Wood Kemble Donne Sands Hart Murray Trail

Gwrgant Ap Ithel and Nest Verch Gwyn

Husband Gwrgant Ap Ithel
 
         Born: Abt 1008
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
     Marriage: 
Wife Nest Verch Gwyn
 
         Born: Abt 1020
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 F Efa Verch Gwrgan
 
         Born: Abt 1036
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Cynan Feiniad Ap Gwaethfoed (      -      )
 
       Spouse: Cadwgan Ap Elystan Glodrydd, Earl Of Hereford (Abt 1020-Abt 1066)
General Notes: Husband - Gwrgant Ap Ithel

King of Glamorgan

Llewellyn Ap Ithel Ap Heilyn Ap Einudd and Verch LlewellynAp Moreiddig Ap Sandde Hart

Husband Llewellyn Ap Ithel Ap Heilyn Ap Einudd ¹
 
         Born:  - of Aelhaiarn and Derwen Anial, Dyffryn CLwyd, Denbigh
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Ithel Ap Heilyn Ap Einudd (      -      ) ²
       Mother: Eva Verch Owen Brogontyn (      -      ) ¹
 
     Marriage: 
Wife Verch LlewellynAp Moreiddig Ap Sandde Hart ¹
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 M Madog Ap Llewellyn Ap Ithel Ap Heilyn ²
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Verch Iorwerth Ap Madog Ap Rhirid Flai (      -      ) ²
Howel Ap Jefa Ap Ednowain

Husband Howel Ap Jefa Ap Ednowain
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Jefa Ap Ednowain Ap Trahairn Ap Caradog (      -      )
       Mother: 
 
     Marriage: 
Wife
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 F Gwenllian Verch Howel Ap Jefa Ap Ednowain ³
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Iorwerth Ap Llowarch Ap Bran (      -      ) ⁴
William ap John Vychan and Gwenn Ffoulk

Husband William ap John Vychan
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 1612
       Buried: 
 
       Father: John Vychan (      -      )
       Mother: 
 
     Marriage: 5 Jul 1607
Wife Gwenn Ffoulk
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 M David Williams
 
 
         Born: Abt 1536 - Gwernevet(Gwernyfed), Breconshire
   Christened: 
         Died: 22 Jan 1613
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Margaret Games (      -      )
         Marr: Bef 1579
 
       Spouse: Dorothy Lutton (      -      )
         Marr: 1597
General Notes: Husband - William ap John Vychan

of Blaeu-newydd, in the parish of Ystradfellte, Breconshire where he was a substantial yeoman. David Williams was his second son.

