File FD1/1 - Cases concerning title to Cae'r berllan and Nant yr Helfa

The file comprises records of the court cases concerning title to Cae'r berllan in Tybrith, parish of Llanrwst, Denbighshire, and Nant yr Helfa, parish of Llanycil, Merionethshire. After the death of Robert Hughes in 1670, his will was declared invalid. He had no children, and both Cae'r berllan and Nant yr Helfa were inherited by his niece, Jane Williams, wife of William John ap Richard, under the terms of an entail of 1529. His widow, Ann Hughes, was permitted to hold Cae'r berllan for life, subject to paying a rent charge and delivery of the deed of entail to the rightful heiress. However, her refusal to co-operate resulted in a court case, 1672. Title to Nant yr Helfa was claimed by John Evans, alias Prichard, son of Richard Evans and nephew of Robert Hughes. Richard Davies, second husband of Ann Hughes, acted on his behalf while he was still under age, retaining the deeds and attempting to prove title under the will of R.H. Without the deeds, Jane Williams and her husband, William John ap Richard, were unable to confirm the invalidity of R.H.'s will. There appears to have been an attempt at arbitration, but in 1674-1675 the parties had recourse to an equity lawsuit, for which the defendants were compelled to produce the deeds in court. Articles of agreement were drawn up in 1676, but neither side appeared willing to relinquish their claim, and Jane Williams' sons attempted to regain title in 1691. Nant yr Helfa formed part of the lands settled by John Evans on his daughter, Jane, in 1699 prior to her marriage to Owen Hughes.