Eldest son and heir, named as a beneficiary in his father's Will (1647), then under the age of twenty-one years.
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He was of the same family as ‘ baron ’ Lewis Owen, the great divine Dr. John Owen ( 1616 - 1683 ), a distant relative, the chief people of Merioneth amongst his friends and acquaintances. He matriculated at Oxford ( Jesus College , 1660 ), began to preach , but he was silenced (to use Calamy's word) by the Act of Uniformity, 1662. He joined the Puritan congregation of Wrexham, becoming a teaching elder; in 1668 he m. Martha Brown, daughter of one of its more prominent members, once one of the seventy-one commissioners under the Propagation Act of 1650; and before 1672 he was overseer of the Independent nonconformists of Merioneth from his headquarters at Bron-y-clydwr in Llanegryn parish, the lands that fell to his mother from the Peniarth heritage. In May of that year he secured a licence under the Indulgence to preach in his own house; in Sept. Henry Maurice, ( 1634 - 1682 ) called on his journey to Llyn; early in 1676 James Owen paid him a visit on his way to the militant Independents of Eifionydd, doubtless not without delivering a sermon in secret to Hugh Owen and the other six nonconformists who were counted in Llanegryn and district in archbishop Sheldon 's census of that year. About the same time Hugh Owen was busy distributing the books that were published by Thomas Gouge and the Welsh Trust; no less than twenty-four of these, the works of Charles Edwards for the most part, came to Llanegryn alone. His lot was a hard one, says the Nonconformist's Memorial, until the coming of the Toleration Act, though he was saved from the heaviest penalties by the influence of his many friends and relatives. Under that Act he enjoyed a wide liberty, preaching to many small groups of Independents and free-communion Baptists in Merioneth and Montgomery. The controllers of the London ‘funds’ for the support of weak churches heard of his work, and for some years allowed him £8 a year gratuity. He d. on 15 March 1699/1700 , an almost perfect example of an upright Christian, and a diligent preacher of great serenity of temperament. Of his children his son JOHN OWEN became a preacher like his father — a young man of great promise, who d. in 1700 ; his daughter Susannah m. Edward Kenrick of Wrexham, a minister who supervised the Independents of Merioneth till his death in 1741 ; his daughter Mary was grandmother to the Rev. Hugh Farmer of Walthamstow who supplied many details about Hugh Owen 's life to the Memorial. 3
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Abstract of the Will of Hugh Owen of Bron y clydwr in the Parish of Llanegryn and County of Merioneth, Dissenting Protestant Minister, written 7 Mar 1678/9, proved 16 Jul 1700. 4
Gives, bequeaths and devises a moiety or half part of all his messuages, lands and tenements called Bron y clydwr, Govelion ycha, Govelion issa, Prychiard and Moil mon to his wife Martha Owen for the term of her natural life in lieu of a dower or jointure.
Gives and bequeaths to his said wife a moiety or one half part of all his corn, hay and fruits of all his orchards at Michaelmas next after his decease.
Gives and bequeaths to his said wife all the rest of his personal estate, cattles and chattels, and all his implements of husbandry subject to the payment of those debts that remain unpaid after payment of three legacies to the sum of £130 by his son John Owen.
Gives, bequeaths and devises the other moiety or half part of all his messuages, lands and tenements aforesaid to his son John Owen and his heirs and assigns, subject to the payment of the said £130, and subject to the payment of £90 as follows:
- £30 to his eldest daughter living at the time of his decease
- £60 to be divided equally between his youngest children.
Gives and bequeaths to his said son John Owen all his books, whether Hebrew, Greek, Latin or English, that pertain to Holy Scripture. The rest of his books he gives and bequeaths to his said wife.
After the payment of the said legacies he gives, bequeaths & devises all his said messuages, tenements and lands called Bron y clydwr, Govelion ycha, Govelion issa, Trichiard and Moil mon to his said son John Owen.
Gives and bequeaths 20 shillings to the poor brethren of the dissenting congregation.
Gives and bequeaths 10 shillings to the poor of the parish of Llanegryn.
Gives and bequeaths 2 shillings to his poor relation Ales Prier of the same parish.
Nominates, constitutes and ordains his said wife and his said son John joint Executors of his last will and testament.
Ordains and appoints his friends Walter Griffiths and Edward Poole, both of Llanvilhing in county Montgomery, mercers, William Evans of Gwanas in county Merioneth, pewterer, and Griffith Oliver of Machynlleth in county Montgomery, tanner, to be overseers of his last will and testament.
Signed
On 27 Mar 1699 an inventory of the goods and chattels of Hugh Owen of the Parish of Llanegryn, deceased, was taken by Henry Hamer, Humphrey Owens?, John Owen Humphrey and John Edwards and valued to £187 11s.
Research Notes: