Being a member of the Royal family was not always conducive to living a long life. Many of our royal ancestors were imprisoned, executed, assasinated and died by unnatual means. Many others were killed in battle. There were also some who were killed in accidental deaths.

It is these family members to whom this page is dedicted.

Scotland's Royals

Alexander III of Scotland

Following the death of his wife, Margaret, as well as the death of two of his sons, Alexander III remarried to Yalande. Anxious to return to his new bride, Alexander rode through the night in a storm, against the advice of his counselors. During his travel, his horse stumbled and Alexander was unseated, falling over a cliff to his death. He was found the next morning at the bottom of the cliff. His neck was broken. It was a tragedy for Scotland, leaving her without a ruler. An accidental death, all for the sake of love.

Duncan II of Scotland

Duncan II was murdered while in battle by one of his commanders, MacBeth. Having married a cousin of Siward, Duncan began to favor Southern ways, angering many of the Highlanders. Having failed at imposing his rule over Moray, Duncan had been twice defeated by Thorfinn, son of the Earl of Orkney. Duncan was murdered near Elgin. This is the MacBeth made famous by Shakespeare. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air." In Shakespeare's play, MacBeth murders Duncan while in his sleep... "Still it cried, "Sleep no more!" to all the house: "Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more,--Macbeth shall sleep no more!" MacBeth's motive for the murder of his king and kin: to gain the throne for himself.

James I of Scotland

Having been held captive in England, James is released after marrying Joan Beaufort to return to Scotland. He immediately began executing Scottish noblemen in an effort to regain Royal control of Scotland. Angered by his actions, Sir Robert Graham along with the Earl of Atholl, broke into the King's lodgings at Perth and murdered the King, who suffered twenty-eight knife wounds. For this, Sir Robert Graham and the Earl of Atholl were later tortured and beheaded.

James II of Scotland

During the King's siege of Roxburgh, James II was killed in an accident by an exploding canon. Canons had only been introduced into warfare. Ignorant of the canon's power, James was standing too close to one of the canons when it exploded, killing the King.

James III of Scotland

James III was seen by his people as an English sympathizer. Adding to his problems, James III was also bisexual, which was seen as reprehensible by the Scottish people. He extended lavish gifts and property upon his "favorites" in the court, which only further alienated him from the other Scottish nobles. The angry nobles entered the King's tent and gathered the King's favorites and hanged them beneath Lauder Bridge. They imprisoned the King in Edinburgh Castle for three months, releasing him when peace was made. However, the King reverted to his previous ways and again showed favoritism in his Court, causing the Scottish nobles to declare him unfit to rule and supporting his son's claim to the throne. The son of James III agreed to aid the noble's cause, providing his father was not hurt. The nobles met James III in battle at Stirling where the King was thrown from his horse and injured, though not serioiusly. The King was carried to a nearby mill where a priest was summoned so that the King could receive absolution, though his wounds were not mortal. A man, unknown, posing as a priest, entered and stabbed the King in his heart, granting him permanent pardon for his sins. The identity of this "priest" is still unknown.

James IV of Scotland

Feeling guilty for his part in his father's death, James IV wore a metal chain around his waist for the rest of his life in penance for his perceived sin. James loved and wanted to marry Margaret Drummond, however, shortly after the proposal of his possible marriage to Margaret Tudor, Margaret Drummond and her sisters were found poisoned. In their memory, James IV prayed for them daily for the rest of his life. In an attempt to invade England, James IV gathered a large army and marched into Northumberland, taking a position on the hill at Flodden. By the end of the day, James IV, along with 100,000 of his men, lay dead on Flodden Field. It was a major loss for Scotland, as well as the families of the dead.

