New Rules and New Rulers

       Subordination to a higher authority can bring about all kinds of changes to the home front. For my ancestors, following the Statute of Rhuddlan 1284, changes were introduced in what became the new areas called Flint [Tegeingl and Maelor Saesneg], Denbigh [Ros and Rhufoniog], Rhuthun [Cantref of Dyffryn Clawyd], and Bromfield & Yale [Maelor Gymraeg]. A new governmental framework was established involving the institution of "English" criminal law to what was the families' common law. The focus here are the Maelors since Tudor Trevor (JC-1) was recognized as the founder of "The tribe of the Marches" where the Maelors played a central role. 

      Let's see now. New fellows named "Sheriffs" were appointed to administer each of these new named areas. They were to collect rents and new taxes owed to the new "Lord Paramount" which was conceived as the "The Crown". Sheriffs were to supervise local officials and, hold a court once a month [Juries introduced]. The IRS [Exchequer at Westminster] held the purse strings but, local jurisdiction was considered legitimate authority. A solemn treaty it was announced. From "Common Law" to "State Law" was the main change of concept thus, providing an order and tranquility to that wild and free way of living among all the family. (Hywel Dda would certainly have something to say about all these changes.)

       "Movables" (inheritances) was to remain under common law and, land disputes could be solved by the local folks. Since the family moved to Llwyn-Onn, Iorwerth Fychan (JI-1) [see post of 28 August  2023], until Llewelyn (JL-1), who was named after Llywelyn (II) [who died 11 December 1282], the family had already made a number of adjustments to the mindset. For example, there were new ways of survival (post 11 Oct 2023 "Food & Fleece") and self-sufficiency (post 20 Nov 2023).  A new network of connectors were established as discussed in post of 23 Sept 2023 ("Highroads"). The family then faced a series of ground shaking events and a series of tidal waves [see post 1 Dec 2023 ("Sea of Troubles") and, 6 Jan 2024 ("Shifting Sands")]! Then Howel (JM-1) had to submit to a new authority with a whole bunch of new horizons to face.

       Hum...the "Hundred Years War" 1337-1453, the battle of Calais 1346, the "Black Death" 1350, and the battle of Poitiers 1356, were all about to hit the fan under this new prerogative of "The Crown"... new rules and new Rulers, what can one say.

For review: family tree from Iorwerth Fychan (JI-1) to Howel (JM-1). All marked with blue color.

Panorama

       Just look at it. A mental picture of the earliest branches of my Jones surname family tree. Color coded it is.                   

           From Gadforch (JA-1) at the top, to the ninth generations down the branches (JI) and, all those folks in-between are presented. How do you say "Wow"! Tudor Trevor (JC-1) starts things out with a bang, realizing his wife Angharad (JC-2) was the daughter of that law giver Hywel. Three sons and a daughter come next branching out in all directions. While exploring all the branches, a few key items should be noted.

       First, Tudor Trevor (JC-1) had a brother. Ynyr Frych (JC-3) was his name and, his identity has not been recognized prior to all this tree climbing. He was described as Abbot of Dore Abby (Adad Dor) in the "Golden Valley" Hereford. 

 

      The second item to note is that Gronwy (JD-1), eldest son of Tudor Trevor (JC-1), had as heir a daughter Rhingor (JE-3). She married a fellow named Cynelyn (JE-6), which of all things produced a son Ethelystan Glodrydd (JF-6) who is discussed at some lengths among the many pages yet to come down the hallways of history. Royal Tribe IV of Wales is his beginning [Between the Wye and Severn].   

       Close by, the second son of Tudor Trevor (JC-1), Llydocya (JD-2), also had a daughter Gweyrl (JE-7) who married a fellow named Ednowain ap Bradwen (JE-8), who founded Noble Tribe XV in Merioneth. In addition, a son of Llydocya (JD-2), Llywarch Gam (JE-4) [meaning crooked footstep], leads a significant branch down to the noted individual Rhys Sais (JG-4), who married Eva (JG-3) a daughter of Cynrig (JF-1), making Rhys Sais (JG-4), a son-in-law to the fellow who is remembered as being killed 1073 A.D. Whew, can you follow all that?  He was in direct line to my branch through Dingad (JD-3)! 

