Re: Royal Ancestors for Americans? - Benedict Swingate/Calvert

Thanks to Tony Hoskins the story seems to be not as farfetched as I originally thought. As the illegitimate descendants of George I have been rather obscure, I have made a file (not a large one) with descendants via the Schulenburg mistress. These include a few Germans but they fizzle out pretty quickly. The main bulk are Americans, that is if this link can remain. The links it creates are pretty incredible as we find a step-son of George Washington, descendants of Charles II and one is even the sister-in-law of the deliciously scandalous Jane Digby, and, of course, General Robert E. Lee.

If anyone is interested, just ask and I will send the file. Amongst the American descendants I could add several more but have not as yet got around to enter all, and so-----any additions most welcome. Especially conformation about the mother of Benedict Swingate Calvert.

Best wishes
Leo van de Pas

----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Hoskins" <hoskins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <GEN-MEDIEVAL-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: Royal Ancestors for Americans? - Benedict Swingate/Calvert


Hello Leo,

For whatever it may be worth:

The intriguing hypothesis that the mother of Benedict Swingate/Calvert
of Maryland - an acknowledged illegitimate son of Charles Calvert, 5th
Lord Baltimore [himself an illegitimate descendant of Charles II] - was
Pertronilla Melusina. Countess of Walsingham and Chesterfield was
perhaps widely floated for the first time by the gifted though
increasingly eccentric (to say the least), American genealogist George
W. H. Washington, FASG (alias S.H. Lee Washington). He wrote in 1950
[New England Historical and Genealogical Register 104:175, n.4]:

"Furthermore, in May 1778 Rebecca [(Calvert) (1749-1770)]'s son ...
entered Eton with his young Calvert uncle; and as family letters state,
he lodged at Chesterfield House in St. James's, London, residence of his
aged great-grandmother, Petronilla Melusina d'Este (1694-Sept.1778),
Countess of Walsingham and Chesterfield. Lady Walsingham, who had been
at one time privately married (1723) to Charles, 5th Lord Baltimore, was
the daughter of King George I and his morganatic wife the Duchess of
Kendall."

I have never read any scholarly work on this hypothesized link, but it
is on the face of it not implausible. Lord Baltimore's intimacy with the
Royal family is clear (Cofferer to the Prince of Wales), and there is
evidence in Calvert family papers that Benedict's mother was very highly
born, for which reason her identity was said to have been strictly
concealed.

All best,

Tony

Anthony Hoskins
History, Genealogy and Archives Librarian
History and Genealogy Library
Sonoma County Library
3rd and E Streets
Santa Rosa, California 95404

707/545-0831, ext. 562



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Sancha de Ayala (was re: tomb of Sir Walter Griffith...)
    ... Presidents George Washington, Williamn Henry Harrison, Gerald Ford, George Herbert Bush and George W Bush ... Robert Abel III, Paul Abney, Alicia Arnold, Edward ... two appear to have had descendants. ... > I thought Gary Roberts' _Ancestors of the American Presidents_> has charts showing a pretty broad descendancy from her to various> presidents, perhaps leading through more children than Thomas and> Constance? ...
    (soc.genealogy.medieval)
  • Arnoul de Montgommery as an ancestor
    ... I have already indicated a list of Gateway Ancestors who are his descendants. ... George Washington ... 41 George H Bush ...
    (soc.genealogy.medieval)
  • Re: If Farran Exemption held, who would be Sovereign?
    ... Who are supposed to be covered by Farran Exemption? ... It is supposed to cover all descendants of Victoria. ... which still includes George V. ...
    (alt.talk.royalty)