James Family Archives
• Researching the Past
• Education for the Present
• Preservation for the Future
Ancient History and Archeological Data Base.
This section of the Archives is devoted to the history of the James family prior
to the arrival in Pennsylvania (“Pre-
We begin our journey back in time with a review of the historic record of David James
(circa 1660-
In 1874, Isabella Batchelder James, the wife of Thomas Potts James (1803-
RADNORSHIRE att our Men’s Meeting the 20th day of the
5th month anno Domini 1683.
Whereas we understand ye our dear friend David James, and his wife Margaret, with
his daughter May who have for several years past inhabited amongst us both in the
parish of Llandegley and Glascum both in the county of Radnor, having now arrived
in the 8th mon. 1682 into the Province of Pennsylvania, seeing he doth require a
certificate from us his friends & former acquaintance we doe therefore certifie unto
all whom it may concern that he hath been a man walking harmless and of good behaviour,
loving to friends & having good report amongst his neighbours & soe left a good savour
behind with us -
OWEN HUMPHREY JOHN LLOYD REES AP REES
JOHN JARMIN EDWARD MOORE ROGER HUGHES
DANIEL LEWIS RICHARD COOK JOHN ROBERTS
NATHAN WOODLIFF DAVID GRIFFITH JOHN WATSON.
DAVID MEREDITH EDWARD JARMAN
A true copy from the Records Haverford Monthly of Friends, Vol. I. Page 308.
JOHN M. GEORGE, Recorder.
The 1683 document above was issued to David James by the Men’s Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Radnorshire, Wales and reports the geographic origin of David prior to his arrival in Pennsylvania who, “for several years past inhabited amongst us both in the parish of Llandegley and Glascum both in the county of Radnor..” The parishes of Llandegley and Glascwm communities that boarder each other in what is known today as the county of “Powys.” This particular reference to “both in the parish of Llandegley and Glascum” refers to a very specific geographic region lying on the boarder of both parishes where the James family resided for at least four generations prior to their migration to North America. Our next step back is to revisit the James family’s first documented return to Wales since their arrival in 1682.
In 1890 Mary Isabella James de Gozzaldi (1852-
“Dear Mr. James,
I cannot add anything to what you already know about David James, evidently you have seen C.H. Browning, The Welsh Settlement in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia 1912), and the article by Frank Noble in The Transactions of the Radnorshire Society (1959) which mentions David James `mariner’ of Glascwm as one of the fourteen Radnorshire subscribers to the purchase of Welsh Tract 1681. Noble also mentions James’ wife Margaret and daughter Mary.
The parish registers of Glascwm do not survive from before 1679. The later registers are at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed.
I do have records relating to David James of Glascwm in the period 1637-
(1)m..
1637
James David
of Glascwm, Gent.
occurs 1637
d. before 1661
David James
of Glascwm, Gent.
occurs 1637-
Katherine
Occurs
1661-
unnamed
eldest son
died before 1661
(1)m..
1661
John James
1679-
John Prosser
of Llanfihangel
Nantmelan, Gent.
occurs 1661
Elizabeth ferch Thomas
unnamed daughter
Thomas James
of Glascwm
occurs 1637-
Mary ferch Thomas
occurs 1637
m..1637
James ?
Rees Thomas
of Glascwm
occurs 1637
On February 27, 1986, Steven B. James of Pittsburg, Kansas made contact with Archivist R. Morgan of Powys County Library in Llandrindod Wells, Wales. At the request of Steven, Archivest R. Morgan performed a search of the earliest known records concerning the James family of Llandegley and Glascwm parishes within the former county of Radnor. Mr. Morgan was able to identify three sources containing the history of David James and the James family of Radnorshire including “The Welsh Settlement in Pennsylvania” published in 1912 and written by C.H. Browning; “The Transaction of the Radnorshire Society” published in 1959 and written by Frank Noble; and, a “...bundle of deeds formerly belonging to the Radnor County Council.” It is important to note that Radnorshire was incorporated into Powys County in 1974 and that is why today you will not find reference to a separate Radnor County or “shire.” Below is the letter penned by Archivist R. Morgan to Steven James in February of 1986:
In 2009 the National Library of Wales uploaded over 400,000 pages of documentation
concerning the history of Wales onto the Internet to a web site entitled, “Welsh
Journals Online.” This massive database provided researchers with access to an online
selection of 19th, 20th, and 21st century Welsh and Wales-
Within the Deeds From the Practice of Messrs. Green and Nixson can be found excerpts
from seventeen different transactions containing direct references to the James family
of Glascwm, Radnorshire or their lands. These records begin with a “marriage settlement”
dated August 28, 1606 in the marriage of Walter George Harries of Glascwm to Katherine
Evan, daughter of Evan Price of Glascwm identified as Record No. “R/D/GNX/168.” In
this marriage settlement George Prichard Cradock of Llangome Parish and his associates
agree to the transfer of a home formerly owned by Howell David Cadogan and a farm
formerly owned by Jevani ap Llewelin Vongam to the newly wed couple. The significance
of this otherwise innocuous deed is that it makes reference to “the land of James
ap David” within the parish of Glascwm. Thus, in 1606 we see the oldest reference
to landholdings by the James family contained within these deeds and the first appearance
of “James ap David” or “James David” as he is also known. Within the other sixteen
records can be found the identities of the sons of James ap David, his grandchildren
and the women his sons married including David James, the uncle of David James who
migrated to Pennsylvania in 1682; and, Thomas James, the father of David James, the
Pennsylvania immigrant. A more detailed analysis of these records was performed
by Larry P. James of Sacramento, California in November of 2011, entitled “The James
Family of Llandegley and Glascwm Parishes of Radnorshire, Wales (1582-
(2)m
1679
James ap David
of Glascwm, Gent.
occurs 1606-
d. before 1661
David James
of Glascwm, Gent.
occurs 1637-
Elizabeth ferch
Thomas
occurs 1637
unamed
eldest son
died before 1661
(1)m.
1637
Evan James
of Glascwm, Gent.
occurs 1671
Katherine
Occurs
1679-
John James
of Glascwm
occurs 1679-
Thomas James
of Glascwm, Gent
occurs 1637-
Mary ferch
Thomas
occurs 1637
m..
1637
David James
of Glascwm
occurs 1662
“ 14 February 1583 26 Eliz. David ap Rees ap Jevan Athro of Llandegley, Co. Rad., sick; soul to God; body to Llandegley ch., to poor men’s box 12d; to cath. Ch. St Davids 4d; to son Jevan ap David tenement called Tir David ap Rs ap Jevn Here in a place called Y Soith in Llandegley, wh I purchased on cond. Of redemption of sd David ap Rs ap Jevn Here; to John ap Dd my youngest son 1 pcl arable & meadow called Rosse yr Heole in Llanvihangell Kevenllis wh I purchased of Howell ap Rs ap Howell on cond. Of redemption; to sd Jevan ap Dd 2 steeers 3 yrs old at May next, 1 black 1 brown; to son Lewes 1 pyed black cow & 2 sheep; to John ap David 4 wild mares & 1 yrling colt, 1 black cow, 10 sheep; to Catheringe vz Morgan spinster 2 kine, 1 heifer, 1 cow calf in custody of David ap Gllm & 10 sheep, 1 red yrling bullock; to Katherine vz David my eldest dau. 1 mare white & 2 kine, 1 black 1 plewed redd; to Katherin vz Lluis my woire 1 black cow; to Lewis ap M’dithe my owir 1 brown cow; to James Greffethe my owir 4 sheep; to Ellen vz Lluis spinster 1 yrling heifer, 2 sheep; to Meredith ap Greffith my woir 1 black yrling heifer; t dau. Katherin 2 ewes; to son James ap David £4 on my exors; if he dies before payment to be divided between Jevan ap Dd, Lluis ap Dd, John ap Dd my sons; to Rs ap John my cosen 1 wheather; rest of goods to Greffeth ap David my edest son (exor); overseers: tutors etc: James ap Jevn ap Greffethe, Lluis Dd ap Lluis, M’edd ap John & John ap Jevan Phillipp; Witn: Phellipp ap Jevn ap Jevn, Howell ap Rees ap Howell & Rs Joh; Debts due on testator: to Jevan ap John by bond £6 13s 4d, Howell Phellipp 4s; Jevan ap Griffiths 33s 4d; David ap Jevn Here 6s 8d, Meredith ap John £3, Ph’e ap Jevn ap Jevn 4s 4d; Inventory: 11 kine each 13s 4d; 4 oxen each 20s; 1 heifer 10s; 2 yrling heifers each 5s; 2 steers each 7s; 40 yrling sheep or hoggs each 2s; 3 wild mares each 13s 4d; 2 yrling colts each 5s; 1 horse 20s; hshldstuff…; corn in barn & fields 40s. Proved: 28 April 1584.”
Jevan Athro
A.K.A.
Ieuan yr Athro Hen
ap Gruffud
Rees ap Jevan
David ap Rees
of Llandegley, Gent.
occurs 1583
dies 1584
Griffith ap David
of Llandegley
occurs 1583
Katherine verch David
occurs 1583
Jevan ap David
of Llandegley
occurs 1583
Lewis ap David
of Llandegley
occurs 1583
John ap David
of Llandegley
occurs 1583
James Griffith
occurs 1583
Meredith ap Griffith
occurs 1583
Lewis ap Meredith
occurs 1583
Katherin verch Lewis
occurs 1583
?
