A New Beginning

The Tudor era ended 1603 with the death of Elizabeth I.  A new beginning it was with the Stuarts.  The Welsh line of descent was replaced with a Scottish line of descent, and a new millennium was turning its page in history. 

A Scottish king [James VI] was to become an English king [James I].  This historical context is discussed in the book by David Harris Willson, my copy of the paperback shown above.  First published in 1956, it was republished as an Oxford University paperback in 1967.  It contains 22 chapters [only 464 pages] as it interweaves the story of transition during this new millennium.  Context, context, and more context is presented.  Religious, political, and social issues are at a new beginning.

For those whose ancestors first came to the colonies [Virginia and Plymouth Companies and all that] it was certainly a new beginning for them.  This book is a foundation.

Twilight Lords

From family to clans and chieftains, to tribal and feudal relationships, to regional and hereditary conflicts,  all were involved in the period surrounding Elizabeth I.  For those of us from Welsh descent, understanding these issues often help climb further out that family tree during this difficult period.  These issues are discussed in a very readable text called "The Twilight Lords".

It is presented as "An Irish Chronicle".  Many of Welsh descent filtered through the pages of this history representing both sides of the story. [Catholic vs Protestant, and English vs Irish]  Written by Richard Berleth, it presents the story of the destructive wars between England and Ireland between 1579 to 1601.  Maps and genealogies are many.  Published 1978 by Barnes & Noble, Inc. NY, it provides insights into the conflicts and families. 

For the genealogist, the historical context is a vital part of our ancestors existence.  Understanding this context will often break through those brick walls.  Throw in Ireland, and you have a deep well in which to draw.  This book provides one bucket. 

Elizabethan Age

Various political, social, and religious issues faced our ancestors.  These were often dramatically different than anything that we [our generation] have faced.  For my own family, growing up Protestant, Republican, and bleeding "blue" [Go Big Blue] in the Bluegrass of Kentucky, only to find out that my ancestors were Catholic, Monarchist, and literally bled their own blood, was a surprise. 

The Tudor family [Welsh] brought my Y-chromosome to the eastern side of Offa's Dyke.  Trying to understand this migration presented a number of brick walls.  The book by Norman Jones [cover shown above] provided many insights to this period of my family tree.  A focus on the issues that consumed the lives of my ancestors are given around the 1560's England.  Family values and making a living are presented.  How one did this as a Catholic family from Wales took some time to sort through.  What a deal.  A good read for those who share the same family tree branches.

"The Birth of the Elizabethan Age England In The 1560's" by Norman Jones [A good Welsh surname!] First published 1993, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., Cambridge, MA.

Power and Profit

The historical dynamics that surrounded our ancestors affected their daily lives.  It was often these influences that directed the family tree to branch out new ways, or keep the same course.  Very frequently "power" and "profit" would lead the way.

The dynamics of trade and the social changes this produced is presented by the text shown above.  Written by Peter Spufford, and published by Thames & Hudson in 2002, it is a study into the development and growth of "The Merchant".  It is a broad discussion involving central Europe.  The flow of raw materials to expensive manufactured goods is presented.  Lots of pictures and tables, the book gives a visual as well as a detailed story. 

The wool trade to cloth, is the main interest in my own tree climbing.  Wales through this time period had something to do with English cloth.  Start at the beginning of the book and enjoy... if you dare to understand where our present entrepreneurial world had its origins.  Perhaps it might help understand some of your own family tree branches.  It did mine.

The Tudor Age

For more than a century, 1485 - 1603, the Tudor family reigned on the throne of England.  It certainly was "The Tudor Age".  Welsh connections to the first Henry Tudor places many of Welsh descent on some of the family tree branches.  Such is my own family. 

Understanding this time in an ancestor's life helps place the factors that played a dominate role in their existence.   Shirts, hats, hose, and all kinds of items are discussed in the book by Jasper Ridley titled:
"A Brief History of The Tudor Age". 

Some 344 pages [which some may not consider brief], present topics ranging from "The Tudor Family"...to..."Heretics and Traitors"...to..."The Houses", "Costume and Fashion", "Furniture and Food"...to..."Ships and Voyages"...and all kind of religious, political, and social stuff.  Some of my family would fall under "Heretics and Traitors", but hey, genealogy sets the historical records straight.

The book was first published by Constable and Co. Ltd, in 1998.  This paperback is published as "First Carroll & Graf edition, 2002".  A fun read for those who like to color their family history pages.

The Armada 1588

Roughly two years after the trial and death of Mary Queen of Scots [Babington's Plot included], the religious conflicts of the day came to a head.  The Spanish nation [representing the Catholic faith], thought the world should be one faith.  Those English, under the Tudors, had been a thorn in the side of all those who held the true religion.  The wealth of the new world was cashed in to form one of the most impressive military forces of the day.  The Spanish Armada it came to be called.

The book by Garrett Mattingly reviews this period of history between February 1587 to December 1588.  An invasion of England is planned which will provide unity and peace to the world.  An account is presented among the pages.  [Published 1959 by The Riverside Press Cambridge, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston ]  Of course, the English would have something to say about all this.

An account is also given from contemporary documents selected and edited by Stephen Usherwood.  "The Great Enterprise, The History of the Spanish Armada" it is called.  Primary documents are presented beginning with a letter from Edwin Sandys, Bishop of London, to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, 1572, and ending with a letter from Captain Francisco de Cuellar, to a friend in Spain, dated 24 September/4 October 1589.

A medal struck to commemorate the English victory over the Armada is shown on the cover of this book. [Not sure if front or back]

It is difficult to see, but it depicts the battle of Gravelines with a large number of ships involved.  If you enjoy primary documents [like me], this book is for you.  First published 1978, by The Folio Society, London.

The Trial

Religion and politics had much to do with the life of Mary Stuart.  Understanding this context and the people involved in the conflicts of the day, will help the genealogist to explore the family tree.  Such is the case in my own family tree climbing.  The trail of "Mary Queen of Scots" is one event in this period of my family.

Primary documents are the principal source of information.  The book by Jayne Elizabeth Lewis provides such source.  Published 1999 by Bedford/St. Martin's, Boston, it gives many of the records of this trial.  [The trail of course leading to the execution of poor Mary.]  Babington's plot played a major role in this story.  Sorting through my own family's involvement was a major genealogical undertaking.  Books like the one shown helped.