Owen was a descendant of a prominent family from Penmynydd on the Isle of Anglesey, which traces its lineage back to Ednyfed Fychan (d. 1246), a Welsh official and seneschal to the Kingdom of Gwynedd.

The descendants of his many sons would form a wealthy 'ministerial aristocracy',[2] acting as leading servants to the princes of Gwynedd, and play a key role in the attempts to create a single Welsh principality.

However, there remained an awareness of the family's Welsh heritage and the accompanying loyalties led them to take part in the suppressed Glyndŵr Rising.

The sixteenth-century Welsh chronicler Elis Gruffydd did note that he was her sewer (someone who places dishes on the table and tastes them[4]) and servant.

[5] The dowager queen initially lived with her infant son, King Henry VI, before moving to Wallingford Castle early in his reign.

These rumours, though based on questionable evidence, prompted a response from her son's regents, who objected to Somerset as a possible husband as he was a second cousin of Henry V through the legitimised Beaufort line sired by John of Gaunt.

[11] In addition, Henry VI granted him a pension of £40 per annum, provided him with a position in court, and appointed him the Keeper of the King's Parks in Denbigh.

He joined his son Jasper's army as Lancastrian relations and partisans in Wales in January 1461, a force that was defeated at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross by Edward of York.

Meurig was the son of Ithel, grandson of Rhydd and great-grandson of Iestyn ap Gwrgant, the last king of Morgannwg (reigned 1081–1091) before its conquest by the Normans.

Tudur Fychan married Margaret ferch Thomas of Is Coed, of the native and Ancient Royal Houses of Wales.