Families can come in all shapes and sizes, and the same can be said for family trees. Amongst the archives at the National Library of Wales, we have many family trees and one of these is a framed family tree that is roughly 2 metres tall! It is the family tree of the Barons Dudley of Dudley Castle, and it’s quite the work of art! It came to the library via the trustees of the late FDW Lea-Smith, the 12th Baron Dudley, and it dates from 1675. It has been illustrated with painted images representing members of the family, and it is decorated with Coats of Arms.
One of the images depicted is King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, with the emblem behind them formed from the Red Tudor Rose and the White Rose of York depicting the end of the War of the Roses.
The tree boasts other well-known marriages including the marriage between Lady Jane Grey (also known as the ‘Nine Days’ Queen’) and Guilford Dudley.
We have handwritten family trees such as one from the Morgan of Ruperra family tree. What’s nice about this one is the care that someone took to write it all out and present it in such a beautiful way. There appear to be no mistakes in it, as if the writer carefully wrote out everything so they wouldn’t have to cross anything out.
A more modern looking family tree is in the form of a printed genealogy by George Blacker Morgan, Jan. 1884, of the Morgan families of Llantarnam, Monmouthshire, and of Monasterevan, County Kildare. All typed out and complete with a Coat of Arms displayed proudly at the top with their family motto ‘Certavi et Vici’ (‘I have fought and I conquered’).
Have you ever been curious about your own family? Perhaps you have managed to trace for family back hundreds of years and found you’re a distant relative of Owain Glyndwr, or maybe Kate Roberts was a third cousin twice removed? Maybe you are a distant relative of the Barons Dudley or the Morgan Family.
If you have been watching the S4C programme ‘Cyfrinachau’r Llyfrgell’ you might be wondering what secrets your own family might hold. It can be a little daunting when you begin to research your family, but we have extremely knowledgeable staff at NLW who will be happy to help you if you don’t know where to start. Before you come in, you might like to have a look at our helpful guide found here. We also provide access to a range of resources you can use within the library building. These include Ancestry Library, Family Search and Findmypast. Through the latter you can also access the 1921 Census for free when visiting the library, and you can view censuses from 1841-1881 on microfilm, the 1881 index on microfiche, and the Censuses from 1891-1901 on microfilm or microfiche. Free online access through Findmypast and Ancestry Library within the Library building. We also have a designated research room filled with resources to assist with your research and a helpful booklet you can pick up at the reading room.
Come and unlock your heritage and explore your own past.
Emma Towner
NLW Archives & Manuscripts
Category: Article