Plas Berw Holland's by Brian Holland
Sources Used
There are various sources of information relating to the Holland of Plas Berw, Anglesey, the main ones of which are as follows.
“The History of Berw”, written by John Williams and published by the Anglesey Antiquarian Society in 1861 gives an excellent account of the history of Plas Berw and the involvement of the Holland family in its history, from the marriage of John Holland, circa 1470 to Ellin vch Ithel, the heiress of Berw, to Thomas Holland the last surviving male who died in 1746.
“Berw and the Hollands”, Archaeologia Cambrensis, Third Series, 1868. Page 97-130. This article gives a good description of the history of Berw and has a lot of similarities with the “History of Berw”.
“Anglesey, By the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments” p99-102 gives a description of the ancient church at Llanidan and of the Mansion House, Plas Berw, including a floor plan. Also on pages 83 and 84 is a description of the parish church of St Michael in Llanfihangel Esgeifiog which was extended by the Holland family in 1638.
“Pedigrees of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire Families” by J E Griffith, p110 gives a good but incomplete pedigree of the Hollands of Berw which is based upon the pedigree in Llwyd Dwnn’s “Visitations of Wales” vol 2, page 10.
“Holland Family in Wales” Arch Camb 1867, page 165.
“Berw and the Hollands” Arch Camb 1868, page 97.
The Carreglwyd Papers in the National Library of Wales.
Griffith Pedigree & Searchable Database
A photograph of the Plas Berw Hollands pedigree page contained in Griffith's Pedigree can be seen by clicking on the link here (courtesy of Flintshire Archives). The physical size of the chart is about A3 and it can be difficult to navigate visually.
Griffith's Pedigree has been extended following further research that has drawn upon additional source material including information contained in John William's book "The History of Berw" first published in 1861 and held in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
A fully searchable database of this extended pedigree which includes images of some of the source material used can be accessed by clicking here 
. This version will be more convenient for those looking to find a specific person. Click on "Search" or "Surname Index" as appropriate.
An HTML version extracted from the pedigree can be seen here 
which will open a new page in your browser. Just close that page to return here. This version will be more convenient for those looking to find a specific name. To start navigating backwards through the descendants of John Holland, just click on his name. For those who are used to browsing with two tabs open you can easily compare the pedigree and html versions by switching between them.
Historical Summary
A summary of the history from the above documents is given below and is enhanced in the detail histories of the individual descendants. This hand drawn pedigree is based upon the one provided by Gfs page 110, and Thomas Erskine Holland in The Hollands of Conwy, but enhanced to incorporate any findings from available wills, parish records and other documents. There are several entries within the Parish Records for Llanidan and Llandegfan and neighbouring parishes which may be descendants of the main Holland family in Anglesey, however it has not been possible to make the connection with any certainty. There is no evidence to connect the descent of the Flintshire Holland line to that of Anglesey.
Plas Berw
Berw lies in the Parish of Llaniden in Anglesey; In the fourteenth century it came into the possession of Hywel ap Llewelyn ap Evan Wyddel, a seventh generation descendant of Llywarch ap Bran, Lord of Menai, by gavelkind. It passed from Hywel to his son Ithel and from him to his daughter Ellen and son Owen. John Holland ap Hywel Holland of Eglwys Bach, Denbighshire married Ellen in approximately 1430 having previously been married to Anghared ap Hywel Coetmore of Betws Y Coed. Ellen’s share of the estate which included the house at Plas Berw eventually passed to John Holland; however it is not clear whether this was at the time of her marriage or on the death of her brother Owen.
In 1521 John ap Owen ap Ithel released the whole of the Berw Estate to Owen ap John Holland forever. The estate remained in the Holland family for two hundred years during which time the family prospered due to the presence of coal; it eventually went out of the family by the marriage of Jane vch Thomas Holland to Ellis Anwyl of Brynodol due to lack of male heirs. The great Anglesey estates of Berw and Carreglwyd were eventually joined by the marriage of Mary Trygarn, daughter of Elizabeth vch Ellis Anwyl and John Griffith of Carreglwyd. The mansion house of Plas Berw is now a listed building although it is believed to be unoccupied. The deer park that once belonged to it no longer exists.
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Plas Berw, Llanidan, Anglesey (left) pictured some years ago and below a more contemporary image showing Plas Berw's very rural location.
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The current house was built in 1615 for Sir Thomas Holland and replaced the old house built in the 15th century for Ithel ap Hywel. A fuller description of the history of Plas Berw is given in the above reference documents.
Early Hollands Family Associations.
John ap Hywel Holland, b circa 1430-d circa 1499.
John was the son of Hywel Holland of Eglwys Bach. Prior to his marriage to Ellin vch Ithel he had been married to Angharad vch Dafydd ap Hywel Coetmore. There is some disagreement in the different pedigrees as to which of his descendants were from his marriage to Angharad and which were from his marriage to Ellinor; however there appears to be no doubt that his son Owen was descended from his marriage to Ellen. P C Bartrum pedigrees assume that John’s brother Morgan was issue from his first marriage to Angharad, which seems likely to be the case. John moved in high circles having been High Sheriff of Anglesey in 1461, and in Letters Patent P113, 1497, he is referred to as John Holland the Kings servant and Yeoman of the Crown. See The Hollands of Eglwys Bach for further details.
Owen ap John Holland, b circa 1460, d1529.
In 1504 Owen Holland was made Sheriff for Anglesey for life which was presumably a reward for services rendered. According to Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic in 1509 he officiated as Squires Attendant at the Coronation of Henry 8th and in 1510 Owen ap John ap Howell of London received a King’s pardon, but there is no information what for. In 1509 his brother Morgan was also officiating at the coronation of Henry 8th, so it would appear that their father was influential in obtaining those positions in the King’s court. The fact that Owen was referred to as being of London confirms the assumption made in the Hollands of Berw that Owen did not reside permanently at Berw, this raises the question as to how he carried out his duties of Sheriff. We know from a lease of the Berw lands in 1525 that he was still referring to himself as Sheriff of Anglesey. Owen married Audrey or Ethelrede Hamden. According to Gfs she was relict of Richard Hampden of Kimble, Bucks, however P C Bartrum refers to her as Ann, daughter of Richard Hampdon, and this is also repeated in The Welsh Biography Online account of the Hollands of Berw, which says the marriage took place between 1520 and 22. They are only known to have had one child, Edward, who eventually inherited the estate. Owen died in 1529, a transcript of his will is shown below:-
Will of Owen Holland of Plas Berw Anglesey-1529 (transcribed from the original document)
"In the name of God Amen in the 4th day of march the lord God in ye 20 th in the (???) year of our sovereign lord king Henry the eighth the 21, I Owen Holland of the parish of great (kanbell) in the county of (Anglesey) esquire being whole in mind and sound in memory thanks be to God make and ordain my testament and last will in manner and form following.
First I give and bequeath my soul unto almighty God my maker and unto the blessed lady (hyb????) t all the holy company of heaven my body to be buried on a holy place at the will of my executors. Item (???) I bequeath and give unto the (gulter) of the parish of Great Kimbell six shillings (??????) (Item) I give and bequeath towards the reparation of the Cathedral Church of (Bangor) six shillings six (pence) Then for the maintenance of the (lyghts) of Mary Magdelaine saint John the Baptist saint Peter Saint Anthony Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret at Kembell church (10 10 10) to every (lights) I give and bequeath unto the parish church of Saint Martin in Denbigh land where I was born called Eglwys Bach a chalice of silver parcel gilt unto the use of the parish. Item I give and bequeath unto the parish Llanidan Anglesey toward the reparation of the same church ten shillings.
