FamilySearch

A breakthrough! California may be home to the mtDNA of King Edward II

~ ilmondoditels ~ 4 Comments

Back in May 2013, Craig L. Foster joined the Auramala Project team. He is a research consultant at the Family History Library, a division of FamilySearch, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Craig is a well respected professional in a highly specialised field, and is working with the largest and most detailed genealogical databases in the world. Over the last few months, Craig has been following the direct female line of descendancy, starting from the various descendants identified by Kathryn Warner, Kevin McKenzie and Terry Muff, toward the present, in the hopes of discovering a living carrier of Edward II’s mitochondrial DNA.

 

This painstaking and at times frustrating research has begun to pay off. Craig has identified a direct mother-to-daughter line of descent that brings us down to the 1980s and 1990s with four sisters, all of whom lived in San Joaquin County, California and were, most likely, carriers of the mt DNA molecule of Edward II. See the descendancy below for details: the four sisters in question are the Nunn sisters, at the end of the descendancy.

If you are a descendant of the Nunn sisters, or know someone who is, we would love for you to get in touch with us, and help us move this exciting research a huge step forward!

We are very grateful both to Craig and the Family History Library for the time and effort he has dedicated to the Auramala Project. This is not the regular work of the Family History Library, since their emphasis is on assisting people to find their ancestors.

DESCENDANCY OF THE NUNN SISTERS

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Generation 1) Eleanor of Castile, queen of England, countess of Ponthieu (c. late 1241 – 28 Nov 1290), married Edward I, king of England (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307)

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Generation 2) Joan of Acre (spring 1272 – 23 April 1307) [Note: Second surviving daughter of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, born in the Holy Land], married (1) Gilbert ‘the Red’ de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford (2 Sept 1243 – 7 Dec 1295)

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Generation 3) Elizabeth de Clare (16 Sept 1295 – 4 Nov 1360), married (2) Theobald de Verdon or Verdun, justiciar of Ireland (8 Sept 1278 – 27 July 1316)

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Generation 4) Isabella de Verdon (21 March 1317 – 25 July 1349), married Henry, Lord Ferrers of Groby, Leicestershire (1290s/early 1300s – 15 Sept 1343)

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Generation 5) Elizabeth Ferrers (c. mid to late 1330s – 22 Oct 1375), married David de Strathbogie, titular earl of Atholl (c. early 1330s – 10 Oct 1369)

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Generation 6) Elizabeth de Strathbogie, also called Elizabeth of Atholl (1361 – 1416), married (2) Sir John le Scrope (will dated 23 Dec 1405)

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Generation 7) Elizabeth le Scrope (c. 1395 – 1430), married Sir Thomas Clarell of Aldwark (1394 – 1430)

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Generation 8) Elizabeth Clarell (c. 1415 – 1503), married Sir Richard Fitzwilliam of Aldwark (will proved 5 Sept 1488)

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Generation 9) Margaret Fitzwilliam (? – ?; her brother was born in 1448), married Ralph Reresby (d. 1530)

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Generation 10) Elizabeth Reresby (? – ?), married Edward Eyre of Holm Hall (d. 1557)

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Generation 11) Lucy Eyre (d. before 1556), married Humphrey Stafford of Eyam

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Generation 12) Alice Stafford (1610-1700), married Anthony Savage (1605-1695)

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Generation 13) Alice Stafford Savage (1653-1695), married Francis Thornton (1652-1726)

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Generation 14) Margaret Thornton (1678-1756) married William Strother II (1665-1726), and emigrated to Virginia in 1669

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Generation 15) Agatha Strother (1695-???), married John Taliaferro (1684-1763)

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Generation 16) Mildred Taliaferro (1733-1802), married Samuel James (1722-1755)

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Generation 17) Catherine James (1788-1830), married James Adams (1785-1858)

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Generation 18) Gabrella Adams (1818-1872), married Simpson R. Metcalfe (1812-1882)

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Generation 19) Jemima Catherine Metcalfe (1839-???) married William Lycan (1834-???)

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Generation 20) Julia A. Lycan (1878-1965), married Traton Morris Nunn (1865-1947)

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Generation 21) Daughters of Julia A. Lycan and Traton Morris Nunn include:

Hazel Marguerite Nunn (1901-1992), married George A. Hunter (1885-1968);

Edith Isetta Nunn (1903-1991), married Harold Huckaby Thurman (1903-1979);

Viona Jane Nunn (1904-1986);

Glenda Mae Nunn (1907-1980), married Forrest Glenn Hammet (1904-1978).

