Hi Clair, we’ve had a couple of conversations about my Boleyn heritage. My husband had a serious surgery 5 years ago on which the neighbor LDS families prayed for him every hour for 9; days. As a thank you, I gifted their meeting house a Christmas tree. They contacted me with great thanks and offered to do my family tree. We met at their family history center with little info about my lineage. 1 month later, they contacted me about my Boleyn family line. I’m the descendant of Catherine Carry’s daughter Anne Knowles whose son was the first Governor of Virginia. Anne Knowles is my 11th great-grandmother. I will be again be visiting Westminster Abby this Tuesday to pay my respects .I live in Laguna Beach Ca. Thank you for all the info on the Boleyn history.

I discovered this doing my own genealogy through various branches and by also recognizing over time that every wife of Henry VIII was his cousin! Which might explain why he had a boy with Bessie Blount but had so much difficulty even having a successful child birth with any of his wives and might explain the many miscarriages. I learned something about this growing up at Bethesda where we raised beef cattle. With a bull you can mate the first generation, his offspring and their offspring without defect or miscarriage. I.E. incest. Then you have to sell that bull and introduce an unrelated bull. So you replace the bull every 3 years. This keeps the herd healthy. Humans are somewhat more complicated. Given that Henry and all of his wives probably had common ancestry even pre Norman times, I imagine their inter relatedness was probably even more than we realize. This is a really good video!

Many thanks Claire for this fascinating broadcast.

I knew that Anne B & Katherine Howard were cousins but I’ve definitely learnt a lot here! Wow. The world was a small place! Xx

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

It really was!

I’m a descendant of a lot of the main families, but the most curious connection I can boast is that my mother was a double descendant of Attila the Hun. Her mother and father were each descendants of two different children of Philippa of Montegue, who was a direct descendant of Attila. I thought that was kind of bizarre that my grandparents should be related to each other that far back and basically closed a familial loop when they married and had children.

I had a wonderful medievalist professor who mentioned that a possible reason for the crown not performing dna testing on what could be Edward V & Richard of Shrewsbury is that it could bring into question the legitimacy of Elizabeth II’s line. It was just an off hand remark and she went on with her lecture. Afterward she approached me to ask what I was doing because I was usually very engaged but had spent two hours on my phone making notes but not paying attention. I was a genealogist, then folklorist, the anthropologist, then archaeologist. When I started having back issues I went back to school for history, so we were more like peers (otherwise I might have been in trouble for tuning out the lecture & certainly wouldn’t have been allowed on my phone the whole time). I presented her with a tangled labyrinth of paper demonstrating six different ways Elizabeth II was related to the York & Lancaster (so obviously Tudor) lines. I have ocd & if someone were willing to pay me I could happily spend decades untangling the web of 11th-17th century noble family trees throughout Europe. It’s pretty safe to say everyone was related. The whole agnatic primogeniture thing makes a big difference in titles, inheritance ect.., but just relation there’s no real separation in familial lineage. The Yorks & Lancaster are Plantagenets and all of them were marrying distantly related cousins across Europe. Other than the Hapsburgs, it was usually distant “enough”, but you can tie everyone to everyone. England is a small island. If you’re of English descent, you’ve probably got Plantagenet blood, regardless of class.

This took a heck of a lot research, clair!! I have heard that everyone with western European ancestors descend from Charlemagne and i have heard that i do (thru my Norman ancestors). So, even the peasants lived in a small world. I look forward to reading the article 😮❤

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

It definitely had my head spinning!

I researched my family tree years ago & got quite far back, but no royalty lol. I remember it being quite mind blowing & complicated. I found out I had a cousin in Australia who also was researching & he helped me a lot. Unfortunately he passed last year, but I remember him fondly & all the fun we had.

No way!! I knew how Anne B, K Howard and Jane were related but WOW ! Henry and ALL of his wives! Thank you Claire 💗 another great video. I can’t wait read your article.

Thank you Claire. I'm related from my maternal side to Anne B ( Howard ), Wentworth, Tyrells, and Mortimers. I stumbled across this a year ago when my Mother passed away, and found out the lineage. Strangely, I've been checking out your informative videos long before I found out. I absolutely love history.

Wow, Claire! I took a quick peek at your article. That's dedication! Finding all the connections between the wives is like putting together a puzzle or pulling a thread on a tapestry. I'd like to search out portraits or drawings of these relations if there are any. Thank you for continuing to bring us interesting facts about Tudor history. Cheers!

