Dangos 1957 canlyniad

Anne, the widow of James Lewis of Llanbadarn Fawr, Radnorshire, and daughter and heir of John Thomas of Cryngae and Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire, married James Johnes (fl. 1586), the youngest son of Sir Thomas Johnes (fl. 1541-1544) of Abermarlais, Carmarthenshire, and Haroldston, Pembrokeshire.

The Dolaucothi estate remained in the male line of the same family until the death of John Johnes (1800-1876). He was succeeded by his daughters and co-heirs, Charlotte Anna Maria (1825-1911, dsp.) the wife of Charles Caesar Cookman, and Elizabeth (dsp. 1927) the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Hills who adopted the surname Hills-Johnes (1833-1919). He was the son of James Hills of Neechindipore, Bengal. Elizabeth bequeathed Dolaucothi to her kinsman, the Rev. Herbert Thomas Lloyd-Johnes (1871-1958). He was succeeded by his son Major Herbert Johnes Lloyd-Johnes (b. 1900).

The Johnes family acquired the Dolaucothi estate in Carmarthenshire following the marriage of Anne, the widow of James Lewis of Llanbadarn Fawr, Radnorshire, and daughter and heir of John Thomas of Cryngae and Dolaucothi, with James Johnes (alive 1586), the youngest son of Sir Thomas Johnes (alive 1541-1544) of Abermarlais, Carmarthenshire, and Haroldston, Pembrokeshire.

The Dolaucothi estate descended in the male line of the same family until the death of John Johnes (1800-1876). He was succeeded by his daughters and co-heirs, Charlotte Anna Maria (1825-1911, dsp.) the wife of Charles Caesar Cookman, and Elizabeth (dsp. 1927) the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Hills who adopted the surname Hills-Johnes (1833-1919) He was the son of James Hills of Neechindipore, Bengal. Elizabeth bequeathed Dolaucothi to her kinsman, the Rev. Herbert Thomas Lloyd-Johnes (1871-1958). He was succeeded by his son Major Herbert Johnes Lloyd-Johnes (b. 1900).

The Myddelton family had been prominent in the affairs of North Wales since at least the fifteenth century. Robert Myddelton, the son of Rhirid ap David of Penllyn (alive 1393-1396), assumed the surname of his mother, Cecilia daughter and heir of Sir Alexander Middleton of Middleton in the parish of Chirbury, Shropshire. Robert's grandson David Myddelton was receiver-general for North Wales, during the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III. David's son Ffoulke Myddelton was governor of Denbigh castle, as was Ffoulke's son Richard Myddelton (c.1508-1575).

Richard's son Sir Thomas Myddelton (1550-1631) was a founder member of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the lucrative expeditions by Drake, Raleigh and Hawkins. His wealth enabled him to buy the castle and lordship of Chirk for £5,000 from St John of Bletsloe in 1595. Sir Thomas had been apprenticed to a London grocer, and became a freeman of Grocers' Company in 1582, surveyor of the outports c.1580 and by 1595 was employed on public business such as the valuing prize cargoes, raising emergency military and naval supplies, and giving advice on currency problems. Sir Thomas was MP for Merionethshire 1597 and lord lieutenant 1599, lord mayor of London 1613, and MP for the city of London 1624-1626. In 1615 he acquired an Essex manor as a country seat nearer to his place of business in Tower Street, and also bought other properties in the Home counties. In 1628-1629 he purchased the crown lordship of Arwystli and Cyfeiliog, which he later resold.

The heir to Sir Thomas's Welsh estates was his oldest surviving son, Thomas Myddelton (1586-1666), who purchased Ruthin Castle in 1632, and acquired the stewardship and lordship of Ruthin in 1635. He entered parliament in 1624 as MP for Weymouth, before changing to Denbighshire in 1625. He was also elected for the Long parliament. He became a Parliamentary commander during the Civil War. After the restoration of the monarchy, Chirk Castle underwent a programme of major building work, during which the family lived at Cefn-y-wern until 1672.

