Bleddyn ap Tudur (abt. 1100)

Born about 1100 in Kingdom of Powys, Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Name and Ancestry

The Visitation of Shropshire (1623) shows Blethinus ap Tudor as the son of Tudor filius primogenitus Resi Says and Jana fil. Resi Vaughan ap Rees ap Mreddeth. ^[1]

Burke (1853) refers to him as Blethin ap Tudor^[2]

Burke shows Bleddyn ap Rhys Sais I ap Ednyfed ap Llywarch Gam ap Lluddica ap Tudor of Trevor ap Ynry), Lord of Eyton, descended from Tudor of Trevor Ynry, and Gwenillian verch Owain ab Traehearn ap Rotpert. ^[3]

Hamer describes Bleddyn as the eldest son of Tudor ab Rhys Sais. Rhys Sais, Lord of Chirk, Nanheudwy, and Maelor Saesneg (refer to the account of Plas Madog), died in the year 1070, ^[4]

Lloyd (1881) shows Bleddyn ab Tudor ap Rhys Sais. ^[5]

Boyer (2004), following Bartrum, shows him as Bleddyn ap Tudur ap Rhys Sais ap Ednyfed ^[6]

Turner-Thomas states that Bleddyn ap Tudur was the son of Tudur ap Rhys Sais and Jane ferch Rhys ^[7]

Wolcott names him Bleddyn ap Tudor. ^[8] Wolcott notes that Bleddyn's brother Gronwy was the father of Sir Roger and Jonas having wed the mother of three Peverel siblings. ^[8]

Birth Year Estimation

Wolcott estimates a birth year of 1085. ^[8]

Boyer estimates Bleddyn ap Tudur's birth as say 1100. ^[6]

Turner-Thomas estimates his birth as about 1140 in Cymru ^[7]

Marriage to Annes

The Visitation of Shropshire (1623) gives Bleddyn's wife as Anna fil. Llewellini ap Idnerch ap Mredd' Hen de Billet. ^[1]

Burke (1853) states that Blethin m. Agnes, dau of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth ap Meredith Hen, of Builth, in 1222, ap Cadwgan ap Elystan, Prince of Ferlys. ^[2]

Vaughn (1884) states that Bleddyn m. Agnes, d. of Llewelyn ab Idnerth ab Meredydd hen, ab Cudwgan ab Elystan Gledrhydd. ^[9]

For Boyer (2004), Bleddyn ap Tudur married Annes ferch llywelyn ap Idnereth [for whom see Elystan Glodrydd at No. 20] ap Cadwgon. ^[6]

Wolcott states that Bleddyn ap Tudor of c. 1085 married a lady born c. 1090, Annes ferch Llewelyn ap Idnerth ap Cadwgan ap Elystan (of Powys, not Elystan Glodrydd of Buellt and Fferlys).^{[10] [8] [11]}

Turner-Thomas states that he married Annes ferch Llywelyn^[7]

Service as Latimer

Due to the proximity of their lands to the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, the family descended from Llyddoca ap Tudor Trevor had established amicable relations with their neighbor to the east; it is believed (that prior to 1066) the first Rhys Sais became fluent in the Saxon language and served the Earl of Mercia as latimer or interpretor. Thus his nickname "Rhys the Englishman". Apparently his son Tudor and grandson Bleddyn served in the same capacity for the Norman Marcher Lords, the Earls of Montgomery. ^[8]

Loss of Lands to Salop under Rhys Sais

It was during the lifetime of the first Rhys Sais that the majority of his lands (all but Nanheudwy which, among his holdings, lay the furthest west) were detached from Powys to become a part of the Norman shire Salop (now Shropshire). ^[8]

1222 Death

He died about 1222. ^[7]

Issue

Descendant

Burke shows Hywel Grach, 4th son of Llewellyn ab Gruffudd ab Cadwgan (ap Meilyr ap Eilydr ap Rhys Sais II ap Bleddyn ^[3]