Item I give towards the reparation of Saint Myghell called (scivc??) (English) six shillings six pence. Item I give towards the reparation of the parish church of (Harmon???) in Midd six shillings six pence. Then I give and bequeath unto the reparation and maintenance of the (?????) of (Strytib) of Llay Isayb in Anglesey Bangor Southland and Denbigh twenty six shillings six pence(???????) to pay six shillings and pence to every place of the said (friers) Item I wish that at the day of my decease (??????) be distributed unto twenty poor persons twenty grotes. And great a space so they do dwell in my (??????) the rescuers of poor men two pence apiece and likewise at the months mind at the discretion of my executors I will that sgt Henry my chaplain have meat and drink at Kembell (????)the year to be paid by the hands of my (stirmose) of (posy) place during my lease in the (sa??????)if he lives after my lease ends and determines I will that my executors pay in my name every one of them a (Corve a pece)Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin John Holland, yeoman as is the kings grace my (chamblyff) gown with libardes. Then I give and bequeath unto my uncle Erys ap Rys a (dorblyff) of (saftyne) .I give and bequeath unto Richard ap David my cousin my signet (?/olde)
Item I give and bequeath unto my nephew Hugh Holland my gown (surrid) with (conys) Item I give and bequeath to Margaret Gayles of London, widow, a cow in the keeping of John Porter of Hyfion parish (???ridd) Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin Julian of London a cow being in the keeping of the said John Porter. Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Hughes of Hefron an oxe in the keeping of the said John Porter. Item I give and bequeath unto (Muchas) Holland an oxe in the keeping of the said John Porter. Item I give and bequeath unto George (Bructhons) of the queens wardrobe two oxen in the keeping of (Jencyns) of the parish of Endbury Item I give and bequeath unto David lord of Richemownt all the arrears of rent and debts that he doth (?????) at the time of his death. Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Holland of London goldsmiths pearls.
Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin Winfry of London ,grocer, other (???) to be paid by the hands of my executors (?????) it happen any of them two to die afore they come unto the age of twenty one years the other one surviving to have(????) holy. Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Margaret of Llysfaen ten pounds. I give and bequeath unto my sister Anne Berchamp two oxen in the keeping of Jenyns of (Conbury) in Mydd Also I give and bequeath unto Edward Holland my son two hundred the (?????). Item I give and bequeath unto the marriage of (Catherine) the daughter of Morris dd late my first (????) Also this is the last will of me the said Owen touching the disposition of all my lands, messuages and tenements with their appurtenances as well in (??????) and willed that I have or any other has to my use pertaining or in any wise belonging thereof diverse persons at my (notion) be put of trust and stands (ensconced) unto my use for the enforcement of my will.
Wherefore I will that immediately after my decease they do stand (feoffes) (???) to the use of Audry my loving wife of her life. And after her decease unto the use of my son Edward Holland and thereto keep him at the scole and fynd him and his heirs for ever more. (????) The residue of goods and chattels as well in England as in Wales and this present will and last (????anent) exercised and (person??yd) and my funeral expenses done and fulfilled. I give and bequeath unto Audry Holland my wife and to Edward Holland my son whom I make and ordain (???) my executors by these present testament. And overseers Robert (?slon) of Aston and Giles (???lyner) of London, gent, and every of them to have (pls)
Witness whereof I the said Owen Holland (????) subscribed my name to this present testament with mine own hand in the presence of William Legchum vicar of Kimbell, Henry Champry and the said Robert Skelton John Hampden".
It is interesting that Owen was born in Eglwys Bach as this indicates that John and Ellin were not living at Plas Berw in the early years of their marriage. His beneficiaries include his cousin John Holland, yeoman as in the King’s grace. This is probably his nephew son of Morgan Holland of Eglwys Bach. It is strange that he also leaves a bequest to Hugh Holland his nephew who is probably also a son of Morgan Holland and therefore brother of John. The term cousin was used loosely in the Middle Ages to refer to a near kinsman; it is possible that he used cousin for John and nephew for Hugh because they had different mothers. The fact that John was at the time outlawed may also have had something to do with it. It has not been possible to identify the origin of his uncle Erys ap Rhys or the other named cousins some of whom may have been his wife’s relatives. Several of the bequests were to people from London and Middlesex which supports the assumption that he spent much of his time away from Berw. His wife Audrey (Elthelrede) survived him and remarried to Griffith Richards.
In 1537 there is a deed confirming the release of Plas Berw to Griffith Richard and Ethelrede his wife, widow of Owen Holland and her son Edward Holland. (Carreglwyd1, 2149). This was the culmination of a dispute over title to Plas Berw following Owen’s death between John Owen, Priest son of Owen ap Ithel and Ethelrede, Owen’s widow. The dispute rumbled on as there was a Final Concord in 1538 between Gruffudd Richard Esq. and Ethelrede his wife and John Owen, Priest. (Carreglwyd 1, MSS2264). There is no trace of Ethelrede after 1538.
Edward ap Owen Holland, b circa 1500, d circa 1560.
Little is known of Edward Holland. In Carreglwyd1, MSS 2149 dated 1537 he is referred to as the son of Ethelrede widow of Owen Holland, and in MSS 162 dated 1519 states that there was proof that he was a barrister. In MSS22, 1642 he is referred to as Edward Holland, Gent of Berw. Unlike his ancestors and descendents there is no evidence that he held any official positions in the county of Anglesey or the King’s court.
He married Ellin vch Roland Griffith of Plas Newydd, Anglesey and they had two known children; Owen, who succeeded him as heir of Berw and Ellin who married her cousin Hugh ap Jeffrey Holland of Eglwys Bach. According to Gfs. in 1560 Ellin married 2nd William Hampton of Henllys, Llanfaes, Anglesey, a large land owner who became Mayor of Beaumaris in 1562. He had previously been married to Gaynor vch William Lewis with whom he had five children. With Ellin he had a further seven children. William Hampton who inherited the estate of Henllys married Margaret vch Robert Wynn of Voelas the sister of Cadwalader Wynne of Voelas who in 1592 married for his second wife Anne vch Owen Holland, Ellin’s Granddaughter.
According to Gfs page 92 their other children were Robert and Henry, twins, living in 1578; Elin who married Robert ap Rhys of Llanfairynghornwy; Elizabeth who married Geoffrey Owen ap John Wynn of Eglwys Bach; Ales (Alice) who married Thomas ap William of Trefadog and Margaret who died young. Edward must have died sometime before 1560, Ellin must have been some years younger than him because in 1560 she was referenced in a deed (Carreglwyd1, MSS1132) as being Elyn the wife of William Hampton. Interestingly in 1621, Jane daughter of Anne vch Owen Holland and Cadwalader Wynn of Voelas, Ellin’s great granddaughter, married William Holland of Pennant of Eglwys Bach, her great great grandson. Edward must have been quite a bit older than Ellin for her to have remarried and had so many more children.
Plas Newydd, the estate of Ellin’s father Rowland Griffith, is now owned by the National Trust and is a well known tourist attraction in Anglesey.
Owen ap Edward Holland, b circa 1555, d1601.
Owen could only have been an infant when his father Edward died; presumably the Berw Estate was managed by his mother Elizabeth and her second husband William Hamton until he came of age. He was Escheator for Anglesey in 1574-5, Justice of the Peace in 1583 and had two terms as Sheriff from 1590-91 and 1598-99. Between 1575 and 1588 he married Elizabeth vch Sir Richard Bulkeley, Kt., who held several high ranking positions in Anglesey, including Constable of Beaumaris Castle, High Sheriff, MP and Mayor of Beaumaris. He built the Baron Hill Mansion which became the family residence of succeeding generations. The Mansion fell into disrepair during the early 20th century being victim of punitive death duties. The Baron Hill papers held in the Bangor University library are a source of many documents relating to the Holland family.
 Baron Hill as it was (above) and as it is now (right). |
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The following is a description of Owen Holland as given in www.historyofparliamentonline.org
“Holland’s own marriage into the Bulkeleys consolidated his position and explains his election for the shire in 1584. He may have attended the subsidy committee to which all the knights of the shire were appointed on 24 Feb. 1585.
