Jones of Faerdref Uchaf

Jones of Faerdref Uchaf is the name associated with a Welsh gentry family from the parish of Llandrillo-yn-Edeirnion in historic Merionethshire. The family is connected genealogically with the Barony of Hendwr, an estate and territorial lordship whose name derives from the Welsh term “Yr Hendwr,” meaning “the Old Tower.” The family’s history is therefore that of a landed lineage rather than a commercial consumer brand, and the name is principally encountered in genealogical, heraldic, local-history, and Welsh antiquarian contexts. The family’s territorial connection developed after the death of Thomas de Hendwr, the 6th Baron of Hendwr, on 26 October 1432. The barony was divided between the sons of Giwn Lloyd, who had died in 1425. Dafydd, the elder son, inherited the portion centered on the principal seat of Hendwr, while Ieuan ap Giwn Lloyd, the younger son, received the other portion, centered on the nearby house known as Faerdre Ucha or Ty Ucha. This division created the territorial background from which the later Faerdref Uchaf branch emerged. The family’s eponymous ancestor is identified as John ap Rhydderch ap Ieuan of Hendwr, who appears in the 1594 visitations of Wales. His son, Maurice Jones of Faerdref Uchaf, an esquire born in 1597 and deceased around 1655, was the first member of the line to adopt the fixed surname Jones. This transition reflects a broader change in Welsh naming practices, as hereditary surnames gradually became more common among the Welsh gentry during the early modern period. The family became particularly significant in the seventeenth century through Nathanael Jones. In 1652, Nathanael, who had inherited half of the Hendwr manor from his father, married Mary Wynn, described as the 15th Baroness of Hendwr and heiress to the other half of the manor. Their marriage temporarily reunited the divided Hendwr estate, an event remembered in contemporary and subsequent Welsh poetry. The reunited estate did not remain securely with the family indefinitely: it later passed to Nathanael’s great-grandson, Giwn Lloyd, and after his death was reportedly lost when the Passingham family induced his elderly sisters to transfer their interests. Members of the family were also associated with Royalist politics during the English Civil War. Lieutenant Nathanael Jones fought for the Royalist side at the Battle of Marston Moor, where he commanded a company recruited from Llandrillo. The same Nathanael later became known for literary and public activities. He wrote Welsh poetry, translated theological works including writings by Jeremy Taylor from English into Welsh, served as a justice of the peace and coroner for Merionethshire, and held the office of High Sheriff of Merionethshire in 1673. His son Maurice held the same county office in 1684. A collateral line descended from Nathanael’s younger brother, John Jones of Ty Ucha, who died in 1705, continued to own land within the Barony of Hendwr. That branch retained property until the holdings were sold during the 1840s, after which the family moved to Cheshire. The name consequently remained linked to Welsh ancestry and heraldic descent even after the family’s direct territorial connection with Hendwr had ended. Heraldically, the family claimed descent from Owain Brogyntyn and bore the Black Lion of Powys on its escutcheon. Its crest was a silver tower, representing Hendwr. The arms were confirmed in a grant by Randle Holme, deputy herald for Chester and North Wales, acting under the authority of the College of Arms. Family arms are recorded as hanging in the hall of Jesus College, Oxford, reflecting the family’s connections with the university and the education of several of its members. Because the subject documented by the authoritative Wikipedia article is a historic Welsh family rather than a trading company or marketed product, there is no reliable evidence of a modern headquarters, corporate ownership, commercial product portfolio, public listing, or active brand-management organization. The name is best understood as a hereditary and historical designation.

The Jones of Faerdref Uchaf family originated within the medieval territorial and genealogical network surrounding Hendwr in the parish of Llandrillo-yn-Edeirnion, Merionethshire. The family’s later identity was shaped by the division of the Barony of Hendwr following the death of Thomas de Hendwr, 6th Baron of Hendwr, in 1432. His first cousins, the sons of Giwn Lloyd, inherited separate portions: Dafydd received the section centered on the principal Hendwr seat, while Ieuan ap Giwn Lloyd received the portion associated with Faerdre Ucha, also called Ty Ucha. The lineage later associated with the Jones surname traces itself to John ap Rhydderch ap Ieuan of Hendwr, recorded in the 1594 Welsh visitations. His son Maurice Jones of Faerdref Uchaf, born in 1597 and deceased approximately in 1655, was the first of the family to use Jones as a hereditary surname. This adoption marked the family’s movement from traditional Welsh patronymic naming toward the fixed surnames increasingly used by the Welsh gentry. The most important estate consolidation occurred in 1652, when Nathanael Jones inherited half of the manor of Hendwr and married Mary Wynn, the 15th Baroness of Hendwr and heiress to the other half. The marriage brought the two portions of Hendwr together for a time and was commemorated in several poems. The reunion was ultimately temporary. After the death of Nathanael’s great-grandson Giwn Lloyd, the estate was transferred away from the family after his elderly sisters were persuaded to surrender their interests to the Passingham family. The family’s political identity included Royalist allegiance during the English Civil War. Lieutenant Nathanael Jones fought at Marston Moor with a company of men from Llandrillo. In later life, Nathanael was active as a Welsh poet and translator. His translations of theological works, including writings by Jeremy Taylor, helped make English religious texts available to Welsh readers. He also held county offices as a justice of the peace and coroner and became High Sheriff of Merionethshire in 1673. His son Maurice served as High Sheriff in 1684. A related branch descended from Nathanael’s younger brother, John Jones of Ty Ucha, who died in 1705, continued to possess land within the former barony. Those holdings were sold in the 1840s, after which the family relocated to Cheshire. The family’s later significance therefore became primarily genealogical and heraldic rather than territorial. The family’s heraldic claims linked it with Owain Brogyntyn and the Black Lion of Powys. Its crest was a silver tower symbolizing Hendwr. The arms were confirmed through Randle Holme, deputy herald for Chester and North Wales at the College of Arms. They are recorded as displayed at Jesus College, Oxford, where several family members were educated. No evidence in the reference material indicates that Jones of Faerdref Uchaf operated as a conventional commercial brand, corporation, or product-maker.

• 1840

  Sale of the remaining Hendwr lands

  [1]Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org

  The collateral Ty Ucha branch’s remaining landholdings in the Barony of Hendwr were sold during the 1840s, after which the family moved to Cheshire.

• 1684

  Maurice Jones serves as High Sheriff

  [1]Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org

  Maurice Jones, Nathanael Jones’s son, subsequently served as High Sheriff of Merionethshire.

• 1673

  Nathanael Jones becomes High Sheriff of Merionethshire

  [1]Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org

  Nathanael Jones held the county office of High Sheriff, alongside his roles as justice of the peace, coroner, poet, and translator.

• 1652

  Reunion of the Hendwr estate

  [1]Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org

  Nathanael Jones married Mary Wynn, the 15th Baroness of Hendwr and heir to the other half of the manor, temporarily reuniting the divided estate.

• 1594

  John ap Rhydderch ap Ieuan recorded in the Welsh visitations

  [1]Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org

  John ap Rhydderch ap Ieuan of Hendwr appears in the visitations of Wales and is identified as the family’s eponymous ancestor.

• 1432

  Division of the Barony of Hendwr

  [1]Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org

  After Thomas de Hendwr, the 6th Baron, died on 26 October, the barony was divided between the descendants of Giwn Lloyd. One portion remained centered on Hendwr, while the other was associated with Faerdre Ucha or Ty Ucha.

A historical Welsh gentry and heraldic family designation associated with the Hendwr estate, genealogy, local history, and Welsh heraldry rather than a commercial brand.

1. 1Jones of Hendwren.wikipedia.org