The Mattson Kids. Early 1980's

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

It's after 9:00 P.M. Before I turn in for the night I thought I'd post a continuation to the original round of pictures I posted earlier in the week of our California Dreaming Vacation with a few other gems taken at the Mattson home in American Fork

Remember, Uncle John and Aunt Bev were kind enough to invite cousin Shane and I on their California vacation in the early 1980's.

Jake Mattson with the Penguins.
I don't remember where this was taken. I guess I wasn't impressed.

In the background, Shane with Camille(?) in the stroller. Angie is sandwiched between Shane and Jake (looking through the binoculars). Joe is closest to me with John and Bev behind.

Jake and his soon to be sand castle.

Angie, Camille and Joe

We jump ahead a few years to the Mattson home on 510 South in American Fork Utah.

I remember one cold winter day Uncle John took out the four wheeler, some rope and a sled.
It was a great afternoon in the backyard. Kirk is trying to get some air in the snapshot above.

Joseph

Candice Mattson above and below

Joe sitting in his dad's chair

Jake and Kirk take a break from the evening's sports in the basement.

We say Goodnight with this final picture. Camille, Angie, Joe and Jake

Simply,
Victor

Pictures from Victor's Albums 1970's and 80's South Dakota, Utah.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
What's a Sunday without a few pictures from my old photo albums? Hold on, the Way Back Machine is about to whisk you 30 odd years back in time to simpler days. These pictures are entirely random and presented as they appear in the albums.

The Backyard Gathering

Forrest DelGrosso, Annette Williamson, Brandon DelGrosso and Lisa Williamson in the backyard of our humble abode at 2214 38th Street, Rapid City. This picture was taken in the late 1970's. Brandon is always happy. I could never figure out why? At first we thought there was something wrong with him. Turned out he was just pure boy - mischievous to a fault. That smile hide something devilish he had planned for someone unsuspecting.

Lisa is in the throws of another attitude attack. She had quite a few of them in those days.
Rest assured I was saying "Smile!". She chose not to comply.


And another of happy Brandon DelGrosso with innocent Annette. I love the missing tooth. Perhaps he was overexcited for the prospect of another visit from the tooth fairy and a bright new shiny dime to add to his collection (hey, those were the days when a dime could by 10 red vines!).

What can one say about Annette? Her mother would say "perfect child". I would tend to agree.

Lisa granted the photographer a smile. While not her best, it was the best I could get. Forrest - what a handsome young man. For years we wondered if his mother ever fed him. He was a all skin stretched over bone and sinew. Of course, there was the theory that Brandon ate for two in those days - leaving Forrest the table scraps.

The Williamson Family Reunion. Late 1970's

I'm sure I have more pictures of this reunion, but I'm not taking the time to organize my albums. If I did nothing would get posted.

In this picture we have Charles Williamson's half sister Kriss with her family at the Williamson family reunion. Today Aunt Kriss lives in Montana.

On the way back from Spearfish we stopped along the interstate so Charles could show us his latest project, a railroad tunnel under I90. Luella wasn't the least bit interested and stayed in the car to read. Don't know why the baked beans sat on the top of the car. Perhaps we forgot to put them in twenty miles back.

This was our yellow Rambler Station wagon. It is a true Williamson car and I can prove it. Look closely at the windshield wipers. Notice anything? The wiper on the passenger's side is missing. That alone qualifies it as a Williamson vehicle. Rest assured, no matter what happened to be missing from any of our cars (windshield wiper, floorboard, window roller upper, gear shifter, muffler etc) Charles kept them immaculately clean through and through. We were proud to be seen driving in the cleanest junker in Rapid City!


Charles, Annette, Janice and Lisa standing under I90 in Charles' new railroad bridge.

A rare picture indeed. Jilane sitting behind the wheel of our yellow Rambler Stationwagon. This was taken around the time of the family reunion. I say that because Charles never let anyone drive when he was in the car. He drove and that was that.

Jilane may have been learning to drive in this picture. It makes sense because I'm in the back seat snapping the photo. No one in their right mind would be in the front seat with Jilane. Remember, we didn't have air bags in those days and Jilane had a fascination with her appearance in the rear view mirror (to the horror of many a driver coming towards us in the opposite lane of traffic). The safest place to be was in the back seat, belted in with the St. Christoper medallion in hand. I kept it in the glove compartment.

This picture is a mystery. Jilane Williamson is on the far right with a few high school friends I'm guessing. It looks like they are at a park.

The Mattson California Adventure. Early 1980's

I don't remember exactly when we went on our California Vacation. It was the early 1980's for sure. Cousin Shane (Uncle Marvin and Aunt Pam's oldest boy) and I went with John and Bev and the kids. In this picture - Joseph, Kirk, Jake and Shane. Seat belts? Who needs them. Uncle John was driving.

They played a trick on me during the long drive through Nevada.
"Hey, did you know you can honk the horn just by pushing on the van's roof?" John said from the driver's seat.
"That's ridiculous," I answered. "Why would a car let you honk the horn by pushing on the roof?" I shot back.
"Try it." Everyone watched. I reached overhead and pushed the van's roof with my index finger.
Sure enough, the horn sounded. I was amazed at the technology and tried it several times until everyone's laughter made me suspect I was the brunt of a well played joke. Uncle John was watching me in the rear view mirror and honked the horn every time I pushed on the roof.

The California Vacationers. Left to Right. Shane Mattson, Uncle John, Joseph, Angie, Camille,
Aunt Bev, Gina, Jake and finally Kirk.

Here we are at Knott's Berry Farm. We needed a break. I was sicker than a dog from some ride.

Joseph Mattson waiting patiently for me to feel better so we could get on the next ride.

With Grandma Mattson in American Fork

Grandma Mattson was visiting so I took a couple pictures. Grandma and her eldest son Uncle John sitting on John and Bev's couch in their living room in American Fork.

Grandma Mattson with grandchildren. Joseph, Camille and Kirk.

And a rare picture of yours truly with my Grandma Mattson. I was at BYU at the time and living in Provo. Those glasses were styling in their day. The larger the frames the better.

A Day Out with the Seminary Class

These pictures were taken in the spring of 1980. I returned from an LDS mission to England in September 1979. My first calling back in Rapid City was to teach early morning seminary. The class started every morning at 6:30 A.M. (if I could get the girls out of the church's bathroom).
In this picture you see Don Christensen, Jilane Williamson, Paula Thomas and John Christensen..

And finally, twins Don and Jon Christensen in front of my yellow 1972 Buick Skylark.

Thanks for stopping by,
Victor

Robert the Bruce. Robert I of Scotland. Scotland's George Washington. Our 21st Great Grand Uncle.

Our Great Uncle, Robert the Bruce

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today we celebrate our Scottish heritage with our 21st Great Grand Uncle, Robert the Bruce of Scotland. We start with the Relationship Chart:

Robert I The Bruce Scotland Bruce (1274 - 1329)

is your 21st great grand uncle

Robert DeBrus (1243 - 1304)

Father of Robert I The Bruce Scotland

Edward Bruce (1276 - 1318)

Son of Robert

Alexander Bruce (1315 - 1333)

Son of Edward

Eleanor Bruce (1334 - 1368)

Daughter of Alexander

William Cunningham (1370 - 1413)

Son of Eleanor

Margaret Cunningham (1413 - 1466)

Daughter of William

Katherine Stirling (1419 - 1526)

Daughter of Margaret

John Bethune (1440 - 1507)

Son of Katherine

John Beaton (1499 - )

Son of John

David Betoun (1525 - )

Son of John

Agnes Betoun (1551 - )

Daughter of David

Archibald Gordon (1556 - 1616)

Son of Agnes

Thomas Gordon (1605 - 1689)

Son of Archibald

Alexander Gordon (1635 - 1697)

Son of Thomas

Nicholas Gordon (1666 - 1748)

Son of Alexander

Elizabeth Gordon (1694 - 1766)

Daughter of Nicholas

Betsey Dudley (1724 - 1810)

Daughter of Elizabeth

Betsey Hill (1762 - 1797)

