Bodelwyddan Documents

This fonds consists of three items connected with the Williams family of Bodelwyddan. It includes an exchequer decree for trespass (reference number: 5845), dated 1658-1659, brought against Magdalen Humphreys of Bodelwyddan and her son, Thomas, who had probably purchased Bodelwyddan property. Griffith Lloyd who leased certain Bodelwyddan lands brought the action against them. There is also a document of appointment (5846) by justice William Noel regarding John Williams' appointment as deputy justice for Montgomeryshire for the remainder of the great session in 1750. Also includes an extract (5847) from the Plas Rhoscolyn family pedigree, dated 1710.

Notable members of the Williams family of Bodelwyddan, Flintshire include Sir William Williams (1634-1700), lawyer and MP for Beaumaris, Anglesey and his younger son John Williams, (died 1738), who was attorney general for Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, Chester and Flintshire. On his marriage to Catherine Owen of Orielton, John Williams inherited his father's property in Bodelwyddan and Anglesey. His third son, also John (1700-1787), was a barrister and succeeded his father as attorney general of Chester, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. He was also deputy chief justice of Carmarthenshire and Montgomeryshire circuit and chief justice of Brecknockshire.

This family is connected with the Ty Fry Estate, Pentraeth, Anglesey through Margaret Williams (1768-1835), who was the daughter of Eleanor Hughes, formerly of Plas Rhoscolyn, Anglesey and Hugh Williams of Ty Fry. The heiress of Ty Fry, Margaret Williams, married John Williams of Bodelwyddan (1761-1830), whose grandfather was John Williams, chief justice of Brecknockshire. He was created first baronet of Bodelwyddan in 1798. Their eldest surviving son, Sir John Hay Williams (1794-1859), of the Rhianfa estate, Anglesey, was the second baronet of Bodelwyddan.

William and Marian Williams of Parciau, in the parish of Llaneugrad, Anglesey had a son, Lawrence in 1876, who became Lieutenant-Colonel Williams OBE and served in the South African War 1901, the First World War, 1914-1918 and World War II. With his first wife, Catherine Elizabeth Ann, he had two sons; the eldest son was Sir Reginald Lawrence Williams MBE, the seventh baronet of Bodelwyddan, born in 1900. His brother Sir Francis John Watkin Williams QC, eighth baronet, born in 1905, succeeded him.

Material is incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts ; there is no particular system of arrangement.

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Presented by Lieutenant Colonel Laurence Williams of Parciau, Llaneugrad, Anglesey.

Description compiled by Anne Lenaghan, October 2001

Item level word-processed list is available at the Archives Department of the University of Wales, Bangor. Reference numbers: General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts: 5845-5847

Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.

Also held at the Archives Department of the University of Wales, Bangor are the Parciau Papers and the Rhianfa Estate Papers . Collection level descriptions are available on the HE Archives Hub .