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Thomas Fitz-Stephen commanded the "White Ship" known as the finest in theNorman Navy. Stevens Genealoge. Some Descendants OF THE Fitz Stepben Famile IN ENGLAND AND NEW ENGLAND. BY C. ELLIS STEVENS, LL.D., D.C.L. F.S.A. (EDINBURGH) KNIGHT COMNANDER OF THE ORDER OF CHRIST OF PORTUGAL. NEW YORK PRIVATELY PRINTED 1904 THOMAS FITZ STEPHEN, who commanded the "Blanche Nef", better known as the"White Ship", "the finest vessel in the Norman navy".1 This vessel isforever associated with the great catastrophe by which when conveying Prince William, the heir to the throne, accompaniedby a large number of the nobility, from Harfleur to England it struck a hidden rock and went downwith the loss of all but one of those on board.2 Fitz Stephen 1Strickland, 1, p. 116 2 Dante Gabriel Rossetti has versed this:-- Stout Fitz Stephen came to the King-- A captain famous in seafaring; And he held to the King, in all men's sight, A mark of gold for his tribute's right. ISSUE: I. RALPH, of whom presently. II. Stephen, Governor of Cardigan Castle,2 who married Nesta, daughter ofReys ap Tedwr, King of South Wales, by whom he had issue; 1. Robert, one of the Norman conquerors of Ireland. Robert Fitz Stephenwas active in war in Wales and was held captive three years by his cousinRhys ap Greffydd, and released on the mediation of his half brother, David Fitz Gerald, Bishop of St. Davids. He then became activein the conquest of Ireland, and his success led to the movement ofRichard de Clare, commonly called Strongbow, a member of the family of the Earls of Gloucester. He also fought for Henry II in theEnglish civil war of 1173, and in France 1174. In 1177 he, with MilesCogan, received a grant of the Kingdom of Cork on condition of feudalservice to the King of England by sixty knights. Later he was associatedwith William Fitz Aldhelm in the government. He reigned five years atCork, and died 1183 leaving no heirs.1 "Liege Lord! My father guided the ship From whose boat your father's foot did slip, "When he caught the English soil in his grip, And cried, 'by this clasp I claim command O'er every rood of English land!' "He was borne to the realm you rule o'er now In that ship with the archer carved at her prow, "And thither I'll bear an' it be my due, Your father's son and his grandson too". Quoth the King; "My ships are chosen each one, But I'll not say nay to Stephen's son. "My son and daughter and fellowship Shall cross the water in the White Ship." 1 Odericus Vitalis refers to Thomas Fitz Stephen. See also Tirry'sAnglo-Normans; Strickland, I, 117; Hume I, 262, etc. Strickland says, (I, 116), thatThomas Fitz Stephen "demanded the honor of conveying the heir of Englandhome because his father had commanded the Mora, the ship that broughtWilliam the Conqueror to the shores of England. His petition wasgranted." 2 This Stephen Fitz Stephen has long been claimed as a member of thefamily--the claim not always being admitted. The general facts are nowpretty well ascertained; and while it cannot be said that all doubt isremoved, the discoveries are confirmatory of the claim. As the weight ofevidence is decidedly in favor of his place in this genealogy, he is soplaced with this note to qualify the entry. Whether his name is includedin the pedigree or not, in no way affects the line of descent, as his ownline died out with his son. -----William Lackey Stephens;http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/t/e/William-Lackey--Stephens/index.html
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