I love all your books and was thrilled to read you had included the famous Jean de Grailly (4th of the 26 founder Knights of the Garter) in your latest book ‘1356’
A direct descendant of Jean de Grailly is the Marquis de Grailly who lives at the Chateau de Panloy close to the tiny village of Port d’Envaux on the banks of the River Charente. The family tree has them coming over to England with William the Conqueror.
A direct ancestor of mine was David Espinet (born early 1650s), a surgeon, whose house abutted the estate wall of the Chateau Panloy.
About 1685 the Baroness (title may be incorrect) was god-mother to the future wife of surgeon Aaron Espinet (son of David) and she later saved the family property being gambled away by Aaron.
Another ancestor of mine, David Espinet junior (born about 1678), son of David the surgeon, was a Huguenot who settled in Rye, Sussex as a peruke/wig maker and married Anne Marie Dansays.
Francis Dansays (1682-1754) brother of Anne Marie, joined the Royal Navy.
On New Years Day 1726 (the Great Storm) he commanded the tiny sloop OTTER, part of the very large escort conveying King George I from the continent to England. He was the only one able to keep in contact with the Royal Yacht Carolina and under the watchful eye of the king it procurred his promotion. He never looked back, commanded the famous CENTURION previous to Anson, the Royal Yachts KATHERINE and FUBBS, rising to become Lt. Governor of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich until his death in 1754.
Norman A Bishop
Sheffield, England