Robert Henry of Dalcerau Owens, II

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180228795

Robert Owen and Jane Vaugh in "The Royal Descents of 600 immigrants by Gary Boyd Roberts " by the marriage of immigrant second cousins, Robert Owen and Jane Vaugh, Welsh Quakers who settled in Duck Creek, New Castle, Delaware in 1685. They were my 8th great grandparents, Owen name goes down to my GGG grandmother, Keziah Owen Crutchfield. I have deleted the Royal line from the book, as it was going by Constance Plantagent's illiegimate child and said the father was Edmund De Holland, no proof of this, but Constance has her own royal line in the Plantagenet line so I kept her line back to King Edward I and King Eward III.

Robert Owen was born in Wales and died in the United States. He sailed to America in 1684, possibly on the Ship "Vine". He was married to Jane Vaughn, who also died in the same year and was the daughter of Robert Vaughn.

Robert of Dolsereau, near Dolgelley in Wales had been a Captain under Cornwall, Governor of Beaumaris Castle, and a Justice of the Peace. About 1660 he joined the Society of Friends and was frequently fined and imprisoned, once for 10 years on account of his refusal to comply with the acts of Parliament then in force. In 1684, being then quite aged, he moved with wife Jane and sons, Dr. Griffith Owen, who had been practicing medicine in England, and Lewis Owen to Providence of Pennsylvania. They sailed on the ship "Vine". Robert and Jane Owen were very old people at the time of their arrival, and died within a few days of each other, 1685/1686 at Duck Creek. Robert Owen of Dolsery, married Jane, daughter of Robert Vaughn of Hengwrt, Esquire, the celebrated antiquary.

Jane was likely born sometime after her parent marriage which likely took place in November 1615 (see previous generation). She may have been born in the 1620s after her oldest brother Howel, who was born c. 1618. [11.1] According to the pedigrees composed by her father and her brother Griffith, Jane married Robert Owen of Dolserau. The marriage perhaps occurred sometime before c. 1640. Robert Owen was likely born sometime before 1628. In addition to her appearance in contemporary family pedigrees, evidence for Jane’s marriage is found in surviving letters written in 1678 by her husband Robert Owen, who refers to Jane’s brother Ynyr as his brother-in-law. They were married probably at least before 1447, when their son Griffith is said to be born. A letter by Jane’s father Robert Vaughan to “Mr. Robert Owen at Dol y Serry near Dolgelley,” dated December 1, 1651, might also indicate a marriage before then. [11.2]

Robert Owen was sworn in as a justice of the peace by his father-in-law Robert Vaughan in 1658. Robert Owen’s role serving the Parliamentary government in the county during the Interregnum began in August 1649, when he was appointed to a committee to execute “Ordinances of Sequestrations of Delinquents and Papists Estates” to raise funds for Parliament. From then on, Robert Owen appeared on many lists for county committees performing various functions for the Parliament during the Civil War. These included appointments to committees by the Barebones Parliament in 1653 (to act as a judge to examine forfeited estates which could be an additional source of funds), the ‘Rump’ Parliament in 1657, and just before the restoration in January 1660, to assess taxes for the county of Merioneth. He was also appointed as a militia commissioner for Merioneth in 1651 and 1659 and, in October 1659, for his efforts to put down the Booth rebellion, Robert Owen was thanked by the Council of State. The tide changed with the restoration at hand, and, in April 1660, Robert Owen was imprisoned with other former county commissioners at Caernarfon. [11.3]

Robert Owen adopted the Quaker faith in around 1660. When Owen refused to take the oath of allegiance, he was imprisoned twice probably in the jail at Dolgellau, within a mile or so from his home at Dolserau. He was first jailed in 1661 for 15 weeks and in 1674 he was jailed for some five years. In a few years the great migration of Quakers was to begin and, possibly as early as 1681, a certain Robert Owen, gentleman of Merioneth bought land from William Penn, becoming one of the men to buy the first 320,000 acres. His son Griffith also made purchases beginning in 1685, but possibly earlier. [11.4]

In 1684, Robert, his wife Jane, sailed to Pennsylvania arriving in September 17, 1684. The passenger list for the ship Vine starts with “of Dolyserre” and then first listed are Robert Owen, wife Jane, and son Lewes who were from there. Also on the passenger list were a Dr. Griffith Owen and his wife Sarah. Though the passenger list doesn’t state the relationship between Robert Owen and Griffith Owen, a few years previously, in 1678, the Lancashire Hardshaw East monthly meeting recorded the marriage of a “Griffith Owen son of Robert Owen of Dolyserre in the county of Merioneth in Wales” to Sarah Barnes in 1678.

Robert Owen is said to have died in 1685 or within a year of arriving. He witnessed a deed that year when son Edward sold land to son Griffith. Robert Owen and wife Jane were praised years later, in a testimony by fellow Quaker Roland Ellis, who says that Robert was one of the first in the new religion. He refers to them as “…my dear friend Robert Owen and Jane his wife” and says that Robert was imprisoned for five years “being confined in Dolgelly in Merionethshire, North Wales…” about a mile from his house. He goes on to say that Jane’s father Robert Vaughan was "a man of integrity exceeding most of his rank at that time” and Jane is described as a woman with rare natural gifts, solid in deportment, and not given to many words. [11.5]

Robert Owen and Jane had a son Griffith (see next).

11.1 For the October 30, 1615 agreement for her parents marriage discussed above, which called for the marriage to take place by November 21, 1615, see footnotes 10.3 and 10.4.

For Jane’s brother Howel's birth in c. 1618, note his matriculation at Oriel College, Oxford at the age of 19 on 24 March,1636/7, see Foster’s Oxford Alumni, pp. 1533-1549 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/alumni-oxon/1500-1714/pp1533-1549 [accessed 18 November 2015]. Jane’s probable youngest brother Griffith was said to be born in October 1628 (see Glenn, Welsh founders of Pennsylvania, vol.1, p. 57.

Jane’s brother, Howel Vaughan, born c. 1618, is listed first in his father’s pedigree so, if he was one of several older brothers, then perhaps Jane was born say in the 1420s. Jane’s son Griffith Owen is said to have died 1717 at the age of 70 so he was likely born c. 1647 (see next generation below for her son Griffith’s marriage on 23 Oct 1678). The PACF pedigree shows Jane’s son Griffith Owen was possibly the fourth son, so Jane, if born in the 1620s, and married by say 1640 may have had several children before c. 1647 when Griffith is said to be born.

11.2 For the pedigrees for Jane Vaughan’s marriage to Robert Owen, son of Humphrey Owen of Dolserau, see her brother Griffith Vaughan’s pedigree (written probably some years before Griffith died in the year 1700), NLW Peniarth 288, p. 404: “Jan[e] = Robert Owen ap Humphre Owen o[f] Dolyserre.” Also see her father Robert Vaughan’s pedigree compiled before 1667, in NLW Peniarth MS no. 287 p. 408: “Jan[e] = Robert Owen o[f] Dolyserre.”

