Aubrey/Pendleton
janet ariciu
GENERATION I
Saunders de Alberico was bc 1030 in France & reportedly a brother of
Alberic, Earl of Boulogne & Dammartin, & Earl Fareschal of France in 1066.
He invaded Eng. with William the Conqueror in 1066.) Father of Reginald.
GENERATION II
Sir Reginald Awbrey (bc 1055 Wales) marr. Isabel de Clare (bc 1072 Normandy,
France to Richard de Clare, Earl of Briones & Earl of Claire & Tunbridge).
Sir Reginald accompanied Bernard Newmarch in conquering Brecknock, where he
reportedly won Abercynfrig & Siwch. He owned the manor of Abercynfrig &
Slough & other properties in Wales. Sir Reginald & Isabel became the parents
of Reginald (bc 1088), William (bc1090), Joan (bc 1093) & Agnes (bc 1096).
GENERATION III
William Awbrey (bc 1090 Brecknockshire) marr. Joan Gunter (bc 1104 to Sir
William Gunter). William Awbrey & Joan Gunter became the parents of Thomas.
GENERATION IV
Thomas Awbrey, Esq., Lord of Abercynfrig & Slough (bc 1126 Wales), marr.
Joan
Carew (bc 1156, dtr. of Andrew, Lord of Carew whose ggrandfather was King of
South Wales. Thos. & Joan became the parents of Thomas, Jr.
GENERATION V
Thomas Awbrey Jr., Esq., ranger of Brecknock Forest & custodian of its
castle, & Lord of Abercynfrig & Slough (bc 1197 Wales) marr. Joan Verch
Trahaearn (bc 1210), dtr of Trahaearn Ap Einion, Lord of Committ. Thomas Jr.
& Joan became parents of Thomas.
GENERATION VI
Thomas "Fychan" Awbrey (bc 1234 Breck- nockshire, Wales) marr. Nest Verch
Owen Gethyn (b 1250), dtr of Owen Gethyn & Gwennllian Godwin. Owen was
paternally descended from Blethin Mayarnch, Lord of Brecknock. Thomas,
ranger of Breckneck Forest, was often called "The Red Constable". Children
of Thomas & Nest were Richard Thomas (bc 1268) & Gruffydd (bc 1270).
GENERATION VII
Richard Awbrey, Esq. (bc 1268 Brecknockshire, Wales), marr. Crisli Verch
Philip (bc 1267), dtr. of Philip ap Elidur. Richard & Crisli had 3
sons--John (bc1285), William (bc 1287), unknown (bc 1289) & Gwalter Richard
(bc 1291).
GENERATION VIII
Gwalter (or Watkin of Abercynfrig, cb 1291 Brecknockshire, Wales) marr.
Gwenllian Verch Rhys (b 1291, dtr of Rhys ap Morgan, Esq., in
Caermarthenshire, Wales), & were the parents of Morgan "Morgan the Old")
Awbrey (bc 1410), Thomas ( (bc 1412), Richard (bc 1413) & John (bc 1415),
all
in Brecknockshire.
GENERATION IX
Morgan Awbrey (also called "Morgan the Old" who was Lord of Brecon
&Abercynfrig (bc 1410 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales) marr. (1) Alice
Verch Watkin (bc 1392, dtr of Thomas Watkin & Margred Hywell, & (2) Unknown
Verch Roger Vaughn (bc 1400 in Wales). Children of Morgan & Alice, all born
in Abercynfrig, were John (bc 1413), Jenkin (bc 1416), Maud (bc 1418),
Dafydd
(bc 1420), Thomas (bc 1425, d in Ystradgyrlais, Wales), Margred (1427) &
Jane
(bc 1429).
GENERATION X
Jenkin Awbrey (bc 1416 Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales, 2nd son of Morgan
Awbrey) marr. Gwendoline Verch Owen (bc 1421 Glen Tawe, Wales). Gwendoline
was the dtr of Owen Griffith & Mawd Morgan. Jenkin & Gwendoline's children
were Hopkin (bc 1439),Dafydd (bc 1441), Richard (1443), Anne (bc1445),
Thomas (bc 1447) & Cissil (bc 1449).
GENERATION XI
Hopkin Awbrey (bc 1439 Abercynfrig, Breck- nockshire, Wales) marr.
