A number of secondary sources have Elen Gethin as a daughter of Dafydd ap Cadwgan of Llynwent. 2 5 Others show Elen Gethin as the granddaughter rather than daughter of Dafydd ap Cadwgan. 1 3
Elen's husband, Thomas Vaughan, is generally shown as having been born ca. 1400, and Elen herself born ca. 1402. However, Elen's aunt, Angharad, daughter of Dafydd ap Cadwgan, was born about the same time; it is known that Angharad's husband, Meurig Fychan of Nannau, was born ca. 1400 (aged about 2 years when his father died in 1402). None of the genealogies of which the compiler is aware show Elen Gethin and Angharad as sisters. As a granddaughter rather than daughter of Dafydd ap Cadwgan, Elen Gethin must have been somewhat younger than her husband (born, say, ca. 1425).
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Thomas's widow, Elen Gethin, was of the family of Philip Dorddu, being a sister to the Dafydd Fychan of Llinwent... After the death of her husband she retired to a property of hers at Nash, near Presteign. While there in April, 1474, she obtained an indulgence for those who would pray for the soul of her late husband. When ultimately she too died, the famous poet Llawdden, who was the family bard of her kinsman Meredudd of Maeliennydd, commemorated her in a very fine elegy. 4
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Ellen Gethin was the daughter of David of Llinwent or Leintwardine, Radnorshire, ap Cadwgan ap Philip Dorddû of the tribe of Elystan Glodrydd, by Tanglwst, daughter of Jeuan Lloyd ap Ieuan Vaughan ap Jeuan ap Rhys ap Llowdden. She was a lady of considerable vindictive energy and a singular instance of her ferocity is given in an old MS.
"Ellen Gethin (or the terrible) of Hergest, a devilish woman, was cousin german to John Hir ap Philip Vaughan, who was killed by the said Ellen at David's church, for that he before had killed her brother, Davidd Vaughan, at Llynwent, in Llanbister, Radnorshire." 5
Research Notes: