Selected Families and Individuals


She had the following children:

  M i Thomas REED was born 7 Sep 1852 and died 19 Aug 1932.
  F ii Mattie Potts REED was born 22 Jan 1854 and died 6 Aug 1913.

Gene Michael DONAHUE 1 married Scarlett Gail FLEMING.

From Scarlett Fleming-Donahue's family tree 11/22/99:  
     Gene was adopted at the age of about 2 weeks by Leo Aloyisus Donahue and Anna Pauline Veslylich, in South Bend, Indiana.  He had a brother named Paul Kelly.  I met Paul when he waas with us so much at the funeral of our son Michael Andrew Donahue.  Apparently, the Kelly's knew who had adopted Gene.  His natual mother and father also attended the funeral.  Leo and Anna Donahue confirmed that they were in fact, Gene's natural parents.  We had no ties with them.  They were, of course, strangers to us.  Paul and Gene were more like good friends than brothers.  However, Paul did not attend, nor did the Kelly's, Gene's funeral, to the best of my knowledge.  Statement by Scarlett G. Fleming-Donahue 10/24/99.
     *More notes:  Adoption was about 28 January 1939, South Bend, Indiana
         Burial:  St. Joseph Memorial Park, South Bend, Indiana
         Occupation:  Retired United States Air Force Officer.

Scarlett Gail FLEMING [Parents] 1 married Gene Michael DONAHUE.

They had the following children:

  M i
Ronald Stephan DONAHUE 1, 2 was born 7 Oct 1959 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. He died 10 Apr 1994 in Hot Springs, Garland Co., Arkansas from AIDS. There were other parents.

1  _MDCL Stephan also suffered from Retinitous prior to his death.  He had lost his sight.  Physicians were the U of Ark Med Center, Little Rock, AR.


Notes from Scarlett Fleming-Donahue 11/22/99:
    Stephan was employed by the University of Arkansas at the time of his death.  He went by Steve and Ron, both.  When young, he was always called Stephan or Steve.  This was insisted on by his Aunt Stephanie, in order that everyone would know he was named for her.  Became somewhat confusing as he grew up, so started using Ron to match his first given name.
     Burial:  Fleming Cemetery, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
     Cause of Death:  AIDS
    Cremation:  11 April 1994, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
     Namesake:  Ronnie Paul Fleming, Sr., and Stephanie Dale Fleming

Notes from Scarlett Fleming-Donahue 11/22/99:
    Stephan was employed by the University of Arkansas at the time of his death.  He went by Steve and Ron, both.  When young, he was always called Stephan or Steve.  This was insisted on by his Aunt Stephanie, in order that everyone would know he was named for her.  Became somewhat confusing as he grew up, so started using Ron to match his first given name.
     Burial:  Fleming Cemetery, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
     Cause of Death:  AIDS
    Cremation:  11 April 1994, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
     Namesake:  Ronnie Paul Fleming, Sr., and Stephanie Dale Fleming
  M ii
Richard Leo DONAHUE 1.

Occupation:  USAR
  M iii
Michael Andrew DONAHUE 1, 2 was born 8 Aug 1963 in Saitami-ken, Japan. He died 17 Jan 1964 in Tachikawa AB, Japan. There were other parents.

From Scarlett Fleming-Donahue 11/22/99:
    Burial:  January 27, 1964, South Bend, Indiana
    Cause of Death:  Friedlander's Pneumonia
    Confirmation:  January 16, 1964, Tachikawa AB, Japan Hospital, "In Danger of Death"
    Funeral Director:  Welsheimer Funeral Home, South Bend, Indiana
    Medical Information:  Autopsy Report

From Scarlett Fleming-Donahue 11/22/99:
    Burial:  January 27, 1964, South Bend, Indiana
    Cause of Death:  Friedlander's Pneumonia
    Confirmation:  January 16, 1964, Tachikawa AB, Japan Hospital, "In Danger of Death"
    Funeral Director:  Welsheimer Funeral Home, South Bend, Indiana
    Medical Information:  Autopsy Report
  M iv
Charles Louis DONAHUE 1.
  F v
Anna Marie DONAHUE 1.

