Catrin of Berain

Known as 'The Mother of Wales' due to the number of descendants.

Born:

1534

Place of Birth:

Berain

Biography:

Contributor William Williams writes about the woman who became known as the Mother of Wales...

Catrin of Berain (1534-1591), the daughter of Tudor ap Robert Vychan and Jane Vielville, was a handsome, wealthy and intelligent woman who married four different powerful husbands during the 16th century. Variously named Katherine, Katheryn, Catherine and Catrin, and of the surname of Tewdr, Tudur or Tudor, Catrin Tudor was a descendant of an ancient Welsh patrician family. She was descended from Henry VII, the first ruler of the royal House of Tudor.

Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond fought against, and brought the defeat to Richard III that ended the Plantagenet succession near Market Bosworth in 1485. Henry VII subsequently built commercial and personal alliances through marriage to formalise and stabilise the Tudor dynasty. His daughter, Margaret was married in 1503 to James IV of Scotland and his other daughter Mary married Louis XII of France in 1514.

Catrin Tudor nurtured her wealth and increased her influence in part through strategic marriages. She married four times: first to John Salusbury, aka Salisbury or Salisburie, then to Sir Richard Clough, and then to Morris Wynn of Gwydir. She wed her fourth husband, Edward Thelwall of Plas-y-ward in 1583. Her union with each of her husbands built up her estate and added to her substantial holdings and power.

John Salusbury of Lleweni, the eldest son of the Chancellor and Sheriff from Denbigh, was Catrin's first husband.

Sir Richard Clough, Knight of the Holy Sepulchre became her second husband in 1567.

His 'Bach y Graig House' was the first brick house to be built in Wales that same year. Richard made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land on crusade, and returned to Great Britain where he accumulated a considerable fortune and was knighted for his endeavours. Before he died in 1570, he initiated the London Stock Exchange and he worked as a commercial and political agent in the Queen's interest.

Her third husband, Morris Wynn of Gwydir was a Prince of Gwynedd, and a descendant of Rhodri Mawr. He was also descended from the Princes of Powys, the Earl of Salisbury and Llewelyn the Great.

Edward Thelwell, descended from Teutons and Normans who were granted the country of Dyffryn Clwyd by King Edward I, became her fourth husband. These land grants included Ruthin Castle in Wales, which became the ancestral home of the Thelwells.

All four of Catrin's husbands preceded her in death. The bards of Catrin's day spread tales of her exploits and they produced some tall tales. Catrin was said to have had seven husbands, or to have murdered her first three husbands, or to have killed one husband by pouring deadly molten lead into his ear. These sensational stories regarding her cunning and brutality remain unsubstantiated.

As her six children had been borne by high profile husbands, and because she had around sixteen step children, about thirty-two grandchildren, and scores of descendants, Catrin has often been labeled "Mam Cymru" which translates into "Mother of Wales". Coincidentally, the Isle of Anglesey is known as "Mon Mam Cymru" or "Mona Mother of Wales" which was able to supply the entire population of Wales with vegetables, grains, herbs and fruit in ancient times.

Catrin of Berain died on 27 August 1591 and was buried at Llanefydd on 1 September. Tudor rule ended in 1603 with the death of Elizabeth I and this event marked the begining of the Stuart dynasty.

your comments

Jero Jones,Towyn, Wales
This is for J.I. Jones Ruthin, Tracy of St Helens and any other interested party in Catrin/Chathryn/Kathrine o'r Berain. I am a descendent on my mother's side of Catrin (mam Cymru). Berain is not between Dinbych (Denbigh) and Llanelwy (St Asaph), it is 3/4 of a mile off the old mill road from Henllan to Llannefydd. It is indeed in a hollow and not on top of a hill. However, Berain in its heyday was a plas, and is still a Plas (mansion/hall/palace) today. Catrin had a new wing added to Berain for herself, probably in the 1560s. It was a farm then and is still a large farm today. There is no sign of her grave at Llannefydd church, however, with the custom of the day, important people were buried in the church, my family think that she was buried beneth the chancel floor. Anyone interested, I have photos of Berain and of the inside of Llannefydd church.
Mon Aug 11 14:22:54 2008