@Odanti

Ай бұрын

Everything you stated was all true about Claire. ❤️🙏❤️

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

It did take rather a while and had my head spinning!

Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves were descended from King Charles V of France. Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII were both descended from John of Gaunt, but Henry only from the illegitimate line (his father and mother both were descendants of the Beauforts, John of Gaunt's natural children).

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Henry VII was descended from John of Gaunt's illegitimate line, but Henry VIII was descended from Edward I via his mother Elizabeth of York too, several times. See www.theanneboleynfiles.com/henry-viii-and-his-six-wives-and-their-descent-from-edward-i/

@renshiwu305

Ай бұрын

@@anneboleynfiles I just mean that Katherine's ancestry included John of Gaunt through his official marriage - the daughter from which married into the royal house of Portugal. Henry's connection to John of Gaunt was only via the _ex post facto_ legitimized Beauforts. His paternal grandmother was a Beaufort, and his mother, Elizabeth of York, was the daughter of King Edward IV, who was the son of Cecily Neville, who was the daughter of Joan Beaufort, who was John of Gaunt's natural daughter.

Claire, you continue to out do yourself. The researching on everyone you mentioned. That was a lot of family trees you did to complete this video. Great video, Claire. Thanks again for coming back to us with more Tudor history! ❤️🙏❤️

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

It did take rather a while and I was drawing so many trees!

Interesting and fascinating. Have done a lot of Genealogical research. We are cousins to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Jane Seymour is an aunt through Edward Seymour and her sister, Dorothy, whom are direct ancestors. The newest connection I found was to Henry VII and Margaret Beaufort through Lady Catherine Grey. We have also traced ancestry to Harry Hotspur Percy, Sea Dog John Hawkins, Nicholas Hilliard, several members of various Royal Households and several noble families (would have to check my family tree) My parents have Deep New England roots in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Mayflower, Boston, Hartford, Windsor, Fairfield and New Haven Founders, an ancestor founded the Episcopal Churches in Newport and Providence Rhode Island,(Gabriel Bernon) he was friends with Roger Williams. My mother was descended from several Filles de Roi in Quebec. Proud Member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution and New England Women.

I love this stuff. I am looking forward to reading the article but I actually did a paper demonstrating how all six wires and Henry were related in 2014. I had a professor who for some reason didn’t believe Cleves or Parr until I physically drew out a simplified tree for each. I had a wonderful medievalist professor who mentioned that a possible reason for the crown not performing dna testing on what could be Edward V & Richard of Shrewsbury is that it could bring into question the legitimacy of Elizabeth II’s line. It was just an off hand remark and she went on with her lecture. Afterward she approached me to ask what I was doing because I was usually very engaged but had spent two hours on my phone making notes but not paying attention. I was a genealogist, then folklorist, then anthropologist, then archaeologist. When I started having back issues I went back to school for history, so we were more like peers (otherwise I might have been in trouble for tuning out the lecture & certainly wouldn’t have been allowed on my phone the whole time). I presented her with a tangled labyrinth of paper demonstrating six different ways Elizabeth II was related to the York & Lancaster (so obviously Tudor) lines. I have ocd & if someone were willing to pay me I could happily spend decades untangling the web of 11th-17th century noble family trees throughout Europe. It’s pretty safe to say everyone was related. The whole agnatic primogeniture thing makes a big difference in titles, inheritance ect.., but just relation there’s no real separation in familial lineage. The Yorks & Lancaster are Plantagenets and all of them were marrying distantly related cousins across Europe. Other than the Hapsburgs, it was usually distant “enough”, but you can tie everyone to everyone. England is a small island. If you’re of English descent, you’ve probably got Plantagenet blood, regardless of class.

Enjoyed this

It was a small world amongst the common folk too. When people didnt move far, the chances of marrying a cousin were pretty high. I have a few lines where cousins married, especially among my northern English folk.

Thanks again Claire for a fascinating video I really enjoyed this as always and always look forward to another upload! ❤

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Queen Elizabeth and Abraham Lincoln...great video

This was super interesting because I do Ancestry. On their app I learned I’m descended from Geoffrey Boleyn and Edward I is my 21st great-grandfather. I looked through my extended tree and I had most of these lines already. The Culpepper connection was new. My question is: did the Tudor era people know their own family history?

