Thanks horselydown86 and the others who so kindly reviewed my questions..
My primary interest was Hugh Evan, who I hrtheraoped was described as Vicar of Merthyr Cynog Breconshire. Your interpretation is "spot on" and identifies him correctly.
The Richard Saunders in the second snippet may have been a landowner, and I can find out more by studying the text of his wiil.
For furter context here is some of my research ..................Sir Hugh Evans was named as one of the benefactors in David Ap Gwilym ap Thomas of Merthyr Cynog's will in 1574.
Morgan ap Gwillam was incumbent of Merthyr Cynog and Llanfihangel Nant Bran Parishes (Indenture dated 1538), and David Thomas Davidd Gwillym is cited in an Inquisition document (Brecon) of 1601. David John Gwillam was the incumbent of Merthyr Cynog and Llanfihangel Nant Bran in 1615 and he was gifted a silver chalice by “TGP and TGB” in 1615.
There are many historical documents regarding a property known as “Bailey Brith” in Merthyr Cynog.
For example, a 1585 indenture has detailed information of it’s sale by Thomas David ap Gwillym in 1585 to David Williams of Gwernyfed . The indenture states that Thomas David ap Gwillam’s father was David Gwilym Thomas. A David Thomas ap David ap Gwilym was married to Elizabeth Havard when he took ownership of a large property in Merthyr Cynog in 1530.
As a result, there is good evidence that the Gwilym Family were influential in Merthyr Cynog from at least 1530.
It is possible that “Sir” Hugh Evans may have been somehow related to this Gwilym family. They may even have been patrons of his tenure as Vicar in the 1550’s.
Shakespeare wrote the ”Merry Wives of Windsor” around 1597 depicting the idiosyncrasies of the social classes of that era, but his characters are probably late Elizabethan.
How he chose Sir Hugh Evans is a matter of interest, but while he is obviously Welsh, he may have had nothing to do with Breconshire.
Thanks,
Llanfi
Show Posts
?? notations