Welsh Journals

When Catherine Owens was born, the Owen Owens who was born ca. 1689 would have been 60, while his son, born 1713/4 would have been 35. We have omitted so far one vital entry in the register that records that Owen Owens Clerk was buried on 14th December 1736. Archdeacon Thomas in his history of St. Asaph diocese tells us that the vicar of Berriew appointed in 1734 was "Owen Owens B.A. of New Inn Hall, Oxford, (son of Owen Owen of Berriew)" I have not found any confirmation of his reference to New Inn Hall. Incidentally, we know that the vicar, Owen Owens, lived "upon the Glebe" and by 1749 had been vicar for 15 years and officiated himself.10 Putting all of this together, have we any basis for deciding whether Was the Vicar of Berriew between 1734 and 1753 Owen Owens, born ca. 1689 and therefore vicar at the age of 45, father of Catherine at the age of 60 and who died at the age of 64? Or was the Vicar of Berriew between 1734 and 1753 Owen Owens, born 1713/4 and therefore vicar at the age of 20, father of Catherine at the age of 35 and died at the age of 39? There is obviously no reason to believe that the younger man died after his father which was the reason why he was chosen as the vicar. Despite the other evidence of broken rules it must be admitted (mea culpa) that in this case it seems the rules were not broken. D.W.S. '"NLW Ref. SA/RD/26.