| ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? |
My 48th & 49th Great Grandfather (4x over), Beli Mawr, Beli The Great m. Don ferch Mathonwy or Anna. Traditional High King of Briton (c. BC 73-72) from the "House of Capoir" and Leader of the Silures (fl. 100 BC), and ruler of Gwynedd (c. 110 BC). Other projections have him reigning circa 400-375 BC. Connected with Geoffrey of Monmouth's King Heli, son of Digueillus/Cligueillus/Eligueillus. Also possibly a false oral tradition rememberence of Cunobelinus/Cunobeline/Kynobellinus/Cunobelin (Cynfelyn in Welsh, Kymbelinus in Brito-Latin, or Shakespeare's Cymbeline) about whom other sources equate with a great-grandson of Cassivellaunus. Sources listing Beli Mawr's father as Manogan appear to come from sucessive translations relating to this connection in Caligula, Historia Adversus Paganos, & Historia Brittonum. Often connected with Celtic Belinus (Belgios) the Great, purported brother of King Brennus/Brennos, with whom he who was co-leader of the Gaulic (Senones) forces that captured Rome about 390 BC. Also connected with Belenus, a Celtic Sun God whom the Romans equated with Apollo, or with Belatu-Cadros, whom the Romans equated with Mars. Likewise his wife is equated with Dôn a Welsh river mother goddess equated with the Irish Danu/Dana and gaulish Donau though some medieval creations equate his wife as Anna, cousin or step-daughter or niece or "foster daughter" or some combination there-of of the Virgin Mary. Others say that Anna was the second wife, his first, Euriphile, was barren but these same source's confuse their own timeline, givinig Beli's mother as being a daughter of Emperor Tiberius which is impossible since a- Tiberius followed Beli chronologically by at least 2 generations, possibly more (possibly much more), & b- Tiberius's only recorded daughter died in infancy. 4 to 6 Children:
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| My 47th & 48th Great Grandfather (4x over), Afallach Sometimes confused as the father and son Aflech & Avallach. Others have Afallach ap Lludd. said to have married Athilda, his cousin (she is also said to be a sister of Old King Cole), who later married a Frankish king named Marcomir (see note). Variations on the spelling of his name include: Avallac, Aballac, Aflech, Af[al]lech, Avallach, Aballac[h], & [A]Ballad. Sometmies equated with Eubulus, or (misteakenly) with Evallach/Evelac of Mercia. note: It's likely this "Marcomir" his wife is said to have later married is the (pseudo-historical/mostly legendary) Marcomer/Marchomir, Frankish dux of the Sicambri (or at least of the Ampsivarii & Chatti) who is said to have been a son of king Priam of Troy and yet also co-leader of the frankish invasion of Roman Gaul and was father of the legendary King Pharamond, events that are spread over more than a millenia and a half of history. With this entry we're clearly still in the realm of Mythology. Two Children:
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| My 46th & 47th Great Grandfather (4x over), Euddolen/Eudos/Eifudd Often confused with three seperate people, the grandfather father and son Eudelen/Enddolev, Eudos/Endos, & Ebiud/Eneid |
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| My 45th & 46th Great Grandfather (4x over), Eudeyrn/Euddigan sometimes confused with two seperate people, the father and son Outigern/Endeyrn & Oudecant/Endigant. Is Eudeyrn indeed the same as [O]utigim who fought against Ida, king of Bernicia, as some sources have? |
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| My 44th & 45th Great Grandfather (4x over), Rhydeyrn aka Ritigirn |
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| My 43rd & 44th Great Grandfather (4x over), Rhifedel aka Lumetel, aka Riuedel |
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| My 42nd & 43rd Great Grandfather (4x over), Gratian aka Grat, aka Gradd |
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| My 41st & 42nd Great Grandfather (4x over), Urban aka Vrban Other versions swap him for his nephew, Bran |
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| My 40th & 41st Great Grandfather (4x over), Telpwyll aka Telpuil, aka Tyddbwyll |
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| My 39th & 40th Great Grandfather (4x over), either Cunedda I or Deheuwaint/Tegfan/Tasciovanus. Deheuwaint/Tegfan (Tasciovanus in Latin) is often confused as own father and son, Teuhant/Deheuwaint and Tecmant/Tegvan |
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| My 38th & 39th Great Grandfather (4x over), Coel Codevog or Coel Hen (The Old) or Coyl Hen Guotepauc or Ceneu 3rd century A.D., posible individual for whom the nuresry song/rhyme "Old King Cole" is based on. Others say that the Godhebog ("the Magnificent" or "the Defender") refer to "King" Cole of Colchester, another potential source of the "Old King Cole" Rhyme. potentially Coel II, High of the Britons in 305, though this more likely refers to the King Cole of Colchester. King of North Britain (aka Kingdom of Kyle). Leader of the Southern Votadini 410 to about the 440s, though projections say he lived around 350-420 time frame. Many suggest he was the last Roman Duces/Dux Brittanniarum (Duke of the Britons - in roman times Duke was a military title similar to General). Three suggested Children:
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| My 37th & 38th Great Grandfather (4x over), Ceneu ap Coel, St. Ceneu Born c. 382. Welsh Cenyw, Latin Ceneus, English Kenneth. Bishop of Saint David's from c. 610. King of Northern Britain, inc. Rheged & "Ebrauc" (York) Two children:
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| My 36th & 37th Great Grandfather (4x over), Gwrast Lledlwm. b.422? Likely the same as Gwrgi the Ragged, king of Rheged from the 480s to the 500s. Latin: Gurgusts, English: Fergus. Lledlwm apparently means the Ragged Some versions have him as the borther of St. Ceneu rather than his son. Also seen as Gorwst Lledlum or Gorust Ledlwm. Inherited the western lands of St. Ceneu's kingdom "stretching from the Salway to the Mersey" (EBK), the future Rheged.
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| My 35th & 36th Great Grandfather (4x over), Meirchion Gul. Born c.438, died c.535 or in the 540s. married Essylt ferch Culwynedd. aka, Marcianus/Merchiaun the Lean, king of Rheged from the 500s to the 540s or till about 535. Meirchion is Welsh, Marcianus is Latin, and Markian is English.
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| My 34th & 35th Great Grandfather (4x over), Cynfarch Oer b. 535? married Nyfain ferch Brychan (dau. of Brychan Brycheiniog ap Anlach, King of Brycheiniog. aka Cynmarch the Dismal, King of North Rheged in the 560's & 70's. the epithet Oer is also translated as the Unwelcoming or the Cold. aka Cunomarcus or Cynfach ap Meirchion. Cynfarch is welsh, Cunomarcus is Latin, Cunomark is English. Likely the one who forced King Senyllt (Sennylt ap Dingat) out of Galwyddel/Gallgeidhael (Galloway), around 550. Some legends equate him, as Cun-march ap Meirchion or March ap Meirchion, with the legendary King Mark of Kernow, most famously from the Tristan and Iseult story. Though most equate "Kernow" with Cornwall, some instead place it in modern Galloway - ie see the Mote of Mark - or connect it with the Cornovii tribe of the West Midlands and Cheshire. Others still have that King Mark was a brother of this individual (see above). Six Children, birth order unknown:
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| My 33rd & 34th Great Grandfather (4x over), Uryan Reged, Lord of Kedwelly (Kidwelly). Married 1st Owen ferch Ceredig. Married 2nd Margaret La Faye (Morganna the Fair or aka Morgan la Fay, sorceress of the Arthurian Legends, possibly inspired by, or confused with, the goddess Modron ferch Afallach) (dau. of Gerolus/Gerlois, Legendary Duke of Cornwall). Known in Latin as Urbgenius, in some English versions an Orian. Othertimes listed as King Urien of Rheged. Arthurian Legends list him as king of Gore and Lord Tennyson connects him with King Rience, King of North Wales, Ireland, and "many isles" of arthurian myth. Ruler of Llwyfenydd (belived to refer to the Lyvennet Valley) and of Catraeth (Catterick in North Yorkshire). Fought against the Angles of Bernicia. Originally a prince of the North Britons (King of North Rheged c. 570-c.590), expelled by the advancing Saxons in the 6th century and fled to West Wales where he became Lord of Carunilou (Carunllou) & Iskennen, South (?) Wales. Other versions have that he was betrayed and assasinated on the orders of his ally Morcant Bulc of Bryneich. Build the castle of Carrey Cermin in Carmathenshire, Wales.
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| My 32nd & 33rd Great Grandfather (4x over), Pasgen. "King of Gwyr" (EBK) Fought with his brother Owein against Dunaut Bwr (Dunod Fawr) of Dunoting. Then fled and settled at Gwyr (Gower) in South Wales when the Angles overran the north. Five (?) Children:
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| My 31st & 32nd Great Grandfather (4x over), Mott? Mor? Rhirid? Other sources have that there a number of missing generations between a Mor ap Pasgen and a Llywarch ap Rhirid. See also Mott. |
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| My 30th & 31st Great Grandfather (4x over), Larch or Llywarch. See also Larch. |
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| My 29th & 30th Great Grandfather (4x over), Rhyne or Rhun. See also Rhyne. |
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| My 28th & 29th Great Grandfather (4x over), Cecilt or Seisyll. See also Cecilt. |
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| My 27th & 28th Great Grandfather (4x over), Gwrwared/Gurwared. See also Gurwared. |
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| My 26th & 27th Great Grandfather (4x over), Cynhaethwy/Cynhachthwy/Kynhathwye ap Gwrwared. See also Kynhathwye. |
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| My 25th & 26th Great Grandfather (4x over), Llywarch/Lloarch ap Cynhaethwy. Two Children:
See also Lloarch. |
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| My 24th & 25th Great Grandfather (4x over), Einion/Eynion ap Llwarch, Lord of Kidwelly. born c.1150. Married Ann verch Llewellyn (dau. of Llewellyn Mawr ap Cydifor* & Elen verch Caradog). *=suspicious since Llewellyn Mawr was Llewellyn ap Iorwerth, not Llewellyn ap Cydifor, unless perhaps this Llewellyn was called "Mawr" (The Great) before the rise of Llewellyn ap Iorwerth in the late late 12th/early 13th Century subsequently overshadowed this earlier Llewellyn ap Cydifor. Kidwelly is both a district and a castle in Carmarthenshire on the coast, formerly in the Llanelli district of Dyfed, or historically in Cantref Eginawc of Ystrad Tywi (Vale of the Tywi) and begining by 1106 (at the latest - after previously being captured by the welsh by or before 1093) it is part of de Londres marcher (English, or rather Anglo-Norman) lordship of Ogmore & Kidwelly, though it is in welsh hands at some point between 1136 & 1201 (though 'Llandilo, Present & Past' refers to a "Gruffydd, son of Ab Tewdwr", presumably Gruffyydd ap Rhys ap Tudor Mawr, aka Griffith II, King of Deheubarth, as having taken Kidwelly from William de Londres sometime between c.1113 and 1121) and again between 1215 & 1220 and again 1231 till somepoint after 1242 during the reigns of the Lord Rhys, his sons, and of Llywelyn the Great. Therefore presumably Einion was a supporter of one or more of them to have been titled thusly. See also Eynion, Lord of Kidwelly. |
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| My 23rd & 24th Great Grandfather (4x over), Gronwy ap/ab Einion, Lord of Iskennen. Married Lliwelydd verch Einion (dau. of Einion Clud ap Madog). Some source refer to him as Grongo, mostly in reference to his son Rhys as Rhys ap Grongo. Iskennen apparently refers to Is Cennen in Carmarthenshire (formerly in the district of Dinefwr in Dyfed, or historically in Cantref Bychan of Ystrad Tywi {Vale of the Tywi}). Four Children:
See also Gronwey, Lord of Iskennen. |
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| My 22nd & 23rd Great Grandfather (4x over), Rhys ap Gronwy of Iskesses. Married Margaret (dau. & co-heir of Lord Gruffydd/Griffith ap Cynwrig of Gwynvay). Two Children:
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| My 21st & 22nd Great Grandfather (4x over), Elidir/Elidar ap Rhys of Iskennen. Married Gwladus/Gwladys verch Philip (dau. of Philip ap Y Bach aka Philip ap Bah). 3 Children:
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| My 20th & 21st Great Grandfather (4x over), Sir Elidir/Elidar/Elidyr Ddu/Ddy ap/ab Elidir. Married either A) ? (Cecil?) verch Madog Hyddgam (dau. of Madog Hyddgam ap Madog {or ap Einion ap Madog} & Efa verch Madog) or B) Cicely (dau. of Siscilte ap Hyn, the son of Morithigne, Lord of Cantresclife). Other sources list wife as Cecily, dau. of Selaylit of Cantresselyf Mon. Knight of the Sepulchre. recorded in court records in 1303 & 1326. 13th to early 14th Century? 4 Children:
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| My 19th & 20th Great Grandfather (4x over), Philip/Phillip/Phylip ap/ab Elidir/Elidar FitzUryan. Married Gwaldus/Gwladys verch Daffyd/Daffydd Fras/fras (dau. of David Fras ap Einion Goch, aka Daffydd fras of Cydweli & Elen verch Meurig Trwyn). in service of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster 1362 or after, till at least 1386 (likely till later). late 13th to 14th Century? Two Children:
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| My 18th & 19th Great Grandfather (4x over), Nicholas/Nicolas ap Philip/Phillip FitzUryan. Born abt. 1367. Married Joan/Jonet/Jennet verch Gruffudd/Gruffydd (dau. of Gruffydd/Gruffydd ap Gwilym/Llywelyn/Llewelyn voethus/Foethus, constable of Maenordeilo, Catheiniog, & etc. & Generys verch Madoc). Other versions have that he was born abt. 1331 in Dynevor, Carmarthenshire, Wales and died abt. 1385 and that his mother-in-law was Gwenllian ferch Ieuan Llwyd. Some sources have his wife as "Sioned, dau of heir of Gruffudd ap Liewellyn Foethus". Possibly lived in Crug, near Llandeilo. One posthumous son: Gruffudd ap Nicholas See also Nicholas ap Phillip FitzUryan. |
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| My 17th & 18th Great Grandfather (4x over), Gruffudd ap Nicholas/Nicolas FitzUryan. Married 1st to Mabel verch Maredydd (she was b. abt. 1399, dau. of Maredydd/Maredudd/Meredith ap Henry Dwnn/Dwyn & Mallt verch Gruffydd). Married 2nd to Margaret Perrot (cousin of John Perrot, through whom the family reinherited the two towns around Dinefwr castle, namely Llandeilo & Newton. Margret was daughter of Sir Thomas Perrot of Eastington and Haroldston, but it is also stated that she outlived Gruffydd and remarried John Vytere) Married 3rd Joan/Jane verch Jenkin (dau. of Jenkin ap Rhys ap Dafydd of Gilfach-wen. Died 2 Feb 1461 at the Battle of Mortimers Cross. His first wife, Mabel verch Maredydd [ap Henry Dwnn], is the same as the Mabli Dwnn (or Mabli Don), as recorded in other records, from the Dwnn family of Kidwelly. She was thus also niece of Gwladus verch Henry Dwnn, wife of Gwilym ap Phylip and Gruffudd ap Nicholas's grand-aunt. Escheator of Iscennen in 1415, with increasing offices and land leases and profits from 1416, building many estates in Carmarthenshire & Cardiganshire and sponsored many welsh poets and helped revive the eisteddfod (in 1453). "Approver of the royal demesnes" at Dinefwr castle since 1425. Co-constable of Dinefwr castle in 1429 (with Rhys ap Gwilym). Steward of Kidwelly for Edmund Beaufort (future Duke of Somerset) since 1433. received English denizenship, possibly thanks to the efforts of Edmund Beaufort. Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1436. "Gruffudd ap Nicolas (c.1400-c.1456), a man who rose on the coat-tails of Duke Humphrey, was the most powerful of the Welsh gentry of his day. He was appointed sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1436 and deputy justice of the south in 1437, and he was granted the supervision of the estates of the diocese of St David's in 1447. He ruled west Wales from his home at Carmarthen Castle, and so great was his authority that he was able to flout any commands he received from London. He used his influence to build an estate and his example was followed by his son and grandson." (A History of Wales by John Davies, pg.203) leased the lordship of Dinefwr and the town of Newton 1440-1456. One of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester's men and recieved the custody (Wardship?) of the lordship of Caron and the commote of Pennarth during the minority of Maud, heiress of William Clement (1443). had also recieved parts of the land of Phillip Clement in 1437 (?). Briefly arrested with the rest of Gloucester's retinue upon the duke's fall (1447). Alongside the Bishop of St. Davids, granted the castle, manor, and town of Narberth by the Duke of York (1449). The poet "Lewys Glyn Cothi described Gruffudd ap Nicolas as the 'Constantine of great Carmarthen'." (A History of Wales by John Davies, pgs 204-5) Summoned to the kings council in 1443 to account for his outlawed son's (Owain) actions. (Deputy?) Justiciar of South Wales 1443-1456. "Gruffydd ab Nicholas, who was a person of great power and influence in these parts, in the reign