The Families of Berllandywyll

Among the rural parishes of Carmarthenshire that provide pleasurable feasts for those who seek the delights of the countryside, few can excell the diverse scenic fare provided by the parish of Llangathen, where rolling uplands, wooded dingles, lush lowlands and meadows are given over wholly to the promotion of Britain's oldest occupation, farming and its ancillaries. Llangathen straddles the highway leading from Llandeilo to the county town of Carmarthen, bounded on the south by the river Tywi, on the north by the hills and woodlands of Llanfynydd, embracing some 5608 acres, and including within its bounds the 525 acres of the little ecclesiastical parish of Llanfihangel Cilfargen, so that today the whole administrative unit is 6133 acres.

In addition to the enchantments of the countryside, the parish offers antiquarian evidences of the activities of primitive folk whose lives were dominated by two considerations — subsistence and safety. Above a steep scarp on Grongar hill, the remains of an ancient fort remind us of the uncertain lives its builders must have led before the rule of law imposed discipline on the community, while the forms 'castell' that occur elsewhere in the parish, and in field-names, those flickering rushlights of an unrecorded gloom, indicate how widespread and general this uncertainty must have been. Belonging to a later period, no less capricious, is Dryslwyn castle on a knoll above the Tywi, a fortress that played an important part in the twelfth and thirteenth century struggles between Welsh princes and Norman barons, now reduced to a few straggling walls and ramparts. Under the year 1257 the Bruts record a battle at Coed Lathen, believed to be near Llether Cadfan, where the Welsh inflicted a severe defeat on an invading force commanded by one Stephen Bauzan. More peaceful inclinations are represented by the church dedicated to the Celtic saint who gave his name to the parish, built on a heighty spot above the hamlet where it continues its centuries-old mission of bringing solace and comfort to parishioners, and although altered from time to time the fabric retains certain medieval remnants. Amongst its noteworthy features is the resplendent tomb of Anthony Rudd sometime Bishop of St. Davids, who had lived at nearby Aberglasney, and the small chapels still bearing the names of the residences of the gentle families for whom they had been built — Capel Berllandywyll and Capel Llether Cadfan.

Nine mansions of landowning families stood within the parish — Aberglasney, Berllandywyll, Brynhafod, Court Henry, Parc Henry, Hafod Neddyn, Lanlash, Llether Cadfan, and Penhill — six being well-established in the Tudor period, three at least having been "going concerns" in medieval days. It is Berllandywyll and its owners that will exercise us in these pages.

The house, now adapted to farming usages, stands on a southerly slope facing towards Grongar Hill immortalised by the muse of John Dyer, and overlooking the meandering flow of the Tywi through the fertile vale below. When Joseph Gulston called there in 1783 he described it as "a very beautiful spot", while the Revd Thomas Beynon, agent of the Golden Grove estate described it in 1806 with pardonable exaggeration as "one of the most beautiful spots in the kingdom". The property has been known by two names. The original, Porthwryd, persisted until the latter half of the seventeenth century when it was supplanted by the name Berllandywyll, the 'secret or hidden orchard'. What determined the change is not known. The newer form occurs first in 1671 as Berllan Towell, in 1673 as Berlant Dowill, in 1679 as Porthwryd, and in 1690 as Berllan Dowill alias Porthwrid, after which the form Berllandywyll or — dowyll occurs consistently. The house and outbuildings stood within a triangular area formed by two roads, the apex being below the house, near the Towy where the old ferry, Glan y bad, once operated. Among the field-names attached to the property were College Chapel, Castell y Gwrychion, Ferren fach, and the ten-acre field Erw Porth which may contain an echo of the older name of the property. The original house stood in the field across the road, and part of its surrounding wall survives; the present house was built just above the orchard during the 18th century.

