And so it starts. The epic disagreement will finally be settled.*

Our family and many other Hussey family members in the US have believed for quite some time that Bathsheba Hussey’s grandfather Christopher is a descendant of Royalty. Bathsheba is the Daughter-in-Law of Phillip Babb of the Isles of Shoals having married his son Thomas (1-2).

But the Hussey’s of England disagree and shun any connection between the two families.

All the pieces of the paper trail fit into place save one. We have no Rosetta Stone to make that final connection and must rely on DNA to prove/disprove our assumptions. For ages I believed it was impossible to determine this relationship because Bathsheba doesn’t have Y-DNA, which is only present on the 23rd Chromosome carried by males.

An enterprising member of our group realized that there was an option to move up the tree 1-2 generations and test a male descendant of Christopher Hussey in an attempt to prove this connection and that is exactly what we are doing.

The DNA kit is being mailed to our candidate as I write this post. It will likely be more than a month before we have the results and even then the answer may not be readily available. Our results will depend on the availability of results from other Hussey Descendants on both sides of the pond.

What we seek is a connection to other Hussey family members who track back to Christopher Hussey in the US and others who trace their ancestry at least one generation further to John Hussey or his male ancestors.

DNA can be fickle and there are a number of possibilities that could spoil our results. Any form of Non-Paternal Event (aka Daddy was the milk man) on either tree would give us a false negative. So, depending on the matches we receive the result may not be clear and we might have to wait for more candidates to test to get a clear result.

* In our minds at least.

What’s at stake

If we are right in our assumptions, Bathsheba descends from the following people. The list is laden with Kings and Queens, Dukes and Knights. Nothing less than William the Conqueror, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. It dates all the way back to 149 AD (Not a typo).

If we are wrong we will need to begin again and it will force us to change how we think about our history. So, the stakes are high. Regardless of what the DNA says, one thing is certain. Things will never be the same again.

Bathsheba’s Ancestry as we Believe it to be

John Hussey

Christopher Hussey

George Hussey

Thomas Hussey Also Known As: George

Giles Hussey

John de Hussey Also Known As: 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford

William Hussey

Lumley

Elizabeth Neffield

Neffield Also Known As: Nesfield

Elizabeth Berkeley

Thomas Berkeley IV

Lawrence Berkeley

III John Also Known As: of Berkeley

II John Also Known As: of Berkeley

John I Also Known As: John Berkeley of Wymondham, Leicestershire

Thomas III Also Known As: Thomas De Berkeley

Thomas Berkeley Also Known As: 1st Baron Berkeley

Maurice Berkeley

Thomas I Also Known As: 4th feudal Baron Berkeley

Joan de Somery

Isabel Fitzroy

Richard Fitzroy Also Known As: Baron of Chilham

I John Also Known As: King of England

Henry II Also Known As: King of England

Geoffrey V Also Known As: Count of Anjou

Foulques V Also Known As: King of Jerusalem

Foulques IV Also Known As: Rechin (The bad tempered)

Geoffrey II Also Known As: Ferreol, Also Known As: Count of Gâtinais

Hugues du Perche

Fulcuich Also Known As: Count of Mortagne

Rotrou Also Known As: Seigneur de Nogent

Ermengarde Also Known As: d’Anjou, Also Known As: Duchess of Burgundy

Bertrade de Montfort Also Known As: de Montfort-l’Amaury

Simon de Montfort I Also Known As: Seigneur de Montfort-l’Amauri

Amaury I of Montfort

Bertrade de Gometz

Agnes Also Known As: Maud

Eremburge Also Known As: Countess of Maine

I Helie Also Known As: de la Fleche

Jean

Paule Also Known As: du Maine

Matilda

Gervais

Eremburge

I Henry Also Known As: King of England; “Beauclerc”

I William Also Known As: William The Conqueror

Robert Also Known As: Duke of Normandy; The Devil

II Richard Also Known As: Duke of Normandy; The Good

I Richard Also Known As: Duke of Normandy; The Fearless, Also Known As: Richard de Normandie I