Rees ap John
occurs 1583
James ap David
of Llandegley
occurs 1583
“Bettws Mill” of Glascwm Parish in Llandrindod Wells, Powys County, Wales; also known
as, “Melin y Busnant”, “Melin Busnant”, “Melin Bussnant”, “Melin Bisnant” and “Busnant
Mill.” This mill was originally a water powered corn-
In 2011 the Last Will and Testament of David ap Rees ap Jevan Athro was uncovered
from “Radnorshire Wills” abstracted by E.J.L. Cole. This record was published in
1983 by Radnorshire Society Transactions in Volume 53 at pages 70-
Ieuan yr Athro Hen ap Gruffydd, Lord of Plas Einion in Denbighshire, Wales (circa 1330)
Gruffydd ap David Dinllais,
Lord of Plas Einion in Denbighshire, Wales (circa 1300)
David Dinllais ap David,
Lord of Plas Einion in Denbighshire, Wales (circa 1270)
David ap Madog,
Lord of Plas Einion in Denbighshire, Wales (circa 1230)
Madog ap Rhirid,
Of Tegeingl, Flintshire,
Wales (circa 1200)
Rhirid ap Howel,
Of Tegeingl, Flintshire,
Wales (circa 1170)
Howel ap Llywarch,
Of Tegeingl, Flintshire,
Wales (circa 1130)
Llywarch ap Rhirid,
Of Tegeingl, Flintshire,
Wales (circa 1100)
Rhirid ap Owain,
Of Tegeingl, Flintshire,
Wales (circa 1070)
Owain ap Edwyn,
Prince of Tegeingl, Flintshire, Wales (circa 1050-
Edwyn ap Goronwy,
Prince of Tegeingl, Flintshire, Wales (circa 1020)
Goronwy ap Owain
Prince of Tegeingl, Flintshire, Wales (circa 987)
Owain ab Hywel “Dda”,
King of South Wales (Deheubarth) and Powys (circa 900)
Hywel “Dda” ap Kadell,
(Howell the Good), King of South Wales (Deheubarth), Powys and Gwynedd (circa 880)
Kadell ap Rhodri Mawr,
King of South Wales (Deheubarth)
(circa 854)
Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn,
(Roderick the Great), King of Gwynedd and Powys, Prince and First King of Wales (circa 825)
Merfyn “Frych” ap Gwriad,
King of Gwynedd and Powys
(circa 784)
Gwriad ab Elidir,
King of the Isle of Man
(circa 770)
In 2019 two important books were uncovered documenting the noble Welsh lineage of
Ieuan yr Athro Hen ap Gruffud (John the Great Teacher, son of the Strong Lord). These
records traced Ieuan’s lineage back seventeen generations to Gwriad ab Eldir, King
of the Isle of Man who lived around the year 770 during the 8th Century. These books
included "Miscellanea Genealogica Et Heraldica, Volume 2, Second Series" (seen below)
published by Hamilton, Adams, and Company in London in 1888 where at page 365 we
are shown the paternal ancestry of Goronwy ap Owen, Prince of Tegeingl ascending
up six generations to Gwriad ab Elidir, King of the Isle of Man. The second of these
is "Archaeologia Cambrensis, The Journal of the Cambrian Archaeological Association,
Vol. VIII. 4th Series" (seen below) published in 1877 by J. Parker of London where
at pages 32-
Merfyn “Frych” (The Freckled) ap Gwriad,
King of Gwynedd and Powys (circa 784)
Merfyn “Frych” ap Gwriad
Coat of Arms
Goronwy ap Owain
Prince of Tegeingl, Flintshire, Wales
(circa 987)
Goronwy ap Owain
Coat of Arms
According to a will dated February 14, 1572 and witnessed by "David ap Rees ap Jevan
Athro" of Llandegley Parish in Radnorshire County, Wales -
Plas Einion in the Parish of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Denbighshire County, Wales situated
in the "Vale of Clwyd" about one mile south of the town of Ruthin -
On March 27, 1625 King Charles I (1600–1649) ascended the thrown and became monarch
over the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. After his succession,
Charles quarreled with the Parliament of England, which sought to curb his royal
prerogative. Charles believed in the divine right of kings and was determined to
govern according to his own conscience. Many of his subjects opposed his policies,
in particular the levying of taxes without parliamentary consent, and perceived his
actions as those of a tyrannical absolute monarch. Shortly after ascending to the
thrown, Charles I compelled the James family, represented by James ap David of Glascwm
and the landed gentry of the counties in Wales to contribute money in the form of
a “loan” to the king. In every case the amount each was “invited” to pay was £10.
A total of £570 was collected from the landed gentry of Radnorshire. King Charles
I ruled over the three kingdoms including occupied Wales until his execution in 1649.
In 1835 a record of the loan made to King Charles I was presented to the Court of
Exchequer. This report was published in 1965 in Radnorshire Society Transactions.
Note that £10 in 1630 was equal to approximately £1,200 in 2017 or $1,500. This
sum in 1625 represented a little more than four months wages for a tradesman, or
the value of one horse. There is no record of this “loan” ever being repaid to the
James family as the period prior to and following King Charles I execution was marked
by the tumultuous English Civil War of 1641-