Howel (JM-1) ap Llewelyn (JL-1) ap Iorwerth (JK-1) ap Gruffydd (JJ-1) ap Iorwerth Fychan (JI-1) ap Jeuaf (JH-1) [1st of Llwyn-Onn] brought my Y-chromosome down the Celtic, to become the Welsh, yet to become my JONES surname family tree. Little did old Howel (JM-1) know the home front of Llwyn-Onn would continue to maintain the families' survival for generations yet to be.
Now those "Norman-French" (French speaking), those "Anglo-Saxons" (Early English speaking), all those "Church" folks (Latin speaking) and, my "Welsh" ancestors (Welsh speaking) faced one another across new dynamics of influences yet to be fully developed. Can you imagine not enough folks to plow all those fields and to milk all those cows! Unemployment going through the roof! Talking about inflation!!! Well anyhow, Edward III got busy with his "Order of The Garter" circling his followers around him, forming a commonalty of his realm. This gave strength to his "demesne" and a more developed (institutionalized) "Throne of England".
Meanwhile, those Anglo-Saxon (warrior freeman) scattered all about the place in their shires were determined to maintain their rights and freedoms. They clustered around that group meeting in an elected Parliament, declared in 1362, that English would become the language of the law [Statue of Pleading 36 Edw III c.15]!!! Can you believe it, they opened Parliament for the first time in ENGLISH! Not all that French language stuff. What a deal!
Then there were all those church folks who faced one another. Let's see now, residing at Rome was Urban VI who had England's support. Then there was residing at Avignon (French), Clement VII who "BOTH" claimed to be Pope. Here we go, war between two Popes? Yes sir, the "Great Schism" [1378-1417] it has been called. England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Italy (except Naples) was on one side. France, Naples, Scotland, Savory, Loraine, and the Spanish Kingdoms on the other side it was. Battles on earth joined by battles in the heavens. Oh my, where was one to go (?) was certainly a thought of the day.
Finally, my ancestors who seemed to be hiding out in the hills (Vale of Clwyd) come to light. As it turns out, not so hiding after all. The Norman-French had taken control of Ruthin [the de Grey family] who were to cause all kinds of problems down the road. The Anglo-Saxon [Hanmer family] were to become important in stabilizing many branches of the family tree. The church group centered at St. Asaph, not far up the road, helped clarify many questions regarding my Jones family connections. On and on it could go but...
Whew, what can one say...changes all around.