William I Also Known As: Longsword

Rollo

Rognvald Eysteinsson Also Known As: The Wise

Eystein Ivarsson Also Known As: Jarl

Aseda Rognvaldsdotter

Rognvald Olafsson

Olaf II Gudrodsson

Gudrod Halfdansson Also Known As: Mikilatti

Haldan Olafsson Also Known As: Huitbein

Olaf Ingjaldson Also Known As: Trekalia

Ingjald Braught Onundsson Also Known As: Ill-Ruler

Braught-Onund Ingvarsson

Ingvar Eysteinsson

Eystein Adilsson

Adils Ottarsson

Yrsa Helgasdotter

Olaf Also Known As: The Mighty

Helgi Halfdansdotter

Halfdan Frodasson

Frodi Fridleifsson

Fridlief Frodasson

Frjodi Olafsson

Olaf Vermundsson

Vermund Frodasson

Frodi Havarsson

Havar Fridleifsson

Fridleif Frodasson

Fridleif Skjoldsson

Skjold

Dampi

Sigris

Gauthild

Algout Gautreksson

Solveig Halfstansdotter

Asa Eysteinsdotter

Asa

Harold Ridskeg

Rognvald Hildir Hrolfsdotter Also Known As: The Mighty

Hrolf

Poppa Also Known As: Papie of Bayeux

Sprota Bretagne

Gunnor Crepon

Herbastus Crepon Also Known As: De Crepon

Judith Tort Also Known As: de Bretagne

I Conon Also Known As: Duc de Bratagne

Judicael Berengar

Berengar II Also Known As: Berengar II of Nuestria

Berengar

<No name> Also Known As: de Bretagne

Gurvand

Gerberge

Ermengarde d’Anjou

I Geoffrey

II Foulques

I Foulques

Roselle Also Known As: de Loche

Gerberge Also Known As: de Tours

Adelais Also Known As: de Vermandois

Robert Also Known As: de Vermandois

Herbert II Also Known As: Count of Vermandois

Herbert I Also Known As: Count of Vermandois

Pepin Also Known As: Count of Vermandois

Bernard of Italy

Pepin Also Known As: King of Italy

Emperor of the West Charlemagne

III Pepin Also Known As: Pepin The Short

Charles Martel

II Pepin Also Known As: Pepin of Herstal

Ansegisel

Arnulf of Metz Also Known As: Saint Arnulf of Metz

Bodegisel

Mummolin

Munderic

Cloderic Also Known As: The Parricide (Killed his father)

Siegbert Also Known As: Siegbert the Lame

Childebert

Clovis

<No name>

I McRovacus

St Clothilda

Chilperic

Arthemia

Dode

Begga

Alpaida

Rotrude of Hesbaye

Bertrada of Laon

Charibert of Laon

Bertrada of Prüm

Hildegard of the Vinzgau

Gerold of Vinzgau

Emma

Bertha

Adela Also Known As: of Neustria

Adelheid de Bourgogne Also Known As: Wera

Giselbert Also Known As: count of Chalon sur Saone

Ermengard Also Known As: de Autun

Herleva

Fulbert de Falaise

Doda of Falaise

Matilda of Flanders Also Known As: Queen of England

Baldwin V Also Known As: Count of Flanders

Baldwin IV

Arnulf II

Baldwin III

I Arnulf

Baldwin II

Baldwin I

Judith of France

II Charles Also Known As: King of France, “The Bald King”; Emperor of West

I Louis Also Known As: Emperor of the West; “The Pious”

