William Owen, who was baptised at Llangurig, Montgomeryshire, on 10 April 1732, was the fourth son of David Owen and Frances Owen (née Rogers) of Glangynwydd, Llangurig, and Cefn yr Hafodau, Llanidloes. He joined the Royal Navy in April 1750 as a midshipman on HMS Sphinx. He joined HMS Tyger in 1754, becoming her 2nd Lieutenant in October 1758, then transferred to HMS Sunderland in 1759 as 3rd Lieutenant. He saw action on several occasions in India during the Seven Years' War, lost his right arm at Pondicherry in 1760, and returned to Britain in 1761 following the sinking of the Sunderland. In 1766 he accompanied Lord William Campbell, governor of Nova Scotia, to Halifax, and the following year he was granted the island of Campobello, N.B., by Campbell. Owen established a settlement there in 1770-1771. Whilst living in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in 1768, Owen lost an eye in an election fight; he was later the town's mayor, 1775-1776. He returned to active service in 1776, was made Captain of HMS Cormorant in November 1777, but died in Madras in October 1778. His two sons were Admiral Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen and Vice-Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen. His nephew Arthur Davies Owen erected the mansion of Glansevern in Garthmyl, Montgomeryshire.
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Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales
Papers of Captain William Owen, R.N., comprising diaries and journals, 1750-1775, naval log books, 1750-1778, naval journals, 1750-1775, and other papers, 1746-[c. 1795].
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Diaries and journals of William Owen, R.N.
Preferred citation: 14438.
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Preferred citation: 14439.
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Preferred citation: 14440.
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Preferred citation: 14441.
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Preferred citation: 14442.
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Preferred citation: 14443.
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See also Victor Hugo Paltsits (ed.), Narrative of American voyages & travels of Captain William Owen, R.N. (New York Public Library, 1942).
Preferred citation: 14251.
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Preferred citation: 14252.
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Log book kept by William Owen on board HMS Sphinx, 8 Dec. 1750-7 Nov. 1751, and HMS Bristol, 12 Feb. 1751/2-18 July 1752.
Sketches of the isle of Teneriffa and Cadiz harbour at end of volume.
Preferred citation: 14253.
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Log book kept by William Owen on board HMS Eagle, 12 July-18 Oct. 1752; HMS Bristol, 18 Oct.-20 Nov. 1752; HMS Assistance, 21 Nov. 1752-31 Dec. 1753. The volume contains sketches and plans of islands and harbours including Madeira Island, Cape Verde Islands, St Johns river on the coast of Guinea and blank pages intended for Port Royal harbour and the island of Jamaica.
Preferred citation: 14254.
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Log book kept by William Owen on board HMS Assistance, 1 Jan.-29 March 1754; HMS Augusta, 1-21 April 1754 (blank); HMS Tyger, 22 April 1754-26 Jan. 1755. The volume contains sketches of Cape Belem, Porto Sancto, Madeira, Loo or Liew rock and fort in Fonchal Road, the island of Bona Vista, Tristan d'Acunha, Cape Bona Esperance, Cape Falso, and St. Augustine Bay in the island of Madagascar.
Preferred citation: 14255.
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The volume contains plans of Bombay harbour and island with Salset and parts adjacent, the form of sailing from Bombay harbour to Gheria road, and of part of Geriah river.
Preferred citation: 14256.
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Volume containing: (i) Log book kept by Nathaniel Simpson on board the Turnpenny and Blewett snow, 27 Nov. 1751-21 May 1752, with sketches of the Burlings, the rock of Lisbon and the islands of Ischia and Capri; (ii) Log book kept by William Owen on board HMS Tyger, 1 Nov. 1757-20 June 1758, including minutes of action positions of English and French squadrons and details of killed and wounded and damage, etc., off Pondicherry, 30 April 1758; and (iii) Journal kept by William Owen on board the Hunter schooner, 4-10 March 1758.
Preferred citation: 14279.
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Preferred citation: 14257.
