Our immigrant Farley grandparents are Thomas Farley and his wife Lady Jane Sefton. They were members of the British nobility and were descended from the Norman conquerors. Lady Jane descended from the Plantagenet Kings of England. Alexander Fleming 1612 – 1668 and Elizabeth Anderson 1614 – 1656 were also immigrants to Virginia. Through the Fleming line we are descended from Robert the Bruce, the first king of a unified Scotland.
The English keep extensive records of the genealogy of their nobility. Once you find a family member in the English Peerage you can easily track their family tree, usually well into the middle ages. I have included abbreviated versions of our royal Farley, Molyneaux, and Fleming genealogies. All three are descended from the Normans who came to power in England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The Farley line can be traced back to Rollo the Viking Sea King who caused enough trouble in France that after the Siege of Chartres in 911, Charles the Simple, the king of West Francia, gifted them lands between the mouth of the Seine and what is now Rouen in exchange for Rollo agreeing to end his brigandage, swearing allegiance to him, religious conversion and a pledge to defend the Seine’s estuary from other Viking raiders.
Rollo was made the first Duke of Normandy. His 3rd great-grandson was William “The Conqueror”, the first Norman King of England. Our royal ancestors were William’s cousins who fought alongside him when he seized the throne in 1066 and were subsequently awarded titles and land as members of the English and Scottish aristocracy.
Through Rollo we are 33rd cousins twice removed of the Queen of England, so on you next trip to England be sure to drop by and say hello to our cousin Elizabeth.
We have royal ancestors on both sides of the 13th century Scottish rebellion of William Wallace fame.
Edward I “Longshanks” (1239-1307) was the English king trying to subjugate the Scottish rebels. Edward was our 22nd great grandfather. Robert the Bruce who carried on from William Wallace in the quest for Scottish independence and was the first king of Unified Scotland, was also our 22nd great grandfather.
This is the line of descent from the Plantagenets to Lady Jane Sefton our immigrant ancestor:
Geoffrey ‘Le Bon’ Plantagenet married to Matilda of Germany
Henry II married to Eleanor of Aquitaine
John Lackland, King of England with Isabella de Tailfeller
Henry III married to Eleanor of Provence
Edward I ‘Longshanks’ married to Eleanor Princess of Castile
Edward II married to Isabelle Princess of France
Edward III married to Phillipa of England
Edmund Langley Prince of England married to Isabel Princess of Castile
Constance Princess of England married to Edmund de Holand
Eleanor de Holand married to James Touchet
Anne Touchet married to Thomas Dutton
Anna Dutton married to Thomas Molyneux
William Molyneux married to Jane Rugge
Richard Molyneux married to Eleanor Radcliffe
William Molyneux married to Bridgett Carril
Richard Molyneux married to Lady Frances Gerard
Lady Jane married to Thomas Farley
Another descendancy through a son of Henry II:
Geoffrey Plantagenet married to Matilda, Princess of England
Henry II, King of England with Ida (concubine)
William Longspee married to Ela Fitzpatrick
Effigy of Wm Longspee, Earl of Salisbury
Stephen Longspee married to Emaline Ridleisford
Ela Longspee married to Roger Zouche
Alan Zouche married to Eleanor Segrave
Maud Zouche married to Robert Holand
Robert Holand married to Margaret Hetton
Jane Holand married to William Molyneux
Richard Molyneux married to Ellen Urswick
Richard Molyneux married to Joan Haydock
Richard Molyneux married to Elizabeth Stanley
Thomas Molyneux married to Anna Dutton
William Molyneux married to Jane Rugge
Richard Molyneux married to Eleanor Radcliffe
William Molyneux married to Bridgett Carril
Richard Molyneux married to Lady Frances Gerard
Lady Jane married to Thomas Farley
The Fleming Family is our connection to Robert the Bruce of Scotland
The English chronicler gives as the first of the family Stephen of Flanders, who first assumed the name of Flanders or Fleming to show the nationality of his forefathers. The Irish descendants of Stephen say that Stephan’s Father, Archembald, a nobleman of Flanders, came from the continent with William the Conqueror and acquired the lordship of Bratton in Devonshire.
