Sir David ap Mathew
Encyclopedia
Sir David Mathew (or Welsh: Daffyd) was a Welsh knight, the son of Mathew ap Evan. After David Mathew saved the life of King Edward IV
at the Battle of Towton
, on Palm Sunday, March 14, 1461, he was appointed Grand Standard Bearer
of England. Sir David married Gwenllian, daughter of Sir George Herbert. He was killed by the Turbervilles of Coity Castle
, Glamorgan, in a riot at Neath
, West Glamorgan. Sir David is the first of the family to have used the modern style of Welsh surname, "Mathew", having discontinued use of the traditional Welsh patronymic
"ap Mathew", meaning "son of Mathew". This conformed with contemporary English usage. The surname was spelled consistently with only one "t" on the early 16th.c. tombs of his two grandsons in Llandaff Cathedral. Certain of his direct descendants centuries later adopted the spelling "Mathews", and "Matthews", whilst others, most notably the family of the Earls Landaff retained the old spelling into the 19th.c. His residence was at Llandaff Castle, held in fee farm from the Bishops of Llandaff
, the ruined strongly-fortified gatehouse of which survives at the southern end of the Cathedral Close. His tomb with effigy is in Saint Mary's Chapel in Llandaff Cathedral
, Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales.
Cathedral of Llandaff, (which has ever since been the property and burial-place of the family of (Mathew) is one of the most interesting extant monuments of that time. An accurate description of the various monuments of the family in this Chapel may be found in Browne-Willis's "A Survey of the Cathedral Church of Llandaff”, 1718. Sir David "was slain by the Turbervilles in a riot at Neath. He had a
grant of 2,232 acres of land from Henry VI., the reversion of Caneton, and from William Earl of
Pembroke lands at St. Fagan's and in Pentyrch. Buried and has a fine altar tomb at Llandaff. He
m. Wenllian, d. of Sir Geo. Herbert of Chapel, sister of Gwilim Llwyd, who m. Wenllian David of
Rhiwperra."
which had been pillaged and desecrated by a gang of pirates from Biston, and was presented by Bishop Marshall with St. Teilo's skull, set in a costly reliquary, to be an heirloom in his family, who carefully preserved it for about 200 years, until the death of William Mathew in 1658 at Llandeilo. Sir David was the first to adopt the surname of Mathew. The name, properly "Mathew," was spelt by Sir David's descendants variously, e.g., in the Funeral Entries, preserved in the Record Tower at Dublin, vol. vii., p. 18, the name of the founder of the Irish branch of the Family is entered as "George Matthewes, Oct. 1670." Admiral Mathew of Llandaff Court, and all his descendants, spelt their name invariably "Mathews." He m. Gwendoline, d. of Sir David Herbert of Chapel, Monmouth, 2nd s. of William-ab-Jenkyn, ancestor of the Earls of Pembroke
.
, of the pheasant family), a "moorcock", a "fieldcock", (a vague term possibly denoting grouse
), a blackcock, (of the grouse family) and is shown on the Earl Landaff memorial in a form akin to a farmyard cock or rooster
. The effigy of Sir David does however show most of the bird forming the crest of his helm upon which he rests his head, but it is missing the head. The feet are short and sturdy, suggesting a grouse-type bird and are not the long legs of a rooster A gilded bird, probably a dove, is used as a foot-rest in the effigy of St Teilo in Llandaff Cathedral.
of Mathew is in Welsh: Y Fyn Duw A Fydd, meaning: "What God willeth will be".
He married Wenllian, da. of Sir George Herbert of Chapel, sister of Gwilim Llwyd, who m. Wenllian David of Rhiwperra. He had the following 3 sons:
"Thomas Mathew esquire maried Catherin doughter and sole heire of Morgan ll'n of the Radir esquire. 4th in descent from him is Edmunde Mathew Esquire that hath Radyr wherein standeth theire cheefe Dwellinge house, that hath a
lardge parke of fallowe deere, belonginge to yt hard by the house, with demeasnes and coppiehould landes for iij lives. The Lord is Patron and the valuac'on is [blank.]
