Arundel Castle (a love story)


Let me tell you a story about my Great Grandparents and their family home called Arundel Castle and how this tale ends with my parents falling in love. 

Arundel Castle is a restored and remodeled medieval castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England. It was established by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067.

Roger de Montgomery, I, Seigneur de Montgomery is my 25th great grandfather on my father's side: 

Angela Jossy  → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Charles Lemuel Imus
his father → Lucy Imus
his mother → Ann Buck
her mother → Abigail Gould
her mother → Thomas Disbrow
her father → Margaret Walton
his mother → Robert Cromwell of Huntingdon
her father → Sir Henry Williams, alias Cromwell, MP
his father → Richard Williams, alias Cromwell
his father → Morgan Williams
his father → William ab Ieuan, of Whitchurch
his father → Margred Kemeys, of Bagam
his mother → Jenkin Kemeys, of Began
her father → John Kemeys
his father → Catrin verch Llewelyn
his mother → Llewelyn ap Hywel
her father → Hywel Felyn ap Gruffudd
his father → Mabel FitzWilliam, de Gloucester
his mother → William FitzRobert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester
her father → Maud de Creully, Dame de Creuilly
his mother → Sibyl de Montgomery
her mother → Roger II "The Great" de Montgomery, 1st Earl of Shropshire, Earl of Arundel & Earl of Shrewsbury
her father → Roger de Montgomery, I, Seigneur de Montgomery
his father


King of England Henry the First's daughter Matilda was the rightful heir to the English throne but when King Henry I died, the monarchy was stolen from her by her cousin Stephen.


Empress Matilda is my 23rd great grandmother on my fathers side: 

Angela Jossy   → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Charles Lemuel Imus
his father → Lucy Imus
his mother → Ann Buck
her mother → Abigail Gould
her mother → Thomas Disbrow
her father → Margaret Walton
his mother → Robert Cromwell of Huntingdon
her father → Sir Henry Williams, alias Cromwell, MP
his father → Frances Cromwell
his mother → Sir Thomas Mirfyn, Lord Mayor of London
her father → George Mervin, of Cambridgeshire
his father → Joan Mervyn
his mother → Katherine Hungerford
her mother → Sir Thomas Peverell, Kt., of Park Hamitilly
her father → Sir Hugh Peverell, Kt.
his father → Margaret Peverell
his mother → Walter de Cornwall
her father → Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
his father → John I "Lackland", King of England
his father → Henry II "Curtmantle", king of England
his father → Empress Matilda
his mother




She married Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou. He was 
called the Handsome, the Fair (French: le Bel) or Plantagenet, was the count of Anjou, Touraine and Maine by inheritance from 1129, and also the duke of Normandy by conquest from 1144. 

"His marriage to Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I of England, led to the centuries-long reign of the Plantagenet dynasty in England. The name "Plantagenet" was taken from Geoffrey's epithet. Geoffrey's ancestral domain of Anjou gave rise to the name Angevin, and what became known as the Angevin Empire in the 12th century.

The chronicler John of Marmoutier described Geoffrey as handsome, red haired, jovial, and a great warrior.[4] King Henry I of England, having heard reports on Geoffrey's talents and prowess, sent legates to Anjou to negotiate a marriage between his 25-year-old daughter Matilda and Geoffrey. Consent was obtained from both parties, and on 10 June 1128 the fifteen-year-old Geoffrey was knighted in Rouen by King Henry, in preparation for the wedding.

The year after the marriage Geoffrey's father left for Jerusalem (where he was to later become king), leaving Geoffrey behind as count of Anjou.

When his father in law, King Henry I of England died in 1135, Geoffrey supported Matilda in entering Normandy to claim her inheritance." - SOURCE 

Geoffroy V, Count of Anjou, Maine and Mortain is my 23rd great grandfather on my father's side: 

 Angela Jossy → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Charles Lemuel Imus
his father → Lucy Imus
his mother → Ann Buck
her mother → Abigail Gould
her mother → Thomas Disbrow
her father → Margaret Walton
his mother → Robert Cromwell of Huntingdon
her father → Sir Henry Williams, alias Cromwell, MP
his father → Frances Cromwell
his mother → Sir Thomas Mirfyn, Lord Mayor of London
her father → George Mervin, of Cambridgeshire
his father → Joan Mervyn
his mother → Katherine Hungerford
her mother → Sir Thomas Peverell, Kt., of Park Hamitilly
her father → Sir Hugh Peverell, Kt.
his father → Margaret Peverell
his mother → Walter de Cornwall
her father → Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
his father → John I "Lackland", King of England
his father → Henry II "Curtmantle", king of England
his father → Geoffroy V, Count of Anjou, Maine and Mortainhis father


When the hostile takeover happened, Matilda took refuge at Arundel Castle. This led to a 20 year civil war called The Anarchy. It ended with a compromise in 1153. They agreed to stop the war and Matilda's son would be Stephen's heir. She would never be Queen but her son grew up to be King Henry II. 

