Who Do We Think We Are: Bush-Lambert Saga: French Connections: US Independence & French Bastille Day

The interconnected aspects of our genealogical family continue to intrigue. Nowhere is this more evident than through our French connections. So, we use the occasion of France’s Bastille Day, July 14, comparable to United States (US) Independence Day, July 4, to explore French – US relationships, bearing in mind that each nation might not exist without the other. Second, we use the opportunity to discuss our genealogical ties to France. Perhaps our extended families, and others in our genealogy network, might find some of this interesting.

On July 4, 2014, as this is being written, the US celebrates the 238th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, severing ties to the British Monarchy, and beginning a long, bloody and tortuous path, eventually leading to a new form of government, giving power and influence to ordinary people, embodying the principles of democratic republicanism – a work still in progress.

During our revolution not everyone was convinced about the wisdom of the enterprise. Most historians surmise about 35-40 percent of the colonials favored the revolution, about 20-25 percent were against it, while some 30-40 percent were less than enthusiastic, or neutral. William’s own 5X ggf, Philip Lambert of VA (a 1754 English emigrant), was suspected of being less than enthusiastic. However, after being fined a large portion of his tobacco crop for his ambiguity, apparently decided to cast his lot with the rebels, took an oath of support for “the cause” and served in the colonial militia.

In any event, few Americans on this 4^th of July understand that France and the US enjoy a common historical bond. The blood and idealism of both nations have been indelibly and irrevocably mixed over the years. Without the immense economic, military and political assistance of France the outcome of the American Colonial uprising of 1776 undoubtedly would have been different. The British defeat at Yorktown, for example, could never have happened. Thus, the French played a significant role in our revolution, making possible the Treaty of Paris of 1783, finally ending the American Revolution, which resulted in American Independence.

Ironically, French aid to the colonists stirred anti-Monarchy notions among their own people, thereby seeding the French Revolution, which began July 14, 1789, and since 1790 celebrated as Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale (French National Day). Proclaiming the motto: "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, Equality and Fraternity) to a resplendent blue, white and red (Tricolor) ensign. Thus, both nations became bonded by attributions of political ideology and kindred spirit, forged in the American Revolution.

Eventually, the United States was able to “repay” the French contribution to US independence.

In both World Wars I and II the outcome almost certainly would have been different for France without US assistance. This was poignantly summarized when US troops arrived in France in 1917. During July 4 ceremonies at the Marquis de Lafayette’s tomb, Colonial Stanton, an officer with General “Blackjack” Perishing’s’ US Expeditionary Forces, declared, “Lafayette, we are here”, thus acknowledging the famous French nobleman’s profound and decisive contribution to our own revolutionary war. The Immaculately and reverently tended graves of many thousands of US service members in Normandy and other locations in France continue to remind the two nations of common bonds.

The Statue of Liberty, known and prized throughout the world for its symbolism, is a gift from the French citizens to the American people, authenticating the two nation’s love for liberty, equality and fraternity. President Grover Cleveland (Jennie’s ancestor) spoke at the statue’s unveiling in New York harbor on October 28, 1886, noting that the statues’ "stream of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man's oppression until Liberty enlightens the world". (However, as we suggested above, and noted so vigorously in the press at the time, liberty remains a work in progress.)

NOW, FOR A SAMPLER OF OUR GENEALOGICAL FRENCH CONNECTIONS

In genealogy, a “gateway” ancestor is one that spins off, or leads, to other ancestors in web-like connections through history. We have discovered a number of gateway ancestors that have led to even more gateways in an historical spiral that constantly reveals new networks. This brief summary of some French connections provides a sample.

Through a combination of both our ancestors, we are related to essentially all of the royalty and nobility of Europe, including Denmark, Sweden, Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Spain, Netherlands, Flanders, modern France, large portions of modern Germany, northern Italy, the Alsace/Lorraine region, and portions of Western Europe and the Mediterranean basin/Middle East. Moreover, our pedigrees are inter–connected throughout this ancestral amalgam. An interesting aspect, however, is that the territory that constitutes modern France has been at the crossroads of all of these connections.

Although modern geographical France is a relatively recent nation, she has evolved out of many kingdoms, fiefdoms and nationalities, including Vikings, Celts, Germanic tribes, Romans, and others. Our ancestry involves all of these. Both of us have traced “French”- associated ancestors to the time of Roman Gaul. Among our French “gateways” are Charlemagne (742-814), John Gaunt Plantagenet, Duke of Aquitaine (1340-1399) and the Danish Viking Rollo (846-931). (The history channel’s The Vikings provides an historical treatment of Rollo) This Viking is William, Jr.’s 29 great grandfather (ggf) on his maternal (Havens) side, and Jennie’s 34th ggf through her paternal (Bush) line (Normandy France was named for Rollo (Norseman) after he was given the area by Francia King Charles III (879-929). Rollo, (aka, Robert I of Normandy), was the 3X ggf father of the Duke of Normandy, aka William the Conqueror) (1028-1087). William the Conqueror is William Jr.’s 24^th ggf. When Duke William “conquered” England in 1066 he became William I, King of England, thus combining a large segment of modern-day mid-W “France” and England. This was a gateway to virtually all the royalty and nobility of England and later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. (As noted in previous blogs, both William and Jennie have separate genealogical lines to these English and Irish royals and nobles as well.)

Note on the pedigree charts below that Matilda, Countess of D’Anjou, daughter of Henry I, married back into the “French” nobility and this reinforced the already incorporated central-W “French” province of Anjou into the English-French nobility line.

Matilda of Anjou was mother of Henry II, King of England. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1202), Jennie’s 26^th great grandmother, was married to Henry II of England. So, in essence, Eleanor’s holdings, covering a large part of modern SW France, was under English dominion. Ever Since Edward III (1312 – 1377) (William, Jr. and Jennie’s ancestor) until 1801 Kings of England claimed the title of King of France as well. [see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_claims_to_the_French_throne

William Jr.’s connection is further interesting in that his ancestors trace to France’s King Philip (Philippe III King of France Capet (1245 - 1285)). Additional connections to the French Monarchy are still being researched, but further connections to 1789 are looking promising.

NOTE: The following pedigree charts represent the latest examination of the William and Jennie Bush-Lambert genealogical connections through selected historical personages of European history. Minor tweaking may occur from time to time as new information is uncovered, regarding both the precise connectivity and details about the principals involved. Meanwhile, we think it accurately represents what is generally known, or can be known, about the subjects at this time. As this is always a work in progress, if anyone has knowledge of different information, or questions, please feel free to contact us. For those with access to Ancestry.com, the underlined names provide links to our tree.

William James Lambert, Jr. – Pedigree Listing for One French / English Line

A Seperate Pedigree Listing for William’s specific ties to the French Monarchy Follows

Rollo "The Wise" Ragnvaldsson~, (830/46 - 931)

[Viking – Scandinavia a.k.a. Denmark; Finland; Norway, Sweden]

29th great grandfather

William Longsword (900 - 943) son of Rollo "The Wise" Ragnvaldsson~,

Richard I "the Fearless" Duke of Normandy (933 - 996) son of William Longsword

Richard II 'The Good' Duke De Normandy (957 - 1027) son of Richard I "the Fearless" Duke of Normandy

Robert II Devil Magnificent Normandy (999 - 1038) son of Richard II 'The Good' Duke De Normandy

Duke of Normandy (1028 - 1087) (aka: William the Conqueror ; King William I of England) son of Robert II Devil Magnificent Normandy

Henry I Beauclerc King England (1068 - 1135) son of William the Conqueror

Matilda Countess D'Anjou Beauclerc Plantagenet Planatagenet (1102 - 1169) daughter of Henry I Beauclerc King England