I just learned through Ancestry.com that I’m a descendant of several generations of English Knights and Sheriffs. It has kind of changed my attitude, I must admit.
Right.
I have a direct line of descendancy from Pippen the Short.
My aunt was in to the genealogy thing, and traced us back to some royalty — can’t recall who/what/when.
I’m more proud of my ancestor, Edward Wightman, who was the last martyr to be burned at the stake in England in 1612. Many of our family went to Litchfield in the UK for the 400th anniversary of the event, which the town celebrates.
Two of his “crimes”: (1) He was an Anabaptist. (2) He refused to baptize his babies. (They were baptized when they were older if/when they made their own decisions to be saved).
There was a hiccup. On his execution day, he was told that if he renounced his beliefs and would go along with the king, he could go free. He renounced. Two weeks later he was to sign the official denial, and then wouldn’t do it. So...
“... Wightman’s condemnation was renewed and he was taken again to ‘Market Square’, where he was again chained to the stake. This time there wasn’t a hint of wanting to recant. Edward Wightman was burned alive on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter, April 11, 1612.”