Sir William Myddelton (1694-1718), 4th baronet, died unmarried, when the baronetcy became extinct, and the Chirk Castle estate, with the lordships of Chirk, Chirklands and Ruthin passed to Robert (dsp. 1733), younger son of the 1st baronet. Robert was succeeded by his brother, John (d. 1747). During the 18th century the Myddelton family developed coal mines at Black Park and an iron forge at Pont-y-blew. On the death of John's grandson, Richard Myddelton (d. 1796), the estate was divided between his sisters. The Chirk Castle estate passed to his eldest sister, Charlotte, wife of Robert Biddulph of Ledbury, Herefordshire, who prefixed his surname with Myddelton. The Ruthin Castle estate passed to Harriet, who bequeathed the estate to her sister, Maria (d. 1843), wife of Frederick West (d. 1852), third son of John, Earl De La Warr.

According to the 1873 return of owners of land, Richard Myddelton-Biddulph of Chirk Castle owned an estimated 6,953 acres (all in Denbighshire and Merionethshire), with an estimated rental of £9,128.

The manors of Crickhowell and Tretower, with the borough of Crickhowell, lying along the valley of the Usk in Breconshire were originally in the lordship of Blaenllyfni, and, from the late 13th century, were held by Hugh de Turberville. On the marriage of his daughter and heiress, they came into the possession of Sir Grimbald Pauncefoot, in whose family they remained until 1461. they were seized by Edward IV and granted by him to William, Lord Herbert in 1463. He became Earl of Pembroke in 1468, and his grand-daughter, Elizabeth, married Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester.

By this marriage, Charles Somerset assumed in 1504 the title of baron Herbert of Raglan, Chepstow and Gower. He had been made commissioner of array for Wales in 1496, and between 1503 and 1515 he was given the stewardship of the chief Crown lordships in Monmouthshire, Radnorshire, Glamorgan, Montgomeryshire and Ruthin. In 1509 he received the constableships of the appurtenant castles and titles of sheriff of Glamorgan and Morgannwg, to which Henry VII added those of chief forester of Glamorgan, Ruthin and Montgomery in 1515.

Charles's heir was his eldest son, Henry Somerset (d. 1549), 2nd Earl who succeeded to most of his fathers Welsh offices. He extended the family influence further in Wales when he became steward and chancellor of Brecon and constable of the castle in 1523. With the dissolution of the small monastries he received Tintern Abbey in 1537. Henry's heir, William (1526-1589) lost much of the family's influence in Wales. This was caused by the revival of the Earldom of Pembroke in 1551. All their influence in central and North Wales reverted to the house of Pembroke. Most of the South Wales offices passed to William Herbert, 1st Earl of the second creation. However, William's eldest son, Edward Somerset (1553-1628), 4th Earl, recovered parts of the family's Welsh influence. He was put on the Council of Wales in 1590, and with the death of the 2nd Earl of Pembroke in 1601 secured the omission of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan from the commission of Pembroke's successor at Ludlow.

Henry Somerset (c. 1577-1646), 5th Earl and 1st marquess of Worcester, was the eldest surviving son of Edward. He died a prisoner in 1646. His son, Edward Somerset (1601-1667), 2nd marquess outlived his father by only a year. It was during this period that Oliver Cromwell seized parts of the family estate. Edward's eldest son and heir was Henry Somerset (1629-1700), 3rd marquess of Worcester and 1st Duke of Beaufort. In 1650 he sold #1,600 worth of the family estates in Glamorgan to Colonel Philip Jones. He secured the reversion of Cromwell's slice of the family estates, but since Raglan had become uninhabitable, he transferred his principal seat to Badminton, Gloucestershire.

The family continued to hold land in Wales until the end of the 19th century. In fact nine tenths of its land were situated in South Wales, with two seats in Monmouthshire, one in Breconshire, and manorial rights in three counties. Coal and iron were found on the estate in the 17th century which brought the family a steady income. The 5th Duke, Henry Somerset (1744-1803) extended his lands in Monmouthshire by buying the old Pembroke lordships of Usk and Trelech.

According to the 1873 return of owners of land the Duke of Beaufort owned an estimated 32,533 acres in Wales (in Monmouthshire, Breconshire and Glamorgan) with an estimated rental of £32,564.

Henry Adalbert Wellington Fitzroy Somrerset (1847-1924), 9th Duke, sold the Raglan estate, excluding the castle, to the Crown and the manorial rights there to his kinsman, Lord Raglan, grandson of FitzRoy James Henry Somerset (1788-1855), 1st Baron Raglan, youngest son of the 5th Duke of Beaufort.