Penoros Farm Trofarth, Abergele, LL22 8BT researched and written by Gill. Jones, Ann Morgan & Myra Thomas 2017 Written in the language chosen by the volunteers and researchers & including information so far discovered. ©Discovering Old Welsh Houses PLEASE NOTE ALL THE HOUSES IN THIS PROJECT ARE PRIVATE AND THERE IS NO ADMISSION TO ANY OF THE PROPERTIES Contents page 1. Building Description 2 2. Early Background History 4 3. 16th century 6 4. 17th century 7 5. 18th century 11 6. 19th century 14 7. 20th century 22 Appendix 1 The pedigree of Llewelyn 27 Appendix 2 The family of Roger ap Lewis 28 Appendix 3 The family of Robert ap Ellis 29 Appendix 4 The Wynne family of Gwydir and Wynnstay 30 Appendix 5 The family of Thomas Ellis 31 Appendix 6 The Wynne family of Garthewin 32 Appendix 7 The Williams family of Penoros 34 Appendix 8 The Will of Anne Williams 1814 36 Appendix 9 The Will of Jane Williams 1816 37 Appendix 10 The Will of Evan Williams 1845 38 Appendix 11 The Family of John Jones 39 Appendix 12 The Jones family of Penoros 40 Appendix 12a “ 41 1 Building Description OS Grid coordinates: SH855, 730 The house has been extended and extensively modernized but there are a number of re-sited old timbers, showing evidence of post and panel partitions. There is also an interesting carved wooden head. Our investigations have uncovered two possible theories about the carving. 1. The hat/helmet could perhaps represent an early 'kettle hat'. These were used throughout Europe from about the end of the 12 th century and continued in use throughout the medieval period. They were the characteristic helmets of ordinary soldiers, but were also used extensively by the knightly classes. A modern reproduction of a kettle hat 2 One local resident recalled that his grandparents used to tell him about the Head embedded in the fireplace at Pen yr Orsedd (Penoros). They had been told a story suggesting that it could be traced back to the time when Owain Glyndwr was in retreat from a battle in the Conwy area. One soldier stole something from another and was shot and that was a representation of his head. 2. The head may have been that of a local chieftain - Pen Rhos – i.e. chief/head of Rhos. This might refer to the Cantref of Rhos - ( see p.4) or simply an area of heath/moorland in the locality. N.B. Another theory about the Name - Penorros An article published in a local newspaper in 2016, written by Rhys Mwyn, suggested that the name Orros could be a Viking word. Vikings are known to have had a presence in North Wales. ….......................................... The House It is difficult to establish whether the earliest references found in documents re. Penoros refer to the current farmhouse. There are at least two other old buildings on the site now used as outhouses. There are some old timber beams inside this building and on the left, external steps to the upper floor. This building has a bread oven and on the left a set of external steps to the upper floor. 3 Early Background History Medieval Land Division in Wales For administrative purposes, the land in Wales was divided up into Cantrefi and Commotes. The Cantref of Rhos was divided into the commotes of Is Dulas and Uwch Dulas and Creuddyn. The commotes themselves were divided into townships. 4 Penoros was situated in the Cantref of Rhos ; the commote of Isdulas ; and the old Parish of Llansanffraid Glan Conway which consisted of five townships:- Deunant, Llan or Tre'r Llan, Pen y rhos, Trallwyn and Tre Bwll. This parish was also known as Diserth. In 1873 part of the township of Deunant was lost to the new parish of Trofarth and in 1900 the remainder of the township of Deunant and part of the township of Tre Bwll went to the new parish of Bryn y Maen. In 1970 a small portion of the north of the parish was transferred to the parish of Llangwstenin. Penoros was presumably on the boundary of more than one township. It has been found recorded in Pen y rhos, Deunant and Trofarth. The cantrefi of Rhos, Rhufoniog, Dyffryn Clwyd and Tegeingl formed an area known as 'Perfeddwlad/Y Berfeddwlad' or 'the Middle Country'. This was owned in the 13 th century by Owain Goch and his brother, Llewelyn ab Gruffydd , after jointly succeeding their uncle Dafydd ap Llewelyn in the region in the year 1246.1 In the following year, by the terms of an agreement dated 30t h April, they granted these lands to Henry III in order to establish 'perpetual peace' between themselves and the King. 2 These lands