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The English Royal Connection
Jean
Hendrie was christened 30 Oct 1696
to Alexander Hendrie and his wife Jean Robertson in the Parish of Drumoak,
Aberdeen, Scotland. These records1 establish that William Dugud married Jean
Hendrie:
27 Oct 1716, William Dugud, law full son to William Diuguid, farmer in Aberdeen and Jean Hendrie, Law full daughter to Patrick Hendrie, farmer in Old Macher Parish, being contracted and cautioner for the man, Alexander Watson, merchant, and for the woman, George Hendrie, taylor, paid two pound Scots foresaid.
No marriage record for Alexander Hendrie (Hendry | Henrie | Henry) and Jean Robertson could be found in the Old Parochial Records of Scotland, though the marriage seems to be well accepted by contemporary researchers as fact. It is also usually accepted that Alexander and Jean had at least two children: John Henry and Patrick Henry. (The first had a well-known son, the American revolutionary statesman and later five-term govenor of Virginia, Patrick Henry.)
Part of the supporting evidence for adding Jean as a child is the following letter, written to the American statesman Patrick Henry by Margaret Donald from Scotland, as published in the Virginia Historical Quarterly Magazine, Vol. 33, page 44 (original spelling preserved):
Dear Cousin
Aberdeen 13 April 1790
Allow me to put you in mind that I am still numbered amongst the living-and would be very happy to hear of you and your whole family. I have wrot your sister Mrs. Meredith sevral times, fear my letters never reached her. I had the pleasure to receive one from her and one from your worthy mother before her death your sister wrote me on that mealencoly occasion of the death of your Bro who I sincerly regret,--your cousin David Henry is still living he is often desiring me to send the history of your relations in Scotland which I have done again and again as far as I know, as we are at such distance I might not make him understand me that and his ill health prevents him from writing you. your grand father's name was Alex Henry he married a Jean Robertson whos Brother came to Virginia and was living when my Br Wm Duigiud was with your father. Jean Robertson had two sons your father and the Parson of hanover Three daughters who are dead long ago there is children living witness the two Mrs Milns and my selfe to task. the rest is out of my knowledge as I am a stranger at home. My mothers name was Jean Henry.
David Henry's father was your Grand father's uncle. my mother your Aunt; all this I believe you know but my cousin seems desirous you should know again Sir I hop in return you will send me word how all is with you espisaly those I had the pleasure to know first My Dear friend Mrs Merideth and her family next Miss Bettsy Henry and so and if you think Mr Buchannan will & can send me and my sister the hundred pounds George Donald left us fairly did he promise it should be the first paid with interest when his lands was sold I have been at some expense sending powers for my sister and selfe but since they were sent had no notice of their coming or that I was to be minded at all Mr Oglvie who was in virginia at my Brothers death desired me to apply to his Brother Mr. Barret and he would do every thing in his power to him I sent the powers never heard from either it would be kind of you Sir to make some inquiry and let me know if we are to get it or not indeed it would be very seasonable sent now boath to my sister and my selfe. with a heart full of good wishes to you and all your Relations over seas,
I am with esteem
Dear Sir your affectionate cousin
Marg't Donald
P S You might either send my letter to London or Glasgow as we have a post goes twice a week betweenst that and Aberdeen.
To Margaret Donald
Mairchale Street
Aberdeen
The writer is the daughter of Jean Henry's second marriage to Alexander Donald, which would make her first cousin to Patrick Henry. She refers to "my Br Wm Duigiud". He would of course only be a half-brother. Some sources say that Jean Henry's son, William Diuguid, stayed with the Patrick Henry family upon first arriving in the colonies. For this we can find no proof.
It is well accepted within the Diuguid clan that Jean is the daughter of Alexander Hendrie and Jean Robertson. We are striving to find the proof of this, and if it is borne out to be true, then Jean Henry, our seventh-great-grandmother, was related to Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, and Edward the Longshanks, King of England. Her eighth-great-grandfather, Lord William Chrichton, married Margaret (Cecilia) of the House Stewart. She was the daughter of James "Fiery Face" Stewart II, King of Scotland. Four generations before Margaret, Walter The Steward, Lord High Steward of Scotland, had married Marjorie Bruce, Princess of Scotland and daughter of Robert the Bruce I, King of Scotland. Robert the Bruce is our 21st great-grandfather.
Robert the Bruce I King of Scotland and Edward Plantagenet II King of England, arch enemies in their time, are related through numerous familial relationships. They are mostly closely related as fifth cousins, once removed. Their common ancestors are Henry Beauclerc I, King of England and Eadgyth (Matilda) Atheling, Princess of Scotland. Robert the Bruce is depicted in the movie Braveheart as the nobleman who betrays Wiliam Wallace. Robert the Bruce ends up accepting William Wallace's cause as his own and nine years after Wallace's death, liberates Scotland from England.
Through Jean Henry we can trace our lineage back to these royal lines and thence downward through Queen Victoria to today's House of Windsor. Prince William and Prince Henry, the sons of Princess Diana and Prince Charles Windsor, are 18th cousins of the webmaster. So far we have not received an invitation to visit.
If you find your family is related to European royalty, we recommend a great resource available at Camelot International. This international travel firm has, as a public service, made the European royal genealogy available online, including brief biographies of most individuals. (Caution: The ROYAL92.GED Gedcom file offered on the latter web site is riddled with duplications and bad information. Screen it thoroughly before you consider importing any portion of the data in your database.)