The story of our family...for my sons



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Hung and Burned...in the name of God of course.




Sir John Oldcastle (my 22nd great grandfather on my fathers side) hung and burned 14 December 1417, an English Lollard leader, was son of Sir Richard Oldcastle of Almeley in northwest Herefordshire and grandson of another Sir John Oldcastle. He was prosecuted for heresy against the Church, and escaped from the Tower of London, after which he allegedly plotted against his old friend Henry V. He was captured and executed in London, after which he became a martyr. He is presumed to be the basis of William Shakespeare's character Falstaff, whose name in earlier versions of the play was Oldcastle.

Sir John's date of birth is unknown, although dubious and possibly apocryphal sources place it variously at 1360 or 1378. Oldcastle is first mentioned in two separate documents in 1400, first as a plaintiff in a suit regarding the advowson of Almely church, and again as serving as a knight under Lord Grey of Codnor in a military expedition to Scotland. In the next few years Oldcastle held notable positions in the Welsh campaigns of King Henry IV of England against Owain Glyndŵr, including captaincy first over Builth Castle in Brecknockshire and then over Kidwelly.

Oldcastle represented Herefordshire as a "knight of the shire" in the parliament of 1404, later serving as a justice of the peace, and was sheriff in 1406–1407.

In 1408 he married Joan Oldcastle, 4th Baroness Cobham, the heiress of Cobham—his third marriage, and her fourth. This resulted in a significant improvement of his fortune and status, as the Cobhams were "one of the most notable families of Kent". The marriage brought Oldcastle a number of manors in Kent, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Wilts, as well as Cooling Castle, and from 1409 until his accusation in 1413 he was summoned to parliament as Lord Cobham.

At some point in his military career Oldcastle became a trusted supporter of Henry, the Prince of Wales, later to become King Henry V, who regarded Sir John as "one of his most trustworthy soldiers". Oldcastle was a member of the expedition which the young Henry sent to France in 1411 in a successful campaign to assist the Burgundians in the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War.

Lollardy
Lollardy had many supporters in Herefordshire, and Oldcastle himself had adopted Lollard opinions before 1410, when the churches on his wife's estates in Kent were laid under interdict for unlicensed preaching. In the convocation which met in March 1413, shortly before the death of Henry IV, Oldcastle was at once accused of heresy.

But his friendship with the new King Henry V prevented any decisive action until convincing evidence was found in one of Oldcastle's books, which was discovered in a shop in Paternoster Row, London. The matter was brought before the King, who desired that nothing should be done until he had tried his personal influence. Oldcastle declared his readiness to submit to the king "all his fortune in this world," but was firm in his religious beliefs.

When Oldcastle fled from Windsor Castle to his own castle at Cowling (now Cooling), Henry at last consented to a prosecution. Oldcastle refused to obey the archbishop's repeated citations, and it was only under a Royal Writ that he at last appeared before the ecclesiastical court on 23 September.

In a confession of his faith he declared his belief in the sacraments and the necessity of penance and true confession; but to put hope, faith or trust in images was the great sin of idolatry. But he would not assent to the orthodox doctrine of the sacrament as stated by the Bishops, nor admit the necessity of confession to a priest. On 25 September he was convicted as a heretic.

King Henry V was still anxious to find a way of escape for his old comrade, and granted a respite of forty days. Before that time had expired, Oldcastle escaped from the Tower by the help of one William Fisher, a parchmentmaker of Smithfield (HT Riley, Memorials of London, 641).

Open rebellion
Oldcastle now put himself at the head of a widespread Lollard conspiracy, which assumed a definite political character. The plan was to seize the King and his brothers during a Twelfth-night mumming at Eltham, and perhaps, as was alleged, to establish some sort of commonwealth. King Henry, forewarned of their intention, removed to London, and when the Lollards assembled in force in St Giles's Fields on 10 January they were easily dispersed.

Oldcastle himself escaped into deepest northwest Herefordshire, and for nearly four years avoided capture.

Apparently he was privy to the Southampton Plot in July 1415, when he stirred some movement in the Welsh Marches. On the failure of the scheme he went again into hiding. Oldcastle was no doubt the instigator of the abortive Lollard plots of 1416, and appears to have intrigued with the Scots also.