That is a lot to remember...very interesting. I found out I was related to Sir William Alexander he was close to James 1st and lived in both Scotland and then England. I found out a good bit about him actually. My mom has a royal ancestor from Scotland really far back. I'm adopted so I find it interesting that she and I both have similar roots.

Wow Claire, I knew about 5 of them but I hadn’t realised about Anne of Cleves. Indeed a small world. Yes, there’s always been talk in our family of a connection, Wouldn’t it be great to find out one day. Thank you Claire. I do miss your daily Tudor chats, they must have taken up, so much of your time. 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Yes, unfortunately, I just couldn't do another year of daily videos, Tim and I are both so busy.

I descend from the Throckmorton family, who intermarried with all these families, making Henry and all his wives my cousins. A number of years ago I came across a tree online that showed all the connections between Henry and his wives. I saved it but don't have access at the moment.

Since you asked, they are all my cousins through various lineages. Which surprises me because I am from the U.S. But even in a country of this size, it's amazing who you can be related to! Miley Cyrus is my cousin. She doesn't seem to have royal or noble lineage, but wildly enough, my great grandmother Phyrebba Wellman is descended from Bennet Wellman and Miley Cyrus father is also descended from Bennet Wellman. Small small world!

Wow!!! 😵too many Elizabeths and Catherines!!

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Ha! Yes!

Now Anne of Cleves was a surprise for me! I never researched her lineage that far back.

Thanks for the breakdown on these kinship ties. I knew I was related to five of the wives (and naturally with the King), but I wasn't clear if there was also kinship with Anne of Cleves. I can't say that I am surprised. It was an a small world then. As for my connection, I am a 9th grandson of Jeremiah (Jeremy) Clarke who was a several times gov. of colonial Rhode Island. My North Carolina ancestor was a Thomas Blount, and that not only yet more brings the kindship into the mix, but makes me a 2nd cousin of Henry's early mistress who gave birth the Duke of Richmond Henry FitzRoy. Yes - it was, indeed, a small world.

Thank you Claire 🤗 Agreed, a little confusing at times but quite interesting nonetheless. Small world indeed at the time especially when Henry's two foreign and royal born wives were related in some way. Also goes to show that although four of Henry's wives may have been commoners, they were still worthy due to them having royal blood in their veins.

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

It is so very confusing!

Not to royalty but apparently there is a connection on my father’s side to Alexander Hamilton. I have a cousin who’s looking into it deeper. I always thought he looked very handsome on the $10 bill.💁🏻‍♀️

We are all related to Adam and Eve. One of my relatives of the 20th century was to Mrs. Simpson's first husband, before she married Edward IIIX. So my grandmother told me. ooo a divorce in the family as far as back as that.

I have been told that most people that have english ancestory are related to royalty' I am a desended from Edward the 2nd from the wrong side of the blanket. lol and the pilgrims on the 2nd boat in the US. Geneology is fascinating.

@renshiwu305

Ай бұрын

Every US President save one is descended from King John of England (hint: the outlier is not the one whose racial characteristics would make him the obvious choice).

@janel.8921

Ай бұрын

Martin van Buren, I believe, due to his Dutch ancestry.

@renshiwu305

Ай бұрын

@@janel.8921 Yup.

My son is related to Mary Queen of Scott’s on his Paternal side.

I have been able to trace my lineage to Catherine Parr...she is my great aunt. The link for me is her mother Maude Greene. 😊😊

Fascinating informative post. I saw somewhere that every person with European descent should be able to trace lineage back to Charlemagne. Not sure is this is an old wives tale.

So, in other words, just like everyone in France is descended from Charlemagne, everyone in England is descended from Edward I.

@mmhthree

Ай бұрын

Yup!!

A colleague told me she could not lie on hard mattresses. I was joking that she must be noble then. And indeed she was, descending from a dynasty reigning in the middle ages here in SW Germany!

There are Howard folks in my family tree.

I’ve read that nearly everyone of English descent is descended from Edward III

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Surely there must be people descended from other people who lived at that time, but, yes, it was a small population.

Does their family lines to Edward 1 have anything to do with Henry 8 marrying them?

Knowing all of these relationships makes the rivalries even sadder??

