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Branches of the Morgan Family of Wales

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Tredegar House | Location Notes

The Morgan family of Wales, with roots back to Welsh princes, has several branches, and Tredegar House was owned by more than one branch.

Work on a timeline for ownership of Tredegar House (here, as well as below) is uncovering multiple profiles in WikiTree for Morgans that need work and several incorrect family connections.

This page was created as a workspace to sort out the families in WikiTree by branch, with the plan that it will remain as a reference once done.

Contents

Tredegar House, Newport

An article about the family, subtitled "Welsh, wealthy and wild, the Morgan family called Tredegar House home for centuries", notes that the family claimed descent from Welsh princes and that "the red brick mansion that you see today was built in the 1670s.... the result of renovations to the existing house.... Records show that there has been a house on this site since the medieval age".[1]

In 2012, the UK's National Trust took over management of Tredegar House[2] and provides the following overview on its website: "For more than 500 years the house was home to one of the greatest Welsh families, the Morgans, later Lords Tredegar. The Morgan family owned more than 40,000 acres in Monmouthshire, Breconshire and Glamorgan at the end of the 18th century. Their lives impacted on the population of south-east Wales socially, economically and politically and influenced the heritage of the area.[3]

A timeline of Tredegar House's ownership follows. Both the timeline and the Morgan Branches section are "in progress" and will be updated as work progresses (see the Workspace section for collected notes).

Tredegar House Timeline

From 1402-1670s is included from WikiTree's Tredegar House page for reference.[4] Ownership past Sir William Morgan, who oversaw the 1664-1672 renovation of the stone manor, rebuilding "on a larger scale from red brick, at that time a rare building material in Wales", is being developed here.[5]
  • 1402: Llewellyn Ap Morgan is living at Tredegar[6]
  • ... need owners from Llewellyn ap Morgan to whomever William Morgan (d 1569) inherited from
  • 1569: Miles Morgan, son of William's illegitimate son John[7][8]
  • 1578: Thomas Morgan (Miles' cousin)[7][9]
  • 1604 (after): Sir William Morgan succeeded his father Thomas,[10] who died in 1603[9]
  • 1652: Thomas Morgan, eldest son and heir of Sir William[10]
  • maybe missing a generation, maybe not
  • 1670s: William and Blanche Morgan[1]
  • 1680ish: Thomas, eldest son of William and Blanche (Morgan) Morgan
  • 1700: John Morgan, Thomas's brother/youngest son of William[11][12][13]
  • 1720: Sir William Morgan, son of John and Martha (Vaughan) Morgan[14]
  •  ? Catholic School
  •  ? School
  • other?
  • 2012-?: Newport [City/County?] Council[2]
  • 2062-2012: The National Trust "acquired Tredegar House from Newport County Council on a 50 year lease"[2]

Morgan Branches

Main branch and several cadet branches. The main branch of the family...

Sir William Morgan, who owned Tredegar House in the 1670s, was of the Machen Morgans. He married his cousin Blanche, who was a __[?]__ Morgan.[15] Both heirs to Morgan wealth, they pooled their resources to renovate the family home....[16]

Machen Cadet Branch

Thomas Morgan, MP, headed the cadet branch of the family at Machen. The History of Parliament Online biography of his son, Sir William Morgan (1567-1652), provides a bit of history of Tredegar House: "In 1578, the death of Miles Morgan brought the Tredegar estate to the Machen branch of the family, which thereafter enjoyed a formidable landed presence in the south-west of the county."[10] Thomas was the eldest son of Sir Rowland Morgan of Machen, Monmouthshire. "He inherited Tredegar House from his cousin Miles Morgan, who had died at sea after inheriting it from William Morgan."[8][17][18]