Capture and Death
In November 1417 his hiding-place was at last discovered and he was captured by Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton. Some historians used to believe he was captured in the upland Olchon Valley of western Herefordshire adjacent to the Black Mountains, Wales, not far from the village of Oldcastle itself in his family's old heartlands. Oldcastle who was "sore wounded ere he would be taken," was brought to London in a horse-litter. Modern historians believe that he was hiding with some Lollard friends at a glade on Pant-mawr farm in Broniarth, in Wales called ‘Cobham's Garden. The principal agents in the capture were four of the tenants of Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton, Ieuan and Sir Gruffudd Vychan, sons of Gruffudd ap Ieuan, being two of them. The reward for his capture was awarded to Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton, but he died before receiving it, though a portion was paid to his widow in 1422.

On the 14th of December he was formally condemned, on the record of his previous conviction, and that same day was hanged in St Giles's Fields, and burnt "gallows and all." It is not clear whether he was burnt alive...another one bites the dust.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

...the turkey killed me...



Stock photo of turkey hunter dude


Stephen Ulrey (my 5th Great grandfather on my dad's mom's side) was born in Germany and died about 1787 in Washington Co., PA. He married Susanna. Stephen Ulrey is reported to have migrated to America early in the 1700s along with two brothers from the Palatinate or Rhenish provinces of Germany, most likely by way of Holland or England. The name is given as Vullery, Ullery, Ulery, Ulrey and sometimes Ulry. It is believed that the original German spelling may have been Ulrich.

A Mr. Gayman who was a long time neighbor of the Ulrey's reported that " the Ulrey's were leaders, disliked Germany, married English women, and spoke English in their homes." Mr. Gayman further stated that "Stephen was a very strong man carrying timber for eight men at a barn raising." There are unconfirmed indications that he may have spent time in Frederick Co. Maryland and in Eastern Pa. possibly Adams, Bucks, or Berks Co. before settling in a region of Va. which later became Washington Co. Pa.

It is reported that he settled in this area before 1771. He initially filed a tomahawk claim (by marking trees) on approximately 480 acres of land in the Ten Mile Creek (early ancestors settled this area during the Jamestown era) area of Monongalia Co. Va. He named this farm "Cranberry" Some time later the claim was in danger by land speculators and Stephen rode to Philadelphia to legally register his claim. There was some litigation over his original tomahawk claim which lasted for several years. Eventually the state of Pennsylvania granted a deed to his heirs (Stephen had passed on). The deed was dated March 27, 1787, and is in the Patent Book, # 8, page 383. The deed was recorded on sheepskin and was in the possession of Abner Ulrey who still lived on the family farm in 1928.

It is reported that Stephen was accidentally killed while hunting. He was chasing a wild turkey when he tripped over a tree root and plunged over a cliff where he was impaled on a tree. He managed to free himself and make his way back to his farm where he told his family where they could find his hat and his rifle and then died. It is believed that he is buried in the family burying ground on the farm, but his grave is not marked. His will is dated February 4, 1778 and in it he left one third of his movable estate and one third of his land (unless she remarries) to his wife Susanna. He left thirty pounds to his daughter Susanna. To his sons John, Daniel, Jacob, Stephen, and David, he left the remaining property to be divided equally with an extra ten pounds going to John.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

...more Irish Kings of the family





This shield is a re-creation of Conn's of the Hundred Battles. He is the direct ancestor of Muirdach, the father of all MacIntyres, and the King from which virtually all of the ancient Royal Irish and Gael King of Scots descend in either the male of female line, sometimes both. His targe prominently features his rising Red War Eagle symbol. Conn is most famous for re-uniting Eirinn under one High King, with the four provincial Kings under him. He was Ard Righ, or High King of Eirinn (Ireland) around 150AD.