Stephen Flanders, or Fleming, had a son, Archembald, said to be the ancestor of the Irish family of Flemings who become lords of the estate of Slane, County of Meath, Ireland. There were twenty-three recorded generations of Barons Slane, but the title became dormant in 1726.
William, a younger son of Stephen of Flanders, who died in 1197, had a son, Sir Malcom, sheriff of Dumbarton, who died in 1246, and his son Robert was the well-known supporter of Robert Bruce. Robert had two sons, Malcom, who was made Earl of Wigton, and who died in 1362, and Patrick. The son of Malcom, Earl of Wigton, inherited his father’s titles and estates, but later sold them.
Patrick married a daughter of Sir Simon Fraser and had a son Sir Malcolm, who had two sons, Sir David and Patrick. The former had a son Malcolm, who married Elizabeth, Daughter of the Duke of Albany, and had Lord Robert Fleming, who married Margaret Lindsay. Their son was Malcolm, who married Euphemia Christon and had Lord John, who married Janet Steward. Lord John died in 1524, leaving a son, Malcolm, who was created Earl of Wigton under a second creation.
The First Earl of Wigton married Lillian Graham, a daughter of the Earl of Montrose and under this new creation had two sons—James, who succeeded to his father’s honors and was Lord High Chancellor to Queen Mary, and Lord John, who, after his brother’s death, succeeded to the earldom. Our immigrant ancestor Alexander was one of the sons of the second earl.
Captain Alexander Fleming married to or Elizabeth Anderson (b. abt. 1614 of Glasgow, Scotland – 6 Oct 1656 – 5 Jul 1658 in Rappahannock Co. VA), a daughter of William Anderson, probably the Marion Bell and William Anderson (b. 1588), who registered a testament in Glasgow 10 Nov 1623. They emigrated in 1649.
Robert The Bruce
Below is an abbreviation of the descendant list from Robert the Bruce to our generation:
Descendants of Robert I De Bruce King of Scotland
Robert I De Bruce King Of Scotland 1274 – 1329 And Elizabeth Aylmire 1283-1327
Generation 2 – Marjorie De Bruce 1297 – 1316 and Walter Stewart 1292 – 1326
Generation 8 – James IV King of Scotland Stewart 1473 – 1513 and Isabel Stewart 1480 – 1557
Generation 9 – Lady Janet Stewart 1500- 1562 and Malcolm Fleming 1547 – 1559
Generation 13 – Alexander Fleming 1612 – 1668 and Elizabeth Anderson 1614 – 1656 (Immigrant to Virginia)
Generation 16 – Sarah Fleming 1695 – 1736 and Bowler Cocke 1696 – 1771
Generation 17 – Sarah Cocke 1728 To 1792 and John Farley 1730 – 1766
Generation 21 – Nannie Martin Farley 1836 – 1917 and William Andrew Lowe 1823 – 1904
Generation 24 – Patricia Ann Lowe and John Edgar Fike, Jr.
Generation 25 – John Daniel Fike, James Anthony Fike, Michelle Marie Fike, Andrew Lee Fike
From the Fikes to the Farleys to the Ancient Viking Kings:
A key reason that the European nobility carefully recorded their family trees was to add credibility to their claim of divine right to rule. In the case of William the Conqueror the court officials claim an unbroken line of royal succession back the year 200 A.D. from the early Kings of Sweden. The claim of genealogical proof this far back stretches credibility to say the least, but it is an interesting artifact to include in our family history. If we are willing to use our imagination we can follow this line of ancestors extending for 66 generations and over 1800 years from the present day to the year A.D. 200.
This part of our family story began in the year 200 with earliest recorded Kings of the Norsemen and continuing until their Viking conquest of Normandy in 867. Our ancestors were cousins of William the Conqueror, moved to England in 1066, and were given landed titles in Wessex. The family continued in England eventually taking the name Poyntz and later marrying into the ancient Farley line, also descended from Norman aristocracy.
