David Yale

David Yale (c. 1540–1626) was the Chancellor of Chester, England and a correspondent of Elizabeth Tudor's chief minister, Lord William Cecil of Burghley House. He was also the Vicar General of his in-law, Bishop George Lloyd of Chester. His son, merchant Thomas Yale, became the patriarch of the Yale family of America, and the grandfather of governor Elihu Yale, benefactor of Yale University.

Early life

David Yale was born about 1540 to John Wynn (Yale), heir of Plâs yn Iâl, and Agnes Lloyd, while his stepmother was Elizabeth Mostyn, granddaughter of Sir William Griffith, Chamberlain of North Wales. Through William, Yale's half-siblings descended from Tudur ap Goronwy of the Tudors of Penmynydd. David Yale's great-grandfather was Baron Ellis ap Griffith, founder of the House of Yale, and grandnephew of Owain Glyndwr, last Welsh Prince of Wales.

His uncle was Chancellor Thomas Yale of Newberry Manor in London, Ambassador to Elizabeth Tudor, and Chancellor to Archbishop Parker, who was the head of the Church of England, and the past chaplain of Queen Anne Boleyn.

Career

Yale followed his uncle at Queens' College, Cambridge in 1555. He became a Fellow of the university from 1565 to 1581.

Despite his letter, Tyndall was elected President of Queens' College in July 1579 on the recommendation and through the influence of Lord Cecil. With cleric Edmund Meyrick of the Meyrick family, he administered the see of Bangor Cathedral in the vacancy between the episcopates of Bishops Nicholas Robinson and Hugh Bellot of Great Moreton Hall in 1585.

In 1598, he made extensive purchases of land from the Erddig family of Erddig near Wrexham, Wales, selling some but keeping Plas Grono as the family seat until it was sold by the heirs-at-law of his great-grandson Elihu Yale, benefactor of Yale University in America. From 1601 to 1620, Yale was elected Justice of the Peace and in 1607, he became the Vicar General of his in-law, Bishop George Lloyd of Chester. Bishop Lloyd residences were Bishopscourt, Isle of Man and Bishop Lloyd's House in Chester, part of Chester Rows. Chancellor David Yale died in 1626 and was buried at Chester Cathedral, England.

Family England

David Yale married to Frances Lloyd, daughter of Admiralty Judge John Lloyd, member of the Griffiths of Cevn Amwlch, who rose to power following the struggles of the Wynns of Gwydir. Lloyd also cofounded the 1st protestant college at Oxford University with Queen Elizabeth named Jesus College. David's brother-in-law was Knight Simon Weston, a family member of the Willoughbys of Wollaton Hall.

His aunt Katherine was a daughter of the Lord of Cymmer-yn-Edeirnion, William ap Griffith Vychan, and another family member, also named David Yale, had been Dean of Bangor Cathedral in 1502. Through his other aunt Jane, wife of Edward Trevor, Yale was the cousin of Sir Edward Trevor of Brynkinalt Hall, Marcus Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon, and Sir John Trevor.

His great-nephew, Thomas Yale, married Dorothy Hughes, daughter of Humphrey Hughes of the Hughes of Gwerclas, 14th Baron of Cymmer-yn-Edeirnion, and their daughter, Dorothy Yale, married the 16th Baron. Through this line, the Plas-yn-Yale estate would be inherited through multiple successions by Rev. John Yale, a Rector from Cambridge University, and descendant of the Bostocks of Bostock Hall.

American colonies

David's son, London merchant Thomas Yale II, married the daughter of Bishop George Lloyd of Chester, and after his death and her remarriage to Gov. Theophilus Eaton, she and her children emigrated to America as a reconstituted family. Eaton was at the time the English Ambassador to Danemark and Deputy Governor of the Eastland Company, representing King James I of England. Anne Lloyd's son, Capt. Thomas Yale, became one of the founders of New Haven Colony with his father-in-law, and another son, David Yale, became a wealthy merchant in Boston, attorney to Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick, and the father of Gov. Elihu Yale, benefactor of Yale College. Yale's estate was later sold by his attorney Capt. Thomas Lake, brother of Sir Edward Lake, 1st Baronet, and son-in-law of Deputy Governor Stephen Goodyear of the Goodyear family.

He later left Massachusetts Bay Colony for London with his brother-in-law, Gov. Edward Hopkins, a Lord of the Admiralty under Cromwell and nephew of Sir Henry Lello, English Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire for Queen Elizabeth Tudor and keeper of the Palace of Westminster. In London, David Yale became proprietor of a counting house (merchant bank), and helped his sons join the East India Company, ending with Elihu Yale eventually becoming President of Madras, and his brother, Thomas Yale, becoming Ambassador to the King of Siam.