King of Ulster Eogamhuin (174 - 225)
is my 50th great grandfather
Aongus, King of Ulster Gabhneach (193 - )
Son of King of Ulster
Fiachadh, King of Ulster Araiade (232 - 280)
Son of Aongus, King of Ulster
Murion Britain (266 - 287)
Daughter of Fiachadh, King of Ulster
Eochaid Mugmedón
Son of Murion
Niall of the Nine Hostages Noigíallach
Son of Eochaid
Eogan Find MacNeill (405 - 465)
Son of Niall of the Nine Hostages
King Muiredach MacEogain O'Neill (435 - 480)
Son of Eogan Find
Muirchertach Macercae, High King O'Neill (480 - 536)
Son of King Muiredach MacEogain
King Domnall MacMuirchertaig (525 - 566)
Son of Muirchertach Macercae, High King
King Aed Uaridnach O'Neill (566 - 612)
Son of King Domnall
Mael Fithrich O'Neill (600 - 640)
Son of King Aed Uaridnach
Mael, King of Cellach Duin (620 - 681)
Son of Mael Fithrich
Fergal Mac Maele Duin (681 - 722)
Son of Mael, King of Cellach
Niall Frossach, High King Macfergal (715 - 778)
Son of Fergal Mac Maele
Aed Oirdnile, High King O'Neil (750 - 819)
Son of Niall Frossach, High King
Niall Caille, High King of Ireland O'Neil (791 - 846)
Son of Aed Oirdnile, High King
Joan O'Neill (825 - )
Daughter of Niall Caille, High King of Ireland
Finn MacMael O'Faelain (880 - 923)
Son of Joan
King Morugh of Leinster MacFinn (923 - 972)
Son of Finn MacMael
Gormflaith Ingen Murchada MacFinn (954 - 1030)
Daughter of King Morugh of Leinster
Donnchad Ua Brian (985 - 1064)
Son of Gormflaith Ingen Murchada
Derbforgaill Ingen Donnchada (1009 - 1080)
Daughter of Donnchad Ua
Murchadh Murcha Leinster Morrough (1055 - 1090)
Son of Derbforgaill ingen
Donoch Donnchad MacMorough (1077 - 1115)
Son of Murchadh Murcha Leinster
King of Leinster Dermod Na-Ngall McMurrough (1110 - 1171)
Son of Donoch Donnchad
Eva Aoife, Princess of Leinster, Countess of Ireland and Strigolid McMurrough (1141 - 1188)
Daughter of King of Leinster Dermod Na-Ngall
Isabel, Countess of Penbroke De Clare (1172 - 1220)
Daughter of Eva Aoife, Princess of Leinster, Countess of Ireland and Strigolid
Gilbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke Marshall (1194 - 1245)
Son of Isabel, Countess of Penbroke
Lady Eva Marshall (1238 - 1268)
Daughter of Gilbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Thomas Boyvill (1264 - 1308)
Son of Lady Eva
John Boyvill Esq. (1284 - 1360)
Son of Thomas
Beatrice Boyvill (1310 - 1377)
Daughter of John
John Hutchinson (1350 - 1425)
Son of Beatrice
James Hutchinson (1402 - 1427)
Son of John
William Hutchinson (1427 - 1474)
Son of James
Anthony Hutchinson (1454 - 1480)
Son of William
Rudolph Hudson (1475 - 1530)
Son of Anthony
Henry I Hudson (1500 - 1555)
Son of Rudolph
Henry II Hudson (1541 - 1611)
Son of Henry I
William Hudson (1575 - 1630)
Son of Henry II
Richard Hudson (1605 - 1659)
Son of William
John Hudson (1626 - 1693)
Son of Richard
William Hudson (1678 - 1737)
Son of John
Elizabeth Hudson (1703 - 1772)
Daughter of William
Hudson Blankenship (1729 - 1814)
Son of Elizabeth
Obedience Blankenship (1770 - 1849)
Daughter of Hudson
Samuel Cothren (1799 - 1868)
Son of Obedience
Benjamin Cothren (1833 - 1900)
Son of Samuel
Sarah Nettie Cothran (1867 - 1900)
Daughter of Benjamin
Edna Iva Mahannah (1890 - 1949)
Daughter of Sarah Nettie
Dwight (Robert) Stewart (Mason) (1913 - 1989)
Son of Edna Iva
Ronald Richard (Stewart) Mason

