Sir William Griffith, Chamberlain of North Wales

See Peter Bartrum, https://cadair.aber.ac.uk/dspace/bitstream/handle/2160/5254/CARWED%... (February 19; 2020; Anne Brannen, curator)

The line of William Griffiths can be very confusing. Please see the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Gwilym Fychan ap Gwilym (August 25, 2016; Anne Brannen, curator).

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http://www.peerage.org/genealogy/griffith.htm

http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s1-GRIF-PEN-1300.html

(Sir) William GRIFFITH and Joan TROUTBECK

HUSBAND: (Sir) William GRIFFITH. called Hael (the Liberal) (Gruffydd) Born (prior to 1440-S2)(about 1445) at Penhryn Castle, Llandegai (Bangor), Carnaervonshire (Gwynedd), Wales; son of William GRIFFITH and Alice DALTON.

The Griffiths of Penrhyn were one of the most powerful families in North Wales at the time and were a branch of the Tudor family descended from Ednyfed Fychan (d. 1246) and the Welsh royal and princely houses. (S1).

The Griffiths of Penrhyn were the owners of immense estates in Caernarvonshire, and had their seat at Penrhyn Castle, which then was, and continues to be, one of the finest seates in the Principality. At the time of Henry VII., and Henry VIII., they reached a height of splendor and power second only, perhaps, in Wales, to the family of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, of Dynevor. (S2d).

Their entertainments at Penrhyn were magnificent, especially at those times when the King tarried there; their retainers, a small army, and their tenants, bound by feudal tenure, placed an armed force at their command, at all times ready for instant service in the field. (S2d).

He was the second Chamberlain of North Wales, succeeding his father some time after 10 August 1466, for his father was alive upon this date. (S2).

He married (1) Joan TROUTBECK about 1475 at Penhryn, Carnaervonshire, Wales.

In 1476 he is described as 'king's servant' and 'marshall of the King's Hall' (an office held by his father) in a grant to him by Edward IV of an annuity of £18 5s.; the annuity was renewed by Richard III in March 1484 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1476-85, 18, 418). (S2e).

He married (2) Elizabeth Grey. (S2).

He appears to have m., as his second wife, Elizabeth Grey, grand-daughter of Reginald, 3rd baron Grey of Ruthin (the enemy of Owain Glyndwr ) and first cousin to John Grey, lord Ferrers of Groby (1432-1461) who was the first husband of Elizabeth Woodville, later queen of Edward IV. (D.N.B., xxiii, 193, 197; Williams , Observations on the Snowdon Mountains, 1802, 174.) The marriage must have brought him into personal contact with the powerful Greys and Woodvilles and it would explain the presence of a William Griffith as member of Edward IV's council on 8 Aug. 1482. (Gairdner, op. cit., 338-9.) (S2e)

At Michaelmas 1483 he was appointed chamberlain of North Wales by Richard III; the appointment was confirmed by Henry VII within a month of Bosworth (Davies, Conway and Menai Ferries, 48; Owen , Manuscripts rel. to Wales in the Brit. Mus., ii, 147; Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1485-94, 5). (S2e).

His record suggests that he followed very closely the lead of his kinsman, the time-serving earl of Derby, and a poem by Lewis Môn (q.v.) proves that immediately before Bosworth he shared with lord Strange, Derby's heir, his perilous imprisonment at Nottingham as hostage for his father's all-too-uncertain loyalty; presumably, he shared, too, the same narrow escape from death on the eve of the battle. Tudur Aled (q.v.) also refers, more obscurely, to this crisis in William Griffith's career. (Gairdner, Richard III, ed. 1898, 227-38; Mostyn MSS. 148, 467; Gwaith Tudur Aled, ed. T. Gwynn Jones , i, 143.) His influential connections were not confined to the Stanleys. (S2e)

He was created a Knight of the Bath in 1489 (on St. Andrew's Eve-S2h). The record therefore being as follows: These XXI. followinge were made Knightes of the Bathe at the Creation (coronation) of Prince Arthur and of his Bayne on St. Andrew's Eve in anno quinto of the king. (S2d).