No information has been found enabling us to judge the extent of the estate in early times, but evidence surviving from the eighteenth century suggests it had been modest. Nevertheless, its owners were among the front-runners of West Wales gentry, and some of them held estates in neighbouring counties as well. Although four families lived there from 1350 to 1806, the property was never sold, for each family succeeded by marriage with the heiress of the predecessor, so that the biological link continued unbroken for four and a half centuries. The first family occupied the property for some three or four generations, the second for five, the third for six, and the fourth for one transient generation, after which the house and demesne was let to tenants, and the attached farmland became noted for the quality of its harvests. The Tithe Map for 1839 shows Berllandywyll as comprising 221 acres, owned by Lord Cawdor and farmed by David Jones.

The first family at Porthwryd
The first of this family at Porthwryd, the magnate Llewelyn Foethus, traced his ancestry through eight generations to Elystan Glodrudd the prince who had ruled the territory between the rivers Wye and Severn, largely represented today by the county of Radnor. His father Llewelyn ddu was the son of Owain ap Sir Gruffydd, Esquire of the Body to King Edward III (see Lewis Glyn Cothi, Works i, 170). Llewelyn Foethus ("the Luxurious") lived in the first half of the fourteenth century, and is described by the deputy-herald Lewys Dwnn (Heraldic Visitations, ii 224) as "o Langathen a Borthwryd'.' He was followed by his son Gruffydd who held the Crown appointment of Constable of Maenordeilo in 1355-58. Gruffydd had two sons, Rhys and Ieuan, and two daughters, Jenet who married Rhys ap David Fongam ap Hywel ap David, the said David Fongam having held the post of Steward of Cantref Mawr in 1303-09, and Jonet who married Nicholas ap Philip of Crug near Llandilo, and became the great-grandparents of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, K.G., of Dynevor.

The eldest son, Rhys, like his father, held Crown appointments. In 1386 he was Constable of Cetheiniog and Maenordeilo, and in 1392-1400 Beedle of Cetheiniog, and Deputy-Farmer of Llanllwch 1398-1400. During the rising of Owain Glyndwr, the younger son Ieuan espoused the Welsh cause, with the result that his lands were forfeited to the Crown, and given to his brother Rhys who had remained loyal to the King. Rhys benefitted to an even greater extent on 3 December 1401 when he received the forfeited lands of the Cayo magnate Llewelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan who had been executed for rebellion at Llandovery in the King's presence on the preceding 9 October. Further offices were showered on him — the important appointments of Sheriff of Carmarthen (1400), Constable of Dryslwyn Castle and Forester of Glyncothi and Pennant (1402). However, in July 1403 Rhys caused a great sensation in west Wales by publicly espousing Glyndwr's cause. The defection of so important a Crown official called for immediate action, and in September of that year Henry, Prince of Wales entered the county at the head of a strong force, declared Rhys an outlaw, seized all his lands and handed them to Thomas Dyer a burgess of Carmarthen. After wandering in the wilderness for several years, Rhys returned to the King's peace in 1409, received a pardon, and his lands were restored to him, while two years later he received one of his former appointments, the Constableship of Cetheiniog and Maenordeilo. The bells of Llangathen rang again, and the notes of the harp enlivened the halls of Porthwryd as in days of yore.

Rhys ap Gruffydd ap Llewelyn Foethus married Maud daughter of Sir William Clement who held extensive lands and public offices in Ceredigion. He was followed by his son Llewelyn who married a daughter of Ieuan Gwyn ap Gwilym Fwya, descended from the Glamorgan chieftain, Griffith Gwyr. From this union there was an only child, Gwenllian described as "aeres Porthwrid" by Lewys Dwnn. She was the last of the direct line of Llewelyn Foethus at Porthwryd which she brought to her husband Rhys ap David Hir who became the first of the succeeding family at his wife's ancestral home.

The second family at Porthwryd
The man who now hung his shield in the hall of Porthwryd descended from the lords of Rhydodyn (Edwinsford) in Llansawel, who traced their lineage to an Irish mercenary leader, Idio Wyllt, who had come to Wales in the eleventh century and settled in south-west Breconshire. His descendant David Fychan ap David of Rhydodyn had a son, Morgan, who married Lleucu daughter and heiress of Rhys ddu of Gornoethe in Cayo, descended from Dafydd Fongam. Morgan was followed by his son Dafydd Hir (The Tall) who lived in Llangathen, and was twice married. By his second wife, Lleucu daughter of Ieuan ap Llewelyn ddu, he had two sons, Rhys who married the heiress of Porthwryd, and Howell whose descendants lived in Carmarthen.

