Say What

      The post of February 15th showed in vivid color the family tree of my own Jones surname beginnings. "Say What!" you might be thinking, but this post connects this family tree to my own. Here it is using the same color code:

      It connects through the very little known genealogy that Hywel Dda had a daughter named Anghard. She was named after her own great-grandmother. [Top row green lady married to Rhodri Mawr.] The blue, orange, green colors follow each down the family tree to Elen [red colored lady] who brought Dyfed into the picture. Now it was Welsh law that the female joined the kindred of the husband, and she became a legal participate of her new kindred. She was joined to the tribe of Tudor Trevor (JC-1) which has much recorded as a tribe of the Marches. This marriage is listed by Nicholas Vol. I, p.451 and shown below:

      Here in the green marker is listed the daughter of Howel (Hywel) Dda and her marriage to Tudor Trevor. Of course this genealogy has much more to say for my own Jones surname, but this is just the beginning and, there are a lot of branches down the family tree.

Nicholas, T., Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales, London, 1872.

      In the front page it states "All Compiled By Direct Visitation Of The Counties, And From Reliable And Original Sources".

      Say What!

 

      My two volume set shown above was reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1991.

A Very Helpful Reference

       Reading the last post from a genealogist's point of view, you recognize the difficultly involved putting this family tree together. Going back in history is problem enough, but you had all the relationships to sort through. The following shows the cover of the major resource which has been used many times to help grasp the branches of this topic. It has been especially useful to one separated by a great pond since my branch changed their place of abode in 1649. This reference written by Mike Ashley in 1998, contains a delightful approach to all sorts of traditional and well documented folks. It organizes British kingdoms from the Roman invasion until Elizabeth II. 

       North Britain begins the listings with Coel Hen ("Old King Cole") p. 95. [Bless his merry old soul] Next is Southern Britain (England south of Yorkshire) p, 108, the South-East and South-West p. 113, and then begins my place in the world with Welsh Kingdoms p. 121. The following territories are listed:

                                                               Gwent & Glywysing p. 121

                                                               Ceredigion p. 130

                                                               Demetia & Dyfed p. 134

                                                               Venedotia & Gwynedd p. 139

                                                               Powys & The Marches p. 149

                                                               Gwerthrynion & Buirth p. 156

                                                               Brycheiniog p. 158

                                                               Meirionydd p.160

                                                               Dunoding p 162

                                                               Erging or Northern Gwent p. 162.

   Then come the Picts & Scots pp.164-192. and the Saxon Kingdoms pp. 208--323. There are multiple genealogical tables. The fight for Britain and the uniting the Kingdoms follow pp. 323-708. Can you believe it? A very helpful reference indeed.

 Ashley, M., British Kings & Queens, Barnes & Noble Books, (originally published as The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens, Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., 1998.

         

                                                                                    

All In The Family

      The years between 800 A.D. to 950 A.D. demonstrated the development of many changes among the tribal groups that had clustered together each having their new languages, legends, and traditions. Recognized districts were formed aided by mutual support among the kindred groups. The map that was shown in a previous post (3rd January 2023) has been colored coded showing the major territories as they became called by those who occupied and maintained control of the land. Take a look.

     Gwynedd (colored blue) was generally considered the most stable and prosperous having the highest point (Snowdonia at 3560 ft.), a protected food supply (Mon), and a special religious history dating from the Druids (Holyhead Mountain).

      Powys is colored orange, and had the longest border facing eastward against all comers. It was basically the front door to the mountains, and lots of folks came knocking.  

      Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi (called Seisyllwg at first) is colored green. It was protected by mountains from those coming from the east, and the sea gave support on two sides.

      Dyfed is outlined pink and almost surrounded by sea. The Irish had a few things to say along the way.

      All this discussion has been given so that a backdrop and context might be helpful in understanding the importance of my own Y-DNA. It was during this column of time that my family had its roots. The following figure matches the color coding shown above. It was the line of descent and marriages that formed the multiple family trees that seem to have survived.

      In 825 A.D., Merfyn became the ruler of Gwynedd (his line shown in blue).  He married Nest the daughter of the ruler of Powys (colored orange). Then, Rhodri (by line of descent) when his father died in 844 A.D., became chief of Gwynedd. Then, 10 years later his uncle-in-law died in 855 A.D., and by marriage (thru his mother) Rhodri could claim ownership to the lands of Powys. Thus, Rhodri (by line of descent and marriage) became the leader of both districts, Gwynedd in 844 A.D. and Powys in 855 A.D. It was also during this time that Rhodri married Anghard of the line of Seisyllwg (outlined green). Some 16 years later it was his brother-in-law Gwgon that died, and Rhodri became chief of  Seisyllwg. Man, how do you like this family tree? The genealogy virus within wanted to see if this family tree could be sorted. 

      Now Rhodri died in 877 A.D., and his son Cadell, had a son named Hywel, who married Elen of the line of Dyfed. Through this marriage Hywel (the grandson of Rhodri) came to rule Dyfed (colored pink). It was the daughter of this Hywel that married into my direct line of male descent. Wow, my own Jones surname way down the line. But hey, it was all in the family.