Peter GAUNT Sr. [Parents] 1, 2 was born 3 8 Dec 1608 in Lincolnshire, St. Bridget Psh, London, England and was christened 29 Jun 1610 in Gowts, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He died 4 about 1691 in Sandwich, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Peter married Hannah THAY about 1670. There were other parents.

Peter 29 Jun 1610 Gowts, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He 29 Jun 1610 Gowts, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.

Other marriages:
HAMPTON, Lydia
HAMPTON, Lydia


Most of Gantt Source information came from the book Gaunt-Gantt Family by Mary Chalfant Ormsbee published in 1983.

Hannah THAY 1 was born 1649 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. She married Peter GAUNT Sr. about 1670.


Most of Gantt Source information came from the book Gaunt-Gantt Family by Mary Chalfant Ormsbee published in 1983.


Thomas L. GAUNT Jr. [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 was born 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He died 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 14 Apr 1621 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England and was buried 14 Apr 1621 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Eng. Thomas married Isabelle WHEELWRIGHT (SUSAN BATES) on 19 Oct 1602. There were other parents.

Thomas was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He 7 Mar 1582/1583 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, , England. He 7 Mar 1582/1583 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, , England. He 7 Mar 1582/1583 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, , England.

Other marriages:
WHEELWRIGHT, Isabell
WHEELWRIGHT, Isabell
WHEILEWRIGHT, Isabell
BATES, Susannah (Susanne)
WHEILEWRIGHT, Isabell
BATE, Susanne
WHEELWRIGHT, Isabell
BATE(S), Susan(ne)


Most of Gantt Source information came from the book Gaunt-Gantt Family by Mary Chalfant Ormsbee published in 1983.


I would appreciate your addtions and corrections, please email me at TEIncNJ@aol.com


I would appreciate your addtions and corrections, please email me at TEIncNJ@aol.com


I would appreciate your addtions and corrections, please email me at TEIncNJ@aol.com

Isabelle WHEELWRIGHT (SUSAN BATES) 1 married Thomas L. GAUNT Jr. on 19 Oct 1602.

They had the following children:

  M i Peter GAUNT Sr. was born 8 Dec 1608 and died about 1691.

Thomas L. GAUNT Jr. [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 was born 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He died 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 14 Apr 1621 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England and was buried 14 Apr 1621 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Eng. Thomas married Isabell WHEELWRIGHT on 19 Oct 1602 in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, England. There were other parents.

Thomas was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He was employed in Tanner. He was baptized 7 Mar 1582/1583 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. He 7 Mar 1582/1583 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, , England. He 7 Mar 1582/1583 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, , England. He 7 Mar 1582/1583 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, , England.

Other marriages:
WHEELWRIGHT (SUSAN BATES), Isabelle
WHEELWRIGHT (SUSAN BATES), Isabelle
WHEILEWRIGHT, Isabell
BATES, Susannah (Susanne)
WHEILEWRIGHT, Isabell
BATE, Susanne
WHEELWRIGHT, Isabell
BATE(S), Susan(ne)


Most of Gantt Source information came from the book Gaunt-Gantt Family by Mary Chalfant Ormsbee published in 1983.


I would appreciate your addtions and corrections, please email me at TEIncNJ@aol.com


I would appreciate your addtions and corrections, please email me at TEIncNJ@aol.com


I would appreciate your addtions and corrections, please email me at TEIncNJ@aol.com

Isabell WHEELWRIGHT 1 was born 1583 in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, England. She married Thomas L. GAUNT Jr. on 19 Oct 1602 in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, England.


Most of Gantt Source information came from the book Gaunt-Gantt Family by Mary Chalfant Ormsbee published in 1983.

They had the following children:

  M i Peter GAUNT Sr. was born 8 Dec 1608 and died about 1691.

King John Lackland Of England [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4 was born 5, 6 24 Dec 1166 in Beaumont Palace, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He died 7, 8 18 Oct 1216 in Newark Castle, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England and was buried 9 in Worcester Cathededral, Worcestershire, England. John married 4, 10 Hawise of Gloucester on 29 Aug 1189 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.

John 6 Apr 1199 Westminster Abbey.

Other marriages:
TAILLEFER, Isabella of Angoulême
DE FERRERS, Agatha
DE WARENNE, Susanne

Crowned 27 May 1199

King John "Lackland", King of England (1199-1216), son of Henry II.  Having unsuccessfully  to usurp the throne during the captivity of his brother Richard I, he succeeded on Richard's death (1199).  A revolt in Brittany involved him in war in France and the loss (1203-5) of Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, Maine and Touraine, confirmed by a crushing defeat at Bouvines (1214).  His refusal to accept Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury (1207) brought England under interdict  and ended with John's submission to the papacy (1213).  The barony, alienated by the failure of royal policy and by the financial exactions of this and preceeding reigns, forced John to agree to the terms of the Magna Carta  (1215).  His attempts to evade the agreement brought war with the barons, during which John died.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.

Hawise of Gloucester 1, 2 died 3 1217 and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral, London, England. She married 2, 4 King John Lackland Of England on 29 Aug 1189 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.


King John Lackland Of England [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4 was born 5, 6 24 Dec 1166 in Beaumont Palace, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He died 7, 8 18 Oct 1216 in Newark Castle, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England and was buried 9 in Worcester Cathededral, Worcestershire, England. John married Agatha DE FERRERS on Mistress.

John 6 Apr 1199 Westminster Abbey.

Other marriages:
, Hawise of Gloucester
TAILLEFER, Isabella of Angoulême
DE WARENNE, Susanne

Crowned 27 May 1199

King John "Lackland", King of England (1199-1216), son of Henry II.  Having unsuccessfully  to usurp the throne during the captivity of his brother Richard I, he succeeded on Richard's death (1199).  A revolt in Brittany involved him in war in France and the loss (1203-5) of Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, Maine and Touraine, confirmed by a crushing defeat at Bouvines (1214).  His refusal to accept Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury (1207) brought England under interdict  and ended with John's submission to the papacy (1213).  The barony, alienated by the failure of royal policy and by the financial exactions of this and preceeding reigns, forced John to agree to the terms of the Magna Carta  (1215).  His attempts to evade the agreement brought war with the barons, during which John died.


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Agatha DE FERRERS 1 was born about 1168 in Charltey, Staffordshire, England. She married King John Lackland Of England on Mistress.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.

They had the following children:

  F i
Joan 1 was born 2 about 1188 in London, Middlesex, England. She died 3 30 Mar 1236 in Aberconwy, Arllechwedd Isaf, Caernarvonshire, Wales and was buried in Llan-Faes, Llanvaens, Anglesey, Wales.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.

King John Lackland Of England [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4 was born 5, 6 24 Dec 1166 in Beaumont Palace, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He died 7, 8 18 Oct 1216 in Newark Castle, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England and was buried 9 in Worcester Cathededral, Worcestershire, England. John married Susanne DE WARENNE on mistress.

John 6 Apr 1199 Westminster Abbey.

Other marriages:
, Hawise of Gloucester
TAILLEFER, Isabella of Angoulême
DE FERRERS, Agatha

Crowned 27 May 1199

King John "Lackland", King of England (1199-1216), son of Henry II.  Having unsuccessfully  to usurp the throne during the captivity of his brother Richard I, he succeeded on Richard's death (1199).  A revolt in Brittany involved him in war in France and the loss (1203-5) of Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, Maine and Touraine, confirmed by a crushing defeat at Bouvines (1214).  His refusal to accept Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury (1207) brought England under interdict  and ended with John's submission to the papacy (1213).  The barony, alienated by the failure of royal policy and by the financial exactions of this and preceeding reigns, forced John to agree to the terms of the Magna Carta  (1215).  His attempts to evade the agreement brought war with the barons, during which John died.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.

Susanne DE WARENNE 1 was born about 1166 in England. She married King John Lackland Of England on mistress.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.

