Panton papers

Manuscripts and papers, [1600x1606]-1822, from the collections of Paul Panton at Plas Gwyn, Anglesey. They comprise correspondence of both the elder and younger Paul Panton, containing antiquarian, political and legal material, including matters relating to both Pantons' Flintshire interests in lead mines, colliery undertakings, navigation of the River Dee, railways, smelting works, etc., and matters relating to public responsibilities such as building works, schools and coastal security, mainly in Anglesey; papers relating to the Panton family and their estate and to Plas Gwyn estate; further material relating mainly to Anglesey and Flintshire, such as pedigrees, histories, charters and documents regarding land tenure and other legal matters, some of which is in the hand of William Williams, antiquary, of Beaumaris; manuscripts of or relating to antiquarian and literary figures such as Robert Vaughan, Hengwrt, Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd), Thomas Pennant and Richard Fenton; other legal papers, including Anglesey crown pleas, a volume of legal precedents and a dictionary of law terms; etc.

Paul Panton the elder (1727-1797), barrister and antiquarian, married in 1756 Jane Jones, heiress to the Plas Gwyn estate at Pentraeth, Anglesey. In addition to his responsibilities as squire of Plas Gwyn, Panton took a keen practical interest in the coal and lead industries of Flintshire, in which county he spent a large proportion of his time. He travelled extensively throughout Wales, England and Scotland and, like his friends Thomas Pennant and Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd), was greatly interested in British antiquities, a passion reflected in his correspondence. An avid collector of manuscripts, Panton was to gain possession of Ieuan Fardd's papers shortly before the latter's death. The elder Panton retained communications with legal and political colleagues throughout his life.

Like his father, Paul Panton the younger (1758-1822) qualified as a barrister but also followed in his father's antiquarian footsteps, travelling a good deal in pursuit of his interests and maintaining a correspondence with prominent antiquarian and literary figures of his day. The family connection with the north-east of Wales also remained as the younger Panton was not only a prominent figure in Anglesey public life but was elected high sheriff of Flintshire in 1815.

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 9070-9104.

Paul Panton the elder (1727-1797), barrister and antiquarian, married in 1756 Jane Jones, heiress to the Plas Gwyn estate at Pentraeth, Anglesey. In addition to his responsibilities as squire of Plas Gwyn, Panton took a keen practical interest in the coal and lead industries of Flintshire, in which county he spent a large proportion of his time. He travelled extensively throughout Wales, England and Scotland and, like his friends Thomas Pennant and Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd), was greatly interested in British antiquities, a passion reflected in his correspondence. An avid collector of manuscripts, Panton was to gain possession of Ieuan Fardd's papers shortly before the latter's death. The elder Panton retained communications with legal and political colleagues throughout his life.

Like his father, Paul Panton the younger (1758-1822) qualified as a barrister but also followed in his father's antiquarian footsteps, travelling a good deal in pursuit of his interests and maintaining a correspondence with prominent antiquarian and literary figures of his day. The family connection with the north-east of Wales also remained as the younger Panton was not only a prominent figure in Anglesey public life but was elected high sheriff of Flintshire in 1815.

Title based on contents.

Formerly Panton Papers 20-54.

NLW MSS 9070-4 consist of a single, largely chronological, sequence.

The descriptions are also available in Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth, 1943-2003), III (1961), 107-113.

Purchased for NLW, from an unknown source, by the Rt Hon. Sir John Herbert Lewis, September 1919 (see NLW, Sir John Herbert Lewis Papers D42/121-125).

Panton Papers 1-19 are now NLW MSS 9051-9069 (Wynn of Gwydir papers (Panton group)).

Published