Tredegar Cadet Branch

Junior Branch of Morgan of Tredegar

Copied text from BHO artilce, "MANOR OF WENTLOOG alias KEYNSHAM Sometimes Called LANRUMNEY": In a letter received from the lord of this manor by the writer, it is spoken of as "the manor of Llanrhymney, or, properly called, Wentloog, alias Keynsham. [para] It was situate in the several parishes of Rumney, Saint Mellon's and Llanedern, Monmouthshire. [para] In 1507 it belonged to the Abbey of Keynsham, and David Kemeys was bailiff thereof. At the dissolution his family acquired it. [para] A junior branch of Morgan of Tredegar held this manor in the 17th century, as may be seen by the tombs of Morgans of "Landrumney" in the north transept of Saint Mellon's church, Monmouthshire. [para] 1899. George Crofts Williams, Esq., is now the lord.[19]

Cadet Branch

Workspace

can't remember where I got the "stone manor to red brick" quote... I've lost several edits due to computer crashes & may have lost the actual source in one of them. Maybe from Becky's dissertation? (if so, I paraphrased)

from Becky's dissertation:

In the late-seventeenth century, Tredegar House experienced one of its greatest transformations in its history. Its conversion from the stone medieval manor to the grand brick mansion, and the extensive reconstruction this occasioned, was conducted by Sir William Morgan between 1664 and 1672. The original estate had been a success for the Morgans, however, it is apparent that they wanted to reconfigure their home to reflect their new wealth. There were, however, earlier transitions but there are no surviving documents which relate to the reconfiguring of the medieval house at Tredegar apart from references to the hall which suggests that such alterations occurred towards the end of the fifteenth century. According to John Leland there was ‘a fair place of stone’ at Tredegar in c.1540,1 while its grandeur was sufficient for Charles I to stay at the home during the civil wars as he remained there between 16 and 17 July 1645.2

1 John Leland, Itinerary, ed. Lucy Toulmin Smith (London: Centaur, 1964), IV, vol. 3, pp.31-3.
2 David Freeman, Tredegar House (Newport: Newport Borough Council, 1982), p.4.

and

Clearly, there was a major difference between the original stone manor of Tredegar and the brick mansion which Sir William had commissioned. From examining the wing that remains today, there are clear architectural differences between the two houses other than the materials which they are made from. The remaining medieval wing is defensive in its structure, with small double-barred windows facing the courtyard.

from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tredegar_House#cite_note-Tredegar-House-Brief-History- The earliest surviving part of the building dates back to the late 15th century.[4] The house was originally built of stone and had sufficient status to host Charles I. Between 1664 and 1672, however, William Morgan decided to rebuild the house on a larger scale from red brick, at that time a rare building material in Wales. The architect of the enlarged house is not known for certain, but Newman follows Howard Colvin's suggestion that the design was by Roger and William Hurlbutt, who had worked in a similar style at Ragley Hall and Warwick Castle.[5] The architectural historian Peter Smith, writing in his work Houses of the Welsh Countryside, called Tredegar, "the most splendid brick house of the seventeenth century in Wales".[1] In his 1882 publication, local historian Octavius Morgan provides a plan of an intricate garden maze which was in place prior to the 1660s improvements and which probably dated from the time of Queen Elizabeth I.[6]

from the friends of Tredegar House website - http://www.friends-of-tredegar-house.co.uk/ ... "This site is modified and administrated by Annie Parker"

Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th century buildings in the whole of the Britain.

The earliest documented owner of a house at Tredegar is Llewelyn ap Morgan, who was alive in 1402, whilst in 1540 John Leland mentions "a very faire place of stone", called Tredegar. Meanwhile Charles I and his retinue visited the house in 1645, which indicates the importance of the property.

Tredegar House is largely a creation of the late 17th century: between 1664 - 1672 it was rebuilt on a palatial scale when a sequence of state rooms was incorporated into the building. At this time the estate comprised 1,000 acres, of which 90 acres remain today.

The Lords of Tredegar are no more, the last dying in 1962. The House was sold and it's contents dispersed in 1951 and for 23 years it was a school. Taking over Tredegar House in 1974, Newport Borough Council began restoring and refurbishing the property.

The story of Tredegar House and the Morgan family is a fascinating one. To find out more become a Friend and help to restore one of the finest 17th properties in Wales. Editable information from the timeline copied 13 April, 5am:

  • 1402: Llewellyn Ap Morgan is living at Tredegar[6]
  • 1569: William Morgan dies, naming as heir Miles Morgan, son of his illegitimate son John;[7] Miles Morgan inherits Tredegar House.[8]
  • 1578: Miles Morgan "perished at sea in the service of Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1578, leaving Tredegar to his cousin Thomas Morgan."[7] Thomas, son of Rowland Morgan, inherits Tredegar House from his cousin Miles.[8]
  • 1603: Thomas Morgan dies.[9]
  • 1604 (after): Sir William Morgan succeeded his father Thomas[10]
  • 1651: Sir William writes his will, naming as heir his eldest son Thomas Morgan[10]
  • 1670s: William Morgan and Blanche, his wife, renovate the stone manor to red brick.

extracted from a quote in the Tredegar House article on the family on WikiTree's Tredegar House page: "Sir William Morgan and his wife, Blanche, were the visionaries behind the red brick mansion that you see today [which] was built in the 1670s...."[1]

The History of Parliament Online biography for Sir William Morgan of Tredegar and Machen, Monmouthshire (1567-1652) notes that the Morgans "claimed descent from Cadifor Fawr, an eleventh-century prince of Dyfed. Central in establishing their fortunes was the marriage in the early fourteenth century of Sir Llewellyn ab Ifor with Angharad, heiress to Sir Morgan ap Maredudd, lord of Tredegar."[10] Angharad is a descendant of The Lord Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth.[20]

Wikipedia also reports the connection to Cadifor Fawr: "Tredegar's name came from Tredegar Fawr, the name of the mansion or seat of the old Morgans, who were descended from Cadifor the Great the son of Collwyn; and the owners of the land upon which Tredegar stands. The earliest record of someone with the name Morgan living at Tredegar is 1402: a Llewellyn Ap Morgan."[6][21]

Sir William's parents: Thomas (also an MP) & "Elizabeth, da. of Roger Bodenham of Rotherwas, Herefs.". Sir William's heir was his son Thomas, by his first wife Elizabeth Wynter. Thomas "represented Monmouthshire in the Short and first Protectorate Parliaments. [Sir William] Morgan’s portrait, painted around 1650, is held at Tredegar House, and hints at the approaching mortality of the aged Member, by including a skull on his left hand."[10] The National Trust's Tredegar collection once included a portrait of Sir William Morgan (1560-1653) and has an entry for it but no image, as it is no longer owned by the National Trust.[22]

Summary: Oil painting on canvas, Sir William Morgan (1560 - 1653), style of Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680). A full-length portrait of a man, wearing a contemporary wig and lace cravat, but the rest of his dress is a version of classical costume that was popular in portraits of men in the 1660s-1670s, making him look like a Roman general in armour. His left hand is resting on his armour helmet.
Provenance: This painting was sold from the house in the mid 20th century and is now on loan to the National Trust. When the house was built the State Dining Room had busts of Roman Emperors all around the interior and it is possible that this portrait was comissioned to hang there; bought by Private Treaty sale, 2014.