Judith

Ermentrude Also Known As: Ermentrude of Orléans

Odo Also Known As: Count of Orléans

Adrian Also Known As: Count of Orléans

Engeltrude de Fézensac Also Known As: Countess of Orléans

I Leuthard Also Known As: Leuthard I of Paris

Grimhilda

Ælfthryth

Alfred the Great

Æthelwulf

Osburh

Oslac

Aethelwulf Also Known As: King of England

Egbert Also Known As: King of England

Ealhmund

Eafa

Eoppa

Ingild

Conred

Ceowald

Cutha

Cuthvine

Ceawlin

Cynric

Cedric

Raedburh

Oslac the Thane

Alix

Rossala of Ivrea

Octavia

Adelaide de France Also Known As: Adele

Matilda Also Known As: Queen of Scotland

III Malcolm Also Known As: King of Scots, Also Known As: Canmore

Duncan Also Known As: The Gracious

Crinan Also Known As: of Athollm, Moramer and Dunkeld

Duncan Also Known As: Lord Moramaer of the Isles

Duncan

Bethoc MacKenneth of Scotland

II Malcolm

II Kenneth Also Known As: King of Scotland

I Malcolm Also Known As: King of Scotland

II Donald

I Constantine

Kenneth Macalpin Also Known As: Kenneth I

Alpin

IV Eochaid Also Known As: The Poisonous

Aed Find Also Known As: The Fair

II Eochaid

II Domangart

Domnall Brecc

Eochaid Buide

Aedan

Gabhran

Domangart

Fergus

Erc

Eochaid

Angus

Romaich Also Known As: Romak

Thrinklind

Fionn Feicce

Athirco Also Known As: Achir Cirre

Corbred

Conaire

Moglama

Saraid

Conn Also Known As: of the Hundred Battles

Fedlimid Also Known As: The Lawgiver

Sibylla Bearsson

Margaret Also Known As: of Wessex

Edward Also Known As: The Aethling

Edmund II Also Known As: The Ironside

Aethelred II Also Known As: The Redless King of England

Edgar Also Known As: The Peaceful

I Edmund

Edward

Ealhswith

AEthelred the Great Ealdorman of the Ga Mucil

Eadburga

Wigmund

Elfleda

Ceowulf Also Known As: King of England

Edgiva

Sigehelm

Elgiva Also Known As: Algifu

Elfrida

Ordgar

Elgiva Also Known As: Alfflaed

Thored

Edith

Agatha

Eleanor of Aquitaine Also Known As: Queen of England

VIII Guillaume Also Known As: Duke of Aquitaine & Guyenne

VII Guillaume Also Known As: Duke of Aquitaine

VI Guillaume

III Guillaume

Agnes Also Known As: de Bourgogne

Hildegarde Also Known As: de Bourgogne

I Robert

Philippa Mathilde

IV Guillaume

II Pons Also Known As: Guillaume

Almodis

Emma Also Known As: de Mortain

Robert Also Known As: also Earl of Cornwall

Mathilde Also Known As: de Montgommery

Aenor de Chatellerault

Aimery I Also Known As: Viscount of Châtellerault

II Boson

I Hughes

Gerberge Also Known As: de La Rochefoucauld

Alienor Also Known As: de Thouars

Aimery IV Also Known As: Viscount of Thoars

Arengarde Also Known As: de Mauleon

Maubergeon de L’lsle-Bouchard Also Known As: Dangereuse de l’Isle Bouchard, Also Known As: de L’lsle-Bouchard

Barthelemy Also Known As: de L’lsle-Bouchard

Archambaud Also Known As: dit Borel, Seigneur de L’isle-Bouchard

Agnes Also Known As: de L’lsle-Bouchard

Rohese Rhosia Dover

Fulbert De Dover Doure

Isabel de Briwere

Joan Ferrers Also Known As: De Ferrers

Isabel Hamelin

John Hamelin

Matilda Erdington

Isabel Burdet

Robert Burdet Also Known As: Sir Robert Burdet

Hugh Burdet

Robert Burdet

Isabel Berkeley

Joan Woodford

Robert Woodford

Petronella Brooksby

William Brooksby

Anne de Grey

George de Grey Also Known As: Earl of Kent

Edmund de Grey Also Known As: Earl of Kent

John de Grey

Reynold Grey

Reynold II Grey

Roger Grey

Elizabeth Hastings

John Hastings

Isabel Valence

William de Valence Also Known As: Earl of Pembroke, Also Known As: William de Luzignan

Hugh le Brun

Isabella Taillefer Also Known As: d’Angouleme

Adhemar Also Known As: Comte d’Angouleme

Guillaume VI Also Known As: Comte d’Angouleme

II Vulgrin Also Known As: Comte d’Angouleme

V Guillaume Also Known As: of Taillefer

Foulques

Condoha

Vitapoi Also Known As: de Bezaune

Guillen Amanieu II Also Known As: Vicomte de Bezaune et de Benauges

Ponce de Montgommery

Roger Also Known As: ‘Poictevin’ de Montgommery

II Roger Also Known As: de Montgommery, also 1st Earl of Shrewsbury

Mabel d’Alencon-Belleme Also Known As: de Belleme

William Talvas

William of Belleme

William de Belleme

Hildeburg

Arnulf

II Aldebert

Ponce

Marguerite

I Raymond Also Known As: Vicomte de Turenne

I Boson Also Known As: de Turenne

Guillaume

Mahaut du Perche

II Geoffrey Also Known As: et Mortagne

Rotrou Also Known As: Vicomte de Chateaudun, Comte de Mortagne

Adeliz Also Known As: de Belleme

Beatrice Also Known As: de Montdidier

IV Hildouin Also Known As: de Montdidier

Adele

Alice de Courtenay

I Pierre Also Known As: Sire de Courtenay

VI Louis Also Known As: King of France, “The Fat”