Henry II "Curtmantle", king of England is your 25th great grandfather on my mother's side:

Angela Jossy → Verla Rae Jossy
your mother → Helen King Wilson
her father → Orville William King
his father → Eliza King
his mother → Charles Fox
her father → Henry Fox
his father → Crispus Fox
his father → John Fox
his father → Mary Fox
his mother → Mary Boreman
her mother → Nathaniel Chittenden, I
her father → Joanna Cruttenden
his mother → Joan Sheafe
her mother → Joan Jordan
her mother → Sir James Croft
her father → Sir Richard Croft
his father → Sir Edward Croft, Kt.
his father → Eleanor Croft
his mother → Sir Edmund Cornwall, Kt., of Burford
her father → Sir Richard Cornwall, 5th Baron of Burford
his father → Geoffrey de Cornwall, 3rd Baron of Burford
his father → Sir Richard de Cornwall, 2nd Baron of Burford
his father → Geoffrey de Cornwall
his father → Richard de Cornwall, of Thunnock
his father → Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
his father → John I "Lackland", King of England
his father → Henry II "Curtmantle", king of England 
his father

The man who brokered the peace treaty deal was William d'Aubigny and he was made the first earl of  Arundel. 

William "Stronghand" d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel is my 25th great grandfather on my father's side: 

Angela Jossy  → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Charles Lemuel Imus
his father → Lucy Imus
his mother → Ann Buck
her mother → Abigail Gould
her mother → Thomas Disbrow
her father → Margaret Walton
his mother → Elizabeth Lynne Cromwell
her mother → Sir William "Will" Steward
her father → Elizabeth Steward
his mother → Margaret / Margery Lucas
her mother → Robert Gedding
her father → Margaret Heveningham
his mother → John de Heveningham, II
her father → Sir John de Heveningham, I
his father → Richard de Heveningham
his father → Cecily de Heveningham
his mother → Sir Robert de Morley, Baron de Morley
her father → Isabel (de Montalt) de Morley
his mother → Sir Robert de Montalt
her father → Cecily d'Aubigny of Arundel
his mother → William d'Aubigny, 3rd Earl of Arundel
her father → William IV d'Aubigny 2nd Earl of Arundel & Sussex
his father → William "Stronghand" d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel
his father

He held it for 100 years until the 5th Earl died without an heir. In 1243 the title and castle went to his nephew John FitzAlan. John FitzAlan expanded the castle and added the barbican, towers, a moat, drawbridge and portcullis. 

John FitzAlan, 1st Baron Arundel is my 20th great grandfather on my fathers side: 

Angela Jossy  → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Lucinda Imus
his mother → Wanton Burlingame
her father → Ephriam P. Burlingame
his father → Phebe Alice Burlingame
his mother → Judge Philip Greene
her father → Phoebe Greene
his mother → Mary Sayles
her mother → Rev. Roger Williams, Founder of Rhode Island
her father → James Williams
his father → Agnes Audley
his mother → Willam Audley, III
her father → William Audley, II
his father → William Audley, I
his father → James Touchet, 7th Baron Audley
his father → John Touchet, 6th Lord Audley
his father → Margaret Tuchet
his mother → Margaret FitzAlan, Baroness de Ros
her mother → John FitzAlan, 1st Baron Arundel
her father

King Edward the 3rd and Richard FitzAlan were best friends since age 14. They were trusted comrades most of their lives. FitzAlan amassed great wealth fighting with the French with him. 

Edward III, king of England is my 21st great grandfather on my mother's side: 

Angela Jossy  → Verla Rae Jossy
your mother → Helen King Wilson
her father → Orville William King
his father → Eliza King
his mother → Charles Fox
her father → Henry Fox
his father → Crispus Fox
his father → Mercy Bliss Fox
his mother → Hannah Day
her mother → Mary Bliss
her mother → David Morgan, Sr.
her father → Sargent Miles Morgan
his father → William Morgan, I
his father → Cwladis Morgan
his mother → Sir Thomas Morgan, of Machen and Tredegar, MP
her father → Roland Morgan, Lord of Castell-Arnallt
his father → Elizabeth Morgan
his mother → Joan Vaughan
her mother → Constance Whitney
her mother → Eleanor Tuchet
her mother → Constance of York, Countess of Gloucester
her mother → Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
her father → Edward III, king of England
his father


The FitzAlans are all entombed in the Arundel chapel. They were Catholic even when King Henry the 8th made England a Protestant country and severed from the Pope and Rome.

