The following is the second part of the article on Robert Owen by Thomas
Allen
Glenn in "Merion of the Welsh Tract" and all credit is due to that
writer and
document:
Some time before this, 11th of First-month, 1678-9, Robert Owen had
married, according to Friends' ceremony, Rebecca Owen, daughter of Owen
Humphrey (or Humphreys), Esquire, a gentleman who "had a good and
indefeasible estate of inheritance" called Llwyn-du, in the township of
Llwyngwrill and parish of Ltangelynin, Talybont, Merionethshire, which
he had succeeded to in or about 1664 (Owen Humphrey was the son of
Humphrey ap Hugh, died circa 1664, ap David ap Howell a Gronwy ap
Einion; descended from the families of Llwydiarth, Nannau and Tal y
Llyn, Herbert, and the English families of Stanley, Clifford, Mortimer,
Strange, and from Edward 111. See Humphrey). The agreement concerning a
marriage settlement was executed on the 6th of First-month, 1678,
between Gainor John, mother of Robert Owen, and Owen Humphrey. The bond
of this contract, "Owen Humphrey de Llwundu" to " Robt Owen de vron goch
comt Penllin, gener." (gentleman), dated as above, is extant. The
witnesses were, Rowland Ellis, Edward Vaughan, John ap Thomas,
Cadwallader Thomas. The following is a copy of the marriage certificate,
the original of which is still in the possession of a descendant, Mrs.
Mary A. Haines, of Rosemont, Pennsylvania: Be it Knowen by these
p'esents unto all whom it may concern that upon the eleventh day of the
first month 1678-9 Robt. Owen Eldest son of Owen ap Evan (deceased) late
of Vron goch in the comot of Penlin & in the County of Merioneth hath
taken Rebeccah Owen first daughter of Owen Humphrey of Llwyn du in the
Comt. of Talybont in the Courity aforsd to be his wife & that by the
free Assent & consent of their parents & near relations & friends of the
truth, And that according to the example & practice of primitive
Christians followers of the truth. And the sd Rebeckah in like manere
hath taken sd Robt. Owen to be her husband The day & yeare above written
in the P'esence & sight of us the witnesses hereunder written.
Owen Humphrey her father John William
Caddr Thomas (1) John Owen (12)
Rowland Ellis (2) Joseph Samuel (13)
Hugh Robert (3) Richard Humffrey (14)
Humphrey Owen (4) Elizabeth Thomas
Rowland Owen (5) Hannah (Prichard?)
Edward Vaughan Ellin Rees
Ellis Rees (6) Gwen Rees
Evan john (7) Anne Owen
Rees Evan Elizabeth Owen
John Thomas Gainor John
John Humphrey (8) Lydia Samuel
Humphrey Reynolds Rebecca Samuel
John Howell (9) Gobeithia
Daniel Samuel (10) Elizabeth Owen.
Rees John (11)
[Notes for above names:
(1) Father of John Cadwalader, and husband to Ellen Owen, sister to
Robt. Owen.
(2) Nephew of Owen Humphrey, and cousin to Rebecca Owen.
(3) Husband of Jane, sister to Robert Owen.
(4) Brother of Rebecca.
(5) Brother of Rebecca.
(6) Father of Rowland Ellis.
(7) Son of John William ap Humphrey, of Llangelynin.
(8) Brother of Owen Humphrey.
(9) From Llanwddlyn, Montgomeryshire; cousin of Owen Humphrey.
(10) alias Daniel Humphrey, son of Samuel Humphrey, deceased.
(11) Rees John William.
(12) Brother to Rebecca.
(13) Brother to Daniel.
(14) Brother-in-law to John Humphrey.]
After his coming to Pennsylvania his name is of continual occurrence as
executor, administrator, or trustee, or as party to some agreement. He
is described in one of these documents, dated 30th May, 1696, as "Robert
Owen, of Marioneth, in the County of Philadelphia, in the Province of
Pennsylvania, Yeoman," and is grantee in a deed from Thomas Lloyd (Deed
Book E2, Vol. V., p. 174, etc., Philadelphia), dated "the fifth day of
the sixth month, Anno Dom. 1691," for a tract of land containing four
hundred and forty-two acres, situate in "the Township of Merion," in
Philadelphia County, the consideration being one hundred pounds. This
"plantation," as it was then called, lay west of the present Wynnewood
Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and extended to near the present
village of Ardmore. It was confirmed to Evan Owen, eldest son and heir
to Robert, by patent (Patent Book A, Vol. Ill., p. 241, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania) from Penn's Commissioners, dated 8th February, 1704,
Together with the Messuage or Tenement, Plantation. . . Houses, Barns,
Buildings, Gardens, Orchards, Woods, Underwoods, Ways, Waters, Meadows,
Water-courses, Fishings, Fowlings, Hawkings, Huntings, Rights,
Liberties." By a deed dated 31st December, 1707 (Deed Book E4, Vol.