Charles Miller, Chesapeake, Va.
To: James Frankcom about Bertie Co., NC Wynns originally from Virginia and Wales. Morris Wynne, 1st Jane Bulkeley, Sir John Wynn, Sidney Gerrard Owen Wynn, Grace Williams, John Wynns, Eleanor Minor, George Wynns, Rose Bush, John Wynns, Sarah Van Pelt, Watkins W. Wynns, Mary Van Pelt, Daniel Wynns, Lavinia Outlaw, George D. Wynns, Melissa Watlford, Wm. Daniel Wynns, Frances Wilford, Elizabeth Wynns, Charles Edward Cowan, Essie E. Cowan, Duncan Winston Miller, Charles E. Miller Sr, Betty Spurling, Charles E. Miller, Jr. Nancy Webb
Wed Mar 12 16:36:05 2008

James Frankcom
This is for Charles Miller of Chesapeake, Virginia, who says he is a "direct descendant" of Morris Wynne of Gwydir. I am interested about this and have done a little research on this matter in the past. It is thought that Owen Wynn, grandson of Morris, moved to Westmoreland County, Virginia. It is possible he had a son, John, who may have had up to seven sons before dying in Virginia in 1694. However, the sources for this information are very confused and many believe they are later constructions. Can you explain your relationship to John ab Owen Wynn (which should be between eight and 10 generations from yourself).
Wed Feb 27 09:05:42 2008

Michael Richard Searle
To Tracy of St Helens. Berain is clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey map in grid square SJ0069. It is marked 'Berain' within this 1km grid square of the map, which I think is Map 116 of the OS 1:50,000 series. A full 6 figure grid reference is: SJ 007 698.
Wed Jan 2 10:43:54 2008

Charles Miller, Chesapeake, Va
I am a descendant of Morris Wynne of Gwydir. My ancestor John and his wife Elizabeth settled in Virginia in the 17th century. Their son George Wynns, from whom I directly descend, settled in Bertie County, NC. Through the Wynns, I am also related to artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan.
Tue Dec 18 08:19:18 2007

J. I. Jones Ruthin
To Tracy from St Helens, Ref Catrin of Berain.
Berain is not a mansion and it does not sit on top of a hill. In fact, it is now a large farm-house and it sits in a little dip in the minor road. It is quite hard to find. You find it by going on the main road from Denbigh towards St Asaph. It is about one mile to the south-east of Llanefydd. Llanefydd is about 3.5 miles to the south-west of St Asaph. Catrin's burial place is at the church at Llanefydd, by tradition, but there is no marked grave. I suspect it is close to the main door.
Mon Dec 17 08:05:44 2007

Tacy from St Helens
Can anyone give me a postcode, or an exact location to find the House of Berain or Berain mansion? I think I saw the place at the top of a hill after a 4 hour drive, but wasn't quite sure. Thanks.
Mon Dec 10 08:38:43 2007

John Idris Jones, Ruthin
Ref Catrin of Berain's first marriage to John Salusbury of Lleweni, Denbigh, does anybody have a reliable date for this? A number of websites and articles have different citations. Also the birth of their first son, Thomas, appears to be listed in error on some sources. I feel sure tha 1555 is an error and 1565 is likely to be correct. It seems pretty certain that the second son, another John, was born in mid-1566. It should be noted that many historians have got their John Salusbury references wrong. There were three in this period. The one Catrin married was No 2. His father, No 1, was Sir John Salusbury, who held a number of important positions. No 3 was Catrin's second son. The confusion has partly arisen because No 2 died before No 3 was born, almost certainly in 1566. The Sir John Salusbury (No1) who was Catrin's father-in-law when she married was the son of Sir Roger Salusbury. This Sir John (No1) married Jane Myddleton; he died in 1578. The marriage of Catrin with John (No 2) was apparently being arranged in 1557 or thereabouts. If she did marry about then, why did John (No 3) not get born until about nine years later ? - which seems very unlikely.
Fri Oct 19 14:35:02 2007

