My Stone family lineage is a fascinating tapestry woven with threads of nobility, resilience, and pioneering spirit. My maternal roots have a storied heritage that includes connections to significant historical figures and events dating back to 12th-century England, with threads all the way back to Charlemagne. From Sir William S. Stone in the 1500s to the adventurous settlers of colonial America, each generation has left its mark on history. This blog post delves into the genealogy of the Stone family, exploring their journey from medieval knights and high sheriffs to influential figures in the early days of the United States, showcasing a legacy of leadership, determination, and enduring legacy.
My journey began as a project to reconstruct my family tree using Ancestry.com. The online resources available are truly impressive but the most difficult part is separating fact from fiction. What follows is my best effort to distill a vast tree of information based on identifying trusted sources and filtering noisy data. The twelve (12) generations that were identified back to Sir William S. Stone (1510) represent a tree containing as many as 4096 (2^12) ancestors. I traced the paternal lineage on my mother's side. This lineage represents a very small fraction of my heritage. I observed, as one would expect, that there is a correlation between historical significance and the availability of data. My research led me to Gov. William Stone, b 1603, 3rd Proprietary Governor of Maryland, and great grandfather of Thomas Stone, Signer of Declaration of Independence (my 7th cousin 5 times removed). Gov. William's great grandfather was Sir William S. Stone, b 1510.
English and European Ancestors: From Castles to Carr House and Beyond
The following is a summary of chapter one from the book, "Of The Stones", Copyright © 1997 James H. Stone 365 Lincoln Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301-2731.
"Of The Stones" provides a detailed account of the English and European ancestry of the Stone family, tracing their lineage from notable historical figures and their journey to America.
The chapter begins by introducing William S. Stone, the first of the Stone family branch to settle in America. He was a descendant of Emperor Charlemagne (742-814), King of the Franks and Lombards, and founder of the Holy Roman Empire. The lineage runs from Charlemagne and his wife, Hildegarde of Swabia, through various significant historical figures such as Louis, King of France, and Pepin, King of Italy, to the nobles of northern France. The narrative continues through several generations, highlighting connections to notable European nobility, including Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois and Vexin, and Isabel, Countess of Leicester.
These ancestors brought the lineage to England, where Ada de Warenne married Hugh de Huntingdon, son of David I, King of Scotland. Their son, William "the Lion," reigned as King of Scotland from 1165 to 1214. The chapter describes the turbulent historical context of these times, including feudal rivalries and disputes among nobles, particularly involving Eleanor of Aquitaine and her royal sons, Richard I "Lionheart" and John of England.
A significant figure mentioned is Robert de Ros of Helmsley, Yorkshire, who played a crucial role in the baronial rebellion against King John, leading to the signing of the Magna Charta in 1215. Robert de Ros's marriage to Isabel, William the Lion’s natural daughter, links the family to the influential de Ros lineage.
The chapter emphasizes the Stone family's historical connections and the roles their ancestors played in the significant events of medieval Europe. This rich heritage set the stage for William Stone's eventual settlement in America, establishing a new branch of the family that would continue to grow and thrive in the New World.
Stone Paternal Lineage
Charlemagne (742-814) m. Hildegarde of Swabia
Louis, King of France (778-840)
Pepin, King of Italy (777-810)
Ancestry.com Family Tree: HardinFamily01-2
In closing, here is an interesting tidbit from the "House of Cantelou and Co", The Story of a Southern Family, by Steven A McLeod 1995, page 7
"It has been suggested, and written, that Alice Crymes was at one time courted by George Washington. In a 1975 article that appeared in the Augusta Chronicle, it was reported that the father of Alice Crymes refused permission for their marriage saying "George Washington is nothing but a farmer and a fox hunter and he will never amount to anything." Alice Curtis Desmond, who wrote about the life of Washington, said in reference to "The Father of Our Country" that he was "A favorite with the ladies, people wondered why he had not married. Gossip had it that in his early youth, when poor and shy, he had been in love with several girls who turned him down and married other suitors."
Alice Crymes was my maternal 4th great grandmother. As they say, "The rest is history".
David B. Hardin Jr.
References
The Stone Family of England, Virginia and Maryland: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~jacmac/genealogy/Stone_Family.pdf
The Stone Family: https://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-stone-family-historical-journey.html
Hemsley Castle: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/helmsley-castle/
Carr House: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carr_House,_Bretherton
William Stone Arrives in America: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/william-stone-arrives-in-the-new-world.htm
Gov. William Stone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stone_(Maryland_governor)
Thomas Stone: https://www.npshistory.com/publications/thst/index.htm
Poynton Manor: https://www.nps.gov/thst/learn/park-brochure.htm
House of Cantelou: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_House_of_Cantelou_Co/8FA5AAAAMAAJ?hl=en&kptab=overview
Stone Mansion: https://www.loc.gov/item/al0665/