Rhys "Hên" ap Gruffudd of Llansadwrn, Knt. 1
- Born: Llansadwrn, Llandovery, Caerfyrddin, Ystrad Tywi, Wales
- Married: Abt 12 Feb 1325
- Died: 10 May 1356, Carmarthen, Wales
 Also called Rees (Res) ap Griffith.
General Notes:
20/21 x great-grandfather
Research Notes:
He was the wealthiest and most influential figure among the native gentry of the 14th cent., and in his career is crystallized the attitude and aspirations of those members of his class who lent support to the Angevin cause in Wales during the first century of the English settlement. It would appear that he inherited the family estates centred on the manor of Llansadwrn in Cantref Mawr directly from his grandfather. He first appears in the records as steward of Cardigan in 1309, and in the course of the next few years he acquired other offices of profit in south-west Wales. It was, however, the support which he gave to the Despensers which in 1322 brought him into a position of real eminence when he was appointed deputy to the royal justice in South Wales, given leases of Dinefwr and Dryslwyn, granted the lordship of Narberth, and made sheriff of Carmarthen with custody of the town and castle. In consequence he was deeply involved in the crisis over the abdication of Edward II in 1327, and may only have escaped complete destruction by a hasty flight to Scotland. A little later he was restored in possession of his lands, but again in 1330 he was obliged to seek asylum overseas because of his part in a premature attempt to unseat the regents. Later in the same year, when the personal power of Edward III was at last established, Rhys was recalled, was eventually restored to many important offices, and henceforth until his death played a leading role among the Welshmen of his day in furthering Edward's foreign adventures. In all the Scottish expeditions between 1310 and 1341, and afterwards in the French campaigns, he figures not only as the organizer of native levies in south-west Wales, but as an active campaigner and the most prominent of the Welsh captains. He was knighted between June and Nov. 1346, possibly after Crecy at which battle he was present. But he was not to see the second great military triumph of the reign, for he d. a few months before Poitiers, on 10 May 1356, at Carmarthen, where he was interred, possibly in the church of S. Peter in which his grandfather was buried. Meanwhile he had m. Joan de Somerville, a wealthy heiress who had brought him land in as many as six English counties, which, with phenomenally extensive properties in Carmarthen and Cardigan, passed to his son, Sir RHYS THE YOUNGER (b. 1325). These unusually large Welsh estates for the period in which Sir Rhys flourished, and indeed the first of their kind in Wales, continued in the hands of his male descendants until the marriage towards the close of the 15th cent. of a sole remaining female descendant with Thomas ap Gruffudd ap Nicolas of Dinefwr; the eldest son of that union was Sir Rhys ap Thomas... Among other interesting family connections, Sir Rhys was related to Sir Gruffydd Llwyd..., and to the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym (a son of his maternal cousin), who has included certain references to Sir Rhys in a poem composed about 1346. There is also a poem by Iolo Goch in Rhys's honour. 2
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RHYS AP GRIFFITH, Knt., of Llansadwrn in Cantrefmawr and Dryslwyn, Carmarthen and Narberth castles in Wales, and, in right of his wife, of Wichnor (in Tatenhill), Alrewas, etc., Staffordshire, Bellasis, Long Benton, Stannington, and Witton-Underwood, etc., Northumberland, Burton Agnes, Yorkshire, steward of Cardigan, forester of Glyncothi and Pennant, deputy to the royal justice of South Wales, sheriff of Carmarthen, steward of Cantrefmawr, son and heir of Gruffydd ap Hywel ap Gruffydd ab Ednyfed Fychan, of Llansadwrn, by Nest, daughter of Gwrwared ap Gwilym of Cemais. He was an adult by 1309. 3
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Grant, during pleasure, to Res ap Griffith, king's yeoman, of the stewardship of 'Cardigan Shyre,' to hold in the same manner as Yevan ap Molewyn held it.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 1, p. 140
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Commitment during pleasure to Res ap Griffith of the keeping of the king's forests of Glencothi and Penneynt Gorthhonge, at the usual yearly rent.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 6 Edw. II, p. 144
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Appointment of Rees ap Griffith to be a commissioner to raise able-bodied men-at-arms in the parts of Kardigan, Kermerdyn, Cantremoure, Emelin and Buelt, in order to proceed against Llewellyn Bren and his followers.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 2, p. 433
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Grant for life to Rees ap Griffith, king's yeoman, that he may hold the lands and tenements in Thlanpederdalpont Estephne, which he holds at will of the king's grant, quit of rent.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 2, p. 656
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Grant, during pleasure, to Rees ap Griffith of the bailiwick of the forestership of Snowedon in Wales.