In 1576 Holland was summoned for an unknown reason before the Privy Council. Four years later, a letter from the Council recommending him to the lord chief justice of Ireland suggests that he sought employment there, but nothing further is known of it. He exchanged some land in 1596 with his neighbour and kinsman, Sir Henry Bagnall, acquiring thereby coal rights in the township of Ysceifiog, which his mother Elizabeth had granted to Bagnall’s father in 1577. The coal had been worked by a succession of crown lessees since about 1450: Holland had been bargaining with some of them since 1576, and he now acquired from Bagnall the fee simple of some of the best coal-bearing lands. He had settled his inherited lands on his children in 1578, and between that date and 1599 he acquired many small properties in south-western Anglesey. He died 1 Feb. 1601. His eldest son Rowland had predeceased him, and the estate passed to his second son Thomas”
Owen and Elizabeth had 14 children, between their marriage in 1578 and his death in 1601. We have no information to indicate the respective birth dates of these children, according to the above text Rowland was the eldest son. Their children and their descendants were as follows:-
Rowland Holland b circa 1575-76; Little is known of him. According to the Gfs pedigree he was alive in 1625 and died without issue, however this conflicts with the above notion that he predeceased his father who died in 1601. There is no evidence that he married or had children.
Sir Thomas Holland Kt. b circa 1577, d1643.
It is evident from the Carreglwyd Papers in the NLW Archives that Thomas started to officiate on behalf of the Berw Estate immediately after the decease of his father Owen in 1601; from this we can presume he was the second son. He never married and eventually the estate passed to his nephew Owen Holland.
The following passage from the History of Parliament website gives a short summary of his life.
Family and Education
b. 1577, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Owen Holland of Berw by Elizabeth, da. of Sir Richard Bulkeley. educ. St. Edmund Hall, Oxf. 1593; Furnival’s Inn; L. Inn 1595. unm. suc. fa. 1601. Kntd. 1622.
Offices Held; J.p.q. Anglesey from c.1601, sheriff 1608-9, 1621-2, 1640-1; capt. of trainbands, Tindaethwy hundred, Anglesey 1614; dep. lt. by 1637.2
Biography
His father’s consolidation of the family estate, and his connection with the Bulkeley family enabled Holland to emerge a considerable figure in early Stuart Anglesey. He rebuilt the family residence at Berw, and purchased a town house and other properties in Beaumaris as well as a number of leases of land in south-western Anglesey. He completed his control of the coal resources of Ysceifiog township by leasing the remaining moiety from the Bagnalls of Plas Newydd, having first secured a confirmation of the validity of his father’s acquisition of the other half by a special royal pardon. In 1607 he settled all his estates on his mother and brothers. Inevitably all this provoked litigation. Mill rights, water rights, fishing rights, common rights, and rights of way, were among the matters Holland disputed with his neighbours before the great sessions, council in the marches, Exchequer, and Star Chamber. One dealt with the alleged diversion by the Bulkeleys of the course of the rivers bounding his estate. Good relations were later restored, when Holland supported the Bulkeleys in their twenty-year feud with the Cheadles. Another—which resulted in disorder—was with his own vicar and the Bagnall family over his building of a private chapel adjoining the church at Llanfihangel Ysceifiog. His armorial devices were also called in question, but were finally confirmed by the College of Arms in 1636.
At the close of his life, Holland was again at loggerheads with the Bagnalls: in an action in the court of wards, it was alleged on behalf of the infant heir of Plats Plas Newydd that in the bargain over Ysceifiog mines, Holland’s father had taken advantage of the absence in Ireland of the ward’s grandfather, Sir Henry Bagnall, to drive a fraudulent bargains.
Holland was above all a business man. He worked his corn mills as a commercial proposition, and built a warehouse near the water’s edge below his house at Tai Cochion for storing the agricultural wares he imported and exported. His town house in the then flourishing port of Beaumaris, and the fact that his military duties were performed in that hundred rather than his own hundred of Menai, suggest that his business activities ranged further afield than the Berw estate. In 1641 he obtained from the Bulkeleys a licence to fish for oysters in the Menai Straits, but he did not live to exploit his privilege.
Holland is not known to have sought re-election to the Commons after 1601, although he was associated with the other gentry of the island in choosing candidates. He is not named in the parliamentary journals, but as knight for Anglesey he may have attended committees concerning the order of business (3 Nov.) and monopolies (23 Nov.). He joined in 1639 in resisting the attempt of Thomas Cheadle, as deputy governor of Beaumaris castle, to control the military forces of the island, and two years later he declined, when appealed to by Cheadle as the only resident deputy lieutenant (old and ‘unwieldy’ as he was), to take action against an alleged popish plot to seize the castle by a coup from the mainland.
It is evident from the above and the many Carreglwyd papers (see NLW Carreglwyd Papers) that Thomas was very active in his family affairs and land transactions associated with the Berw estate. He appears to have taken responsibility for arranging the marriages of those of his sisters that were married after the death of their father.
Plas Berw was to the northern end of the parish of Llanidan, whilst the parish church was situated in the village of Brynsiencyn near the Menai Straits approximately seven miles away. The parish church of St Michaels in the parish of Llanfihangel Eskeifiog (Yskeifiog) was within half a mile of Plas Berw so it is not surprising that the family preferred to go to this church in preference to that of Llanidan. This caused considerable strife and ill feeling between Sir Thomas Holland and the vicar of the Llanidan parish which was presumably exacerbated when he decided to build his own chapel onto the Llanfihangel church. This is described in some detail in The History of Berw. The Llanfihangel church is now in ruins as shown in the following picture gallery. Click the arrow to the right of the photo to advance/reverse direction.
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Old Church Llanfihangel Ysceifiog, Anglesey |
Thomas made his will on the 21st April, 1643. It would appear at the time that he was not anticipating immediate death as he refers to himself as “being in perfect health of body and sound in mind”. We know from the Carreglwyd papers that he dealt with a land transaction on April 26th , there are no further references to him within any of the papers referring to Holland within the NLW archives so it would appear that he died sometime shortly after this. Within his will he requested to be “decently interred in the church of Llanfihangel Eskeiviog in my own chapel there”. He also left a bequest of twenty shillings for the reparation of the church; there is no reference to the parish of Llaniden. According to The History of Berw in 1919 there is was no evidence of a memorial to him or any of his relatives in the church or churchyard which is surprising considering his local standing. In his will he made the following bequests:
“To my cousin Thomas Bulkeley son of my uncle Daniel Bulkeley the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings and seven pence”. Daniel was the brother of Elizabeth Bulkeley, Thomas’s mother (Gfs p42). He was married to Ellin Bulkeley of Porthmael Llanidan and they had six children (Gfs p12).
"to my brother Tristram Holland all those two messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell in the said county now in the occupation and holding of the said Tristram Holland or his assigns and all that messuage tenements and lands in Llanfihangel Eskeiviog aforesaid called Y Caerwen Wyth which I purchased off Pierce Lloyd Esq. now in the occupation of Richard John and his assigns and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of Thomas ap Jeremy and his assigns, and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of Cadwalader Griffiths or his assigns) and all those messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid in the occupation of Owen David ap Morris and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of Hugh ap John ap Jeremy and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of (damaged) Pritherch Esq. or his assigns and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of William ap Hugh ap Gr Robert and all that messuages tenements and lands Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of Owen ap Hugh ap Gr Robert and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanddrynell aforesaid now in the occupation of Richard ap Cadwalader” also “to my brother Tristram Holland the sum of twenty pounds of lawful English money”.
“to my nephew Edward Holland son of my brother Owen Holland (----damaged----) said county in the occupation of John Lewis ap Howell (????) all those tenements and lands in Rhosfelyn aforesaid in the occupation of William ap Richard Thomas and all that close situated in (damaged) in the occupation of Arthur Jeffrey”
“to my nephew Edward Holland son of my brother Owen Holland (----damaged----) said county in the occupation of John Lewis ap Howell (????) all those tenements and lands in Rhosfelyn aforesaid in the occupation of William ap Richard Thomas and all that close situated in (damaged) in the occupation of Arthur Jeffrey” also “to my nephew Sakville Holland the sum of twenty pounds of lawful English money” also “to my said nephew Edward Holland (damaged) in the town and liberty of (damaged) of Ellen Lloyd widow and her assigns”.
“to my brother Richard Holland all that messuage tenements and lands in Berw Issa in the said county currently in the occupation of William ap William ap Jeremy and all that messuage tenements and lands in Berw Issa and Trefarthyn in the occupation of Hugh Jones called by the name of (Cerrig Wyon) and all that tenements and lands in Llangefni in the said county in the occupation of William ap Edward” also “to my said brother Richard the sum of forty shillings of lawful English money”.
“to my brother Robert Holland all that messuage tenements and lands in Berw Issa in the said county currently in the occupation of John Williams and Morris Lewis and all that messuage tenements and lands in Berw Issa aforesaid in the occupation of David Lewis all that messuage tenements and lands in Berw Issa aforesaid in the occupation of Thomas ap Robert ap Aber and also all that messuage tenements and lands in Berw Issa aforesaid in the occupation of Richard Price”. Also “to my said brother Robert Holland the sum of forty shillings of lawful English money”.
“to my faithful servant Gruffith Owen the sum of ten pounds of lawfull English money. Item I give devise and bequeath to John Gruffith eldest son of the said Gruffith Owen all that close and lands with the appurtenances in Berw Issa aforesaid called Cau yr Ychern now in the occupation of the said Gruffith Owen”.
“unto Robert Williams all those two tenements in Eskeiviog and Berw Issa now in the occupation of the said Robert Williams”.
“to Owen ap Hugh grandchild of my brother Tristram Holland all that messuages tenements and lands in Llanbedr in Newborough now in the occupation of William Owen Esq. or his assigns and all that messuages tenements and lands in Llaneglwys in the said county in the occupation of Jeffrey Owen”.
“to Hugh son of Hugh Williams the sum of ten pounds of lawful English money”
“I desire my nephew Owen Holland to have (damaged) for his benefit only (damaged) lawful money of England (damaged) or not promised or disposed of otherwise by me in my life (damaged)”. Also “to my nephew Owen Holland (damaged) within one year of my decease (damaged) my said executor is to dispose of them at his pleasure. Item I give devise and bequeath to the first child whether son or daughter which my said nephew Owen Holland begot of and upon the body of Jane Lloyd his now wife the sum of twenty pounds to buy him or her a piece of plate with my armes engraved thereon in remembrance of me. Item I give devise and bequeath my said nephew Owen Holland to entertain my brethren and nephews at Berw house in decent manner until they can settle and dispose of these my bequests unto them and be able to live upon themselves otherwise, if they accept of this entertainment (damaged).
“to my well beloved sisters Gwen Holland and Marie Holland the sum of five pounds apiece of lawful English money”
“to Robert Wynn of Voelas Esq. Hugh Wynn of Llanbedr Esq. and William Hughes of Bymmynod, Gent the sum of three pounds apiece of lawful English money to buy them rings to wear for my soul and in remembrance of me.”
“to Tomas ap Richard one of my household servants the sum of forty shillings if he continue in my service and to the rest of the household servants ten shillings apiece of lawful English money”.
“to my sister in law Marie Holland all that messuages tenements and lands called Keven Ddu in the occupation of the said Marie Holland”.
“to my longest friend Richard Thomas of Beaumaris the sum of (damaged) and four pence of lawful money of England to buy (damaged)”.
Regarding his bequest to the son or daughter of his nephew Owen Holland, it is apparent that Owen’s wife Jane Lloyd was pregnant at the time Thomas made his will, as according to the parish records of Penrhoslligwy, Owen Holland son of Owen Holland and Jane Lloyd his wife was baptised on December 10th 1643. It seems strange that he should leave a bequest to an unborn child in order that it might remember him sometime in the future. If this bequest was ever honoured it would be interesting to know where the plate now is.
Owen Holland b circa 1581-82.
It is probable that Owen was the third son of Owen ap Edward but predeceased his brother Thomas. This would explain why Thomas made him his prime beneficiary and why his descendant Owen inherited the estate after Thomas’s death. (See below for further details).
Tristram Holland, Gent, b circa 1590- 1600, d1661.
According to Gfs p110 Tristram had a daughter Elizabeth who married Hugh Williams and they had issue a daughter Elizabeth. This is confirmed in his Administration Bond (NLW- B/1661/19B) where Hugh Williams was one of his administrators along with Alan Parry and Thomas Gruffydd. From this bond we know that his wife was Margaret but we have no further reference to her. According to Gfs, Elizabeth had two children, Hugh Hughes and William Hughes who was Curate of Llangristiolas in 1710. Hugh Williams, Gent of Llangaffo made his will in 1684 which was administered in 1686 (NLW B/1686/16); from this we can see that he also had another son Owen Hughes and three daughters Elizabeth, Elin and Mary. For some reason there is no mention of his son William although according to Gfs in 1710 he was Curate of Llangristiolus which is quite close to Pentre Berw and Llangaffo.
Edward Holland b circa 1590- 1600.
We are aware of his existence is from the Gfs pedigree (p110). According to The History of Berw (p37) he was a Barrister and Clerk of the Peace. In 1642 there was criminal information against him of which we have no information. As he is not mentioned in Thomas’s will it seems possible that he was living away and had means of his own.
Robert Holland, Gent, b circa 1580 -1585.
We know of Robert’s existence from Thomas’s will. There is also reference to him in the Carreglwyd papers. From the first of these (MSS 1040) dated Dec 11th 1602 he was referred to as Robert Holland of London, Gent, this would imply he was born in the early 1580’s. The document refers to a lease of land in Caerdegog (from Queen Elizabeth) together with John Griffith of London, Gent for fifty years. In 1610, (MSS 2104) “Final concord in a Fine levied at the Court of Great Sessions for co. Anglesey, held at Beaumaris” between Robert Holland, Gent, Plaintiff and William Hampton, Gent, defendant. This William Hamton was the son of William Hamton of Henllys by his marriage to Robert’s grandmother Elin Holland, relict of Edward Holland. This William Hamton was married first to Margaret vch Robert Wynne of Voylas whose brother Cadwalader Wynn was married to Robert’s Sister Anne Holland. The third reference (MSS 797) refers to release of an annuity of £5 between Robert Holland, natural son of Owen Holland, late of Berw, and Thomas Holland his brother. There is no evidence that Robert ever married.
Richard Holland, Gent, b circa 1580-1590.
We know of Richards’s existence from Thomas’s will. There is also a reference within the Carreglwyd papers (MSS 73) dated 1620 between Richard Holland of Berw, Gent and Thomas Holland of the same place, Gent, regarding a bond of £100 which is to become void if said Richard should have a wife or a child at his death. As there are no references to any children of Richard in Thomas’s will it seems likely that he never married.
John Holland b circa 1580 – 1600.
The only reference to him is his existence on the Gfs pedigree. It is conceivable that he died young.
Mary (Marie) Holland, b circa 1590-1600.
There is no reference to her on the Gfs pedigree, however we know of her existence from Thomas’s will and several references in the Carreglwyd papers. First she married Arthur Williams, Gent of Llanbadrig (llanbadricke), Anglesey in 1632. The associated marriage settlements are referenced in the Carreglwyd papers (MSS 896, 2098, 2312 2220). The marriage was very short as Arthur was deceased in 1633 (MSS523). She then married Richard Dryhurst, Gent of Denbigh, Mercer, in 1634 (MSS 2088). Her brother Thomas was actively involved in all these transactions and it would appear that he was keen to get her off his hands. According to the History of Berw (p37) she married for a third time to Richard Williams of Llysdulas Anglesey and died in 1654. There is no evidence that she had any children.
Anne Holland, b circa 1580.
According to Gfs (p326) in 1592 Anne Holland married Cadwaladr Wynne of Voelas (Voylas), Denbighshire. This must have been an arranged marriage as she can only have been in her early teens at the time. Voelas was a large estate in Denbighshire between Betws Y Coed and Llangollen which was granted to his grandfather Cadwaladr ap Morris by Henry V111; he was High Sheriff of Denbighshire (HSD) in 1548. His father Robert Wynne was Steward to Elizabeth1, he was HSD in1549 and 1574, Cadwaladr was HSD in 1605. Cadwaladr had previously been married to Winifred daughter of Kenelm Frogmorton. With whom he had six children Thomasine, Grace, Winifred, Elin, Elizabeth and Mary. With Anne he had a further six children, Margaret who married Humphrey Ffoulkes of Eglwysfach; Magdalene who married Arthur Vaughan of Pant Glas; Catherine who in 1627 married David Piers Ffoulkes of Plas Newydd, Meriadog.