England's Royals

Henry VI

On 21st of May 1471, Henry entered the Tower of London where he was killed between 11pm and midnight. Henry suffered from mental illness that he inherited from his maternal grandfather. These bouts of mental illness had caused a general feeling of unrest in the country, intensified by humiliating military defeats by the French. In 1453 Henry suffered a total breakdown. It was during Henry's reign that England found itself brewing the War of the Roses. The last restoration attempt was made when Warwick realized that he had lost and would never again control Edward IV. In alliance with Louis XI of France, Warwick prepared to put Henry VI back on the throne. Queen Margaret, Henry's wife, who had sought refuge in Scotland during Henry's interment and eventually went to the Continent where she was begging for support to regain the throne. She had digressed from a woman of high fashion to the point where she looked like a peasant but she continured to espouse the cause of her husband. In October 1470 Warwick swooped into England and took Edward by surprise, forcing him to flee to the Continent. Henry, who had been detained in the Tower, was washed and dressed and brought from the Tower only to find that the country was not behind him. In March 1471 Edward returned, sweeping away any resistance. Warwick was killed at Barnet and Prince Edward at Tewkesbury. Edward entered London the 21st of May and that night Henry VI was murdered.

Thomas Plantagenet of Woodstock
Duke of Gloucester

Thomas Plantagenet was the youngest son of Edward III. He was created earl of Gloucester in 1385.He married Eleanor, daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, Essex and Northampton. Thomas's relations with his brother, Richard were strained and this strain was only increased following the marriage of his brother, John of Gaunt to Mary Bohun, sister of Eleanor and also co-heiress of Humphrey. Thomas led the barons in revolt of Richard's advisors, including Michael de la Pole, first earl of Suffolk and chancellor of England. He managed to successfully convict the advisors of treason in 1388. He followed King Richard on a campaign in Ireland in 1394. It has been suggested that Thomas was planning to seize the king. On the 11th of July 1397, Thomas was arrested by the king himself at his residence of Pleshey Castle in Essex. He was immediately taken to Calais. By the beginning of September it was reported that Thomas was dead and about the same time, Sir William Rickhill, a justice, was sent to Calais with instructions to obtain a confession from Thomas. On 8 September the duke confessed he was guilty of treason. Immediately thereafter it is said he was murdered of suffocation in a house called Prince's Inn on 8 or 15 September. Richard hoped to foster the impression that the duke had died from natural causes in August and when parliament met in September Thomas was declared guilty of treason and his estates forfeited.

Edward II Plantagenet
King of England

In January 1327 Parliament forced Edward to resign. Edward was allegedly homosexual but was a strong, handsome man who was well-educated and fond of the arts. Edward I had brought Piers Gaveston, a wildly charismatic squire, from Gascony in hope that Gaveston's jousting skills would be an influence on his son. Unfortunately, Edward fell in love with the handsome Gasconite and an indissoluble bond was formed. Edward's relationship with Piers Gaveston created one of the major scandals of his reign. Edward was married to Isabella Capet of France, daughter of Philip IV, King of France.Edward I's nobles murdered Gaveston and it was during this time that Isabella bore Edward II four children. Then Edward II ingratiated a father and son, both named Hugh le Despencer. Jealous of the Despencer influence, the nobles banned the Despencer family from England in 1321 and burned the younger Despencer's property. Meanwhile, France, a thorn in England's side, had annexed Gascony and Ponthieu from English control. The Despencer's had claimed that Queen Isabella was an agent working for the French (and for her brother, Charles IV). Lady Despencer was installed as Isabella's "housekeeper" where she spent time reading Isabella's correspondence. Isabella managed to convince Edward II that she could plead with her brother for the return of the seized lands. Gascony was of particular importance as it yielded a greater revenue than that of the English crown. Isabella was allowed to go. While in France, Isabella was swept off her feet by Roger Mortimer, who had been exiled after leading the group of nobles that had burned the young Despencer's house. Isabella, then 29 had been married to Edward II for seventeen years. She managed to get Ponthieu and Gascony returned to England and convinced Edward II to send their son, Prince Edward to France to pay homage. She then refused to return to England until the Despencers were gone. Edward refused, stating that neither he nor the Despencer's had ever caused Isabella any harm. Isabella began to amass an army to return to England and overthrow her husband in favor of her son. Edward II attempted to raise an army but Isabella's popularity was so strong that in every English city, she not only arrived with a foreign army but managed to get locals to join her cause. She arrived in London and took the Tower. Edward II had fled west, along with the younger Despencer, in a failed attempt to gain support. Isabella captured Bristol where the older Despencer easily capitulated and surrendered the city. The Queen sent the senior Despencer to the gallows without even stripping him of his armor.

