Paternal Family Tree: Ponsonby
Maternal Family Tree: Sarah Anne Child Countess of Westmoreland 1764-1793
On 16th November 1805 [his father] John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough (age 24) and [his mother] Maria Fane (age 18) were married at Berkeley Square, Mayfair. She the daughter of [his grandfather] John Fane 10th Earl of Westmoreland (age 46) and [his grandmother] Sarah Anne Child Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of [his grandfather] Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough (age 47) and [his grandmother] Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough (age 44).
On 13th August 1821 Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough was born to [his father] John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough (age 39) and [his mother] Maria Fane (age 34).
Around 1831 Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 9) educated at Harrow School.
In 1834 [his mother] Maria Fane (age 47) died.
On 8th September 1835 [his brother] John George Brabazon Ponsonby 5th Earl Bessborough (age 25) and [his sister-in-law] Frances Charlotte Lambton (age 22) were married. She the daughter of John "Radical Jack" Lambton 1st Earl Durham (age 43) and Harriet Cholmondeley. He the son of [his father] John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough (age 54) and [his mother] Maria Fane. They were fifth cousins.
Around 1836 Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 14) educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map].
On 9th August 1838 [his brother-in-law] Charles Frederick Ashley-Cooper Ponsonby 2nd Baron de Mauley (age 22) and [his sister] Maria Jane Elizabeth Ponsonby Baroness Mauley (age 19) were married. She the daughter of [his father] John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough (age 56) and [his mother] Maria Fane. They were first cousins.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 3rd February 1844 [his grandfather] Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough (age 86) died. His son [his father] John (age 62) succeeded 4th Earl Bessborough, 5th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 5th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.
On 16th May 1847 [his father] John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough (age 65) died. His son [his brother] John (age 37) succeeded 5th Earl Bessborough, 6th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 6th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.
On 4th October 1849 [his brother] John George Brabazon Ponsonby 5th Earl Bessborough (age 39) and [his sister-in-law] Caroline Amelia Gordon-Lennox Countess Bessborough (age 30) were married. She by marriage Countess Bessborough. She the daughter of Charles Gordon-Lennox 5th Duke Richmond (age 58) and Caroline Paget Duchess Richmond (age 53). He the son of [his father] John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough and [his mother] Maria Fane. They were fifth cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 15th January 1850 Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 28) and Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 24) were married. She the daughter of Edward Granville Eliot 3rd Earl St Germans (age 51) and Jemima Cornwallis Countess St Germans (age 46). He the son of John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough and Maria Fane. They were fifth cousin once removed.
On 1st March 1851 [his son] Edward Ponsonby 8th Earl Bessborough was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 29) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 25). He married 22nd April 1875 Blanche Vere Guest Countess Bessborough, daughter of John Josiah Guest 1st Baronet and Charlotte Elizabeth Bertie, and had issue.
Around 1852 [his daughter] Maria Ponsonby was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 30) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 26).
On 8th September 1853 [his son] Cyril Walter Ponsonby was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 32) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 27).
On 13th September 1854 [his son] Granville Ponsonby was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 33) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 28).
On 16th May 1855 [his uncle] William Francis Spencer Ponsonby 1st Baron de Mauley (age 67) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Charles (age 39) succeeded 2nd Baron de Mauley. [his sister] Maria Jane Elizabeth Ponsonby Baroness Mauley (age 36) by marriage Baroness de Mauley.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 8th January 1856 [his son] Arthur Cornwallis Ponsonby was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 34) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 30).
On 8th April 1857 [his daughter] Ethel Jemima Ponsonby Baroness Raglan was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 35) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 31). She married 28th February 1883 her second cousin George Somerset 3rd Baron Raglan, son of Richard Henry Fitzroy Somerset 2nd Baron Raglan and Georgina Lygon Baroness Raglan, and had issue.
On 31st July 1859 [his son] Walter Gerald Ponsonby was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 37) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 33).
In 1870 [his brother-in-law] William Gordon Cornwallis Eliot 4th Earl St Germans (age 40) by writ of acceleration 5th Baron Eliot of St Germans in Cornwall.
On 22nd April 1875 [his son] Edward Ponsonby 8th Earl Bessborough (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Blanche Vere Guest Countess Bessborough (age 28) were married. He the son of Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 53) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 49).
