Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1282-1919 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.383 cubic metres (13 boxes, 2 rolls)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Colby family settled on their arrival in Pembrokeshire in Bletherston which they owned from 1597 to 1786. A younger branch of the Colby family, many of whom were solicitors, lived at Bangeston in Pembroke, which they purchased in 1722. The family acquired through the marriage of John Colby in around 1715 with Anne Jones the Rhosygilwen estate, Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire. Ffynone estate was purchased by the Colby family in 1752, and the Ffynone mansion was erected in 1795. The family also inherited Dyffryn Wdig near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, through the marriage of two of the daughters, and purchased properties in the parishes of Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, and Llanfihangel Penbedw, Pembrokeshire and were actively involved in working collieries in Pembrokeshire. The estate remained in Colby possession until 1919 when John Vaughan Colby died without male issue. Ffynone passed to his daughter Aline Margaret, who married C.J.H. Spence-Jones, who took the name of Colby by royal licence in 1920. Ffynone was sold in 1927 to a Glamorgan businessman.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Mrs A Spence-Colby of Donington Hall, Ledbury, 1927, 1938 and 1949, and by Mrs L Davenport of Herefordshire, in 1966.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Ffynone estate, Manordeifi, and Rhosygwilen estate, in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, comprising deeds, probate records, settlements, etc., 1441-1915; estate and family letters, 1679-1915 (mainly 1733 onwards); rentals, 1837-1853, 1914-1915 (Ffynnone estate) and 1827-1837 (Rhosygwilen estate); and letters and accounts, 1787-1852, relating to various collieries in Pembrokeshire including Creswell, Jefferston Mountain, Hook, Amroth and Redlangoige. The archive also includes bank-books of the Tivyside Hunt, 1851-1855; muster rolls, letters, orders, orderly books, circulars, etc., of the Pembrokeshire militia, 1778-1876, but mainly 1778-1800 when Lt. Col. John Colby commanded it, including papers relating to the militia's tour of duty in Ireland, 1799-1800, which include papers relating to the trial and execution of Walter Baker, sentenced to death for conspiracy at Mallow, Ireland, 1799; papers relating to John Colby's court-martial, 1800; and deeds, accounts, and estate and family letters, 1786-1823, relating to the Orielton estate in Pembrokeshire and Anglesey, following the appointment of John Colby as receiver of that estate as a result of a legal dispute between members of the Owen family over the administration of the estate during the minority of Sir Hugh Owen.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected
System of arrangement
Arranged in two parts: (1) Spence-Colby Manuscripts and Documents (being the 1927 deposit) arranged into records of the Tivyside Hunt, Pembrokeshire militia, and deeds and documents, and (2) Additional Manuscripts and Deeds and Documents relating to the Owen and Colby estates (being the 1937-1966 deposits) arranged into correspondence, miscellaneous deeds and documents, and papers relating to the Pembrokeshire militia.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogues under the former titles, Spence Colby and Owen and Colby, are available at NLW. Online catalogues under the current title, Ffynone Estate Records, can be accessed from www.library.wales
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Formerly Spence-Colby manuscripts and documents and Deeds and documents relating to the Owen and Colby estates, Pembrokeshire. Current title supplied from contents of fonds; former titles based on names of depositors.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
GEAC system control number
Access points
Subject access points
- Coal mines and mining -- Wales -- Pembrokeshire
- Fox hunting -- Wales -- Ceredigion
- Fox hunting -- Wales -- Carmarthenshire
- Administration of estates -- Wales -- Pembrokeshire
- Administration of estates -- Wales -- Carmarthenshire
- Administration of estates -- Wales -- Ceredigion
- Pembrokeshire (Wales) -- Militia
- Ffynone Estate (Wales)
Place access points
Name access points
- Orielton Estate (Wales) -- Records and correspondence. (Subject)
- Ffynone Estate (Wales) -- Archives. (Subject)
- Rhosygilwen Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Orielton Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Tivyside Hunt (Wales) (Subject)
- Pembrokeshire militia (Subject)
- Ffynone Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Baker, Walter d. ca. 1799 (Subject)
- Owen, Hugh, Sir, 1782-1809 (Subject)
- Colby, John, Colonel (Subject)
- Colby family, of Ffynone -- Archives. (Subject)
- Owen family, of Orielton (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
May 2001.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Mair James.
Archivist's note
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, (London, 2 vols, 1872), vol. II; Jones, Francis, Historic Houses of Pembrokeshire and their families, (Newport, 1996); Jones, Francis, Historic Carmarthenshire Homes and their families, (Newport, 1997);