Person Page - 1049

     Mredydd Goch was born. He was the son of Gruffydd.¹ The English equivalent of Goch is Red. The Kingdom of Powys was in the possession of the Lords Marchers. The descendants of the Welsh chieftains held comparatively small estates. Though reduced in power, they kept up, according to their means, the household state found in Howel's laws, haughtily cherished the memories of a departed greatness, and alternately, sullenly acquiesced in the new state of things and eagerly seized an opportunity for revenge against Normans, Saxon and Cymric neighbor alike.¹

     Gruffydd was born. He was the son of Cadwgan.¹ Henry and Gruffydd were half Norman and half Welsh and it is probably that their parents named Henry for the Norman King Henry and Gruffydd for Gruffydd ap Cynan who was one of the allies of Cadwgan in his wars with the invaders. If such was the case, and it seems probable, they were born between the years 1100 and 1109; Henry perhaps 1102 and Gruffydd about 1104-6. With the death of Cadwgan (1111) the kingdom or principality of Powys was practically at an end and the surviving members of the Welsh princely familes of that reign had become vassals of the English king. The land was divided between Norman and Welsh lords who came to be called Lords Marchers. There is no record of the deeds of Gruffydd. He may have received lands in the division of Powys or he may have remained on the family estate in Shropshire.¹

     Cadwgan was born. He was the son of Bleddyn.¹ He married a daughter of Robert of Sai, a Norman Baron (Lord of Clun) and his wife, Adeloya. Robert was variously called Robert de Sai, which was his correct name, Ficot de Saium and Picot de Say. His estate was situated in the valley of the Clun river in southwestern Shropshire and it was very extensive, including nearly all of Rinlau Hundred and a large part of Rinteude Hundred. Cadwgan had seven sons, but only the fifth, Henry, and the sixth, Gruffyd, were by his wife, the daughter of lord Robert de Sai. Each of the others was by a different mother and probably illegitimate according to modern standards. After the death of Bleddyn his sons, Madog, Cadwgan and Rhiryd ruled over Powys. In 1098 they attacked Rhys ap Tewdwr, ruler of Deheubarth, and drove him into exile. He collected a fleet, returned and gave battle to them in which Madog and Rhiryd were slain. Cadwgan then became sole ruler of Powys. In 1094 he rallied the Welsh chieftains and attempted to throw off the Norman yoke. He was very successful and by 1098 had recovered nearly all the territory that had belonged to the Cymri before the conquest. In that year the tide turned. Cadwgan and his allies were defeated and he fled to Ireland. He returned in 1099, made peace with the Normans and received Ceredigion and a part of Powys. He is said to have been amiable, but he lacked the stronger elements of character which the situation required. On account of the misdeeds of his eldest son Owain he was called before King Henry, dispossessed of his lands and placed on a daily pension of twenty-four pence on condition that he should not set foot on his native soil. He soon came to terms with the king and was allowed to settle in the border vill which he had received as the dowry of his Norman wife. This was doubtless in the valley of the Clun in Shropshire where the lands of Lord Robert de Sai were located and near the Welsh border. King Henry restored to him the Kingdom of Powys in 1111, but his reign was brief, for in that year he was slain at Welshpool by his nephew, Madog ap Rhizyd.¹

     Bleddyn was born. He was the son of Cynfyn and Angharad.¹ During the later years of the reign of his half-brother, Gruffyd, the English had brought Wales into at least nominal subjection. Gruffyd was killed by the English August 5, 1063. Bleddyn and his brother Rhiwallon, having submitted to King Edward, were made rulers of Gwynedd and Powys. The Normans who came with William the Conqueror soon encroached upon the Welsh who resisted them and Rhiwallon was slain in battle in 1070. Bleddyn was then the sole ruler. He made many beneficial changes in the laws of his kingdom. He was the mildest and most clement of kings and did injury to none, save when insulted, nor loved to avenge the insult when it came. To his kinsmen he was gentle; widows and orphans and the weak he defended; he was the support of the wise, the glory and corner-stone of the church, the delight of all lands, openhanded to all, terrible in war, but in peace beloved. The sons of his half-brother tried to regain the kingdom and he had many conflicts with the Mercians, but he lost no territory. He died in 1075 and left five sons, Madog and Phiryd who were slain in 1088, Cadwgan and Iowerth who both survived until 1111 and Maredudd, who died in 1132 and transmitted the rights of his family to many future generations.¹

     Cynfyn was born.