What follows is an abbreviated list of the generations from the present to some of our royal ancestors in the Farley line as claimed by the keepers of the English peerage records:
Current Generation: John Daniel Fike, James Anthony Fike, Michelle Marie Fike, Andrew Lee Fike
Generation 5: William Andrew Lowe 1823-1904 and Nannie Martin Farley 1836-1917
Generation 13, Virginia Immigrants: Thomas Farley 1600-1657 and Lady Jane Sefton 1604-1665
Generation 17: John Farley Sr. 1465-1517 and Margaret Poyntz 1480-1559
Generation 22: Hugh Poyntz 1297-1375 and Alianore who was born in 1310.
Notes for Hugh Poyntz: Hugh Poyntz, 3rd Lord Poyntz was born circa 1293. He was the son of Sir Nicholas Poyntz, 2nd Lord Poyntz and Elizabeth la Zouche. He married Margaret Paynel, daughter of Sir Walter Paynel. He died on 25 March 1337. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Poyntz [E., 1295] in 1317. Between 1317 and 1330 summoned to Parliament. He fought in the Scottish Wars.
The Norman Conquest Generations:
Generation 31: Pons Fitz Pons Baron Of Pons, son of Pons Fitz William and Basilia Fitzwilliam was born about 1034 in St Pons, Charente Maritime, France. He died in 1086 in England.
Generation 32: Pons Fitz William, son of William “The Bastard” Hiesmes de Eu & Lord of Monstreul and Lesceline (Lezieline) De Harcourt was born in 1017 in St Pons, France. He died in 1066 in England. He married Basilia Fitzwilliam who was born in 1017 in Normandy, France. She died in England.
The Norman Generations:
Generation 33: William “The Bastard” Hiesmes de Eu & Lord of Monstreul, son of Richard I “Sans Peur” “The Fearless” 3rd Duke of Normandy and Gunnor Harldsdotter of Denmark Duchess of Normandy de Crepon was born in 955 AD in EU, Seine Et Maritime, France. He died on 26 Jan 1058 in Eu, Seine Inferieure, Normandy, France. He married Lesceline (Lezieline) De Harcourt, daughter of Turchetil deHARCOURT and Adeline deMONTFORT in 1018 in France.
Lesceline (Lezieline) De Harcourt, daughter of Turchetil deHARCOURT and Adeline deMONTFORT was born in Turqueville Cherbourg, Manche, Normandy, France. She died on 26 Jan 1057 in Abbey St Pierre Sur Dives, Calvados, Normandy, France.
Notes for William “The Bastard” Hiesmes de Eu & Lord of Monstreul: William de Hiesmes, Comte de Hiesmes et d’Eu was the son of Richard I, 3rd Duc de Normandie. He died on 2 January. He gained the title of Comte d’Eu. He gained the title of Comte de Hiesmes. He gained the title of Lord of Monstreul.
Generation 34: Richard I “Sans Peur” “The Fearless” 3rd Duke of Normandy, son of “A” Guillaume (William) I “Longsword””Longue Epée” 2nd Duke of Normandy and Sprota concubine Espriota Sproata Adela of deBretagne was born on 08 Aug 933 AD in Rouen, Seine Inferieure, Normandy, France. He died on 20 Nov 996 AD in Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France. He married Gunnor Harldsdotter of Denmark Duchess of Normandy de Crepon in 962 AD in Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France.
Gunnor Harldsdotter of Denmark Duchess of Normandy de Crepon was born on 21 Nov 936 AD in Crépon, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. She died on 23 Sep 1031 in Neustrie, , Normandy, France.
Notes for Richard I “Sans Peur” “The Fearless” 3rd Duke of Normandy: Richard I “Sans Peur” de Normandy Princeps Nortmannorum Born: Abt 933,Fécamp, Haute-Normandie, France 160 Marriage (1): Gunnor Relationships (2): “Mistress(es) of Richard I, the Fearless” Died: 20 Nov 996, Fécamp, Haute-Normandie, France about age 63 160. Other names for Richard were Richard I “le Veil, Richard I “Sans Peur,” and Richard “the fearless” of Normandy.