I Philip Also Known As: King of France

I Henry Also Known As: King of France

II Robert Also Known As: The Pious

Hugh Capet

Hugh Also Known As: The Great; Duke of the Franks

I Robert Also Known As: King of France

Robert Also Known As: The Strong

Aelis D’Alsace

Ermengarde de Hasbaye

Ingerman de Hesbaye

Son of Sigrand

Sigrand de Hesbaye

Lambert de Hesbaye

Guerin de Poiters

Bodilon

Sigrada

Ansoud

Leutharius

Erchenaud

Ansbertus

Totantius Ferreolus

Ferreolus

Flavius

Flavius Afranius Syagrious

Blithilda

Clothaire de Soissons I

Gerberga

Duke Ricomer

Kunza

Landree

Hadwig

Anne

I Jaroslav Also Known As: Grand Duke of Kiev

Bertha van Holland

I Floris

Geertruid of Saxony

Adelaide de Savoie

II Humbert Also Known As: Count of Savoy, Also Known As: Umberto II

II Amadeo

Jeanne de Geneve

Gisela de Bourgogne Also Known As: Marchioness of Montferrat

Guillaume I Also Known As: William I, Count of Burgundy

Stephanie de Longwy

Elisabeth de Courtenay

Renaud de Courtenay

Miles Also Known As: Milo

I Josceline Also Known As: de Courtenay

Elisabeth Also Known As: de Monthlery

Ermengarde Also Known As: de Nevers

II Renaud Also Known As: Comte de Nevers et d’Auxerre

Ita-Raimonde Also Known As: de Lyon

Hawise de Donjon Also Known As: Elisabeth

Frederic Also Known As: de Donjon

Aymer

Joane de Monchensy

Warine de Monchensy

Joane Marshal

Anseline Marshal

Alianore Lestraugne

Roger Lestraugne

Margaret Roos

Thomas Roos

Beatrice Stafford

Constance Holand

John Holand Also Known As: 1st Duke of Exeter

Thomas Holland Also Known As: 1st Earl of Kent

Elizabeth of Lancaster Also Known As: Duchess of Exeter

John of Gaunt Also Known As: Duke of Lancaster

Edward III Also Known As: King of England, Also Known As: Edward Fleming

Edward II Also Known As: King of England

Edward I Also Known As: King of England

III Henry Also Known As: King of England

Eleanor de Montfort

Eleanor of Castile

III Ferdinando Also Known As: King of Castile

Isabelle

Philippa de Hainault

William de Hainault

Blanch of Lancaster

Henry Also Known As: Duke of Lancaster

Katherine de Percy

Henry de Percy

Katherine Herbert Also Known As: Catherine Percy

William de Herbert Also Known As: Earl of Pembroke

William ap Thomas

Peter Fitzreginald

Herbert Fitzreginald

Otho Also Known As: Count of Vermandois

Joan de Vivonia

William de Vivonia

Alice Broadspear

Blethin Broadspear Also Known As: Lord of Llanllowel

Gwladus Verch Dafydd

David Gam Also Known As: Gam ap Llewelyn

Llwelyn ap Hywel

Maud Verch Ieuan

Gwenllian Verch Gwilym

Anne Devereaux

Walter Devereaux

Jane Pigot

Thomas Pigot

Bridget Bowes

Richard van Streatlam

Ralph Lord Bowes van Streatlam

Majorie Conyers

Elisabeth Aske

Richard Bowes

Mary Wood

Henry Wood

John Wood

Mary

Marthey Bull

Darlene Mary Crockett Also Known As: 1-3-1-1-1-1-2-6-2=4.A-A

Theodate Bachiler Also Known As: Theodate Batchelder

Stephen E Batchelder

Philip Bachelder

Anne Flanders

Ann Bate Also Known As: Bates

Bate Also Known As: Father of Ann Bate

<No name> Also Known As: Mother of Ann Bate

Rebecca Perkins

Isaac Perkins

John Perkins

Henry Perkins

Thomas Perkins Also Known As: Henry

Henry Perkins Also Known As: Thomas

Thomas Perkins

Williams Perkins

William Perkins

John Perkins Also Known As: Pierre De Morlais

Peter Morley Perkins Also Known As: Pierre de Morlaix

Agnes Taylor

John Taylor

Collee

Ellen Tompkins

Joanna Read

Alys

Alice Also Known As: m. Henry Perkins

Alice Kebbell Also Known As: Kebble or Kibble

Elizabeth Sawbridge Also Known As: Strawbridge

William Sawbridge

Elizabeth

Judith Gater

Michael Gater

Isabel Bailey

Susanna Wise

Humphrey Wise Also Known As: Wyeth

Susan Tidd