In the quiet parish of Tregaian on the Isle of 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 an astonishing 43 children over a span of 81 years.
A Life of Simple Pleasures and Prolific Fatherhood
Historical accounts describe William Ap Howel as a man of modest stature and cheerful temperament, who enjoyed a simple rural life. His days were spent in tillage, fishing, and fowling, and his diet was largely dairy-based. Church records attest to his sharp mind and excellent health throughout his long life, noting he was never troubled by gout or stones.
His extraordinary claim to fame, however, lies in his family. From the age of 21, he established a pattern of fathering a child approximately every two years, a trend he maintained into his advanced age. When he died in March 1581, his youngest son, Griffith, was just two-and-a-half years old.
Five Mothers and a Parish Transformed
The mothers of his 43 children were five women across three marriages and two other relationships. His first wife, Elen Williams, bore him 22 children. His second wife, Katherine Richards, had 10. His third wife, Ellen Williams, had four. Additionally, two women described as concubines in records, Jonet Ferch William and Lecky Lloyd, bore him two and five children respectively.
This prodigious output had a seismic impact on the tiny community. To provide context, during William's lifetime, the larger neighbouring parish of Llanfairpwll had a total population of only around 80. By the time of his death, 80 of his direct descendants still lived in Tregaian parish.
A Lasting Legacy and Historical Comparisons
The scale of William Ap Howel's family was exceptional even in an era of large households. The average family size in 16th-century England and Wales was a modest 4.75. His funeral was a testament to his lineage, with an estimated 300 descendants in attendance, spanning four generations.
While William's tally of 43 children is staggering by British standards, he is a mere footnote in the global history of human reproduction. The record is often attributed to Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif, an 18th-century Moroccan sultan alleged to have fathered between 1,042 and 1,171 children. Other prolific historical figures include Polish monarch Augustus II the Strong (~370 children) and Swazi King Sobhuza II (~210 offspring).
In Wales, some claim the artist Augustus John may have rivalled William, with reports of up to 100 children, though this is debated. Today, William Ap Howel's story is commemorated by a humble plaque and inscribed slate at the Grade II*-listed St Caian's Church in Tregaian, marking the passing of the man who "begat 43 children" and forever changed the demographic landscape of his corner of Anglesey.