Gwendoline
John Griffin, dtr of John Griffin, Esq. Hopkin & Gwendoline's children were
John (bc 1473), Ffelis (bc 1475), Jenkin (bc 1476), Margred (bc 1479),
Thomas (bc 1481), William (bc 1483), a 2nd William (1485) & Janet (1487).
GENERATION XII
Thomas Awbrey (b 1481 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales) marr. Joan
Vaughn (bc 1503 Wales), dtr of Thomas & Maud William Vaughn. Children of
Thomas & Joan were William (b 1529), Philip (bc 1532), Jenkin (bc 1534),
Maud
(bc 1538) & Margaret (bc 1540).
GENERATION XIII
William Awbrey, D.C.L. (b 1529 in Cantreff, Brecknockshire, Wales & d
6/25/1595 in Eng.) marr. Wiligford Williams (bc 1530 in Tainton, Co. Oxford,
England), dtr of John Williams. Children of this union were Sir Edward (bc
1549 in Tredomen, Brecknockshire, Wales), Sir Thomas (bc 1551), Elizabeth (c
1553), John, Hopkin (bc 1557), Sir William (bc 1559), Mary (bc 1563, Joan
(bc 1565), Wiligford (bc 1567), Lucy (bc 1569 & Ann (bc 1571).
GENERATION XIV
Sir Edward Awbrey (bc 1549 in Tredomen, Brecknockshire, Wales) marr. Joan
Havard (bc 1560), daughter of William Havard. They had 11 children--William
(bc 1581), Edward (bc 1582), Thomas (bc 1583), John (bc 1585), Hopkin (bc
1587), Havard (bc 1589), Wiligford (bc 1593), Catherine (bc 1595), Eleanor
(bc 1597), Joan (bc 1599), & Elizabeth (bc 1601).
GENERATION XV
William "The Extravagant" Awbrey was bc 1581 Tredomen, Brecknockshire,
Wales. He marr. Elizabeth Johns (b 1595 in Wales), dtr of Sir Thomas Johns.
William's will was proved in 1631 & he died broke. Children of William &
Elizabeth were Edward (bc 1617 Tredomen), Reginald (bc 1619 in Tredomen),
John (bc 1623 in Abercynfrig) & Thomas (bc 1624).
GENERATION XVI
John Awbrey (b 1623 Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales, arrived in VA with
his brother Thomas c 1668 & d 9/28/1692 in Westmoreland Co., VA). John marr.
Jane Johnstone c 1677 in Westmoreland Co. She was b there in 1659 & d after
1699. Their children were Elizabeth (bc 1678), John (bc 1680- d 2/26/1724/5)
& Sarah (b 1681, d 1702), all in Westmoreland Co., VA.
GENERATION XVII
John Awbrey (bc 1680 Westmoreland Co., VA & d there 2/26/1724/5) in c 1709
marr. Hannah Tanner (bc 1687 VA- dc 1724 Westmoreland Co., VA ), the dtr of
Thomas
Tanner & Mary Atwell Tanner. Children of John & Hannah were Elizabeth (c
1709), Chandler (c1711, Hannah (c 1713), Kerrenhappuck (c 1717) & Jemimah (c
1725).
GENERATION XVIII
Chandler Awbrey (b 1711 Westmoreland Co., VA & d 1756 there) marr. Elizabeth
Sorrell (bc 1707 VA & d 1748 Westmoreland Co. She was the dtr of Thomas
Sorrell & Elizabeth O'Cahane, both of Westmoreland Co., VA). The Awbrey
children were James (bc 1743) and Martha (bc 1742 in Stafford Co., VA, marr.
Philip Pendleton in 1766, & d aft. 1790 Pittsylvania Co., VA.)
GENERATION XIX
Martha Awbrey (bc 1742 Westmoreland Co. VA & d after 1790 in Pittsylvania
Co., VA) marr. Philip Pendleton (b 1745 Caroline Co., VA. & d 1811 in
Pittsylvania Co., VA). He was the son of James & Elizabeth Coleman Pendleton
of Culpeper Co., VA. Chandler & Elizabeth Sorrell Awbrey became the parents
of Elizabeth (b 1765 Culpeper Co., VA, d 1804 Pittsylvania Co., VA).
Philip Pendleton and Martha Awbrey children were
1 Elizabeth Pendleton, born 1765 in Culpepper co., Va; died 1804 in
Pittsylvania Co., Va; married David James Motley August 13, 1785 in
Pittsylvania Co., Va.
