Thomas Rede facts for kids
Thomas Rede (born around 1390, died around 1455) was an important person in Wales. He was a successful merchant (someone who buys and sells goods), a landowner, a knight, and a public official. He lived near Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, at a place called Roche Castle.
Thomas Rede's Life Story
Thomas Rede was the son of William Rede and Jonet Wirriot. His father, William, was born around 1370. William's father, also named Thomas Rede, was a rich merchant from Carmarthen and Bristol. Thomas Rede's mother, Jonet, was the daughter of Sir Wilcock Wirriot from Orielton in Pembrokeshire.
Thomas Rede was very close to Gruffudd ap Nicholas, who was a powerful leader in South Wales in the mid-1400s. Gruffudd ap Nicholas was also Thomas's father-in-law. In 1446, Thomas and Gruffudd worked together on a farm in Carmarthen. In 1449, they were involved in renting out parts of the town.
While Thomas wasn't as famous in politics as his father-in-law, he did serve as a "beadle" in an area called Widigada from 1451 to 1452. A beadle was a local official who helped keep order. It seems he was also made a knight, which was a great honor.
Thomas married Margred Dwnn as his second wife. She was a cousin of his first wife and came from another important family in Carmarthenshire. Thomas had at least nine children with his wives.
Sir Thomas Rede was buried in the Grey Friars church in Carmarthen. His father-in-law, Gruffudd ap Nicholas, and other family members were also buried there. Thomas's tomb was on the south side of the church's main area. His family symbol, called a coat of arms, showed a shield with specific designs.
The Roche Castle: Thomas's Home
Thomas Rede's main home was called The Roche. It was near Talacharn (Laugharne) in Carmarthenshire. Today, you can still see the ruins of Roche Castle on maps. Some people in England later mistakenly called it "Rodes Court."
The Roche was first built in the 1200s by John de la Roche and was known as Machrells Walles. Over the next hundred years, the property was passed down through different family members. In 1392, it came into the hands of David Fleming. He immediately gave it to Sir Thomas Fleming and other landowners from Ireland.
Later, the castle became the property of Gruffudd Nicholas (Thomas's father-in-law) and Thomas Nicholas. They gave it to William Rede and Jonet Wirriot as part of their marriage agreement.
In 1439, perhaps after William's death, the property was transferred again. It eventually came into the hands of Thomas Rede, who was William's son. The Roche Castle stayed in the Rede family for another 120 years. In 1572, James Rede sold it to Sir John Perrot.
Understanding Rede Family Symbols (Heraldry)
A "coat of arms" is a special design that represents a family. The coat of arms for the Rede family of Roche is a clever play on their name. It always shows three "reeds" (like the plants that grow in water) on a dark background. Sometimes, it also includes three "roaches" (a type of fish) on a red background. This makes the "pun" (a play on words) even stronger! The red color itself might also be a pun, as a Welsh word for "red" sounds similar to "Rede."
