James Owen of Penrhos

and his descendants

Hwfa ap Cynddelw to Gruffydd ap lorwerth

The earliest ancestor on the tree on the previous page is Hwfa ap Cynddelw, founder of one of the first 'Fifteen Tribes' of Wales. Researchers have claimed he has lineal descent from Cunedda Wledig (c 450), "King of Britain". Hwfa was an important figure in the late twelfth-century; it is thought he was steward to Owain Gwynedd (d 1170), Prince of North Wales, and that as such he played a major role in Owain's coronation. Undoubtedly Hwfa was an important figure in the late twelfth-century. He married Cunifred, daughter of Bendew who was the founder of the 13th of the 15 noble tribes of North Wales. It is known that Hwfa had at least five sons; his children were Gwerfyl (aka Gwerful), Gwladys (aka Gwladus), Angharad (aka Avandrog) - she married Rhys Ap Gruffydd, King Of Deheubarth - Cyfnerth, Ieuan, lorwerth and Blettrws (or Bledrws). Hwfa lived in Presaddfed in the parish of Bodedern (map) , about six miles to the east of Holyhead, Môn (Anglesey) and was Lord of Llys Lliven in Môn. His sons inherited lands in Môn; in Wales at that time land was divisible on a descent into shares, called gwele, Gwelie, or beds,and from each bed a family descended continuously in the bed of its ancestor.

Hwfa's descendants bore a coat of arms of gules a chevron or between three lions rampant of the second, though it is not known if this was Hwfa's coat of arms.

One son, Methusalem ap Hwfa, who was probably born in about 1160 (he lived around the turn of the 12th/13th centuries), inherited a gwele in the commote of Llifion. He was succeeded by his son Meredydd (or Maredudd) who was succeeded by his son Iorwerth whose son, Gruffydd married Gwenllian verch Hywel ap Rhirid, descended from Cynfyn, Prince of Powis. It is said that Gwenllian nursed the infant prince Edward, son of Edward I, the king having decided that the birth of his second son in 1283 should take place at Caernarvon. This infant was created Prince of Wales in 1301 and was crowned Edward II in 1307. >>>