Henry VIII, King of England is my third cousin 16 times removed on my father's side:

Angela Jossy  → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Lucinda Imus
his mother → Wanton Burlingame
her father → Ephriam P. Burlingame
his father → Phebe Alice Burlingame
his mother → Judge Philip Greene
her father → Major Job Greene
his father → Major John Greene, II
his father → Joan Greene
his mother → Margaret de Tattershall
her mother → Margaret Alice Fox
her mother → John Astle
her father → Mary Astley
his mother → Anne Talbot
her mother → Lady Anne Beaufort
her mother → Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset
her father → John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset
his brother → Margaret Beaufort
his daughter → Henry VII of England
her son → Henry VIII, King of England
his son

The FitzAlan family joined with the Howard's family through marriage making them Earls of Arundel and Dukes of Norfolk. They were powerful but they suffered some losses due to their faith. Queen Elizabeth the 1st became their nemesis. She took the castle and titles from them because they were Catholic and refused to convert. 

Elizabeth I of England is my 6th cousin 12 times removed on my mother's side: 

Angela Jossy  → Verla Rae Jossy
your mother → Helen King Wilson
her father → Orville William King
his father → Eliza King
his mother → Charles Fox
her father → Henry Fox
his father → Susannah Fox
his mother → Mary "Molly" Griswold
her mother → Susanna Collins
her mother → Stephen Peck
her father → Mary Peck
his mother → William Bunnell
her father → Rebecca Brooke
his mother → John Brooke
her father → Robert Brooke
his father → Florence Brooke
his mother → Cicely Ashfield
her mother → John Tendring
her father → Sir William Tendring
his father → Lady Alice Howard
his daughter → Sir Robert Howard of Stoke Neyland
her son → John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk
his son → Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk
his son → Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire
his daughter → Anne Boleyn
her daughter → Elizabeth I of England
her daughter

"
The 4th Duke leant towards Catholicism , and seems to have offended Queen Elizabeth in various ways. Charges were brought against him, which may or may not have been true; these included scheming to marry Mary Queen of Scots, and involvement in a treasonable plot to put Mary on the English throne. He was condemned, had his Dukedom removed, and was executed. The Dukedom was then not restored until four generations later." - SOURCE

Virtus sola invicta
 was the FitzAlan/Howard family motto:  It means "Only virtue unconquered" or  "Virtue alone is invincible," This motto was very nearly placed on the USA official seal

Thomas Howard was born without title. However, he supported King James 1st in his claim to the English crown and when James was made King of England in 1604 he reinstated the FitzAlan/Howards as Earl and Duke and gave back the castle. 

"Elizabeth I died childless so was succeeded by her cousin, James VI of Scotland, who henceforth assumed the title of James I of England as well. James's accession meant that the three separate kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland were now united, for the first time, under a single monarch. James was the first Stuart ruler of England." SOURCE

James VI King of Scots, James I King of England & Ireland is my 6th cousin 14 times removed on my mother's side: 

 Angela Jossy → Verla Rae Jossy
your mother → Helen King Wilson
her father → Orville William King
his father → Eliza King
his mother → Charles Fox
her father → Henry Fox
his father → Susannah Fox
his mother → Mary "Molly" Griswold
her mother → Susanna Collins
her mother → Stephen Peck
her father → Mary Peck
his mother → William Bunnell
her father → Benjamin Bonnell, II
his father → Jacquelyn Marie Bygote
his mother → Edmund Bygote
her father → Robert Bigod
his father → Ralph Bigod
his father → Peter Bigod
his father → Anne Bigod
his mother → Elizabeth Ferrers
her mother → Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland
her mother → Cecily Neville, Duchess of York
her daughter → Edward IV of England
her son → Elizabeth of York
his daughter → Margaret Tudor, Queen consort of Scots
her daughter → Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox
her daughter → Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley
her son → James VI King of Scots, James I King of England & Ireland
his son


Thomas FitzAlan married a wealthy woman Alethea Tolbert. This along with his restored titles allowed him to follow his passion for art collecting. They called him "Thomas the Collector." He collected art, literature, gems, jewelry, 
ancient statues, carvings, antiquities and even had sketch books by Leonardo de Vinci. 

              Thomas Howard & Alethea Howard portraits b
y Daniel Mytens. 




