Huddle 'up

        Playing sports was an expected part of my growing-up days in central Kentucky. Of course, "Go Big Blue" was the only game in town but, a few folks, would allow football as a second choice. My one year of American football (1964-1965) at age 14, was just about the right time for those male hormones to bang around that football field. Each team had a quarterback, who called the plays. When they had the ball (call offence) and, all 11 players would gather around in a tightly packed circle called a huddle. The start of each play was called and, the game would begin here. It was generally believed that all players would remember their assigned tasks for this play designated. Hum, ... how many plays were there in the playbooks? Anyhow, the huddle became the place where new visions could be suggested after the last one flopped on the field.

       My genealogy head twisted about to this memory and realized that many, many times my need was a play call. This would help move my decisions on down the branches of my Jones surname family tree. Who's the quarterback anyway? Where are all the teammates? Such a complex network of factors surrounded the many possible direction in the decision-making process. All kinds of knots and twist needed to be considered, contemplated, reviewed, recognized, and handled, as a group, or individually, at any one point in time. A host of issues or, was it web of confusion, that these walls presented themselves along the way, to many, if not all, the genealogist climbing out their family tree. Well let's see if it might be helpful to call a huddle (conceptually) to all those factors. At least from the period of my Jones surname ancestors as they began their new generations after the "Black-Death".

       Now the major cultural teams playing against one-another (and my ancestors) in their football field of life can be visualized as follows [shown previously 19 February 2025 in post "Incessant Warfare"]:

      It is my suggestion that each group of folks shown above have their own huddle concentrated at one post per team (cultural group). This would give each huddle a way to center the factors (forces) by discussion among those who might be interested. Hopefully, it would give a clearer picture of how this huddle group was distinct among my family tree but, not genetically connected. A distinction between each may help all other tree climbers of the Jones surname untie some of the often-twisted branches. So ... let's huddle 'up!

P.S. From my earlier days tried to help with blog The Brick Wall Protocol started August 6, 2011. https://thebrickwallprotocol.blogspot.com

The Grass Still Grows

       Always amazing for me, was how my Celtic, to become Welsh, yet still to become my Jones surname ancestors survived each new day among the hills of the Clwyd. Staying alive, while finding yourself still alive, would certainly be high on everyone's "to do list"! Since my 1950's, B&W T.V. days [see post November 2, 2015], "Circle the Wagons" would be a basic principle to be applied but, guess not many folks left to wheel the wagons following the 1350s. 

       Let's see now, there was Howel (JM-1), son of Llewelyn (JL-1), who was the eldest son of Iorwerth (JK-1) all down the family tree from that homestead place called Llwyn-Ynn [see posts of September 26, 2024, and August 28, 2023]. Gather all the sheep and guide them southeast, to that wool ready location at Oswestry. Herd all the cattle northeast to that other family place called Llwyn-Onn (at Wrexham) with their hides, skins, and meat. Having repeated this family occupation for generations, it would seem a good idea to keep things going the best way we know [see post September 23, 2023].  A little like "circling the wagons". Anyway, the grass still grows "among them there hills" as we would say in my part of the world!

P.S. Here is a scan of that Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) which in the Welsh can be written in the plural as Ynn or Onn. How about that!

From the glossary in the book by Ruth Thomas titled South Wales, published 1977 starting page 206. On page 208 she gives "Ash tree", "Onnen (pl. onn, ynn).

The Music Of Life II

        Life is our existence as we know it. Existence is our reality as we experience it. Experience is our innate perception of the environment that surrounds us. Our perception of this environment is brought to us through an organic platform made up of 100 trillion of cells that somehow have figured out a way to function in concert. A concert that provides our conscious existence with this experience. Beginning at the union of 23 chromosomes to make that first unique cell [seems to take 46 chromosomes to get things working well]. Our existence and experience play their first note...ah yes, the music of life.  

        Some 13 years ago a post titled "The Music of Life" was written [April 27, 2012]. Recently, re-reading this post, a couple of changes seemed more helpful. These changes are written in italics per above.

