Langton Lineage
The connection from the Langton's to the Hungerford's.
(Dawn Collins - 28 Feb 2010)
Being fairly new to genealogy, I didn't have too many great expectations when beginning my family tree research but like many others, I soon became enthralled with the information unfolding before me.
Much of the following information has been gleaned, with much gratitude, from other like-minded researchers and I still view some of it as "very probable but un-confirmed". It would be great to have everything documented as unassailable facts but I personally enjoy the element of maybe that creeps into the fact-finding mission.
One of my maternal lines of ancestors led me to the Langton's of Berkshire. My 3 x great grandmother was Martha Langton (b.1821 Newbury), the daughter of Thomas Langton & Mary Mason - Thomas (c.1795), the son of John Langton & Mary Stroud - John (1754), in turn being the son of Joseph Langton (1722) & Rachel Smith (1726). This marriage, in 1745, is the starting point for the royal connection.
Rachel Smith was the daughter of John Smith and Ann Walter (c.1698 Thatcham), who were married in 1723.
Ann Walter was the daughter of Francis Walter and Susannah Little, married in 1686.
Susannah Little (c.1663) was the daughter of James Little and Ann Goodwin, both of Newbury. It is worth noting that Goodwin may be noted as Godwin in some cases.
Ann Goodwin was the daughter of John Goodwin and Mary Norris and in turn, John was the son of William Goodwin and Joan Cox.
The Cox connection to the John and Frances West family group has been well documented on many websites. The parents of Joan were Gabriel Cox and Mary Choke, who had at least 9 other children. One of the daughters was called Jane and the two similar names have been the cause of some confusion, however a pedigree chart from the West family group shows Jane as marrying a Richard Bannister and Joan marrying William Goodwin.
Those who insist on having everything written in stone may now feel that the link to royalty is tenuous to say the least but I feel that the pedigree chart is as good a form of documentation as many other types. Once we trace back beyond a certain time, we are all subject to changes in spellings, different recorded dates and an understanding that all may not be without the odd flaw. My personal feeling is that half the pleasure from genealogy comes from wondering what may be possible!
Gabriel Cox (c.1575) was a mayor of Newbury and information about him can be found on various websites but it is his wife, Mary Choke who continues the trail back. Mary was the daughter of Richard Choke (c.1540 Avington) and Susan Hungerford (c.1550 Down Ampney, Gloucs.). Susan was the daughter of Sir John Hungerford (c.1513 - 1580) and Bridget (Margaret) Fettiplace (Lyfford) and it is from these two that a trail can be found back to royal blood.
For those interested in doing so, a simple web search on either name will bring many results. One site laden with information is www.tudorplace.com but this is merely a recommendation to view and not an endorsement. As with all information we gather, it is up to the individual to decide the strength of it. I personally, was amused by the royal connection and find it an interesting sideline to an ongoing project. When asked to write something on this connection, I didn't want to claim that I had done this all by myself. As previously mentioned, I was dependant on many other fellow amateur genealogists and a great many websites.
The Family Search.org site has been used for its IGI information, along with the west.group.org site. I am also grateful for the contact from Melvyn & Mary Chown, Richard Giles, Lynda Watts and of course, Joel Langton all of whom have helped me put together the details. I didn't want to give all the information away in one fell swoop but would like to encourage those interested in searching for themselves and hopefully gaining the same enjoyment as I did when starting the trail back to royalty.
The connection from the Lincolnshire Langton's to King Edward and King Richard.
Joel Langton - 07 April 2010
George Langton, lord of Langton-by-Partney/Splisby married Mary Tyndale.
Mary's Father was Thomas Tyndale, who in turn was the third son of Thomas Tyndale Sr.
Thomas Tyndale Sr's wife was Dorothy, the only daughter of William Stanford of Thornbury, Glocestershire.
The Father of William Standford of Thornbury was William Staford of Grafton, whose wife was Dorothy.
Dorothy's Father was Henry, the 10th Baron of Stafford, whose wife was Ursula.
Ursula's Father was Richard Pole, and her mother was The countess Margaret of Sailsbury. As a side note, Ursula's Brother Reginald was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Almost their!...
The Countesses Father was Duke George Platagenet of Clarence (21 October 1449 – 18 February 1478), the Brother of King Edward IV and Richard III, and great grandson of King Edward III.
Interestingly King George IV was well known to have been an illegitimate son, and looked nothing like his Father. It was in fact George Platagenet of Clarence who was the rightfull heir.
Duke George supported his Brothers claim to the crown at first, but later wanted to be King himself, he married Richard, 16th Earl of Warwicks daughter Isabel, and plotted with Richard's son the 17th Earl of Warwick against his Brother the King, but when the plot failed, Richard the Earl of Warwick's son, died in battle, he was restored to the Royal family by his Brother the King. He became Earl of Warwick, but his other Brother Richard completely screwed him over by marrying the widdow of the dead Earl of Warwick, becoming himself a claimant of the Warwick estate. George was pissed about this, make no mistake.
George, made the mistake of plotting against his brother Edward IV again, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Put on trail for treason, his guilty conviction followed and he was privately executed at the Tower on 18 February 1478. Tradition is that he was drowned in a barell of Malmsey wine, perhaps true or based on his reputation as a heavy drinker. A body, believed to be that of Clarence was later exhumed, he had not been beheaded which would have been the norm for a noble. This idea is made further famous by Shakespear, who in his play 'Richard III' has him drowning in a vat of Malmsey wine.
div>