Landaphe and the castle of the same which they held in fee farme of the Buishop of Landaphe, and therein is the cathedrall church of Landaphe, standinge upon the River of Taffe. William Mathew esquire hath Landaphe wherein standeth his cheefe dwellinge house but as I take it yt is holden in soccage
of the Buishoppe of Landaphe for the tyme beinge. Yt hath lardge demeasne
which butteth to the River of Taffe, from the house alongest the said River allmost Cardif bridge. Placesturton Joyneth to his demeasne of Landaphe, and butteth to the west p'te of Cardif bridge, and hath demeasne free tenaunts and coppy hould for iij lives but hath no church for it standeth in the parishe of Landaphe as the house doeth".
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
at the Battle of Towton
Battle of Towton
In 1461, England was in the sixth year of the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster over the English throne. The Lancastrians backed the reigning King of England, Henry VI, an indecisive man who suffered bouts of madness...
, on Palm Sunday, March 14, 1461, he was appointed Grand Standard Bearer
Standard Bearer of England
The Standard Bearer of England was once an important office within the English army, especially during the times when Kings were still present on the battlefield...
of England. Sir David married Gwenllian, daughter of Sir George Herbert. He was killed by the Turbervilles of Coity Castle
Coity Castle
Coity Castle in Glamorgan, Wales is a Norman castle built by Sir Payn "the Demon" de Turberville , one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan supposed to have conquered Glamorgan under the leadership of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of Gloucester. Now in ruins, it stands in the Community of Coity...
, Glamorgan, in a riot at Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, West Glamorgan. Sir David is the first of the family to have used the modern style of Welsh surname, "Mathew", having discontinued use of the traditional Welsh patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
"ap Mathew", meaning "son of Mathew". This conformed with contemporary English usage. The surname was spelled consistently with only one "t" on the early 16th.c. tombs of his two grandsons in Llandaff Cathedral. Certain of his direct descendants centuries later adopted the spelling "Mathews", and "Matthews", whilst others, most notably the family of the Earls Landaff retained the old spelling into the 19th.c. His residence was at Llandaff Castle, held in fee farm from the Bishops of Llandaff
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
, the ruined strongly-fortified gatehouse of which survives at the southern end of the Cathedral Close. His tomb with effigy is in Saint Mary's Chapel in Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
, Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales.
A History of Sir David Mathew
Sir David Mathew "was one of the most distinguished men of his age, and was made Grand Standard-Bearer of England by King Edward IV, whose life he is said to have saved (though he was far advanced in years) at the battle of Towton, on Palm Sunday, 1461. His tomb, ornamented with his full-length figure in alabaster, in St. Mary's Chapel, of the venerableCathedral of Llandaff, (which has ever since been the property and burial-place of the family of (Mathew) is one of the most interesting extant monuments of that time. An accurate description of the various monuments of the family in this Chapel may be found in Browne-Willis's "A Survey of the Cathedral Church of Llandaff”, 1718. Sir David "was slain by the Turbervilles in a riot at Neath. He had a
grant of 2,232 acres of land from Henry VI., the reversion of Caneton, and from William Earl of
Pembroke lands at St. Fagan's and in Pentyrch. Buried and has a fine altar tomb at Llandaff. He
m. Wenllian, d. of Sir Geo. Herbert of Chapel, sister of Gwilim Llwyd, who m. Wenllian David of
Rhiwperra."
