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 a baronet in 1674 but did not inherit the lands of the Gwydyr Estate which passed to his predecessor's daughter Mary.

1 Inheritance
2 Later Life
3 Possible Heir and Relatives
4 References

[edit] Inheritance

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. He had also, allegedly, won the Stanwardine Estate in Shropshire from Thomas Corbett in a snail race.

[edit] Later Life

Sir John lived into his nineties mainly residing in London but died without issue in 1719. On his death the Wynn baronetcy became extinct 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.

[edit] Possible Heir and Relatives

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, 2nd Baronet (c. 1665 – 20 October 1740). 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 Williams changed his name to Sir William Williams-Wynn of Wynnstay.^{[citation needed]}

The present heir is Sir David Watkin Williams-Wynn, 11th Baronet (b. 1940).

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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 Merionethshire 1678 – 1688	Succeeded by The Marquess of Powis
Preceded by Sir William Williams, Bt	Custos Rotulorum of Merionethshire 1690 – 1711	Succeeded by Edward Vaughan
Regnal titles
Preceded by Sir Richard Wynn	Head of the House of Cunedda 1674 – 1719	Succeeded by Unknown
Baronetage of England
Preceded by Richard Wynn	Baronet (of Gwydir) 1674–1719	Succeeded by Extinct