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Log book kept by William Owen containing details of the following voyages: (i) HMS Glasgow from Spithead to Halifax, Nova Scotia, 9 Oct.-26 Nov. 1766; (ii) HMS Mermaid from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Louisbourg and the island of St John's and from thence to Halifax, Nova Scotia, 30 May-19 June 1767; (iii) HMS Garland from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to New York and return voyage, 3 July-7 Sept. 1767; (iv) HMS Glasgow from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to New York, 2 Oct.-10 Oct. 1767; (v) Journey to Philadelphia and back to New York, 13 Oct.-18 Oct. 1767; (vi) The ship Edward from New York to Falmouth, England, 24 Oct.-2 Dec. 1767.
Activities ashore in New York also recorded. Directions at end of volume for avoiding the ledges to the east and west of Sambo Island and for entering the harbour of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with copy of receipt, dated 6 May 1771, for £3 3s. from the master of the Snow Owen of Campo Bello, being the duty payable for the maintenance of the lighthouse on Sambo Island. Cf. Narrative, 11-107.
Preferred citation: 14258-14260.
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Log books kept by William Owen on board HMS Rippon and HMS Cormorant. They relate to the voyage from Plymouth to Madras and subsequent service in the East Indies.
Preferred citation: 14258.
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Preferred citation: 14259.
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(i) HMS Rippon from Joanna Island to Madras and subsequent voyages off India, 9 May-7 Nov. 1777; (ii) HMS Cormorant, 7 Nov. 1777-17 July 1778. William Owen took over command of HMS Cormorant in Trincomale on 7 Nov. 1777. The log records voyages off India and up to Suez harbour.
Preferred citation: 14260.
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Preferred citation: 14261-14271.
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Journals kept mainly by William Owen,
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HMS Bristol, 12 Feb. 1752-18 July 1752; HMS Eagle, 12 July-18 Oct. 1752; and HMS Bristol, 18 Oct.-20 Nov. 1752.
Preferred citation: 14264.
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Preferred citation: 14265.
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Duplicates.
No. 14267 badly affected by damp.
Preferred citation: 14268-14269.
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Duplicate volumes.
Preferred citation: 14270.
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Enclosed in a pocket in the front cover is an account of signals repeated and minutes taken on board HMS Queenborough (Lt Richard Collins, acting captain) in an engagement between nine sail of English ships under Vice-admiral Pocock, and eleven French ships of the line, off Frankebar [=Tharangambadi, Tamil Nadu], 5 a.m.-5.31 p.m., 10 Sept. 1759.
Preferred citation: 14271.
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HMS Seahorse, including at end of volume a description of an action in Manila, 24 Sept. 1762,
Preferred citation: 14272.
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Volume containing journal and log entries for HMS Seahorse, 18 July 1772-16 April 1773, and (?) HMS Salisbury, 17 Sept. 1773-9 July 1775.
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Preferred citation: 14285-14293.
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School exercise books of William Owen containing notes and exercises in arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, astronomy, and navigation. They include account books which purport to record the dealings of 'William Owen of Shrewsbury, merchant', but which are probably only book-keeping exercises.
Preferred citation: 14276-14277.
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Preferred citation: 14319-14330.
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Preferred citation: 14274.
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Volume compiled by William Owen containing (a) measures and proportions of figures for perspective draughts, paintings and relievos extracted from The Practice of Perspective, (b) signals as they are observed in the Royal Navy, containing coloured drawings of ships showing various flags, and firing gun signals, (c) signals as observed by the squadron under the command of Charles Watson, rear admiral of the Blue, and commander in chief of all HM ship employed in the East Indies, 1755, (d) signals, lines of battle, details of killed and wounded and of ammunition expended in various actions off India, 1756-1760, including the taking of forts at Gheria, Chandernagore, etc., and a copy of Vice Admiral Watson's declaration of war against Surraja Dowlett [i.e. Siraj ud-daula], Nabob of Bengal, etc., and (e) list of English and French ships with the number of guns in the action off Pondicherry, 10 Aug. 1778.
Preferred citation: 14281.
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Account (June 12-July 13) of the detachment of seamen belonging to the squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Watson and receipts and accounts (Sept.-Oct.) relating to the affairs of James Lytton Leslie, deceased, late of HMS Tyger.
Preferred citation: 14341.
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Preferred citation: 14339-14340.
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Preferred citation: 14280.