Biography in "Genealogy of the Earls of Landaff"
The "Genealogy of the Earls of Landaff" which has a picture of the tomb of Sir David, has the following to say about him: "Sir David-ab-Mathew, Lord of Llandaff, Seneschal of the Cathedral, saved the life of Edward IV, at the Battle of Towton, Palm Sunday, 14 Mar., 1461, and by his Majesty was created Grand Standard-Bearer of all England. He was a great and zealous Yorkist chieftain, whose extraordinary prowess and daring in the field, even at a very advanced age, were, contrarily to the majority of his countrymen, who favoured the Red Rose of Lancaster, used on behalf of the White Rose of York. He was murdered by one of the Turbervilles in a riot at Neath, 1484, and buried in Llandaff Cathedral, where his altar tomb may still be seen, the effigy of him thereon measuring 6 ft. 7 in., said to have been his height. Sr. David was one of the Ten Great Barons of Glamorgan, and a Marcher Lord. He received from Edward IV, the grant of the use of the word "Towton" as an augmentation over his crest. In 1480 he restored the shrine of Saint TeiloSaint Teilo
Saint Teilo, was a British Christian saint - a monk, bishop and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun , near Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, in south Wales...
which had been pillaged and desecrated by a gang of pirates from Biston, and was presented by Bishop Marshall with St. Teilo's skull, set in a costly reliquary, to be an heirloom in his family, who carefully preserved it for about 200 years, until the death of William Mathew in 1658 at Llandeilo. Sir David was the first to adopt the surname of Mathew. The name, properly "Mathew," was spelt by Sir David's descendants variously, e.g., in the Funeral Entries, preserved in the Record Tower at Dublin, vol. vii., p. 18, the name of the founder of the Irish branch of the Family is entered as "George Matthewes, Oct. 1670." Admiral Mathew of Llandaff Court, and all his descendants, spelt their name invariably "Mathews." He m. Gwendoline, d. of Sir David Herbert of Chapel, Monmouth, 2nd s. of William-ab-Jenkyn, ancestor of the Earls of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke is a title created ten times, all in the Peerage of England. It was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, which is the site of Earldom's original seat Pembroke Castle...
.
Armorials
Two different arms are recorded as having been used by the Mathew family, both consisting of a lion rampant, but with differing tinctures. The branch seated at Llandaff, thus the senior line, is generally ascribed Or, a lion rampant sable (i.e. Burke's Armorials), whilst the branch seated at Radyr, descended from Sir David Mathew's younger son, is generally ascribed Sable, a lion rampant argent (Burke's Armorials). Yet confusingly the 1980 heraldic restoration of the Mathew tombs at Llandaff carried out by Hugh P. Mathew, who was recognised by the College of Arms as having proved his direct descent from Sir David Mathew, has resulted in the Radyr coat being painted on the tomb of Sir Christopher, who was head of the Llandaff branch. Rev. Murray Mathew (1895) assigns to Sir David the Radyr coat. Moreover the Earls Landaff used the coat of the Llandaff branch even though they were descended from the Radyr branch. Unfortunately the tomb of Sir David bears no heraldry by which the confusion might be resolved. The arms of Radyr Sable, a lion rampant argent were supposedly adopted in honour of the White Rose, according to Rev Murray Mathew.Crest
The crest is also not without confusion, being given variously as a "heathcock" (another name for partridgePartridge
Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East...
, of the pheasant family), a "moorcock", a "fieldcock", (a vague term possibly denoting grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
), a blackcock, (of the grouse family) and is shown on the Earl Landaff memorial in a form akin to a farmyard cock or rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
. The effigy of Sir David does however show most of the bird forming the crest of his helm upon which he rests his head, but it is missing the head. The feet are short and sturdy, suggesting a grouse-type bird and are not the long legs of a rooster A gilded bird, probably a dove, is used as a foot-rest in the effigy of St Teilo in Llandaff Cathedral.
Motto
The mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of Mathew is in Welsh: Y Fyn Duw A Fydd, meaning: "What God willeth will be".
Progeny
- David (b. 1425)(d. unknown), 1st. son. He married Ann Myddletonn (b. 1430), with whom he one son, Jenkyn Mathew. David was the founder of the "Mathews" line, which would eventually arrive in the new world with Thomas Mathews (b. 1660) Thomas arrived in Halifax, Virginia, circa 1700. Thomas was the grandfather of the patriot Moses MathewsMoses MathewsMoses Mathews was an American gunsmith. He is a notable figure of the American Revolution.Mathews was born in Halifax County, Virginia. He supplied the Continental Army guns and was granted hundreds of acres by George Washington. In his will he mentioned the freeing of all of his slaves. This...
