David was born about 1420 in Shropshire, England, the son of Einion ap David but his mother is unknown.
His wife is not known. They were married, but the date and place have not been found. Their two known children were Robert (c1440->1485) and Roger (c1465-?).
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT 1420 |
|
Note 1
!Source: Morris, Joseph, "Benyon of Great Ash, &c." in "Geoneological Manuscripts connected with the County of Salop and Principality of Wales", Vol. 9, Page 4641, mss. no. 4085. LDS tape# 0504680. Most entries copied in their entirity.
!Notes: David alias Deio ap Einion, called also Decus otherwise Decos ap Einion. Was of Rowden, par. Alberbury, co. Salop, in 30 H.6. [1452], also in 38 H.6. [1460], when he is named on the Roll in the Exchequer of Shrewsbury as "David ap Eigneon of Rowton."
!P: By the name of "Decos ap Eyneon" he had in 35 H. 6 [1457], a Lease from "Thomas Mitton, of Salop, gentilman," of "all his arable land in Fidogans[1st few letters badley faded] field," in the township of Frankwell, Shrewsbury. [The Hist. of Shrewsbury, Vol. 2, p. 465.]
!Source: https://archive.org/stream/HeraldicVisitationsOfWalesAndPartOfTheMarchesBetweenTheYears1586/HeraldicVisitationsOfWalesAndPartOfTheMarchesBetweenTheYears1586And1613ByLewysDwnnVol.1_djvu.txt
14 Sir Roger ivanc. or vychan, both which words are used to imply "junior," was, as
Lewys Dwnn above says, " slain in Agincourt field," was made a Knight Banneret, with
his father-in-law, David Gam. Gwladys and her second husband. Sir William ap
Thomas, a widower, were both buried in the Priory Church at Abergavenny, where
their effigies still exist.
15 For a continuation of the descents from these two, see Walpole's Life of Lord
Herbert of Cherbury. Sir William, the eldest son, had, in 1461, a grant of the offices
of Chief Justice and Chamberlain of South Wales from Edward IV.; and was, on the
■lth of November, in the same year, created Baron Herbert of Gower. In 1462, he
had the grant of the Castle, Town, and Lordship of Pembroke ; in 1463, was constituted
Justice of Merioneth, in North Wales ; and in 1467, Chief Justice of North Wales
for life. On the 27th of May, 1468, he was advanced to the title of Earl of Pembroke,
and soon after a Knight of the Garter. He was taken prisoner at tho battle of Danes-
more, in 1469, and on the Wednesday, viz., two days after, according to Gutto'r Glyn,
was executed. Lewys Glyn Cothi addressed an Ode to him ; and as he, in November,
1463, accompanied Edward IV, on an expedition to the North, in order to reduce those
Castles which were possessed by Lancastrians, he commences, by asking, " How was it
that the dart of William was not broken in the assault upon Durham," which took
place in the next month ; and then exclaims, " May the lance of William break down
the strong wall of the city, and the five towers thereof." Ho congratulates all Wales
on having such a hero ; styles him a loverof truth, the protector of the weak, and the
terror of the Lancastrians ; the prosperity of Wales, and the dispenser of charity ; tells
us that he was a member of the Parliament, to which he was first sammoned in 1462,
and the son of the daughter of David Gam. He alludes to his deeds of valour in the
North, and speaks of his triumphing over the enemy from Dunster Castle, in Somerset-,
shire, which, on the attainder of Sir James Luttrel was bestowed upon him, to Aber
I[16] '■-■•■■. a village in Glamorganshire. He adds, that when mounted on his restless white
charger, his countenance was most animated, and his eyes sparkling like fire. He
alludes also to his improvement of Rhaglan Castle, which his father had acquired with
his first wife, Elizabeth Berkley. But ho records no one act so much to his credit as
his obtaining pardon for David ab Einion, on his surrender, who had so bravely defended
Harlech Castle, in Merionethshire [Monmouthshire] ; for when Lord Herbert summoned him to surrender,
he made this memorable reply, — " I maintained a Castle in France so long, that all the
old women in Wales talked about me ; and I will keep this Castle of Harlech so long,
Note: David ap Einon 1420 is also related to Hotchkiss, and the families later appear to have becom staunch allies. Name also appears later as Benyon.