Is Thomas David Griffith the son/ grandson of William Griffith??
Thomas David Griffith or aka as Thomas ap David ap Griffith (Griffith-12117) is shown as living at Cwmconnell (CwmKonnell) St. Dogmaels in Pembrokeshire, Wales In his will dated 1721, Ref. National Library of Wales.
Along with Cwmconnell he leaves to his children a property named Cawrence in the parish of Llangoedmore, Cardiganshire or sometimes shown as in the parish of Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire as the property sits on the border of the two land divisions.
Thomas David Griffith is shown as living at Cwmconnell, St. Dogmaels during the 1670 Hearth Tax so it is safe to say he could have been born circa 1650.
The Heraldic Visitations of Wales by Lewis Dwnn show that Cawrence aka Tyddyn Lawrens as it was known back then was occupied by William Griffiths (William ap Griffith) in 1609. whom is shown to be descended from Gruffydd ap Ieuan.
It is assumed that Thomas came into possession of Cawrence due to his descent from the Griffith’s line either directly from William ap Griffith or a brother of William named David as both William and Thomas show they descend from an ‘ap Griffith’.
There is an elegy written in 1790 by a bard Ioan Sienkin and recorded in Blodau Dyfed about a David Griffith of Patngywn which is also in Llangoedmore. The elegy describes that David’s mother was the daughter to an able man that resided at Cwmconnell and owned wide lands and that he was a member of the church of England but friendly to non-conformists.
Within the will of Thomas David Griffiths it shows that he was a member of the church of England and that he leaves money to the poor.
The elegy also states that David of Pantwgwyn descended from nobility of powerful Cawrence and Llwyndyrus also in Llangoedmor, this is shown in the Heraldic Visitations also.
Thomas David Griffiths son John Thomas (Will dated 1744) had a daughter named Diana (Will dated 1775), she inherited Cwmconnell and Cawrence, and within her will the same David Griffith of Pantwgwyn is recorded although he is shown as then living at Noyadd which is also in Llangoedmore, she left some property to him. Diana married a William Ayleway and in 1760 he was shown as owner of Cawrens (Ref: Francis Jones Historic Cardiganshire Homes).
Thomas David Griffith’s daughter Elizabeth is shown in his will as the wife of a Griffith John, however a Griffith John of Llwyndyrus (will 1769) is shown as the father to David Griffith of Pantgwyn.
Within Griffith John’s will it mentions that his (present) wife is Margaret, this clearly shows she is his second wife and adding weight to Elizabeth the mother of David Griffith being Griffith John’s first wife.