. - Reyborn (or "Reinborn, Rimbron," etc.)(d.1470), 2nd. son. He was the founder of the Llandaf line of Mathew, having married Isabella (or Elizabeth) Denys, daughter of Maurice DenysMaurice Denys (Sheriff)Maurice Denys, Esquire, was twice Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1460 and 1461. The Denys family were stated by Sir Robert Atkyns, the 18th.c...
(d.1466), esquire, of AlvestonAlvestonAlveston is a commuter village of roughly 3000 people about south of Thornbury, South Gloucestershire and approximately north of Bristol, England. Alveston is twinned with Courville sur Eure, France. It has two hotels, a variety of small shops, several parks and fields, two churches and a...
, Glos., Sheriff of Gloucestershire, by his 2nd wife Alice Poyntz, da. of Sir Nicholas Poyntz of Iron ActonIron ActonIron Acton is a village and civil parish in South Gloucestershire, England. The village is about west of Yate and about northeast of the centre of Bristol. The B4058 road used to pass through the village but now by-passes it just to the north....
, Gloucestershire. Reyborn's will (dated 20th October 1470, proved 15th March 1471) directed that he should be buried in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary within The Gaunt's ChapelSt Mark's Church, BristolSt Mark's Church is an ancient small church on the north-east side of College Green, Bristol, England, built c. 1230. Better known to mediaeval and Tudor historians as the Gaunt's Chapel, it has also been known within Bristol since 1722 as the Mayor's Chapel. It is the only church in England...
, Bristol, where the Poyntz family later in about 1520 built a family chapel. His will directed that gold & silver items be placed upon the shrine of "his kinsmen" Saint TeiloSaint TeiloSaint Teilo, was a British Christian saint - a monk, bishop and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun , near Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, in south Wales...
, Saint OudoceusOudoceusSaint Oudoceus or Saint Euddogwy is generally known as the third Bishop of Llandaff. In reality, he was probably a 7th century 'Bishop of Teilo' based at Llandeilo Fawr...
and Saint DubriciusDubriciusSaint Dubricius was a 6th century Briton ecclesiastic venerated as a saint. He was the evangelist of Ergyng and much of South-East Wales.-Biography:Dubricius was the illegitimate son of Efrddyl, the daughter of King Peibio Clafrog of Ergyng...
at Llandaff Cathedral. Reyborn's eldest son and heir was Sir Christopher Mathew(d.1528), whose effigy is one of three surviving Mathew effigies in Llandaf Cathedral. Sir Christopher's son was Miles Mathew, Sheriff of GlamorganHigh Sheriff of GlamorganThis page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown...
in 1547. A later descendant was Admiral Thomas MathewsThomas MathewsThomas Mathews was a British officer of the Royal Navy, who rose to the rank of admiral.Mathews joined the navy in 1690 and saw service on a number of ships, including during the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. He interspersed periods spent commanding ships with time at home...
(d.1751) who built Llandaff CourtThe Cathedral School, LlandaffThe Cathedral School, Llandaff is a coeducational Welsh independent senior, prep and pre-prep day school. It is located in Llandaff, Cardiff. The school is part of the Woodard Schools foundation, as well as having many links to the neighbouring Llandaff Cathedral.In 1880 Dean John Vaughan opened a...
and was court-martialled in mysterious circumstances. - Thomas(d.pre. 1470), 3rd (poss.4th) son. He is mentioned in Reyborn's will, and had been the custodian of the relics of St Teilo. He married Catherine, daughter of a Welsh nobleman, and founded the RadyrRadyrRadyr is an outer suburb of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The suburb is situated in the west of the city, although it was originally a separate village, and is located around 5 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. According to 2009 estimates, the suburb has a population of 6,000...
line of Mathew. He was also buried at The Gaunt's ChapelSt Mark's Church, BristolSt Mark's Church is an ancient small church on the north-east side of College Green, Bristol, England, built c. 1230. Better known to mediaeval and Tudor historians as the Gaunt's Chapel, it has also been known within Bristol since 1722 as the Mayor's Chapel. It is the only church in England...
