Sir William ‘the Extravagant‘ Awbrey

An excellent summary of the evidence that Henry Awbrey and brothers John and Thomas of Virginia were sons of William ("the Extravagant") Awbrey of Wales is here: http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/awbrey/205/

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Awbrey-9

Sir William was born about 1581 at Tredomen, Brecknockshire, Wales. He is the son of Sir Edward and Joan Havard.

He married Elizabeth (Johnes) Aubrey. (referred to as Elsbeth Jones in this reference.)[1]

Children listed in his will:

Sons in order of age:

1. Edward Awbrey murdered by relatives of first wife
2. John Awbrey emigrated to Virginia
3. Thomas Awbrey emigrated to Virginia
4. Harry Awbrey (Henry) first to emigrate to Virginia
5. Reginald Awbrey killed in 1642 in English Civil War

Daughters:

1. Johan Awbrey (unmarried)
2. Elenor (unmarried)
3. Catherin Awbrey (unmarried)

Death

Sir William died in 1631. His will indicates his was living at Tredomen, Brecknockshire as he provides that his wife should remain in the house if possible. His will includes a request that he be buried at Christ College/Awbrey Chapel. Find A Grave: Memorial #200378250 retrieved April, 2020.

Will of 1631

The original wording of the will and a translation can be seen at this link: Will of William Awbrey. A copy of the will is in Images on this page. As shown on the image of the will, an inventory of his property was included. It is an additional 3-4 pages long. If anyone wants it added here, please advise. If anyone wants a Word document copy, send a private email to Stuart Awbrey

Abstract of Will:

The following list of relatives is taken from the preceding transcription and translation, with links added to WikiTree profiles (when they exist/can be clearly identified.

Sir William Awbrey's Will:

dated September 1626, proved Brecon November 4, 1631:

granted November 4, 1631, "administration of the goods of the abovesaid deceased . . . to Edward Awbrey natural and legitimate son of the said deceased, Elizabeth the relict and executrix having renounced . . ." (he had named his wife executrix)
my deare honered kinsman Sir Henry Williams of Gwernervett
my beloved uncle Mr Wm Awbrie doctor of laws
my Unckle William Awbrey of the Cancrif Clerke
my Unckle John Maddockes of Landruach Esquier
Sir Henry Johns of Abermarlais knight
Sir Thomas Awbrey of Lanbrythyd knight
Herbert Johnes of Llangatug iuxta Uske Clerke
my wife Dame Elizabeth Awbrey
Edward Awbrey my Eldest sonne
John Awbrey my second sonne
Thomas Awbreymy third sonne
Harry Awbrey my fourth sonne
Reginald Awbrey my fift and youngest sonne
my daughter Johan Awbrey (unmarried)
my daughter Elenor (unmarried)
my daughter Catherin Awbrey (unmarried)
my sonne in law John Bayly of Rythyn and Jane Bailie my Eldest daughter
Mrs Rachell Morgan of Machen (Aunt or great-Aunt of his son Harry)

Research Notes

Comments Regarding Sir William’s Character, Worth and Abercynrig

At least one source refers to Sir William as "the Extravagant." There is some evidence that he was extravagant and maybe worse. He is often criticized for having “lost” Abercynrig.

His grandfather, Dr. William Aubrey, purchased Abercynrig from his cousin Richard. It was not the primary residence of Dr. William. His eldest son lived at Tredomen. His other sons lived in England and South Wales.

A gravestone in Awbrey Chapel/Christ College, Brecon is marked John Awbrey of Abercynrig. He is Dr. William Aubrey’s younger brother. Possibly he lived there, but no other occupants are known.

Sir Edward, who was likely born at Cantref, lived at Tredomen which had been inherited by his wife Joan Havard. After Sir Edward inherited Abercynrig, he borrowed against it for 70% of its value. He did not pay off the loan before his death.

Sir William inherited Abercynrig. However, he did not pay the loan and it was sold to Jeffrey Jeffries in 1621 for a profit of 300 pounds. See a history of Abercynrig at Abercynrig Manor House and Estate, Brecon, Wales. As stated in the Biography above, he lived at Tredomen.

One writer has suggested Sir William was so bad that his father-in-law, Sir Thomas Johnes, left Elizabeth out of his will to prevent Sir William from gaining access to any of his property. However, two of his sons are named as trustees of the will. Interesting.