After Rhys ap Dafydd Hir married Gwenllian of Porthwryd, he settled at his wife's home. By her he had two sons, Henry ap Rhys the elder son and heir, and Owen ap Rhys who married Margaret daughter of Joan Gwilym Fychan of Baili Glas in Abergwili whose descendants settled at Hafod Neddyn.

In due course Henry ap Rhys succeeded to Porthwryd. He married the daughter of one of Ceredigion's most powerful families, Lleucu daughter of Llewelyn Lloyd of Castell Hywel in Llandysul. He was alive in 1550, and on 24 May of that year Henry ab Rees David Hire of Llangathen, gentleman, released four parcels of land in that parish to David ap John ap Gwilym (Edwinsford deeds). By Lleucu he had two sons and three daughters: 1. William ap Henry, of whom later. 2. John ap Henry married Catherine daughter of Sion ap Gwilym ap Thomas Fychan of Llether Cadfan, settled at Ystradwrallt in Abergwili, whose descendants took the surname Williams, one of whom, Nicholas Williams was High Sheriff in 1698. 3. Lleucu married David Edwardes of Carmarthen. 4. Jane married William Morgan of Carmarthen. 5. Elizabeth married Francis Williams of Carmarthen.

William ap Henry of Porthwryd married Elen sister of the Catherine who had married his brother John. Her father John ap Gwilym of Llether Cadfan was the son of Gwilym ap Thomas who had been an Esquire of the body to King Henry VIII. They had an only child, Harry ap William.

Harry ap William also known as Harry William and Harry William Harry, succeeded to Porthwryd. On 13 July 1586 he and Walter Vaughan of Golden Grove, esquire, gave a bond of indemnity to David Rice ap William touching a bond for payment of a fine of £200 imposed for certain offences on the said Walter by the Court of Star Chamber. He married Anne daughter of Griffith ap Morgan of Carmarthen, a descendant of the powerful family of Morgan of Muddlescomb. Anne had been married previously, to David Lloyd of Castell Hywel in Llandysul by whom she had issue, which, as we shall see, led to a pretty tangled relationship. On 30 April 1586 Harry William Harry, gentleman, granted the tenement called Parkey Henrye in Llangathen to Richard ap Rudderch of Llanfynydd, gentleman; and on 28 December 1590 Harry William Harrie, gentleman, and Harry William Thomas, yeoman, gave a bond to Thomas Vaughan, gentleman, all of Llangathen, to suffer a Fine and Recovery with further assurances of a tenement called Tyer Lloid in the said parish.

Harry William and his wife Anne were both still living in 1608. They had five sons and four daughters: 1. Walter Williams, eldest son and heir apparent, married Margaret daughter of David Lloyd of Castell Hywel. He was alive in 1608, but died very shortly afterwards, for in the following year his widow remarried to Harry Thomas Morgan of Carmarthen (Dwnn, i, 228, 235). As he left no issue, the estate passed, ultimately, to his two surviving sisters Barbara and Mary. 2 - 5, Harry, Lewis, Robert, and David Williams, all died without issue.

6 - 7. Sage and Sioned Williams, died without issue.
8. Barbara Williams, ultimate co-heiress, inherited Porthwryd as part of her share of the estate. She married George Lloyd of Castell Hywel son and heir of David Lloyd by his first wife Jane of Pantstreimon. Both were living in 1608. Their issue will be discussed in the next section.
9. Mary Williams, ultimate co-heiress, married William ap John ap Thomas Lloyd, by whom she had two daughters, Elizabeth and Barbara.

