Welsh Rolls: What's in Them

Wales became thoroughly subduded after the execution of Rhys ap Maredudd [Rees ap Meredith] following his capture in 1289 AD. Ordinances for the settlement and incorporation into England of the new counties of Anglesey, Carnarvon, Merioneth, Flint, Carmarthen, and Cardigan were instituted. Ironically, these records became known as the "Welsh Rolls", but were actually the "English" records following this hostile take over. These documents contain all the different items which required the approval of the monarchy, i.e., passed "The Great Seal". Thus, they became the first offical records of the affairs of "The Principality of Wales" and its "Marches".

Extracts from these rolls can be found at the British Museum [Harleian MS. 320, f 42.] An outline of what they contain are as follows:

Grants of castles, lands, and other possessions, and confirmation of former charters,

Letters of protection and safe conduct,

Appointments of justices,

Inquistions of various kinds,

Presentations to churches,

Appointments of constables and governors of castles, and removal from appointments

Grants of freedom,

Committals to prison, and arrests

Grants of wardship,

Writs (orders) to receive money,

Grants to fairs,

Liberty to trade,

Free from toll,

Release from debt,

Exchanges of land,

Orders for dower, for support of children, and for homage,

Appointments to military rank, and

Settlements and other entries.

Wow, a gold mine for the Welsh genealogist!

Cadwgan Tumulus

Offa's Dyke is believed to have been constructed by King Offa of Mercia (757-796 AD). It is near Wrexham that it lies a few miles west of Wat's Dyke. Just passing west of Bersham, this western most dyke, winds its way through a Bronze Age burial mound called "Cadwgan Tumulus". It is here that the area must have been first settled following the neolithic period.

In Wales, the Bronze Age is thought to have began between 2500 BC and 2000 BC. (Dyer, p.28) It was the general practice of these folks to bury their dead in mounds of dirt called a "tumulus". Other terms are "round barrow" or "cairns". Between 30,000 and 40,000 such graves are estimated to dot the landscape of England and Wales. (Dyer, p. 36) I suspect that it was these folks who first provided the Y-chromosome to my JONES family!

The name "Cadwgan" is first used around 700 AD, when a chieftain from Dyfed takes this name. (Ashley, p.137) [The kingdom of Dyfed was originally known as the tribal territory of the Demetae.] The name appears again just to the east, in the kingdom of Glywysing, when Cadwgan ap Owain (930 - 950 AD) appears in Southern Wales. (Ashley, p.130) It was his older brother [Gruffydd ap Owain] who was in constant conflict with Hywel Dda, the father-in-law to Tudor Trevor! I suspect that it was through this route that the name was given to the area around "Plas Cadwgan". It was Cadwgan ap Bleddyn in 1088 AD who laid claim to territory in Powys! (Ashley, p 368) "Plas Cadwgan" [Cadwgan Hall], was to become the largest estate in the manor of Esclusham. The clan who claimed to be the owners were of the descent of Cynwig ap Rhiwallon, the great grandson of Tudor Trevor! What a deal!

The references are:

Dyer, J, The Penguin Guide to Prehistoric England and Wales, Penguin Books, 1981.

Ashley, M, British Kings & Queens, Barnes & Noble Books, NY, 1998.

Hen Dinas

Almost due south from the town of Wrexham is Oswestry. It is the southern most anchor of Wat's dyke leading to the ancient hill fort called "Old Oswestry Hill Fort". Strictly speaking, according to James Dyer, "hillforts" were hilltops defended by walls of stone, banks of earth or fences of wood, usually accompanied by one or more external ditches. They are generally associated with the iron age folks, starting around 800 B.C.

Old Oswestry, Selattyn, is considered one of the most complex of this periods hillforts. The fortifications cover about 40 acres, and in parts, has as many as seven ramparts. The hill top contains roughly 16 acres, and is felt by Professor W.J. Varley (excavated site in 1939), at first to have contained a group of circular timber-built huts. Two ramparts were built at a later date, encircling the hill, which by this time contained circular stone huts. Over time, further changes took place extending the defenses, building one of the most complex series of deep hollows and ridges. [More will be said about this later.] This fortification certainly took advantage of a lofty, natural eminence, and is traditionally felt to be the ancient site of the town of Oswestry. Wat's Dyke connects here, and it certainly would have been occupied before this dyke was built. It is around this area that much of my JONES family had its roots. Perhaps, this "Hen Dinas" was the first location of my Celtic tribe.

The reference is : "Prehistoric England and Wales", by James Dyer, Penguin Books, 1981. Old Oswestry is discussed on pages 220-221. Hill forts are discussed on pages 33-34.

Wrexham (Wrecsam)

Wat's Dyke made its way through the ancient Lordship of Bromfield. The townships which formed this area are shown in the figure to the right, which was taken from the detailed work of Palmer and Owen. It shows the flow of Wat's Dyke in relationship to Offa's Dyke as they both pass through this area. Less than two miles apart, in the area of Bersham and Wrexham, they form a narrow space which must have been an exchange point between the Welsh, and those Anglo-Saxons, who built the dykes.