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Kennedy's (Cennetig) are in the family from the beginning



Cennetig (Kennedy) of the Dalcassians
The majority of the Kennedys who settled in Northern Ireland are of Scottish origin from the territories of Galloway and Ayr just across the Irish Sea some twenty miles away. These Scottish Kennedys intermarried with local Irish and thus they are Scots-Irish in blood. The other Kennedy family is located in southwest Ireland with its foundation in the bloodline of Cormac Cas, King of Thomond and Munster. Cormac Cas is the progenitor of the clan known as the Dal Cais or Dalcassians, translated to mean descendants of Cas. They were a minor clan of Ireland and ruled the northern section of Munster Province known as Thomond (all County Clare, southern Galway and northern Limerick, northwest Tipperary), while their cousins, the Eugenians (McCarthys and O’Sullivans) ruled the south of Munster known as Desmond. The kingship of Munster switched between these two clans every other generation. Two great families came from the Dalcassian Clan: The O’Briens and the O’Kennedys. Cinneidigh (Kennedy), King of Thomond, died in 954 A.D. He was succeeded by his son Brian, his 12th son. In time Brian rose in power and gained the kingship of Munster, obtained the allegiance of the other five provincial kings of Ireland, and eventually became High King of Ireland. Because he exacted tribute, his second name became Boru, meaning tribute. He is known as one of the greatest kings of Ireland, and in 1014 he defeated the Vikings (the other side of the family) at Dublin at the age of 88.

O'Flaherty...mother of the High King of Ireland


He kinda looks like me...


O'Flaherty is of Old Gaelic origin, and is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Flaithbheartaigh", composed of the Gaelic prefix "O", male descendant of (which in this case has been dropped, over the years), and the personal name "Flaithbheartach", from the Gaelic elements "flaith(eamh)", prince, ruler, and beartach", bright, acting. This was the name of a prominent Gaelic sept who possessed the territory on the east side of Lough Corrib until the 13th Century, when, under pressure from the Anglo-Norman penetration into Connacht, they moved westwards to the other side of the lake. Here their influence extended from Killary Harbour to the Bay of Galway, and also included the Aran Islands. The head of the sept was known as Lord of Moycullen and Lord of Iar-Connacht, and the chieftaincy was continued until the beginning of the 18th Century.

Babhion Be Bind Ingen Urchada O'Flaherty (915 - 1005)
31st great grandmother
Brian (Boru) "High King of Ireland" Boroimhe (942 - 1014)
Son of Babhion Be Bind Ingen Urchada
Donnchad Ua Brian (985 - 1064)
Son of Brian (Boru) "High King of Ireland"
Derbforgaill ingen Donnchada (1009 - 1080)
Daughter of Donnchad Ua
Murchadh Murcha Leinster Morrough (1055 - 1090)
Son of Derbforgaill ingen
Donoch Donnchad MacMorough (1077 - 1115)
Son of Murchadh Murcha Leinster
King of Leinster Dermod Na-Ngall McMurrough (1110 - 1171)
Son of Donoch Donnchad
Eva Aoife, Princess of Leinster, Countess of Ireland and Strigolid McMurrough (1141 - 1188)
Daughter of King of Leinster Dermod Na-Ngall
Isabel, Countess of Penbroke De Clare (1172 - 1220)
Daughter of Eva Aoife, Princess of Leinster, Countess of Ireland and Strigolid
Gilbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke Marshall (1194 - 1245)
Son of Isabel, Countess of Penbroke
Lady Eva Marshall (1238 - 1268)
Daughter of Gilbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Thomas Boyvill (1264 - 1308)
Son of Lady Eva
John Boyvill Esq. (1284 - 1360)
Son of Thomas
Beatrice Boyvill (1310 - 1377)
Daughter of John
John Hutchinson (1350 - 1425)
Son of Beatrice
James Hutchinson (1402 - 1427)
Son of John
William Hutchinson (1427 - 1474)
Son of James
Anthony Hutchinson (1454 - 1480)
Son of William
Rudolph Hudson (1475 - 1530)
Son of Anthony
Henry I Hudson - Explorer (1500 - 1555)
Son of Rudolph
Henry II Hudson (1541 - 1611)
Son of Henry I
William Hudson (1575 - 1630)
Son of Henry II
Richard Hudson (1605 - 1659)
Son of William
John Hudson (1626 - 1693)
Son of Richard
William Hudson (1678 - 1737)
Son of John
Elizabeth Hudson (1703 - 1772)
Daughter of William
Hudson Blankenship (1729 - 1814)
Son of Elizabeth
Obedience Blankenship (1770 - 1849)
Daughter of Hudson
Samuel Cothren (1799 - 1868)
Son of Obedience
Benjamin Cothren (1833 - 1900)
Son of Samuel
Sarah Nettie Cothran (1867 - 1900)
Daughter of Benjamin
Edna Iva Mahannah (1890 - 1949)
Daughter of Sarah Nettie
Dwight (Robert) Stewart (Mason) (1913 - 1989)
Son of Edna Iva
Ronald Richard, High King of Studio City (Stewart) Mason