     Angharad was born. She was the daughter of Maredudd.¹ Little is known of her husband, Cynfyn. His fame, like that of many of us his descendents, was only the reflection of the fame of his distinguished wife. There is no evidence that he ever attempted to rule in the right of his wife as did her first husband. The sons of Cynfyn and Angharad were Bleddyn and Rhiwallon.¹

     Maredudd was born. He was the son of Owain.¹ He became King of Deheubarth in 986 and directly proceeded to conquer Gwynedd. In 990 he raided and plundered Maes Hyfaidd (Radnorshire) which was then in the possession of the Mercians. In the same year he Saxons devastated his territory and in 993 it wa wasted by the plague. Both the Danes and the Saxons caused him much trouble during his entire reign. His nephews also tried to regain Gwynedd, but he was successful over all his enemies. It is said that he obtained Powys through his mother which made him King of all Wales. He died in 998 or 999 leaving an only daughter and sole heiress, Angharad. She married Llewelyn ap Seisyll, who assumed the reins of government. They had one son, Gruffydd. Llewelyn died in 1023 and the kingdom was held by others until 1039 when the son, Gruffydd, succeeded to the throne. Angharad took unto herself a second husband, Cynfyn.¹

     Owain was born. He was the son of Hywel Dha.¹ On the death of his father Gwynedd and Powys rebelled and were lost to the house of Hywel Dha in the battle of Nant Carno. His brothers having died Owain was now sole ruler of Deheubarth. As a military leader he does not appear to have made a brilliant record. The Danes made him much trouble. In 959 he demolished two colleges because they received Saxon students. He was proud of his ancestry and he compiled a record on his father's side extending back to Cunedda and on his mother's side to Vorteporix, King of Dyfed, who flourished between A.D. 500 and 600. In 986, being old and feeble, he abdicated in favor of his son Maredudd. He died in 987 or 988.¹

     Hywel Dha was born. He was the son of Cadell.¹ He and his brother Clydog became rulers of Ceredigion and Ystrad Turgi which were united to form Seisyllwg. Clydog died in 920 and Hywel became sole ruler. He was called Hywel Dha (Howell the Good) on account of the mild and beneficent character of his reign. He married Elen, daughter of Llywarch ap Hyfaidd, King of Dyfed, and he took possession of Dyfed after the death of her father. He annexed Kydweli an Gwyr without the use of force. He expelled Iago and Ieuaf from Gwynedd and seized the kingdom. He acquired Powys later, which made him king of all Wales. During his entire reign of forty years or more he lived at peace with the Anglo-Saxons and he had very little trouble with the neighboring petty kingdoms. His success in uniting the Welsh people under one government would entitle him to distinction, but his fame rests largely on the fact that he was the first great law-giver of the Welsh people. He called a few of the wise and learned men as counsellors and a code of just laws was formed which became the law of the land and the basis of all later Welsh jurisprudence. He made a pilgrimage to Rome, accompainied by a number of Welsh princes and church dignitaries. It is said that he went to Rome to submit his laws to the Pope for his approval. He died in 950 loved and revered by his subjects.¹

     Cadell was born. He was the son of Rhodri Mawr.¹ In the division of the dominion of his father he was given Deheubarth and a large part of South Wales. His brother Merfyn received Powys. He and his brothers made so much trouble for the neighboring kingdoms that they were compelled to seek help from Alfred the Great. In 893 he was attacked by his brother Anarawd, King of Gwynedd, who invaded and plundered Seisyllwg. After the death of his brother Merfyn, Cadell drove out his nephews and appropriated Powys to himself. He died about 909 and his kingdom was divided between his sons, Hywel and Clydog.¹