He was knighted when Arthur was created prince of Wales in 1489 and he continued to serve on a number of North Wales commissions. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1485-94, 86, 354.) He d. 1505/6. (Penrhyn MSS. 44-5.) Among poets (qq.v.) who sang to him are Tudur Penllyn , Dafydd Pennant , Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn , Lewis Môn , and Tudur Aled . (Mostyn MSS. 148, 467, 504, 532, 535; Gwaith Tudur Aled, ed. T. Gwynn Jones , i, 142.). (S2e).

Under Henry VII he continued to hold the chamberlainship of North Wales until 1490 when he was replaced by Sir Richard Pole (Davies, Conway and Menai Ferries, 48, 68.) (S2e).

He was living 12 Henry VIII., in 1520, and was still serving as Chamberlain of North Wales.

Some say he died in 1506 (S2e), but he was alive in 1520 and lived until about 1539 (S2b).

He died about 1539 at at Penhryn Castle, Llandegai (Bangor), Carnaervonshire (Gwynedd), Wales.

He survived, however, for many years, or until about 1539-40; he is mentioned in the Welsh records as Captain or Constable of Caernarvon Castle, and he is remembered by antiquarians on account of the pains he took to collect and preserve the official archives and records and manuscripts relating to Wales. There are some fine verses extant addressed to him by the leading Bards of his day. (S2d).

WIFE: Joan TROUTBECK. (Jane-S2c,S2d). Born (about 1457-2)(about 1459-S1) at Mobberley, Cheshire, England; daughter of (Sir) William TROUTBECK and Margaret STANELY.

She married (1) (Sir) William Butler of Bewsey, Cheshire.

She married (2) (Sir) William GRIFFITH.

She died (by 1482-S2e)(about 1485-1489-S2).

CHILDREN of (Sir) William GRIFFITH and Jane TROUTBECK (Sir) William GRIFFITH. Born about 1476, of Penrhyn, Carnaervonshire, Wales. He married (1) Jane Stradling. He married (2) Jane Puleston (Pulleston). Edmund GRIFFITH. First husband of Janet (Jonet) verch Maredydd ap Ieuan (Jevan), daughter of Meredydd ap Ieuan ap Robert, of Keselgyfarch Gwedir, Carnarvonshire and Alice verch William Griffith ap Robin, of Cochwillan. Alice GRIFFITH. Born about 1482 at Penrhyn Castle, Llandegai, (Bangor), Caernarfonshire, (Gwynedd), Wales. Jane GRIFFITH. Born about 1505. [so she must have been a daughter of Elizabeth Grey.] copied from http://www.themorrisclan.com/GENEALOGY/GRIFFITH%20William%20and%20J...

B: Abt 1445

Of Penrhyn Castle, Caernarvonshire, Wales

D: 1505/1506

, Penrhyn, Caernarvonshire, Wales

http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/115/penrhyncastlepicture...

The Magna Charta Sureties, 1215: The Barons Named in the Magna Charta, 1215 ... By Frederick Lewis Weis, William Ryland Beall Pg.137

http://books.google.com/books?id=59XcwoRK9jkC&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq...

12. Joan Troutbeck, b. 1459; m. (2) Sir William Griffith of Penrhyn, co. Carnarvon, Chamberlain of North Wales.

13. Sir William Griffith, of Penrhy, liv. 1520; m. Jane, dau. of Thomas Stradling of St. Donat's, co. Glamorgan.

http://thepeerage.com/p33824.htm#i338240

Sir William Griffith married Joan Troutbeck, daughter of Sir William Troutbeck and Margaret Stanley.1

    Sir William Griffith lived at Penrhyn, Caernarvonshire, Wales.1

Child of Sir William Griffith and Joan Troutbeck

1.Sir William Griffith+1

Citations

1.[S1122] Michael Rhodes, "re: updates," e-mail message to www.thepeerage.com, 8 July 2004. Hereinafter cited as "re: updates."

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/TROUTBECK.htm#Joan (Jane) TROUTBECK1

Joan (Jane) TROUTBECK

Born: ABT 1459, Mobberley, Cheshire, England

Notes: The Griffiths of Penrhyn were one of the most powerful families in North Wales at the time and were a branch of the Tudor family descended from Ednyfed Fychan (d. 1246) and the Welsh royal and princely houses. The half-sister of Sir William (according to some pedigrees, but possibly his daughter), Agnes Griffith (d. 1542), married Sir Roland de Velville.

