Welsh Journals

LETTERS OF A MONTGOMERYSHIRE SQUIRE MAJOR E. H. C. DAVIES, M.B.E. (Note-In some instances, when quoting at length, punctuation and spelling have been modernised for ease of reading. The Heralds' Visitations of Shropshire in 1569 and 1584, coupled with Lewis Dwnn's Visitations of Wales between 1586 and 1613, provide the descent from the 11th century Princes of Dyfed of two brothers-Reginald and Edward Davies. They were the sons of David ap Jevan of the Marshe2 who died early in 1543.3 The elder brother, Reginald, who inherited his father's "takyng in the Marshe being xxxj years", remained in Vennington until his death in 1615.4 The younger brother, Edward, moved across the border to Trewern; was called to the bar; became for a period one of the Queen's Attorneys for the Council of the Marches; and, dying in 1589,5 left two sons from one of whom probably descends the present family of Davies of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire. Reginald Davies was succeeded at Vennington by his son, Edward (born about 1583), who married Frances Charlton6 (1589-1661). He outlived his wife and after her death he left Vennington in the care of his elder son, Robert, and moved around 1665 to Maesmawr, Caersws, where he died on 14th February 1670. Edward's body was taken back to the Marshe to be buried beside that of his wife in Westbury Parish Church. 7 From this date onwards the family established itself at Maesmawr while retaining ownership of the Vennington property which was leased to a suc- cession of tenants until sold in the 1830s. Maesmawr itself, converted in Victorian days from a farmhouse to a private residence and glorified by the additional name of Hall, remained in the family for a further ninety years. Here, on 20th July 1731, was born Pryce Davies who succeeded his father in 1759. Four years later, at the comparatively early age of thirty-two and 1 Harl Soc Vol 28, p: 161 and Lewis Dwnn, ed: Meyrick, Vol 1, p: 306, TREWERN. Meyrick is in error in showing Edward and Reynold as the sons of Reynold and Elenor. Edward was Reynold's (i.e.: Reginald's) younger brother. The second Reynold does not appear in any other contemporary pedigree. 2 An area of Shropshire in the Hundred of Ford which embraced inter alia the parish of Westbury including Marsh Manor and the hamlet of Vennington. See Victoria County History of Shrop- shire, Vol VIII. (The references to the Davies family therein are not entirely correct.) 3 Will dated 23rd January. Somerset House 17 STELE. 4 Will dated 9th April. Somerset House 109 RUDD. Will dated 6th March. Somerset House 20 DRURY. 8 Daughter of Robert Charlton of Terne (c: 1544- 1634). 7 Parish Register, Westbury in Dextra Parte, 18 February 1670.