2 James Pendleton, born 1767; died 1841 in Kentucky; married Sarah Bell.
3 Martha Pendleton, married ? Watson.
4 Robert Pendleton.
5 Phillip Pendleton.
6 Rebecca Pendleton m'd William Munkers in 1795 in Washington Co., VA.
Click here for Monkers
7 Coleman Pendleton.
8 Gabriel Pendleton.
# 6 Rebecca Pendleton m'd William Munkers in 1795 in Washington Co., VA
To their son William Munkers m'd Margaret Coulter in 1831
To their son James m'd Rachel Burke/Burk
To their daughter Virginia m'd Luther Watts
To their son Emmett m'd Ural Scivally
To their daughter LaVena m'd John Green
To their daughter Janet. I am Janet
here is my web page
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~janet/
Janet
John Steele Gordon
news:00d301c0d471$41f5e1c0$89977a3f@Goin...
> I am new on the list but I was told that my family lineage is like this:
Three things leap out after a quick perusal:
> GENERATION IV
> Thomas Awbrey, Esq., Lord of Abercynfrig & Slough (bc 1126 Wales), marr.
> Joan
> Carew (bc 1156, dtr. of Andrew, Lord of Carew whose ggrandfather was King
of
> South Wales. Thos. & Joan became the parents of Thomas, Jr.
>
> GENERATION V
> Thomas Awbrey Jr., Esq., ranger of Brecknock Forest & custodian of its
> castle, & Lord of Abercynfrig & Slough (bc 1197 Wales) marr. Joan Verch
> Trahaearn (bc 1210), dtr of Trahaearn Ap Einion, Lord of Committ. Thomas
Jr.
> & Joan became parents of Thomas.
Thomas Awbrey, Jr.'s father and mother would have been 71 and 41
respectively at the time of his birth. Not impossible, but a red flag.
> GENERATION VII
> Richard Awbrey, Esq. (bc 1268 Brecknockshire, Wales), marr. Crisli Verch
> Philip (bc 1267), dtr. of Philip ap Elidur. Richard & Crisli had 3
> sons--John (bc1285), William (bc 1287), unknown (bc 1289) & Gwalter
Richard
> (bc 1291).
>
> GENERATION VIII
> Gwalter (or Watkin of Abercynfrig, cb 1291 Brecknockshire, Wales) marr.
> Gwenllian Verch Rhys (b 1291, dtr of Rhys ap Morgan, Esq., in
> Caermarthenshire, Wales), & were the parents of Morgan "Morgan the Old")
> Awbrey (bc 1410), Thomas ( (bc 1412), Richard (bc 1413) & John (bc 1415),
> all
> in Brecknockshire.
Something happened to the 14th century in this chronology. It needs to be
found.
GENERATION IX
Morgan Awbrey (also called "Morgan the Old" who was Lord of Brecon
&Abercynfrig (bc 1410 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales) marr. (1) Alice
Verch Watkin (bc 1392, dtr of Thomas Watkin & Margred Hywell, & (2) Unknown
Verch Roger Vaughn (bc 1400 in Wales). Children of Morgan & Alice, all born
in Abercynfrig, were John (bc 1413), Jenkin (bc 1416), Maud (bc 1418),
Dafydd
(bc 1420), Thomas (bc 1425, d in Ystradgyrlais, Wales), Margred (1427) &
Jane
(bc 1429).
In this generation, Morgan Awbrey married a woman 18 years his senior and
fathered a child at the age of 3. I'm all in favor of an early start in
these matters, but . . . .
As a general note, I assume "bc" means born circa. It seems highly unlikely
to me that we would nearly know the birth dates of all these people, but the
exact birth date of none of them. What is your documentation?
JSG
Todd A. Farmerie
>
> I am new on the list but I was told that my family lineage is like this:
>
> GENERATION I
> Saunders de Alberico was bc 1030 in France & reportedly a brother of
> Alberic, Earl of Boulogne & Dammartin, & Earl Fareschal of France in 1066.
> He invaded Eng. with William the Conqueror in 1066.) Father of Reginald.
Two mutually exclusive theories of the origin of this surname
have been combined here. "de Alberico" = of Alberico, it is a
placename. Thus there is no connection with Alberic, Count of
Dammartin (not Boulogne) and Mareschal of France. That this man
accompanied WIlliam is certainly not supported by any surviving
evidence.
> GENERATION II
> Sir Reginald Awbrey (bc 1055 Wales) marr. Isabel de Clare (bc 1072 Normandy,
But if his father was a lord in France, how came he to be born in
Wales?
taf
Rosie Bevan
I'm afraid that apart from the considerable problem with the dates, I would
be very suspicious of a lineage which starting with a man whose name is
"Saunders", existing in the mid 1000s, or has a "Sir" Reginald flourishing
in the eleventh century when a system of knighthood was not yet in place.
The association of the place name Alberico with the forename of Alberic de
Dammartin is a clumsy and artificial one.
Richard de Clare was never earl of any place, though his great grandson was
created Earl of Hertford. Nor was there ever an earldom of Tonbridge. If
"Isabella de Clare" had been mother of "Sir" Reginald's children one would
have expected to see names such as Richard, Gilbert, Rohese, Isabella
appearing for their children.
Some of the genealogy could be genuine but I suspect the early part not.
This genealogy appears to have been constructed very sloppily by someone who
knows little of British history - and if the first two generations can be
picked apart what will the rest of it be like?
My advice would be to start with what can be shown to be provable by
evidence and work you way back. I'm sorry if this is disappointing advice
but I'm sure you would be happiers with what you know to be yours than an
invention of some unscrupulous person.
Cheers
Rosie
----- Original Message -----
From: janet ariciu <mon...@getgoin.net>
To: <GEN-MED...@rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 8:07 PM
Subject: Aubrey/Pendleton
> I am new on the list but I was told that my family lineage is like this:
>
> GENERATION I
> Saunders de Alberico was bc 1030 in France & reportedly a brother of
> Alberic, Earl of Boulogne & Dammartin, & Earl Fareschal of France in 1066.
> He invaded Eng. with William the Conqueror in 1066.) Father of Reginald.
>
> GENERATION II
> Sir Reginald Awbrey (bc 1055 Wales) marr. Isabel de Clare (bc 1072
Normandy,
janet ariciu
my web page. I need to know the truth.
www.geocities.com/janet_ariciu
I know there must be some one out here that can help me.
----- Original Message -----
From: Todd A. Farmerie <farm...@interfold.com>
To: <GEN-MED...@rootsweb.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 2:53 AM
Subject: Re: Aubrey/Pendleton
> janet ariciu wrote:
> >
> > I am new on the list but I was told that my family lineage is like this:
> >
> > GENERATION I
> > Saunders de Alberico was bc 1030 in France & reportedly a brother of
> > Alberic, Earl of Boulogne & Dammartin, & Earl Fareschal of France in
1066.
> > He invaded Eng. with William the Conqueror in 1066.) Father of Reginald.
>
> Two mutually exclusive theories of the origin of this surname
> have been combined here. "de Alberico" = of Alberico, it is a
> placename. Thus there is no connection with Alberic, Count of
> Dammartin (not Boulogne) and Mareschal of France. That this man
> accompanied WIlliam is certainly not supported by any surviving
> evidence.
>
> > GENERATION II
> > Sir Reginald Awbrey (bc 1055 Wales) marr. Isabel de Clare (bc 1072
Normandy,
>
nathan...@gmail.com
> William "The Extravagant" Awbrey was bc 1581 Tredomen, Brecknockshire,
> Wales. He marr. Elizabeth Johns (b 1595 in Wales), dtr of Sir Thomas Johns.
> William's will was proved in 1631 & he died broke. Children of William &
> Elizabeth were Edward (bc 1617 Tredomen), Reginald (bc 1619 in Tredomen),
> John (bc 1623 in Abercynfrig) & Thomas (bc 1624).
>
> GENERATION XVI
> John Awbrey (b 1623 Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales, arrived in VA with
> his brother Thomas c 1668 & d 9/28/1692 in Westmoreland Co., VA). John marr.
> Jane Johnstone c 1677 in Westmoreland Co. She was b there in 1659 & d after
> 1699. Their children were Elizabeth (bc 1678), John (bc 1680- d 2/26/1724/5)
> & Sarah (b 1681, d 1702), all in Westmoreland Co., VA.