They had the following children:

  M i
Richard FITZROY 1 was born about 1186 in Of, Chilham Castle, Kent, England. He died 6 Aug 1270.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M ii
Geofrey FITZROY 1 was born in Lincolnshire, England. He died 1205 in Rochell, , , France.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M iii
John FITZROY 1 was born in Lincolnshire, England.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M iv
Henry FITZROY 1 was born in Kenilworth, , Warwickshire, England.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M v
Edo FITZROY 1 was born in Essex, England. He died before 1242.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M vi
Ivo FITZROY 1 was born in Essex, England.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.

King Henry II Curtmantle Of England [Parents] 1, 2, 3 was born 4, 5 5 Mar 1133 in Le Mans, Maine, Anjou, France. He died 6, 7 6 Jul 1189 in Chinon Castle, France from Blood poisoning from an anal fistula and grief at his son, John's treachery and was buried 10 Jul 1189 in Fontevrault Abbey, Maine-Et-Loire, France. Henry married 3, 8 Eleanor of Aquitaine on 18 May 1152 in Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Poitiers, Vienne, Poitou, France.

Henry 1154/1189. He. He was adopted 11 25 Dec 1153 in Westminster Abbe, Westminster, Middlesex, England. He 1164.

Other marriages:
, Rosamunde de Clifford
, Alice
, Ykenai
DE CLARE, Rohese of Lincoln
, Avice de Stafford
, Nesta
, Unknown
, Alys of France

King of England

In appearance, he had a lionlike face and cropped red hair; "his countenance was one upon which a man might gaze a thousand times, yet still feel drawn to return to gaze upon again."  He was "of middle height, reddish, freckled complexion, with a large round head, grey eyes which glowed fiercely and gew bloodshot in anger, a fiery countenance and a harsh, cracked voice."  His bull-like neck "was somewhat thrust forward from his shoulders, his chest was broad and square, his arms stong and powerful.  His frame was stocky with a pronounced tendency to corpulence, which he tempered by exercise."  Throughout his life he was obsessed with keeping his weight down, through rigorous diets, fasting, or punishing sporting activity. "In agility of limb he was seocnd to none, failing in no feat which anyone else could perform."

Constitutions of Clarendon - Henry II insisted they merely restated the laws and customs of his grandfather Henry I's time

