BEDDOES/OWS HISTORY: I am writing a history/compiling a record of the Beddoes/ows of south Shropshire which spans from c.927AD to (where possible) the present day. They descend from Thomas ap Bedo alias: Bedowes of All Stretton, Shropshire, son of Maredudd ap Hywel (alias: Bedo) of Dref Escob (i.e. Bishop's Castle), Shropshire. The ultimate founder of the family is Elystan Glodrydd King of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren ("Between Severn and Wye" - the rivers), otherwise known as Prince of Fferlys; he is buried at Trelystan (i.e. Elystan's township) on Long Mountain on the Shropshire-Wales border.
They spread to Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, U.S.A., Australia, Fiji and Canada.
The Beddow / oe family of Bransley and Withypool near Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire who had descendants who emigrated to the USA appear to be a part of the family. Some ended up at Sabinetown, Texas; Albert Freiland Beddoe wrote a history of the American Beddoe family in the early 1900s.
There are some places which bear the family's name: Lake Beddoes in Southland New Zealand, Beddows Mountain, Colorado USA, Beddows Hollow, Iowa and Beddoe Springs at Sabinetown, Texas. Two schools have been named after members of the family: John Beddoes School, Presteigne (Wales) and the (former) Beddows School at Southfield (Detroit).
I would be delighted to hear from any Beddoes/ows/owes interested to share their research with me and would like to include all branches, even those which appear not to be linked to the family I am researching - this is because they may well be related (many I thought were not related have subsequently turned out to be so) and also because the history may then act as a useful point of reference for many others - those branches I cannot find a link for to the main line are included in an extensive Appendix.
The intention is to publish it amongst family and to ensure copies are available at local history libraries/archives.
Philip Beddows
beddows@btinternet.com