     Rhodri Mawr was born. He was the son of Merfyn Frych.¹ He succeeded his father as King of Gwynedd. He was called Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great) on account of his skill in extending the boundaries of his kingdom and in uniting the Welsh people under one government. He became ruler of all Wales except a small part in the extreme south. He married Angharad, daughter of Meurig ap Dyfnwallon. His mother's brother, Cyngen, King of Powys, died in 855. He immediately took possession of Powys and no one seems to have disputed his right to rule. He acquired Seisyllwg on the death of its King Gwgon, brother of Rhodri's wife, who died in 872. He was somewhat successful in resisting the invasions of the Saxons and the Danes, but in 876 he sustained a crushing defeat and fled to Ireland. he returned in 877 and attempted to regain the kingdom, but he was killed by the Saxons in 878. After his death the kingdom does not seem to have been held by the Saxons as it was divided between three of Rhodri's sons, Anawrad, Cadell and Merfyn.¹

     Merfyn Frych was born. He was the son of Gwriad and Ethyllt.¹ He married Nest, sister and heiress of Congen ap Cadell, King of Powys. Through his mother he bacame King of Gwynedd on the death of her uncle, Hywel in 825. Evidence indicates that he came from the Isle of Man. He was a man of unusual force and energy. For nineteen years he maintained his power against all rivals and against the Danish interruptions, and on his death in 844 he was able to hand it on to his son Rhodri. He was at war with the Saxons in 823 and in 830 and probably at other times. Burchard, King of Mercia, made war against Gwynedd and its king, Merfyn Frych, was slain in battle in 844.¹

     Gwriad was born.

     Ethyllt was born. She was the daughter of Cynan.¹ She married Gwriad and there is no evidence that either she of her husband attempted to rule.¹

     Cynan was born in 730. He was the son of Rhodri Molwynog.¹ As far as is known his rule did not extend beyond the commote of Tindaethwy. Soon after A.D. 800 he attacked his brother Hywel to gain possession of Anglesey, but was defeated. He died in 816.¹

     Rhodri Molwynog was born. He was the son of Idwal.¹ He succeeded his father and was also thought that he was of little account and that he ruled only over Anglesey. He died in 754. His son Hywel seems to have ruled over Anglesey and another son, Cynan, held Tindaethwy.¹

     Idwal was born. He was the son of Cadwaladr.¹ He succeeded his father. It is thought that he was a ruler of not much ability and that his territory did not extend beyond Anglesey.¹

     Cadwaladr was born. He was the son of Cadwallon.¹ He became King of Gwynedd after the death of his father. None of his deeds have been recorded, yet he must have been a figure of some distinction. He died in the great plague of 664, and it is likely, notwithstanding his martial reputation, that he spent the close of his life as a monk, for the church of Llgngadwaladr in Anglesey claims him as its patron saint and founder and churches were dedicated to him in other parts of Wales.¹

     Cadwallon was born. He was the son of Cadfan.¹ He succeeded to the throne of Gwynedd and his career was a stormy one. His first encounter with the English forces was disastrous and he fled to Ireland. He returned to Wales, formed an alliance with a Mercian king and, in A.D. 633, conquered and killed the English king. In the summer of 634 he again defeated the English, but before the end of that year the English defeated and killed him. The Welsh people hail him as one of their greatest defenders against the encroachments of the English.¹

     Cadfan was born. He was the son of Iago.¹ The year when he became king is not known. As King of Gwynedd he seems to have claimed the over-lordship of the other Welsh kings. It is probable that comparatively peaceful times continued during his reign. There is no record of wars except his unfortunate conflicts with the Northumbrians. A tombstone in the church of Llangadwaladr in Anglesey two miles from Aberffraw is said to mark his grave. He died about A.D. 617.¹

     Iago was born. He was the son of Beli.¹ Early in his reign he abdicated in favor of his son Cadfan and became a monk. he seems to have chosen the quiet life of the monastery rather than the cares and responsibilities of the kingdom. He is supposed to have died about A.D. 616.¹