One argument American descendants are using is they can only find one Henry Awbrey in Wales in the early 1600s (named as son Harry in will of Sir William), so it 'must' be the Virginian. I contacted the Aubrey One Name Study http://one-name.org/name_profile/aubrey/ . Some of the feedback they gave me is (1) very few parish registers survive in Pembrokeshire before 1690, so you can't gauge how many Henry Awbreys there were and (2) a cursory search of the National Library of Wales Catalogue turns up an indenture mentioning Henry Awbrey in 1641 living in either Llanvrenagh or Tredomen, which could be a reference to Sir William's son:
• Title:
Maybery Collection: Grant to uses specified in an indenture tripartite of even date between Edward Awbrey and Johanna, his wife, of the ...,
• Is Part Of: Maybery Collection
• Description: 1. Edward Awbrey of Abercunfrig, esq.,. 2. Sir William Herbert of Cardiff, George Herbert of Abergwillie, esq., Thomas Awbrey of Llantrydded, co. Glam., esq., Charles Vaughan of Abergwillie, gent., John Lewes of ffroodgreeche, co. Brecon, gent., and Morgan Awbrey of Ystradgynlais, gent. Grant to uses specified in an indenture tripartite of even date between EdwardAwbrey and Johanna, his wife, of the first part, Sir Thomas Johnes of the second part, and Sir William Herbert, George Herbert, Thomas Awbrey, Charles Vaughan, John Lewes and MorganAwbrey of the third part, of the manor of Battell with messuages and lands in the tenures of David ap Ieuan, William John Jevan, Howell ap Edward, David ap Gwllym, Howell ap Morgan, John ap Ieuan, Jevan Thomas and Thomas ap Richard, messuages and land in the tenures of Watkin David ap Ieuan, Anthony Thomas, and Owen ap Ieuan David, the capital messuage of Abercunfrigge, lands in the tenures of Thomas Johnes, Jevan Thomas gosh, John Richard John, William John, Edmond Rosser, John Rosser, Katherine verch Rees, widow of Richard Jenkin, John Jenkin, Thomas John Myller, Roger ap John, Gruffudd ap Hoell ap Trahern, John Ieuan Rosser, Roger Ieuan Rosser, William Harry, Henry Caldicott, Lewis John Lewes, and Thomas John Baron, the water mill and fulling mill within the parish of Llanvrenagh, the capital messuage within the vill of Breohon, the messuages and lands in the tenures of HENRY AWBREY, Morgan Awbrey, Hugh Powell William, William Bevan, Lewes Morgan, Thomas ap Jevan, Lewis Meredith, Lewes John Geffrey, William Vaughan, esq., and Henry Phelip, the capital messuage of Tredomen, and the lands and tenements belonging thereto In the tenures of John David, William Gunter, Jevan William Prise, John William Powell, Owen Howell, Jevan Thomas, John Howell, William William, Llewelyn William Parry, Richard ap John William, William Phelip, Phillipp ap Ieuan Morgan, Phillipp John Ieuan, William ap Ieuan Jenkin, Phillipp William ap Ieuan cosh, and John Williams. Latin.
• Related Titles: Maybery Collection,
• Creation Date: 1641, Sept. 27.
• Identifier: grant-to-uses-specified-in-indenture-tripartite-of-even-date-between-edward-awbrey-and-johanna-his-wife-of; 6973.
Nathan
nathan...@gmail.com
> William "The Extravagant" Awbrey was bc 1581 Tredomen, Brecknockshire,
> Wales. He marr. Elizabeth Johns (b 1595 in Wales), dtr of Sir Thomas Johns.
> William's will was proved in 1631 & he died broke. Children of William &
> Elizabeth were Edward (bc 1617 Tredomen), Reginald (bc 1619 in Tredomen),
> John (bc 1623 in Abercynfrig) & Thomas (bc 1624).