When Richard’s father, William Longsword, was assassinated in 942, his Uncle, Bernard the Dane, brought Richard from Bayeux, age ten years at the time, so that he might be solemnly invested with ducal sword and mantle and to receive homage of the Normans. He received the acknowledgement the Norman chiefs. King Louis captured and imprisoned the young Richard under the pretense of providing Richard with an education at Motleon. Richard, with the help of Osmon the Dane who had accompanied Richard to the king’s court, was able to escape and return to Normandy. Louis, with the aid of Hugh the Great, attacked the Normans. The Kings of Denmark came to the assistance of the Normans and Louis was defeated.
Richard married Esmé, daughter of Hugh the Great, who died young and childless. Richard married his mistress, Gunnora, who was said to be the sister of Herfaste, a Dane of noble birth. According to Guillaume de Jumièges, Richard had three sons. One was Richard, the second Duke of Normandy, Robert, who became the Archbishop of Rouen, and Mauger or Maugis, who married in 1012 Germaine, the daughter and heiress of Count Bouchard, and because of this marriage, he became Earl of Corbeil. Richard’s daughter, Emma, was twice crowned Queen of England having first married King Ethelred in 1002, and then King Canute. She and Ethelred were the parents of Edward “the Confessor. By her other husband, she mothered King Hardicanute. Richard also was known to have at least three illegitimate children Richard married Gunnor, daughter of Norman father and Unknown. (Gunnor was born about 936 in Normandy, France and died in 1031 in France.)
Richard the Fearless and his children- 13th century
Generation 35: “A” Guillaume (William) I “Longsword””Longue Epée” 2nd Duke of Normandy was the son of: Rollo I Hrolf “Robert the Dane” “The Ganger” Rognvaldsson Duke of Normandy and Poppa de Bayeux de Senlis de Valois “Duchess” of Normandy was born on 28 Aug 892 AD in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France. He died on 17 Dec 943 AD in killed by followers of Arnulf while at a meeting to settle their conflict At Picardy, France. He married Sprota concubine Espriota Sproata Adela of deBretagne in Normandy, , , France.
Sprota concubine Espriota Sproata Adela of deBretagne was born on 28 Aug 911 AD in Bretagne, France. She died on 12 Dec 940 AD in Normandy, France.
Tomb of William Longsword- Rouen Cathedral
The Viking Generations:
Generation 36: Rollo I Hrolf “Robert the Dane” “The Ganger” Rognvaldsson Duke of Normandy, son of Rognvald “The Wise” (Jarl of More) Eysteinsson and Queen Ragnhild Hilda “Countess of More” Hrolfsson was born on 14 Oct 860 AD in Maer, Nord-Trondelag, Norway. He died on 16 Dec 932 AD in Notre Dame, Rouen, Normandy, France. He married Poppa de Bayeux de Senlis de Valois “Duchess” of Normandy in 909 AD in Castle St Cler, , Normandy, France.
Poppa de Bayeux de Senlis de Valois “Duchess” of Normandy was born in 872 AD in Bayeux, Evreux, Normandy, France. She died in 932 AD in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France.
Section of the Family Tree from Rollo down to the children of Richard “the Fearless”
Tomb of Rollo, Duke of Normandy- Rouen Cathedral
Notes for Rollo I Hrolf “Robert the Dane” “The Ganger” Rognvaldsson Duke of Normandy:
Rollo was also known as Hrolf the Ganger, Rollon, Row, Gange-Rolf, Rolf the Walke or Robert. He was a Norse Viking and noted for his strength and martial prowess. He was so stout and strong that no horse could carry him. He was a Viking Pirate who was banished from Norway by his father and captured Bayeux in 890. He was given the name of Robert I at his baptism, and was styled as the “Patrician of Normandy”. He acquired his nickname “the Ganger”, because he was too big for a horse to carry and had to walk.
This Norwegian Viking settled at the mouth of the Seine. After fighting many battles, he made an agreement with King Charles the Simple – Received land in Normandy and became the 1st Duke of Normandy. He had to become a Christian, but at his death he ordered the sacrifice of 100 slaves (Showing that he still held to his Pagan beliefs).