Isabella captured Edward II along with the younger Despencer on 16 Nov 1326 whereupon the younger Despencer was delivered to the Queen. The younger Despencer was murdered in a gruesome fashion, one account saying that he "be emboweled and bowels burned" and another "member and testicles were first cut off because he was an heretic and a sodomite".

Edward II had the crown taken from him after which, his son, Edward III was crowned. Following a cruel period of imprisonment, on Septemer 21 1327, with the Queen's nod, Edward II was murdered by means of a hot poker inserted rectally.

Spain's Royals

Sancho Garcia III

Sancho Garcia III (1000-1035), "the Great" brought great prosperity to Spain. King of Navarre, Garcia became the leading power in Christian Spain. He conquered Sobrarbe and Ribagorza from the Moors and through his wife's inheritance from her brother, he took possession of Castile, Vizcaya and Alava. He seized Pisuerga and the Cea (of Leon), conquered Castile and ruled Galicia to Barcelona. He was murdered at Bureba by his brothers. At his death, his kingdom was divided among his four sons. Garcia's ancestor was the Basque chieftain, King Aritza, king of Pampalona. Sancho married Muniadona of Castile, with whom he had three sons. He also had an illegitimate son with Sancha de Abyar, Ramiro I, King of Aragon, our ancestor.

Murder was not confined to the Royals but was then, as now, an act that could strike anyone at any time. Of course, we begin the story of murder and massacre with the Indian attack upon Jamestown in 1622 (see Jamestown) but we see murder occurring throughout the history of our family.

Hans Dreeper and the children of his son-in-law Jacob Casperse

Hans Dreeper was murdered, along with his two baby grandchildren in July of 1682, in the home of his son-in-law, Jacob Casperse in Albany, NY. We can only imagine how devastated Jacob Casperse and his wife, Hendrickje must have been when they found Hans and their firstborn children murdered in their home.

Whereas a message has been received this instant that a dreadful murder has been committed at the house of Jacob Casperse, on the kill, by a certain Negro of the said Jacob Casperse, who cut two of his children’s throats and also cut Hans
Dreeper’s throat so deeply that he is not expected to live, you are hereby required in his Majesty’s name, immediately, with all speed, to order 10 or 12 of the troopers to round up their horses and duly mounted to pursue and search for the
said murderer wherever he may be; and in order that it may proceed as speedily as possible all persons are required to assist you herein and to do whatever the case may require, and when the murderer has been found you are to apprehend him and immediately bring him to us.
Whereas yesterday a very dreadful murder was committed at the house of Jacob Casperse, on the kill, by his Negro, who cut the throats of Hans Dreeper and his master’s two children with a knife, and whereas, although their honors have used all diligence to pursue and find the aforesaid murderer, they have thus far not been able to find him; therefore the honorable court hereby notify and inform every one that if any person or persons, whether Christians or Indians, can overtake the aforesaid murderer and deliver him here alive to the court, he will receive for it a reward of 300 guilders in seawan. Likewise, if any one can indicate where he may be lying dead, he will receive a suitable reward. Thus done at the session of the honorable court, on Sunday, the 30th of July, 1682.
Whereas the Negro of Jacob Casperse, who committed the three murders on Hans Dreeper and the two children of Jacob Casperse, has now been found dead above in one of the sprouts (of the Mohawk), you are hereby ordered in his Majesty’s name to commander some Negroes along the road and to bring the dead body of the murderer here as soon as possible, in order that it may be hung as an example to others. Albany, the 7th of August 1682.

Eli "Bud" Forester

Eli, living in Fayetteville, Lincoln, TN was murdered and robbed by his slaves in 1845 at the age of forty-five. His widow, Polly Jordan Forester, along with several of her children and their families, along with a host of other families, including the O'Quinn's, loaded their belongings into covered wagons and went to Stone County, MO before 1860.