This is interesting as three bloodlines of Holland come into this pedigree as David Piers Ffoulkes’s grandmother Grace was the daughter of Piers Holland of Kimnel and his aunt Jane was married to Owen Holland of Eglwysfach. (Gfs p327); Gaynor who in 1624 married William Bulkeley of Brynddu and Coedan who had been previously married to Margaret vch Richard Parry, Bishop of St Asaph and relict of George Coetmore of Coetmore with whom he had seven children. William was HAS in 1661 and according to Gfs he died in 1682 aged 80, If these dates are correct he was 22 when he married Gaynor by which time he had supposedly had seven children, this seems unlikely so either the marriage date of 1624 or the date of his death is wrong. He had seven children with Gaynor and from their son William Bulkeley descended the Bulkeleys of Brynddu. (Gfs p32 7 33); Jane who in 1621 married William Holland of Pennant Eglwysfach, they quickly had three children Robert Holland b1622, heir to the Pennant Estate, Anne Holland b1624 and Jane Holland d1630. (Gfs p24 see also Eglwysfach Hollands.) William died in 1623 and Jane then married William Wynne of Bryn Y Fran, Eglwysfach; Robert Wynne of Voelas b1607, he was HSD in 1631 and 1664. He was married three times and from his second marriage to Sidney vch Edward Thellwell descended the Wynn family of Voelas.
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| Voelas Hall |
Catherine Holland, b circa 1580- 1585.
We know from the Carreglwyd papers (MSS 357) that in 1600 Katherine Holland married Richard ap Hugh ap Robert Wynn of Tre’rgo, Anglesey gent. “1-Robert Wynne, of Tre’rgo, co. Anglesey, Gent. and Hugh ap Robert Wynne; 2-Thomas Holland of Berw, Gent.
MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT of Richard ap Hugh ap Robert Wynne and Katherine Holland, daughter of Owen Holland, esquire, deceased, and sister of the said Thomas Holland”.
We have no further information regarding Catherine.
Ellen Holland, b circa 1578-1580.
According to Gfs (P88) Elin married Hugh ap Owen of Cromlech on May 8th 1595. This was probably an arranged marriage as she would have been in her early teens. Carreglwyd MSS 420 dated 1631 refers to Owen Cromley son of Hugh Cromley to Thomas Holland relating to his sister’s (Owen’s) marriage portion. MSS 77, dated 1628 refers to a land settlement between 1-Hugh Gwyn Cromley and Owen his son, Gents and 2- Sir Thomas Holland of Berw, Kt. as follows, “Agreement to settle Cromley's lands at Caerdegog etc. on himself for life and the remainder to his son in tail”. Also MSS 418 dated 1635 between Hugh Gwyn Cromley and Sir Thomas Holland referring to the marriage portions of Hugh Gwyn Cromley’s daughters. In MSS 320 refers to a dispute involving Owen Cromley and Edward Holland of Maes y Wrach, Ellen’s nephew as follows ;
“THE BILL OF COMPLAINT of John Owen of Penrhos against Ellin Wynn, widow; Henry Lloyd of Bodwine, her son; William Williams of Trearddur; Edward Holland of Maes y Wrach and Owen Cromley in a suit for the recovery of deeds relating to properties mentioned in the will of Robert Wynne of Tre r go, deceased. This Robert Wynn was presumably the Husband of Catherine Holland Ellin’s sister.
From the above we can deduce that Ellin and Hugh had a son Owen and at least two daughters. Owen Wynn ap Hugh ap Owen married Ellin vch Owen Hughes of Cymunod and their descendants went on to be Sheriffs of Anglesey and Caernarfon. (Gfs p88). Their grandson Richard Wynn was witness to the Will of Richard Dryhurst, Ellen’s brother in law (see above, also Caerhun MSS 412 dated 1670).
Gwen Holland b circa 1590 – 1600.
She was left a bequest of £5 in Thomas Holland’s will so we know she was alive in 1643. According to Gfs (p63) she married Thomas Lloyd of Ty Marian, Heilin, Llanddyfan, a descendant of Llowarch ap Bran and heir to that estate. They had a daughter Margaret who married John Owen heir of Bodior, Rhoscolyn. They had a son Owen Owens, heir to the estate and a daughter Jane. (Gfs p75).
Margaret Holland b circa 1580-1585.
From Gfs (p240) we know that she married first William Pugh Gwyn of Pengwern, Llanwnda, Caernarfonshire descended from Collwyn ap Tango, and they had a son and heir Hugh Gwyn who married Margaret daughter of William Parry of Pont Y Go, Nantclwyd, their son Captain William Wynn continued the descent. They also had a son William who married a daughter and heiress of William ap Rhys Wynn a descendant of Iorwerdd Ddu of Glengyrog Plas, Llanbadrig. She married second Owen Meredydd, Vicar of Clynnog and a descendant of Llowarch ap Bran. They had six children none of whom inherited the estate. (Gfs p206). Owen died in 1612 and is buried at Llanwnda. If by 1612 Margaret had given birth to eight children she must have married her first husband around 1600 and therefore been born about 1580. After the death of Qwen Meredydd she married Richard Williams of Llysdulas, MP for Anglesey. He had been married twice before. According to Gfs (p114) they had issue but they all died young. He was J.P. for Anglesey 1615-c.28, Caern. 1622-6, sheriff, Anglesey 1616-17. See History of Parliament online for a brief biography.
Owen ap Owen ap Edward Holland b circa 1582, died before 1643.
Little is known of Owen other than that which occurs in the Gfs pedigree (p110. He married Mary vch Michael Evans of Plas Llandyfrydog (Gfs p70 & 150, will proved PCC 1604). There are no references to him in the Carreglwyd papers and as Thomas was bequeathing all his lands eventually to his nephew Owen ap Owen we can assume that he was deceased before 1643. According to Gfs Owen had seven children as follows:
Owen b circa 1610, d1657, his son and heir (see below).
Sackvel (Sackville) Holland, b circa 1611- 1620. Little is known of Sackville other than that he appears in the Gfs pedigree and is a beneficiary in Thomas’s will.
Margaret Holland b circa 1611-1620. Little is known of Margaret other than that she married Justinian James and they had a son Robert James who was curate of Llangristiolus. (Gfs p110).
Jane Holland b circa 1611-1620. Little is known of Jane other than she married William Hughes of Cymunod, Bodedern, Anglesey (Gfs p36). William Hughes, a descendant of Bran, Lord of Menai bought the estate from his brother Hugh. They had three daughters Ellen Mary and Elizabeth who all married. Their only son William died an infant so the estate went out of the Hughes family.
Mary Holland b circa 1611-1620. She married Captain William Morris of Treborth Ucha, Bangor, descended from Marchudd, and heir to that estate. He had been previously married to Jane Jones of Penhesgin and they had two daughters and no male heir. There is no evidence that William and Mary had any children. He died in 1668 and there is a tablet to him in Bangor Cathedral.
Gwen Holland b circa 1611-1620. She married Owen ap Richard of Llanfair yn Neubwll; it is not known whether they had any children.
Edward Holland, b1611-1620. Sir Thomas Holland left a bequest of lands and tenements in Rhosfelyn to his nephew Edward Holland. In the Gfs pedigree he is identified as Edward Holland of Maes Y Wrach. Edward made his will in 1659 which was probated in 1661(B/1661/5W). Within it he bequeaths his “right title and interest in (???) that my messuage tenement and lands called Maes y Wrach, and also all my goods cattels and chattels as well movable and immovable (my debts being discharged) unto my reputed and supposed son John who I nominate and appoint my lawful and sole executor of this my last will and testament”. He also appointed his Godson John Lloyd, Gent; David Lloyd, Gent; and Jane Owen, mother of his reputed and supposed son to witness his last will and testament. Maes Y Wrach is in Bodedern Parish near Holyhead; however he requested that his remains be interred in the Church at Llanfihangel Eskeiviog.
He seems to be in some doubt as to whether his son John is really his issue; the fact that he names Jane Owen as his son’s mother would imply that his son John was illegitimate and that the couple never married. There are no entries in the parish records for the birth of John. As he was named as Edward’s executor in 1659 it is reasonable to assume that he must have been born before 1640. We have no knowledge of what became of him.
