Catherine Grandison. She's the linchpin lady.
Genealogists will tell you that if you are descended from this lady then you have many notable people who are also direct descendants.
I'll remind you that I hated history at school and my interest has only been piqued because of my family history. So to those who say 'hasn't everyone heard of her'?, I apologise. If you do not have a clue, join the club.
I discovered a wonderful book called "Noble Dames of Ancient Story" by J.G. Edgar which gives contains short biographies of my female ancestors. If you wish to read it in full, it is available at the Internet Archive here.
I'm not writing a potted version as Wikipedia does it so well...
Catherine Grandison, Countess of Salisbury - Wikipedia
Catherine Grandison, Countess of Salisbury ( c. 1304 - 23 November 1349) was an English noblewoman, remembered for her relationship with King Edward III of England and possibly the woman in whose honour the Order of the Garter was originated. She was the daughter of William de Grandison, 1st Baron Grandison, and Sibylla de Tregoz.
On the right of this page, you can see the many notable descendants of Catherine. How many can you recognise?
Catherine Grandison of Salisbury
1304–1349
Birth 1304 • Ashperton, Herefordshire, England
Death 23 NOV 1349 • Bisham, Berkshire, England
My 21st Great Grandmother
Ref: EDGAR, J. G. (1870) Noble Dames of Ancient Story., Edinburgh.
