{"id":87025,"date":"2022-09-29T13:34:43","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T17:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=87025"},"modified":"2022-09-29T13:35:25","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T17:35:25","slug":"english-royalty-boleyn-lineage-and-jamestown-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/english-royalty-boleyn-lineage-and-jamestown-connections.html","title":{"rendered":"English Royalty, Boleyn Lineage, and Jamestown Connections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry delves into the tangled affairs of British royalty and the Boleyn line, with ties to Jamestown, Virginia. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

On the wall of St Edmund\u2019s chapel in Westminster Abbey, England, there is an exquisite monument in honor of Lady Katherine Knollys, who held the most senior post among the ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I: the Chief Lady of the Bedchamber.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: \u201cOn the wall of St Edmund\u2019s chapel in Westminster Abbey is a coloured alabaster monument near the grave of Katherine, wife of Sir Francis Knollys (he died in 1596 and is buried at Rotherfield Greys church in Oxfordshire).\u201d Courtesy of Westminster Abbey. Image \u00a9 2022 Dean and Chapter of Westminster.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The inscription on this monument reads:<\/p>\n

The Right Honorable Lady Katherin Knollys Cheeffe Lady of the Quenes Maties [Majesty\u2019s] Beddechamber and wiffe to Sr. Frances Knollys Knight Tresorer [Treasurer] of her Highnes Howsholde. Departed this lyefe the 15. of January 1568. At Hampton Courte. And was honorably buried in the flower [floor] of this chappell. This Lady Knollys and the Lord Hundesdon her brother were the childeren of William Caree Esquyer, and of the Lady Mary his wiffe one of the doughters and heires to Thomas Bulleyne Erle of Wylshier [Wiltshire] and Ormond. Which Lady Mary was sister to Anne Quene of England wiffe to Kinge Henry the Eyght father and mother to Elizabeth Quene of England.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lady Katherine Knollys (1524-1568), born Katherine Carey, daughter of Sir William Carey and Lady Mary Boleyn, married Sir Francis Knollys and left many descendants. Some married into the royal houses, and others ferried across the Atlantic to Jamestown, Virginia. (More on that in future articles.)<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: portrait of Sir Francis Knollys. Credit: Greys Court; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today I focus on one offshoot born to Lady Katherine and Sir Francis: Lady Lettice Knollys, who married Sir Walter Devereux. They are the 10th<\/sup> generational grandparents to the late Queen Elizabeth II through her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: portrait of Lady Lettice Knollys, by George Gower, c. 1585. Credit: Longleat; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the wedding of Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981, newspapers were buzzing about the marriage which, as this article declared, \u201cbrought together two families with a long and sometimes checkered past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 2 August 1981, page 147<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article included a full lineage chart of the couple.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 2 August 1981, page 147<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article reported:<\/p>\n

The Houses of Windsor and Spencer both trace their descent through Henry VII, who took the throne after defeating Richard III [in the War of the Roses] in 1485. Charles and Diana are 16th<\/sup> cousins, once removed.<\/p>\n

Both families share distant connections with George Washington<\/a>, and Lady Diana is one-eighth American through her great-grandmother, Frances Work of New York, daughter of the Vanderbilt\u2019s stockbroker. [Frances Work, the daughter of Frank H. Work and Ellen Wood, married James Roche, 3rd<\/sup> Baron Fermoy.]<\/p>\n

The Spencers also are related to Sir Winston Churchill\u2019s family, and Diana is descended five times from the merry monarch Charles II, who left no lawful heirs but many illegitimate offspring.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The newspaper failed to mention another branch \u2013 one that is traced to the infamous Boleyn family through the marriage of Sir William Seymour to Lady Frances Devereux.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: portrait of Lady Frances Devereux, by Anthony van Dyck. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lineage for Lady Frances Devereaux, starting with her parents:<\/p>\n