There are two references to Edward in the Carreglwyd Papers; one is a writ of certioran to remove proceedings against Edward Holland of Berw, Gent and Thomas Pritchard of the same, Gent. (MSS 22 dated 1642) and answers to Owen Holland Esq. and Edward Holland Gent regarding a bill of complaint of Owen Cromley Gent.
Owen ap Owen ap Owen b circa 1610, d1657.
Owen married Jane vch Pierce Lloyd of Lligwy in 1642. This is referenced in Carreglwyd MSS 2093 as follows 1) Sir Thomas Holland and Owen Holland his nephew 2) Pierce Lloyd of Lligwy “settlement on the marriage of Owen Holland and Jane Lloyd of Sir Thomas Hollands property in Anglesey, also MSS 1510, marriage settlement of Trefarthyn lands. Pierce Lloyd was the heir to the Lligwy estate, both his father and grandfather had been High sheriffs of Anglesey (Gfs p135). There are several other references to land transactions within the Carreglwyd papers the final of which (MSS 1809) refers to an inventory of his goods and chattels dated Dec 12th 1656. According to the Gfs pedigree Owen and Jane had four children Thomas, Hugh, John and Jane.
However we know from the Penrhoslligwy parish records that they had a son Owen, born December 1643, who must have been their first child, presumably Jane chose to have her child at the residence of her parents. There is no further reference to Owen, presumably he died at a young age as he is not mentioned in either his mother or father’s wills and did not inherit the estate. We know from Jane’s will that they also had a daughter Madrin. There is no evidence that Owen held any official positions within the county of Anglesey, the History of Berw gives a more detailed account of his involvement in county affairs relating to raising money for the Royalists.
A summary of Owens will (PROB11/262) is as follows:-
A bequest of twenty shillings each to the poor of the parishes of Llanidan and Llanfihangel Eskeiviog. There is no request as to where he should be interred.
“to my daughter Jane Holland in case she attains the age of 21 or if she be lawfully inter married before that age by and with the consent of her mother and of the said trustees all the said messuages lands and tenements and the whole rents and profits of the same for the term of ten years next after my decease” also “the rest of his goods and chattels”.
In the event that she did not reach the age of twenty one or married before the end of the ten years then the first moiety was to go to his two youngest sons John and Hugh and the other moiety to his son and heir (presumably Thomas if Owen was deceased.). “I give and bequeath to my brother Sakville Holland One messuage and tenement in Llanyrllin which I purchased from Owen Evans and one other tenement and messuage in Llanverchill now in the tenure of Humphrey Rowland.”
“I give and bequeath to my nephew Robert James son to my sister Margaret, deceased (????) what is due to him from me as the legacy and bequest of my dear mother, deceased, the sum of ten pounds and to his sister my niece Alice James upon the same account eight pounds”
The will was made on the 9th of September whilst he was sick in body but sound in mind. He was interred on 6th December of that year, his funeral sermon being given by Robert Morgan, Bachelor of Divinity and Rector of Llanddiffran (MSS 3069B).
As all Owen’s children were under age 21 at the time of his death Jane took over the running of the estate. There are three MSS in the Carreglwyd papers indicating her involvement in estate affairs the latest being in 1673. From that point onwards estate affairs appear to have been taken over by Thomas Holland.
Jane’s will (PROB 11/498) was proved in 1690, a summary is as follows:-
When Jane made her will on January 2nd 1690 she was living in Trefarthyn and was “indisposed in health but of good and perfect mind”. She wished to be buried in the grave of her daughter Madrin in the chapel belonging to Berw and adjoining the church of Llanfihangel Eskeiviog. She left bequests for the poor of both the parishes of Llanfihangel Eskeiviog and Llaniden and for the reparation of both their parish churches as well as that of Bangor Cathedral.
She left bequests to her maid servant Ellen Frances and her man servant Edward Rowlands.
“I bequeath to my son Thomas Holland and my son John Holland the sum of ten shillings apiece”
“I also give and bequeath to my said son Thomas the sum of sixty pounds if my executors hereafter named shall have and enjoy the house and lands called Trefarthyn in where I do dwell and the tenement called Tyfery Mawr until the first day of November next after my decease without disturbance or paying any other rent or satisfaction”.
“I also give and bequeath to my said son John Holland also the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds to redeem his lands in the county of Caernarvon if the said John Holland shall within the space of one year next after my decease clear all his lands and tenements in the said county of Carnarvon”
There follows a legalistic framework to the effect that her executors can derive some benefit from these lands up to a maximum of two hundred pounds at twenty pounds per annum rent after which time the lands would be seized to the benefit of her son John Holland for the term of his natural life and after his decease to the use and behoofe of her grandson John Holland eldest son and heir of her son John Holland and the heirs of his body lawfully issuing and in default of such issue to the use and behoofe of Thomas Holland second son of the said John Holland and the heirs of his body lawfully issuing and in default of such issue to the use and behoofe of every other son of my said son John Holland and the heirs of their bodies respectively the eldest to be preferred always before the younger and in default of such issue to Jane Holland eldest daughter of the said John Holland. John only receives the benefit from these lands if his children predecease him without issue. Ultimately the two hundred pounds is to be used for the use and benefit of her three grandchildren in the proportions of fifty pounds apiece for John and Thomas and one hundred pounds for Jane.
“I give and bequeath to my dear sister Anne Woods unto my daughter Holland of Berw unto my nephews Thomas Roger Owen and William Lloyd to my nieces Blanche, Lumley and Anne Lloyd and to my cousin Owen Hughes of Beaumaris and my cousin his wife and to Dr John Jones, Deane of Bangor the sum of twenty shillings apiece to buy them mourning rings".
“I give and bequeath to my cousin Mary Diglas my cousin William Diglas his wife the sum of three pounds”
“I give and bequeath to my cousin Mary Welch the sum of forty shillings”.
“I give and bequeath to my cousin John Davies of Newborough the sum of five pounds”.
“I give and bequeath about forty pounds in Old Gold that I have in a purse and the gold ring with the Coat of Arms on and the plane gold ring to my grandson Thomas Holland and son of my said son Thomas Holland to be by my executors hereafter named delivered unto my Daughter Holland his mother who I desire to keep the same for him until he reaches the age of one and twenty years”
“I give and bequeath my other gold ring that has the stones in it to my said Daughter Holland of Berw” also “my (diapor and dainast) clothes”
“to my cousin John Owen of Bodiarth the sum of fifty pounds”, plus another one hundred pounds “to my cousin Hugh Griffith of Carnarvon the sum of fifty pounds”, plus another one hundred pounds.
”to my grandson Thomas Holland son to my said son Thomas Holland and his heirs all my messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments in the county of Anglesey and Caernarvon subject to the charges aforesaid herein hereafter expressed and I do appoint and desire that said John Owen and Hugh Griffith to manage the said estate for the benefit of my said grandson Thomas Holland until he attains the age of one and twenty years”.
“I appoint the said John Owen and Hugh Griffiths executors of this my last will and testament in trust for the benefit of my grandson Thomas Holland son of my said son Thomas Holland—until he reaches the age of twenty one”.
In making this will in favour of her grandson Thomas ap Thomas Holland Jane was concerned that her son John would contest the will in which case she gave her executors authority to invalidate the will and testament and give what was bequeathed to her son John to her grandson Thomas ap Thomas Holland. She then went on to appoint her sister Anne Wood, nephew Thomas Lloyd, Daughter Holland, Owen Hughes and Dr John Jones to be overseers of her last will and testament.
“to my said Daughter Holland of Berw all my personal stuff that is in my house at Beaumaris” also other household effects from her house at Trefarthyn.
Some notes regarding the above will:-
Daughter Holland was Catherine Lloyd, Jane’s niece and daughter of her brother Pierce ap Pierce Lloyd, she was the second wife of her son Thomas Holland.
Jane’s sister Anne was married to Thomas Wood of Rhosmor whose grandfather was HSA in 1613 and whose brother Richard was MPA in 1646, they had no issue. (Gfs p132).