The Search for Edward II’s Descendants 2) Joan of Acre’s descendants

~ ilmondoditels ~ 13 Comments

Having published some significant progress in the historical and archival research, we decided it was time to continue with the genealogical research currently being carried out at the same time by Craig L. Foster, research consultant at the Family History Library, a division of FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah. As mentioned in previous posts, Craig has been following the direct female line of descendants down from Edward II’s mother, Eleanor of Castille, toward the present, in the hopes of discovering a living carrier of Edward II’s mitochondrial DNA.

The Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

The last time we took a look at his research, we had looked at the generation of Eleanor of Castille’s daughters1, and had singled out one possible fruitful line of research in the person of Joan of Acre. As Craig reports:

Joan of Acre was born circa April 1272 at Acre, Israel.2 She was the daughter of Edward I ‘Longshanks’, King of England and Eleanor de Castilla, Comtesse de Ponthieu. She married, firstly, Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, son of Richard de Clare, 5th Earl of Gloucester and Matilda de Lacy, on 30 April 1290 at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England.2 She married, secondly, Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester before 2 August 1297, without her father’s consent, although this was pardoned on 2 August 1297. She died on 23 April 1307 at Clare, Suffolk, England.3 She was buried at Priory Church of the Austin Friars, Clare, Suffolk, England.3
She was also known as Joan Plantagenet.4 From 30 April 1290, her married name became de Clare. From 1297, her married name became Monthermer.

So let’s continue down the line, where Joan of Acre’s children are a part of the vast de Clare lineage. Remember, the key aspect is that mitochondrial DNA follows the path from mothers to their children, but is NOT passed on to the next generation by men, only by women. So both men and women bear it, but only women transmit it.

(The following information is courtesy of Craig L. Foster. Mr Foster is a research consultant at FamilySearch’s Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (www.familysearch.org). FamilySearch collects digitized records and other information to assist people around the world searching after their ancestors. FamilySearch does not normally perform research on DNA and to search for living descendants.)

Generation 3

25. Eleanor de Clare

Lady Eleanor de Clare was born in October 1292.2 She was the daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and Joan of Acre.1,2 She married, firstly, Hugh le Despenser, 1st Lord le Despenser, son of Hugh le Despenser, 1st and last Earl of Winchester and Isabella de Beauchamp, in 1306.3 She married, secondly, William la Zouche, 1st Lord Zouche of Mortimer, son of Robert de Mortimer and Joyce la Zouche, circa January 1328/29.4 She died on 30 June 1337 at age 44.5,3

Children of Lady Eleanor de Clare and Hugh le Despenser, 1st Lord le Despenser

  1. 43.   Elizabeth le Despencer+6 d. 13 Jul 1389 – Mar. Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Lord Berkeley and had only sons.
  2. 44.   Sir Edward le Despenser+3 d. 30 Sep 1342
  3. 45.   Eleanor le Despenser+
  4. 46.   Hugh le Despenser, 1st Lord le Despenser3 b. c 1308, d. 8 Feb 1348/49
  5. 47.   Isabel le Despenser+1 b. c 1313, d. 1375 – Mar. Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel and had one son.

Citations

  1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume I, page 243. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
  2. [S106] Royal Genealogies Website (ROYAL92.GED), online ftp://ftp.cac.psu.edu/genealogy/public_html/royal/index.html. Hereinafter cited as Royal Genealogies Website.
  3. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke’s Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke’s Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1385. Hereinafter cited as Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
  4. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 3, page 4289.
  5. [S11] Alison Weir, Britain’s Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 83. Hereinafter cited as Britain’s Royal Families.
  6. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 130.

26. Margaret de Clare

Margaret de Clare was born in 1293.2 She was the daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and Joan of Acre.1 She married, firstly, Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall circa 1307.3 She married, secondly, Hugh Audley, 1st and last Earl of Gloucester, son of Hugh Audley, 1st Lord Audley (of Stratton Audley) and Isolt de Mortimer, on 28 April 1317 at Windsor, Berkshire, England.3 She died in April 1342.2,3
From circa 1307, her married name became Gaveston. As a result of her marriage, Margaret de Clare was styled as Lady Audley on 28 April 1317. From 28 April 1317, her married name became Audley. As a result of her marriage, Margaret de Clare was styled as Countess of Gloucester on 16 March 1337.