Mandate to Roger de Mortuo Mari, justice of Wales, to deliver the forestership to him.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 3, p. 502
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Commitment during pleasure to Res ap Griffith of the keeping of the castle of Nerbergh and all the lands of Roger de Mortuo Mari of Chirk in West Wales, in the king's hand for certain causes, so that he answer for the issues thereof in the chamber.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 15 Edw. II, p. 98
Grant during pleasure to Res ap Griffith, king's yeoman, in consideration of his past and future service, of the castle and manor del Herber in West Wales, which is in the king's hands, to hold quit of any rent for the same.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 4, p. 82
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[Mandate to] Rees ap Griffith, supplying the place of the justice in South Wales.
Licence for Philip de Somervill to enfeoff Richard de Byllyngton of the manors of Alrewas and Wychenoure, co. Stafford, held in chief, and for him to re-grant them in tail male to the said Philip and Margaret his wife, with remainders to Res ap Griffit and Joan his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, and to the right heirs of the said Philip.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 5, pp. 219, 87
Order to Rees ap Griffitz, the king's steward of Thlanbadarn, to deliver to the king's kinsman, Edmund, earl of Arundel, to hold at the king's will, the commote of Doder with the issues thereof received by him from the time when the earl had the keeping of the lands of Werthrenyon, late of Roger de Mortuo Mari of Wyggemore and in the king's hand by reason of his enmity and rebellion, which the king committed to the earl during pleasure at the rent of 50l. a year at the Exchequer in moieties at Michaelmas and Easter, as appears by inspection of the rolls of Chancery...
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 19 Edw. II, p. 369
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Commitment during pleasure to Res ap Griffith of the keeping of the castle of Kaermerdyn in Wales, so that he answer at the Exchequer for the issues thereof, receiving the usual fee.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 19 Edw. II, p. 394
- 28 Sep 1326, Tower of London
[Appointment] of Res ap Griffith, after reciting that the said Roger [de Mortuo Mari] and other rebels in the company of the queen and Edward the king's son have invaded the realm, to assemble all the forces of West Wales and South Wales to go with him against the rebels.
Appointment of Rees ap Griffith to assemble all the men of West Wales and South Wales to go against the rebels.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 5, pp. 325, 331
Order to the sheriffs, bailiffs, ministers and others of the parts of Wales on pain of forfeiture to be intendant to Res ap Griffith, whom the king has appointed to take into the king's hands the castles and lands and also the people (gentes) of Kery, Kedewyn, Melenyth, Powytz and Wiggemore, and all those late of Roger de Mortuo Mari, the king's enemy and rebel, and to coerce and punish all whom he finds rebellious in this behalf in their persons and possessions, as he shall think fit, taking with him, if need be, the whole posse of those parts.
Commitment during pleasure to Res ap Griffith of the castle of Lampadern, so that he answer for the issues thereof at the Exchequer of Kaermerdyn.
Order to John de Skydemore to deliver the same to him with all things in his keeping, by indenture to be made thereon between them.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 20 Edw. II, pp. 421, 422
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Grant to Rhys ap Griffith of the custody of the manor of Penanthlen, in Wales, during pleasure.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 1, p. 14
Grant during pleasure to Res ap Griffith of the keeping of the manor of Penanthleu in Wales, at the yearly rent at the Exchequer of Kaernarvan of as much as others have rendered for the same hitherto.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 1 Edw. III, p.13
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Pardon to Rees ap Griffith, knight, for disobedience to the king's summons, his departure from the realm, and adherence to the Scots.
General Pardon to Rees ap Griffith, knight, for all offences committed in England or Wales.
General pardon to David Vaghan ap David ap Yevan for all offences committed in England and Wales, for departing the realm in the company of Res ap Griffith, knight, and for adhering to the Scots.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 1, pp. 238, 242, 273
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Grant, in fee simple, to Edmund Hakelut of the town of Lampadertalaponte Stevene, in South Wales, which has escheated to the king by forfeiture of Resus ap Griffith, who held it by grant, for life, of Edward II.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 1, p. 545
- 25 Nov 1330, Kingston-upon-Thames
Protection and safe conduct for Thomas Wake, Henry de Bello Monte, Richard de Arundell, Fulk le Fitz Waryn, Thomas Rocelyn and Rees ap Griffith summoned to the king from beyond seas.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 2, p. 20
Commitment during pleasure to Res ap Griffith of the keeping of the castle of Rosselan and the stewardship of Cantremaur with the forestership of Glyncothy, with the usual fee; commitment also to him during pleasure of the farms of the towns of Drosselan and Newtown and of the keeping of the king's demesne lands of Cantremaur with the rhaglawry, at the yearly rent at the Exchequer of Kaermerdyn of as much as others have rendered hitherto....