Jane’s nieces Blanche, Lumley and Anne were all sisters of Catherine Lloyd, her Son Thomas’s wife.
From the above wills and the Gfs pedigree the children of Owen and Jane were as follows:-
Owen ap Owen Holland, b1643.
Owen’s birth is recorded in the Parish register of Penrhoslligwy where he was baptised on December 10th 1943, son of Owen Holland and Jane Owen. It would appear that Jane chose to have her first child at the home of her parents. There is no further record of Owen; it is probable that he died in infancy after his parents moved to Plas Berw following Sir Thomas Holland’s death, there are no parish records for Llanidan before 1646 or Llanfihangel Eskeiviog before 1703.
John ap Owen Holland, b circa 1644
(See below).
Thomas ap Owen Holland, b circa 1645, d1704.
According to Gfs (p110) he first married Dorothy vch Watkin Kyffin of Glascoed who was HSD in 1662, they had no children. Dorothy must have died soon after their marriage as Thomas married Catherine vch Pierce Lloyd of Lligwy, his mother’s niece some time in or before 1667. The parish records Llandegfan record the birth of Lumlea, daugther of Thomas Holland of Berw, Armiger, and his wife Katherine in November 1677. Lumlea was buried in August 1678. Their other known children were:-
Jane Holland, b 1678. Jane’s baptism is recorded in the PR of Llandegfan as January 1st 1678 so presumably she was born in December 1677. We have no record of her after that. As she is not mentioned in her grandmother’s will dated 1690 she probably died before then.
Anne Holland, b circa 1680, d1682. There is no baptism or burial record for Anne in the Llandegfan PR. The Gfs Pedigree (P110) states her burial as 1682, but we have found no record of this.
Thomas Holland, B circa 1680 – 1685. Thomas is mentioned in his Grandmother Jane’s will and she clearly envisaged him as the ultimate heir to the Berw estate. According to Gfs he died young but we have found no record of this. The fact that John ap Owen’s son Thomas inherited the estate would imply that he died sometime between 1690 and 1700.
Thomas ap Owen died in 1705, in his will (PROB 11/483) he left bequests to several cousins but there is no reference to his wife or immediate family so it is safe to assume they were all deceased by then.
Hugh ap Owen Holland. B circa 1645 – 1650. We only know of his existence from the Gfs pedigree according to which he died without issue. As he is not mentioned in Jane’s will he was probably deceased before 1690.
Jane vch Owen Holland, b circa 1650. According to Gfs (P110 & 243) she married Thomas Madryn heir to the estate of Madryn, Llandudwen, and a descendent of Collwyn ap Tango. His father and grandfather had both been HSC; he died in 1688 without issue. There is no mention of Jane in her grandmother’s will.
John ap Owen Ap Owen Holland b circa 1644.
Very little is known of this John Holland. In making her will is mother Jane appeared concerned that he would challenge her bequests, perhaps because she appears to have favoured her grandson Thomas ap Thomas in preference to John’s own children. According to the Gfs pedigree John is referred to as of Caernarfon and Berw and he was married to Elizabeth Levitt. The source of this information is unknown; I have so far found no trace of John Holland in Caernarfon.
John and Elizabeth had three children as follows:-
Thomas Holland, b circa 1665. (See below)
John ap John, b circa 1665 - 1670. He supposedly emigrated and never returned.
Jane vch John, b circa 1665 -1670. In 1699 Jane married Ellis Anwyl of Brynodol (Gfs p110, 210 & 342) at Llanbeblig, the fact that Caernarfon is in the parish of Llanbeblig would appear to confirm that John and his family were living there at that time. It is possible that John moved to Berw after the death of his brother Thomas in 1704. Ellis Anwyl was the son of Thomas Ellis of Glasfryn, a descendant of Owen Gwynedd. Ellis was rector of Llaniestyn, he was born in 1667 and died in 1724, according to Gfs his will was proved in Bangor in 1725; however there is no record of it in the NLW wills and probate. Their children were Thomas, of whom nothing is known; John b 1703, d 1721 at Oxford; Ellis b1711; Catherine of whom nothing is known; Jane b1705 who in 1741 married John Jones rector of Bodfean and later Llanystumdwy and they had two children Thomas and Jane (Gfs p156); Elizabeth b1701, d1792 who in 1723 married Richard Trygarn b 1697, d1730, descended from Llowarch Hwlbwrch and heir to the Trygarn estate. They had four children Robert b1725, d1731, Laura d1732, Jane d1731 and Mary who married John Griffith of Carreglwyd. Their son Holland Gryffith became heir to the three estates of Berw, Trygarn and Carreglwyd.
Thomas ap John Holland b circa 1665, d1746.
Thomas is mentioned in his grandmother Jane’s will (see above). Having taken holy orders, he had gone out to the Bermudas in 1703, and served there as a clergyman until he returned to Wales in 1706. In 1708 he inherited the Berw estate, and in August of the same year was appointed rector of Llangeinwen, Anglesey. He married first Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Holling of London, and 2nd Mary, daughter of Mutton Davies of Gwysaney . According to Gfs (p110), Elizabeth died in 1708 at Llanbeblig which is further proof that they may previously have settled in Caernarfon. By Elizabeth he had three children, John, Thomas and Robert. According to the Griffith Pedigree he married Mary in 1716; however Carreglwyd Paper 2321, dated 5th March 1708 refers to an unexecuted Deed Poll of Appointment reciting the marriage settlement of the Rev.Thomas Holland and Mary, daughter of Mutton Davies, Esq. It would appear that Thomas remarried the same year that his first wife died.
The first reference to Thomas in the Carreglwyd papers refers to appointment of an attorney regarding disputed lands in his uncle Thomas’s will (Carreglwyd 1065 dated August 1706), in it he is referred to as Rector of the town and parish of St Georges in Bermuda. The following Carreglwyd paper refers to his departure from Bermuda “Letter commendatory under the public seal of "the island of Bermuda in America" given by His Excellency Benjamin Bennett, Esq., to the Rev.Thomas Holland, on the departure of that gentleman from the said colony to be exhibited by the bearer to any enemy into whose hands the vessel in which the clergyman is returning to Europe may chance to fall. The letter declares that Governor Bennett has distinguished himself by humanity to prisoners, subjects of the King of France, brought into his island”. It would appear from other entries in the Carreglwyd papers that he moved to Plas Gronwy in 1710, Gresford in 1713 and Marchwiel in 1720. Thomas’s marriage to Mary was lucrative as from it he acquired land in Flintshire and Denbighshire and was able to purchase more land in Anglesey. It also led him to the Rectory of Marchwiel. According to the History of Berw there was a portrait of Rev Thomas Holland hanging in Carreglwyd, the current whereabouts of this painting are unknown.
Mary died in 1740, they had no issue. Thomas died towards the end of 1746; his will PROB 11/750 was proved 26 Nov. 1746, he was the last of the name to inherit the estate, as three sons had predeceased him. His main beneficiary was his niece Elizabeth Trygarn, daughter of his sister Jane, the widow of Ellis Anwyl. She inherited the whole of the Berw estate as all Thomas’s male heirs predeceased him. His bequest also included some messuages and tenements in Brymbo, Denbighshire, bequeathed to him by his kinswoman Elizabeth Holland, Who this Elizabeth Holland was is a mystery, it seems unlikely that he would refer to his deceased mother as kinswoman; no other Elizabeth Holland has appeared on the pedigree. Also he bequeaths his nephew John Kennion the sum of two hundred pounds, as his only known sister was Jane (Holland) Anwyl, the origin of John Kennion is a also a mystery.
Robert ap Thomas Holland, b 1708.
According to the Gfs pedigree Robert was born in 1708, presumably in Llanbeblig. As Elizabeth died in the same year it is possible she died in childbirth. There is no record of him after this.
John ap Thomas Holland, b circa 1705, d 1737.