, Bristol. On Thomas' death shortly before 1470, his lands passed to his eldest son David and then to his younger son William Mathew(d.1528), who was knightKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed by King Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Sir William accompanied King Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
to the Field of the Cloth of GoldField of the Cloth of GoldThe Field of Cloth of Gold is the name given to a place in Balinghem, between Guînes and Ardres, in France, near Calais. It was the site of a meeting that took place from 7 June to 24 June 1520, between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. The meeting was arranged to increase...
in 1520. His successor was his eldest son Sir George Mathew who became the MP for Glamorgan constituencyGlamorganshire (UK Parliament constituency)Glamorganshire was a parliamentary constituency in Wales, returning two Members of Parliament to the British House of Commons. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 divided it into five new constituencies: East Glamorganshire, South Glamorganshire, Mid Glamorganshire, Gower and Rhondda.- MPs...
and in 1545 Sheriff of GlamorganHigh Sheriff of GlamorganThis page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown...
. From the Radyr line was founded the family of the Earls Landaff in the peerage of IrelandPeerage of IrelandThe Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
.
Landholdings
The following record is contained within John Matthew's "Cardiff Records" (1903): (Cardiff Library, Phillips MS, "A breviat with notes Conteyninge all the Lord-shippes and Manners within the Countie of Glamorgan,"&c., "collectid & gatherid for the private vse of the gent" now atendinge vpon the Right Honf'able Henry Earle of Penbroke my good Lo: and Master. Anno Dni: 1596." Dedicated "To the worshipfulle Thomas Morgan' Esquire Stewarde in house to the Right Hon'"able Henry Earle of Penbroke health and happines," by Rice Lewis):"Thomas Mathew esquire maried Catherin doughter and sole heire of Morgan ll'n of the Radir esquire. 4th in descent from him is Edmunde Mathew Esquire that hath Radyr wherein standeth theire cheefe Dwellinge house, that hath a
lardge parke of fallowe deere, belonginge to yt hard by the house, with demeasnes and coppiehould landes for iij lives. The Lord is Patron and the valuac'on is [blank.]
Landaphe and the castle of the same which they held in fee farme of the Buishop of Landaphe, and therein is the cathedrall church of Landaphe, standinge upon the River of Taffe. William Mathew esquire hath Landaphe wherein standeth his cheefe dwellinge house but as I take it yt is holden in soccage
Feudal land tenure
Under the English feudal system several different forms of land tenure existed, each effectively a contract with differing rights and duties attached thereto. Such tenures could be either free-hold, signifying that they were hereditable or perpetual, or non-free where the tenancy terminated on the...
of the Buishoppe of Landaphe for the tyme beinge. Yt hath lardge demeasne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
which butteth to the River of Taffe, from the house alongest the said River allmost Cardif bridge. Placesturton Joyneth to his demeasne of Landaphe, and butteth to the west p'te of Cardif bridge, and hath demeasne free tenaunts and coppy hould for iij lives but hath no church for it standeth in the parishe of Landaphe as the house doeth".
Sources
- Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales, Mathew Family
- Jones, Anthony L., Heraldry in Glamorgan, South Glamorgan No.3, Llandaff Cathedral, 1987 (Cathedral booklet)
External links
- http://books.google.com/books?id=WmpmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA669&lpg=PA669&dq=Sir+David+mathew+knighted&source=bl&ots=LrjZgdTSCC&sig=xCO7mx59-3egbJDThdZ5H9WRR1
- http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14917889/person/187979646/media/1