For Robert Owen’s reference to his brother-in-law Ynyr Vaughan, see his letters referring to the sale of the Hengwrt MS by Ynyr in Daniel Huws, Medieval Welsh Manuscripts (2000) p. 296 (where I first became aware of this correspondence) and see Davies, Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales (1959), parts 1-3, introduction, p. xix. For these letters see: —In Robert Owen’s letter dated May 3, 1678 to Edward Williams of Glascoed, Robert discusses the possible sale of the Robert Vaughan’s vast manuscript collection at Hengwrt and refers to his wife’s brother Ynyr, as his “bro: in law Ynyr…” Robert’s identity is further helped by his signature at the bottom of the letter placing him at Dolserau, “Robert Owen of Dolserau near Dolgelley” (see, NLW Wynnestay MS no. C13). —Robert Owen wrote another letter the same day, signed by his brother-in-law Ynyr. This letter to William Maurice (another person taking part in the negotiations), claims that Ynyr doesn’t know the value of the Hengwrt collection and asks Maurice to make an offer (see, Wynnestay no. C103). Note: by this time, Ynyr’s older brother Howel has died and Ynyr, as the second oldest, is apparently taking part in the negotiations. —In another letter, Robert Owen devotes a majority of time talking about the value of the manuscripts (saying they are probably worth 1000 pounds but could be had for 300 pounds) but he also again briefly mentions Ynyr, this time referring to him as "my bro: Yynr” (see, NLW Wynnestay MS BOX C/70). Note: for possible different catalogue numbering of the letters, Wynnestay FA2/2 “Letters to Edward Williams of Glascoed, agent to Sir William Williams, from Robert Owen of Dolyserre and William Maurice, concerning the sale of the Hengwrt library, 1678.” And also see the introduction to NLW MSS 447- 4279 for a history of the Hengwrt/Peniarth collection and for a discussion of these letters, “A CATALOGUE BY WILLIAM MAURICE, CEFNYBRAICH, LLANSILIN, 1658.” Site:http://isys.llgc.org.uk [accessed November 21, 2015].

For the letter from Robert Vaughan, the antiquary, to his son-in-law Robert Owen described as a “fragment of a curious Puritanical correspondence… in the autograph of the antiquary, Robert Vaughan” addressed to "Mr. Robert Owen at Dol y Serry near Dolgelley,” and dated 1 Dec. 1651, see catalogue of Peniarth MS in Archaeologia Cambrensis, fourth series, no. 6, April 1871, p. 123.

Griffith Vaughan’s pedigree (NLW Peniarth 288) included his children but not those of his sister Jane and her husband Robert Owen. See also pedigree PACF, p. 201. PACF, p. 363 shows Robert Owen’s father Humphrey and also shows Howell, father of Robert Vaughan the antiquary.

Robert Owen was likely born before 1628 (of age when a certain Robert Owen, gentleman, appears from 1649 on, in county composition lists). "Robert Owen of Dolyserre, gent.” also appears in another record in 1656 (see NLW Peniarth Estate Records, no. DA317). This is a sale of lands in the township of Garthgynvor, parish of Brithdir (near Dolserau) from men including Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt, esq., Howell Vaughan of Gwengraige, gent., …to the use of, in trust, William Vaughan of Caethley, esq., William Nanney of Maylan, gent., and Robert Owen of Dolyserre, gent. (this source refers also to Peniarth DA305).

11.3 For Robert Owen as Justice of the Peace, see the "WRIT OF DEDIMUS POTESTATEM to John Jones [the regicide], … Robert Vaughan of Hencourt, Howel Vaughan of Guengraig, [and others] to take the oaths of Robert Owen of Dolliserry, co. Mer. ...[and others], as justices of the peace for co. Merioneth; to be taken on being sworn a justice of the peace. Dated: 1658, Sept. 24.” (in NLW, Peniarth Estate Records (33), no. CA77).

For Robert Owen’s biography, including his appointments by the Parliamentary government, see DWB, see: http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-OWEN-ROB-1685.html

For his various appointments for the Parliamentary government, mostly in county committees, see DWB, see: http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-OWEN-ROB-1685.html and Acts Interregnum. Note that Robert Owen, in these lists, is listed as a gentleman in 1649 and, for the most part, from then on is listed as esquire.

