David Williams (abt. 1560 - 1613)

Note: Birth year of 1560 is a guess based on first son's birth in 1589/90.

Biography

David Williams of Gwernyfed and Kingston Bagpuize, Berks. married Margery, da. of John Games of Aberbrân, Brec. ^[1] Their first son, Henry, born 1579/80, was knighted "on the same day as his father" - July 23, 1603. Sir Henry succeeded his father in 1613.^[2]

The Williamses of Gwernyfed traced their ancestry back to the ancient kings of Britain, the lords of Brecknock and Einion Sais, but also claimed that the blood of William the Conqueror and Strongbow flowed in their veins.[26] More prosaically, in the sixteenth century they were minor gentry of Ystradfellte, Breconshire, whose fortunes were transformed by the successful legal career of [Henry's] father, Sir David Williams, attorney-general for south Wales and puisne justice of King’s Bench. His friend James Whitelocke*, observed that by the time of his death Sir David had acquired 'great living and personal wealth', which allowed him to purchase large tracts of land in Breconshire, while his marriage to the widow of John Latton of Kingston Bagpuize brought him estates in Berkshire and Oxford.[27] In 1600 he acquired the mansion house of Gwernyfed (near Hay-on-Wye), which became the family seat in Breconshire.^[2]

• [26] Glam. RO, CL/Ped. 45; Bodl. Add. A281, f. 237.
• [27] Liber Famelicus, 30.

"Sir Henry Williams of Gwenervett" is named in the 1631 will of Sir William Awbrey. The connection between the two families may be through Johne Games. "One source states Sir William's sister, Wilgiford, married Sir Henry's 1st cousin, John Games."^[3] Sir Henry died October 20, 1636 and "was not . . . interred near his father in St John’s Chapel, Brecon (now the cathedral)."^[2][4]

Sir David Williams died in January 1613, leaving his son, Sir Henry, "his Breconshire estates, consisting of nine manors and other smaller messuages, as well as lands in Herefordshire and Radnorshire.[32] A servant was given £20 to 'honestly and faithfully' acquaint Sir Henry with 'the state of my business', which was not to be 'meddled in' until Sir Henry had arrived at Kingston Bagpuize."^[2]

• [32] C142/346/180.

Sources

1. ↑ from the biography of their son Sir William posted by The History of Parliament Online, with the following footnote:
   • PROB 11/121, ff. 18-20; Glam. RO, CL/Ped. 45; Bodl. Add. A281, f. 237. The ped. in G.T. Clark, Limbus Patrum Morganiae et Glamorganiae, 202 is erroneous.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} The History of Parliament Online: Sir Henry Williams (1579/80-1636), article by Lloyd Bowen (accessed April 20, 2016)
3. ↑ from Sir William's profile
4. ↑ this implies that Sir David is buried in St John’s Chapel, Brecon