Bodwenni Estate Papers,

The catalogued material comprises two groups of deeds and other documents relating to lands of the Bodwenni and Syrior estates in Merionethshire, Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire, and to the Roberts, Williams and Evans families of Bodwenni and Syrior, [13th century]-1833; miscellaneous literary manuscripts, [16th century]-[19th cenury]; and printed material. Uncatalogued material includes deeds, family papers and correspondence, 1609-1953.

The Bodwenni estate, Llandderfel, Merionethshire, was owned by Ellis ap David in 1630. His son David Ellis married Katherine Lloyd of Vachddeiliog, [c. 1630], and by 1650 had inherited Bodwenni. By 1659, his son, Ellis Davies, had succeeded him. Roger ap Ieuan Thomas was the owner of Syrior, Llandrillo-yn-Edeirnion, Merionethshire, in 1604, and he appears to have been succeeded by his eldest son, Robert Rogers, and by Robert's son, William Roberts, who married Margaret verch William of Doldrewyn, [c. 1629]. Syrior then descended to their son, Robert ap William. By 1698, however, Robert's son and heir, William Roberts, was living at Bodwenni, and Syrior seems to have been inherited by his brother, David Roberts, yeoman. William died in about 1712, and the estate was administered by his widow, Margaret. However, by 1730, Bodwenni was in the hands of Robert Williams, presumably his son. Robert and his wife, Elizabeth, had one surviving daughter, also Elizabeth, who, by 1780, had inherited the estate and married Robert Evans (sheriff of Merionethshire in 1783). Elizabeth outlived her husband, and Bodwenni was inherited by their son, Samuel Evans. By 1872, the estate was owned by William Pryse Jones. The families owned lands in Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire.

Arranged into the following groups: deeds and documents (1938 deposit) and deeds and documents (1944 purchase).

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Part deposited by Mr E. Francis Davies, 1938

The Bodwenni estate, Llandderfel, Merionethshire, was owned by Ellis ap David in 1630. His son David Ellis married Katherine Lloyd of Vachddeiliog, [c. 1630], and by 1650 had inherited Bodwenni. By 1659, his son, Ellis Davies, had succeeded him. Roger ap Ieuan Thomas was the owner of Syrior, Llandrillo-yn-Edeirnion, Merionethshire, in 1604, and he appears to have been succeeded by his eldest son, Robert Rogers, and by Robert's son, William Roberts, who married Margaret verch William of Doldrewyn, [c. 1629]. Syrior then descended to their son, Robert ap William. By 1698, however, Robert's son and heir, William Roberts, was living at Bodwenni, and Syrior seems to have been inherited by his brother, David Roberts, yeoman. William died in about 1712, and the estate was administered by his widow, Margaret. However, by 1730, Bodwenni was in the hands of Robert Williams, presumably his son. Robert and his wife, Elizabeth, had one surviving daughter, also Elizabeth, who, by 1780, had inherited the estate and married Robert Evans (sheriff of Merionethshire in 1783). Elizabeth outlived her husband, and Bodwenni was inherited by their son, Samuel Evans. By 1872, the estate was owned by William Pryse Jones. The families owned lands in Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire.

Title supplied from contents of fonds. NLW formerly titled the collection the E. Francis Davies Documents, from the name of the vendor.

Hard copies of the catalogues for the 1938 and 1944 acquisitions are available at the National Library of Wales. The 1963 group remains uncatalogued. The catalogues are available online.

January 2003

Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following sources were used to compile this description: NLW, Schedule of E. Francis Davies Documents; NLW, Deeds Purchased from E. Francis Davies; NLW, Annual Report, 1962-63; Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales (Baltimore, 1991) (fascimile of 1875 ed.).

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records deposited at the National Library of Wales have been retained..

The archive came into the possession of Mr E. Francis Davies, land agent, of Brondyffryn, Denbigh, Denbighshire, by 1938.

Accruals are not expected.

Further papers are National Library of Wales, NLW MS 12298A.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales