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« on: Sunday 22 March 15 20:49 GMT (UK) »
I have just found this thread regarding my story which appeared in a newspaper approximately three years ago now, and in particular the reference implying that my research was inaccurate regarding William of Orange, and my relationship to him. I totally understand the cynicism and I can confirm that this is not the information I provided to the journalist. My interview was carried out via telephone, and there was a lot of information for the journalist to record. Unfortunately he confused the information I provided and the spin off from this was a lot of negative comments regarding my integrity in researching my family history. May I just set the record straight regarding this. I did not provide any false information regarding my story. I do have strong ancestral connections with royalty and my story did begin with my Great Grandmother Madeline Constance Browne who did live in a little terrace house in Belfast, and William of Orange is in my Family Tree, as a cousin, not as a grandparent. I also told the journalist how my father started the research back in the 1970's via the Dublin Records Office, ploughing through very dusty records with a jotter and a pencil. It took many tedious hours before he found Nicholas Clinton Browne's name. I did not like the tone of some of the comments regarding my story. I have been in touch with the Newspaper and made them aware of the negative feedback due to the journalist's misunderstanding and not through any fault of my own. I am not in the business of providing any misleading information and at the time, I did post a reply to the newspaper online comments stating the following -
"The Mary Stuart and William referred to as Gt. Grandparents in the article, are Mary Stuart and William Sarsfield, brother of Major General Patrick Sarsfield ( 9XGrand Uncle), of Wild Geese fame. William of Orange is a first cousin 11 times removed, he was son of Princess Mary Henrietta Stuart and William ll von Nassau Dillenburg. Princess Mary Henrietta Stuart was the daughter of Charles 1 Stuart, and Henriette de Bourbon ( 11XGt. Grandparents)".
I do have a very fascinating family history, none of which is fabricated, as is implied in some comments here. I am certain that no one intended to mislead. It was a simple error.