John Idris Jones, Ruthin
According to my info Cathrs 4th husband did not precede her in death as you assert. He lived at least 10 years after Cathrs death in 1591. Proof of this is the visit to PlasyWard, Rhewl, by 9yr old Edw Herbert who stayed 9 months and was there to learn Welsh; he was 9 in March 1592. There was only one Edward Thelwell; he was a scholar and knew many languages. Edward herbert became Lord Herbert of Cherbury and wrote extensively in the philosophy and theology fields.
Mon Sep 24 09:23:15 2007

David Llewellyn
Hello!In regards to James Frankcom's statement (and I know he is very much a Welsh history buff too!):Title could be claimed through the female line, as had happened with Rhodri Fawr and other examples. Under precise circumstances, and albeit uncommon, women could even own land. A poem dated to the first half of the 11th century is an elegy for Aeddon, a landowner on Anglesey. The poet says that after his death his estate was inherited by four women who had originally been brought to Aeddon's court as captives after a raid and had found favor with him, this according to Jarman (p. 119 ). Additionally, there is no reason to assume that the dynamic 13th century Welsh laws would not have evolved to accept female inheritance along side other monarchies.Thus, the position of the Williams-Wynn as descendent of the Aberffraw legacy are clear, but admittedly any claim of royal status of the principality remains unsettled. He is very correct, Llywelyn the Great was a cousin to Tomas Wynn, both directly decended from Owain Gwynedd.
Wed Jul 11 16:45:00 2007

Mary Ann Salisbury, Los Angeles, CA., U.S.
I'd like to correct my last post. According to SIR JOHN WYNN, BART. Catherine's son THOMAS SALUSBURY was married to JANE WYNN, not Margaret Wynn. They had one daughter Margaret Salusbury.
Mon Nov 27 09:02:43 2006

Mary Ann Salisbury - Los Angeles, CA., USA
Here is a common denominator to prior posts. It seems Catrin's son, Thomas Salusbury was married to her step-daughter, Margaret Wynn.
"Thomas Salisbury or Salusbury (c. 1564 - September 20, 1586), was one of the conspirators executed for his involvement in the Babington Plot.
Salisbury was the elder son of Katheryn of Berain and her first husband, Sir John Salusbury, and was the heir to the Lleweni estate. He married Margaret Wynn (daughter of Katheryn's third husband, Maurice Wynn), and their daughter, Margaret, eventually inherited Berain, whereas Lleweni went to Thomas's younger brother, John. Thomas Salisbury was implicated in the plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, and he was executed, along with Sir Anthony Babington and several others, by being hung, drawn and quartered."
Source: Wikipedia
Mon Oct 9 08:22:02 2006

sue catterall - sydney, australia
I am very interested in anything to do with the Wynn(e) families of north wales as I supposedly connect to them.
Sun Oct 30 11:16:17 2005

James Frankcom
Morris Wynn was not a descendent of Llywelyn Mawr. He was a descendent of Llywelyn Mawr's uncle Rhodri (son of Owain Gwynedd) and only distantly related to Llywelyn. His descendents - and those of his brothers - going in the male line through the Wynn family are the 'de jure' royal family of Wales. However, the current Williams-Wynn noble family in north Wales are NOT as they inherit the Wynn title through marriage (a woman) and under Welsh law one cannot inherit through a woman.
Tue Oct 11 12:22:34 2005

Graham from Rhyl
It would appear that Catrin married her first husband for love and the others for power and position. Did her first husband let her down in some way? What was she really like in those early days of the first marriage I wonder? How many times did she see her cousin Queen Elizabeth I?
Sat Oct 1 10:50:38 2005

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