"Alethea Howard, 14th Baroness Talbot, 17th Baroness Strange of Blackmere, 13th Baroness Furnivall, Countess of Arundel (1585 – 3 June [O.S. 24 May] 1654),[1] née Lady Alethea Talbot (pronounced "Al-ee-thia"[2]), was a famous patron and art collector and one of England's first published female scientists. She was the wife of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel with whom she build one of the most important art collection of the 17th century's England. She was the youngest daughter of Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife Mary Cavendish; and the sister of two other countesses: Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent." -  SOURCE

Lady Alethea Howard, Baroness Furnivall is my fourth cousin 12 times removed on my fathers side: 

Angela Jossy  → Carl Jossy
your father → Inez Isadora Imus
his mother → Jiles Herbert Imus
her father → Hiram M. Imus
his father → Lucinda Imus
his mother → Wanton Burlingame
her father → Ephriam P. Burlingame
his father → Phebe Alice Burlingame
his mother → Judge Philip Greene
her father → Major Job Greene
his father → Major John Greene, II
his father → Joan Greene
his mother → Margaret de Tattershall
her mother → John Fox
her father → Lord William Fox, VII
his father → Sir William Fox, VI
his father → Sir William Vaux, V, of Great Harrowden
his father → Margaret Fox
his daughter → Elizabeth Hardwick
her daughter → Elizabeth Cavendish, of Hardwick
her daughter → Mary Cavendish, Countess of Shrewsbury
her daughter → Lady Alethea Howard, Baroness Furnivall
her daughter


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It gets really difficult to follow my bloodline in relation to Arundel Castle because there are so many similar names: 

Earls of Arundel (c. 1138)[edit]

Second creation (1289) (dubious)[edit]

Thereafter the Earldom of Arundel has been held by the dukes of Norfolk. The 18th Duke of Norfolk (29th or 34th earl) is the current holder.



The current occupant of Arundel Castle is Edward Fitzalan Howard. 


Edward Fitzalan Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk is my 10th cousin once removed on my mother's side: 

 Angela Jossy → Verla Rae Jossy
your mother → Helen King Wilson
her father → Orville William King
his father → Eliza King
his mother → Charles Fox
her father → Henry Fox
his father → Crispus Fox
his father → John Fox
his father → Thomas Fox
his father → Thomas Fox, of Concord
his father → Thomas Fox
his father → Edward Fox
his brother → Joseph Fox
his son → Henry Fox
his son → Sackville Fox
his son → James Lane-Fox
his son → Marcia Bridget Vavasour
his daughter → Marcia Mary Constable-Maxwell
her daughter → Hon. Bernard Constable-Maxwell
her son → Wing Commander Gerald Constable-Maxwell
his son → Anne Mary Teresa, Duchess of Norfolk
his daughter → Edward Fitzalan Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk
her son


The heir apparent is Henry Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey (b. 1987). 
Next in line of succession are Arundel's brothers, Lords Thomas and Philip Fitzalan-Howard. 

Henry Fitzalan Howard is my 11th cousin on my mother's side: 

Angela Jossy  → Verla Rae Jossy
your mother → Helen King Wilson
her father → Orville William King
his father → Eliza King
his mother → Charles Fox
her father → Henry Fox
his father → Crispus Fox
his father → John Fox
his father → Thomas Fox
his father → Thomas Fox, of Concord
his father → Thomas Fox
his father → Edward Fox
his brother → Joseph Fox
his son → Henry Fox
his son → Sackville Fox
his son → James Lane-Fox
his son → Marcia Bridget Vavasour
his daughter → Marcia Mary Constable-Maxwell
her daughter → Hon. Bernard Constable-Maxwell
her son → Wing Commander Gerald Constable-Maxwell
his son → Anne Mary Teresa, Duchess of Norfolk
his daughter → Edward Fitzalan Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk
her son → Henry Fitzalan Howard
his son


One thing that occurred to me while doing this research is that it is no wonder my parents were so drawn to each other. 

My 25th Grandparents (d'Aubigny on my father's side helped King Henry II on my Mother's side) to have his birthright restored.

My 21th Great Grandfather on my mothers side King Edward the III and and my 20th Great Grandfather on my father's side Richard FitzAlan supported each other their whole lives and even fought wars side by side. 

Those are just two examples that I have uncovered so far. 

It seems that throughout history they find and help each other. 

My mother left her 1st husband and took her 3 young sons into a new marriage with my father even though he was 20 years older than her. They met at the Christian Science Church and it was a bit of a scandal when he went from her councilor to her suitor. But when you look at how her Great Grandfathers and his Great Grandfathers are constantly teaming up throughout history, its no wonder they felt at home and a sense of belonging with each other. It was destiny. And I, their only child together, carry their holy and royal bloodline forward.  

I do not believe they knew their connection through ancestry, it was never told to me if they did. As I mention in the blog about my mother, she mentioned to me once that she thought the Queen of England was a distant cousin. No one else in my family or her friends ever heard her say this. No one on my father's side seems to know except my cousin Arty who stumbled upon it while doing his genealogy. He is the one who told me after finding me on facebook. It feels more like a movie than real life but here we are! 





SIDE NOTE: My 23rd great grandparents on my father's side Geoffry V and his wife Matilda are both on my father's side but their son comes on on Geni.com as on my mothers side. The only explanation I can find is that Geni.com tells you only the shortest relationship path. These people must be related to me on both sides.   








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