Father: William TROUTBECK of Dunham (Sir Knight)

Mother: Margaret STANLEY (B. Grey of Codnor)

Married: William GRIFFITH of Penhryn (Sir Knight) (son of William Griffith and Alice Dalton) ABT 1475, Penrhyn, Carnaervonshire, Wales

Children:

1. William GRIFFITH of Penrhyn (b. ABT 1476) (m.1 Jane Stradling - m.2 Jane Pulleston)

2. Edmund GRIFFITH

3. Alice GRIFFITH

4. Jane GRIFFITH (b. ABT 1505)

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http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?inst_id=39&c...

PENRHYN CASTLE PAPERS

"Gwilym Fychan, the son of that marriage, married before 1447, Ales daughter and heiress of Sir Richard Dalton of Althorp, Northants. The marriage reflects the Stanley connection, as Ales Dalton was the granddaughter of Isabel de Pilkington by her second marriage, whose daughter by Thomas de Lathom, her first husband, brought Lathom and Knowsley to the Stanleys. Gwilym Fychan married secondly, Gwenllian, daughter of Iorwerth ap David. Robert, his eldest son by this marriage, was the ancestor of the family of Griffith of Plas Newydd, Anglesey, and Llanfair-is-gaer, Caernarvonshire. Edmund the second son founded the estate of Carreg-lwyd, Anglesey. His son and heir from his first marriage was William Griffith (ca.1445-1505/6). He is not always easy to distinguish in the documents from his father. He married firstly Joan Troutbeck, widow of Sir William Butler of Bewsey, Cheshire, whose mother was Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley, first Baron Stanley. William Griffith was therefore a nephew by marriage to Thomas, first Earl of Derby, which was another confirmation of the Stanley connection. However, he had other influential connections also. His second wife was Elizabeth Grey, grand-daughter of Reginald, 3rd Baron Grey of Ruthin and first cousin to John Grey, Lord Ferrers of Groby. This marriage would have brought him into personal contact with the powerful Greys and Woodvilles. His son William Griffith (ca.1480-1531) married firstly Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Stradling of St. Donats, Glamorgan and his wife, Joan, daughter of Thomas Mathew of Radyr, Glamorgan. His second wife was Jane, daughter of John Puleston 'Hen' (the Old) of Bersham. William, the eldest son by this marriage, founded the family of Griffith in Trefarthen. "

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http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Troutbeck-1

This information is taken from the Welsh Biography Online, unless otherwise indicated.[1]

William Griffith, (c. 1445 - 1505/6, was the son of Gwilym Fychan (c. 1420 - 1483) and his first wife Ales, daughter and heiress of Sir Richard Dalton of Apthorp, Northamptonshire. The date of his birth is not known, but it was after 1440 (18 Henry VI), as that is the year his father became a resident of England, with the covenant that he would not married a Welsh woman.[2]

He m. (1) Joan Troutbeck, widow of Sir William Butler of Bewsey, Cheshire."[1] They probably married about 1480, (that is about when his oldest son, William, was born) at Llandygai, Caernarvonshire, , Wales[3]

"He appears to have m., as his second wife, Elizabeth Grey , grand-daughter of Reginald, 3rd baron Grey of Ruthin".[1]

William was created a Knight of the Bath in 1489 by Henry VII.

His heir and successor was his son William (1480-1531).

There is a conflict regarding William's death year. The Welsh Biography Online shows that he died in 1505/6, whereas Glenn states that William was alive in 1520 (12 Henry VIII) and survived for many years after, dying about 1539.[2]

   Marlyn Lewis. 

Birth

   Birth:

Date: 1445

       Place: Penrhyn Castle,,Caernarvonshire,Wales[4] 

Sources

   ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Welsh Biography Online (http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s1-GRIF-PEN-1300.html WBO]) Author: Professor Glyn Roberts, M.A., (1904-1962), Bangor

   ↑ 2.0 2.1 Thomas Allen Glenn. Reifsnyder-Gillam Ancestry. pvt., 1902. GoogleBooks Page 57-58

   ↑ Source: #S00048 Record for Joan Troutbeck

   ↑ Source: #S00048 Record for William Griffith Record for Joan Troutbeck

Source: S00048 Title: Public Member Trees Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006; Repository: #R00002

   Repository: R00002 Name: www.ancestry.com 

http://www.ffish.com/family_tree/pedigrees/376.htm