Will of Sir William Awbrey of Tredomen in the Dioces of Saint Davids Knight
Will dated 30 September 1626
Will proved 4 November 1631 commission granted to son Edward Awbrey; relict Elizabeth renounced; William Awbrey Clerk mentioned
Will exhibited 5 May 1631
Requests burial in the Colledg Church of Saint Davides in the Awbreys Chappell as neer as Convenient may be to my Children ther interred
Kinsman: S[i]r Henry Williams of Gwer...evett Knight, Uncle: Mr W[illia]m Awbreie doctor of lawes, My Allies man:Anthony Gwyne of Llansaid Esquier, Uncle: William Awbrey of the Cantrif Clerke, Uncle: John Maddockes of Llandmach Esquier all my landes, tenem[en]tes and hered[ita]m[en]tes in the p[ar]ishes of Llanville Llandyvailogg Trergraig and Llanddewe. Lands to be sold to discharge debtes unto Anthony Gwyne and to Richard Ewstance his servant for moneyes disbursed by them upon two tenem[en]tes now in the occupac[i]on of W[illia]m Parry, and John Phillipp, And my house in Towne in the p[ar]ishe of Saint John the Evangelist … to be redeemed by Covenantes entered into by Anthony Gwyne unto S[i]r Henry Williams from Henry Pratt … lands in the sev[e]rall p[ar]ishes of Llanvillo Llandyvailog Trergraige Llandden and Saint John the Evangelist … Sir Henry Johns of Abermarlais Knight S[i]r Thomas Awbrey of Llantryffyd Knight And Herbert Johnes of Llangatug iuxta … messuage of Tredomen
Wife: Dame Elizabeth Awbrey ￡100 to give to my youngest children; sole executrix
Eldest son and heir apparent: Edward Awbrey
Second son: John Awbrey ￡50 “towardes the setleing of him a prentise by yo[u]r appointment…”
Third son: Thomas Awbrey ￡50 in hands of my son-in-law John Bayly of Rythyn and Jane Bailie my Eldest daughter
Fourth son: Harry Awbrey ￡40 “to be ymployd to his use by his good Aunt Mrs Rachell Morgan of Machen with whome he hath bin eduecated and brought up from his Childhood”
Fifth son: Reignald Awbrey ￡40
“the right heires of my bodie begotten on the bodie of Dame Elizabeth”
Daughter: Johan Awbrey
Daughter: Elenor ￡100 (unmarried)
Daughter: Catherin Awbrey ￡50 (unmarried)
Five overseers
[Signed] Wm Awbrey
Witnesses: Watkin Harbert, Jeuan M[e]rdith …, John Awbrey gent, John ...
[Source: Consistory Court of St. David, 1631, 52 [FHL film #104444]].
Memorandum of Edward Awbrey of Tredomen in the County of Brecknock Esquire … “in a very dangerous sicknesse”
Nuncupative will December 1650
Will proved 18 May 1652 letters of administration issued to William Herbert Esquire the Cozen German of the sayd deceased
Left entire estate to Cozen Colonell William Herbert
Witnesses: Elizabeth Lewes and Mary Jones
[Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury 108 Bowyer [ancestry.com]].
In 1624, Sir William was returned to the House of Lords as a Popish recusant:
'House of Lords Journal Volume 3: 20 May 1624', Journal of the House of Lords: volume 3: 1620-1628 (1802), pp. 392-396. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=30423 Date accessed: 22 July 2009.
Matthew Langley
Matthew Langley
http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/awbrey/205/
Though it's lacking anything really connecting the two
Matthew Langley
http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/awbrey/205/
"
In light of the recent amount of interest in the Awbrey family, I thought it was necessary to post all the facts that more or less prove that John and Henry Awbrey were indeed the sons of Sir William Awbrey of Abercynrig.
1. All secondary sources reveal that Henry and John Awbrey were sons of Sir William Awbrey. These sources include recent family histories, scholarly articles, and a 19th Century history that appears now to be lost. These secondary sources do not once name an alternate pedigree.
2. The will of Sir William Awbrey indicates that he had sons John, Henry, and Thomas Awbrey -- all three names appear in Virginia records some twenty years later.
3. George Clark's Genealogies of Glamorganshire Families lists Sir William's sons as Henry, John, and Thomas.
4. I have yet to find any other Henry Awbrey in Welsh records from this period. The reason for this is simple- Henry carried the name of his maternal uncle, Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais. John and Thomas carried the names of their paternal uncles.
5. A cousin, John Aubrey, FRS, of Easton Pierce, began a suit to recover the Brecknockshire lands about 1656. This time corresponds roughly with the immigration of Henry to Virginia. Henry, John, and Thomas were the last heirs to Sir William Awbrey after the death of their brother Sir Edward Awbrey. However, Sir Edward had a son from a second marriage that became Sir William's heir. The three brothers recognized Sir Edward's son as heir and left for Virginia. Their cousin, John Aubrey, did not recognize Sir Edward's son as heir because he considered him illegitimate. However, John Aubrey lost his case, and William inherited. This information substantiates the family story that the brother's left Wales because of a lack of inheritance.
6. Sir William Awbrey had seven sons, all of whom were gone from Wales by 1656. This means that all seven would have to have died in before the age of forty-five. This is extremely unlikely seeing that most of them lived to adulthood. Furthermore, the fates of the older children are known, but the fates of John, Thomas, and Henry are unknown. This testifies to the fact that the family had little or no contact with the younger sons in later years. Again, this substantiates the claim that they were in Virginia.