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 4 Edw. III, pp. 209-210
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[Appointment] of John de Leybourn, Resus ap Griffit and Robert de Bilkemor, for six hundred footmen in North Wales.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 2, p. 321
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Grant to Res ap Gruffud, for good service in the siege of Berwick upon Tweed and the war with Scotland, that he may hold during good behaviour the keeping of the castle of Droslon and of the stewardship of Cantrefmaur, with the farm of Droslon, which the king by letters patent committed to him during pleasure, so that he be not removed therefrom until the king be certified of a cause for which he should be removed and give order thereon, he rendering at the Exchequer of Kaermerdyn and receiving as much as others hitherto.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 7 Edw. III, p. 370
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- 13 Feb 1335, Newcastle upon Tyne
Grant for life to Res ap Griffeth ap Howel, for good service to Edward II and the king, of the keeping of the castle of Droslon and the forest of Glyncothi and the stewardship of Cantrefmaure in South Wales, with the usual fees and wages, in lieu of a commitment thereof to him at will by letters patent; grant also to him for life of the town of Droslan with all the demesnes and the fishery pertaining thereto, at the yearly rent at the Exchequer of Kaermerdyn of as much as others have rendered.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, 9 Edw. III, p. 431
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Licence for Philip de Somervill to enfeoff John de Warrewik and John Prince, chaplain, of the homages and other services due to him by certain tenants of the manors of Allerwas, held in chief, to wit, Richard de Vernoun, John de Arderne, James de Stafford and Isabella, his wife, William de Leycestre, John de Horsebrok, Nicholas Allerwas, William de Horsebrok, John Hugyn of Strethay and Richard de Strethay, and for them to re-grant these to him and Margaret, his wife, in tail male with remainders to Rees ap Griffyth, knight, and Joan, his wife, in tail, and to the right heirs of the said Philip.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 3, p. 393
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Whereas the king by letters patent lately granted for life to Edmund Hakelut and Edmund, his son, the stewardship of Cantremaur in Waless, and afterwards resumed the same and granted it by other letters patent to Rees ap Griffith, in consideration of their good service and in recompence of the stewardship he has pardoned the 10l. 11s. 7½d. due from them yearly at the exchequer of Kermerdyn for the town and cottages of Dynnevour and the demesne lands pertaining to the king's castle of Dynnevour, which they hold for life of his grant.
- 1 Apr 1339, Berkhampstead
Commission to Philip de Clavenou, Edmund Hakelut and Yevan ap Res ap Howel to make an extent touching the estate of Rees ap Griffith in the land of Lambedeir Talabontistewen in South Wales.
Confirmation to Rees ap Griffith, Joan his wife, and Rees their son, of,—
(1) Grant by Griffin ap Meuric Vachan, David Goch ap Cadog' ap Meuric, Jevan Moel ap Jore ap Cadog', Gwil ap Jorum ap Cadog', Meuric Vachan ap Meuric ap Cadog', Howel ap Jevan ap Gwil, Gwil ap Meuric, Jevan ap Meuric, Jevan ap Howel ap Gwil, Gwenllian daughter of Gwil Vachan, Eva daughter of Llewellin Goch, Lengu daughter of Oweny Goch, Gena Loyt ap Ivor, Tangoistel daughter of Cradauc', David ap Eignon, Madauc ap Howel ap Meuric, Howel Vachan ap Howel ap Meuric and Etheloe daughter of David ap Howel, to Rees ap Grifith ap Howel, his heirs and assigns of 12 acres of arable land, 2 acres of meadow, and 1/3 acre of wood in Mayscodyn in the commote of Maynorteylau.
(2) Grant by Trahaern ap Jevan ap Trahaern and Morgan ap Jevan ap Trahaern to the said Rees ap Griffith; Joan his wife, Rees their son, and the heirs of the last named, of a fourth part of the town of Kilsayn in the commote of Ketheynauc, with all lands adjacent to that fourth part, with a fourth part of a water mill there.