Daughter of Betsey

Deborah Dearborn (1785 - 1874)

Daughter of Betsey

Elmira Swift (1809 - 1903)

Daughter of Deborah

Isabella Denora McCrillis (1851 - 1896)

Daughter of Elmira

Vesta Althea Dennis (1892 - 1978)

Daughter of Isabella Denora

Violet Mae Pierce (1918 - 1987)

Daughter of Vesta Althea

Violet married Walter Mattson
to their children
Luella, Linda, John and Marvin
to
Us

Robert Bruce was born on 11th July 1274 at Turnberry Castle on the Ayrshire Coast, overlooking Ailsa Craig. His mother’s family owned lands in County Antrim between Larne and Glenarm, and in 1286 his father had agreed an alliance with a number of powerful people in Ulster and Scotland (including William Wallace’s father Malcolm, and Richard de Burgh, the Earl of Ulster), known as “The Turnberry Band”. This agreement asserted the claims of the Bruce family to the vacant Scottish throne.

Background, Marriage and Murder
Decades of English invasions and Scottish rebellions had taken their toll on Scotland. The King and his heir had died, and a number of claimants to the throne emerged, including the Bruces. After his famous victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, William Wallace was defeated the following year at Falkirk and was later captured and executed. During these years the Bruces adopted a policy of “wait and see”, sometimes siding with the English and sometimes opposing them. King Edward I “Longshanks” had captured the Scottish crown jewels and the famous Stone of Destiny in 1296 and took them to London. Scotland was now under English occupation.

Robert Bruce married Elizabeth de Burgh, the daughter of the Earl of Ulster in 1302, and by 1306, the two strongest claimants to the throne of Scotland were Robert Bruce and his cousin (and enemy) John Comyn. However, Comyn betrayed Bruce to King Edward “Longshanks” I of England, and the furious Bruce met with Comyn in February 1306 at the Church of the Grey Friars in Dumfries. Daggers were drawn and Bruce stabbed Comyn, who died from his wounds. Charged with both murder and sacrilege, Bruce and his followers headed for Scone Palace where, as the man with the strongest claim to the throne, he was crowned as King of Scotland in a simple ceremony led by Robert Wishart, Bshop of Glasgow.

From Rathlin to Bannockburn
In the months that followed, Bruce and his people were fugitives in the land, so much so that in Autumn 1306 they sailed from the Mull of Kintyre to Rathlin Island, where they stayed until Spring 1307. The stay on Rathlin is recorded in some detail in Barbour’s Bruce, written in 1377. Two features on Rathlin – Bruce’s Castle and Bruce’s Cave – are there to this day, but the famous spider story is more than likely a later legend.

Energised, and with renewed determination from their time on Rathlin, Bruce and his men returned to Scotland, winning a series of battles against his enemies during a successful seven year campaign of guerrilla warfare. During this time Bruce’s exploits and his clever tactics united the families of Scotland behind him, and in June 1314 he won Scottish independence at the Battle of Bannockburn.

The Bruces in Ireland
Bruce’s ambitions grew. In early 1315, Robert wrote to “all the kings of Ireland”. In this famous letter he asserted that “we and you, and our people and your people, share the same national ancestry… common language and common custom…” with the aim of “permanently strengthening and maintaining inviolate the special friendship between us and you…”. This letter is generally seen as Robert the Bruce preparing the way for the next phase of his war against Edward II of England - a new front in Ireland, and to install his brother, Edward Bruce, as King of Ireland. In Ulster, Domnall O’Neill, who may actually have been a distant cousin of the Bruces, helped to rally other Ulster kings to the Bruce cause by writing another famous letter. (O’Neill was the first to style himself as “King of Ulster” – in a letter to Pope John XXII he described himself as “Dovenaldus Oneyl rex Ultoniae”. Domnall was succeeded by Hugh Reamhar O’Neill, owner of the famous silver seal which is acknowledged as being the earliest example of the symbol known today as the Red Hand of Ulster)

Soon after Robert’s letter, the three and a half year Bruce military campaign in Ireland began. Edward Bruce arrived in Ulster on 26th May 1315 with a force of 6,500 men. Many of the Ulster chiefs initially joined with Edward Bruce and he was crowned King of Ireland at Knocknemelan near Dundalk around 2nd May 1316. He was joined in Ulster by Robert the Bruce in September of the same year, who arrived at Carrickfergus with around 7,500 men and remained until May 1317. However their brutal campaign, which at one stage looked like expanding into Wales, failed.

So Robert returned home, and Edward was killed in the Battle of Faughart, just south of Newry, on 24th October 1318. The Scottish army retreated to Carrickfergus before going home, and the dream of a Scottish/Irish alliance was over. Robert would later make two return trips Ulster, in 1327 and in 1328.

Arbroath, Dumbarton, Dunfermline, Melrose
The Declaration of Arbroath, the great document of Scottish independence, was written on 6th April 1320, a date which has recently become “Tartan Day” in the USA. The Declaration was signed by Scotland’s most powerful men and was taken to Pope John XXII at Avignon by Sir Adam Gordon. So in 1324 the Pope recognised Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland, and in 1328, at the Treaty of Northampton, Edward III of England finally acknowledged Scotland as a nation and Robert the Bruce as its King.

Bruce died at Cardross in Dumbartonshire on 7th June 1329, but his dying wish was that his heart should be carried by his great friend Sir James “The Black” Douglas (who had been with Bruce on Rathlin) to the Crusades. So his heart was removed from his body and was embalmed, whilst the rest of his body was buried at Dunfermline Abbey. Douglas was killed in Spain, and Bruce’s heart was returned to Scotland where it was buried at Melrose Abbey. You can visit both abbeys today and view the monuments and burial places.

Robert the Bruce is one of the most famous Scots of all time. Spider or not, his career, his life and the future of Scotland were transformed forever following his refuge on Rathlin Island. Rathlin Island can rightly claim to be “The Birthplace of Bannockburn”.

Monday's Photos

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

I've decided to post a few pictures tonight from the baskets and baskets of old family photos occupying one end of the living room. If I'm lucky I'll live long enough to get them all posted before I leap over to the other side and meet these folks in person. They may look at me curiously, wondering who I am, but I'll sure know who they are by sight. That ought to put me in their good graces - hopefully.


Another picture taken down the long dusty gravel road leading to the Mattson homestead on the Montana plains. This picture was taken around 1945. From left to right, Linda, Luella, baby Marvin, Grandma Violet, John standing in front of his mother and Great Grandpa Mattson.


One of Luella's earliest baby pictures, 1939.
"Oh my gosh, that's my grandmother's chair!" Luella exclaimed when I showed her the picture before posting it. "I use to love sitting in that chair. It was so big and roomy and comfortable."


The pictures in the boxes are in no particular order (a real jumbled mess if you want to know the truth), so in my search of another old ranch picture to go with the two I wanted to post tonight, I found this picture of Kevin standing somewhere looking very modelistic (there you go, I've just coined a new word. You all have permission to use it without payment of a royalty). I thought it might be in the Black Hills but the mountains are wrong. I'm sure Kevin will send the correct location. I'm guessing this was taken in the late 1970's or very early 1980's.

Simply,
Victor

The Begining Documents. The Seed of Faith.

Charles and Luella during their missionary discussions. 1958

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today we celebrated the blessing of Elliana Wilson, Afton Delgrosso and Zack Wilson's first born in American Fork. Elliana is another beautiful great grandchild of Charles and Luella Williamson.

Elliana Wilson

I am a Back of the Bus Mormon, meaning I find myself most comfortable with other Back of the Bus Mormon's like me who find the back few rows of chairs in the meeting house the most comfortable. We 'Back of the Bus' Mormons tend to chat a bit more, sleep, text, daydream, read and on occasion - when things get really 'deep and dry' - find an easy and less distracting escape route into the hall. These escapes are well orchestrated. We've mastered the ability to silently disappear, as if caught up in the Rapture. We vacate the building in all directions, using every exit, like billiard balls on the first strike of a new game. Some go home, others find a roost to chat on the foyer couch and cushioned chairs while others gather at the local Quickie Mart for a refreshing 32 ounce soda of something brimming with caffeine.

