The Lost Reign: Is a Title in My Future?

 FEBRUARY 21, 2021

What rings more true to the word power than royalty?

Week 8: Power

While the only title I can lay claim to is “Princess No-No,” my nickname as a young girl, there may be some aristocratic blood very far up the tree, afterall.

Kira D. Foltz, ca. 1986.

Kira D. Foltz, ca. 1987.

None of this is vetted by yours truly, and my guess is I’ll never get around to proving or disproving this line so far back, but according to the universal tree on FamilySearch.org, my maternal 3rd great grandmother, Ruth (McPherson) Millhouse, who lived a middle-class life in the States, was allegedly descended from multitudes of European dukes, counts, princesses, and kings -- to many too count!

To name a few, there were King Robert Bruce the 1st of Scotland, Lord Fergus of Galloway, Henry I King of England, Princess Marjorie Bruce of Scotland, King Edward I, Louis of Provence King of Italy, William “the Conqueror,” and even Charlemagne. At a glance, it appears my closest relation may be to King James IV of Scotland -- supposedly my 14th great grandfather (James was also the grandfather of my favorite royal, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, making her my 1st cousin 14 times removed, if these trees are accurate).

Unknown artist, coloured engraving of Robert the Bruce, 1797; Britannica (https://britannica.com : accessed 22 Feb 2021); The Granger Collection, New York.

An excerpt from folio 35v of British Library Cotton MS Julius A VII (the Chronicle of Mann). The excerpt reads in Latin "Fergus de Galwedia". The excerpt concerns Fergus, Lord of Galloway (died 1161); Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021).

Henry's royal seal showing the king seated on his throne; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021).

Marjorie Bruce tomb, Paisley Abbey, Scotland, 1316; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021).

Unknown painter, portrait erected at Westminster Abbey during the reign of Edward I (1272- 1307) thought to be of the King, ca. 1300; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021).

Unknown painter, painting of Louis III of Italy also known as Louis the Blind, ca. 880-928; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021).

Silver penny after a work of Theodoric with engraving of King William I (the Conqueror), ca. 1068; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021).

Obverse of a Charlemagne denier (a silver coin) coined in Frankfurt from 812 to 814; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021);  Cabinet des Médailles, Paris, France.

Unknown author, James IV, King of Scots, ca. 1400s; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021); National Gallery of Scotland.

Francois Clouet, portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87), ca. 1559; Wikipedia (https://wikipedia.org : accessed 22 Feb 2021); Royal Collection; first recorded in the collection of Charles I.

My records go nowhere beyond Ruth’s alleged parents, Elizabeth Davis and James William McPherson, in Virginia. However, FamilySearch contributors have really fleshed out a good chunk of the royal branches -- so there’s quite possibly still some truth in these noble lines. It’s said that Ruth’s great grandfather, Daniel McPherson, was the immigrant ancestor to the States, but not by his own will. He was kidnapped as a young boy and sold into indentured servitude when they reached the colonies. His separation from the family is rumored to be the main fissure in this tree. I’m afraid, even if any royal bloodline were to be proven, I won’t be sitting on a gold throne any time soon! A girl can dream though.