Henry II was the first Plantagenet King of England (1154-1189, Duke of Normandy (1150-1189) and Count of Anjou (1151-1189), son of Geoffrey Plantagenet & Matilda.  By his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine he acquired her vast domains in southwest France.  He restored order to an England ravaged by the civil wars of Stephen's reign.  He subdued the barons, continued administrative reform and strenghtened royal justice.  It was said that a virgin could walk from one end of the realm to the other with her bosom full of gold and suffer no harm, and that evil barons had vanished like phantoms.  His judgements were reputed to be so just that anyone with a sound case was anxious to have it heard by him, while those with dubious cases would not come before him unless they were dragged into court.  Another change was the gradual eplacement of trial by ordeal with trial by jury.  During Henry II's reign, the foundations of English common law were laid down.  His attempts to control the clergy led to conflict with Becket, and a compromise was reached after Becket's murder in 1170.  Henry made three successful attacks against the Welsh (1157, 1163, 1165), and one against Ireland (1171).  His last years were taken up with the revolt of his four sons.
   Since the marriage of Henry II to Eleanor of Aquitaine the wines of Bordeaux had been favored in England.  Records of the Lorraine wine fleet during the reign of Henry II [1154-1189] show that Henry's chamberlain came aboard the ships and selected, by right of prisage, a ton of wine from vessels carrying more than 21 tons.  The chamberlain also had the right to buy more wine for the royal household or troops, at a favorable price, before the cargo was turned over to the "lawful merchants of London."
    Even after he became King, Henry II disdained the trappings of sovereignty.  He did not need them anyway, for his very presence was enough to quell those who would have opposed him and reduce mighty lords to servility.  He nevertheless remained the most affable of monarchs, although no one ever mistook his geniality for a want of sovereign authority.  In a crisis Henry ususally stayed calem and decisive, and his sense of humour often served himwell.  Once, after a storymy clash with the King, Hugh of Avalon, Bishop of Lincoln, approached him with trepidation as Henry sat on the ground in the forest with his courtiers in a circle.  Since Henry had forbidden anyone to acknowledge Hugh's presence, no one rose to greet him, but Bishop Hugh, undaunted, eased an earl out of his place beside the King and sat down.  There was a long, brooding silence, finally broken by Henry who, unable to do nothing, called for neddle and thread and began to stitch up (as was his habit) a leather bandage on an injured finger.  Again, there was a heavy silence until Bishop Hugh casually remarked, "How like your cousins of Falaise you look" - a droll reference to William the Conqueror's mother, who had been a tanner's daughter from Falaise.  At this, the King's anger fled from him and he burst into laughter which sent him rolling on the ground. Many were amazed at the Bishop's temerity, others puzzled, until the King, recovering his composure, explained the gibe to them.  
     His favorite oath was "By the eyes of God" which was considered blasphemous in the extreme.  He was eloquent in argument, had a sharp wit, and particularly enjoyed a joke at someone else's expense.  Henry's temper was truly spectacular, and needed little provocation.  His normally benign expression would suddenly change dramatically as his face became empurpled with fury.  When in a rage, he would often throw himself on the ground, roll yelling on the floor, or grind his teeth on the rushes.  On one occasion, he fell screaming with anger out of bed, gouged the stuffing out of his mattress, and crammed it into his mouth.  When angry he could be vindictive.  When Ralph d'Albini flung a stone at the King at Bedford Castle - a gross insult - the King merely confiscated one of his estates.
    For a man of his time, Henry could be surprisingly tolerant.  Unlike other Chrisitian rulers, he refused to persecute the Jews, and he offered asylum to Albigensian heretics who had fled from persecution in the south of France.  Yet, like most people of his time, he regarded homosexuality as an offence against God, and authorized the torture of some Templars who had been arrested on suspicion of that and other unnatrual practices; they confessed and were severely punished.  The was the first time that torture was used under royal warrant in England.


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Eleanor of Aquitaine 1 was born about 1122 in Chateau de Belin, Bordeaux, France. She died 1 Apr 1204 in Mirabell Castle, Fontevrault L'Abbey, Maine-Et-Loire, France and was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, Maine-Et-Loire, France. Eleanor married 1, 2 King Henry II Curtmantle Of England on 18 May 1152 in Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Poitiers, Vienne, Poitou, France.

Eleanor 25 Dec 1137 Bourges, France.

Other marriages:
, Louis VII The Younger of France

Crowned Queen of France

Queen of England

She was named Aliénore, a pun on the Latin alia-Aenor, "the other Eleanor," to differentiate her from her mother.

Bernard of Clairvaux - The garments of court ladies are fashioned from the finest tissues of wool or silk.  A costly fur between two layers of rich stuffs forms the lining and border of their cloaks.  Their arms are loaded with bracelets; from their ears hang pendants, enshrining precious stones.  For headdress they have a kerchief of fine linen which they drape about their neck and shoulders, allowing one corner to fall over the left arm.  This is the wimple, ordinarily fastened to their brows by a chaplet, a filet, or a circle of wrought gold.

He likened Eleanor to one of those daughters of Belial who, got up in this way, put on airs, walk with heads high and mincing steps, their necks thrust forward, and, furnished and adorned as only temples should be, they drag after them trains of precious material that makes a cloud of dust.  Some you see are not so much adorned as loaded down with ornaments of gold, silver, and precious stones, and all the raiment of a court, indeed with everything that pertains to queenly splendour.

Geoffrey de Vigeois - They have clothes fashioned of rich and precious stuffs, in colours to suit their humour.  They snip out the cloth in rings and long slashes to show the lining beneath, and the borders of the clothes are cut into little balls and pointed tongues, so that they look like the devils in paintings.  They slash their mantles, and their sleeves flow like those of hermits.  Youths affect long hair and shoes with pointed toes.