There is another possibility. Sir Thomas Johnes died 26 years before Sir William. Often, children who were thought be well taken care of were not included in wills.

It has been said Sir William had lost all his lands and money at the time of death. Yet, the will lists several properties that are to be sold or to go to his wife. It is recorded that his grandson sold Buckingham Place many years later. And, he lists several cash gifts for his children. It is not known if the estate had the resources to pay the bequests.

The will was written in 1626 five years before his death in 1631. Did his character deteriorate further? Did he lose most of his wealth in the last 5 years of his life? - Stuart Awbrey

Information on either of the William Awbrey uncles has not been found.[2]

Birth: 1581 Talgarth Powys, Wales Death: 1631 Talgarth Powys, Wales

Records show Sir William was born in Llanelieu (in Breconshire), but that location is now reorganized as part of the extended community of the town of Talgarth 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the west. Llanelieu is a small settlement and former civil parish (community) in Powys, Wales on the northern edge of the Black Mountains within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It was formerly in the county of Brecknockshire.

The last name in Wales was spelled Awbrey, but in the United States it became Aubrey toward the end of the 18th century. Actually the name was originally in a Norman form as "de Sancto Alberico."

William Awbrey was the son of Sir Edward Awbrey and Joan Havard. Sir Edward was born in Abercynrig and Tredomen, and Jane, born about 1559 in Tredomen, South Wales, England was a member of the Havards who were a very notable family in Breconshire.

Sir William married Elizabeth Johns on Dec. 24, 1595 in Llandilo Fawr, Carmarthenshire, Wales. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Johns and Jane Puleston.

There were eight children of the marriage, and the names of three sons are known: - Henry; - John (see link below); - Thomas

Sir William Awbrey was the High Sheriff of Brecon, and was given the nickname "The Extravagant" when he sold the family estate Abercynfrig and spent the fortune left him by his grandfather, Dr. William Awbrey. He evidently died penniless in 1631. Abercynrig was later purchased and returned to the family by a cousin (Jeffries) who acquired the Brecknockshire lands about 1656.

The will of Sir William was proved at Brecon in 1631.

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Although Sir William's sons went to the colonies, the connection with the family and Wales was not forgotten but was published in Virginia. Now it is possible to trace the family line back to Charlemagne as found in the table below. What was to become the Awbrey family in Wales had made a marriage alliance with the family that became the Earls of Clare in England, and thus we start with this line since it is traced further back to Charlemagne.

- Richard I of Normandy (b. 28 Aug 933 in Fecamp, Normandy, France; d. 20 Nov 996 in Fecamp, Normandy, France; son of Guillaume I "Longsword" Of Normandy and Sprota of Senlis {St. Liz, sometimes said to be the daughter of Herbert, Count of Senlis and Vermandois who was a great, great grandson of Charlemagne}; Richard 1st married Emma in 960, daughter of Hugh, who was - in all but name- King of France; Richard I, "The Fearless" was named his father's heir on 29 May, 942; Richard was betrothed to Emma for some time but did not marry her until about 960, after the death of her father, Hugh the Great, in 956; Richard was the guardian of Hugh's son, the Duke of Paris, and eventually married Emma to strengthen his position; he did not treat her unkindly, he merely loved Gunnora; Emma passed her life at Rouen alone and solitary, and eventually died about the year 962; Richard then officially married 2nd Gunnora De Crepon). - Godfrey of Brionne (son of Richard I Of Normandy and Gunnora De Crepon; born in France, and d. ca. 1015). - Gilbert "Grispin" (d. 1040; married Gonnor {Gunnor}, daughter of Baldric the Teuton, and a niece of Gilbert, Count of Brionne; for a short period following the sudden death (murder?) of Count Alan of Brittany, Gilbert was chief tutor to the young WIlliam the Conqueror;said to have been murdered in 1040 by his cousin, Ralph of Gace. - Richard Fitzgilbert De Clare, b. 1035, Beinfaite, Normandy, France; d. 1090, England; the eldest son of Gislebert, Count of Eu and Brionne, a descendant of Emperor Charlemagne; he was a lawyer and Chief Justice of England and the founder of the House of Clare in England, being the first Lord of Clare; accompanied Duke William into England in 1075, and took a leading part in the suppression of the revolt there; later held one hundred and seventy-six lordships or manors; at the time of the General Survey, which was towards the close of King William's reign, he is called Ricardus de Tonebruge, from his seat at the castle of Tonebruge {now Tunbridge} which he obtained from the Archbishop of Canterbury, in lieu of the castle of Brion; at which time he enjoyed thirty-eight lordships in Surrey, thirty-five in Essex, three in Cambridgeshire, with some others in Wilts and Devon, and ninety-five in Suffolk, among those was Clare, whence he was styled Richard de Clare; and that place in a few years afterwards becoming the chief seat of the family, his descendants are said to have assumed thereupon the title of Earls of Clare {Burke, pg. 118-119}; he is known under three names in the "Doomsday' book - Richard de Bienfaite {Richard the son of Count Gilbert}, Richard FitzGilbert, and Richard of Tonbridge; Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Clare {died 1217} was one of the leading barons who forced King John to sign the Magna Charta in 1215. - Isabel Fitzgilbert De Clare, daughter of Richard Fitzgilbert De Clare and Rohese Giffard; married Reginald De Sto Alberico (Norman form of the name which became Awbrey in Wales)