The baby blessing was beautiful, although difficult to hear. Families with the loudest children tend to be members of the Back of the Bus sub congregation. Getting hit in the face by flying Cheerios makes it even more difficult to concentrate on what's happening at the front of the chapel. Back of the Bus Mormon moms keep tupperware containers full of Cheerios and animal crackers in their church survival bags. The treats are used to distract the children and keep them as quiet as possible.

Today's baby blessing brought our family together from near and far. Seeing them all at the front of the chapel made me think about how it all began in 1957. I dug through a few of Luella's old things and found the documents which brought Mormonism to this family. These are the original documents drawn by the LDS missionaries as they presented the discussions to Luella and Charles.

Elder Paulson and Elder Hamilton lived in Lead. They hitchhiked once a week to Sturgis to teach Charles and Luella the investigator lessons. Grandma and Grandpa Mattson were taking the lessons at the same time in Spearfish. In fact, the first question Luella asked when she realized Mormon missionaries were standing on her doorstep was, "Did my mother send you?" Luella and Charles fed the missionaries supper after each discussion. The discussions were taught at the kitchen table. The missionaries drew pictures (see them below) while they covered the lesson material.

Charles and Luella were baptized on 21 December 1957 at the Rapid City Chapel. They attended the small Sturgis branch. The Sturgis Mormon Branch held their meetings in the Boy Scout Hall. Charles would go to church early on a Sunday morning to sweep up the cigarette butts (the Knights of Columbus met there also). Six to ten people showed up on a good Sunday. Charles and the missionaries were the only men present.

Charles and Luella moved to Montana for a brief period where I was born. A year or so later they moved to Rapid City. Charles was called to become the Dependent Branch President of Sturgis. He was 24 years old. Charles, Luella, Kim and I drove to Sturgis (29 miles each way) every Sunday for Sunday School (the only meeting held). There were still only females attending. Charles blessed the sacrament, passed the sacrament, ran the meeting and taught the Sunday School class. Luella played the piano. She would set me beside her on a chair while she played. Once I fell off the chair. It made for an interesting meeting.

Below are the original drawings and outlines created on the Williamson kitchen table in Sturgis, South Dakota that started this religious pebble which has grown into a full scale avalanche down the mountainside of faith. (click to enlarge)

Charles and Luella Today

Luella's Forgetful Sunday and More on the Life and Times of the Mattson on their Montana Ranch

From the Fortress of Solitude

Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I'm wondering about Luella today. She hasn't been "with it". This mental hiccup might be the result of spending to much time playing Solitaire on her iPad, or her diet (meaning a sudden drop in carbs which causes a slowness in the firing of the brain's neurons) or the early stages of dementia or just plain old age. Wanting to be completely fair, I'll present my evidence for your consideration and let you make the final judgement.

Example 1:
One of my Sunday weaknesses is a 32 ounce Diet Mt. Dew with one squirt of cherry syrup added just for the heck of it. I know its unorthodox, but a guy's got to push the envelope of acceptability once in awhile. Luella became addicted to the concoction several months ago after one taste, claiming it was the nectar of the Gods (which makes me think that I may have missed my calling in life. Perhaps bartending was what I was meant to do).

She decided not to deal with the early morning February air and waited for a home delivery.

"Here you go," I said upon my return. I handed her a deliciously poured and stirred beverage. Her eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning. She smacked her lips, took the drink, sat it beside her and reached for her purse.

"What do I owe you?" she asked.

"On the house," I replied feeling particularly generous for a Sunday in February.

I sat a 12 pack of Diet Pepsi (caffeine free mind you) that she'd asked me to pick up while I was out on her kitchen table and turned to leave. I noticed a despondent look on her face. It was the look a mother gives a neglectful child.

"No drink for me today?" she asked. I thought she was kidding but decided to play along.

"Nope, no drink for you today. Did you want one?" I asked looking for the faintest sign of a smile on her face telling me of her rouse.

"Well, I guess I really don't need one. I'm trying to stay off sugar." She looked back to her television, then back to me. That's when I realized she was serious.