Rollo, also called Rolf, claimed by the Gray family to be the progenitor of the family, was a Viking. Born in Norway c860, he grew to be a Norse chieftain. He is referred to as Rollo the Ganger (goer or walker) because he was too tall to ride the little Northland ponies. He was chief of the Northmen. True to Viking tradition, he engaged in raiding and plundering along the coasts of the North countries. Even though he was of high rank in Norway, he was exiled because he refused to confine his piracies to foreign lands.
He came to France not as a mere destroying barbarian, but with ideas of permanent conquest and settlement. In 884 he sailed up the Seine with perhaps ten thousand followers and captured Rouen. It became the Northmen’s capital for over three hundred years. He then went on to attack Paris. He started a siege in November 885 and continued it for over a year.
Finally, King Charles the Fat paid Rollo huge sums of tribute money and persuaded him to go attack Burgundy, then in revolt against the king. Rolf (Rollo), based at Rouen, was extending his influence over all the surrounding country. The poor liked Rolf because, though stern, he was fair, and gave them protection. The next French king, Charles the Simple (it was Charles le more accurately translated means fool), in 911 gave Rollo not only the lands he had won, but the rest of the northern French coast. The region was called Northmen’s land, or Normandy.
Rollo was made its Duke, accepted Christianity, was baptized in 912 and promised not to plunder other lands, except Brittany. Rollo died in 931 but had given his son, William “Longsword” governance of Normandy in 927. The tomb of Rollo is in the Chapel of St. Romanus at Rouen. William died Dec. 17, 942, assassinated by the Count of Flanders.
Generation 37: Rognvald “The Wise” (Jarl of More) Eysteinsson, son of Eystein or Eisten or Eistein Glumra or Glumru The Noisy Jarl or Earl of The Uplands Ivarsson and ASA OR ASCRIDA “Countess of Oppland” Ragnvaldsdotter was born in 830 AD in Maer, Nord Trondelag, Norway, Denmark. He died in 890 AD in Kirkwall, Pomona Island, Orkney Islands, Scotland. He married Queen Ragnhild Hilda “Countess of More” Hrolfsson in 859 AD in Maer, Nord-Trondelag, Norway.
Queen Ragnhild Hilda “Countess of More” Hrolfsson was born in 840 AD in Orkney Islands, Orkney, Scotland. She died in 892 AD in Maer, Nord-Trondelag, Norway.
Generation 41: Halfdan II Midi “the Old” Eysteinsson was the son of: Eystein of Westfold Halfdanarsson b. 736? – d. 780? and Hild (Hildur) Eiriksdottir
Generation 42: Eystein of Westfold Halfdanarsson was the son of: Halfdan Hvitbeinn `White Leg’ Olafsson, King of the Uplanders, b. 704? – d. ? and Asa Eysteinsdottir, b. 715? – d. ?
Generation 43: Halfdan Hvitbeinn `White Leg’ Olafsson was born 682? – d. 710? (sacrificed) and Solveig Halfdansdottir b. 684? – d. ?
Generation 44: Olafr Tretelgju `Tree-hewer’ INGJALDSSON King of Uppsala, b. 660? – d. ? and Gauthild Algoutsdottir b. 664? – d. ?
Generation 45: Ingjaldr `Ill-Ruler’ Braut-Onundson (driven out by subjects) was born 637? – d.? and Algaut Gutreksson b. 639? – d. ?
Generation 52: Aun (Gamli; `the Aged’) Jorundsson, King of Uppsala born in Sweden 487? – d.
Generation 64: Fjolnar (Fjolnir) Yngvi-Freysson, King of Uppsala born 235? d. ? and Gerd Gymersdottir b. 239? – d. ?
Generation 65: Yngvi-Frey of Uppsala, King of the Swedes born by 214 – d. ? and the sister of Njord of Nortun, Queen of the Swedes
Generation 66: Njord `the Rich’ of Nortun (of Vanaland), King of the Swedes, born by 200 – d. ?