Saturday, June 2, 2012

William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke





William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke (1146 – 14 May 1219) is my 23rd great grandfather, also called William the Marshal (Guillaume le Maréchal), was an Anglo Norman soldier and statesman. He has been described as the "greatest knight that ever lived" (Stephen Langton). He served five kings — Henry the Young King, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, John and Henry III — and rose from obscurity to become a regent of England and one of the most powerful men in Europe. Before him, the hereditary title of "Lord Marshal" designated a sort of head of household security for the king of England; by the time he died, people throughout Europe (not just England) referred to him simply as "the Marshal".

In 1152, when William was probably about six years old, his father John Marshal switched sides in the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. According to one chronicler, when King Stephen besieged Newbury Castle, Stephen used the young William as a hostage to ensure that John kept a promise to surrender the castle. John broke his word, and when Stephen ordered John to surrender immediately or watch as he hanged William in front of the castle, John replied that he go ahead, for "I still have the hammer and the anvil with which to forge still more and better sons!" Fortunately for the child, Stephen could not bring himself to hang young William.

As a younger son of a minor nobleman, William had no lands or fortune to inherit, and had to make his own way in life. As a youth he was sent to Normandy to serve in the household of William de Tancarville, where he began his training to become a knight. Through William de Tancarville, he then served in the household of his mother's brother, Patrick, Earl of Salisbury. In 1168 William's uncle was killed in an ambush by Guy of Lusignan. William was injured and captured in the same battle, but was ransomed by Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was apparently impressed by tales of his bravery. He had been knighted in 1167 and soon found he could make a good living out of winning tournaments. At that time tournaments were dangerous, often deadly, staged battles, not the jousting contests that would come later, and money and valuable prizes could be won by capturing and ransoming opponents. His record is legendary: he supposedly fought in 500 such bouts in his life and never lost once.

"The Flower of Chivalry"

By 1170 his stature had risen so far that he was appointed tutor in chivalry for Henry the Young King, son of Henry II of England. The Young King's relations with his father were always fractious, and William stood by Henry during the Revolt of 1173–1174, during which he knighted the Young King. However, in 1182 William Marshal was accused of undue familiarity with Marguerite of France, the Young King's wife, and was exiled from court. He went to the court of Henry II that Christmas to ask for trial by combat to prove his innocence, but was refused. A few months later the Young King died, and on his deathbed he asked William to fulfil his vow of going on a Crusade. William did so, crusading in the Holy Land from 1183 to 1186; while there he vowed to be buried as a Knight Templar.

Upon his return William rejoined the court of King Henry II, and now served the father through the many rebellions of his remaining sons (Richard, Geoffrey, and John). In 1189, while covering the flight of Henry II from Le Mans to Chinon, William unhorsed the undutiful Richard in a skirmish. William could have killed the prince but killed his horse instead, to make that point clear. After Henry's death, he was welcomed at court by his former adversary, now King Richard I, who was not foolish enough to exclude a man whose legend, and power, just kept growing.

Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke_(2nd_Creation)