Ellis ap Griffith

Following his family defeat during the Glyndwr Rising, his branch inherited the co-representation of the Royal House of Mathrafal, and were immortalized by William Shakespeare in the history play Henry IV.

[1][2][3] His father Griffith ap Einion held the office of Woodward of the commote of Ardudwy, Merioneth, under the Lancastrian Henry V of England, and was proprietor of the Corsygedol estate, in his family since the 13th century.

[7] Their family later married with the Lords of the Nannau estate, near Dolgellau, which has been in their possession for over 900 years, allying the descendants of King Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, founder of the House of Mathrafal, and rival of William the Conqueror.

[8] His granduncle Owain Glendower, Prince of Wales, and other family members, launched the Glyndwr Rising against the Lancasters, in alliance with their kinsmen; the Percys, Mortimers, and Tudors of Penmynydd.

[13] Ellis ap Griffith succeeded his grandfather's lordship, holding the title of Baron of Gwyddelwern, and held the office of Raglot of the commote of Penllyn, and Juror of the county of Merionethshire, under the Yorkist Edward IV of England.

[14] Ellis is also recorded in documents relating to the endowment of Cymer Abbey, which was committed to his charge and to Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, from which Sir Thomas Stanley, Chamberlain of North Wales, requested payment of debts and revenues for the region of Merionethshire.

[24] Over time, the Yales married with their cousin branch, the Hughes of Gwerclas, and other noble houses of Britain, such as the Cavendishs, Dukes of Devonshire, and the Norths, Earls of Guilford.

[25][26] Lord North of Wroxton Abbey, the British Prime Minister who lost the American War of Independence under his term, was a cousin.

[32][33][34] He was also of the family of Admiral Robert Lloyd, who fought against America and brought back to England the body of Maj. Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham, the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington.

[14] Ellis's brother Gruffydd was one of the tree captains who held out Harlech Castle against the Yorkists, siding with his cousin, the previous Earl of Pembroke, Jasper Tudor, later Duke of Bedford.

[14] When Henry came back, he won the Battle of Bosworth Field, becoming the new King of England and first monarch of the House of Tudor, and rewarded Gruffydd with the office of Governor of Cilgerran Castle and others immunities.