of Henry VI., possessing a large fortune and being allied by marriage with the principal families both in North and South Wales...........his antipathy to the English was so great that it was some time before he could be induced to declare for the White or Red Rose......his tenants committed crimes and pillaged the lands of the English lords of the Marches..........as a result Lord Whitney had a royal commission to arrest Gruffydd.....Gruffydd subsequently joined forces with the earl of March at Gloster and fell mortally wounded at the moment of victory at Mortimer Cross...he was succeeded by his eldest son, Thomas." (excerpts from 'Llandilo, Present & Past' by W. Samuel, 1867) As the main Lancastrian supporter in South Wales, he lost much power after the Yorkist victory at St Albans in 1455 and reportedly did not get along with Edmund Tudor. Him and his son Owain had to seek a pardon from the queen in 1456. Transfered the castle and Lordship of Narberth to his son Owain in 1460/1. The below Thomas is the youngest legitimate son. Four Children:
See also Gruffydd ap Nicholas FitzUryan & Dictionary of Welsh Biography at the National Library of Wales. |
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| My 16th & 17th Great Grandfather (4x over), Thomas 'Hynaf' ap Gruffydd FitzUryan Born Abt. 1423 at Wales. Married 1st Abt. 1449 at Wales to Elizabeth/Elsbeth Op Griffith/Gruffydd (she was b. Abt. 1425 at Wales and d. Aft. 1450 at Wales, dau. and heiress of Sir John Griffith/Gruffydd of Llansadwrn and Abermarlais, Carmarthenshire, & Catherine Tyrwhitt). Married 2nd Jonet Malephant (dau. of Henry Malephant of Upton castle, Pembrokeshire and sister of Alswin Malephant, Owain's wife). Died Abt. 1474, at Wales. Thomas ap Griffith, "the Courteous". Escheator for Cardiganshire 1438-1450. succedded his father as deputy Chamberlain (in 1454) and as leaseholder (in 1460) at Dinefwr. Thomas and his brothers were supporters of the Lancastrian Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, and Thomas and his brother Owain held Carreg Cennen Castle against a force of 200 Yorkist men, surrendering after a siege after which he fled with his family to the Burgundian court following the Yorkist victory at Mortimers Cross. "Thomas ab Gruffydd was a mild man, he went abroad for a time to avoid the civil contest in which the country was then engaged.He was a noted dual fighter... and died as a result of one such contest. His first marriage wwas to the daughter of Sir John Gruffydd of Abermarlais, who brought him that property, and the second to the daughter of the Duke of Burgundy, he left issue by both. From the latter marriage descended the Johneses of Havod etc, and from the former, through Sir Rhys ab Thomas, Lord Dynevor. The elder sons of Thomas ab Gruffydd, Morgan and David, both are said to have lost their lives on opposite sides of the wars of the Roses. The next son of Thomas, in seniority, was Rhys ab Thomas........ " (excerpts from 'Llandilo, Present & Past' by W. Samuel, 1867). Note however: I haven't found any other source suggesting a son named David nor a marriage to the daughter of a duke of Burgundy. The Duke's of Burgundy at this time were of the house of Valois, and as a cadet of the royal line of France their genealogy is very well traced and there is no welsh connection apparent. Possibly slain in a skirmish or duel at Pennal in 1468, and buried on Bardsey Island, Carmarthenshire. Between 1 to 5 children:
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| My 15th & 16th Great Grandfather (4x over), Sir Rhys ap Thomas FitzUryan, PC, KG. Born Abt. 1449/50/51 at Wales. Married 1st Abt. 1473 at Wales to either A) Eva/Eve verch Gwillian/Gwilliam (she was b. Abt. 1452 at Wales and d. Aft. 1475 at Wales) or B) Efa verch Henry (dau. of Henry ap Gwilym of Cwrt Henri). Married 2nd to Joan Matthew (dau. of Thomas Matthew of Rhadyr, Glamorganshire, widow of Thomas Stradling of St. Donats). Died 1527 or Abt. 1525 at Wales, aged 76. Is wife option A & B the same woman?. note: Not to be confused with Rhys ap Thomas, the first Welshman to seek English denizenship and who subsequently became Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1413. Returned to Wales around 1467. Inherited part of his maternal grandfather's estate in Abermarlais, Carmarthenshire in 1471, as lord of Llansadwrn and of lands in Cardiganshire. After the failed 1483 rising of the Duke of Buckingham in Brecon, he became the chief magnate in the south-west of Wales, "..a man who adhered instinctively to the Lancastrianism which had been responsible for the elevation of his family." (A History of Wales by John Davies, pg 212) In 1484, Richard III paid him an annuity of 40 marks to buy his loyalty and he had not supported the uprising of Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham in 1483, but he did, (grudgingly?) support Henry Tudor in 1485. The legend is that as part of the annuity agreement he agreed that any one wishing ill-will towards the king in his area of wales would have to go "over" his "belly", and supposedly to absolve himself of this oath he waited under a bridge so Henry Tudor could march "over his belly". In refering to Henry Tudor's passage through wales, Davies writes "Apart from Pembroke, ... Henry did not receive a particularly warm welcome. No one in Wales resisted him, but neither was there a rush to join his ranks; the days of his march through Wales (8-14 August 1485) were a vexatious period for him. He had corresponded with Rhys ap Thomas, and it appears that Henry had promised to entrust Rhys with government of Wales. Nevertheless, Henry had reached the border before he was joined by Rhys and about a thousand men from Ystrad Tywi. (A History of Wales by John Davies, pg 212) Made a Knight of the Garter suposedly three days after the Battle of Bosworth field. Legend has it that he was the welsh soldier who slew Richard III during the battle (ie see the work of the Welsh poet Guto'r Glyn). Henry Tudor's uncle, Jasper, lord of Pembroke and Glamorgan, "... obtained the chief offices in the principality and the March, despite Henry's alleged promise to Rhys ap Thomas." (A History of Wales by John Davies, pg. 214). Amongst his other titles as reward for his support at Bosworth and at other times (helping to suppress the Brecon rising of 1486, Simnel's rebellion in 1487 inc. commanding a troop of horse at the battle of Stoke, the Cornish rising of 1497, and Perkin Warbeck's rebellion of Oct. 1497 inc. the Battle of Blackheath for which he was made a knight-banneret; accompaning Henry VII on his French expeditions to Boulogne in Oct. 1492, and even for fighting in France in 1513 at age 65 at the Battle of the Spurs, and was present atthe Field of the Cloth of Gold) he was made "Lieutenant and steward of Brecon, steward of Builth, and chamberlain of south Wales" or "Knight, Constable and Lieutenant of Breconshire; Chamberlain of Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire; Senschall and Chancellor of Haverfordwest, Rouse and Builth; Justicar of South wales, and Governor of all Wales; Knight Bannerett, and Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Garter; a Privy Councellor to Henry VII, and a favorite to Henry VIII." Guardian of Arthur, Prince of Wales at Ludlow castle. "While Jasper lived, Rhys ap Thomas's rewards were small. In 1496 however, he was appointed justice of the southern Principality, and he ruled his territories with considerable pomp from his luxurious castle at Carew. Rhys was the third Welshman ... to be appoined to a justiceship in Wales." (A History of Wales by John Davies, pg. 214) Justiciar in 1496, following Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke's death. Held several estates throughout west Wales including Carew Castle near Pembroke. The caput of his holdings was the manor house at Newton, Llandeilo. Though historians of the time (ie Ellis Gruffudd of Flintshire) assert that the gathering of these lands into the family hands by Rhys (and his father) was accomplished through dispossesing the commoners and that their descendents were cursed for it. Knight of the Garter, 1505. Acceded Dynevor 1506 (This apparently refers to his grandfathers former estates around Dinefwr Castle in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, and not any claim to the Welsh noble Dinefyr lineage. Dynevor {or Dinevor} is a later anglicization of the spelling with the creation of the title Baron Dynevor for the Earl Talbot in 1780. Alternatively, it might refer to the castle specifically seperate from the twin towns of Llandeilo & Newton - the juristiction having beeing seperated in 1433.) "Effectively the kings viceroy in south Wales." (Unknown original