David Hanmer
Encyclopedia
David Hanmer, SL
(fl. 1370 – 1387) was an English
judge
who lived in Wales
, and is best-known as the father-in-law of Owain Glyndŵr
.
, the Hanmer family was just as much Welsh
. This was quite common for border families of such standing and David Hanmer had strong Welsh connections. His father Philip Hanmer had married the daughter of a Welshman from Maelor Saesneg
(the English-speaking Maelor) who rejoiced in the striking Welsh name of Dafydd ap Rhirid ab Ynyr ap Jonas of Llanerch Banna
. She became David Hanmer’s mother.
.
Angharad bore David at least four children: a daughter, Marged
(who married Owain Glyndŵr
), and three sons, Gruffudd, Philip and John. Gruffudd was the eldest son. He became the acting legal attorney
to the Principality of North Wales. John held important posts in the government of Flintshire
. Philip was also probably a lawyer
. All four children were probably Welsh
-speaking, bilingual and well versed in English and Welsh law, as naturally bilingual as their father and certainly their mother.
and as such attended the Parliament of England
at Gloucester
in 1378 and that at Northampton
two years later at which he was also a member
of the Commons
for Herefordshire
.
Sir David Hanmer died in late 1387 unaware of the conflict that was to befall his family.
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
(fl. 1370 – 1387) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
who lived in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and is best-known as the father-in-law of Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
.
Border family
Although its roots were EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, the Hanmer family was just as much Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
. This was quite common for border families of such standing and David Hanmer had strong Welsh connections. His father Philip Hanmer had married the daughter of a Welshman from Maelor Saesneg
Maelor
Maelor is a border area of north-east Wales. It originated as a Cantref of the Kingdom of Powys, focused on Bangor-on-Dee.-History:The Maelor was first divided from the rest of Wales by the construction of Offa's Dyke in the eighth century, but was reclaimed for Wales during the reign of Stephen...
(the English-speaking Maelor) who rejoiced in the striking Welsh name of Dafydd ap Rhirid ab Ynyr ap Jonas of Llanerch Banna
Penley
Penley is a village in the County Borough of Wrexham, in Wales close to the border with Shropshire, EnglandThe village was, until 1974, in an exclave of the ancient county of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. , sometimes called "Flintshire Detached", which was administered from Overton-on-Dee...
. She became David Hanmer’s mother.
Lineage
Hanmer himself had married into another prominent Welsh family when he had taken as his bride Angharad, a daughter of Llywelyn Ddu ap Gruffudd ab Iorwerth Foel, one of the most prominent Welshmen in nearby ChirklandChirkland
Chirkland was a marcher lordship in north-east Wales, created from parts of Powys Fadog granted to Roger Mortimer, son of Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, and administered from Chirk Castle....
.
Angharad bore David at least four children: a daughter, Marged
Margaret Hanmer
Margaret Hanmer , sometimes known by her Welsh name of Marred ferch Dafydd, was the wife of Owain Glyndŵr and was thus, technically, Princess of Wales for the time her husband was known by the title of Prince of Wales...
(who married Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
), and three sons, Gruffudd, Philip and John. Gruffudd was the eldest son. He became the acting legal attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
to the Principality of North Wales. John held important posts in the government of Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
. Philip was also probably a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. All four children were probably Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
-speaking, bilingual and well versed in English and Welsh law, as naturally bilingual as their father and certainly their mother.
Herefordshire MP
In 1377, Hanmer was appointed serjeant-at-lawSerjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
and as such attended the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
at Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
in 1378 and that at Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
two years later at which he was also a member
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
of the Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Herefordshire
Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
The county constituency of Herefordshire, in the West Midlands of England bordering on Wales, was abolished when the county was divided for parliamentary purposes in 1885...
.
Judge
In February 1383, he was made a Justice of the King’s Bench, appointed under King Richard II. This was a hugely important position and one of the highest to which a lawyer could aspire. It entailed his sitting in judgment on cases brought before the King. He was knighted by King Richard in 1387, surely the pinnacle of his career. His greatest claim to fame today, however, is that his daughter Marged or Margaret married Owain Glyndŵr, probably in 1383.Sir David Hanmer died in late 1387 unaware of the conflict that was to befall his family.