You Might Be Royalty And Not Know It

As a genealogist in training, I have loved researching my family history since I was a teenager. For the past 10 years especially, Ancestry.com has helped me put together the pieces of a very interesting family tree.

Right now I have over 5000 connections in my tree and many stories of both heroes and villains.

All family trees have both. I have found discovering these people and their stories the most fulfilling thing about genealogy.

I have always been obsessed with English medieval history. I knew there was some English in my family tree, but did not know how much. From childhood until the present, I have loved watching medieval shows and movies. I have always wanted to go to England and visit castles.

So when the series “The White Queen” premiered on Starz in 2013, I was hooked. I must have watched the series 4 times and wondered why am I so obsessed with the York family?

I also love reading Philippa Gregory “The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels”, there are 15 books in all.

In 2018, I discovered an unusual connection in my tree. A man named Thomas St. Leger was the link. Years ago, my grandmother had mentioned him, his name was included in old family papers. It didn’t mean anything to me at the time. I had never heard his name connected with royalty.

But if you take a look below, you will see St. Leger, married Anne and had a daughter.

And here is the story of Thomas and Anne:

Thomas St. Leger

12 years pass peacefully. Thomas St. Leger, Duke of Exeter, Knight Order of the Bath (my 13th great grandfather), had everything going for him. He served King Edward faithfully and had found the love of a beautiful princess named Anne of York…