In the quiet parish of Tregaian on Anglesey, a 16th-century man achieved a feat of procreation that secured his place in local legend. William Ap Howel, who lived to the remarkable age of 105, is recorded as having fathered 43 children over an 81-year period, a legacy that dramatically shaped his community.
A Life of Simple Pleasures and Prolific Fatherhood
Church records depict William Ap Howel as a man of moderate habits and rural employments. He enjoyed fishing, fowling, and tending his garden, sustaining himself largely on a dairy-based diet. Despite his unassuming lifestyle, his personal life was extraordinarily productive. From the age of 21, he established a pattern of fathering a child approximately every two years, a rhythm he maintained into his advanced age.
His family was built across three marriages and relationships with two other women. His first wife, Elen Williams, bore him 22 children. His second wife, Katherine Richards, had 10. A third wife, Ellen Williams, had four. Furthermore, two other women, Jonet Ferch William and Lecky Lloyd, bore him two and five children respectively, bringing the total to 43.
The Impact on a Tiny Welsh Parish
The demographic impact on tiny Tregaian was profound. To provide context, during William's lifetime, the larger neighbouring parish of Llanfairpwll had a total population of only around 80 people. At the time of his death in March 1581, 80 of his direct descendants still lived in Tregaian parish alone.
His funeral was a testament to his lineage. Parish records note that approximately 300 persons descended from him attended, with "children's children to the fourth generation in abundance." His eldest daughter, Alice, aged 72 at his death, had herself married twice and had "numerous offspring," continuing the family's expansion.
The 18th-century explorer Thomas Pennant mentioned William in his 1778 publication, A Tour in Wales, describing the "great patriarch of Tregaian" as "small of stature, of a cheerful, convivial temper; but spare in his diet, living mostly on milk."
How Does He Compare to History's Most Prolific?
While William Ap Howel's 43 children are exceptional, they are a footnote in the annals of human reproduction. The record is often attributed to the 18th-century Moroccan Sultan, Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif, who is alleged to have sired between 1,042 and 1,171 children.
Other historical figures known for large offspring include:
- Polish monarch Augustus II the Strong (around 370 children).
- Swazi King Sobhuza II (approximately 210 children).
- Cameroon's Sultan Ibrahim Njoya (177 children).
Even in Wales, some argue the artistic figure Augustus John may have rivalled William, with claims of up to 100 children, though this is widely debated.
Today, William Ap Howel is commemorated by a humble plaque and inscribed slate at St Caian’s Church in Tregaian, a Grade II*-listed 14th-century building. The memorial marks his passing on 11 March 1581 and succinctly honours the man who "begat 43 children," ensuring his remarkable story of family and legacy endures.
