Cylchgronau Cymru

TWO EUSTACE WHITNEYS. By A. D. POWELL. THE Whitneys are an old and distinguished Norman family of the Marches who from the earliest time became allied with Welsh stock. Pedigrees of some of the different branches of the family are to be found in the Heraldic Visitation of Hereford in 1569 and in the Llyfr Baglan. There is, I believe, also a history of the family compiled for the American Whitneys and published in America; but I have not yet been able to examine it. Duncumb's Hereford- shire, Robinson's Castles, and Robinson's Manors of Herefordshire both contain material about them; as does Add. MSS. Harl. 1434., and Misc. Gen. et Herald. vol 8, 5th series. However this article is not designed to say anything of the family of Whitney in general, but a word or two about two individual members of it; though a closer study of the remaining generations will repay anyone interested in the Welsh Border. Eustace' is one of the characteristic names of the Whitneys, usually found in the form Eustance and sometimes I Istance The two chief branches of the family lived at Whitney and Clifford in Hereford; but they also owned property in Clyro where their name runs in subsidy rolls. Early Chancery Proceedings (PRO C. 1/1488/42.) in a document rather mutilated of 1556-1558 also refers to a Whitney of Clyro:- v ap Howell & Wytney. Orator R is seised of a moiety of one Water Myll in Bryngwyn co. Radnor and one acre of land adjoining usually let togather, and has peaceably enjoyed same until of late February 2;3 Philip & Mary (1555/6) one Wyllm Wytney & one Hugh ap Howell of Clero, getting possession of certain deeds etc. concerning the said moiety, have contrived to themselves divers feigned estates of your Orator's share of the said mill, etc., and have destroyed the wheels of the said mill and will not suffer your Orator In the matter of the title the Counsell of the Marches of Wales have refused to meddle therewith. Writ asked against Wm. Wytney (& Hugh ap Howell). No answer.