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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: patrish on Monday 14 May 07 20:05 BST (UK)

Title: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Monday 14 May 07 20:05 BST (UK)
Syke 1 10pm tonight.

For anyone who is interested.    I was interviewed as a prospective candidate for this series but unfortunately the declined to use  my story. :'(
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: LizzieW on Monday 14 May 07 20:08 BST (UK)
Can't get Sky 1, but I read a review of the prog which said, I think over 50% of the population has Royal blood.  Are you one of these Patrish? ::) ::)

Liz
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Monday 14 May 07 20:26 BST (UK)
Yes  ;D  my link is to King Charles 2nd, wrong side of the sheets I am afraid though. ::)  No surprise there, given his numerous mistresses  ::)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: LizzieW on Monday 14 May 07 20:30 BST (UK)
The nearest I came to fame was via Emma Hamilton and that turns out not to be true!

Liz
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: aspin on Monday 14 May 07 20:31 BST (UK)
I was hoping to find Bony Prince Charlie in my Sottish lot  ;D but not found him yet  :o :o :o

Elizabeth

Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Gadget on Monday 14 May 07 20:32 BST (UK)
I'm descended from the Tudor lot  ::) ::) ::)

Apparently the Queens 17th cousin  :-\

Added - but according to my Welsh Pedigree book, I'm certainly decended from  Owain Glyndwr's sister and through her to Irish and Manx kings  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: aspin on Monday 14 May 07 20:32 BST (UK)
I was hoping to find Bony Prince Charlie in my Sottish lot  ;D but not found him yet  :o :o :o

Elizabeth



Forgot my spell check Scottish
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: avm228 on Monday 14 May 07 20:34 BST (UK)
No royalty yet whatsoever in my tree  :(

Thisa morning they had that Nick Barratt - who I think is the presenter (?) on BBC Breakfast talking about the programme (which surprised me, given that usually they only plug BBC programmes).  He was asked about the "50% of the population are related to royalty" quote and his response was along the lines of "Huh?  Maybe a few hundred thousand, but absolutely nowhere near 50%".

I haven't got Sky, but look forward to hearing Rootschatters' reviews :)

Anna
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: behindthefrogs on Monday 14 May 07 20:37 BST (UK)
Does the mother of William the Conquerer count?  He after all was born out of wedlock.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Monday 14 May 07 21:20 BST (UK)
My 4 x gt uncle married the 2 x gt grand-daughter of Lady Frances Stuart  :o

I have no idea what this programme will be like  ???
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: kizmiaz on Monday 14 May 07 21:46 BST (UK)
Isn't it always the way.

I was helping a friend trace her family tree, and found a direct (legitimate) line all the way back to Edward I!

All of my lot were Ag labs and farm labourers all the way back to the year dot. Not one sniff of royalty. I think the closest any of my lot would have got to a Royal connection was getting legless in the Kings Head!

Glen
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: XPhile2868 on Monday 14 May 07 22:38 BST (UK)
I'm descended from the Houghton family, one of whom came over from Normandy on the same boat as William the Conqueror (my 29x great grandfather, Herverus de Normandie).

I did find a link to William the Conqueror via another branch of the family a few months ago, but wasn't too sure about it, so I just consider it a possible.


Stephen :)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: avm228 on Monday 14 May 07 22:45 BST (UK)
I'm descended from the Houghton family, one of whom came over from Normandy on the same boat as William the Conqueror

Oooh - are these Hampshire Houghtons?  Perhaps this could be my link to royalty too!

Anna
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Bill749 on Monday 14 May 07 22:46 BST (UK)
Quote
I think the closest any of my lot would have got to a Royal connection was getting legless in the Kings Head!

I can't even claim that - my lot were Temperance!
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: XPhile2868 on Monday 14 May 07 22:48 BST (UK)
I'm descended from the Houghton family, one of whom came over from Normandy on the same boat as William the Conqueror

Oooh - are these Hampshire Houghtons? Perhaps this could be my link to royalty too!

Anna

Sorry, mine are the Lancashire Houghtons.


Stephen :)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Monday 14 May 07 23:27 BST (UK)
Well the programme format was much as I had it explained to me.  I found it enjoyable and will watch further episodes.

 I think they said there were about 10 in total  :-\

What did become apparent was the strong family impact, I have long thought that it was the reason why they declined my story, not enough of us  :( just me and my youngest son, elder one did not want to know.  :(

It was obvious that the had found a connection otherwise they would not have been there but they did seem genuinely surprised.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: pompeyboy on Tuesday 15 May 07 12:26 BST (UK)
For those of you that missed the programme it is being repeated on Sky Three on Thursday at 9.00pm according to the Radio Times :)

Steve :)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Bill749 on Wednesday 16 May 07 00:30 BST (UK)
Just looked at the description of the first programme - looks like another one in the same vein as the Bill Oddie series on Channel 4!

How does being related to Grace Kelly make someone Royal?
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: LizzieW on Wednesday 16 May 07 00:53 BST (UK)
Quote
How does being related to Grace Kelly make someone Royal?

My thought too, when I read the blurb about the programme.

Liz
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Christopher on Wednesday 16 May 07 01:13 BST (UK)
Hi Lizzie and Bill,
Do you guys mean Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco or another Grace Kelly ???
Are you close relatives or somewhat distant ???

Your rights to be called Royal would possibly be strengthened if you can also establish family connections to ...
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) 8)
You don't have any Irish ancestors, do you ??? In the olden times there were Kings of Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. It was some considerable time ago so there could be problems establishing the connection.

It's much more fun being a mere commoner :D

Chris
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: LizzieW on Wednesday 16 May 07 01:32 BST (UK)
Hi Chris

I'm certainly not related to The Princess of Monaco, otherwise known as Grace Kelly.   It was just that in the description of the programme, which seemed to suggest it was about people with royal blood, it mentioned that some of the people who took part were related to Grace Kelly. 

I was wondering what the definition of being related to a royal is, if being related to Grace Kelly who only married into royalty, makes you related to royalty too. 

By the way, I heard she wasn't quite the serene highness before she married her prince, rather more a rip roaring showgirl!

Liz
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Christopher on Wednesday 16 May 07 01:34 BST (UK)
That sounds like fun, Liz 8) Rip roaring showgirls are so much more interesting than Royalty.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Llwyd on Wednesday 16 May 07 12:07 BST (UK)
I'm with Christopher on this one. After all why would anyone want to be related to royalty?; especially our lot!. Do you think they would take part in So You Think You Are  A Commoner?.
 :)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Wednesday 16 May 07 12:17 BST (UK)
Its not a question of whether you want to be related to royalty, if you are ,you  are,  its, therefore,   a personal  choice as to whether you seek recognition or not , myself I would have loved to have had the opportunity.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 16 May 07 12:57 BST (UK)
The one good thing about being descended from royalty is that it sometimes makes it easier to trace the family lines back further and lots of royalty intermarried.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Lydart on Wednesday 16 May 07 14:19 BST (UK)
I think our family has a very tenuous link to a character called HALFDAN THE OLD who was born between 690 and 786, and died in 800.   His descendents came over with William 1 ... and some of our Pomeroys came over with William ... so as I said, VERY tenous !  We may share about half a gene with the wonderfully named Halfdan ! 

I'm quite happy with my ag.lab's, Durham miners, Dorset button makers, and Hampshire house-maids.  Everytime I weed my veg garden, I say a quiet 'Thank you' to Isaac, William, Samuel, Moses and John, those sons of the soil that resulted in me !! 
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: millymcb on Thursday 17 May 07 16:09 BST (UK)
For those of you that missed the programme it is being repeated on Sky Three on Thursday at 9.00pm according to the Radio Times :)

Steve :)

Thanks Steve - I missed it and wondered if it was being repeated. Have now set my Sky+
 ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: slightlyfoxed on Thursday 17 May 07 16:25 BST (UK)
... and some of our Pomeroys came over with William ... so as I said, VERY tenous ! We may share about half a gene with the wonderfully named Halfdan !

 I hope you have found the Pomeology website. DNA has shown that apart for the lords Halburtons of Ireland there are almost no Pomeroys who definetely connect back to the Norman family. Pity because my Great Grandmother was a Pomeroy.
If youre interested Check out my Pomeroy websites

http://www.geocities.com/pomapples/index.html

http://www.geocities.com/pomerytwig/introduction.html

foxy
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Christopher on Thursday 17 May 07 21:17 BST (UK)
Do we have to address any members of RootsChat as "Your Highness"
or is everyone still attempting to establish their Royal connections ???
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 17 May 07 21:19 BST (UK)
There's Lord Hackstaple and Lady Gadget for starters !! 

 ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: lambkin on Thursday 17 May 07 21:38 BST (UK)
I have Dudley's from Northamptonshire in my family history. I would like to think they were associated with someone royal, THEN all the research work would be done for me and I wouldn't have to bother ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 17 May 07 21:39 BST (UK)
But you'd miss the excitement of the chase ?  No 'YIPPEE' moments ? 
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: hepburn on Thursday 17 May 07 22:05 BST (UK)
Patrish,
          I'm almost sure it was Frances Stuart who modelled for Britannia, on all the coins...
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: millymcb on Thursday 17 May 07 22:08 BST (UK)
Just finished watching tonight's episode on Grace Kelly- and I thought it was actually quite good. You got the sense of things taking time and not being easy and instant, they went through Parish Records and had to look through graveyards searching for clues... Plus interesting biographical film on Grace Kelly.  All in all not bad!

Not quite sure it warranted quite so many tears from the would-be Royals though ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: DudleyWinchurch on Thursday 17 May 07 22:33 BST (UK)
I have Dudley's from Northamptonshire in my family history. I would like to think they were associated with someone royal, THEN all the research work would be done for me and I wouldn't have to bother ;D

Lambkin, our Dudleys are rumoured to be the family from Dudley castle but so far they're ironworks engineers from Bilston, not nearly so glamourous!  I'm only just back to the 18th century so far, so I guess there's a way to go yet.
I'll let you know if I find any links to Northamptonshire but you seem way further back than me already if you're talking 16th century.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Thursday 17 May 07 22:39 BST (UK)
Yes Hepburn you are quite right  ;D

 Evidently Charles was fascinated with her, but she vowed never to become his mistress but history says she ran away to marry her third cousin The Earl of Lennox  much to Charles  displeasure and  gave birth to a child within the first year of her marriage which historians say  was Charles's. which is my link but of course  it can never be proved. :( :(
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Monday 28 May 07 18:50 BST (UK)
hi to you all
I appear in the 25th June episode with my wife and daughter looking for the Earls of Northumberland.
it was an amazing two weeks of traveling and a once in a lifetime opportunity of having professionals doing the work. We also ended up with a stack of information, papers and references which would have taken years to collect any other way, also access to some people and places which would otherwise be impossible. p.s I,m the "phat" one riding the Triumph
robin
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Monday 28 May 07 20:10 BST (UK)
Hi Robin and welcome to Rootschat,

The reasons you have stated are exactly why I was so dissapointed that they decided not use my story  :'( :'( :'(

I will look out for yours.



Patrish. (note my avatar)  ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Monday 28 May 07 20:14 BST (UK)
yes. i was totally gobsmacked when we we were asked.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: lambkin on Monday 28 May 07 20:39 BST (UK)
I have Dudley's from Northamptonshire in my family history. I would like to think they were associated with someone royal, THEN all the research work would be done for me and I wouldn't have to bother ;D

Lambkin, our Dudleys are rumoured to be the family from Dudley castle but so far they're ironworks engineers from Bilston, not nearly so glamourous!  I'm only just back to the 18th century so far, so I guess there's a way to go yet.
I'll let you know if I find any links to Northamptonshire but you seem way further back than me already if you're talking 16th century.


Thank You ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: millymcb on Monday 28 May 07 23:38 BST (UK)
Hi Robin...

I hope you really enjoyed the experience and look forward to seeing it.. ;D

Milly
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Tuesday 29 May 07 20:34 BST (UK)
After being asked this was my reply

My mother-in-law answered an advert in the Norfolk History Society magazine.
She has a lot of information put together in the 1970 by her Uncle which included several stories passed down thru her family.
I also applied as I have almost proved a link between my Gt-Grandfather and the Hanover dynasty.
After several e-mails and telephone calls the Producers Emma & Jemma came down and spent about a hour talking to the family.They took copies of what we had and about six months later came down again, this time with a camera and " interviewed".
About a month after that we were told that we were on a short list  re Earls of Northumberland (but not Hanovers and Victoria)  and about a month later asked when and if and when we could be available. As my Mother-in Law is in here 70's she decided that  she would not be able to cope with the traveling, so My wife my youngest daughter and myself were chosen
As to why we were chosen I think will become obvious when you see the places, the people, the legends.the truth and the story..............
As far as i know there are no plans for another series, this one took over 18 months from start to finish which is apparently a lifetime for a TV program
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Tuesday 29 May 07 20:51 BST (UK)
Emma and Gemma were really nice people who put me completely at ease in front of the camera did you find that  ???
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: joanne56 on Tuesday 29 May 07 21:06 BST (UK)
Do Pearly Kings ands Queens count?
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Tuesday 29 May 07 21:12 BST (UK)
Yes we spent the two weeks with Emma but she was acting as deputy producer  as the Boss, Charlotte (Winby) (Series Producer) directed nearly all of our filming, this amounted to 20+ hrs over the two weeks.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Tuesday 29 May 07 21:28 BST (UK)
hi Patrish
have just read the Schedule and the last episode on Mon 2nd July is  Charles II perhaps somebody just had a better story than yours/
robin
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Tuesday 12 June 07 14:06 BST (UK)
I have really enjoyed the series, not just because I think I have a link back to "Royalty" (won't bore you with the story). It has been ordinary people, not celebs, being helped by what looks like good genealogical research. And much, much better than that BBC1 morning programme that was on a few months ago. I can't even remember it's name it was something to do with genes.

Anyway that leads me on to one of the series the last one perhaps; they did DNA testing on the male lines of the Surname, (was it Bowes?) for a link to the Queen Mother's lineage. They seemed to conclusively say there was no link, but it didn't really explain how they could be so sure. Surely to do so they would have had to have gotten a Y-DNA specimen from a male Bowes from the QM side, to complicate things her male surname was actually, I think, Lyons. Can anyone explain to me how they managed to rule the ladies out from their hoped for link?

Thanks,

Grothenwell
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: jillruss on Tuesday 12 June 07 22:49 BST (UK)
What's happened to this series?

I was quite looking forward to watching it last night - it was listed in the Radio Times - but a completely different programme came on! Very disappointing! Then I checked next week's listings and it's disappeared altogether!

It had already been moved to 11.00p.m so I'm thinking it wasn't very popular and they've given it the chop. Pity - after the first programme about Grace Kelly which was very silly ( the programme wasn't called 'So You Think You're Related to a Film Star'), I was rather enjoying the series. Admittedly, part of the attraction was trying to work out why it was so important to these people to be related to 'someone of royal birth', but it did contain a bit of actual genealogy as well.

Oh well, what can you expect of Sky One? Perhaps they'll try again? How about 'So You Think You Are Related To A Footballer's Wife?' I'm sure that'll pull them in...  ;)

Jill

Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Wednesday 13 June 07 18:01 BST (UK)
hi
its seem that it has been dropped by Sky One,it is however still showing on Sky Three on Thursday and Sunday.
As to .........."Admittedly, part of the attraction was trying to work out why it was so important to these people to be related to 'someone of royal birth', but it did contain a bit of actual genealogy as well."............
As I have said "it was an amazing two weeks of traveling and a once in a lifetime opportunity of having professionals doing the work. We also ended up with a stack of information, papers and references which would have taken years to collect any other way, also access to some people and places which would otherwise be impossible.
robin
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Necromancer on Wednesday 13 June 07 18:36 BST (UK)
Quote
Anyway that leads me on to one of the series the last one perhaps; they did DNA testing on the male lines of the Surname, (was it Bowes?) for a link to the Queen Mother's lineage. They seemed to conclusively say there was no link, but it didn't really explain how they could be so sure. Surely to do so they would have had to have gotten a Y-DNA specimen from a male Bowes from the QM side, to complicate things her male surname was actually, I think, Lyons. Can anyone explain to me how they managed to rule the ladies out from their hoped for link?

I puzzled over this at the time - played it back and they seemed to be saying that all male Bowes in the area (including the hitherto unknown male cousins of the 2 ladies with the 'claim') had diferent Y-chromosomes  .... hence no common origin for people with the same name ... in the same geography ... it made the de Bretts guy comment that he would revise his opinion about the % probability of common surname having a common ancestor.

I guess they decided that it would be the same for the QM male line ?

Either that or the QM line wouldnt co-operate  ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Wednesday 13 June 07 18:46 BST (UK)
Pity that Sky has moved it. It must not be drawing in the viewing figures they'd hoped for.

There has certainly been a lack of Rootschat posts regarding this series, certainly compared to the BBC "celebs find they came from plebs" show. I did enjoy that show too, for the same reasons, showing genealogy done well. It's just this show appears, by using a presenter and a professional, to be consistently good (my DNA query aside) whether the link is to "Royalty" or Grace Kelly or Elizabeth Bowes Lyon who married into Royalty. Whereas the BBC show could occasionally be a bit disappointing, in my view. Admittedly there were also some gems, that couldn't be faulted.

Why were there more posts? Hopefully it was because more people had access to the BBC, than Sky, and not because it was about TV/Film stars. If so "Heat" magazine might open a genealogy page. Mind you Nick Barratt (of the Sky programme) in the Saturday Telegraph has beaten them to it!

Robin can you ask one of the producer mates to answer my DNA query?

Cheers,

Grothenwell
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Necromancer on Wednesday 13 June 07 18:49 BST (UK)
Rejected mine then ?  :P
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Wednesday 13 June 07 19:06 BST (UK)
Sorry Newfy our posts must have crossed ;)

Good point. I wish they'd explained that bit better. How many Bowes they tested, how many matched each other. Wouldn't it have been weird if they said to some other random Bowes volunteer "well actually you are related to the Queen Mum!" it would have been a bit of a slap in the face for the two ladies but great telly!

There is one person with "Bowes" as a name in the SIT. If I were them I'd see if I could find out if my DNA matched any of the ones tested. I bet all the results have had to be destroyed due to data protection, where I'm sure all the volunteers would have happily be linked to a distant cousin, or else they probably wouldn't have volunteered.

The Queen Mum's mum was a Bowes, so they'd have had to have gone back a fair bit then forward to find a Male Bowes if one still exists, (probably the Debretts chap knew who'd be the correct one to sample). Surely if he did they'd have asked? The Glamis castle Bowes Lyon Lady couldn't have been nicer, perhaps the Bowes line was less so. :(

I'm in danger of losing my chance of a Knighthood I'd better shut up ;D
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: pjbuk007 on Wednesday 13 June 07 19:07 BST (UK)
Many of us do not have Sky, I know 8 million in the UK do, but I suspect that the demographic of family historians tends towards that of non-Sky subscribers.

Hence not so many watch this programme.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Wednesday 13 June 07 21:59 BST (UK)
Hi Robinthered,

I have only  just noticed in your first post that Charles 2nd,s episode is on 2nd July, I would love to see thier connection but I will be on holiday   ::)

They did tell me that they had chosen another link, I expect they  can be proven easier whereas mine is extreamely difficult if not impossible  :(
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Windsor87 on Wednesday 13 June 07 22:52 BST (UK)
Perhaps I should contact the show.

Although my only link can only be 'proven' by the will of John Gordon, John Gordon of Kinellar's son. His 'natural' (not lawful) daughter and only child inherited 20 pounds in his will. She refused it because he had not married her mother because his own mother, the Hon. Henrietta Fraser, did not aprove of the marriage. This was all mentioned in the 'Christian Watt Papers' so I was fairly content when I saw that a Jane Crawford was, indeed, left 20 pounds in the will.

If this evidence is credible enough, I have connections to King James IV of Scotland, King Edward I of England, and King Christian I of Denmark, Norway and Sweden as well has half the Scottish nobilty. They had a tendency to keep it in certain circles. As a result, I'm related to the aforementioned more than once!
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Springbok on Friday 15 June 07 00:10 BST (UK)
I have just seen the programme tonight on Freeview 11(Sky 3)

This family wanted to establish a connection to the Dukes of Marlborough.IE the Spencer's, Churchills and Diana/Prince William.

Whilst  accurate as far as the research back was concerned,there was a leap which Nick took which I found iffy.He said that the 1st Duke had an uncle  William (present Duke had never heard of him)!
Then there was only one missing descendant link. Went to a church to look at old records and that page(on vellum) was illegible.

With modern technology it might be possible to x-ray these records,even if the ink had been washed away, there are still indentations.
They went back to the editor of Debretts who ,obviously, said that without the definite connections they couldn't put in an entry for the family.

I was shocked to hear Nick say that as a genealogist, and an historian he was sure that there was enough evidence that they were connected!!
We try so hard to make sure that all the connections we find are Kosher, and if anything is doubtful,stop until we can verify or reject.Or what is the point in just collecting names?
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Simon G. on Friday 15 June 07 07:47 BST (UK)
I was shocked to hear Nick say that as a genealogist, and an historian he was sure that there was enough evidence that they were connected!!
Well, as a genealogist and an historian I say Nick needs to go back to school and learn what the correct procedure for forming a coherent and accurate historical theory is!  There's no more evidence there to prove the point than there is to prove I'm king of Siam!  Absence of evidence and blindly pretending your theory is accurate does not equate to a researcher being correct, and quite frankly coming out with stupid statements claiming that a clearly dubious theory is written in stone just makes the rest of us look bad.
History is based on hard fact and the interpretation thereof, not hearsay and conjecture.  Where a gap in the records exists, you can't just make it up and pretend it is. ::)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Springbok on Friday 15 June 07 10:33 BST (UK)
Do so agree,
I am just an amateur, depending a great deal on the "hands on" research of ,others.but never accept a doubtful connection unless I can manage to verify the link.

The College of Arms has thoroughly researched Ancestry of our noble families,but this source has not been used that I remember?

They accept a tree to a mere 4 generations back. not so easy as one might think to provide cast iron evidence,which then has to be verified by the College .A very expensive exercise.

The BBC series WDYTYA as the first genealogy Programme  seemed to have been better researched but then they weren't made for Profit!
(And perhaps I wasn't so cynical/critical)!

Spring
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: jillruss on Friday 15 June 07 12:16 BST (UK)
I've suspected for a while that Nick is a bit too ubiquitous and , unfortunately, with that 'fame', might come a bit of  - shall we say 'flexibility' in his approach. Not that I'm accusing him of anything - just observing that the pressures from the programme makers may be overwhelming.

Jill
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Time on Friday 15 June 07 14:29 BST (UK)
The first genealogy programme that I can recall featured Gordon Honeycombe. This was on the BBC. I am sure there were several episodes and I also recall a drowning in a stream near to the church. I think Mr Honeycombe put his own interpretation on the events. Anyone else recall this series?

                           Time
   
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: otters on Friday 15 June 07 14:39 BST (UK)
I do have a connection to the Spencer family.

My 4th cousin 4 times removed married the 3rd cousin 4 times removed from the present Earl of Spencer and both families are linked through Charles Spencer the 3rd Earl of Sunderland 1675-1722. My relations go through one of his son's where as the Earl's go through another of the son's. if that makes sense.

How do you contact these people who make the TV programmes?
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Friday 15 June 07 17:27 BST (UK)
The short answer is you dont .

For this particular series they advertised for people to respond  in the Find MY Past Online Newletter,  so if you are a subscriber,  keep you eyes peeled. ;D

 
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Sunday 17 June 07 21:32 BST (UK)
Quote
With modern technology it might be possible to x-ray these records,even if the ink had been washed away, there are still indentations.

Good point Springbok. I was thinking that they could have taken it to a museum for an expert to look at, or an Picture restorer, to at least get their opinion on whether anything could be salvaged. Perhaps it would have been too costly, but I thought they'd have looked into the possibility. I think Nick Barratt has done really well up until now, but I agree that that apparent leap of faith was hard to justify, certainly on the evidence that came across on the show. Certainly the Debretts chap wasn't having it.

On another point what is the difference between Debretts and Burke's Peerages? Do they both do the same thing, but are competitors?

Grothenwell
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Springbok on Sunday 17 June 07 22:06 BST (UK)
I wasn't  100% sure of the differance but the following explains all

http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-02/moa-03.html


Spring
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Monday 18 June 07 08:06 BST (UK)
Thanks Spring,

That was what I was looking for.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Monday 18 June 07 08:14 BST (UK)
Quote
How do you contact these people who make the TV programmes?
Quote
The short answer is you dont .

Otter,

Patrish appears to be correct. I have emailed both Sky and the Production company to ask if there will be a second series, and I didn't even receive the courtesy of a reply.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Tuesday 19 June 07 18:47 BST (UK)
hi
have had contact from Shine today.
The have confirmed that the rest of the series is being shown on Sky Three on Thursdays, repeated on Sunday on both Sky Three & Sky One.
So we have

George III on 21th June.
Earl of Northumberland on 28th June
Charles II on 5th July

robin
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Elliebob on Friday 22 June 07 10:44 BST (UK)


I was helping a friend trace her family tree, and found a direct (legitimate) line all the way back to Edward I!



Glen

I wondered what had happened to the series but having set the series link on the Sky+ it turned up again on my recording list.

Glen - my s-i-l is descended directly from Edward 1 (21st g-grandfather) , but thro John of Gaunt and Katherine de Roet.  Like you only ag labs, miners and pottery workers in my line!!

Ellen
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Gatacre on Thursday 28 June 07 00:55 BST (UK)
Time

I have the book which was written about the Gordon Honeycombe FH programme..  All the research was checked and ammended by a very respected genealogist

There were excellent research tips in that TV programme and best of all where to stop when you found a similar name but could not prove it to belong to the Honeycombe family.  All this applies to those of us who know we cannot make up or skip a generation
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: pennine on Thursday 28 June 07 02:11 BST (UK)
The point seems to be missing here in my humble opinion, if programme makers want to use your story and they get all the research you have done and they only have to confirm it why aren't they paying you? They get rvenue from the programme being aired and repeated.
Years ago I answered an advert in the newspaper for people on a certain topic. I eventually met the producer who was very very keen to pursue the story but as soon as I mentioned payment they backed off. I got numerous pleading phone calls to air the story but they weren't prepared to pay anything not even expenses, in the end I told them to get lost.

Pennine
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Thursday 28 June 07 13:26 BST (UK)
hi
have had contact from Shine today.
The have confirmed that the rest of the series is being shown on Sky Three on Thursdays, repeated on Sunday on both Sky Three & Sky One.
So we have

George III on 21th June.
Earl of Northumberland on 28th June
Charles II on 5th July

robin

I don't have any details as far forward as the 5th July, but for some reason, Tonight and Sunday, they are showing the last two programmes together ???
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Thursday 28 June 07 13:40 BST (UK)
Quote
The point seems to be missing here in my humble opinion, if programme makers want to use your story and they get all the research you have done and they only have to confirm it why aren't they paying you? They get rvenue from the programme being aired and repeated.

I could be wrong but as far as I can see so far they haven't used much in the way of research done by the families. The family's storieshanded down through generations have been researched by the company makers. So the family get work done for them/ we enjoy (or not) the programme/ the TV get advertising revenue. Except in this case by the look of it they haven't had the viewing figures/advertising revenue to support it being on at a regular channel/time, or a second series? As far as I can see from the likes of Patrish, they aren't too interested if you have already done most of the work. The "good" telly is seeing the link that the family suspect/believe being proved or it seems most cases shattered.

Grothenwell
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Thursday 28 June 07 16:24 BST (UK)
They gave me the impression that they were prepared  pay  but Robinthered would be the best to answer that one  ;)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Old Bristolian on Thursday 28 June 07 16:36 BST (UK)
I missed the Gordon Honeycombe programme (early 1980s?) but I did buy the book & it was that which got me started in genealogy. It was very well organised, tracing Gordon's family back & introducing a new topic (family memories, BMD, Census & PRs) with each generation or so. I still refer to it on occasions, but of course much of the field has been revolutionized by the internet.
One interesting point I remember is that each generation was born further away from the point of origin - Cornwall, Plymouth, Perth & Karachi from memory. A sign of the times no doubt

Steve
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Gatacre on Thursday 28 June 07 17:51 BST (UK)
The Don Steel Book published to accompany the Family History series which featured Gordon Honeycombe was  excellent.  It may be considered old hat by those who have computers but I would not throw out my copy of that particular book.  There are wise words which many do not heed.

I started FH when our elder son emigrated to Canada in 1976 and he phoned asking me to "send me my roots."  Easier said than done.  It is only recently that ,in our 80s, we purchased a computer in order to have groceries brought to the house and I have been amazed at the speed with which one can obtain information but I am not sure one feels quite the same satisfaction as one did a few decades ago.  Is too much expected these days?
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Thursday 28 June 07 19:36 BST (UK)
Hi
We were offered the services of a professional, Nick Barrett, we supplied some documents that were in the family and some photographs, Nick and the research team were given the minimum of information, his job was to prove or disprove the story.
In turn my wife ,my youngest daughter and myself were taken for  two full weeks on an all expenses paid journey and received a very comprehensive folder of documents.
We had access to people, places and experiences which would not have been possible if it had not been for opportunity presented to us
As Patrish said if we had already proved the story then the filming would have been very boring and would have lacked any reaction.
Without giving anything away, at some point in tonight's programme (assuming that they show the scene), when confronted by a certain object the hairs on my neck were standing up, not a reaction you could have got had I known what was about to happen.
Have you ever had  breakfast in Somerset, Lunch in London and Dinner in York??
Even more strange is riding down a road following a car, approaching a roandabout, and not knowing which exit you are taking...............
For the experience we had I think I would have paid them........
Will try to log back on Friday to answer any more question after the program
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Thursday 28 June 07 20:29 BST (UK)
Thats a turn up for me as I would have been away had they shown Charles 2nd's on 5th July  ;D I shall be watching tonight.  :)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Necromancer on Friday 29 June 07 09:07 BST (UK)
Hi RobintR ... enjoyed the programme !

Quote
Even more strange is riding down a road following a car, approaching a roandabout, and not knowing which exit you are taking...............

Have you seen the new Tiger ?
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: patrish on Friday 29 June 07 09:49 BST (UK)
Hi Rob,

Watched your programme with great interest, found it enthralling, how pleased your wife must be and also what a wonderful experience for your daughter.

As for  Charles 2nd, they should have gone with me  ;D my story was much more interesting.

As thiers turned out not to be true, I feel somewhat vindicated  ;D  (if thats the right word)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Friday 29 June 07 21:07 BST (UK)
hi Newfy
Thats one's up for sale
have moved on/up? to a Pan Euro, must be getting old.......
robin
 P.S.
Thay failed to film the Bonny at all.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: linmey on Friday 29 June 07 21:13 BST (UK)
Hi robin,

Sat spellbound through the whole programme. Much better than the others I have seen in the series. A thoroughly satisfying outcome!!

Linda.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Sarndra on Saturday 30 June 07 02:02 BST (UK)

[snip]
I started FH when our elder son emigrated to Canada in 1976 and he phoned asking me to "send me my roots."  Easier said than done.  It is only recently that ,in our 80s, we purchased a computer in order to have groceries brought to the house and I have been amazed at the speed with which one can obtain information but I am not sure one feels quite the same satisfaction as one did a few decades ago.  Is too much expected these days?

I've been doing genealogy for 30 years now and having gone through the process from basic letter contact and traipsing to family history centres, leading up to the computerised world, I can say IMO that the thrills and satisfactions throughout the years are the same, especially when i have live distant relatives the world over contact me through my website which reaches a far larger proportion of the population :-), let alone the instant receiving of photos etc.  Yes 'snail mail' was thrilling, but to be able to access sources online and instantly is truly awesome to!

Sarndra
www.sarndra.com
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Necromancer on Saturday 30 June 07 10:06 BST (UK)

Quote
have moved on/up? to a Pan Euro, must be getting old.......
robin
P.S. Thay failed to film the Bonny at all.


Phew, thought you were going to say BMW for a minute there !  ;)

Shame they missed the Bonnie - Hinckley or Meriden ?

I've got a Triton (6T engine, w/l featherbed), Goldie and a 2003 SpeedTriple - still fairly active ... anyway, musnt hijack this thread.

Really pleased for your family to have had this great opportunity and a great result.

 8)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Grothenwell on Monday 02 July 07 14:36 BST (UK)
Ah missed one and it had to be Robin's and the best so far, by the sound of it! :-\

If you hear it will be repeated please post and let me know, thanks

Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: jillruss on Thursday 05 July 07 15:11 BST (UK)
Has this programme finished now?

I've lost it again!  ::)

It moved from Sky 1 to Sky 3 - but it's not there any more! Where is it?

Jill
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Monday 05 January 09 19:39 GMT (UK)
Hi
For anybody still interested the series is being repeated on Sky 3 at 8.00pm starting tonight Monday 5th Jan 2009. If repeated in the same order I am in the last one in 6 wks time
robin
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: XPhile2868 on Monday 05 January 09 22:54 GMT (UK)
I've found branches of my family tree which, if they were accurate, would make me a direct descendant of the Kings of France and Scotland, although around 80% of anyone who lived in Europe before 1400 are likely to be everyone's ancestors, it's just a matter of how related you are. I'm also directly descended from a couple of William the Conqueror's children, and members of the current British royal family are distant cousins. Most of these royal conenctions seem to be via the Houghton family, whose descendants and cousins include famous people such as Kiefer Sutherland (21st cousin 2 times removed), Eliza Dushku (30th cousin) and Kurt Cobain (30th cousin 1 time removed) and numerous US Presidents such as Barack Obama (23rd cousin 1 time removed), Abraham Lincoln (17th cousin 6 times removed) and George Washington (24th cousin 6 times removed).


Stephen :)
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: Simon G. on Monday 02 February 09 08:03 GMT (UK)
I caught a repeat of the Queen Mum episode of this last night, and spent the hour shouting at the TV in frustration...I was amazed at the number of lines of enquiry that I, and no doubt every other researcher here, would have followed that were just blind ignored in favour of trying to shoehorn things together.  It was beyond frustrating, and in my opinion this kind of "research" gives people the wrong impression of how to do things...it appeared that they had a theory, and instead of trying to follow an dedicated method of research they just went "oooo, we have a story...lets get this and that and hammer them together to prove a point".
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Monday 02 February 09 15:55 GMT (UK)
hi
If anything it may serve to "educate" people in how to do things properly.
The people involved were so convinced that their connection was true, despite all the evidence.
If you accept that the child played with the the young princess it also proves how "Family Stories" can get altered and corrupted when passed down thru generations.
Title: Re: So You Think You are Royal
Post by: robinthered on Thursday 20 August 09 22:10 BST (UK)
The Earl of Northumberland episode is being repeated on Sky 3 at 7.00pm Saturday 22nd August 2009