David Holbache

Dafydd ab Ieuan (est. 1355 – 1422/23[1]), better known by his English name David Holbache, was a Welsh politician, best known for founding Oswestry School in 1407.

David Holbache
Arms of David Holbache
Member of Parliament
for Shropshire
In office
1406–1411
Preceded byJohn Burley & John Darras
Succeeded byJohn Burley & Sir Adam Peshale
Member of Parliament
for Shrewsbury
In office
May 1413  April 1414
Preceded byThomas Pride & John Whithiford
Succeeded byThomas Pride
Member of Parliament
for Shropshire
In office
April 1414  1415
Preceded byRobert Corbet & Richard Lacon
Succeeded byHugh Burgh & George Hawkstone
Member of Parliament
for Shrewsbury
In office
1417–1419
Preceded byWilliam Horde & Robert Horseley
Succeeded byRobert Corbet & David Rathbone
Personal details
Bornest. 1355
Died1422/3
NationalityWelsh
Spouse(s)Gwenhwyfar ferch Ieuan
ResidenceDudleston & Oswestry
Occupationlandowner, lawyer, politician, educator, philanthropist

Family background

Dafydd, was born in the mid-14th century to Ieuan "Gôch" ap Dafydd ab Iorwerth and Angharad ferch Iorwerth ap Griffri "Fychan".[2][1][3] His father's family had been seated at Pentrehylin, Dudleston, near Ellesmere, Shropshire since the early 13th century.[2] Pentrehylin means 'Helyin's village' in English and is named for Holbache's ancestor Heilin ap Trahaearn ab Iddon. Heilin ap Trahaearn claimed descent from Tudur "Trefor" ab Ynyr, a 10th-century lord of Maelor Cantref and a founder of one of the Fifteen Tribes of Wales. His mother's family also claimed paternal descent from Trahaearn ab Iddon.

His inheritance was assumed by his uncles, Einion "Goch" and Madog "Goch".[3]

Career

Holbach first appears in 1376 as a legal advisor to the Earl of Arundel, who held the Lordship of Oswestry.[1] He likely adopted the surname of Holbache to assist his assimilation into the English-controlled systems of governance, which limited opportunities and privileges for Welshmen. On 27 October 1377, he entered the acting service as King's pleader and attorney for Wales.[1] In this capacity it is known he served as a commissioner for gaol delivery in Conway.[1]

He was a member of parliament for Shropshire from 1406 to 1410 and in 1414.

In 1409 he was Deputy Steward of the Marcher Lordship of Bromfield and Yale.[3][4]

Oswestry School

In 1407, David and his wife, Gwenhwyfar ferch Ieuan, entrusted some of their lands situated in the Oswestry lordship to pay the wages of a schoolmaster, establishing what was to become Oswestry School.[5] The school premises were a half-timbered building within the grounds of St. Oswald's Parish Church. The building still stands today and is the location of a heritage centre.

Due to poor record keeping, little written documentation survives for the school up until relatively recent times. The headmasters of the school are unknown for the first 154 years of the school's history. Documentation relating to the school increases slightly after the unification.

Marriage, issue and legacy

At around the turn of the 14th century he married Gwenhwyfar ferch Ieuan ab John (in English, Guinevere), of Sweeney, in Oswestry Parish, who brought with her lands in Sweeney, Treflach and Maesbury.[1] By this marriage or by another women of the same name he is attributed a daughter, Gwensi, who is said to have married Robert Salter, of Oswestry. However, this is believed to be an invention, Holbach being recorded as dying without issue.[3] His will, which was made 10 September 1421, was proved on 7 April 1423, but is no longer extant.

References

  1. History of Parliament Online – Holbach, David
  2. >Welsh Genealogies, AD 300–1400 (1980), Bartrum, Peter C.: University of Wales Press, 1980, vol. 12 p. 896
  3. The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fodog and the Ancient Lords of Arwystli, Cedewen and Meirionydd, Lloyd, Jacob Youde William, vol. 4 p. 93
  4. "HOLBACHE ( HOLBECHE , etc.), DAVID". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. The National Library of Wales. 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. Introduction to the History of Oswestry School
Parliament of England
Preceded by
John Burley
John Darras
Member of Parliament for Shropshire
1406–1411
With: Thomas Whitton 1406
Sir John Cornwall 1407–1409
John Burley 1410–1411
Succeeded by
John Burley
Sir Adam Peshale
Preceded by
Thomas Pride
John Whithiford
Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury
May 1413 – April 1414
With: Urian St Pierre
Succeeded by
Thomas Pride
unknown
Preceded by
Robert Corbet
Richard Lacon
Member of Parliament for Shropshire
April 1414–1415
With: John Wele April 1414
Richard Lacon Nov 1414
Succeeded by
Hugh Burgh
George Hawkstone
Preceded by
William Horde
Robert Horseley
Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury
1417–1419
With: William Horde
Succeeded by
Roger Corbet
David Rathbone
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