IVII., P. 40, etc., Philadelphia), "Evan Owen, of the Township of
Merion, in the County of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania,
yeoman, son and heir of Robert Owen, late of Merion, yeoman, deceased,"
conveyed this farm, devised to him by his father, to his brother-in-law,
"Jonathan Jones, of Merion, yeoman." A manuscript by Owen Jones,
grandson of Robert Owen, says ("Memoir of Charles 1. wister"), "He
purchased a large tract of land about nine miles from the city of
Philadelphia, in the township of Lower Merion. Here he built a large,
commodious dwelling-house, and resided in it during the remainder of his
life. He had children, viz., Gainor, Evan, Owen, Elizabeth, John and
Robert, some of whom were born in Wales." This house is yet standing,
and compares favorably with many of the modern dwellings erected near
it. The date is carved on a corner-stone, "1695." Robert Owen was a
justice of the Peace for Merion, and by 1695 had, says this old
manuscript, "gained the confidence of the people in general, which they
manifested by making choice of him to repre-sent them in the Assembly of
the Province of Pennsylvania (elected again, 1697), . . . which position
he filled with much reputation. It pleased Divine Providence to remove
his beloved wife in the year 1697 (died 8th mo. 23d, buried 25th), which
severe trial he survived but a few weeks." Robert, as already stated,
outlived his wife - whom he had loved long and tenderly - but a short
time, and was buried beside her. Among the eminent Friends whose bones
lie near his, scarcely one has left a more stainless, and none a more
honored, name. His will, dated " 10th mo. 2d day, 1697," was probated
May 16, 1705 (Register of Wills' Office, Philadelphia). He left his
plantation in Merion to his eldest son, Evan Owen, and speaks of his
other children without mentioning their names. He appoints as overseers
John Humphreys, Hugh Roberts, John Roberts, Griffith John, Robert Jones,
Robert Roberts, Robert Lloyd, and Rowland Ellis, and appoints his
"cousin Griffith John above named" as sole executor. The witnesses were
Joshua Owen, Robert Jones, and Rowland Ellis. John Owen, described
elsewhere as "ye 2nd son of Owen Humphreys of Llwyn-du," in
Merionethshire, and brother to Joshua, above named, subsequently acted
as an appraiser. Robert Owen's important services as a minister among
Friends must not be overlooked. He was one of the founders of the Merion
Meeting, and a trustee thereof, as appears by a deed dated 20th
Sixth-month, 1695, Edward Rees (This was Edward Rees, alias Prees and
Price, see elsewhere), of Merion, yeoman, to Robert Owen, Edward Jones,
Cadwallader Morgan, and Thomas Jones, of Merion, yeoman, in trust, for
one-half acre of land in Merion, "for the purposes of the Merion
Meeting." As early as 28th June, 1692, Robert Owen, with Thomas Lloyd,
Nicholas Waln, Dr. Griffith Owen, Hugh Roberts, John Symcock, William
Byles, and others, the then ministers at or near Philadelphia, signed
the communication of the Meeting of Friends in Philadelphia, to the
Monthly Meetings of Friends in Pennsylvania, and East and West Jersey,
settingforth their displeasure and sorrow at the action of Keith, who
was making himself obnoxious to Friends about this time. Perhaps the
last documents, executed the year of his death, 1697, that in anyway
concerned Robert, are an agreement of his with one Evan Harry concerning
the estate of Cadwallader Lewis, deceased, of which Robert Owen was
appointed by the court administrator, "Letters of Attorney
(Exemplification Book 4, p. 677, Philadelphia), Richard Davies of
Cloodie Cochion, Welchpoole (Montgomeryshire), gentleman," to Robert
Owen et al., his "true and lawful attys.," date 1st mo. 8th, 1696-7, and
a letter from him to Hugh Roberts, then traveling in Wales, dated 24th
of Second-month, 1697. So far as can be ascertained at this late day,
Robert and Rebecca Owen had but eight children; or, if there were
others, their early decease in Wales renders their existence of little
interest. Of these eight, the first four - Evan, Gainor, Elizabeth, and
Jane were born in Merionethshire, and are the "tender children"
mentioned in the certificate of removal. The rest were born in Merion
Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, as appears by the record of
their births in the "Book of Births" of the Radnor Monthly Meeting, and
there mentioned as children "of Robert and Rebeckah Owen." Their births
are also noted in records of said Meeting as "Births in Merion Meeting."
The eight were:
1. Gainor, b. 1681; M. Jonathan Jones.
2. Evan, b. 1683; M. Mary Hoskins.
3. Jane, b. 1685.
4. Elizabeth, b. 1687; M. David Evans.
5. Owen, b. 12 mo. 21st, 1690; M. Anne Wood.
6. John, b. 12 mo. 26th, 1692 ; M. Hannah Maris.
7. Robert, b. 7 mo. 27th, 1695; M. Susanna Hudson.
8. Rebecca, b. 1 mo. 14th, 1697; d. inft.; buried 9 mo. 21st, 1697
("Burials at Merion Meeting," Records of Radnor Monthly Meeting of
Friends. W. T.-17).
Note 1: There was another Robert Owen and Jane, his wife, of Dolseren,
near Datgelly, Merionetbshire, who came to Pennsylvania in 1684, on the
"Vine," and settled on Duck Creek, New Castle (now Delaware), where a
son, Edward Owen, had previously located. Robert aud Jane died in 1685.
They had nine sons, all of age before their arrival here, of whom I can
name only Lewis, who came with them, settled on Duck Creek and left
descenditnts, Dr. Griffith Owen, who accompanied them, and died in
Philadelphia; Edward, who remained on Duck Creek and left descendants,
Robert Owen, eldest son and heir, who continued to reside on the
Dolserey estate, and left issue. (Register of Dalgelly Parish Church.)