"Look on the table beside you," I said.

"OH MY GOSH, HOW DID THAT GET THERE?" she shouted. We spoke a minute about her future. I pressed my case that now was the time to start looking for a cheap care facility with people she could be forgetful with. I turned to leave.

"If you write about this you be sure to mention that I got distracted looking for my purse to pay you back. You make sure you write that." I agreed and so I have kept my promise. I leave it up to you kind readers to make of it what you shall.

Example 2:
She lost her car keys at church. The Bishop helped in the search. They were found in the library.

Example 3:
Luella called her sister Linda today. Linda is recovering from surgery. Luella had a hard time hearing her over the phone. What does one do when having a hard time hearing someone on the other end of the phone? You could, 1) ask them to speak louder or 2) turn up your phone's volume.

Luella did neither. Instead she reached for the TV remote and turned it up instead! Not what I would have done.

A fair warning to my sisters and brothers. Your time is coming. Oh yes, your time is coming.

And now, let's venture back to the Mattson Ranch on the Montana plains circa 1940's. You may enlarge the pictures by click on each once.

Uncle Marvin Mattson around 1945. Marvin was the youngest of the four Mattson children. Today Marvin is retired and lives in South Dakota.

Every year the Montana ranchers would contract out Trappers to come to their land and kill coyotes. Each rancher paid a certain amount for every coyote killed. Luella remembers the trappers eating with the family at mealtimes. Coyotes were a constant problem on the ranch. They went after the sheep. In the picture above you see Luella standing with the trapper.

The Mattson Family Ranch looking down into the draw.

Uncle John in 1943. A very unhappy baby. Luella said he didn't what to have his
picture taken.

Irene Jacobson and Gladys ? holding 6 month old Luella. The Jacobsons were neighbors to the Mattsons. The Jacobsons sold their ranch and moved to Belle Fourche. They turned their home in Belle into a Boarding House. Irene's mother's name Roxy Jacobson.

Grandma Elda and Dad boarded at the Jacobson Boarding House for awhile after the divorce. Grandma Elda and Grandma Violet met each other at the boarding house when Violet came to Belle Fourche for medical treatment. Grandma Violet nearly bled to death. It was touch and go for a bit. Luella met Charles at the Jacobson boarding house for the first time. Dad was 13. Mom was 10. Was it love at first sight? No, Luella was extremely shy. Dad wooed her by riding his bike and showing off. Luella says he could ride on one wheel and with no hands! Imagine that!



Luella at Easter around 1942 sitting in front of the family's cherry tree. The cherry tree was in the back of the Mattson ranch house on the way to the outhouse.


Thrashing time on the ranch. Grandpa Walter stands near the machinery with his youngest son Uncle Marvin. Grandpa did enjoy his smokes. Of course, who didn't in those days?

Our 21st Great Grandmother Isabella, "The She Wolf". A True Ancestor to the Iron Willed Women in Our Family.

From the Fortress of Solitude

Pleasant Grove

Hello All,

Strong willed, stubborn, frightful - all terms I've heard to describe the majority of the females in this family. One contributing source of these character traits could be our 21st Great Grandmother Isabella, The She Wolf" of France.

We begin with the Relationship Chart

Isabella "the She-Wolf" De France (1292 - 1358)

is your 21st great grandmother

Edward III , King of England Plantagenet (1312 - 1377)

Son of Isabella "the She-Wolf"

Thomas Woodstock Gloucester Plantagenet (1355 - 1397)

Son of Edward III , King of England

Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet (1383 - 1438)

Daughter of Thomas Woodstock Gloucester

William Bourchier (1412 - 1471)

Son of Anne of Gloucester

Fulke Bourchier (1445 - 1479)

Son of William

John Bourchier (1470 - 1539)

Son of Fulke

John Bourchier (1499 - 1560)

Son of John

Elizabeth Bowchiew (1518 - 1570)

Daughter of John

Richard Chase (1542 - 1611)

Son of Elizabeth

Aquila Chase (1580 - 1670)

Son of Richard

Aquila Chase (1618 - 1670)

