Bodelwyddan Estate Records,

Deeds and documents of the Williams family of Bodelwyddan, Flintshire, relating to the Bodelwyddan, Bodidris and Pengwern estates in Flintshire and Denbighshire, 1788-1898.

Bodelwyddan was the seat of the Humphreys family until it was purchased in the late 17th century by Sir William Williams (1643-1700), Speaker of the House of Commons. The estate descended to his second son Sir John Williams of Bodelwyddan and Chester. The estate then passed to his son, Sir John Hay Williams (1794-1859), 2nd baronet, who died without male issue. The title and estate then passed to Sir Hugh Williams, from where it descended in the male line.
According to the 1873 return of owners of land, Sir Hugh Williams of Bodelwyddan owned an estimated 9,371 acres in Wales (in Denbighshire and Flintshire), with an estimated rental of £9,371. The estate was sold by the family in 1925.

Arranged chronologically.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Deposited by Mrs Enid Thomas, Plas Bowman, Caernarfon, in 1946.

Bodelwyddan was the seat of the Humphreys family until it was purchased in the late 17th century by Sir William Williams (1643-1700), Speaker of the House of Commons. The estate descended to his second son Sir John Williams of Bodelwyddan and Chester. The estate then passed to his son, Sir John Hay Williams (1794-1859), 2nd baronet, who died without male issue. The title and estate then passed to Sir Hugh Williams, from where it descended in the male line.
According to the 1873 return of owners of land, Sir Hugh Williams of Bodelwyddan owned an estimated 9,371 acres in Wales (in Denbighshire and Flintshire), with an estimated rental of £9,371. The estate was sold by the family in 1925.

Formerly Plas Bowman Deeds. Current title supplied from contents of fonds; previous title based on name of depositor's house.

Hard copies of the catalogue under the previous title, Plas Bowman Deeds, are available at NLW and HMC.

May 2002.

Compiled by Mair James.

The following source was used in the compilation of this description: Griffith, John Edwards, Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families, (Wrexham, 1998 reprint); Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, (London, 1959); James, Brian, 'The Great Landowners of Wales in 1873', National Library of Wales Journal, XIV, (1965-66); Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, (London, 2 vols, 1872), vol. I;

Usual copyright laws apply.

Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.

Further papers relating to the Williams family, baronets, of Bodelwyddan are Claydon House, Verney; and Flintshire Record Office, D/BD.

Published