source attribution, repeated many places) "Henry VII saw fit to sweep away potential claimants to the throne ... After 1521 there were [remaining] in Wales only two men of substantial power one of them being Rhys ap Thomas. When "Rhys died in 1525; his estates were inherited by his grandson, Rhys ap Gruffudd, but most of his offices were granted to Walter Devereux, the steward of the household of the king's daughter, Mary." (A history of Wales by John Davies, pgs. 216-7) "........his marriage to the daughter and heiress of Henry ab Gwilym , of Court Henry, made him one of the most opulent subjects in the realm................displayed the magnificence of a prince rather than that of a private gentleman ..... A poet of his day wrote "Y brenin bia'r Ynys, Ond sy o ran i Syr Rhys" [The king owns the island, save what pertains to Sir Rhys]. This couplet was considered to impeach Rhys's loyalty, and led to his arraignment. After the defection of the Duke of Buckingham from Richard III.,and when a marriage was being concerted between Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward IV., and the Earl of Richmond, Rhys ab Thomas's assistance was regarded as of great consequence; and Milford Haven was the safest, if not the only place, at which the earl could land...but here Rhys was completely master; his friendship was therefore essential, and a reconciliation was effected between him and the Duke of Buckingham.......................The Earl of Richmond duly landed at Milford..........the combined forces were now ordered to march for Shrewsbury---one under Richmond through Cardiganshire, the other under Rhys through Carmarthenshire, then beacons were lighted and the whole country was immediately under arms. Rhys and his forces joined Richmond at Shrewsbury, Richard was informed of his danger and lost not a moment in preparing himself for the contest............The two armies encountered at Bosworth, and the rest is history. Welsh tradition asserts that Rhys ab Thomas slew King Richard in this encounter, fighting with him hand in hand, whatever, the conduct of Rhys on this memorable day was distinguished. The spoils of Richard's tent were shared between Rhys and Sir william Stanley, the earl of Richmond's father in law, and when the latter had placed the crown on Richmond's head, and the army had saluted him King Henry VII., as the first act of his reign, he conferred on Rhys ab Thomas the honour of knighthood. That was only the beginning , the king also appointed Rhys of the number of his council, then Governor of all Wales; constable and lietenant of Brecknock; chamberlain of South Wales in the counties of Cardigan and Caermarthen; and seneschal of the lordship of Builth. ... He was installed a Knight of the Order of the garter, received the lordship of narberth, and it is said declined either the earldom of Essex or Pembroke, alleging that knighthood was the greatest honour that could be conferred on a soldier. That is the last we hear of Rhys in the reign of Henry VII...on the accession of Henry VIII he appears to have been continued in all his offices.....and soon called upon to attend his royal master on an expedition to France....here he commanded the light horse at the siege of Therouenne and Tournay, and aquitted himself so much honour that on his return he was invested with the office of seneschal and chancellor of the manors of Haverfordwest and Roos in Pembrokeshire, with reversion to his son, Sir Gruffydd ab Rhys... From this time Sir Rhys appears to have withdrawn from court and resided wholly at Carew Castle where he passed the closing of his long and active life in retirement. He died in 1527 and was buried in the priory at Carmarthen but his tomb is now at St Peter's Church in that town." (excerpts from 'Llandilo, Present & Past' by W. Samuel, 1867) Was buried originally in Carmarthen priory, then reinterred at St. Peter's Church, Carmarthen, following Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. One legitimate son (with Eva/Eva): Griffith/Gruffydd Also had at least a dozen illegitimate children from assorted mistresses (does this include the Jones line at Abermarlais? or is that his nephew Sir Johnes?). See also Rhys ap Thomas FitzUryan, KG, Dictionary of Welsh Biography Online at National Library of Wales, & his Wikipedia entry. |
