John Scudamore (landowner) facts for kids

Sir John Scudamore was an important English landowner who lived in the 1400s. He came from a place called Herefordshire in England. Sir John worked for the King, looking after royal castles in South Wales. He was known for fighting against the Welsh in 1402. Later, in 1432, people found out he had married a daughter of Owain Glyndŵr. Owain Glyndŵr was a famous Welsh leader.

The Scudamore Family History

The Scudamore family got their lands from the new Norman King, William the Conqueror. This happened in the 1000s, after King William won a big battle in 1066. The family received land called 'Sancta Keyna', which later became Kentchurch.

Over many years, the Scudamore family split into two main branches. One branch lived at Holme Lacy, and the other lived at Kentchurch. The Holme Lacy branch was generally against the Welsh people. They were opponents of the Welsh uprising led by Owain Glyndŵr.

The Kentchurch branch, however, was more understanding of the Welsh. This might be because they lived closer to Wales. This closeness helped them to better understand Welsh people and their culture.

Sir John's Role as a Royal Officer

Sir John Scudamore owned land in places like Ewyas, Kentchurch, and Holme Lacy. He also served as a deputy for King Henry IV in the area of Brecon.

In 1402, Sir John Scudamore was busy defending Carreg Cennen Castle in Carmarthenshire. He fought against Welsh forces led by Owain Glyndŵr. The Welsh tried many times to take the castle, but Sir John and his men fought them off.

The siege of the castle lasted for a whole year. The fighting caused a lot of damage to the castle walls. Records from 1416 show that the walls were "destroyed and thrown down by rebels." Even with all the damage, the castle did not fall to the Welsh.

Sir John Scudamore, as the person in charge of the castle, wrote a letter. In it, he called Owain Glyndŵr a "false traytor." He also mentioned that Owain would not let his wife and her mother travel safely.

A Secret Marriage Revealed

Sir John Scudamore married Alys, who was one of Owain Glyndŵr's daughters. This marriage was kept a secret for a long time.

In 1432, the government of King Henry VI found out about this marriage. They were very unhappy that Sir John had married the daughter of a Welsh rebel leader. Because of this, Sir John Scudamore lost his important jobs. He was stripped of his titles as steward of Monmouth, Grosmont, and White Castle.

Did They Hide Owain Glyndŵr?

Some people believe that Sir John Scudamore and Alys might have hidden Owain Glyndŵr. Owain disappeared after 1412, and no one knows what happened to him. It is thought that Sir John and Alys might have kept him secret on their lands in his final years.

The fact that they managed to keep their marriage and Alys's true identity a secret for over twenty years makes this idea seem possible.