General Notes: Child - David Williams

According to "Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales" by Thomas Nicholas, written in 1872, the Gwernyfed Williams family maintained detailed family trees tracing their ancestry from David Williams back to Bleddyn ap Maenarch, an 11th century Celtic ruler of Brecknock, and from there back to Caradog Freich-Fras, a purported 6th Century Knight of King Arthur's Round Table. Bleddyn ap Maenarch was real enough. His castle, Tal-y-llyn, was at Llanfihangel Talyllyn. He was married to Elinor, a daughter of Tewdrw Mawr, Prince of South Wales. Thus, he was allied with Rhys ap Tewdrw, his wife's brother, who had been in Britainy, but had returned to Wales to battlle for control of South Wales after Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was murdered in about 1073. One of Rhys ap Tewdrw's adversaries fled to William Rufus, King of England, who seized upon this as an excuse to invade Wales in about 1087. The combined armies of Rhys ap Tewdrw and Bleddyn ap Maenarch were defeated by a Norman army under the command of Bernard Newmarch near the town of Brecon in the forest of Cwmgwingad in about 1092 and both Welsh Princes were killed. Newarch built a stronghold at Brecon, married a daughter of Welsh royal blood, and, also, seized Tal-y-llyn. However, Bleddyn ap Maenarch's oldest son, Gwagan retained part of Llanfihangel Talyllyn. Gwgan married Gwenllian, daughter of Philip Gwys, Lord of Wiston, Pemb. His oldest son was Sir Walter Wogan of Wiston. His second son, Trahaern Vychan, Lord of Llangors, maried Joan , daughter of Bleddyn, Lord of Cilsant, sister's daughter to Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of South Wales. Trahaern was murdered by William de Breos in 1197, but not before he had children. His grandson, Rhys ap Howel (i.e. his father's name was Howel) lived at Aberllyfni. Rhys ap Howel conspired with the Norman Lords of the March against Edward II . He was instrumental in taking Edward II prisoner at the castle of Llantrisant, Glamorganshire on November 16, 1326. His third son, Einion Sais, served Edward III in the battle of Cressy in 1346 and Poitier s in 1356. Einion Sais' first wife was Joan, daughter of Howel, Lord of Miscin. Einion Sais' son, Rhys, had a son, Adam, whose wife was Elinor, daughter and co-heiress of Llewelyn ap Howel Hen. Adam's son, Rhys, married Goleubryd, daughter of David ap Owen. From there the line "zig zags through several alterations of names" not mentioned by Nicholas (although he mentions the Awbrey and Hopkins (of Llysnewydd) families) until we reach David Williams. According to the finding aid (located at http://www.llgc.org.uk:81/isysquery/irl2efc/3/doc) for the Gwernyfed Estate Records held by the National Library of Wales (GB 0210 GWEFED), parcel #76 contains pedigrees for the Williams of Gwernyfed and Eltham.

A photograph of a portrait of David Williams is in the London Metropolitan Archives ACC/1302/165

According to the summary of the Gwernyfed Estate Records held by the National Library of Wales (GB 0210 GWEFED) Sir David purchased the Gwernyfed Estate in 1600 from John Gunter.

Although I have not viewed all the pedigrees in the National Library of Wales mentioned above, I have established David William's pedigree going back to Einion Sais. The starting point was a series of articles on the Wood and Williams family which appeared in the Cardiff Times on March 24, 1894 (pg. 1), April 6, 1894 (pg. 3) and April 7, 1894 (pg. 1). The first article spends only one paragraph describing David Williams pedigree and omits much but it gives the name of David Williams father as William ap John Vychan and John Vychan's father as Sir Sir William Gwynn of Garreglawr. A google search for William ap John Vychan turned up the following entry from a digitized copy of the "Heraldic Visitations of Wales and Part of the Marches between the Years of 1586 and 1613, Under the Authority of Clarencieux and Norroy, Two Kings at Arms": "Sir Harry Williams of Gwernyfed (knighted 1613), ap Sir David Williams, Knight, ap William ap John Vychan ap Gwillim Gwyn ap Llewelyn ap Gwillim ap Rys Lloyd ap Adam ap Rys ap Einion Sais". This dovetails with Nicholas' account and, also, dovetails with a pedigree of Einion Sais at penrose.org, which covers these descendants down through Llewelyn ap Gwilym and provides a great deal more detail going back from there to Einion Sais. The first Cardiff Times article says that David Williams and his wife, Mary, daughter of John Games of Aberbran, were distantly related. As my tree shows, this is, in fact, the case, since David Williams is descended from Einion Sais' son, Rhys, and his wife, Mary/Margarate Games is descended from Einion Sais' son Hywell . I got a second google hit on William ap John Vychan from the Clwyd Family History Society Web site: http://www.clwydfhs.org.uk/, entitled Clwyd Surnames, which provides, from Jones' Marriages (from Parish Registers) that William ap John Vychan married Gwen Ffoulk on July 5, 1607.