Awbrey Line

- Saunders de Sancto Alberico or de Alta Ripa, born in France, elder brother to Alberic, Earl of Boulgne and Dammartin, and Earl Mareschal of France; he invaded England with William the Conqueror in 1066). - Reginald De Sto Alberico (accompanied Bernard Newmarch in conquering Brecknock, where he reputed to have won Abercynfrig and Siwch; owned the Manor of Abercynfrig and Slough, and other properties in Wales; married Isabel Fitzgilbert De Clare, daughter of Richard Fitzgilbert De Clare and Rohese Giffard). - William De Sto Alberico (Awbrey in Welsh - married Joan Gunter, daughter of William Gunter. - Thomas Awbrey (b. in Abercynfrig, Wales; married Joan {or Dorothy} Carew, daughter of John Lord Carew). - Thomas Awbrey (b. ca. 1240 in Abercynfrig, Wales; married Joan Trahearn). - Thomas Awbrey (b. ca. 1270 in Breck-Nockshire, Wales; married Nest Verch Owain Gethyn; he served as an officer under the Duke of Buckingham and was the Constable and Ranger of the Forest of Brecknock; noted for his red hair). - Richard Awbrey (b. ca. 1300 in Abercynfrig, Wales; married Creslie or Cresly Ap Elidur). - John Awbrey (b. ca. 1329 in Abercynfrig, Wales; married the daughter off Thomas Of Cwrt Rhadir). - Walter Awbrey (b. ca. born 1359 in Aberkynfrig, Wales; married Joan Morgan). - Morgan Awbrey (b. ca. 1389 in Aberkynfrig, Wales; married Alive Wenllian Lloyd). - Jenkin Awbrey (b. ca. 1423 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales; married Gwendoline Verch Owen). - Hopkin Awbrey (b. 1448 in Abercynrig, Breconshire, Wales; married Ann Griffith on 1480 in Wales, daughter of John Griffith and Alson). - Thomas Awbrey (b. 1481 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, Wales; married Joan Vaughn, daughter of Thomas Vaughn and Maud William). - William Awbrey (b. 1529 in Cantreff, Brecknockshire, Wales, and d. 25 Jun 1595 in England; married Willigford Millicent Williams on 1555 in England. - Sir Edward Awbrey (b. ca. 1555 in Abercynfrig, Wales; married Joan Havard, daughter of William Havard) - Sir William Awbrey (ca. 1581-1631)

Old Brecon, Buckingham Place is where the letter P&H are.

References

• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via child Henry Awbrey by SmartCopy: Oct 13 2015, 0:40:04 UTC
• http://www.cemeteryrecords.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=128210516
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Awbrey-9

1. John Rowland, Pedigree of the ancient family of Dolau Cothi [The Johnes family]. (p 18; accessed April 21, 2015)
2. Research provided by Stuart Awbrey.
3. Theophilus Jones, A History of the County of Brecknock, p 447
4. Janet Ariciu's website (sources and a lot of research) https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~janet/genealogy/Awbrey.html