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Issue 141 – March 2018
HAPPY FAMILIES By Stephen Guy, West Derby Society
EDWARD III, who reigned from 1327 to 1377, can be described as the Father of the Nation – virtually all English people are believed to be descended from him. His 50-year rule saw great advances and he is recognised as one of our greatest monarchs. Edward was a skilled fighter with successes on both land and sea. He won a spectacular victory against the French at Crécy and the naval Battle of Sluys gave England control of the Channel. Parliament became more powerful and English replaced French as the language of the law courts. Geoffrey Chaucer’s poems are regarded as early English masterpieces. Edward’s reign started with uncertainty when he was virtually held captive by Roger Mortimer, a powerful baron, in Nottingham Castle. Edward’s supporters entered the fortress along a secret passage and captured Mortimer, who was executed. The young king heralded a colourful reign with great tournaments and other extravaganzas. Edward loved colourful costumes and magnificent display. He spent fortunes on outfits and all manner of precious objects. His reign was sadly marred by the Black Death when bubonic plague wiped out a third of England’s population in 1348 -50. Several of Edward’s children are
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Win tickets to The Salon at The Epstein Theatre
page 9
Strange Tales by Anton Valdemart
page 6
thought to have died from the disease. Edward was a loyal husband and he and wife Philippa had 12 children, the most famous being Edward the Black Prince (named after either his armour or his foul temper) and John of Gaunt. Researchers believe that more than 99% of English people are descended from Edward III. By 1600 almost the entire English gentry were his offspring. By 1900 hundreds of thousands could trace their descent from Edward.
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This may seem a regal game of Happy Families but most people cannot directly trace their ancestry to royalty because records are scarce. Families become dispersed and contact lost even within a few generations. A worldwide search was carried out when Hugh Molyneux, 7th Earl of Sefton (pictured), died in 1972. No relative could be found to inherit the title. However, a claimant may one day turn up. When Edward Earl of Devon died in 1556 the title remained unclaimed for nearly 300 years. In 1831 the House of Lords recognised William Courtenay as the Earl of Devon after studying his claim going back many generations. n Join the West Derby Society at its next meeting 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 21 at Lowlands, 13 Haymans Green, Liverpool L12 7JG.
An interview with Tom Cotcher
page 10
Car review – Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian
page 15
Games page
page 14
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Don’t forget – the clocks go forward on Sunday, March 25th.