The first Cardiff Times provides further details about David Williams. He was called to Bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 1576. He was appointed Recorder of Brecon in 1587. He was chosen Lent Reader of Middle Temple in 1590 and created a serjeant-at-law in November 1591. He was chosen member of four parliaments representing Brecon during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in 1584, 1586, 1588 and 1597. On February 4, 1604 he was appointed to the King's Bench, a judgship which he held until his death. He held lands besides Gwernyfed in the counties of Brecknock, Hereford, Bershire and Oxford. He received a grant of the Manor of Glasbury from Queen Elizabeth. He was knighted 23 July 1603.

The following is his biography in "The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603", ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981:
Williams came of an obscure branch of an ancient border family. His father was a 'substantial yeoman' and cousin to Sir John Price of The Priory. His first wife was sister to Thomas Games, who represented the shire in 1572 and the two succeeding Parliaments, and to Walter Games, who had preceded Williams in the representation of the boroughs; her family was also related to that of Vaughan of Porthaml. But it was to the law that he owed his fortune and standing. Until 1593 his practice was confined to South Wales, but his attainment in that year of the rank of serjeant-at-law ('the youngest of all the serjeants', it was said), enabled him to plead at Westminster and occasionally in Star Chamber and Chancery. He was believed to have owed his preferment to Lord Burghley, who 'much respected him for his honesty, learning and modesty'.

Even before this, about a year after he became a bencher of his inn, the Earl of Pembroke as president had put forward his name in a list of lawyers 'not unworthy appointment' to the council in the marches of Wales, and his name appears again among Cecil's memoranda a decade later on a draft list of councillors, most of whom (but not Williams) were appointed soon afterwards. In 1598 Burghley suggested that Williams should be made a baron of the Exchequer, despite the difficulty of his 'small living' occasioned by his growing family; and in the following year the younger Cecil wished him to succeed Thomas Owen as puisne judge in the court of common pleas. But Williams had only just been appointed by the dean and chapter of Westminster as their legal adviser (also in succession to Owen), and Dean Gabriel Goodman pleaded that he should be 'spared for the present' from these distracting duties, urging especially his 'charge of children'. In the next reign he was appointed a puisne judge and he never got his seat on the council in the marches of Wales.3

Meanwhile he had been steadily increasing his fortune not only by legal fees but by extensive grants and purchases of land, some of them used merely for the profits of re-sale. In his own shire he made early purchases in his ancestral parish, and in 1591 (in association with two of his sons) he leased from the Crown the rectory of Devynock. Queen Elizabeth also granted him the manor of Glasbury, and in 1612 he purchased the great tithes of Gwenddwr \emdash a former monastic property now vested in the Crown and worth about £20 a year. His acquisitions extended also into the parishes of Llandyssul in Cardiganshire, Llandinam in Montgomeryshire, Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, and Upton in Pembrokeshire, and included some of the former possessions of Sir John Perrot.4

He brought a Star Chamber action in 1581 against some of his neighbours alleging perjury at the Brecon sessions and in the council in the marches of Wales concerning lands in Glasbury; and another in the same court two years later, against a Glamorganshire man for theft and subornation of the jury. But in 1585 he himself was accused of having 'instigated' John Games (his father-in-law), Robert Knollys and others to dispute in a disorderly manner the possession of the demesne lands of Dinas, Breconshire, by Blanche Parry, the Queen's 'chief gentlewoman'; and in 1601 of having, as lessee of the lands of Mary Price, a royal ward (and probably a kinswoman of his), encroached on property in Aylton, Herefordshire.5

In 1600 he bought from John Gunter the mansion of Gwernyfed, intending it no doubt as a Breconshire seat for his progeny, who indeed remained prominent in county politics and society until the line died out about a century later. He himself was resident mainly in England, either at Serjeants' Inn or at the Berkshire seat he acquired as a result of his second marriage, which also enabled him to build up substantial estates in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.6

In politics and religion Williams naturally stood by the established order. He was careful to dissociate himself from, and ready to denounce, the suspicious activities of some of his border neighbours, notably Roger Vaughan of Clyro, at the time of the Essex revolt; and the only occasion when the firmness of his religious loyalty was called in question was in 1609, when Eure (then president of the council in the marches of Wales) complained of his laxity at Herefordshire assizes in allowing the local recusants (who had shown their strength a few months before the Gunpowder Plot) to take the new oath of abjuration in a modified form. Yet it was he and his colleague Yelverton who in 1606 had condemned Edward Morgan of Llantarnam to the forfeiture of a big slice of his estates for recusancy.

