According to Russell Crowe, he is a descendant of the last person to be beheaded in England, who was a Jacobite known for his deceitful plots.
On X, the actor, originally from New Zealand, shared that his investigation into his family history uncovered a connection to Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat. Fraser was executed for treason at the age of 80 in 1747 at the Tower of London.
King George II deemed the execution to be highly important and even arranged for extra stands to accommodate the large number of spectators. Unfortunately, one of these platforms collapsed right before the execution, leading to the deaths of approximately nine individuals. Legend has it that this incident caused Fraser, also known as the Old Fox due to his cunning nature, to laugh hysterically as the executioner swung his axe, giving rise to the phrase “laughing his head off”.
Crowe stated on X: “I have been searching for my Italian ancestors for a considerable amount of time. Folkloric stories within my family and incorrect name spellings led me down numerous incorrect paths.”
My ancestor on my mother’s side, who came to New Zealand in 1864, was Luigi Ghezzi. He was born in 1829 in Ascoli Piceno, Marche, to Augestine and Annunziata from Parma. Luigi had been employed in Argentina, but his journey took him to India where he survived a shipwreck and eventually ended up in Cape Town. It was there that he met and married Mary Ann Curtain before immigrating to New Zealand. This is quite interesting.
“Another interesting discovery on my paternal grandmother’s side through John (Jock) Fraser (who immigrated to New Zealand in 1841) is our direct lineage to Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat. He was a notable figure known as ‘The Old Fox’. You should look him up.”
It appears that his deceitful actions finally caught up with him at the age of 80. He now holds a notorious reputation as the final person to suffer decapitation while still alive in the Tower of London.
“His passing popularized a saying. Reportedly, special seating was arranged for the wealthy to witness his execution. However, one of the stands collapsed, causing the deaths of nine spectators. Learning of this just before his own death caused him to laugh. He continued to laugh as the blade severed his head, giving the phrase ‘laughing his head off’ a literal meaning. Quite interesting.”
Crowe stated that they have discovered connections to Norway, Italy, Scotland, and Māori ancestry. However, despite a close relative’s DNA test showing a majority Irish background, the specific connection remains unknown.
“Here’s another interesting fact: In my mother’s family, there were three generations where women married men with the last name Crowe. I’ve had people approach me and claim that we are related, but I initially brushed it off because I thought I knew all the members of the Crowe family. However, it turns out that I am also related to a different line of Crowes who immigrated to Australia in its early days. It’s quite intriguing.”
“I am thrilled to discover the Italian connection, and I realize that despite having visited many parts of Italy, there are still many new places for me to explore. It seems like there is an exciting journey ahead.”
Crowe has a strong connection to his Māori roots and is also the relative of former New Zealand cricket player, Martin Crowe.
Source: theguardian.com
