The Royal Representative

Archive for the ‘American Revolution’ Category

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A rare 710-year-old copy of the Magna Carta valued at up to $30 million (14.9 million pounds) is due to be sold by The Perot Foundation at Sotheby’s in New York in December, the auction house said on Tuesday.

The Magna Carta established rights of the English people and curbed the power of the king. The U.S. Constitution includes ideas and phrases taken almost directly from the charter, which rebellious barons forced their oppressive King John to sign in 1215.

Sotheby’s said the Magna Carta was ratified and reissued with each monarch who succeeded John. It was enacted as law in 1297 by parliament when it was reissued by King Edward I. The copy to be sold is from 1297.

Sotheby’s said there are fewer than 20 copies of the Magna Carta and that this copy, which has been on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington D.C., is one of only two held outside of Britain. The other copy, also from 1297, is owned by the Australian government.

David Redden, Sotheby’s vice chairman, said the document “symbolizes mankind’s eternal quest for freedom; it is a talisman of liberty”.

Sotheby’s said The Perot Foundation, created by billionaire former U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot to make philanthropic grants, would use the money for its charities. The Foundation bought the Magna Carta in 1984.

The wedding date’s been set, the cozy German Protestant church has been chosen, and now we need to find a venue for the reception. After that, it’s time to start looking at dresses!

This summer will be filled with wedding planning, but not only that, it will have a good dose of historical research going on, too. What better way to prepare for a wedding than take a look at the history of the families being joined? I would also like to document our families so that I can join the Daughters of the American Revolution and Aaron can join The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Sounds ironic for a supporter of the British Royal Family, doesn’t it?

Americans and Britons share a common history. Indeed, most of the country is - in some way - British. There are millions of Americans who proudly claim English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh ancestry, so we are all British-American brothers and sisters. America and Great Britain, though not on good terms back in the 1700s, are now regarded as close friends and “cousins”.

The fact that we fought each other is a part of world history, a fact that is celebrated as a search for freedom and democracy. It should also be celebrated that we had a successful restoration of peace and harmony between us later on, for which we can be thankful.

Our Personal Ties

My fiance Aaron is related to the American Revolution patriot Nathan Hale, whose famous quote was “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”. I am related to Ute Warren Perkins, who helped settle Southern Nevada. He was a great-grandson of a Revolutionary war patriot, also named Ute.

It is also through the Perkins family that I am related to Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin. The start of our Whitney line begins with John Whitney and his wife Ruth Reynolds, who had several children. Two of their sons, Joseph and Nathaniel, each married and had their own families. I am descended from Joseph, while Eli Whitney is descended from Nathaniel.

I find genealogy so fascinating. You never know who you’re related to! It was all discovered on the LDS Church’s FamilySearch.org website.