Bleddyn and Agnes had issue Owain, Lord of Chirk, Nanheudwy, and Maelor Sapesneg, who married Eva, relict of Iorwerth ab Owain Brogyntyn, Lord of Edeyrnion, and daughter and heiress of Madog Goch, Lord of Mawddwy and Caer Einion, an illegitimate son of Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Upper Powys, ^[4][4]

1. Owain ab Bleddyn m. Eva, d. and b. of Madoc Goch, nat. son of Gwonwynwyn, Prince of Powys. ^[9]
   1. Iorwerth hin m. Angharad, d. and coheir of Gruffudd, son of Meilr Eyton ab Elidur ab Rhys Sais
      1. Vychan m. Catherine, d. and h. of Gruffudd Vychan ab Fruffudd ab Llewelyn ab Iorwerth Drwyndwn, Prince of Wales
         1. Iorworth Voel m. Gwladys, d. and coh of Iorwerth ab Fruffydd, descended through Gruffudd ab Beli of Cegidfa, from Brochwel Yscithrog, Prince of Powys.

Children of Bleddyn and Agnes

Bleddyn m. Agnes, daughter of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth ap Cadwgan ap Elystan Glodrydd < Bleddyn ap Tudor of c. 1085 married a lady born c. 1090, Annes ferch Llewelyn ap Idnerth ap Cadwgan ap Elystan of Powys, not Elystan Glodrydd of Buellt and Fferlys >^[12]

1. Owen m. Efa, daughter-heir of Madoc ap Gwynwynwyn and widow of Iorwerth ab Owen Brogyntyn. Owain ap Bleddyn^[7] They had:
   1. Iorwerth Gam ap Owen
   2. Thomas
   3. Owen Vychan
2. Madoc
3. Bleddyn

Children, listed by Bartrum: ^[6]

1. Owain, m. Efa ferch Madog Goch of Mawddwy
2. Madog
3. Bleddyn Fychan

In narrative, father of Iorwerth Hen, Owain fychan, Thomas, Cynwrig Sais, Rhirid, Elen.

possible child http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ap_Bleddyn-11

Children listed by the Visitation:

1. Owen ap Blethin ap Tudor married Ena fil. Madoc ap Gweyn-wyn-wyn ^[1]
2. Madock, second son ^[1]
3. Blethyn Vychan, third son ^[1]

According to Hamer: Bleddyn, eldest son of Rhys Sais:

1. Iorwerth Hên
   1. Iorwerth Fychan
      1. Iorwerth Foel
         1. Madog Lloyd of Bryncunallt
         2. Gruffydd of Maelor Saesneg
         3. Morgan of Maelor Saesneg
         4. Ednyfed Gam
         5. Ieuan of Llanfechain
2. Owain Fychan, ancestor of Dymokes of Penley Hall
3. Thomas, ancestor of the Pennants of Downing
4. Cynwrig Sais
5. Rhirid (Possible descendant David ap Rhirid)
6. Elen ^[4]

Research Notes

Duplication of Names by Wolcott

The line of ascent from Owain ap Bleddyn to Bleddyn ap Tudur to Tudur ap Rhys to Rhys Sais ap Ednyfed requires estimated births years about 50 years after each other. This is not impossible, but suggests that there are missing generations. Wolcott has achieved a line of descent at 25 year intervals by assuming that Welsh names are repeated, and that therefore the true line might well be

1. Ednyfed ap Llywarch, b. 995
2. Rhys Sais I ap Ednyfed, b. 1025
3. Tudor ap Rhys, b. abt 1055
4. Bleddyn -- Added Generation" ap Tudor, b. abt 1085
5. Rhys Sais II -- Added Generation" ap Bleddyn, b. 1115
6. Tudor -- Added Generation" ap Rhys, b. abt 1145
7. Bleddyn ap Tudor, b. abt 1175.
8. Owain ap Bleddyn, b. abt 1200

Wolcott asserts that Bleddyn began a repeating naming cycle by calling a son Rhys known as Rhys Sais II. That man married a granddaughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, Efa ferch Gruffudd ap Rhys born c. 1125. Rhys Sais of c. 1115 named sons Tudor, Elidyr and Iddon. This Tudor had a Bleddyn while his brother Elidyr named a son Meilyr. Although Meilyr followed his earlier namesake by calling one son Gruffudd, his eldest son was the Cadwgan who is called Lord of Eyton. Fortunately, the Bleddyn ap Tudor of c. 1175 did not continue the naming repetition, calling his only known son Owain.^[8]

This presents the researcher with a choice between Wolcott's line, which is reasonable but undocumented, versus other lines, which are less reasonable but documented. A major difficulty of Wolcott's lines are that since the added generations are based on theory with no documentation, there is no information whatsoever regarding their births, marriages, and children. Therefore Wolcott's theory is acknowledged here, but not used.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Robert Treswell. The Visitation of Shropshire, Taken in the Year 1623, Publications of the Harleian Society: Visitations, volumes 28, 29. London: [Harleian Society], 1889), FHL book 942 B4h volumes 28-29; FHL microfilm 162,., vol. 1 p. 261. Hosier of Woodcote, Cruckton and Shrewsbury page 261. Accessed 6/9/2019 jhd
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} J. Bernard Burke, Esq. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland for 1853. (3 Volumes). Volume III, Supplement, Corrigenda, and General Index. London, 1853. Accessed August 27, 2015
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Bernard Burke, p. 1023
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Edward Hamer, Howel William Lloyd. "Hughes of Pennant Y Belan, In the Parish of Rhiwabon in Maelor Gymraeg. (Cae Cyriog MSS)" The History of the Parish of Llangurig. p. 239-240
5. ↑ Jacob Youde William Lloyd. The Noble Tribe of the Marches of Powys and Fourteenth Noble Tribe of Gwynedd. in The history of the princes, the lords marcher, and the ancient nobility of Powys Fadog and the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen, and Meirionydd. London: T. Richards,1881. Volume I,. Tudur ab Rhys Sais appears on pages 311-312. Accessed 6/6/2019 jhd
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Carl Boyer, 3rd, Medieval Welsh Ancestors of Certain Americans. By the author: Santa Clarita, California, 2004. p. 358-359
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Sir Arthur E Turner-Thomas V.C., G.C., K.G.(Wales), K.C.B. Celtic Royal Genealogy: Bleddyn ap Tudur Based on Charles Mosley, Editor. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes Genealogical Books) Ltd, Crans, Switzerland, 1999, Page 2008. Updated June 10, 2010. Accessed November 7, 2017 jhd
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6} Darrell Wolcott, The Clan of Tudor Trevor. http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id55.html Accessed August 26, 2015
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} H. F. J. Vaughn. Oswestry, Ancient and Modern, and Its Local Families, pp. 193-224, in Archaeologia Cambrensis. The Journal of the Cambrian Archaeological Association. Vol I, 5th Series, Table, p. 211. London: Pickering and Co, 1884 https://books.google.com/books?id=PtU4AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA211&ots=_0j1QTangt&dq=madoc%20lloyd%20iorwerth&pg=PA212#v=onepage&q=madoc%20lloyd%20&f=false
10. ↑ Dwnn ii, 307; Pen. 139(2), 411 See this Elystan of c. 955 in the paper "The Enigmatic Elystan Glodrydd" elsewhere on this site.
11. ↑ Wolcott, Clan of Tudor Trevor, p. 5
12. ↑ Darrell Wolcott, The Clan of Tudor Trevor, Ancient Wales Studies

• Sir Bernard Burke, A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland for 1852 (Google eBook). Colburn and Company, 1852.

• Jacob Youde William Lloyd, The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, and the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen, and Meirionydd, Volume 1 (Google eBook). T. Richards, 1881 - Nobility

• The history of the parish of Llangurig, p. 72, By Edward Hamer, Howel William Lloyd

• K. L. Maund, Ireland, Wales, and England in the Eleventh Century, p. 94.