(3) Grant by Walter le Mareschal, chaplain, in like terms.
(4) Grant by Rees Loyd ap Madok Vaghan, Walter ap Madok Vaghan, Lewel ap Gruff' Glas, Mereduc ap Gruff' Glas, Madoc ap Howel Whit, and Traherne ap Howel Whit to the same of their whole land of Kylsayn with their pourparty of the mill there.
(5) Grant by Howel ap Res Kethy and Gr' ap Res Kethy to the same of their whole land of Kylsaen with their pourparty of the mill.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 4, pp. 214, 279, 334-335
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Confirmation of grants to Rees ap Griffith ap Howell, Joan his wife, Rees their son, and the heirs of the last named, as follows: by Owen ap Morgan and Mereduch ap Oweyn ap Morgan of their whole lordship in Langelby and Bettous Blederous and elsewhere within the commot of Mab Wennian, co. Cardigan, with rents of the free tenants there and other profits; (2) by Lewelin ap Morgan, of a messuage, 40 acres of land, 20 acres of wood, 7 acres of meadow, and a fourteenth part of a water-mill in Langelby; (3) by Owen ap L[ewelin] ap Oweyn ap Morgan, of the lordship of Langelby and Bettous Blederous, with 'westwaes, kylghes,' services of tenants, suits of court, and other appurtenances; and (4) by Rees ap Morgan ap Oweyn, of a messuage, 200 acres of land, 20 acres of wood, 10 acres of meadow, 4 acres of turbary and 60 acres of pasture, in the lordship of Langelbi.
Licence for Philip de Somervill to grant to Rees ap Griffith, Joan his wife, and the heirs of Joan, the manors of Benton and Stanynton in le Strete, co. Northumberland, held in chief.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 4, pp. 447, 508
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Commission to Rees ap Griffith and John de Stoke to survey some great ships laden with aliens and goods and merchandise which have been arrested in the ports of Mulford and Salvagh, to cause them to be valued and kept safely by indentures between them and the lords or masters of the same ships, and to inquire by oath of mariners and others of what parts the men and ships are and whither bound, whether the men are of the king's enmity or adherents of his enemies and whether any of the cargo has been removed since the time of the arrest.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 5, p. 557
To Rhys ap Griffith. Order to dearrest without delay a ship called 'la seinte Jake' with the salt, cork, master and mariners and merchants therein and with all the tackle of the ship and to deliver the salt and cork to the masters and masters and merchants, to do their pleasure therewith, and to permit them to cross whither they will in the realm, as it has been testified before the council that the ship, which Rhys has arrested at the port of St. Davids in Wales because it was pretended that it belonged to the king's enemies, is of the land of Portugal, whose inhabitants are of the king's friendship and of the enmity of Philip de Vales[io], his enemy.
Calendar of Close Rolls, 16 Edw. III, p. 613
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William de Cusance, knight, acknowledges that he owes to Rhys ap Griffith, knight, 800 marks; to be levied etc. in co. Gloucester.
Rhys ap Griffith, knight, acknowledges that he owes to William de Cusance, knight, 800 marks; to be levied etc. in co. Salop.
Calendar of Close Rolls, 18 Edw. III, p. 378
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Pardon, at the request of Rees ap Griffith, to Griffin ap Rees Kethyn of the king's suit against him for the death of Griffin Bagh, and of any consequent outlawry.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 7, p. 121
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Rhys (Resus) ap Griffitz the elder, knight, and Henry de la Pole acknowledge that they owe severally to John de Stafford 400 marks; to be levied etc. in the county of Warwick.
John de Stafford acknowledges that he owes to Rhys ap Griffitz the elder, knight, 400 marks; to be levied etc. in the county of Oxford.
Rhys (Resus) ap Griffyth the elder, knight, acknowledges that he owes to John, archbishop of York, 40l.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in the county of York.
The same Rhys acknowledges that he owes to the king and to William bishop of Winchester 60l.; to be levied etc. in the county of Stafford.
Rhys (Resus) ap Griffitz the elder and Henry de la Pole acknowledge that they owe to William de Haukeworth, clerk, 10l.; to be levied, in default of payment, of their lands and chattels in the county of Derby.
