GRIFFITH, Edward, of Plas Mawr, Caern. and Trefarthen, Anglesey.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

6th s. of William Griffith (d.1587) of Plas Mawr by Margaret, da. of John Wyn ap Meredith of Gwydir, Caern.; bro. of John II, ?Robert and William Griffith I. m. Grace, da. of Pierce Owen of Garthy medd, Abergele, Denb.

Offices Held

Biography

Griffith was a grandson of William Griffith of Penrhyn, chamberlain of North Wales. The family, descended from Ednyfed Fychan, had profited from holding aloof from the Glyndwr revolt, and was at the height of its wealth and power in the time of Elizabeth. Two branches settled at Caernarvon, one at Porth yr Aur, the other at Plas Mawr, the latter becoming substantially enriched by lands of the dissolved abbey of Aberconway.

In taking up a military career, Griffith followed a family tradition. His father, his uncle Edward, and his elder brother Sir Maurice, all served in Ireland. According to one source Griffith was killed in action in Flanders, but an Edward Griffith of Caernarvon was alive 41 Eliz. and in a Star Chamber case of 43 Eliz. the complainants were Edward Griffith and his mother Margaret.

Griffith, Peds 125, 158; Arch. Camb. 1848, pp. 240, 314; 1881, pp. 80-1; 1894, p. 89; Trans. Anglesey Antiq. Soc.1951, pp. 34-71; W. H. Jones, Old Karnarvon, 155-7; E. G. Jones, ‘The Caern, Squires’ (Bangor MA thesis), 145-6; Wynn, Hist. Gwydir Fam.ed. Ballinger, 72-3; E. Breese, Kalendars of Gwynedd, 105; Exchequer, ed. E. G. Jones (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist, and Law ser. iv), 237; Star Chamber, ed. Edwards (same ser. i), 30

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A.H.D.

Notes