On 7th October 1877 [his father-in-law] Edward Granville Eliot 3rd Earl St Germans (age 79) died. His son [his brother-in-law] William (age 47) succeeded 4th Earl St Germans.
On 28th January 1880 [his brother] John George Brabazon Ponsonby 5th Earl Bessborough (age 70) died. His brother [his brother] Frederick (age 64) succeeded 6th Earl Bessborough, 7th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 7th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.
On 19th March 1881 [his brother-in-law] William Gordon Cornwallis Eliot 4th Earl St Germans (age 51) died unmarried. He was buried near his mother [his mother-in-law] Jemima Cornwallis Countess St Germans at Kensal Green Cemetery [Map]. His brother [his brother-in-law] Henry (age 46) succeeded 5th Earl St Germans, 6th Baron Eliot of St Germans in Cornwall.
On 18th October 1881 [his brother-in-law] Henry Cornwallis Eliot 5th Earl St Germans (age 46) and Emily Harriet Labouchere Countess St Germans (age 37) were married at Savoy Chapel Royal [Map]. She by marriage Countess St Germans. He the son of [his father-in-law] Edward Granville Eliot 3rd Earl St Germans and [his mother-in-law] Jemima Cornwallis Countess St Germans.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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On 28th February 1883 [his son-in-law] George Somerset 3rd Baron Raglan (age 25) and [his daughter] Ethel Jemima Ponsonby Baroness Raglan (age 25) were married. She the daughter of Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 61) and [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 57). They were second cousins.
On 11th March 1895 [his brother] Frederick George Brabazon Ponsonby 6th Earl Bessborough (age 79) died. His brother Walter (age 73) succeeded 7th Earl Bessborough, 8th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 8th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny. [his wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 69) by marriage Countess Bessborough.
On 13th September 1897 [his sister] Maria Jane Elizabeth Ponsonby Baroness Mauley (age 78) died.
On 24th February 1906 Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough (age 84) died. His son Edward (age 54) succeeded 8th Earl Bessborough, 9th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 9th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny. [his daughter-in-law] Blanche Vere Guest Countess Bessborough (age 59) by marriage Countess Bessborough.
On 15th January 1911 [his former wife] Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough (age 85) died.
[his daughter] Sara Kathleen Ponsonby was born to Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough and Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot Countess Bessborough.
Kings Wessex: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 20 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 25 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 21 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 24 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 29 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 27 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Ponsonby 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Folliot 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Randle Moore
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Moore
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archbishop James Margetson
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Margetson
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Bonnett
Great x 2 Grandmother: Sarah Margetson 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Caulfeild 1st Viscount Charlemont 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Caulfeild Baroness Carpenter 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sarah Moore Viscountess Charlemont
GrandFather: Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cavendish 1st Duke Devonshire 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cavendish 2nd Duke Devonshire 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Butler Duchess Devonshire 
10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Russell 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Rachel Russell Duchess Devonshire 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Rachel Wriothesley 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Hoskins
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Hoskins of Oxted
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Hale
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Hale
Father: John Ponsonby 4th Earl Bessborough 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Digby Countess Sunderland 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Spencer 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough 
14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Carteret 1st Baron Carteret 
12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Carteret 2nd Earl Granville 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Granville Baroness Gower
Great x 2 Grandmother: Georgiana Caroline Carteret 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Worsley 4th Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Worsley Countess Granville 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Thynne 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
GrandMother: Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Newdigate Poyntz 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Poyntz 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Stephen Poyntz 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Lewis Mordaunt 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anna Maria Mordaunt 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby 7th Earl Bessborough 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Fane 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Fane of Brympton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hannah Rushworth
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Fane 8th Earl of Westmoreland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Scrope 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Scrope 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Hooke
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Fane 9th Earl of Westmoreland 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Swymmer
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Swymmer Countess Westmoreland
GrandFather: John Fane 10th Earl of Westmoreland 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Bertie 3rd Earl Lindsey 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Bertie 1st Duke Ancaster and Kesteven 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Wharton Countess Lindsey 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Montagu Bertie 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Farington
Great x 3 Grandmother: Albinia Farington Duchess Ancaster and Kesteven
Great x 1 Grandmother: Augusta Bertie 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Piers
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Piers
Mother: Maria Fane 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Child of Headington in Wiltshire
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Child
Great x 2 Grandfather: Samuel Child
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Child
GrandMother: Sarah Anne Child Countess of Westmoreland