Canon Trevor Owen Papers,

Manuscripts and papers collected by Canon Trevor Owen (d. 1916). They include a group of papers of Sir William Williams ('Speaker Williams', 1634-1700), papers of John Williams (1700-87), attorney-general of the Chester Circuit and Chief Justice of the Brecon Circuit, and papers of John Roberts, Maes-y-porth ([1767]-1824), deputy registrar of the diocese of Bangor. The papers of Sir William Williams include personal papers and correspondence mainly relating to his purchase of the Llanforda estate, 1678-88; papers and correspondence re his offences and fine in scandalum magnatum against James II and the Earl of Peterborough, 1684-9; legal papers linked with his work, 1675-98; political papers and correspondence concerning parliamentary proceedings and the religious issues of the Stuart period, 1668-c. 1700; and printed political pamphlets and poetry, 1676-[1697x1700]. The papers of John Williams all relate to his legal work, c.1740 x c.1787. Canon Trevor Owen's own papers comprise deeds, mainly for lands in Denbigh, 1741-1883, and correspondence about a legal case, 1882-3. The papers of John Roberts comprise deeds, 1773-c. 1820, and correspondence, 1800-17, connnected with his work as deputy registrar of Bangor, and Maes y porth estate deeds, papers and correspondence, 1774-1827. The collection also contains deeds re premises in Neston, Cheshire, 1731-1802; and miscellaneous 18th-19th century papers.

Canon Richard Trevor Owen (d. 1916) lived at Bodelwyddan, Flintshire. He was the vicar of Llangedwyn, 1869-1901 and vicar of Bodelwyddan, 1901-1916; a keen antiquarian, he was secretary of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, 1879-1914, and editor of Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1879-1880s. Bodelwyddan was previously the residence of John Williams, grandson of Sir William Williams (`Speaker Williams', 1634-1700).

Arranged into the following: papers of Sir William Williams (1634-1700), Speaker of the House of Commons and Solicitor-General; papers of John Williams (1700-87) Attorney-General 56 of the Chester circuit and Chief Justice of the Brecon circuit; papers of Canon Trevor Owen; papers of John Roberts of Maes y Porth, solicitor and deputy registrar of the diocese of Bangor; deeds re premises in Neston, Cheshire; and miscellaneous.

No restrictions unless poor condition precludes handling.

Purchased 1914.

Canon Richard Trevor Owen (d. 1916) lived at Bodelwyddan, Flintshire. He was the vicar of Llangedwyn, 1869-1901 and vicar of Bodelwyddan, 1901-1916; a keen antiquarian, he was secretary of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, 1879-1914, and editor of Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1879-1880s. Bodelwyddan was previously the residence of John Williams, grandson of Sir William Williams (`Speaker Williams', 1634-1700).

Title supplied from a previous owner of the archive. Some of the Maes y Porth deeds and documents post-date the death of John Roberts.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.

March 2003.

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Canon Trevor Owen Papers; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959);

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records have been retained.

The papers described in this schedule were purchased by the National Library of Wales from a Chester bookseller in 1914 who had, in turn, bought them from Canon Trevor Owen of Bodelwyddan, Flintshire. The presence of the papers of Sir William Williams and his grandson John Williams can be explained by the fact that John Williams'father received on his marriage the Bodelwyddan estate, and Bodelwyddan in time became the residence both of John Williams and Canon Trevor Owen. No obvious explanation can be offered for the presence of the papers of John Roberts or of the deeds relating to premises in the parish of Neston in Cheshire.

Accruals are not expected.

Further papers of Sir William Williams are NLW, Wynnstay Archives and Coedymaen; papers of John Roberts NLW MS 1245D; and further items from the library of Canon Trevor Owen NLW MSS 2771-88.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales