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King Hywel, Nesta and Henry I

Corresponding with Gareth Howell in England who reminded me about Nesta who is descendant of Hywel Dda “The Good” King of Deheubarth (Wales). Gareth writes:

Many of the early Cambro-Norman invaders were related, as indicated in the descendant chart of Nesta, a Welsh princess. Nesta was known as one of the most beautiful women in Wales. Her father was Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr, Prince of South Wales (1081-1093) She had children from (at least) three relationships: Stephen the Castellan (of Cardigan), Gerald FitzWalter (of Windsor) and Henry I (King of England)

 

We have not (yet) established a connection between our Howell who appear in Virginia in the 1500’s and King Hywel. We have however previously established a connection to Nesta’s husband, Henry I (Beauclerc) via his marriage to Matilda Editha Caenmoor of Scotland.  Their descendants are documented in the well researched Clopton genealogy. (Howell -> Heard -> Perrin -> Clopton -> Waldergrave -> Drury -> Calthorpe -> Stapleton -> de la Pole -> Stafford -> de Audley -> de Clare -> Plantagenet -> de Castile -> Plantagenet -> Beauclerc).

Descendancy for Henry I Beauclerc, of England: John and Susan Howell’s Family History Pages.

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Why we are all cousins

Danish genealogist Jacob Holdt has an interesting site that traces the roots of his family an almost unbelievable number of ancient people.

“Hitchhiking with my son, Daniel, to see Acropolis – built by Pericles – his 2nd cousin 82 times removed . Since then he has on his own hitchhiked all the way from Denmark to China to see the Great Wall which his 79th great-grandfather caused to be built.

Note: None of these relationships carry any genetic significance since we almost all descend from these famous people as I show here…”

These links show some of our trees that extend furthest back in time (wide charts – scroll horizontally):
Charlemagne 742 – 814
Gabhran Macdomangairt (500 – 599)