Rev John Bowen of PlasyParke, Tre-lech a'r Bettws d@1754 (b. Pembrokshire?)

[BePauline]

Can anyone help find this man's ancestors? 

He was vicar here for many years but I'm not sure of his date or place of birth.  Three of his sons became vicars and in 2 of their wills, tenements in Pembrokshire (Garn and Bayvil) were given to other brothers.  Our ancestor (who is related to them) was born in Nevern, in Pembrokeshire ... so I'm wondering whether perhaps John himself came from Pembrokshire, but am wondering whether anyone in Carmarthenshire, where he spent most of his adult life, knows any more more about his origins.

[He married an Anne Williams who, I understand, was the sole heiress to the Plas y Parke estate and they had 16 children (the first 7 in 4 years!!! .. including two sets of twins!!)]

I understand that his gravestone is in Tre-lech and am hoping that it might have his age on, so that I can at least have some idea of his date of birth.

Any help greatly appreciated!

[Morganllan]

Hello 

It would be fortunate to find such an old gravestone to find John's age, but not impossible. I checked the PRs for the period but couldn't see an entry for John Bowen. His name is listed as Vicar at the end of 1752 but pages after are less clear and possibly missing. The burials do not give age at death either.

Trelech BTs have also been transcribed (from latin) on genuki:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Tre-LecharBetws/BTs.html#1753

Best Regards
Morgan

[Morganllan]

There's a Baptism on 30th January 1700 at Nevern, Pembs. John the son of George Bowen Esq and his wife Dorothy. George Bowen's Will of 1709 is at NLW:
http://hdl.handle.net/10107/658048

Worth investigation?

[omega 1]

Hello Pauline

John Bowen was born at Dugoed  in the Pembs Parish of Clydey according to a book I have & remained Vicar of Trelech until December 1753.
The Book  is Historic Carmarthenshire Homes & Their Families,also tells about Anne`s marriage.

Kind regards

omega

PS,the Property,Plas Parke not Plas y Parke

[BePauline]

Thank you Morganllan for your efforts, and Omega for the information in a book.

I'm assuming that as John was the vicar he might have a bigger gravestone than others!!

As there must be several John Bowens born in the appropriate time, does the book, Omega, say why the writer thinks this particular John was born in Dugoed, or give any information about his parents?

I'll have a look at the will you gave me the link for, Morganllan.

Thanks again. 
Pauline

[omega 1]

Hello Pauline

The writer doesn't mention John`s parents but he aslo wrote Historic Pembrokeshire & Their Families.I will have a look in there.

If you didn't/don't have the Marriage date ,John & Anne married on the 28 May 1730.
John was already Vicar of Trelech a`r Bettws when they married.

Kind Regards

omega

[BePauline]

Hi Mogan

I've had a look at the will and although the handwriting is particularly difficult to decifer, I dont think he's the father of John, as I don't think there are any John's mentioned.  There is a James mentioned, but John didn't call any of his children James (or George). He called them Thomas (father-in-law's name), John, Paul, Barnabas, Tamerlane and Gamaliel.

But thanks anyway.
Pauline

[Morganllan]

Hello 

This biography about an early Methodist mentions James Bowen of Dygoed, Clydey, and his wife Letitia.

http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s-HARR-JOH-1704.html

The Bowens of Llwyngwair were a notable Pembrokeshire family, which has been documented in "Llwyngwair and the Bowen Family" by Dillwyn Miles (2002)

Welsh Biography Online (WBO as above) has an entry about the Bowen family of Llwyngwair.

Kind Regards
Morgan

[Morganllan]

Found a Will of George Bowen of Dygoed, Clydey, 1819, so obviously Bowens lived there....

http://hdl.handle.net/10107/847855

Modified: looks as if the Bowens of LLlwngwair had associations with land in Clydey Parish:
"purchased the Clydau estate in the parish of Clydau, Pembrokeshire, from George Bowen of Llwynygwair, Pembrokeshire."

http://www.tlysau.org.uk/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=1&coll_id=77891&expand=