My Spencer Family Link
Charles Spencer
If you traced your family history far back enough you would eventually find that we are all in some way related to nobility or Royalty. Finding the time to do this is generally a lifetime of searching and finding.
My interest in family history stems back to when I was a teenager and I was told that my great grandmother Hannah Louisa Yeoman’s father Alexander Yeoman’s was related to the Earl of Desborough. When Alexander’s great grandfather died there was supposed to be a Title and vast amounts of land, unfortunately there was a family feud and apparently the estate went to chancery and no one inherited the title but the land sits somewhere unclaimed. I have spent many years with plenty money writing to record offices, visiting England on numerous occasions and each time coming to a dead end. Maybe my ancestors were the offspring of the Lord of the manor having an extra marital affair with one of the serving maids? That I will never know unless perhaps we have some DNA tests done and see what the results are.
My family Spencer look alikes
The town of Desborough is 20 miles from Althrop where the Spencer family hail from in Northants. In 2005 I was lucky enough to visit the Althrop, home and family seat of The Spencer Family. A year prior to that Earl Spencer’s house burnt down in Bishopscourt and my husband was the appointed builder to restore their beautiful home to its original splendour. Whilst visiting Althrop I managed to get a few words with Charles Spencer who kindly autographed his book on the Spencer Family and gave it to my husband and me as a present, no charge.
In no time I was scouring the index to look for perhaps familiar names and was bowled over when I discovered that Lord Desborough was a family friend of the Spencer’s. However the search continues on a life time expedition from probably a warped story that has become a bit like “broken telephone” Maybe in years to come or perhaps my grandchildren will find the true story of the Lord of Desborough.
Don’t give up on those family rumours because in every rumour their is at least an ounce of truth. Start tracing your roots now.