     Beli was born. He was the son of Rhun.¹ His father and his son were Kings of Gwynedd and it may be assumed that he also occupied the throne, but the histories give no account of his reign which may have been uneventful.¹

     Rhun was born. He was the son of Maelgwn Hir.¹ He succeeded his father as King of Gwynedd about A.D. 550. He is described as "a great, tall man with red-brown curly hair." In retaliation for an attack from his northern Brythonic brethren he made war against them and made the territory as far north as the Firth of Forth subject to Gwynedd.¹

     Maelgwn Hir was born. He was the son of Cadwallon Lawhir.¹ He was also known as Maelgwn the Tall. He ruled in Gwynedd with an iron hand. The story of his crimes and deeds of violence is a long and sad one. Yet he was called a Christian. Heavy as is the catalogue of misdeeds laid to his charge, he is not without a certain tincture of nobleness. He is a liberal giver and no common tyrant would, in the heyday of his greatness, have laid aside his royal dignity and have withdrawn, as Maelgwn did, to the austere seclusion of a monastic cell. All Christians must, it is true, deplore his sad relapse into a life no less worldly and sin-ridden than before, but the very making of the experiment proves him a prince of no ordinary mould. He died of the yellow plague in 547.¹

     Cadwallon Lawhir was born. He was the son of Einion Yrth.¹ "Lawhir" means longhanded. The Goidels were still in power in the north, but he succeeded in subduing them and they and the aborigines became henceforth a subject race of their brythonic conquerors.¹

     Einion Yrth was born. He was the son of Cunedda.¹ The appellation "Yrth" is believed to indicate that he was of a hasty and impetuous temperament. In the division of the kingdom the portion of Einion was in Gwynedd. No record of his deeds or misdeeds has been preserved.¹

     Cunedda was born. He was the first ruler of the Welsh people of whom there is any authenic record. He had been a Roman officer on the north wall and came from the north to assist his Brythonic brethren and became their king. This was about A.D. 400. His success in conquering the enemies of the Brythons gave him the title Wledig or Great King. He founded a dynasty which, through his descendents, ruled the Welsh people during several centuries. He seems to have been a Christian and probably he was partly of Roman ancestry. He came from the land of Manaw Gododin near the Firth of Forth. His home was on the northern border of the Votadini, where Slamannan in Stirlingshire still keeps the name alive. He is the nineteenth generation from Beli Mawr who was the son of Anna. This Anna was daughter to the Emporer of Rome. That Anna used to be said by the men of Egypt to be cousin to the Virgin Mary. Beli Mawr, (Bellinus) son of Mynogan, to whom all of the genealogies trace, was the leader of the Brythons against Julius Caesar at the time of the Roman invasion, 55 B.C.¹

     John Teegarden was born on 29 March 1830 at Knox County, Ohio.¹ He was the son of Aaron Teegarden and Frances "Nancy" McKown.¹ John Teegarden married Mary Pauline Gorham at Ray County, Missouri.² John Teegarden married Susan Watkins.² John Teegarden married Lurany "Lou" Courtney in 1898.² John Teegarden married Eliza Jane Mitchell on 8 August 1906 at Lathrop, Clinton County, Missouri.² John Teegarden died on 18 September 1910 at Lathrop, Clinton County, Missouri, at age 80.¹

     Mary Pauline Gorham was born in 1842 at Kentucky.¹ She married John Teegarden, son of Aaron Teegarden and Frances "Nancy" McKown, at Ray County, Missouri.² Mary Pauline Gorham died in 1880.¹

     John B. Teegarden was born on 23 September 1865 at Worth, Worth County, Missouri.¹ He was the son of John Teegarden and Mary Pauline Gorham.¹ John B. Teegarden married Susanna Grindstaff, daughter of Martin V. Grindstaff and Armilda Spoonemore, on 25 May 1890 at Birmingham, Clay County, Missouri.² John B. Teegarden died on 10 August 1955 at San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, California, at age 89.¹