For his being thanked by the Council of State in October 1659 (p.753, 758, (745 original order), see Calendar of the Committee for Compounding: https://books.google.com/books?id=i9g6AQAAMAAJ&dq=Calendar+of+the+C...–1660&q=Owen#v=snippet&q=Owen&f=false

For Robert Owen, arrested, and imprisoned in Caernarfon gaol in April 1660, see Dodd, Welsh Migration, p. 120 and Dodd’s biography of Owen in DWB both citing April 28, 1660 warrant for arrest in NLW Llanfair and Brynodol MS, bundle 94: http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-OWEN-ROB-1685.html

11.4 For the years Robert was jailed, see Besse, Sufferings, (vol. 1, p. 746 for year 1661) and (for May 1674 arrest, p. 755): http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?q1=1674%20Wales;id=uc2.ark%3A%2F...

Bess does not mention the five years in jail, but see the Rowland Ellis testimony below and see DWB: http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-OWEN-ROB-1685.html. According to Dodd, Welsh Migration, p. 122 footnote, Robert Owen was released after five years in jail with possibly the help of Lewis Lloyd of Rhiwaedog, who was on a Parliamentary committee with Owen. But Robert Owen had other connections with prominent men and former sheriffs to appeal for his release. Robert Owen’s wife Jane was a daughter of Robert Vaughan and Catherine Nanney, two prominent county families. In January 1659/60, Robert Owen served with Owen Salisbury of Rug (Owen and William of Rug were both sheriffs), William Win of Glin (his grandson was Robert Wynne who as sheriff in 1679), and Lewis Lloyd (sheriff in 1665). (see Acts Interregnum, pp. 1355-1403.

For the October 1681 source for Robert Owen of Merioneth as a “first purchaser of Pennsylvania," see The Papers of William Penn (PWP), vol. 2, p. 631-35, 650. Roughly 53 percent of Penn’s sales occurred from July to December, 1681. Robert Owen, one of five purchasers from Merioneth, is listed as a gentleman but the sale date, acreage amount, etc., are not recorded. Most purchases were for less than 1,000 acres. Approximately 8 percent of the purchasers identified themselves as gentlemen. Penn’s Welsh agents were Richard Davies, Lewis David and Thomas Wynne.

For Griffith Owen, Prescott, Lancashire, physician, allocated 5,000 acres as a purchaser, see PWP, vol 2, p. 630-31, 662. Possibly this is his brother Edward Owen’s share of 5,000 acres purchased in 1681 that Griffith then purchased in March 1686. Other records show him accumulating under 2000 acres (see biography by Foster (ed.) in LLP, vol. 1, p. 577 and for Edward Owen’s purchase and sale to Griffith, see p. 576).

11.5 For Griffith’s marriage where he is named as the son of Robert Owen of Dolyserre, see footnote 12.1 below and: “England Marriages, 1538–1973,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJF7-CBX : accessed 19 December 2015), Griffith Owen and Sarah Barnes, 23 Oct 1678; citing Hardshaw East M. M., Lancashire, England, reference p86; FHL microfilm 817,368. (My thanks to Loretta Nixon of Utah for this marriage record and citation).

For the ship Vine passenger list, see Glenn, Merion in the Welsh Tract, (1896) vol. 3, p. 385, where also noted are entries for the baptisms of Robert’s children (and his eldest son Robert who stayed in Wales). Robert’s children include Katherine (the name of Jane’s mother), Humphrey (a name in the family of Jane’s father), and Anne and Hugh (Nanney family names).

As noted in Dodd’s biography on Robert Owen, John Humphrey’s Quaker testimony to Robert Owen after his death, say he was a governor of Beaumaris castle before the Restoration. John Humphrey’s memorial also says that Robert Owen and his wife Jane had nine sons and died in the fifth month in 1686 (possibly a misprint for 1685 because this testimony is placed among other events in 1685) within five days of each other. The testimony noted that Jane’s “nearest relations…bore the chiefest sway in the whole country” and that their house was open to meetings of Friends “through the hottest persecution..” He says they died in the Pennsylvania territories, which could indicate the lower counties where son Edward Owen settled. See Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania, vol. 6, p. 238: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433081772471?urlappend=%3Bseq=238.