My ancestors were cousins to Anne and Catherine Howard. They were also related to the both of Mary Queen of Scots last two husbands. The sister of one of my ancestors was having an affair with James IV of Scotland and her and 2 of her sisters may or may not have been poisoned due to that relationship (probably not, but who knows). One of her decents (and the sister of my ancestor) was burned at the stake by James V. I fully blame Archibald Douglas for that mess. I'm related to Aoife the Red and even Lizzie Borden. It seems my family survived by being just outside the drama. They may have also been horrible people.

Through my father, I am related to Moses & Aaron. I figure that's enough for me to rest on.

Humphrey / Washington/

If my research is correct, I'm directly descended on both sides from Edward I through his youngest daughter. This came down through the Courtenay family. Other names are Hungerford, Elizabeth Boleyn, Richmond, Neville, and others. Also, John Rogers, who was the first man burned at the stake by Bloody Mary. My conclusion is that it isn't who you are, but what you are that counts.

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

"My conclusion is that it isn't who you are, but what you are that counts." Definitely.

So, because I am a direct descendant of Mary Boleyn, that means that I'm not only related to Katherine Howard & Jane Seymour, but all of Henry VIII's wives? Cool!

I don't know if anyone ever asked this question likely many people asked this question but i wonder how much would change if Henry the 7ths his biological father have survived and didn't die woulf the whole of time and the fate of old england would have been completely different?

Fascinating. I knew that Catherine of Aragon, royal on both sides, had an incredible pedigree, but I didn’t know that Anne Boleyn and the other wives had such thick blue blood. For instance, I always thought Anne was only the daughter of minor nobles who were only elevated in life from pushing Anne into Henry’s bed, but while they no doubt gained from Anne’s affair and marriage to Henry, they had a very impressive pedigree even without the additional titles Henry bestowed on them.

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

It's such a myth that Anne Boleyn was some kind of social climber. Her mother was a Howard, one of the premier families, and her paternal great-grandfather was the Earl of Ormonde and a very wealthy and influential man.

@raysand2557

Ай бұрын

@@anneboleynfiles Thank you for enlightening us. You have such an informative channel.

Im decended from Anne of york elizabeth and edwardv daughter through a spooner line in my grandmas ancestry not saying im next in line to the throne or anything lol

No Tudor but I actualy have 2 english kings in my lineage when my fathers genealogy resaerch is to be believed. William the Conquerer and Steven...

How you managed to keep that straight.

Thanks Claire. So when did consanguinity stop being an issue for the church.? In my own ancestry I find it interesting that all the Continental Europeans were part French. I had ancestors who were French German French Italian and French Occitan from Toulouse. Only the Irish seemed not to have any French but I bet there was somebody if you go back far enough.

@mmhthree

Ай бұрын

Yes, the French-Normans were trying to take over Ireland, and I'm sure they were spreading their seed around. It will be alot smaller than what will be found in English families lines.. but still there I'm sure of it.

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Consanguinity was a problem and Henry VIII needed dispensations to marry several of his wives because of the links. I can't remember how close the lines had to be for the pope to have to issue a dispensation.

👶

Is it at all possible that since ALL of the wives AND Henry were ALL descended from Edward 1st, it caused inbreeding & the miscarriages ? Was Bessie Blount descended from Edward 1?

Some people who say Catherine of Aragon had more claim to the throne of England than Henry himself are just delusional and giving uneducated…

@mmhthree

Ай бұрын

It's because of the Beaufort line, I'm sure is why they say that.

@anneboleynfiles

Ай бұрын

Henry VIII had legitimate lines through Elizabeth of York too.

@lisaa.4667

Ай бұрын

@@mmhthree Catherine was descended from 2 legitimate daughters of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, from his first two wives. The four Beaufort children were born illegitimate, but were 'legitimated' when they were adults, which allowed them to climb higher on the social ladder. None of them were Catherine's ancestors. The first son, John Beaufort, was the grandfather of Henry VIII's grandmother, Margaret Beaufort. Henry VIII was descended through his mother, Elizabeth of York , from Edward III's sons Lionel of Antwerp, Edmund of Langley, and John of Gaunt (via his daughter "Joan Beaufort"). So Henry's claim to the throne was probably stronger than most of the courtiers at that time, if one goes by bloodlines. It helped that Henry VIII's father wiped out the Yorkists, including King Richard III, during the Battle of Bosworth.

@mmhthree

Ай бұрын

@@lisaa.4667 The Beaufort's appear to be quite strong people, as they ended up King despite all the odds. Quite a story really!! Thank you for typing all that for me =)