Anwyl of Towyn Family descend in the male line from Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd (Prince of Upper Gwynedd c.1175 - 1195) to the present day and as such are the de jure Princes of Gwynedd and the legal representatives by Welsh law of the House of Aberffraw and Cunedda. If Wales had not been conquered by England in 1283 and the native offices and titles not abolished then the male representatives of the Anwyl of Towyn Family would represent the living Royal Family of Wales and the direct patrilineal successors of Rhodri Mawr, King of the Britons.

Descent from Owain Gwynedd (died 1170) to Jeuan ap Maredudd (died c.1402)

These records were attested by William Lewis Annwill in 1611 and certified in Heraldic Visitations of the Three Counties of North Wales above Conway by Lewis Dwnn (completed 1613). Published as Heraldic Visitations of Wales and part of the Marches by Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick in 1846 and republished by Bridge Books in 2005. Anwyl Family found in Volume II, pp69-71.

  1. Robert ap Maredudd
  2. Jeuan (Evan) ap Maredudd

According to Philip Yorke in his book The Royal Tribes of Wales (published 1799); [1]

"The father of Jeuan and Robert was Maredudd ab Hywel ab Dafydd ab Gruffudd ab Thomas ab Rodri, Lord of Anglesey, ab Owain Gwynedd, as is evident by the Extent of North Wales, in the twenty-sixth of Edward the Third. During Robert ab Maredudd's time, the inheritance, which descended to him and his brother Jeuan, was not parted after the custom of the country, by gavelkind, but Jeuan being married -enjoyed both houses, Cefn y fan and Cesail Gyfarch. From Robert, who did not marry till near eighty, descended the houses of Gwydir, Cesail Gyfarch, and Hafod Lwyfog; and Sir John the historian, his descendant, says, he was the elder brother; from Jeuan ab Maredudd, who was Constable of Cruccaith, the families of Rhiwaedog, Clenenneu, Ystumcegid, Brynkir and Park."

The sons of Maredudd ap Hywel, Robert and Jeuan, took opposing sides during the last war of Welsh independence led by Owain Glyndwr between 1400 and c.1412. Robert, the elder brother and the ancestor of the Wynn of Gwydir family sided with Glyndwr but survived the war receiving a Royal Pardon from Henry IV and later by his son Henry V. Jeuan, the younger son, opposed Glyndwr. According to Philip Yorke he had matched his son Maredudd ab Jeuan with the daughter of Einion ab Ithel, who belonged to the House of Lancaster. Jeuan ab Maredudd held steadfastly to that house when Owain Glyndwr rebelled so that in the time of that war he had the charge of Caernarfon town and held it for the Crown of England. In revenge for this Owain Glyndwr burned his two houses; Cefn y fan or Ystumcegid and Cesail Gyfarch. Jeuan ap Maredudd was killed during the continuance of this war at Caernarfon and his body evacuated by sea to be buried at Penmorfa.

Descent from Jeuan ap Maredudd (died c.1416) to William Lewis Annwill (died 1642)

According to Philip Yorke;

"To John ab Maredudd his kindred and friends cleaved steadfastly, like courageous men: so then it began to be a proverb or phrase, to call the family of Owain Gwynedd Tylwyth John ab Maredudd, the race of John ab Maredudd."

From Robert ap Morys the family were known as the Anwyl of Parc Family.

William Lewis Annwill had his pedigree certified by William Hughes and John Davies in 1611 which was then included in the work Heraldic Visitations of the Three Counties of North Wales above Conway by Lewis Dwnn (completed 1613). This was copied and printed in 1846 by Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick and then reprinted in 2005.

Descent from William Lewis Annwill (died 1642) to Evan Vaughan Anwyl (born 1943)

This pedigree is certified and published by Burkes Peerage (Landed Gentry, Wales 100057).

William Lewis Anwyl had nine sons, viz;

  1. Lewis (died 1633 without male issue)
  2. Robert (died 1653 with issue. William Lewis Anwyl of Park (Robert's only grandson) was buried in Westminster Abbey 1701 and this line expires.)
  3. John (died 1660 without male issue)
  4. Edward (died 1674 without male issue)
  5. William (died 1694 with issue. His descendants in the male line continued until the death of David Anwyl of Bala in 1831)
  6. Evan (died 1666 with issue. His descendants in the male line survive to the present day. His side of the family became the senior in 1831)
  7. Emmanuel (died 1646 without issue)
  8. Maurice (died young)
  9. Richard (died 1685 without male issue)

Descendants of William Anwyl (5)

Descendants of Evan Anwyl (6)

The present Anwyl of Towyn Family descend from the sixth son, Evan (Ieuan), who descendants became head of the family on the deaths of his brothers and their male issue.

After the death of Jonathan Bunce Anwyl the de jure Head of House would have passed to the sons of Maurice Anwyl of Llugwy (son B) (1753 - 1832) = daughter of Charles Lloyd, of Shrewsbury. Maurice Anwyl of Llugwy had issue two sons; Robert (died without issue, de jure Head of House 1852-1867) and Evan;

Descendants of Evan Anwyl (b.1718)

Footnotes

  1. ^ The Royal Tribes of Wales


References

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