The testimony of Rowland Ellis of Bryn Mawr states that Robert Owen and his wife Jane died on the fifth month in 1685 and that Dolgellau was regularly used for Quaker meetings (see A Collection of memorials concerning divers deceased ministers and others of the people called Quakers …, by the Society of Friends (1787), p 32-34: https://archive.org/stream/collectionofmemo00soci).

Other evidence for Robert Owen living until at probably later in 1685 or possibly 1686 is that he and son Lewis Owen were witnesses in 1685, when Robert’s son Edward sold his share of the Thomas/Jones patent to brother Griffith Owen (see Merion in the Welsh Tract, vol. 3, p. 385). Note however, that another source says the sale was in March 1686 (see LLP, vol. 1, p 575-76).

Roland Ellis also correctly describes Robert’s wife Jane as a daughter of a justice of the peace, which office Robert Vaughan held. The DWB entry on Robert Owen by Dodd, says that he was imprisoned for 5 and a half years beginning in 1674 but Roland Ellis says five years.

The testimony of Rowland Ellis has Robert Owen of Dolserau sailing to America at the incorrect date of 1690 so, he was confused with the year. See the Quaker journal “The Friend,” vol. 27, p. 124, with the year that Robert and Jane Owen sailed corrected to 1684 and saying they died about one year later in “the lower counties” probably around Duck Creek where other sources say they settled with son Edward Owen.

Regarding Ellis’ incorrect 1690 sailing date, he is probably conflating the Robert Owen of Dolserau with another Quaker, Robert Owen of Frongoch. Ellis correctly notes that Robert Owen of Dolserau had a wife Jane, was one of the earliest to convert (1660), was in prison for about 5 years, and that Dolserau was within a mile or two his prison. But Robert Owen of Dolserau emmigrated in 1684, not the year of 1690 when Robert Owen of Frongoch emmigrated. On the other hand, Robert Owen of Frongoch had a wife Rebecca (not Jane), was not one of the earliest to convert (1674), was in Dolgellau prison for possibly one year (not five), and Frongoch was over 20 miles from the Dolgellau jail (not one mile). For this Robert of Frongoch, see LLP, vol. 1, p. 581.

Rowland Ellis was familiar with Robert Owen’s family, which is probably why he chose to provide a testimony memorializing them. Rowland Ellis and Griffith Owen ( Robert and Jane’s son) worked together to protest the dividing of the Welsh Tract in Pennsylvania (see LLP, vol. 1, p 578).

Note: Robert Owen (d. c. 1685) had an eldest son Robert who did not sail to Pennsylvania. He is likely the Robert Owen who appears in the Nannau MS after 1684 (something that at first had me confused).

For Robert Owen’s Dolserau, see: http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/409502/details/dolserau-hall

If Robert Owen was in jail for five years beginning in 1674, then perhaps someone tried to get a letter to him in 1676. A letter, "Do[rothy] Wynne" [da. of Owen Salisbury of Rug, wife of John Wynn of Malai] writes "to my ever honored and dear sister Mrs. Katherine Nanney at Dollyhongrid (Doluwcheogryd)” and mentions "cousin Griffith Vaughan” and then Dorothy, asks Mrs. Nanney to send a matter enclosed in the letter to "Mr. Owen, the Quaker” (see Nannau MS no. 412). As stated above, Robert Owen served on a committee with Owen Salesbury in January 1659/60. A possible explanation is that Dorothy used the term “sister" loosely in her letter and that she meant someone else. The aunt of Jonet Salisbury’s husband Hugh Nanney, born Catherine Nanney in 1612, stayed at the Nanney home at Doluwcheogryd, sometime after her last husband John Vaughan of Cefn Bodig died in 1671. Possibly she was addressed in the letter as "Katherine Nanney.”

https://gw.geneanet.org/belfast8?lang=en&n=owen&oc=0&p=robert+ap+hu...