Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

MANUSCRIPTS OF GEORGE OWEN OF HENLLYS. For our knowledge of Elizabethan Pembrokeshire, and even of Elizabethan Wales, we are greatly indebted to the writings of that eminent historian and topographer, George Owen of Henllys, Lord of Kemes (i 552-161 3 D.N.B. xlii, 408). His manuscripts have drifted widely from their place of origin and today they are scattered throughout the great libraries of England and Wales. From time to time the National Library of Wales has acquired several noteworthy ones. An historical treatise and a genealogical work are preserved in the Sir John Williams collections. N.L.W. MS. 10 is A Treatise of Lordshipps Marchers,' being the holograph of this important and much-copied tract. It is printed and fully annotated in Owen's Pembrokeshire (Cymmrodorion Record Series, No. I, Part III, pp. 127-205). What was once a separate book of pedigrees in the hand of George Owen now forms the main body of Llanstephan MS. 130 (folios 17-82). When this latter volume was assembled, Owen's pedigrees were incorporated in it and bound after sixteen folios of eighteenth century genealogies of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire gentry. On folios 77-79P there is a transcript of the beginning of the Welsh Laws, written in a different hand but on paper with the same watermark this separates the text and the table of contents of George Owen's work. The volume ends with pedigrees dated 1684 and one folio in the hand of the Reverend Samuel Williams. The new folio numbers of the composite manuscript have been written over Owen's original foliation, making it difficult at times to decipher the latter, but from the author's partly- effaced numeration and the references in the table of contents it becomes apparent that only the following folios remain (the present foliation is given in brackets) 5-19 (17-31), 25-30 (34-39), 32-46 (40-54), 48-51 (55-58), 57 (59), 62-64 (60-62), 67-68 (63-79; 77 has not been renumbered), 90-92 (80-82). George Owen's book begins with an account of the descendants of Elidir Ddy of Cryg, followed by pedigrees of the descendants of Sir Rees ap Thomas, Margett verch Thomas ap Griffith Nicholas by John Herle, Sir Thomas Jones by Elizabeth Don and Mary Barkley, Thomas ap Rydderch of Kringae, Griffith Nicholas, Owen Phillips of Kilsant, Morys Reade, Nicholas Read, Edward Read, Hughe Parry of Carmarthen, Ieuan Lloyd Vychan (the Lloyds of Llanstephan), Lewis Thomas ap John of Glangwyly, Traharne Doonne, Gwenllian Wen, Alson verch Rees ap Rees David Lloid of Noyadd, Jenkin ap Rees ap David of Gilvach Wen, Rees David Thomas of Gilvaghe wen, John Vychan ap Rydderch, Rees Meredith ap Owen of Towyn, pedigrees of the families of Owen of Henllys, Owen Glindwr, Johnes of Tregaron, Don of Kydwely, and others. Some of the family trees included in the index have been lost with the missing folios. The material was collected at various times between 1579 and 1602. The fact that the author takes particular care to specify the sources and dates of his information enhances the interest and value of the work. Among his written sources he mentions the welshe booke of pedigrees,' a booke of Rees Lloyd of Llanstephan,' genelogia Lewis Lloid D'd Gr' de Llansevin' and the challengees or pedigrees drawn up in connexion with legal proceedings kept with the records of the Great Sessions for Cardiganshire. He seems to have had much of his data by word of mouth from members of the families in which he was interested or from persons versed in local genealogy. For instance, he obtained his inform- ation about the descendants of Elidir Ddy from Morgan Jones and Charles Vaughan at Ludlow on Feb. 19,1597. Rees Lloyd of Newton supplied the Sir Rees ap Thomas pedi- gree on June 26, 1579. The Reede family history he had ex relatione Thomas Reede de Petersfeld and William Reede de Whytlande and from Elen Reede. Some of his inform- ants came to Henllys, others were interviewed at Carmarthen, Llanstephan, Haver- fordwest, and Ludlow. Referring to his own family tree the author states (f. 59) that all this was wrytten by my grandfather Rees ap Owens hande saving the later descents