Williams was active in his first Parliament, sitting on committees concerning common recoveries in Wales (19 Dec. 1584), perfecting of assurances (22 Mar. 1585) and apprentices (23 Mar.). He was also appointed to a conference with the Lords over the fraudulent conveyances dispute on 15 Feb. 1585. No activity has been found in his name for his next two Parliaments. In 1597, however, he was again active, being named to a committee concerning bridges at Newport and Caerleon on 29 Nov., which he reported to the House on 3 Dec., D'Ewes here confusing him with Yelverton. Williams was also appointed to committees concerning armour and weapons (14 Nov.), a bridge over the river Wye (12 Dec.), defence (16 Jan. 1598), three private bills (18, 20, Jan.) and the manor of Paris Garden (19 Jan.). His son Henry, on coming of age, succeeded him in the borough representation.

Williams died 22 Jan. 1613 at Kingston Bagpuze, where his entrails are buried, his body being taken for burial to Brecon priory, where an elaborate effigy marks the spot. In his will, dated 15 Feb. 1612, proved 27 Jan. 1613, he left plate to the lord chancellor and the vicars choral of Hereford, and he assigned the tithes of Gwenddwr to Breconshire charities including roads and bridges, feast-day sermons in the churches of Glasbury, Ystradfellte and Aberllyfni, and bread for the poor in these parishes and in the vicinity of Gwernyfed. A passage from his will reads:

Whereas it hath been heretofore agreed between my good and kind brother [Peter] Warburton and myself that the survivor of us twain should have the other's best scarlet robes, now I do will that my said good brother Warburton shall have the choice of either of my scarlet robes and he to take that shall best like him, praying him that as he hath been a good and kind brother unto me, so he will be a good and kind friend to my children.

Williams's Welsh estates were inherited by his son Henry.7

Notes

1.
DNB; DWB.
2.
M.T. Bench Bk. 86; APC, xii. 350 (the Brecon and Beaumaris names have been transposed); Flenley, Cal. Reg. Council, Marches of Wales, 213, 237.
3.
DNB; T. Jones, Brec. iii. 81-3; DWB, 786-7; HMC Hatfield, ix. 45; xi. 567; xiii. 457.
4.
Exchequer, ed. E. G. Jones (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. iv), 97-8; Exchequer Jas. I, ed. T. I. J. Jones (same ser. xv), 89, 91, 97, 123, 138, 276-7, 293, 306; CSP Dom. 1591-4, p. 18; Arch. Camb. (ser. 4), i. 306; Rep. on Charities, 1815-39, xlii. 364.
5.
Star Chamber, ed. Edwards (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. i), 27, 28; Exchequer, ed. E. G. Jones, 31; HMC Hatfield, xi. 575.
6.
DWB; DNB.
7.
HMC Hatfield, xi. 133; xii. 642; R. Mathias, Whitsun Riot; CSP Dom. 1603-10, p. 378; Exchequer Jas. I, ed. T. I. J. Jones, 257; D'Ewes, 343, 349, 371, 372, 556, 565, 571, 581, 582, 583, 584, 591; N. and Q. (ser. 4), ii. 9, 24; DNB; T. Jones. Brec. loc. cit.