7. The will of Sir William Awbrey contains references to Henry's education. Henry Awbrey of Virginia was an educated man who owned a small library of books, fairly rare in 17th Century Virginia.
8. Henry Awbrey refers to his Sarah as his "now wife" in 1664, indicating that he had been married before in Wales. Hugh Thomas in his History of Brecknockshire verifies this relationship, though he calls it illegitimate.
9. Henry Awbrey's son Richard Awbrey of Essex County makes references in his will to his sword and "Great Seale Ring" - both tightly restricted items according to 17th Century British sumptuary laws. These are items the belonged to the gentle classes.
10. Bishop William Meade in his Old Churches and Families of Virginia states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. He was active in Northern Virginia when descendents of John and Henry Awbrey could still be found (circa 1830). This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
11. Henry Awbrey was one of the largest planters and prominent men of 17th Century Virginia. He was a member of the House of Burgesses and Sheriff of Essex County. This indicates that he was a man of high standing and familiar with the qualities of leadership -- all things familiar to the Awbrey family of Brecknock.
12. John's son, Captain Francis Awbrey, was Thomas Lee's most intimate friend. Thomas Lee was known to be an unrepentant snob, even to respectable families such as the Washingtons. The mere fact that Thomas Lee and Francis Awbrey were intimate friends indicates that Francis was likely descended from a genteel background. Furthermore, like Henry, Francis was also a prosperous planter and public servant.
13. Henry Awbrey arrived in Virginia during a period of mass exodus of Royalist from Britain. The Awbrey family of Brecknockshire were staunch Royalists. John and Henry's brother Reginald was killed fighting for the King at Edgehill.
14. Mary Newton Stanard, a social historian of Virginia, states that the first watch in Virginia was owned by Henry Awbrey. This indicates that Henry was extraordinary in his possessions-- a feature common to the once immensely wealthy Awbreys of Brecknockshire.
15. The final and most important piece of evidence. In 1728, Captain Francis Awbrey was a resident of Stafford County, Virginia. His immediate neighbors were William Berkeley and George Turberville, both of whom were cousins of Sir William Awbrey. Also, in 1740, John Awbrey, a son of Francis, was retained by a Thomas Johns of Pennsylvania to survey a tract of land that he had purchased. In 1740, Pennsylvania was a heavily Welsh colony. Furthermore, Sir William Awbrey's wife was Elizabeth Johnes, sometimes, Jones, sometimes Johns. "Thomas" was also the most popular given name in that family. It is very likely that Thomas Johns was a kinsman of Francis Awbrey's.
These facts represent the bulk of evidence indicating John and Henry Awbrey to be the sons of Sir William Awbrey.
Now for the one piece of evidence that seems contradictory.
Hugh Thomas in his essay History of Brecknockshire, states that all of Sir William's sons died without issue.
At first this seems too large an obstacle to overcome, however, a little more research reveals that the Thomas essay is full of flaws.
1. Hugh Thomas says that Sir Edward Awbrey died without issue. This is easily proven false. Sir Edward had a number of children, including his heir William who inherited Buckingham Place in Brecon, by a second marriage to Barbara Lloyd. Because Thomas did not believe in Sir Edward's right for a divorce, he simply accorded Sir Edward's second family illegitimacy, even though they were entirely lawful.
2. It seems that he may have done the same thing with Henry's first marriage. Henry calls the woman his wife, but Hugh Thomas refers to the marriage as an illegitimate union.
3. Nearly all of the Awbrey family had left Brecknockshire by 1656, some thirty-five years before Hugh Thomas wrote his article. Therefore, Thomas relied on at best second hand information. It is clear that Thomas disapproved of the actions of the family as a whole and may have written them off out of spite. It may also be possible that Thomas had no idea where the sons of Sir William Awbrey went. This is evident by the lack of any information about the younger sons past their thirtieth year. The most probable reason for the comment of Thomas is that the family had disappeared, and the few who were left degenerated to a marked degree. When considering the former greatness of the Awbreys, it probably made more sense to say that the sons died without issue than to say they ran away from their debts or degenerated into the poorest country people.
It must be remembered that the sons of Sir William Awbrey were all treated alike by Thomas, i.e., all died without issue, when it was patently obvious that they lived and had children. Thus, any remark of Thomas is likely to be incorrect, and no authority should be given to his essay.
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