Niketas Choniates (Greek chronicler writing abt 50 years after the Second Crusade began) - ...even women travelled in the ranks of the crusaders, boldly sitting astride in their saddles as men do, dressed as men and armed with lance and battle axe.  They kept a martial mien, bold as Amazons.  At the head of these was one in particular, richly-dressed, who, because of the gold embroidery on the hem of her dress, was nicknamed Chrysopus [Golden Foot].  The elegance of her bearing and the freedom of her movements recalled Penthesilea, the celebrated leader of the Amazons.


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They had the following children:

  M i
Count William Longspee of Poitiers 1, 2 was born 3, 4 17 Aug 1153 in Normandy. He died 5, 6 about Jun 1156 in Wallingford Castle, Berkshire, England and was buried in Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire, England.


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  M ii
Henry the Young King 1, 2, 3, 4 was born 5 28 Feb 1155 in Bermondsey Palace, London, Middlesex, England. He died 6 11 Jun 1183 in Mortel Castle, Turenne, Correze, France and was buried 7 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France.

Henry was blessed 8 14 Jun 1170 in Westminster Abbe, Westminster, Middlesex, England.

Crowned king of England by Archbishop Roger of York.  From now on he would be distinguished from his father by the title "the Young King."


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  F iii
Matilda 1, 2 was born 3 Jun 1156 in London, Middlesex, England. She died 4 Jun 1189 in Germany and was buried 5 in St Blasius Cathedral, Brunswick.


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  M iv
King Richard I Coeur De Lion Of England 1, 2, 3 was born 4 8 Sep 1157 in Beaumont Palace, Oxford, England. He died 5 6 Apr 1199 in Chalus, Aquitaine from Blood poisoning, gangrenous wound to arm from arrow and was buried 6 in Fontevrault Abbey, Maine-Et-Loire, France.

Richard was employed 7 crowned 2 Sep 1189 from 6 Jul 1189 to 6 Apr 1199 in Westminster Abbey. He.

Estimated to be 6' 5", graceful in figure; his hair between red and auburn; his limbs were straights and flexible, his arms rather long, and not to be amtched for wielding the sword, and his long laegs suited the rest of his fram, while his appearance was commanding and his manners and habits suitable, piercing blue eyes.

Probably no other historical king of England has so much legend attached to him and so much reputation which is ill founded...  the brave and intrepid champion of Christendom against the infidel, and he is one of our national heroes.  And yet in truth is so very different.

Richard had little interest in England and certainly not in the administrative demands of government.  In his youth he had not expected to become king, as his older brother Henry (The Young King) was heir to the throne...  Richard had one passion in life.  He loved to fight.  The thrill of battle never left him...  Richard was tall, with handsome features and tousled red hair.  He seems to have attracted as much attention from men as from women and there is almost certainly some truth in the belief that Richard had homosexual inclinations.

...Although king of England for ten years he spent only six months in his kingdom...

Richard combined forces with Philippe II of France and set off for the Holy Land in July 1190.  The vast army encountered transportation difficulties when their fleet was delayed and they decided to winter in Sicily.  Richard's sister Joanna was the recently widowed Queen of Sicily and Richard was less than satisfied with her treatment by the new king Tancred.  A skirmish broke out between the crusaders and the inhabitants of Messing which resulted in Richard capturing  the town.  This enabled him to negotiate favourable terms with Tancred, which not only brought the release of Joanna, but much needed funds for the Crusade...  Richard and Philippe quarreled over Richard's planned marriage with Philippe's sister Alys.  They had been betrothed for over twenty years, but during that time Alys had almost certainly become the mistress of Richard's father Henry.  She was not exactly a shining example of virtue and Richard, who had little interest in the fair sex, declined to marry her.  In the midst of this quarrel, Eleanor of Aquitaine arrived in Sicily with a new bride for her son, Berengaria of Navarre... -- (Ashley, "British Kings & Queens").

The evidence that survives suggests that, as Richard grew older, he gained a reputation for promiscuity.  He did not scruple to resort to rape:  "he carried off the wives, daughters and kinswomen of his freemen by force, and made them his concubines, and when he ahad sated his lust on them, he handed them over to his -knights for whoring" -- (Weir - "Eleanor of Aquitaine"),.