A bit of a tangle. William Morgan, son of Morgan Llewellyn of Blaentringarth, Ystradfellte, Brec., married (after having lived as man/wife with another woman - see his profile) Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of William Morgan. "In his will of 27 May 1649, Morgan directed that he be buried in Brecon church next to his father. He left his estates to his son, William, and provided for a portion of up to £2,000 for his daughter, Blanche. Morgan entreated his children to be guided by his brother-in-law, Thomas Morgan† of Machen...." [† means he was an MP but his biography is not online][23]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tredegar House: Meet the Morgan Family (accessed 13 April 2022).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Tredegar House, Newport" (The National Trust : September 2018; accessed 13 April 2022).
  3. ↑ Tredegar House: Overview (accessed 13 April 2022).
  4. ↑ Copy of timeline on Tredegar House page, 13 Apr 2022, 7 am (try to remember not to edit it and to update it periodically from that page. Once all the profiles are sorted, links can be added.
  5. ↑ From the dissertation of Becky Gingell (see "Additional Reading" (below).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wikipedia: Tredegar House (accessed 10 April 2022).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 History of Parliament Online: William Morgan (-1569).
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 From the WikiTree profile for Thomas Morgan MP (1534-1603), citing his Wikipedia article.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 History of Parliament Online: Thomas Morgan ( - 1603). Thomas "suc. fa. 1577, cos. 1578".
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 History of Parliament Online: Sir William Morgan (1567-1652).
  11. ↑ From John's profile (Morgan-33006): John was born in 1671. He was was the youngest son of Sir William Morgan and his wife (and cousin) Blanche. His elder brother Sir Thomas Morgan died without surviving children in 1700, leaving John to inherit the family's Tredegar Estate, as the two middle brothers had predeceased him.
  12. ↑ Comment posted on the profile for John Morgan (1671-1720): This portrait is the Tredegar collection is probably him - John Morgan (1669-1719) - "Marks and inscriptions: Top os [of?] stretcher: a portrait of John Morgan Esqre. of Tredegar and Ruperra. Lord Lieut. of Monmouth and Brecon. he married Martha Vaughan. painted by Sir G Kneller. the property of Thomas Morgan Esqre" (accessed 13 April 2022).
  13. ↑ p 128: 1734. May 2. John Hanbury again, and Thomas Morgan of Tredegar. Second son of John M. (see 1701,) and bro. to Sir Wm. M. (see 1721), b. 7 May 1702, el. M.P. for Brecon at the age of 21 in 1723 and sat till 1734, m. about 1726 Jane 2nd dau. and co-heir of Col. Maynard Colchester M.P. of Westbury- on-Severn, co. Glouc, was Judge Advocate General May 1741-68 when he res., Tand from his ofiEicial title, was known in the county as " General Morgan,") Lord Lieut, and Cus. Rot. ana Brigadier General of the Militia of cos. Monmouth and Brecon 18 June 1731-69, voted for the Excise Bill 1733, and the Convention 1739, succ. his nephew Wm. Morgan (see 1747) in the great Tredegar estates 16 July 1763, and was M.P. CO. Mon. 1734-47, and co. Brecon 1747 until his death 11 April 1769. His seats were, Tredegar, Mon., R.uperra, Glam., Dderw, co. Brecon, and Brickendonbury, Herts.
  14. ↑ From John Morgan's Wikipedia article: "In 1715, Morgan inherited Rhiwperra Castle and the manor of Gwynllwg from his uncle, Sir John Morgan and obtained the lord lieutenancy of the county and also of Brecknockshire.[4] [para] By his wife Martha Vaughan, Morgan had two sons, Sir William Morgan, upon whom he settled the Tredegar estate, and Sir Thomas Morgan, upon whom he settled Rhiwpera." ~ Wikipedia, which calls him "of Rhiwpera" and gives him birth/death dates of 4 January 1671–7 March 1720 (but no source for birth date; death date may be old/new confusion), accessed 13 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Need a source for her branch.
  16. ↑ Pretty sure ref name=TredegarHouse, but need to check & add the "why".
  17. ↑ As of 12 April 2022, there does not appear to be a WikiTree profile for cousin Miles who died in 1578. Which William Morgan Miles inherited Tredegar House from needs to be researched.
  18. ↑ For additional details and a discussion of uncertainties concerning the lineage of Sir William Morgan (1567-abt.1652), see his profile (which as of 10 April 2022 displays the "Uncertain Family" research notes box).
  19. ↑ https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cardiff-records/vol2/pp8-41
  20. ↑ The WikiTree profiles for Llewelyn and Angharad are Llewelyn ab Ifor and Angharad ferch Morgan (1300-1334). For location notes about Angharad's ancestors (but only to The Lord Rhys), see this WikiTree page.
  21. ↑ As of 12 April 2022, WikiTree appears to not have a profile for this Llewelyn ap Morgan (at least, not identifiable as the Llewelyn of Tredegar House in 1402).
  22. ↑ National Trust, Tredegar Collection (accessed 12 April 2022).
  23. ↑ History of Parliament Online: William Morgan (c1600-1649).

Additional Reading

  • Gingell, Becky. "A Study into the Material Culture of the Morgan Family of Tredegar House in the late-Seventeenth Century", 2012 dissertation (pdf) posted by Friends of Tredegar House, accessed 12 April 2022.






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