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Commonplace book containing signals to be observed off Pondicherry; details of the French squadron and of the British ships, a copy of a letter from Charles Steevens to the Hon. John Clevland desiring him to aquaint the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty of the brave conduct of Lieutenant William Owen at Pondicherry, where his arm had been shot off, and recommending him to their Lordships' favour; a few miscellaneous accounts.
Preferred citation: 8882-8927.
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8882-8927, 14247-14249, 14295/1-43: Receipts, accounts and bills of exchange of Captain William Owen, 1759-1778.
Preferred citation: 14247-14249.
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8882-8927, 14247-14249, 14295/1-43: Receipts, accounts and bills of exchange of Captain William Owen, 1759-1778.
Preferred citation: 14295/1-43.
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8882-8927, 14247-14249, 14295/1-43: Receipts, accounts and bills of exchange of Captain William Owen, 1759-1778.
Preferred citation: 14332.
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1. William Campbell of HMS Yarmouth;. 2. Lieutenant William Owen of HMS Sunderland. Bond to secure £75. Dated at Anjengo in the East Indies. Further transactions endorsed.
Preferred citation: 14275.
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Volumes containing a list of men hired by Lieutenant William Owen to assist in raising men for HM Fleet by the order of Captain Thomas Cleland with accounts relating thereto and list and description of men who had volunteered and had been pressed.
Preferred citation: 14284.
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Preferred citation: 14337.
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Invitation (ticket of admission) of the Society of Ancient Britons to celebrate St David's Day at a service in the church of St Martin's in the Fields and at a dinner at the London Tavern in Bishopsgate Street. Printed.
Preferred citation: 14342-3.
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Preferred citation: 14338.
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1. John David Wood, mariner, of HMS Salisbury; 2. Lieutenant William Owen. Power Of Attorney.
Preferred citation: 14336.
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Preferred citation: 14331.
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Preferred citation: 14283.
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Volume containing a list of persons invited to dine with the mayor of Shrewsbury, Captain William Owen; an account of wine, rum, and brandy and sugar ordered; and a list of benefactions received by William Owen for the relief of British troops in America and for succouring their widows and orphans.
Preferred citation: 14333.
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1. Richard Evans, shoemaker, of the town of Shrewsbury, co. Salop, William Jones, farmer, of Brace Meol in the liberties of the said town, and William Baker, baker, of Frankwell in the said town; 2. William Owen, mayor of Shrewsbury. Bond for the performance by the said Richard Evans of the office of serjeant at mace of the ward called the Castle Ward in Shrewsbury.
Preferred citation: 14334.
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1. John Fawkener, baker, George Bass, baker, and Joseph Bevan, haulier, all of Shrewsbury; 2. William Owen, mayor of Shrewsbury. Bond for the performance by the said John Fawkener of the office of serjeant at mace of the ward called the Welsh Ward in Shrewsbury.
Preferred citation: 14335.
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1. James Burley, breeches maker, John Bishop, maltster, and Robert Hill, plumber, all of Shrewsbury; 2. William Owen, esq., mayor of Shrewsbury. Bond for the performance by the said James Burley of the office of serjeant at mace of the ward called Stone Ward in Shrewsbury.
Preferred citation: 11681-2.
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Printed.
Preferred citation: 11683.
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Instructions addressed to Lieutenant William Owen of HMS Rippon to raise volunteer seamen and landmen in and about London for the said ship.
Preferred citation: 14294/1-41.
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Orders addressed to the commander of HM sloop Cormorant, mainly from Sir Edward Vernon, commander in chief of HM ships, etc., in the East Indies to Captain William Owen.
Preferred citation: 14278.
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Almanac (manuscript) with a few entries recording the sailing of the ship for Bombay and Madras and in quest of the French squadron, Pondicherry, and the death of Captain William Owen.
Preferred citation: 14346-14349.
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Accounts relating to Captain William Owen's estate. Money realised by the sale of his cloathes, etc., at the mast, expenses of his funeral, etc.
Preferred citation: 14344.
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Will of William Owen of Shrewsbury, lieutenant in HM Navy, dated 6 Aug. 1772; codicils dated 8 July 1776 and 9 Aug. 1778. Copy.
Preferred citation: 14282.
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Volume containing details of the crew of HMS Sunderland. Names, duties and positions relating to guns, sails etc. are given.
Preferred citation: 14345.
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