         The word innate meaning "existing in (or) belonging to an individual from birth" is defined [p. 590 from my Webster's]. The word inne (innan) does also exist in my Anglo-Saxon dictionary page 403 as referenced in Webester as meaning "within". How about that, the Saxons had it right!

         Additionally, could never remember an actual number to the cells until now when, low and behold, Guyton in my medical school physiology text page 9 gives his number between "...75 to 100 trillion cells in the human being..."! Let's keep that music of life still playing.

Coming Home

       On this Memorial Day May 26, 2025, would like to remember my Dad and, the many others coming home. Thank you for the life you gave and, the love still flowing in our Jones surname family tree. Remembering you and the others who served.

       On the back of this photo is written...

  On the Marine Robin coming home.

Another Platform For Discussion

       Paul Murtaugh in his book "Your Irish Coats-OF-Arms", published 1959, writes on page 2, "...for it was from his own genealogies that each man of the tribe, poor as well as rich, held the charter of his civil state, his right of property in the cantrel in which he was born, the soil of which was occupied by one family or clan, and in which no one lawfully possessed any portion of the soil if he was not of the same race with the chief." (Quote taken the Irish historian O'Donovan) The following scan is taken from this book showing just one page of the many that are drawn. There are no JONES surnames listed in the many Irish surnames given among the pages.

       The text is somewhat difficult to utilize by its unusual structure and indexes. The "Red Hand" symbol has its own unique story among the Irish.

Changes

      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.

A Discussion

        By now, the spring of 2025, it would seem probable that the multiple folks visiting this blog spot from the different places around the world might have some comments, questions, corrections or, suggestions regarding all this genealogy stuff about my Jones surname ancestors. Who would have guessed that all these countries including France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Russia, Israel, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and 35 others including the old U.S. of A., would have paid a visit to this "old" genealogist's part of the world! 

       At any rate, allow me a chance to say "hello" and suggest this post starts a platform for discussion to all those who still might be interested in the genealogy of the JONES surname. A few basic suggestions: 1) the language used to be in English, 2) unclear terms involved be defined using Webster's dictionary [post 25 November 2024] and, 3) the goal being a mutual understanding.

       For example, never did my well-known ancestor, Inigo Jones (1573-1652), from my earliest days of genealogy tree climbing, not be considered Welsh [multiple posts but, most recent 15 December 2012, 25 December 2021, and 20 August 2024]. However, my most respected and frequently utilized Welsh text by John Davies [post of 16 November 2022] states on p. 256 "...Inigo Jones was the first Englishman (all efforts to make a Welshman of him have failed) ...".  Say What !!! Not a Welshman??? 

       Well, anyway, would love to discuss with anyone connected to this author's last known teaching location as member of the Department of Welsh History at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His last activity was completing a history of BBC broadcasting in Wales. Suspect that there still might be some folks around his thought processes that remain to this spring day of 2025. Perhaps some of his associates could join in a discussion. Please post using the comment location at the end of this post under "post a comment".

On The Other Side

        Deep and wide was the valley of death that forged its way into the world starting just east of the 70th degree longitude around 1346. It followed the major European trade routes and seaports until it arrived in the bailiwick of my Celtic, to become Welsh, yet to become my Jones surname family tree. The court rolls of Ruthin (Vale of Clwyd) 1349 recorded 77 of the inhabitants died within 2 weeks starting March of 1349.  [p. 154, Ziegler, post 21 February 2024] More than 1/3 of the world's population and, my family's small part thereof, are thought to have perished stated by Davies (p.186) in his book on Wales. [see post 16 November 2022] Law and order flew out the windows. A shortage of labor left many of the fields unplowed, nor planted, or harvested and, a decay of the manor and the manorial system followed. [That is the Welsh system as discussed 10 April 2024!]

      Now to the eager genealogist there was nothing more exciting than to find an ancestor that had already compiled a well-documented, accurate, and completed family tree in the direction you are headed! Even more so when you faced "the end of the road" at "world's end" with such a deep valley before your family tree branches. As a reminder here is such the family tree as shown in posts before:

       Taken from Jones-Parry "Paternal Descent", pp. 354-355, County Families of Carnarvonshire, Nicholas, Vol. I, a referenced discussed in several post as early 27 February 2023. You can see that we made a home to last among the Vale of Clwyd and that place called Llwyn-Onn.

