Dear cousins … as I research our ancestors – specifically the medieval and Tudor era Wyatts – I am finding the most AMAZING and sometimes humorous discrepancies.
Everything must be quadruple checked, and even then the dates (within a few years) are not consistent. I possess a copy of The Papers of George Wyatt; even though it has a family tree, the tree does NOT have dates!
As you use the internet to work on your trees, beware of crazy dates. In most cases our ancestors were NOT elevated to high station before they were born. In many cases, decades old genealogies are chock full o’ wishful thinking. The exaggerations border on lies, but in some cases there are clues that lead to fascinating facts.
When will the book be done? When I get to the point where I feel I have opened all the doors. Hundreds of research pages later I am still at the point where every door leads to five more.
The good news is it’s all more interesting than we ever knew.
Had the same experience when I started writing about Jasper Tudor, so looking forward to seeing your finished work – and happy to review when it is published.
I am fascinated by Owen Tudor and “Uncle” Jasper. (It’s those side trips that slow me down.) Owen had to be something special to capture the queen’s affections. What’s the name of your book?
I live close to where he lived at Pembroke castle and Tenby in Pembrokeshire still researching haven’t decided on a title yet. (I was nearly ‘sidetracked. by an interesting story about Jasper’s illegitimate daughter Joan).
Have a look at my blog sometime:
http://tonyriches.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/thomas-wyatt-long-love-that-in-my.html
I researched the family tree and yes, the dates were insane to follow, but so many interesting facts that sometimes made me chuckle and sometimes made me realize why the Wyatts are how they are. Amazingly, we still carry the poet in us. I so much want to see allington castle! I still consider it, ours. Can’t wait to see you book.
Quick question, is the book you are working on fiction or non-fiction? I can’t wait to read it either way!
It’s non-fiction. Laughing – the problem with history is it’s written by historians. (Zzzzz.) I hope to make non-fiction just as interesting as fiction. And it’s better because it’s as close to real as we can get.
If I had been able to plow through nonstop it would be done by now!
I am very excited to hear more about the Castle Restoration and results of your research. Recent details of my ancestry have pointed to Margaret Wyatt. With much enthusiasm and continued good luck!! Fay Mowry
The castle restoration I wrote about happened before and during WWII. Today Allington is a private residence. (Darn!) My work is on the lives of Sir Henry and Sir Thomas. (Writing for pay is getting in the way of writing for play:-/
love the write ups i am descended from Haute Wyatt thru his son John. John was 10 when his father died and his grandmother took care of him what happened to john when grandmother died in 1644 did he go to virginia in 1652 when he was 21 or 22 need proof of this for Magna Charta and charlemagne applications Proof seems to be the keyword. keep up the good work let me know when the book is finished im a book-a-holic bjsgen@aol.com
Hello Cuz, nice to meet you. John was an amazing man. I am also a decendant of John. I am trying to find the proof of many things John did. (Sold 100 acres to William Penn) (bought slaves from the market and gave them a plot of land and freed them) Either he moved to Carolina or his son did, can’t remember, I researched this about 10 years ago. One of Hawte’ sons got caught in Fl steeling a horse, but because Uncle was govenor, he went down there to retrieve him before he was hung. We also have a cousin that was the first civil war confederate soldier killed (statue in Raliegh N.C.)
Stole a horse??? I moved from Michigan to southwest Florida; I can’t IMAGINE living here in those days. And I think I read about the first confederate soldier killed! There is so much to learn.
Fabulous, what a website it is! Thiis weblog givss useful facdts to
us, keep it up.
You’re so kind!! I am working behind the scenes but I have been reluctant to create blogs as I don’t want to “give my research away!” I do post frequently to Facebook, so please join “us” there – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sir-Thomas-Wyatt-the-Poet/287394704652301?ref=bookmarks