3.THOMAS3FITZ-STEPHEN (AIRARD2, STEPHENS1) was born in Normandy, France, and died 1120 in England.
Notes for THOMASFITZ-STEPHEN: Thomas Fitz-Stephen commanded the "White Ship" known as the finest in the Norman 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 is forever associated with the great catastrophe by which when conveying Prince William, the heir to the throne, accompanied by a large number of the nobility, from Harfleur to England it struck a hidden rock and went down with the loss of all but one of those on board.2 Fitz Stephen 1 Strickland, 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 of Reys ap Tedwr, King of South Wales, by whom he had issue; 1. Robert, one of the Norman conquerors of Ireland. Robert Fitz Stephen was active in war in Wales and was held captive three years by his cousin Rhys ap Greffydd, and released on the mediation of his half brother, David Fitz Gerald, Bishop of St. Davids. He then became active in the conquest of Ireland, and his success led to the movement of Richard de Clare, commonly called Strongbow, a member of the family of the Earls of Gloucester. He also fought for Henry II in the English civil war of 1173, and in France 1174. In 1177 he, with Miles Cogan, received a grant of the Kingdom of Cork on condition of feudal service to the King of England by sixty knights. Later he was associated with William Fitz Aldhelm in the government. He reigned five years at Cork, 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's Anglo-Normans; Strickland, I, 117; Hume I, 262, etc. Strickland says, (I, 116), that Thomas Fitz Stephen "demanded the honor of conveying the heir of England home because his father had commanded the Mora, the ship that brought William the Conqueror to the shores of England. His petition was granted."
2 This Stephen Fitz Stephen has long been claimed as a member of the family--the claim not always being admitted. The general facts are now pretty well ascertained; and while it cannot be said that all doubt is removed, the discoveries are confirmatory of the claim. As the weight of evidence is decidedly in favor of his place in this genealogy, he is so placed with this note to qualify the entry. Whether his name is included in the pedigree or not, in no way affects the line of descent, as his own line died out with his son.