were ceded to the English and re-granted or re-captured by the Welsh on numerous occasions. By 1282, complaints had risen because of injustices perpetrated by the English and because of their contempt for native law and custom. As a result, Dafydd and his brother Llewelyn took up arms against Edward I. Edward responded very quickly and soon defeated the Welsh. Llewelyn was eventually killed on the 10 th December 1282 in a battle at Builth Wells, and Dafydd was executed for treason on the 3 rd October 1283 in Shrewsbury. The Lordship of Denbigh On the 16th October 1282 , Edward I granted the cantrefs of Rhos (not including Creuddyn) and Rhufoniog , and the commote of Dinmael in the cantref of Penllyn to Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, as a reward for his loyalty in helping to defeat the Welsh. This area of land became known as the Lordship of Denbigh . In return, De Lacy was to render six knight's fees. 1. Appendix 1 – Pedigree of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd and Dafydd ap Gruffydd 2. Cymmrodorian Record Series No.2 1893 - Ruthin Court Rolls in the time of Edward I – translated by Richard Arthur Roberts; Introduction p.iii 5 16th Century The earliest reference found so far relating to Penoros is from a document dated late in the 16 th cen- tury. 1588 12 July, 30 Elizabeth 3 Bond by John Evans, Clerk, Rector of Penegoyes, Fulco ap Gruffith of Tyncadvell, co. Denbigh, gentleman., and Owen Roger son and heir of Roger David ap Howell of Pennorris 4, same co., gentleman, to Richard Wyn, ap David ap Rees, gentleman, in £300, to secure the indemnification of the said Richard against a claim by David Holland. ( Much decayed.) This family may have been responsible for building Penoros. However, it has not been possible to establish whether this was the current house or another building on the site. It is also not known whether they were the capital leaseholders of the land or simply subtenants. N.B. Almost all land (apart from that held by the church) at this time would have been owned by the Crown. 'Tenants in capita' (tenants in chief) held leases directly from the Crown. They in turn sublet land to lesser tenants. Everyone, apart from the Monarch, was said to hold the land 'of ' someone else. 3. NLW - Coed Coch & Trofarth MSS – ref. No. 198 4. Appendix 2 - Family of Roger David ap Howell 6 17th Century 1606 August 27 th – Another transaction took place between John ap Rees ap David of Trofarth and Lewis ap Roger of Penorros regarding a property called Yr Heol in Trofarth. In 1588, Owen Roger had originally been described as the son and heir of Roger David. He may have predeceased his father and so his brother, Lewis, had inherited the property. Two siblings of Lewis ap Roger and Owen Roger were married in Llanelian church 5. Gruffith ap Roger was married on the 7/2/1591 to Katherine vch Mrdd . Jane vch Roger was married on the 29/1/1615 to John Gruffith ap William . A third sibling is recorded in the Llanelian yn Rhos Parish registers when his son was baptised. 1610 16th April Richard s/o John ap Roger was baptised. Lewis ap Roger was married to Catherine and they had at least three sons. Two of whom were bap- tised in Llanelian Church. 1. John Lewis ap Roger who married Margaret Ffoulke ap Robert . 2. Grufydd Lewis ap Roger who was baptised on the 30/3/1601 in Llanelian. 3. David Lewis ap Roger who was baptised on the 30/7/1606 in Llanelian. John Lewis ap Roger and his wife Margaret Ffoulkes had at least six children. (see below - Mar- garet's burial record) 1. Hugh Lewis who had two sons and a daughter. (see below) 2. Humphrey Lewis who was baptised on the 25/5/1610 in Llanelian Church. 3. David Lewis who was baptised on the 22/9/1621 in Llanelian.* 1620 - The burial of Margaret Ffoulkes w/o John Lewis ap Roger is recorded in 'Y Cwtta Cyfar- wydd'6 It mentions that she had six children still living. 'Llansanfraid yn Rhos 1620 burial M'd that upon Saturday being the ix th day of December 1620 one M'garet Ffoulke ap Rob't (the wife of John Lewis ap Roger of Penorros) was buried in the parish church of Llanelian in the north side of the Chauncell there anynch the doore or entrance into that chauncell having vi children then liv- ing.' * Margaret died in 1620 and David, son of Lewis ap Roger, was baptised in 1621 and so he may not have been her son. Or Margaret may have died as a result of the birth of David, who survived her but he was not bap- tised until the following year.