Son of Aquila

Sarah Chase (1647 - 1726)

Daughter of Aquila

Abraham Annis (1668 - 1748)

Son of Sarah

John Annis (1700 - 1770)

Son of Abraham

Ezra Annis (1726 - 1818)

Son of John

Abigail Annis (1771 - )

Daughter of Ezra

Phineas Swift (1786 - 1854)

Son of Abigail

Elmira Swift (1809 - 1903)

Daughter of Phineas

Isabella Denora McCrillis (1851 - 1896)

Daughter of Elmira

Vesta Althea Dennis (1892 - 1978)

Daughter of Isabella Denora

Volet Mae Pierce (1918 - 1987)

Daughter of Vesta Althea. Violet married Walter Mattson
to their children
Luella, Linda, John and Marvin
to
Us

First a summary on her life.

Isabella, one of history’s most notorious femme fatales, a much maligned Queen of England.

Isabella of France, Edward II’s queen, was a woman much maligned in her day. Today, it is said that her maniacal laughter can be heard on stormy nights at Castle Rising in Norfolk, and that in the ruins of the 14th century church where she is buried, her angry ghost can be glimpsed, clutching the beating heart of her murdered husband. In literature she has fared no better; Christopher Marlowe’s “unnatural Queen, false Isabel” has also been described as “a woman of evil character, a notorious schemer,” and as the “She-Wolf of France.” Tragic, cruel, tormented: how did Isabella acquire such a reputation?

Born in 1292, the daughter of Philip IV of France and sister to three future French kings, Isabella was a pawn in the game of international politics. She was married at the age of twelve to Edward II of England, thus beginning a public and private life more turbulent and eventful than any heroine, or anti-heroine, in fiction.

Through a long period of civil war, Isabella bore Edward four children but was constantly humiliated by his relationships with male favourites. Although she is known to have lived adulterously with Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, accusations of murder and regicide remain unsubstantiated. Had it not been for her unfaithfulness, history may have immortalized her as a liberator — the savior who unshackled England from a weak and vicious monarch.

The History of our 21st Great Grandmother Isabella, The She Wolf of France.

Isabella of France was born in 1295, the youngest daughter of King Phillip IV of France. Bethrothed as an infant to Edward II of England, the marriage was delayed as Edward I disapproved. It was not until after he died that Isabella, then eleven or twelve, finally met her betrothed. She sailed to England to get married in 1308.

Isabella was young even for a bride at that time, being only eleven when she was sent to her husband. Already a noted beauty, descriptions of her make it seem that she was slender and pale skinned. Unfortunately her husband, nine years older, had little time for her.

She was outraged to find her jewels had been taken from her and given to Edward's first favourite, Piers Gaveston, who wore them at the wedding.

Unfortunately this would prove a pattern, as Edward far prefered the company of his favourites to his wife, and often rewarded them at her expense. Gaveston was a commoner, which rankled further, and quickly gained a reputation as a corrupt and greedy man. Worse, he and Edward were sworn brothers, which meant that they shared their possessions - unthinkable when the stability of a throne was at stake.

In 1310-11 Edward launched a campaign against Scotland, which failed dismally. After his disastrous invasion of Scotland, Edward fled with his favourite, Piers Gaveston.

The result was massive unrest in England. In the aftermath of the disaster in Scotland, the Barons took their chance and raised an army against the King to try and remove the hated Gaveston. When he was seperated from Edward, Gaveston was surrounded and captured at Scarborough Castle.

When they captured Gaveston in 1312, there was brief wrangling over his fate, and then he was executed by the barons for his corruption.

This brought Isabella a brief period during which her marriage was more peaceful. Three of the couple's children were born during this period, including the longed-for son and heir who would become Edward III.

During this time a scandal erupted in France in 1314. The wives of Isabella's brothers were caught having affairs, which as one brother was the King of France and one was the heir, was treason. Isabella was a witness against them and both women were imprisoned for life, the marriages dissolved.

Isabella's peace was not to last. In 1318 Edward II took a new favourite, Hugh le Despenser, who proved worse than Gaveston. The period of their influence is referred to in English history as the "Tyranny".

Hugh le Despenser's greed rapidly outgrew Gaveston's. He stole lands from relatives, disinheriting them. There were rumours that he tortured one heiress until she lost her mind and then confiscated her lands on grounds of insanity. He boasted of his cruelty and influence and rapidly became as hated as Gaveston had been.

In 1322 despite losses like the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Edward launched another campaign against the Scots. This time, when the action failed, he fled with Despenser, leaving Queen Isabella and her ladies at the mercy of the Scots. Facing torture, with two of her ladies killed, Isabella escaped by sea in a dangerous voyage, evading the Flemish navy.

Exiled briefly at the demand of Isabella and the Barons after the Scots campaing, Despenser turned to piracy. This earned him a death sentence in France, although as the King of France was Isabella's brother it was already an unsafe land for him to travel in. Despite this proof of Despenser's character, Edward quickly overruled his advisers and brought his favourite home.

Despenser's retaliation was simple. Isabella's lands were confiscated and she was placed under house arrest. This removed a rival for the King's attentions, and by playing on the suspicion that as a Frenchwoman she would not be loyal to England, he undermined her support. Even her household staff were changed to those of his choosing.

In 1325 events reached a head. Some say at the urgings of Despenser, Edward II refused to pay homage to the King of France over the French lands he held. Charles IV of France confiscated them.

Queen Isabella used the debacle of the loss of Edward's lands in France in 1325 as a chance to press for a diplomatic mission to her brother, ostensibly to get the lands back.

Edward II was unable to take Despenser to France, as Despenser would be executed for piracy. If the King left him behind, without the King's protection the Barons would kill Despenser as they had Gaveston. Queen Isabella was sent in his stead.

An agreement was made between the King of France and his sister that her son, the heir to the throne would do homage in his father's place. Edward II sent him across. This was a mistake. With her son safe in France, Isabella refused to return unless Hugh Le Despenser was exiled. Worse, she joined forces with Roger Mortimer, England's then greatest General, who was in exile in France after he escaped the Tower of London and execution by the Despensers.

Edward II demanded that the French king compel her to return. Charles IV's famous response was not to his liking:

When her husband refused to exile Despenser, Isabella raised an army and with Roger Mortimer she invaded in 1327. Her brother's support was limited, perhaps because of the debacle with his first wife in 1314, and so their force was mainly made up of mercenaries.

The two had a tiny army of 1,500 and Edward felt no great concern. However when Isabella landed, the Barons took her side - not least the one who raised an army, sacked one of the Despenser's castles and presented her with the treasury.

Hugh Le Despenser, his father and Edward II tried to flee. The majority of their followers deserted them, and they were split up. Despenser's father, who had encouraged his son's actions, was caught and hanged.

The King was captured and imprisoned as was Despenser. In 1326 Hugh the Despenser was sentenced to death by torture (hanging drawing quartering and mutilation) for treason and for causing discord between the King and Queen. The execution was performed to public celebration.

For an idea of how popular Edward's favourites were with the common people, in a time when creating book pages involved days of painstaking work, both their executions were carefully recorded for posterity.

Edward II was deposed and imprisoned. In 1327 it is widely believed he was murdered in prison by means of a red hot poker.

His son, Edward III, took the throne under his mother's regency. He was only fourteen so under age to hold it in his own right. However he disapproved of Roger Mortimer who formed a close relationship with his mother. The dislike went both ways, and Mortimer did not treat the young king well.

Edward III began to suspect (probably correctly) that Mortimer planned to kill him. To prevent this, immediately after he came of age, he overthrew the regency and executed Mortimer despite his mother's pleas.

The traditional story is that Isabella went mad from grief and was banished from court, but this seems to have been a medieval chronicler's imagination, as she was known to have joined an convent, a usual retirement for widows or noble ladies who sought seclusion from the world. She was also known to have made many visits to her son's court, which is unlikely if she had actually been banished.

When she eventually died in 1358, despite having taken the nun's habit and joined the order of the Poor Clares, she was buried in her wedding dress.

Her son, Edward III, would become widely renowned as one of England's strongest monarchs.