an invincible warrior. Atilla probably did find a sword of some dead warrior and believed it to be a sign that he was destined to rule the world. Another rumor was that he was a cannibal, eating two of his sons. It was believed that one of Atilla's wives killed and prepared the children, for an unapparent reason, and told Atilla the flesh was that of an animal.

Reports of his wicked sins were exaggerated in Christian Rome. The Hun's diabolic reputation spurred fear based revival for the church where the Darkside served to create dreams of hell and anarchy to be avoided. Armageddon was just around the corner given the presence of "The Hun"! The sinful action of the Hun gave rise to virtuous action of Romans who tossed aside that which was forbidden by the church. Yet some renegade pagans claimed the scourge was because the old pagan gods had been abandoned for the Christian God. They advocated a return to temple prostitution and, rather than be appalled at the stories of the Hun's whores, they viewed this as one reason for the Hun's successful exploits.

In 451, Atilla turned his aggression towards the Western Roman Empire in an attempt to expand his kingdom. The Huns organized one of the largest invasions of the time composed of perhaps as many as a half a million men. The Huns spread across Gaul (today's France) and wreaked collateral damage on the great cities of Europe. The aftershock caused the Romans to quickly unite with the Visigoths, enemies of the Huns, to confront the Huns. The Huns were surprisingly halted and forced to retreat a hundred miles. The enemy pursued them and once again attacked. The battle that ensued caused mutual retreat for the loss of men on both sides.
Atilla was not discouraged however, and planned to redirect his invasion into Italy, the heart of the Western Empire. So, in 452 the Yellow Peril struck once again at the Romans. His ultimate goal was Rome itself. The Huns devastated the Roman countryside. However, in Rome, Pope Leo was able to convince him to spare the city. Atilla made peace with the Romans because of a famine and plague that existed in Italy at the time.

Back home, Atilla planned his next campaign on the Romans. However, in 453, his plans were suddenly cut short with his untimely death. Atilla had just married to Ilico, his seventh wife. During the night of the wedding, he got drunk and suffered from a hemorrhage of the nose. Another theory is that he was murdered (Babcock, 2005). He died in his bed that night at the age of about 47.

After his death, the sons of Atilla gained leadership of the Huns. They lacked the qualities and experience to run a kingdom. In fighting over the throne, they divided the empire, which soon led to its crippling. By 469, the Hun Empire was completely dissolved, faded into a mere memory.

Atilla was a fierce, merciless warrior on the battlefield who left behind unmatched devastation. Through his aggression, he posed an extreme threat to the Romans and nearly conquered Rome itself. During his prosperous reign, he was able to transform the nomadic Huns into a sedentary empire by collecting immense riches through plunder and extortion. In many eastern European cultures today, Atilla the Hun is honored as a hero.

Our Grandmother who Couldn't Read or Write

Great Great Great Grandmother Sarah Crippen Dennis Bingham

GGG Grandmother Sarah's headstone. Hot Springs SD

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today an interesting fact concerning our GGG Grandmother Sarah. She is the closest ancestor to us that, as far as my research shows, was unable to read or write.

She was born in Knox County, Tennessee in 1814 or 16. We know she married our GGG Grandfather Levi Dennis in 1842. He died. She remarried Samuel Bingham in 1847.

According to the census records, Sarah was unable to read or write. Another interesting fact that I haven't quite figured out is why she didn't know where her parents were born when asked the question for the 1880 Census. Did she know her parents? Did the topic never come up as she was growing up? It's not as if families back then had little time to talk. I find it peculiar. She may have been an orphan.

We begin with the Relationship Chart:

Sarah Martha Crippen b. 1814 Knox, Tennessee. married Levi Dennis b. 1812. Tenn.
to
John Mayberry Dennis b. 1844 Knox, Tenn. married Isabel McCrilles b. 1851 Vt.
to
Vesta Althea Dennis b. 1892. Hot Springs SD married Walter Edwin Pierce b. 1885 SD.
to
Violet Mae Pierce b. 1918 married Walter Albert Mattson b. 1912
to their children
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
Us

Next we take a look at the census information (Click to enlarge):



1850 Census. Notice the mark in box 13 stating that she could not read and write. This was reconfirmed in the 1880 Census.

In the 1880 Census (above) the two II marks in the first two columns are to indicated the inability to read and write. It then marks her birth state as Tennessee. Notice that Sarah didn't know where her parents were born. Both of her parents birth places are marked 'unknown'.

I was curious as to why this Great Grandmother of ours was illiterate and did some research on the history of education in Tennessee at the time she was born.

I discovered that the first settlers in Tennessee had little time or use for book-learning, but they did have a wide and thorough education in the lore of rifle, plow, and broadaxe - learning which cleared and peopled a wilderness.

Such schooling as there was lay in the hands of a few clergymen, usually Presbyterians who had joined their Scotch-Irish congregations from North Carolina and Virginia. In summer, when children could be spared from farm work, the local preacher kept school in the community church-courthouse, a rough one-room log cabin with a packed clay floor and slab benches. Here for a few weeks the children struggled with ciphering, writing, and learning to read from a great leather-covered Bible.

A departure from this sketchy between-planting-and-harvest schooling was made by the Reverend Samuel Doak in 1780, when he began conducting graded classes in a log outbuilding on his farm near Jonesboro. The first regular school west of the Alleghenies, it was chartered three years later by North Carolina as Martin Academy, in honor of Governor Alexander Martin. In 1785 the charter was confirmed by the legislature of the short-lived State of Franklin. About the same time the North Carolina Assembly chartered, as Davidson Academy, the meeting house near Nashville where the Reverend Thomas Craighead had gathered a class of boys.

The Constitutional Convention of 1796 made no provisions for public education, and for a decade the small academies that a dozen or so ministers had set up, after the example of Doak and Craighead, were the only schools in Tennessee. In these "literary institutions" matters of conduct and morals were stressed as much as familiarity with the English classics, Latin, Greek, and oratory: the prized hallmarks of a gentleman's education. They ranged in quality from little backwoods establishments with almost illiterate teachers - who accepted payment in food, wood, or help about the place - to expensive town schools conducted by the most pontifical and flowery of scholars. The best of these prepared the sons of the land-holding gentry for Harvard and Yale, and for politics; the worst gave doubtful prestige and rather muddled minds to the sons of solvent small farmers. So strongly did the system of private academies entrench itself that by 1889 more than 500 had received charters from the State, and nearly a third of these were actually operating.

In 1806 the United States Congress had directed that 600 acres of good land in each Tennessee township should be reserved and sold for the support of public schools. This requirement was largely ignored. Of the 6,500,000 acres which should have been set aside, only 23,000 - and these so poor that they sold for as little as one cent an acre - were actually converted into school funds. Money realized from land sales was insufficient to establish a single school. A tentative effort toward the establishment of common schools was made in 1815, when the State legislature passed an act "to provide for the education of orphans of those persons who have died in the service of their country." In 1823 a few thousand dollars were appropriated for pauper schools, and five years later half the proceeds from the sale of public lands between the Hiwassee and Little Tennessee Rivers was allotted to a common school fund. The scant income from the Hiwassee lands supported only a handful of extremely ill-equipped schools. They were taught by political appointees, minor bandwagon followers who often were barely able to sign their names.

Simply,
Victor