Child of Margaret de Clare and Hugh Audley, 1st and last Earl of Gloucester

  1. 48.   Margaret Audley, Baroness Audley+3 d. bt 1347 – 1351

Citations

  1. [S106] Royal Genealogies Website (ROYAL92.GED), online ftp://ftp.cac.psu.edu/genealogy/public_html/royal/index.html. Hereinafter cited as Royal Genealogies Website.
  2. [S11] Alison Weir, Britain’s Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 83. Hereinafter cited as Britain’s Royal Families.
  3. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume I, page 346. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.

27. Elizabeth de Clare

Elizabeth de Clare was born on 16 September 1295.3 She was the daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and Joan of Acre.4,1 She married, firstly, John de Burgh, son of Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and Margaret (?), on 30 September 1308 at Waltham Abbey, Essex, England.1 She married, secondly, Sir Theobald de Verdun, 2nd Lord Verdun, son of Theobald Verdun, 1st Lord Verdun and Margery de Bohun, on 4 February 1315/16.5 She married, thirdly, Roger d’Amorie, Lord d’Amorie in 1317. She died on 4 November 1360 at age 65.1 Her will was probated on 3 December 1360.4
She succeeded to the title of 11th Lady of Clare [feudal baron] on 24 June 1314.4 Her last will was dated 25 September 1355.

Child of Elizabeth de Clare and John de Burgh

  1. 49.   William de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster+6 b. 17 Sep 1312, d. 6 Jun 1333

Child of Elizabeth de Clare and Roger d’Amorie, Lord d’Amorie

  1. 50.   Elizabeth d’Amorie+7 b. b 23 May 1318, d. 5 Feb 1360/61 – Mar. Sir John Bardolf, 3rd Lord Bardolf and had one son.

Citations

  1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume XII/2, page 177. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
  2. [S3409] Caroline Maubois, “re: Penancoet Family,” e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 2 December 2008. Hereinafter cited as “re: Penancoet Family.”
  3. [S106] Royal Genealogies Website (ROYAL92.GED), online ftp://ftp.cac.psu.edu/genealogy/public_html/royal/index.html. Hereinafter cited as Royal Genealogies Website.
  4. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume III, page 245.
  5. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume XII/2, page 251.
  6. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume XII/2, page 178.
  7. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, page 419.

28. Mary de Monthermer

Mary de Monthermer was born in 1298.2 She was the daughter of Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester and Joan of Acre.3,1 She married Duncan MacDuff, 8th Earl of Fife, son of Duncan MacDuff, 7th Earl of Fife, after 1306.2 She died after 1371.2

Children of Mary de Monthermer and Duncan MacDuff, 8th Earl of Fife

  1. 51.Isabel MacDuff d. a 12 Aug 1389 – Died without issue.
  2. 52. Elizabeth MacDuff, Countess of Fife1 b. b 1332, d. a 12 Aug 1389 – Died without issue.

Citations

  1. [S11] Alison Weir, Britain’s Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 215. Hereinafter cited as Britain’s Royal Families.
  2. [S11] Alison Weir, Britain’s Royal Families, page 83.
  3. [S106] Royal Genealogies Website (ROYAL92.GED), online ftp://ftp.cac.psu.edu/genealogy/public_html/royal/index.html. Hereinafter cited as Royal Genealogies Website.

We can see that Joan of Acre had four daughters, in the third generation counting from Eleanor of Castille. Let’s investigate what happened to them and their own daughters in the Joan of Acre/de Clare lineage in the fourth generation. As we progress, readers will notice that we don’t mention every single person mentioned as a child in the previous generation. This occurs where that individual female descendant had no daughters, bringing that particular line of research to a close. For example, No. 43, Elizabeth le Despencer, daughter of No. 25, Eleanor de Clare. She married, but had only sons, and as a consequence did not pass on the mitochondrial DNA molecule we are looking for, and so she takes her bow with this generation. In the next blog post she, and others like her in this respect, will not appear. In the next post we’ll go into the fourth generation with results concerning her sisters and first cousins.

To summarise the work so far, we’ve followed the Joan of Acre/de Clare line down a couple of generations, and we can see that Eleanor of Castille’s female line is still looking healthy here. The family-tree mapping is an ongoing process, and we still have not found our living descendant(s), so please, genealogy enthusiasts, do keep checking on this blog and write to us as soon as you see a name appear in these genealogy blog posts that you know for certain appears in your own family tree. We really need people around the world to get involved and help us track descendants. A big thank you in advance to anybody who can help with this.

Note: Craig L. Foster has made extensive use of the resources of the Family History Library, and thepeerage.com