Calendar of Close Rolls, 29 Edw. III, pp. 193, 198, 206
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To John de Coupeland, escheator in Northumberland. Order to cause Edmund Vernoun and Maud his wife, daughter of Elizabeth late the wife of John de Stafford, deceased, who was a daughter of Philip de Somervill, to have seisin of the purparty falling to Maud of Philip's inheritance, which the king previously committed to the said John to hold at ferm until Maud should come of age, as on its being found by inquisition taken by the escheator that Philip at his death held in his demesne as of fee a moiety of the manor of Stanyngton, six husbandlands in the town of Tranewell and a moiety of the manor of Great Benton in chief by homage and fealty and by service of rendering 18d. yearly for the ward of the Castle of Newcastle upon Tyne and 13d. for cornage for the moiety of the manor of Stanyngton and the land in Tranewel, and for the moiety of the manor of Great Benton 18½d. for fines of court and 7¼d. for cornage, and held also in his demesne as of fee, a third part of the manor of Witton and of the hamlet of Wyndesgates, of another than the king, and that Joan his daughter, whom Rhys (Resus) ap Griffitz married, and the said Maud were his next heirs, and that Joan was of full age and Maud under age...
Calendar of Close Rolls, 30 Edw. III, pp. 253-4
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To John de Swynnerton, escheator in the county of Stafford. Order to take the fealty of Joan late the wife of Rhys (Resus) ap Griffitz, the elder, in accordance with the form of a schedule enclosed, and not to intermeddle further with certain manors and hamlets taken into the king's hand by the death of Rhys, delivering any issues received therefrom to Joan, as the king has learned by inquisition taken by the escheator that Rhys at his death held no lands in that county in his demesne as of fee in chief, but held the manors of Alrewas, Whichnovere, Tatenhull and Briddeshale and the hamlets of Tunstall and Neubolt jointly with Joan by a fine levied in the king's court, and that the manor of Alrewas is held in chief by the service of paying 15l. yearly by the hands of the sheriff, and all the other manors and hamlets are held of others than the king.
To Alan del Strothre, escheator in Northumberland. Order not to intermeddle further with a fourth part of the town of Stanyngton, a fourth part of the manor of Benton and a moiety of a third part of the manor of Witton taken into the king's hand by the death of Rhys ap Griffitz the elder, etc. as above, as the king has learned by inquisition taken by John de Coupeland, late escheator, that Rhys at his death held no lands in that county in his demesne as of fee in chief, but that he held the premises as of the right and inheritance of Joan his wife, and that the said fourth parts are held in chief, and the moiety is held of another than the king, and he has ordered Joan's fealty to be taken by John de Swynnerton, escheator in the county of Stafford.
To John de Wyndesore, escheator in the county of Warwick. Like order not to intermeddle further with the manor of Stockton, as the king has learned by inquisition taken by the escheator that Rhys ap Griffitz the elder, at his death, held no lands in that county in his demesne as of fee in chief, but that he held the said fourth part as of the right and inheritance of Joan his wife, and that the fourth part is held of another than the king.
To Thomas de Fulnetby, escheator in the county of Lincoln. Like order not to intermeddle further with a fourth part of the manor of Orreby, as the king has learned by inquisition taken by the escheator that Rhys ap Griffitz the elder, at his death, held no lands in that county in his demesne as of fee in chief, but that he held the said fourth part as of the right and inheritance of Joan his wife, and that the fourth part is held of another than the king.
To Richard de Grey of Landeford, escheator in the county of Nottingham. Like order not to intermeddle further with certain lands in Shelford, Birton, Stoke Bardolf, Gedlyng and Neuton taken into the king's hand by the death of Rhys ap Griffitz the elder, as the king has learned by inquisition taken by Roger Michel, late escheator, that Rhys at his death held no lands in that county in his demesne as of fee in chief, but that he held the said fourth part as of the right and inheritance of Joan his wife.
To Alan del Strothre, escheator in Northumberland. Order not to intermeddle further with two thirds of the manor of Witton, delivering up the issues thereof, as as the king has learned by inquisition taken by John de Coupeland, late escheator, that Rhys ap Griffitz the elder, at his death, held no lands in that county in his demesne as of fee in chief, but that he held in his demesne as of fee the said two thirds of another than the king.
Calendar of Close Rolls, 31 Edw. III, pp. 352-353
Marriage Information:
Rhys married Joan de Somervill, Heiress of Wychnor, daughter of Sir Philip de Somervill, Lord of Wychenore, and Margaret de Pype, about 12 Feb 1325. (Joan de Somervill was born in Wychnor, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England and died on 8 Oct 1376 in Stockton, Warwickshire, England.)
Marriage Notes:
Date of marriage settlement
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