Glynllifon Estate Papers,

Scope and Content

Deeds and documents relating to the Glynllifon estate, 1465-[1st half 20 cent.]; rentals and estate accounts, 1664, 1780-1787; and family correspondence, 1657-1845, mainly the correspondence of Thomas Wynn, 1st Lord Newborough, and Spencer Bulkeley Wynn, 3rd Lord Newborough. There are also a group of letters from a William Cardell Beattie from Caernarfon goal.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Wynn family of Boduan, Llŷn, claimed descent from Cilmin Troed-ddu. John Wynn was standard-bearer for Edward VI in the fighting near Norwich against Ket and his co-rebels in 1549, receiving Bardsey Island as a gift of honour for his bravery. The Boduan estate then descended in the male line. Sir Thomas Wynn (d. 1749) married Francis, daughter and sole-heiress of John Glynne of Glynllifon, thus uniting the Boduan and Glynllifon estates.
The Glynne family had acquired Glynllifon by the marriage of Tudur Goch and Morfudd which became the chief seat of their descendants. The estate descended in the male line until John Glynne (fl. 1644-1669), whose heiress, Francis married Sir Thomas Wynn (d. 1749).
Thomas and Francis's heir was their son Sir John Wynn (1701-1773), 2nd Bart., who through his marriage to Jane Wynne acquired the Melai and Maenan Abbey estates in Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire. The combination of the three estates established Glynllifon as the foremost family in Caernarfonshire. Their son, Sir Thomas Wynn (1736-1807) was created a peer of Ireland in 1776, becoming known as Lord Newborough. He married secondly, Maria Stella Patronialla, who claimed to be the daughter of Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans, afterwards King of France, although it was never proved.
According to the 1873 return of owners of land, Lord Newborough owned an estimated 28,800 acres in Wales (in Caernarfonshire, Merionethshire, Denbighshire and Anglesey), with an estimated rental of £22,728.
On the death of Spencer Bulkeley, 3rd Baron Newborough in 1888, the title passed to his grandson, William Charles Wynn (1873-1916), 4th Baron Newborough; while the estates went to his youngest son, Frederick George Wynn (1853-1932).

Arrangement

Arranged into deeds, correspondence, letters of William Cardell Beattie and miscellaneous correspondence.

Access Information

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Acquisition Information

Purchased at Sothebys in 1949.

Note

The Wynn family of Boduan, Llŷn, claimed descent from Cilmin Troed-ddu. John Wynn was standard-bearer for Edward VI in the fighting near Norwich against Ket and his co-rebels in 1549, receiving Bardsey Island as a gift of honour for his bravery. The Boduan estate then descended in the male line. Sir Thomas Wynn (d. 1749) married Francis, daughter and sole-heiress of John Glynne of Glynllifon, thus uniting the Boduan and Glynllifon estates.
The Glynne family had acquired Glynllifon by the marriage of Tudur Goch and Morfudd which became the chief seat of their descendants. The estate descended in the male line until John Glynne (fl. 1644-1669), whose heiress, Francis married Sir Thomas Wynn (d. 1749).
Thomas and Francis's heir was their son Sir John Wynn (1701-1773), 2nd Bart., who through his marriage to Jane Wynne acquired the Melai and Maenan Abbey estates in Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire. The combination of the three estates established Glynllifon as the foremost family in Caernarfonshire. Their son, Sir Thomas Wynn (1736-1807) was created a peer of Ireland in 1776, becoming known as Lord Newborough. He married secondly, Maria Stella Patronialla, who claimed to be the daughter of Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans, afterwards King of France, although it was never proved.
According to the 1873 return of owners of land, Lord Newborough owned an estimated 28,800 acres in Wales (in Caernarfonshire, Merionethshire, Denbighshire and Anglesey), with an estimated rental of £22,728.
On the death of Spencer Bulkeley, 3rd Baron Newborough in 1888, the title passed to his grandson, William Charles Wynn (1873-1916), 4th Baron Newborough; while the estates went to his youngest son, Frederick George Wynn (1853-1932).

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

Other Finding Aids

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at NLW.

Archivist's Note

October 2002.

Compiled by Mair James.

The following source was used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Glynllifon Estate Records;

Conditions Governing Use

Usual copyright laws apply.

Appraisal Information

Action: All records purchased by NLW have been retained.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

Related Material

The main Glynllifon estate archive is Caernarfon Record Office, XFD/2 (Newborough Archives).

Additional Information

Published