Dafydd Prince Of Wales Ap Llewellyn and Isabella De Braose

Husband Dafydd Prince Of Wales Ap Llewellyn ⁵
 
         Born: Abt 1209 - Caernarvonshire, wales
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Llewellyn Ap Iorwerth the Great (1173-1240) ⁶
       Mother: Joan Of England Plantagenet (Abt 1191-      ) ⁵
 
     Marriage: 
Wife Isabella De Braose
 
         Born: Abt 1226
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

Gruffydd Ap Llewellyn and Senena Verch Caradog Ap Thomas Ap Rhodri

Husband Gruffydd Ap Llewellyn ⁷
 
         Born: Abt 1207 - Caernarvonshire, wales
   Christened: 
         Died: 1244
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Llewellyn Ap Iorwerth the Great (1173-1240) ⁶
       Mother: Tanglwyst Verch Llywarch (Abt 1168-      ) ⁸
 
     Marriage: 
Wife Senena Verch Caradog Ap Thomas Ap Rhodri
 
         Born: Abt 1210
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 M Owen Goch ⁸
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
2 M Rhodri Gryffydd ⁸
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
3 M Sir Lord Of Denbigh David Gryffydd ⁹
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 1283
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Daughter of the Earl of Derby (      -      )
4 F Gwladys Verch Gruffydd Ap Llewellyn ¹⁰
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Rhys Vychan Ap Rhys Mechell Ap Lord Rhys (      -1271) ¹¹
5 M Llywellyn The Great Prince Wales Y Llyw Gryffydd
 
         Born: Abt 1230
   Christened: 
         Died: 1282 - slain
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Eleanor De Montfort (1252-      )
General Notes: Child - Sir Lord Of Denbigh David Gryffydd

from whom are descenfeded the Lloyds of Trallwyn

Idnerth Ap Llewellyn

Husband Idnerth Ap Llewellyn
 
         Born: fabt 1120
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Llewellyn Ap Idnerth Ap Cadwgan Ap Elystan (Abt 1085-      ) ¹²
       Mother: Ellen Verch Rhys Ap Aron (      -      ) ¹²
 
     Marriage: 
Wife
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 M Owen Ap Idnerth ¹²
 
         Born: Abt 1150 - Coed Helen, Caernarvon, Wales
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
Thomas Ap Llewellyn

Husband Thomas Ap Llewellyn
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Llewellyn Ap Owain (      -      )
       Mother: 
 
     Marriage: 
Wife
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 F Elen
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Spouse: Gruffydd (      -1370)
Madog Ap Llewellyn Ap Ithel Ap Heilyn and Verch Iorwerth Ap Madog Ap Rhirid Flai

Husband Madog Ap Llewellyn Ap Ithel Ap Heilyn ²
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Llewellyn Ap Ithel Ap Heilyn Ap Einudd (      -      ) ¹
       Mother: Verch LlewellynAp Moreiddig Ap Sandde Hart (      -      ) ¹
 
     Marriage: 
Wife Verch Iorwerth Ap Madog Ap Rhirid Flai ²
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 M Ithel Goch Ap Madog Ap Llewellyn Ap Ithel ¹
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
Llewelyn Vychan Ap Llewellyn Ap Madog Goch

Husband Llewelyn Vychan Ap Llewellyn Ap Madog Goch
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 
       Father: Llewellyn Ap Madog Goch Ap Iorwerth Goch (      -      )
       Mother: 
 
     Marriage: 
Wife
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
Children

1 M Adda Ap Llewellyn Vychan Ap Llewellyn Goch
 
         Born: 
   Christened: 
         Died: 
       Buried: 
 

Sources

1 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 307.

2 j e griffiths pedigrees of anglesey and caernarvonshire families, j e griffiths, 307.

3 j e griffiths pedigrees of anglesey and caernarvonshire families, j e griffiths, 89.

4 j e griffiths pedigrees of anglesey and caernarvonshire families, j e griffiths, 89 and 138.

5 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 178.

6 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 328 and 305.

7 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 328.

8 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 305.

9 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 370.

10 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 305. .... Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 230.

11 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 230.

12 Griffith J.E. Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire families, 202.

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