(Medical):     In March 1199 Richard stayed for a few daysat Chinon, and may have visited Eleanor [his mother] at Fontevrault.  He was on his way south to seize by force some treasure that had been discovered at the village of Châlus, near Limoges in the Limousin, which he claimed was rightfully his.  With him went Mercadier and his mercenaries.
    The treasure - a pot of Roman coins - had been unearthed in a field by a ploughman, who surrendered it immediately to Achard, Lord of Châlus. It was then demanded of Achard by his overlord, Aimar, Count of Limoges. As word of the find spread, so the description of the treasure became embroidered, and the King was eventually informed that it was a golden statue, resembling an emperor and his family seated around a golden table.  He immediately laid claim to it as spureme overlord of Châlus.
    Richard was warned by those who knew better that such a treasure did not exist, but he insisted on going to Châlus, where on 4 March he laid seige to Lord Achard's castle and set his engineers to tunnelling beneath its walls.  Then he sat down to await the castle's surrender.
    On the evening of 26 March, all was quiet, and the King did not bother to don his armour before he and Mercadier went "reconnoitring the castle on all sides."  All he had with him was his helmet and a shield.  Seeing him so vulnerable,  "a certain arbalister, Bertram de Gurdun, aimed an arrow from the castle and struck the King on the arm, inflicting an incurable wound."  Angry and in pain "the King rode to his quarters and issued orders to Mercadier and the army to make assaults on the castle without intermission, until it should be taken.  After its capture, the King ordered that all the people were to be hanged, him alone excepted who had wounded him, whom he would have condemned to a more shocking death, as we supposed.
    After this, the King gave himself into the hands of Mercadier, who, after attempting to extract the iron head [of the arrow], extracted the wood only, while the iron remained in the flesh.  But after this butcher had carelessly mangled the King's arm in every part, he at last extracted the arrow."
    After suffering this torture, Richard, who had a splendid constitution, expected to recover, but within a day or so the wound grew inflamed and then putrid and he began to suffer the effects of gangrene and blood poisoning.  Soon, it became clear that his chances of survival were poor.
    When he realised he was dying, Richard sent a messenger to Fontevrault, calling upon Eleanor to come to him without delay.  He also "ordered Bertram de Gurdun to come into his presence, and he said to him, 'What have I done to you, that you have killed me?' "
    Bertram boldly replied, "You slew my father and my two brothers with your own hand, and you had intended now to kill me.  Therefore take any revenge on me that you may think fit, for I will readily endure the greatest torments that you can devise, so long as you have met with your end, having inflicted evils to many and so great upon the world."
    Richard was so moved and impressed with the archer's speach that "he ordered him to be released, and said, 'I forgive you my death.  Live on, and by my bounty, behold the light of day.'  And then, after being released form his chains, he was allowed to depart, and the King ordered 100 shillings of English money to be given him.  Mercadier, however, the King not knowing it, seized him and after the King's death, first flayed him alive, then had him hanged."


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M v
Duke Geoffrey II Of Brittany 1, 2 was born 3 23 Sep 1158. He died 4 19 Aug 1186 in Paris, France from Fever or Trampled during a tournament.

Geoffrey Mar 1169 Rennes Cathedral.

Crowned Duke of Brittany


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M vi
Prince Philip of England 1 was born about 1160 in England. He died about 1160/1162.

, Infant


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  F vii Eleanor was born 13 Oct 1162 and died 21 Sep 1214.
  F viii
Joanna 1, 2, 3 was born 4 Oct 1165. She died 5 1199 and was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, Maine-Et-Loire, France.


Please contact luseaann@excite.com with any corrections/additions.
  M ix King John Lackland Of England was born 24 Dec 1166 and died 18 Oct 1216.

Thomas PITTS 1 married Laura Mae DAVES.

Laura Mae DAVES [Parents] 1, 2 was born 10 May 1895 in Shady Point, Indian Territory. She died 2 Jul 1929. Laura married Thomas PITTS. There were other parents.

Other marriages:
PITTS, Thomas
PITTS, Thomas

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