An account of him is given in the History of Berw, (p 56-7). He is referred to as Thomas’s eldest son and was a Barrister of Law. In 1728 he married Jane vch Henry Whyte of Fryers (Friars), Llanfaes, Anglesey, she being the heiress of the Fryers Estate. The Whyte Arms were “Argent, 2 foxes in saltire gules, a crescent in chief for difference,”. The marriage brought together two estates with extensive property and land holdings in Anglesey, Denbighshire and Flintshire. Trusts were set up to entail these estates to the future son of this marriage with the aim of perpetuating the Holland name, however John died in 1737 without issue. The trust allowed John’s Widow Jane to appoint the estate as she pleased. As there was no issue from the marriage she settled the estates to her father in law Thomas Holland as heir. Jane subsequently remarried a further three times (see Gfs p130). She died Sept 26th, 1767 without issue. The Inherited Whyte estates were eventually sold and ended up in the hands of Lord Bulkeley, the manor house became derelict. John held the position of Mayor of Beaumaris in 1732.
Thomas ap Thomas, b circa 1706 -1708.
We know little of him other than he was a student at Jesus College, Oxford where he died in 1728, the same year as his son John’s marriage.
The Holland line in Anglesey came to an end with the death of the Rev Thomas Holland in1746. The combined estates of Berw, Carreglwyd and Trygarn went into the possession of Holland Griffith, the son of Mary Trygarn and John Griffith of Carreglwyd. Richard Trygarn Griffiths, the son of Holland Griffiths, married Emma Mary Carpenter in 1838, the daughter of Captain Digby Thomas Carpenter and Emma Stanley, daughter of Sir John Thomas Stanley and Margaret Owen of Penrhos. Their only child, Maria Emma Elizabeth Conway Griffiths inherited Carreglwyd and in 1880 married Sir Chandos Stanhope Hoskyns Reade 8th Bart of Shipton, Oxford. They had no children and Sir Chandos died in 1890.
Lady Reade built the Griffith Reade Coffee House in the village of Llanfaethlu in 1892 as an alternative meeting place to the Public Houses of the era. In 1993 this building was renovated to mark its Centenary. Today it combines the roles of Village Hall, Shop, Cafe, Hairdresser, and Lifelong Learning Centre.
Lady Reade died in 1917 and Carreglwyd passed to her cousin Major Frederick Carpenter, grandson of Thomas Digby Carpenter and Emma Stanley. He married three times but did not produce any children. On his death in 1937 Carreglwyd passed to his nephew, Frederick Noel Carpenter. Frederick Noel died in 1955 and was succeeded by Thomas Stanley Carpenter, his eldest son.
Thomas Stanley died in 1992 and was succeeded by Thomas Stanley Holland. The name of Holland therefore was eventually continued but not in a true paternal blood line.
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| Carreglwyd House, Llanfeathlu, Anglesey. |
Anglesey Parish Records.
There are many small parishes in Anglesey, all of which have been transcribed and are available on Findmypast; not all the transcriptions are accurate. Having scrolled through all of the registers, rather than just the transcriptions, it is possible to identify a number of Hollands in the 18th century and late 17th century that cannot be placed upon the Plas Berw pedigree. The above notes and associated pedigree includes references to those that are clearly members of the Plas Berw line. Many of the parishes were late in starting their parish registers and there are gaps in those that started in the early 17th century consistent with the period of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth (1649-53). It is also believed that some registers may have been destroyed during this period.
This is the best interpretation of the PR entries;
Henry Holland married Jane Ellis in 1670 at Llansadwrn. They had a daughter Delcia, b1675 Llansadwrn. Assuming Henry was born in approximately between 1640 and 1650 he could possibly have been a younger son of Owen ap Owen ap Edward and Jane, however there is no mention of him in either of their wills, it seems unlikely that he was a son of Thomas Holland of Maes Y Wrach for the same reasons. Sackvel ap Owen ap Owen is another possibility, although we have no evidence that he ever married. For these reasons we are unable to include him in the pedigree.
Henry Holland married Catherine Jones of Llandegfan in 1715. It is possible that he was a son of the above Henry Holland but there is no proof of this.
Catherine Holland born in Llanidan in 1716 was the daughter of Edward Holland and His wife Maria. There is no Edward Holland on the pedigree born in the late 17th century; it is possible he was a son of the above mentioned Henry. Catherine died in 1719 (Llandegfan PR).
Thomas Holland of Wern died in 1734, Llandegfan. There is no possibility of a Thomas on the Berw pedigree to match this date. He could have been a son of the above mentioned Edward or more likely Henry, but there is no proof of it.
Margaret Holland married Griffith Hughes on May 6th 1733, Llandegfan. Margaret Holland, daughter of Thomas Holland was buried on March 10th 1733, Llandegfan. It is possible that this is one and the same person, and that she was the daughter of the above mentioned Thomas Holland of Wern.
William Holland the son of Thomas Holland of Pen Y Bryn and his wife Elizabeth in the parish of Llaniestin was born, Feb 27th 1774. A death is recorded in the Llangadwaladwr PR in 1787, but it is not possible to be sure it was this William. Thomas may have also had a son George, as in the Bangor PR’s there is the record of the death of Margaret Holland wife of George Holland of Pen Y Bryn, Pentire.
There are three entries in the Llandegfan register for children of William Holland and his wife Mary. In 1736 a daughter Grace was born and died. In 1751 their son John died, there is no record of his birth, and in 1752 they had a son William who possibly died in 1804 at Cadnant (Llandegfan PR). There is no evidence of a connection between William senior and the aforementioned families.
Mary was buried in 1795 at Llandegfan. Due to the difference in ages it seems possible that Grace was not of the same parents as their sons John and William.
In the Pentraeth register, on March 1st, of 1769, Owen Holland fathered illegitimate twins by Jane Evans. The twins were named William and John Owen. John Owen died the same month. There is no other record of Owen Holland or his surviving son.
In the register of Llandegfan there are entries in 1759 and 1761, for the births of Catherine and Margaret, daughters of Hugh Holland, Mariner, of Cadnant, and Grace his wife. Hugh died in 1785 a pauper, Catherine died in 1812 at Cadnant. There is no further record of Grace or Margaret. The origin of Hugh is unknown.
A possible scenario is that William and Owen were brothers being the sons of Hugh Holland of Bangor, the son of Owen ap Humphrey Holland of Llangelynnin. For this to be the case Grace would have to have been the daughter of another William and Mary, which would explain the difference in birth dates of 1736 for Grace and 1752 for William. Hugh’s sons William and Owen were baptised in Bangor in 1730 and 1733 respectively. which fits the timeframe. It is possible that Owen was merely a visitor to Llandegfan rather than a resident, which would explain the absence of any other record of him.
The following Records are not in the Findmypast transcripts but appear in the Llandegfan register:
1763-Margaret Holland the wife of William Evans was buried, her origin is unknown.
1767- Elizabeth Holland, a single woman was buried, her origin is unknown.
1735- Robert, the illegitimate son of Owen (Thomas or Jones, writing faint) and Sarah Holland was baptized. The origin of Sarah Holland is unknown.
In the 1841 census there was only one Holland recorded living in Anglesey and none in Bangor. Ellen Holland, age 85, widow, born in 1756, Anglesey was living with Thomas a Boatman, age 25, Jane Davis age 40, with children William age 15, Jane age 10, Holland age 4, Robert 2 and Ellenor two months. The family relationships are not given but Thomas cannot have been the father of the elder children so presumably they came from a previous marriage and took the name Davis. Presumably the younger children were from the second marriage. Presumably Jane’s maiden name was Holland and she was the daughter of Ellen.
In the 1851 census there were no Hollands living in Anglesey or Bangor that were born in either place.
We can identify no male descendants from the Plas Berw family line living after the death of Thomas Holland in 1746, and there is no evidence of any connection between the Plas Berw Hollands and Owen Holland of Newmarket, Flintshire.
The whereabouts of the painting of Thomas Holland that once hung in Carreglwyd is unknown. The manuscripts referring to Holland transactions that exist amongst the Carreglwyd papers in the NLW presumably came to be there via the descendants of Thomas’s sister Jane, and were eventually deposited in the library by Major Carpenter Holland Griffith in 1924.
The whereabouts of the plate and the ring with the Holland coat of arms mentioned in the wills of Owen Holland (1657) and his wife Jane in1690 is unknown.
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