Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet
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Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet (1628 - 1719) succeeded his cousin Sir Richard Wynn, 4th Baronet as Baron Wynn in 1674 but did not inherit the Gwydyr Estate which passed to his predecessor's daughter Mary.
Sir John had inherited the Watstay Estate through his marriage to Jane Evans (daughter of Eyton Evans of Watstay), which he had renamed the Wynnstay Estate to compensate. He had also, allegedly, won the Stanwardine Estate in Worcestershire from Thomas Corbett in a snail race!
Sir John lived into his nineties mainly residing in London but died without issue in 1719. On his death the Wynn baronetcy died out and the ancient "House of Aberffraw" which claimed direct descent from Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn in the late 9th Century and indirect descent from High-King Brwth in the Iron Age was left without known male issue.
Had Thomas Jones (Twm Siôn Cati) really been the illegitimate son of John "Wynn" ap Maredudd (as claimed by Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet in his family history), his children would have been next in line, illegitimate sons having the same rights of inheritance as legitimate ones under ancient Welsh law. There are also several claims that "lost" relatives such as a supposed Colonel Hugh Wynn who is alleged to have moved to Virginia and raised a family. However, with no clear heir, Sir John bequeathed the entire Wynnstay estate to Jane Thelwall (great-granddaughter of Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet) who was now married to Sir William Williams, 3rd Baronet. Sir John Wynn and Sir William Williams were the two largest landowners in north Wales at that time and together the combined estate dwarfed all others. In honour of his wife's ancestry Sir William changed his name to Sir William Williams-Wynn of Wynnstay. The present heir is Sir David Watkin Williams-Wynn, 11th Baronet.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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- D.N.B., lxiii; Cal. Wynn (of Gwydir) Papers, passim; Clenennau Letters, i, Introduction
- Hist. Gwydir Family, passim; W. R. Williams, Parl. Hist. of Wales, passim
- E. Breeze, Kalendars of Gwynedd, passim; Cymm., xxxviii
- The Welsh Review, v, 187-191; Trans. Caern. Hist. Soc., 1939, 37-46; J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees, 280-1
- E. G. Jones, ‘The Caernarvonshire Squires, 1558-1625’ (unpublished M.A. thesis, University of Wales).
| Honorary Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Owen |
Custos Rotulorum of Montgomeryshire 1678–1688 |
Succeeded by The Marquess of Powis |
| Preceded by Sir William Williams, 1st Baronet |
Custos Rotulorum of Montgomeryshire 1690–1711 |
Succeeded by Edward Vaughan |
| Preceded by Sir Richard Wynn, 4th Baronet |
Head of the House of Cunedda 1674–1719 |
Succeeded by Unknown |
