Ynyr (JB-1) Rooted in the Soil

The only recorded son of Cadfarch (JA-1) is Ynyr (JB-1).  In one record he is listed as Membyr.  It would seem that there was trouble dealing with this name since it is given as "Honorius or Ynyr" with Ynyr described as "Celtic". [See British Kings and Queens, p. 124, by Mike Ashley]  This name is utilized ca. 510 AD in southern Gwent, and would explain some of the connections to south Wales which appears in the next several generations of my family tree.  It becomes a "Welsh" name used occasionally, with Inigo Jones taking this name.[Much more will be said to document this finding.]  He is described as "Lord of Whittington and both Maelors".  This would simply mean a land owner, but much has been made of these titles.

His consort (wife) was Rhiengar (JB-2), who is described as "heir to Hereford".  Some of her lineage has also been recorded, but is not shown in the figure above.  The references which document Ynyr are given.[Dwnn, Burke, Nicholas]   It would seem that by this generation [second from Cadfarch (JA-1), but 26th generation from the beginning], identification with a specific geographic location had been made.  The family tree becomes rooted in the soil.

The Lay of The Land

By the time of Cadfarch [ca. 850 AD], the reigns of power had been taken by several family groups.  Family dynasty had become the "norm" and developed into larger political units.

Gwynedd, a region which took its name from the tribe of the Venedotae, had settled the area to the northwest. [Cunedda and his boys are given credit for this.]

Powys was the dynasty along the upper eastern borders of what was to become Wales.  A branch of this dynasty came to be known as Rhwny Gwy a Hafren (between Wye and Severn) which becomes one branch of my own Welsh family tree.

Eliseg, in whose memory the still-existing monument, the Eliseg Pillar, helped re-establish the claims of Powys.  It is in the valley of the Dee that Cadfarch had his family.  It would have been around the time under the rule of Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri The Great, 844-878 AD) that the family began its settlement in this area.

The drawing to the right shows a general outline of the main "kingdoms" of Wales during its early period.  The southern sections were more divided into various kingdoms, but were about to see their rise under the grandson of Rhodri Mawr.   Fighting, fighting, war, war... Cadfarch's name would describe the time.

Cadfarch (JA-1) Leaf One...sort of

Starting a family tree can be a challenge.   Who's on first...as they say.  After roughly 30 years of tree climbing, it appeared that Cadfarch was the first generation.   He became JA-1, and for years thought to be the top of my family tree. However, some years later, I found 25 more generations to add to the family tree.  Thus, number one, becomes in reality, the 25th generation of my Welsh family tree.  Oh well, I suspect there might be more tree climbing yet to come.

At any rate, the figure to the right shows my page from the family tree documentation notebook.  It is supposed to represent Cadfarch (Kadfarch) (Cadvarch) JA-1, and his partner (unknown) JA-2.  The references to his life are given in the listings underneath the "square and circle" drawn.  Dwnn and Nicholas give his name, and various other sources (later in time) spell it a variety of ways.

In the Welsh, "Cad" means war, and "farch" or "farch" means chair.  A War Chair I guess.   The Viking raids had begun along the northern coast of Wales, and I suspect this grandfather was looked to help fight.  The Anglo-Saxons were also being tied up with their own Danish invasion, and the Kingdom of Powys was able to gain back some of the border lands lost to the Saxons. (Offa's Dyke)   It would seem that from Cadfach ca. 850 AD, the family became established in Valley of the Dee...leaf one...sort of.

Additional references: Dwnn Vol.II, p.307, Nicholas, Vol.II, p. 354, and Burke p.1035 (1884 Ed.).