February 2, 1550, marks the day William’s 10th great grandfather (ggf), Sir Francis Bryan died, and was buried at Waterford, Ireland. Four hundred and sixty-four years is a long time to be dead, especially if poisoned (alleged) by your Irish noble family wife because she really wanted to marry her close relative, Irish nobleman Gerald Fitz-Gerald. Well, after all, it was an “arranged” marriage to ensure English control over Ireland. If she did the deed (never proven), it took some real doing because at the time her Husband, Sir Francis Bryan, was the Lord Marshall of Ireland, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland (aka, Supreme Chief Magistrate), and carried the epitaph, “Vicar of Hell.” One good thing to come out of that short marriage (1548-1550) to Lady Joan Butler (dowager Duchess of Ormond (d/o James FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Desmond and Amy O'Brien) was a son, Francis Byran II, who inherited estates in County Clare. His son, William Smith Bryan (Knight), William’s 8th great grandfather, was dubbed the “the Prince of Ireland” by his followers and patrons.
Historically, the Bryan clan claims linkage to royal and noble
ancestors in early England, Ireland and France. Although some genealogical archives are murky on details, the record is clearer through the medieval periods. It was not unreasonable, therefore, for Bryan II’s son, William Smith Bryan (knight) to contend for the Irish throne. This appears even more reasonable because of his lineage
to Ireland’s High King, Brian
Boru, who reigned 1002-1014. This, and his grandmother being the d/o of Turlough
O’Brien, the King of Munster/High King of Ireland, indicate additional ties to the
royal/noble O’Brian/O’Brien clan. Additionally, he bears lineages through the Butler’s
Earls/Dukes of Ormond (Anglo-Irish nobility). Regardless of how one slices it,
William S. Bryan had every right to the Irish throne. However . . . .
As part of the “reconquest of
Ireland” (1649 -1653), England’s Puritan ruler, Oliver Cromwell considered
the “Prince of Ireland” a rebel and a threat, and forced William S. Bryan to abandon
Ireland. William was forced to load his family, considerable household goods,
livestock, including horses, and ship off for the Colonies. The ship arrived in
Gloucester Beach (Point), Virginia, Abt. 1650. (See photo at end of article)
The Bryan family's role in the early development of colonial America is an interesting history that involves a number of Bryan/Bryant
relationships in the early settling of VA, KY and NC, including the marriage of
Lourena (aka Louraine) R. Bryant to William’s great grandfather, Samuel Havens
in KY. Because there were a number of interrelated Boone/Bryant/Havens/Lambert
connections, these extend William’s genealogy to include the Boone family as
well as others. However, those stories will have to wait for another Blog.
Sir Francis Bryan’s ancestors hold a pivotal place in both
our genealogies. Both William and Jennie’s ancestors’ found themselves frolicking, scheming and thoroughly engrossed in medieval shenanigans’ in England’s
Henry VIII’s Court. Sir Francis’s father and grandfather were nobles in Henry VII’s
Court. Young Henry VIII and young Francis knew each other well. Francis was
related to at least four of Henry VIII’s six wives, knew all of them well,
and was instrumental in arranging liaisons and other necessities for Henry. He also
spent some time with the Parr family. (Catherine Parr was Henry VIII’s sixth
wife). Francis’ Mother, Lady Margaret Bryan, was governess of young Henry VIII, and
later was governess to Henry VIII’s children, all being future monarchs of England, Britain, France and Ireland.
Sir Francis’ reputation garnered him a number of labels, but one
that chroniclers like to apply is “the Vicar of Hell.” This is primarily
because of his lack of defense for his cousin (Henry VIII’s second wife), Anne Boleyn.
Others contend the epitaph could be equally applied because of his sinister plots
and intrigues at home and abroad on behalf of Henry, giving rise to a more
recent label, “the medieval James Bond.”
For those who would like to learn more about the many positions,
adventures and lineages associated with this ancestor, a good place to start is: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/bryan-sir-francis-1492-1550
. Background on the Bryan clan, their exploits in early America and associations with the Boone clan is reviewed in,
Bryan, A Pioneer Family at: http://knightsdebryan.freeservers.com/pioneer.htm
Pedigree of William James Lambert, Jr. to Sir Francis
Bryan,
William’s 10th great grandfather:
Sir Francis Bryan, Lord Marshal of Ireland,
MP, “The Vicar of Hell” (Abt. 1490 - 1550)
William’s
10th great grandfather
son
of Sir Francis Bryan (Bryan I)
Sir
William Smith Bryan (Knight) (1600 - 1667) [Dubbed: “Prince
of Ireland”]
son
of Sir Frances II Bryan
son
of Sir William Smith Bryan (Knight)
Morgan
Bryan (1671 - 1763) [Stem of Kentucky Bryan/Bryant family]
son
of Francis III Bryan
William
Bryan (1734 - 1780) [Married Mary Boone, Sister of Daniel Boone]
son
of Morgan Bryan
son
of William Bryan
son
of William Christopher Bryant
son
of Hiram (Hurum) Bryant Senior
Lourena
[Louraine] R Bryant (1855 - 1924) – [Married Samuel Havens,
1879]
daughter
of Huram (Hiram) Bryant
John
Havens (1883 - 1960) [Married Elisabeth May, 1907]
son
of Lourena R Bryant
Fern
Lucille Havens (1925 - 1994) [Married William J. Lambert]
daughter
of John Havens
son
of Fern Lucille Havens
This is from a photo taken at Gloucester Point, VA when we visited the area during the summer of 2013. This is the area where the Bryan clan came ashore in 1650 following expulsion from Ireland by Lord Protector Cromwell. An interesting aside: When we visited Lambert's Point, Norfolk, VA, just south of Gloucester Point, we stopped at the Lambert's Point visitor office. Turns out the lady we talked to was the great granddaughter of the dreaded Oliver Cromwell, noted in the above article. The Lambert name was familiar to her for a number of reasons, but an interesting one is that Major General John Lambert was a chief deputy of Cromwell during his military exploits and civil wars in England. At one time MG Lambert was referred to as the second most powerful person in England. (Relative: unknown at this juncture, but a work in progress).
>>>> William