       Also note, the line of Dingad (JD-3) married into the oldest brother's line Efa (JH18) to Jeuaf (JH-1). The second son's line also joined in with Eva (JG-3) to Rhys Sais ( JG-4).

  

      It was Dingad (JD-3) who was the baby of the family. Little did he know that a future branch of his family tree would be identified by the saying of all others, "Keep Up With The Joneses". 

A Page...or Two

       Saving and storing all that family tree stuff can present all kinds of decisions. How does one begin and how does one finish? You can imagine that after a few generations things can get a bit crowed and all clumped together. A coding systems has been discussed [post of 9 March 2023] and offers a way to keep each family member identifiable from all others who might clog up the branches. Putting things together in a paper format may also be another way to help keep things organized. The following copy of my coding system placed on paper is shown.

      Now remember, the capital letter of the English alphabet represents the surname of the individual putting the family tree together. For my surname Jones it would be "J". Any future note or document having an individual starting their code with a "J" would always be of my Jones surname family. The second capital letter would represent the generation that this individual would belong. The first of course would be "A" if starting at the top of the family tree. Thus JA would mean an individual belonging to the first generation from the top. Thus, B=second, C=third and so on down the branches for at least 26 generations! Next, the JA followed by "-", then a number would indicate the place that this individual holds within that generation. Thus, JA-1 would mean the named individual was the first to be located among this generation by the one doing all the searching. By way of remembering from previous posts, the next figure shows the coding system as presented by my drawings.

     Starting at the top fellow colored blue, JA-1 = Gadforch. He is the first of my great...great...grandfathers starting from the top of my family tree. His wife JA-2= name unknown for now, but if discovered at a later date, she already has a place among the branches. The son JB-1 = Ynyr, a good Celtic name (see post 31 March 2023). His wife Rhiengar of Hereford =JB-2 is listed and, on down the connected line can be followed. JC-1= Tudor Trevor (see post 27 April 2023), then coming to Dingad JD-3 the baby of this generation. My page shown first above at this generation [the D generation or 4th in line down from the top] list all family members identified as to this date 6/15/2011. You can see this expands the number of individuals as the increasing of branches are applied. The JE generation grows larger in number and you can imagine how each following generation would multiply. Several hundred of folks are listed in some of the generations sharing the same number of branches along the way. 

       Also note you can add additional comments important to recall for future tree climbers. My specific grandfather line is underlined.  It certainly might take a page or two.

     

   

Consider History

 

       From London, 1861. 

Shifting Sands

       Waves tossed sporadically upon the shorelines of the ocean of troubles. My Jones family would have certainly been bounced about many times during this corridor of time. No dry land around this place and, it would be hard to find a dry spot anywhere. Walking in any direction would be a challenge. 

       Let's see now, Llywelyn "The Great" died 11 April 1240 A.D. He lost his head after a few title waves hit his sands of time. Then his son Dafydd, lost even more of his body parts 25 February 1246. Treaty of Woodstock arrived 1247 giving some respite to the height of waves. Then, Henry III granted Llywelyn "The Last" some respect with the Treaty of Montgomery 1267 AD. Then after that fellow named "Longshanks" (Edward I) Tsunami'd his way on shore, the first war wave 1276-1277 A.D. began. Then, the Treaty of Aberconway (Conway) 1277 A.D. was followed by the second tsunami of war 1282-1283 A.D., giving rise to The Statute of Rhuddlan 1284. [Llywelyn "The Last" died 11 December 1282] "Divine Providence" old Longshanks would write. Little did he realize, he was just part of the shifting sands.

       Reference for the above events can be found in the first text used in many of my tree climbing adventures and, a copy still lives in one of the most useful research notebooks numbered #1. [For a discussion of my research notebooks see [ https://tjgresearchnotebooks.blogspot.com ]. 

Llywelyn The Great 1234 (plate 39), Treaty of Woodstock (plate 40), Treaty of Montgomery 1267 (plate 36), First War Welsh Independence 1276-1277 (plate 42), Treaty of Aberconway 1277 (plate 43), Second War Independence (plate 44), and The Statute Rhuddlan 1284 (plate 45).

From The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed, by Cenydd Morus, Illustrations by R. Machell published 1914.