Ednyfed Gam ab Iorwerth Foel ab Iorwerth Fychan

Sources differ as to whether Ednyfed Gam was the eldest or a younger son of Iorwerth Foel. The descent of Pengwern suggests that he was the eldest (Mostyn p. 22). Carr (2017, p. 86) discusses his land purchases.

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Bartrum estimates his birth date, very approximately, as around 1270. Presumably he would have to have been born a little earlier, given that he appears on a 1282 deed.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Attested: 1282, 1322, 1330-1331, 1341.

Ednyfed appears (as “Edneneth Gam”) in several records in this period related to Chirk. He was foreman of a jury 11 February 1331. (Mostyn p. 22; Carr p. 140)

Date of Death: probably before 3 December 1355.

His sons Iorwerth Ddu and Maredudd were witnesses to a charter at this date. (Mostyn p. 23)

Place of Burial: probably at Valle Crucis Abbey.

Fragments of an inscribed slab, believed to be his monument, are located before the High Altar. (Mostyn, facing p. 22)

Relationships

Father: Iorwerth Foel ab Iorwerth Fychan ab Yr Hên Iorwerth.

This relationship is given by Barrell and Davies (Table B), shown by Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 12), and given by Mostyn (p. 22), by Dwnn (2:307-308), by Carr (1979, p. 140), and by Lloyd (1:315-316).

Mother: Gwladus ferch Iorwerth ap Griffri ap Heilin.

This relationship is shown by Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 12), and given by Mostyn (p. 22), by Dwnn (2:307-308), by Lloyd (1:315-316), and by Carr (1975 p. 369 chart).

Spouse: Gwladus ferch Llywelyn ap Madog.

This relationship is given by Barrell and Davies (Table B), shown by Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 13, Ednywain Bendew 5), and given by Mostyn (p. 23), by Dwnn (2:308, 2:317, 2:328), by Carr (2017, p. 156), and by Lloyd (1:316, 4:145). Bartrum seems to have changed his mind about the identity of Gwladus’s grandfather.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. The information below comes from Bartrum, Mostyn, and Dwnn.)

Iorwerth Ddu married Angharad ferch Adda Gôch.

Iorwerth Fawr. (He is mentioned by Mostyn and Dwnn, but not by Bartrum.)

Cynfrig. (He is mentioned by Mostyn and Dwnn, but not by Bartrum.)

Rhys married a daughter of Gronwy Llwyd ab Y Penwyn.

Maredudd had children. His wife’s name is unknown.

Llywelyn married Annes ferch Roger Puleston.

Dafydd married (1) Gwenhwyfar ferch Adda Gôch; married (2) Morfudd ferch Gruffudd Fychan.

Ieuan married Gwladus ferch Madog Fychan.

Gruffydd. (He is mentioned by Mostyn but not by Bartrum.)

Margred married Gwilym ap Madog Llwyd ap Llywelyn.

References

Barrell, A.D.M. and Davies, R.R. “Land, lineage and revolt in north-east Wales, 1243-1441: a case study”, Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies, 29 (1995) pp. 27-52. [Genealogical Tables A and B in this article have been constructed from the court rolls of Dyffryn Clwyd. The authors state that the relationships within the tables can be accepted with confidence.]

Bartrum, Peter C., “Tudur Trefor 12”, “Tudur Trefor 13”, and “Ednywain Bendew 5” in An Electronic Version of Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1500. [The sources Bartrum cites for Ednyfed are: Peniarth 131 (184) -- a MS written about 1480 by Gutun Owain; Peniarth 129 (58, 67, 86) -- a copy made about 1500 of a MS written about 1497 by Gutun Owain; Peniarth 137 (25) -- a MS written in the early 1500s by ‘Syr’ Thomas ap Ieuan ap Deiews.]

Carr, Antony David. The Mostyn Family and Estate, 1200-1643 (PhD thesis, University of Wales, 1975).

Carr, A.D. “The Making of the Mostyns: the Genesis of a Landed Family” in Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (1979), pp. 137-157.

Carr, A.D. The Gentry of North Wales in the Later Middle Ages. (University of Wales Press, 2017).

Dwnn, Lewys, and Samuel Rush Meyrick. “Moiston Hall”, in Heraldic visitations of Wales and part of the marches between the years 1586 and 1613 by Lewys Dwnn. (Llandovery: William Rees, 1846).

Lloyd, Jacob Youde William. The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fodog and the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen and Meirionydd. (London: T. Richards, 1881-1887).

Mostyn, the Right Hon. Lord, and T. A. Glenn. History of the Family of Mostyn of Mostyn (London: Harrison and Sons, Ltd., 1925).

Oman, Sandra. “Ednyfed “Gam” ab Iorwerth “Foel”” in Tree: Wales. Welsh Medieval Database Primarily of Nobility and Gentry. [This resource, which mainly gathers references from secondary sources, appears to be currently offline (July 2016).]