< > Carew ¹

  Research Notes:

From http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3143362&id=I631844450 :

Carew is a Welsh word meaning "a fortification" or "a fortified house". Gerald "of Windsor" built a Castle in Wales in 1109 which became known as Carew Castle. This was one of his "seats of power", for he held several Castles by the "grace" of the King of England. One of his grandsons, William Fitz Gerald, became the heir of Carew Castle for which his name was then "stylized" as William de Carew. The name Carew then became the name used by his descendants.

Gerald de Windsor was the son of Sir Walter de Winsor and Gladys (the Princess of North Wales). Sir Walter was the son of Sir Otho de Windsor. Gerald never held this title, but was a highly placed official in Wales for the King of England. He was known as the King's "Lord" in Wales. Gerald de Windsor was married to Nesta (the Princess of South Wales). This gave the King of England a unique hold over the Welsh with Gerald being Norman/Welsh descent and the King's "Lord" in Wales.

All these people were our ancestors through the maternal side of our family. George Prater of Latton, Wiltshire, had included in his Coat-of-Arms the symbols of the Carew family indicating that they were from his maternal family, as well as establishing records proving the Prater and Carew connection.

North and South Wales were divided by a Kingdom named "Powys". The Prater Coat-of-Arms also shows that another grandmother of our was the Princess of Powys. The 3 wolves heads on the lower shield are the Arms of Brockwell Yscitheor, "the Prince of Powys"; his daughter married our grandfather. The Kings of Wales claimed to be descended from great noble Romans/Trojans.

Carew Castle stands today. It is currently being restored by the National Trust of England.

< married William Prater, son of Williamus Prater and < > De La Mere. (William Prater was born about 1450 in Water Eaton House, Wiltshire, England.)