Indispensable

       After a sea of troubles (post 1 Dec.), and multiple stone tsunamis (post 9 Dec.), somehow that Jones surname DNA got passed down the many generations yet to come. My amazement and thankfulness continues but, how'd they do that keeps coming to mind. Something special must have been one of the keys. Well, maybe several things played a role.

       Salt and lead would top my list. In and around Cheshire, Shropshire and the vale of Clwyd, the Deceangli managed to handle this production and they must have kept all the techniques to themselves.  Since Roman days, these needs would have been great for all folks. [Documentation has been presented in the book by Jones and Mattingly pp.179-232 discussed post 3 June 2022]. A considerable mining complex existed [Halkyn Mountain] including lead pigs (bars) with "Deceangli" stamped on the side [p. 184 same book].  

       Cattle, sheep, grain, and land to keep these items up and running would also be high on my list. Lots of grass and lots of grain would be needed. The Cornovii [a joint source of my DNA], even had a special place set aside. They would have handled all the wool and cloth production which most folks still needed to provide some Longjohns on those cold winter nights. 

       Essential personnel would seem to be part of their survival. Grass (highland) and grain (low land), indispensable among all the storms. Beef and meat to Wrexham and, sheep and wool to Oswestry it would have been. Keep those family fires (kiln) still burning [p. 205 same book].

P.S. Here are some of the family tree which have been discussed up to this window in time.. Thank you to all in these branches from my DNA to yours. Gadforch (JA-1) to Llewelyn (JL-1) and the other sons of Tudor Trevor (JC-1) are shown. My Jones line is marked in blue.

Hundred Rolls - Greatest Inquests

       Edward I was certainly a unique individual. A moto above his throne in 1274 in modern lingo might read, "No Lip, Off Nobody, No How". At any rate, one of his first actions was to investigate official malpractices among each local government (the shires). These were bailiffs, escheators, sheriffs, forgers, clipper of coins and the like who were using extortion and corruption to line their own pockets. This of course was to see that the rights and privileges of old Edward I was being followed correctly.

       Local juries were formed in each hundred so that common folks (those being ripped off) could bring their charges. Oaths were sworn and a list of official wrongdoings were recorded for each county. These written accounts came to be called "Hundred Rolls". The first phase of this endeavor was taken 1274-1275 and, this is the date (1275) that is usually thought as its record of history. 

        However, there was a second series of records recorded in 1279 to document the rents and services (under feudal custom) owned to our Edward I. [sounds like collecting taxes]! All land held in demesne (manorial land actually possessed by the lord and not held by tenants) was to be evaluated for all lords, free tenants and, villeins whose lands valued over f 20. Who held which land and by what feudal services were to be determined and owed to Edward I. [recovery and maintenance to the King]! 

       Now all this information has been given to present the first individual recorded in the English language with the surname JONES! Drum roll please... a female name Matilda Jones! After 30 years of research she was finally found in the Huntingdonshire Hundred Rolls of 1279. First discussed April 1, 2011, in my blog "The Jones Surname" [ https://thejonessurname.blogspot.com ] and again January 23, 2013, translated from the Latin, she was found to hold 4 acres of land and a half acre of orchard. She was required to pay an annual rent of 2 shillings, and provide a number of services to the Abbot of Thorney. This included help with harvest, milling, and hunting. Most likely the Abbot of Thorney, was located in Sibbington and, was a parish in the hundred of Norman-Cross. 

       Holy Mackerel, Matilda, the first with the surname JONES!

The reference for the Hundred Rolls is in the book by Michael Prestwich (see post 13 December, 2023) pages 92-98. Also discussed on pages 106, 235, 236, 258, 262, 291, 301, 406, and 560. Whew...a few pages indeed.

Many Years Later

       Climbing one's family tree can get fairly complicated. Generations follow generations often knotting up the branches as one climbs about. Historical events along the way can be helpful to sort out some of the many difficulties facing the genealogist. Such is the case for my own Jones surname investigations.

       During the historical events of the family [Iorweth Fychan JI-1, 1st of Llwyn-Onn ca. 1175 to Howel JM-1 fl 1360 ] a number of individuals came into view that were to have significant impact on unraveling prominent knots in my family tree. Most genealogists call these knots "brick walls" and, a discussion of this phenomena can be found at:

                                              https://thebrickwallprotocol.blogspot.com.

       Anyway, two historical figures and their families come into play during this window of time (1155 A.D. - 1305 A.D.].

        Edward I had declared war 1276 A.D. (see last post) and, his right hand man was a fellow named Reginal de Grey. He was appointed Justiciar of Chester in 1277 A.D. and was suppose to teach all those rebels English Law. In 1282 A.D. he was placed in control of Ruthin Castle and, new towns around Ruthan were begun. Now remember, this was just above my family at Llwyn-Onn and would have been a major factor in their survival. The de Grey family would be involved in many actions yet to come.

       A second gentleman to play a major role was Richard Fitzalan, known as Earl of Arundel. He was considered a leading Marcher Lord of the day and, his family controlled much land around Oswestry. This is the front door to the Vale of Dee where Tudor Trevor (JC-1) was born!

       Needless to say, for many generations yet to arrive, these two families were closely connected to the family tree...many years later.

       A discussion of the FitzAlan family indexed as "fitz Alan family, of Clun and Oswestry" p. 587 can be found in the helpful book by David Carpenter The Struggle for Mastery as shown, first published 2003.

       A discussion of Reginald de Grey, indexed under Grey p. 606, in the text by Michael Prestwich was shown last post.

Dig Way Down To Build Way Up

       It was difficult enough for my Jones surname ancestors to survive all those Norman-French speakers. They were the ones who dug the trenches, who pilled up all that dirt, and who cut down all those trees to plant those motte and bailey things all over the place.  Just a few months to build and, they were not going away on their own accord. Needless to say, they were just a shadow of things to come.

      Military Cathedrals to their god of war they could be called. Stone upon stone, taking years to build. A fellow named Edward I built 10 to his delight. The first three were started in 1283 and the last in 1295. Lots and lots of folks were needed after a good looking rocky crag near the sea was chosen. Hum, lets see...for one stone edifice you would need diggers (115), masons (227), wood cutters, carpenters (22), smiths (30), quarriers (115) and lots and lots of laborers and other workers (546). This story is told in some detail in the book by Michael Prestwich.

      On pages 112 and 113 he shows the ground plans for six of these castles giving a good idea of how much stone it would have taken. Now, a little closer look at this stone!

      You would certainly have to dig way down to build way up.

Helpful References for this period of my families' history.

Prestwich, M., Edward I, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1988.

Robinson, D., Heritage In Wales, Queen Anne Press, London, 1989.

Kightly, C., Strongholds Of The Realm, Thames and Hudson, London, 1979.

The Wales Tourist Board 1982, The Automobile Association 1982, Castles In Wales. See last post.

Stone Tsunami(s)

      Tossing waves to-and-fro continued the foment surrounding the family trying to stay afloat in this sea of troubles. Grandfathers Gruffydd (JJ-1), Iorwerth (JK-1) and, Llewelyn (JL-1) certainly had their survival life-vest afloat but, none of them could have forecasted the threshold of irritation that was about to erupt. A fellow named Llywelyn "The Last" took overruling most of the northern part of Wales [where Llwyn-Onn was located]. This was after the death of Llywelyn "The First" in 1240 A.D. and,  Henry III had a few things to say. It was the Treaty of Woodstock (30 April 1247) which forced Llywelyn "The Last" to recognize English Law. Needless to say, Llywelyn "The Last" put the shoe on his foot and, in 1258 was styled "Prince of Wales" by Henry III. By 1267 with the Peace of Montgomery, Llywelyn "The Last" was recognized "Sovereign of Wales" just before the death of Henry III in 1272.

      Now, a new sovereign of England arrived on the scene, being out of the country until 1274. This Edward I (1272-1307) took his new job very seriously and, he expected all of his anticipated subjects to pay their homage [a ceremony by which a man acknowledges himself the vassal of a lord]. You can imagine how the older Llywelyn "The Last" [age 51 compared to 37 years] who had received his sovereignty, from the very father of this new sovereign [Edward I], when he [Llywelyn "The Last"] had been summoned to Montgomery to give homage. This was the very location Llywelyn "The Last" had been declared sovereign of Wales in 1267. Nothing doing says Llywelyn "The Last", including at the coronation of Edward I 1274, the summons to Shrewsbury 1274, to Chester in August 1275, to West Minister October 1275, and, finally to Winchester January 1276 and April 1276. Can you feel it? The threshold of irritation was about to erupt, like a great volcano, as a declaration of war was issued by Edward I November 1276. Up, up, and away to a series of earthquakes (invasions) starting 1276 and lasting until 1296. This volcanic eruption, followed by a series of earthquakes, brought into existence a great stone tsunami(s) described best in the following:

      Each stone tsunami raised a wave of conquest that was to change the life of those still swimming around during this ocean of time. Some of the stones are still standing to this day.

Sea Of Troubles

       Day after day, week after week, month after month, and yes, even year after year, swimming around in a sea of troubles would require a very strong life-vest. Jeuaf (JH-1) was facing all kinds of trouble from Henry I (1100-1135 A.D.) including the battle of Llangollan (1132 A.D.) when the last ruler of Powys [Madgog ap Maredudd] allied with the Normans. Then came Stephen (1135-1155 A.D.) when at the battle of Coleshill (1149 A.D.) a fellow named William fitz Alan took over Oswestry, which was right in the middle of the family's front door. Then Henry II (1155-1189 A.D.) was pronounced by Pope Adrain IV, by a Papal Bull [formal statement from the Pope], to have authority to rule Scotland, Ireland, and Wales! An invasion wave hit the shores between 1158 - 1165 A.D. and old Henry and his forces took control of Tegeingl [part of families' original lands]. By this wave, grandfather... Iorweth Fychan (JI-1) was moving the family to Llwyn-Onn, just before Richard I (1189 - 1199 A.D.) and his favorite son John (1199 - 1216 A.D.), had "Llywellyn the Great" give homage to John and to marry his daughter Joan! Whew...gulp...gulp...but not enough!

      At age nine, Henry III (1216 - 1272 A.D.) found himself in authority (of England) under the regent William Marshall [Earl of Pembroke = Southwestern Wales]. In 1220, the rule of primogeniture was granted to the wishes of Llywellyn ap Iorwerth [The Great] being the English way of passing down the kingship. The Treaty of Woodstock, 30 April 1249, declared English Law to be recognized in Wales. Gruffydd (JJ-1) was born by this time in Llwyn-Onn who was named after a previous Gruffydd [Gruffydd ap Llywelyn] who lost his head swimming around these rough waters. Finally, it was our Llewelyn (JK-1) after the Peace of Montgomery (1267 A.D.) who was about to face the "Perfect Storm" yet to arrive among all these "Sea of Troubles".