I mentioned earlier that an unusual relationship had resulted from the two marriages of Anne to Harry William and David Lloyd, best explained in tabular form:

This resulted in Anne becoming both step-mother and mother-in-law of George Lloyd and his sister Margaret.

As the sons of Harry William had died without issue, the male line failed, which led to a third family becoming owners of Porthwryd through marriage with the elder coheiress.

The third family at Porthwryd/Berllandywyll
Through Barbara his wife, George Lloyd became owner of Porthwryd. He continued to live at Castell Hywel, and whether he lived occasionally at Porthwryd or let it to tenants is not clear, but the latter certainly became the main seat of the family in due course. The new owner descended from one of the oldest Cardiganshire families whose founding father Cadifor ap Dinawal had taken a leading part in the storming of Cardigan castle in 1157, an exploit commemorated in the coat-of-arms of his descendants, sable three scaling ladders argent between a spear-head embrued, and on a chief gules a castle argent. For his part in the battle The Lord Rhys bestowed on him the hand of one of his daughters, and endowed him with Castell Howel and other properties in south Ceredigion. George Lloyd was twelfth in line from the martial Cadifor to have lived at Castel Howel. Barbara of Porthwryd predeceased him, and he married secondly Lettice daughter of Rowland Stedman of the Ystrad Fflur family. By Barbara he had three children: 1. Thomas Lloyd, living in 1608, died without issue. 2. David Lloyd — see below. 3, Anne, living in 1608, married firstly Hugh Lloyd of Ffoshelyg (will proved in 1636), and had issue, and secondly Hugh Price of Blaenywern.

David Lloyd succeeded to Castell Howell and Porthwryd, and married Winifred daughter of Thomas Jones of Llanbadarnfawr (Cards) and Dolau Cothi (Carms). He predeceased his wife who afterwards married Robert Birt of Llwyndyrus by whom she had two daughters. According to the Alcwyn Evans MSS she was buried at St. Peters church Carmarthen on 24 August 1675. By Winifred, David Lloyd had four children: 1. Thomas Lloyd son and heir, of whom later. 2. Elizabeth married as his second wife Owen Brigstocke of Llechdwnuy, the post-nuptial settlement dated 3 December 1661; she died on 3 February 1667-8, leaving issue. 3. Anne married a Mr. Bernard, and had a daughter, Elizabeth. 4. Abigail married Morgan Mathew of Castell Mynach, Glamorgan; she was still living in 1721, being then of advanced years.

Thomas Lloyd succeeded to the Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire estates. It was during his time that the change of name of the latter property took place. Blome's List of nobility and gentry published in 1673 describes him as of 'Berlant Dowill', which became Berllan-dowyll or -dywyll. Another point to be noted, is that the family surname was often spelled as Llwyd, the earlier, and correct, form. Thomas was one of the trustees to the settlement of his sister Mrs. Elizabeth Brigstocke in 1661, and in that year his name appears in the list of justices of the peace of Carmarthenshire. He married, firstly Bridget daughter of Thomas Lloyd of Wernfylyg and Llanllyr, Cardiganshire: she predeceased him, having had no children. His second wife, also named Bridget, whom he married after 1660, was a daughter of Sir Henry Vaughan of Derwydd and Sage his wife. Her brother, Sir Henry Vaughan the younger, by will dated 7 October 1671 bequeathed £300 to "my sister Floyd wife of Thomas ffloyd of Berllan Towel], Esq.", and on 17 January 1678-9 Thomas and Bridget Llwyd, described as of Porthwryd, gave a release of the legacy to the testator's executor. She was living in 1702 when she received ten shillings under the will of her sister Mrs. Jane Lloyd of Faerdre near Llandysul.

He lived mainly at his Carmarthenshire seat, and in 1686 was elected a Common Councilman of the borough of Carmarthen and took the qualifying oaths on 4 October, signing himself as 'T. Llwyd of Berllan dowill". On 21 April 1702 Griffith Rice of Newton wrote a letter to "Thomas Llwyd Esq at Berthlan-dowilt" asking for his support at the next parliamentary election as he had done in the past.

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