It was at this geographic point that the "commot of Wrexham" became the "Manor of Wrexham". Initially called the townships of "Wrexham Fawr" and "Wrexham Fechan", they were jointly called "Wrexham Regis". Early forms of the name were "Wristlesham"(1161 AD), "Wrettesham" or "Wrectesham" (1236 AD), "Wyrcesson (1291 AD), and "Wrightlesham" (1316-17 AD). These names were felt by Palmer and Owen to be errors made by clerks.

Acton (Acatone/une) [Church with Saxon stonework], Allington (Allentune), Broughton (Brochetone/tune), Eaton (Eton) [1000 salmon] {must have been a good place to fish!}, Eyton (Eitune) [fisheries], and Gresford (Gretford) were all recorded in "The Domesday Book", but not Wrexham. Apparently, its name first appears in English records 1161 AD as outlined above. [Taken from: The Domesday Book, Thomas Hinde, Editor.]

It was here that the eldest son of Jeuaf(Ievan)(JH-1), Iorweth Fychan (JI-1), was first identified as "of Llwyn Onn". [Jeuaf (JH-1) was alive 3 March 1140 AD.] This Llwyn Onn, meaning "Ash Grove", was apparently the winter home (hendre). The land was roughly 1.5 miles to the east of Wrexham. The summer home (hafod) was near Llanfiar Dyffryn Clwyd, which was also called Llwyn-ynn (Llwyn Onn). As you can see from the map above, this land was split by Wat's Dyke and Offa's Dyke. Just how did we, my Welsh ancestors, manage to keep active these two areas on different sides of the fence? That story is yet to c0me!

The family tree is given in detail at: http://jonessurnamedna.blogspot.com.

The most detailed reference is : A History of Ancient Tenures of Land in North Wales and the Marches, by Alfred Palmer and Edward Owen, printed 1910. The map above is enlarged from this text.

The Domesday references are taken from the most readable text: The Domesday Book, England's Heritage, Then and Now, Thomas Hinde, Editor, Hutchinson Publishing Group, London, 1985, pp. 52-55.

To The South

Wat's Dyke extends its way southward out of Basingwerk Abbey. Passing near Halkyn Mountain, it moves between Caerwys and Northop to join the eastern bank of the Alyn river. Here it runs parallel on its eastern bank, splitting Mold and Buckley, Leeswood and Hope, and enters Denbighshire near Caergwrle. Continuing southward, it intersects the ground of Erddig estate just west of Wrexham, leaving Brymbo and Moss on the western side, and Gresford on the eastern side. It then passes near Rhuabon, on its eastern side, entering the grounds of Wynnstay. It then joins the Dee for about 2 miles, until it joins the eastern margin of Brynkinallt Park. Then, near Gobowen Station, it follows a line almost due south to Oswestry. Setlattyn is located to the west, with Whittington and Ellesmere to the eastern side. This dyke must have been the Saxons earliest attempt to mark their boundary and new settlement claims. [Offa extending their claims further western under his reign. (d. 796 AD)]

This account is taken from Nicholas, Vol. I, p.388, p. 437. The title of his book is : Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales. It was first published in London, 1872 and reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1991. I am not sure if some of the landmarks are still standing as listed. If any reader can make any correction please post. It was along this Wat's Dyke that many of my Welsh family made their stories...my Welsh genealogy.

A New Blog : Cadwallader Jones

For those with Welsh ancestors and an interest in Welsh genealogy, the surname JONES is paramount. Cadwallader is a Welsh name meaning "War Ruler" or "War King". After many years of research into his life, I wish to tell his story. If interested the link is:

http://cadwalladerjones.blogspot.com

Basingwerk Abbey

The northern most anchor of Wat's dyke was a stronghold called Dinas Bassing. According to Nicholas, this was felt to be of Saxon origin, but the beginnings are unknown. The area was first inhabited by the iron age peoples leaving their hill forts, cairns, and circles. The Ordovices are credited with building some of the fortifications. [ See: Prehistoric England and Wales, by James Dyer, Penguin Books, pp. 346-347.] The area was also occupied during the Roman period. Its location on the coastal road to NW Wales was certainly a strategic military location. Its "heyday" was during the kings of Mercia where Offa's [Offa's Dyke fame!] own son Cenwulf was reported to have died there in the year 821 AD.

The abbey was founded in 1131 AD by Ranulf, Earl of Chester. [The Order of Savigny established 14 such abbeys in Britain. See: "The Abbeys & Priories of Medieval England", by Colin Platt, pp.26-27. A view from the air is shown on p. 207.] However, this Order was merged with the Cistercians in 1147 AD and the monks took on the "white habit" of the Cistercian. [It was officially made a Cistercian abbey by Henry II in 1159 AD.]

It was during the summer of 1277 AD that Edward I established his personal head-quarters here while the castle of Flint was being constructed. It was only a matter of time until the conquest of Llewelyn was completed. (Statutum Wallie of 12 Edward I) [ See: "The Welsh Wars of Edward I", by John E. Morris, pp.130-132.]

Just north along the coastal road is Mostyn. Just west in the town of Whitford. Holywell surrounds the abbey, and Flint Castle is to the south. All these locations were to become the home of my family's DNA. Certainly a strategic location it is.