Incessant Warfare

       Relationships between the cultures of the day (1350 A.D.) were mostly decided on the fields of battle. Rights by inheritance, rights by defense, and rights by conquest were often brought into question. The commote (Welsh-my ancestors), the hundred (Anglo-Saxon), and the demesne (Norman-French) often help define the issues.  Edward III in 1337 brought the throne of France and his claim of ownership into the conflicts of the day and, continued the battles yet to come. [see post 3 August, 5 February 2024]. At any rate, the following figure tries to show the spheres of culture on the north side of the channel as relates to my yet to become Jones surname ancestors. 

       So here we go. My Celtic to Welsh ancestors saw their land ownership as a right by inheritance. Any free man could become a proprietor (land owner) and pass down these rights to all sons. The Anglo-Saxons (Mercia) like to build fences along the land they had claimed to settle. Their free man was the well experience warrior who would commit to defend their burghal under the leadership of their council, the Witan. Land ownership by rights of defense and, fences (dykes) as outlined above with Offa's Dyke! The Norman-French like to claim their land by right of combat under a chief lord and, built all kinds of mote and bailey strongholds. Allegiance to the chief lord was the foundation of the demesne and, each fighter was expecting a reward in land (the fief). A much more fluid boundary was established called the Marches.

       A forth cultural dynamic not often considered a fighter among these battle fields was the Catholic (universal) Church. Their sphere of influence permeated all the social groups shown above. Of course each church group saw things a little differently among their community of believers. Monistic concepts dominated the most western side of the land (My Welsh ancestors). Monks went about the folks nearby and raised a lot of sheep. The Cistercian Order seem to dominate.

      The church seemed the center of community get-togethers involving the hundreds of the Mercia. Priest set about calling the folks together ringing that bell on those Sundays. The Augustine Order brought these folks together on the most part.

       Those French speaking folks like to build places to remember their victories and, an abbot gave the directions to all the folks around. The Benedictine Order lead the way.

       So there you have it. All the cluster groups were to be squashed together within that great valley of death to be changed forever on the other side. Warfare stopped for a while with all these folks fighting the flea. [see post 21 February 21, 2024] An Incessant Warfare indeed!        

Moving on Out My Family Tree Branches

      Cataclysmic catastrophizes change the world during their hallways of time. Such was the black death of 1348-1351 A.D. as discussed in posts February 21, 2024, and March 7, 2024. How the ancestors yet to become my Jones surname Y-DNA might have managed to climb out the great valley of death during this period of time is discussed September 2, 7, 24, 26, and October 13, 2024. The eldest son Llewelyn (JL-1) living before 1350, through Howel (JM-1) living during the great death, to Edward (JN-1) living just after, all past down their DNA to the branches. It is important to note that Llewelyn (JL-1) had 3 sons. Besides eldest son Howel (JM-1), he had sons Jevan (JM-3) and Madog (JM-4). More related branches down this family tree. You can again begin to see the added difficulty in keeping all the related branches connected correctly on both sides of this great valley of death.                                                                                                 

Being Alive 2025

       The new year begins for me still moving about my Jones surname family tree. One reference that will still be used is titled The Historians' History Of The World. It describes itself as "A Comprehensive Narrative of the Rise and Development of Nations from the Earliest Times. Edited with the Assistance of Advisers and Contributors", by Henry Smith Williams. It was first published 1904 "In Twenty-Five Volumes" by The "Encyclopaedia Britannica Company", New York. Each of the volumes shows the following image with the Latin statement as scanned.

      On multiple occasions the meaning of this motto marched around the valleys and canyons of my mine seeking its translation. Any Latin speaking folks out there in blogspot land that might help with a translation? This present site has visitors from around 170 countries with Brazil, Germany, and Austria heading the list at the start of 2025. Please post in the comment section which follows below your translation. It may be a good motto for this new year?