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| My 14th & 15th Great Grandfather (4x over), Griffith/Gruffydd ap Rhys FitzUryan. Born Abt. 1475 at Wales. Married Abt. 1498 at Wales to Katherine St. John. Died 1521/2. Sometimes recorded as Griffith Ryce. Held by Richard III as guarantee for his father's loyalty. Made a Knight of the Bath at the wedding of Prince Arthur 14 Nov. 1501 to whom he was a purportedly a close friend. See also Gruffydd ap Rhys FitzUryan, KB & his Wikipedia entry. |
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| My 13th & 14th Great Grandfather (4x over), Rhys ap Griffith/Gruffydd FitzUryan (Fitz Vryon) Born 1500 (or 1509) at London, Middlesex County, England. Married (1524) Katherine/Catherine Howard (she was b. Abt. 1500 at London, Middlesex County, England. Died 1553/4 at London, Middlesex County, England, dau. of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk & Agnes Tilney, remaried the Earl of Bridgewater). Beheaded 4 Dec. 1531. please note: This Rhys ap Gruffydd [ap Rhys ap Thomas] is not to be confused with Rhys ap Gruffydd [ap Rhys ap Tewdwr], better known as 'The Lord Rhys', a 12th Century ruler of Wales, as I have seen some 'net genealogies claim. Nor should he be confused with Rhys ap Gruffydd [ap Hywel ap Gruffydd ap Ednyfed Fychan] of Llansadwrn, Steward of Cardiganshire in 1309 who was active in raising Welsh forces between 1310 and 1341. When his grandfather died in 1525 (his father having already died in 1521), Henry VIII awarded most of the elder Rhys' titles and powers to Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers, for life, and not to the young (17 year old) Rhys, for which Rhys became Lord Ferrers enemy. In June 1529 Rhys entered Carmarthen Castle with 40 armed men and threated Lord Ferrers in a dagger fight. After Rhys was imprisoned in Carmarthen Castle, his wife rasied several hundred supporters and besieged the castle to free him. Various additional problems occured between Rhys and Lord Ferrers over the years, and for these acts of riot, and for engaging in piracy, Rhys was inprisoned in London by Oct. 1431. While in a London prison additional fabricated charges of treason were concocted as "he was accused of plotting with the King of Scots to overthrow Henry and make himself ruler of Wales" based supposedly on an old prophecy "that James of Scotland with the bloody hand, and the Raven, should conquer England". The Raven was Rhys's heraldic crest. Henry VIII apparently was covetous of Rhys's popularity and especially his wealth and estates and feared that by Rhys having adopted the FitzUrien surname he was attempting to claim a connection to the old kings (being a Catholic and an opponent of Anne Boleyn at the time certaintly didn't help his cause). He was beheaded 4 Dec. 1531 after being attainted of treason, and his grandfathers great estates and wealth (said to have been £10,000 a year in land and £30,000 in personal property) were confiscated by Henry VIII, just 6 years after the death of that elder Rhys, the "Favorite of Henry VIII". In further irony, his widow saw two of her nieces beheaded (Queen Anne Boleyn the daughter of her sister Elizabeth in 1536, and her namesake Queen Catherine Howard the daughter of her brother Edmund in 1542), she was herself convicted of treason in 1542 for covering up the adultery of her niece Catherine Howard (she was pardoned in 1543), and saw her brother condemned to death in 1547 (the execution was never carried out), all at the doing of Henry VIII. Between one to Three Children, possibly 2 of the below are the same individual just with a different translation of the first name (does Gruffyd=William?):
Also see Rhys ap Gruffydd FitzUryan & Dictionary of Welsh Biography at National Library of Wales. |
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| My 12th & 13th Great Grandfather (4x over), William Rhys Born Abt. 1522 at Boeman, Bucks, England. other source gives William Rice born 1525 |
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| ??? My 11th & 12th Great Grandfather (4x over), Thomas Royce ??? Born abt. 1569 at Boeman, Bucks, England. Died Abt. 1600 at Martock, Somersetshire, England Other source gives Thomas Rice of Boemer, Buckinghamshire, born 1555 and lists another son, Deacon Edmund Rice, b.~1594, twin of Robert, imigrated in 1639 and was one of the founders of Sudbury, MA and he m. Tamazine Hosmer |