How this claim affects other countries
While this claim primarily concerns the existence of the Louvain-Percy male bloodline and the sanctity of the 17th Century English Percy history, it also has concerns in Europe, Australasia, and the United States of America and wherever else the Percys and the derivative branches have settled.
The resolution of this claim, that the New Zealand Percy line of living consecutive eldest sons carry the extinct Louvain-Percy male DNA, and therefore the rights inherent of male descent, is seen as paramount. The claim could easily be resolved by the certainty of exhumantions and comparisons of known Louvain-Percy male DNA with that of the New Zealand claimants.
We have requested that the city of Cambridge, as well as Cambridge University, who are both connected historically to Percy history in Cambridge, undertake both the exhumation in that city and the DNA analysis process. In return, if the old male bloodline is proven to exist today, we will cede the ongoing, valuable marketing rights to Cambridge for comparative analyses with Percys and their derivative branches world-wide.
It would be totally abhorrent to our family that if proven that the Louvain-Percy male line existed that we would then seek to make financial gains from its marketing.
If our requests are rejected by Cambridge it would raise including other British options, the possibility of other countries wishing to resolve this conundrum. Because the line from Charlemagne to Louvain was part of the old Frankish Empire, countries such as Germany (Brabant DNA), France and Belgium (Louvain male DNA) also hold the answers to our claim.
The U.S. Smithsonian Institute are aware of our attempts to ascertain our ancestry and, along with others, have responsibility for their own USA citizens who seek to verify if they too have any linkage to Louvain-Percy. Internet sites in the U.S. are actively seeking participation from Percys and their derivative branches worldwide requesting that their DNA(male) be posted on one of their sites, even anonymously.
When we were recently approached we were already obligated to Cambridge University and City where our early family were nurtured and educated - even Thomas Percy the Gunpowder Plotter. We have no doubt that the Smithsonian Institute and others like them in the U.S. will be watching our progress with interest, for it is the "Smithsonian"that we feel a particular affinity with as we both share a similar genesis.
| a) Sir Hugh Smithson denied his son James Smithson legitimacy perhaps fearing a later claim. When his natural son died very embittered with his father he willed £100,000 to the U.S.A. to "found at Washington an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." |
| b)Sir Hugh Smithson, who married Eliz Seymour became the eventual recipient of what looked suspiciously like an attempt to disinherit the rightful male heirs of Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland in 1670. The natural line of Louvain-Percy male descent still existed in the cadet Percy Beverley Line and the Taunton St. Mary Magdalene line. They married in 1740 and changed their names to Percy, succeeded in 1750 to the Earldom of Northumberland and later became the 1st Duke of Northumberland. |
We leave it to Percy historian, Charles Percy, to have the last word on this marriage:
"Smithson married not a Percy but a Seymour, great grand daughter to the apparently lone male survivor of the last Percy Earl. That he should now become a Percy was altogether an amazing piece of fantastic invention."
This line continues today through the Smithson male DNA, but not a drop of old Percy male DNA.
We welcome all inquires, advice and well founded criticism and it is to be hoped that if anyone has important information, but may wish to remain anonymous, that you write to us at the following address
Percy Family
PO Box 17
Pahiatua 4941
New Zealand, or send an email via the forum, and we will respect your wishes.