10 September 2006 Percy's Initial approach
10 September 2006
Mr P.L. Gwynn-Jones, Garter King of Arms
After years of genealogical research in Somerset and Dorset we believe and subject to your advice, seek to prove absolutely by yDNA analyses that the ancient Louvain-Percy male bloodline did not die out in 1670 as claimed with the death of Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland, but lives on today in New Zealand through Thomas Percy’s (The Gunpowder Plotter) unbroken male line. Our family in Taunton, Sherborne and now N.Z. (since 1842) have long claimed descent from The Plotter and to have held the true male heir to the Earldom of Northumberland. The logical claimant in The Plotter’s line was Francis Percy (Mayor of Cambridge 1709), supported by Sir William Dugdale “Garter Principal King of Arms” at the time who unfortunately submitted a “misdirection of descent” in naming Guiscard Percy (died young) as The Plotter’s father, when it was Edward of Beverley. Francis Percy’s line died out and any future claim would have reverted back to his father’s (Francis senior) younger brothers Thomas and James. All three and a daughter were christened in the Taunton Parish of St. Mary Magdalene – our parish.
We would like to send you the results of our research including:
a) The Plotters family and our family genealogy within the Taunton St Mary Magdalene Registers and beyond.
b) Telling inaccuracies in the ‘Beverley’ line genealogy chart 3 (Brenan’s books “The House of Percy”)
c) Our genealogist Di Clement’s (since retired) findings
d) More, but it will be pertinent to our search.
We would be grateful if we could send the above and for you to act and advise us, in whatever way you consider best.
Shirley Kevin Percy (Kevin – 71 years young)