Notes |
- Sir David Mathew, born in 1400, died in 1484, married Wenllian, daughter of Sir George HERBERT. 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 venerable 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 Willis's Cathedral of Llandaff, in the British Museum....." 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." The Genealogy of the Earls of Landaff [Note--I have no idea why, in this book, the title is spelled thus: "Landaff" as well as any mentions of the Earldom of Landaff, while in the text, mentions of the Cathedral of Llandaff, as well as other references to Llandaff as a place in Wales, invariably spell it "Llandaff"], 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 St. Teilo 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. Arms of Sir David Mathew--Sable, a lion rampant argent (adopted in honour of the White Rose). Crest--a blackcock proper. Motto--Y Fyn Duw A Fydd." Translation of motto: "What God willeth will be." Issue of Sir David Mathew:
+ 1. Reinborn3 Mathew (or Rimron or Rumbrian).
2. Jenkyn3 Mathew who was killed at Cowbridge by the men of Brecknock. There seems to be some contention among the various authorities over whether or not this Jenkyn Mathew left issue.
+ 3. David3 Mathew.
+ 4. William3 Mathew.
+ 5. John3 Mathew.
+ 6. Robert3 Mathew.
+ 7. Thomas3 Mathew.
8. Katherine3 Mathew, married Edmund MALEFAUNT of Upton Castle.
9. Ellen3 Mathew, married Thomas BUTTON, of Worlton.
10. Joan3 Mathew (or Jane), married Thomas BUTLER of Dunraven.
+ 11. William Lleia3 Mathew.
12. Margaret3 Mathew, married 1st, Edward MALEFAUNT of St. George's, and 2nd, Morgan ap Jenkin Philip of Pencoed, from Morgan of Llantarnam.
13. Thomas3 Mathew [of base issue], married a daughter of Howel vechan ap Howel Grono, and left a daughter who married Ll. ap Howel.
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