Richard, here are the details I promised.
The will of William Owen of Gyfynys is at the National Library of Wales with
the reference number of B1849/190 ie probate documents of the diocese of
Bangor for 1849 number 190). There is also an inventory of his goods.
There is also the will and inventory of Meredith Williams, Rhoswen
B1847/228. There is no guarantee that this is the same Meredith Williams but
if so he died before his father. Even if not there is a fair chance of being
a relation, Meredith being a fairly rarely seen name in this area. Probably
it isn't the same Meredith on second thought because the wife's name and the
children are different. See below for details.
It is possible to buy a copy of the documents - I'm not sure what the price
through the post is but it is very reasonable when there in person as a
standard charge for a probate package which can be really good value at
times.
I have these details because I am working on a project about the wills and
probate documents of the parish of Maentwrog. I started with 1857 and am
working backwards, having reached 1807 at present. At the rate I'm going and
not being able to visit Aberystwyth very often, it will probably take me 10
years to move on to the next stage of my project on the parish! In the
meantime, I'd be happy to check my database for details of wills I have
already recorded (those who inherited, what they got, who were the witnesses
and appraisers, what is listed in the inventory and their worth and who were
the executors or those who applied to administer the estate etc). I also
have a paper list of the deceased whose papers are in the collection back to
1726, although there are older ones as well. These I copied from the
database/catalogue that is at present only available in the library itself.
Remember the date is of probate not of death nor of writing the will.
Best of luck with following up this information.
Rhian
William Owen, farmer, Gyfynys - will written 23.5.1842, proved 24.7.1849,
died 19 Feb 1849. Inventory 3.7.1849, worth £187.10.0. Mentions several
sons: Owen Williams, Humphrey Williams, John Williams and Meredith Williams
(the latter to be the executor and to get the bulk of the estate). The other
sons get £10 and one gets a best suit of clothes. The inventory mentions
wearing apparel, horned cattle, pair of horses, sheep, pigs, implements of
husbandry, household furniture, and £10 out at interest (not at all uncommon
in this parish).
Meredith Williams, Rhoswen - will written 28.12.1838, proved 22.10.1847,
died 9 May 1847. Inventory 21.6.1847, worth £102.10.0. Only one of the two
executors took up their role, the other with their right reserved. Mentions
sons: William Meredith, Humphrey Meredith, Edward and Robert (presumably
also Meredith), daughter Margaret Williams, Meredith's wife Jane Lloyd. They
get sums such as £1 or 5 shillings, the daughter getting a clock and old
dresser. Jane Lloyd, Humphrey and Margaret share the remainder. The
inventory lists wearing apparel, household furniture, catles (sic), 2
horses, 50 sheeps (sic), 1 pig, horses gering (gear), a wagon, small
sundries, seed oats, seed barley and seed tates (potatoes).
Other references to William Owen and Meredith Williams up to now (but no
guarantee that they are the same people):
William Owen the son of Owen William Cangen ale weaver, mentioned in the
will of Evan Owen yeoman Brynrhydd B1821/113, will dated 29.1.1820, proved
December 1820 and probate in 1821, inventory worth £67. If this turns out to
be relevant there are a whole lot of other relatives listed as well.
William Owen as an appraiser for the inventory of Richard Jones,
Tyddynygarag in 1810 B1811/148
Meredith Williams of Tyddyn cowper as a witness to the will of Hugh Humphrey
of Tafarn helig (my ancestor as it happens) in 1822 and Meredith Williams
(no farm name given) as witness to the will of Sylvanus Morris, Tyddyn y
Merched in 1839
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doreen Jones" <dd.jones(a)sympatico.ca>
To: <WLS-MERIONETHSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: [MER] OWEN: 1841 Census Look Up, Maentwrog - PLEASE
> Hi Richard
>
> John found these on the 1841
>
> Gyfynys
>
> William OWEN, 71, Farmer, Yes
> Meredith WILLIAMS, 34, ---, Yes
> Ann WILLIAMS, 28, ---, Yes
> William WILLIAMS, 2, ---, Yes
> Ann WILLIAMS, 1 mo., ---, Yes
> Robert ROBERTS, 18, Male Servant, Yes
> Ann ROBERTS, 23, Female Servant, Yes
> Margaret WILLIAMS, 14, Female Servant, Yes
>
> Age matches. Ann may be his daughter.
>
> There are many OWENS on the census.
>
> Doreen & John
> Hamilton, Canada.
>
>
>
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