Family and Education

?m. Agnes.1

Offices Held

Biography

There were Morgans living at Arkeston in the sixteenth century, but the pedigrees give no John of a possible date. However, it is likely that the MP was related to this branch of the family: Ann Morgan, almost certainly daughter of Sir Thomas of Arkeston, married Henry Carey^†, 1st Baron Hunsdon, who in July 1559 became steward of Leominster.2

Morgan of Arkeston, the presumed MP, may be the man of this name who early in 1562 prosecuted James Scudamore of Llanthony, Monmouthshire for a £10 debt, causing him to be outlawed and later imprisoned in the Fleet. In May 1572 Agnes, widow of John Morgan (no seat is given), received a lease of former church property in several counties, including Herefordshire, where some of the land in question had belonged to Leominster priory. The grant is said to have been made for her former husband’s service to the Crown. There was a sewer of the chamber of this name in Elizabeth’s reign, but the dates known for his career seem too late for the Leominster Member. However, since both Lord Hunsdon and his wife had positions in the royal Household, it is quite conceivable that a relative of Lady Hunsdon held a minor post there. The grantee of ex-monastic lands was presumably the John Morgan of Carmarthen who died intestate before 28 Jan. 1572, when his widow, Agnes, received administration of the property.3

Another, though less likely, identification for the Leominster Member is John Morgan of Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, son of Thomas Morgan of Machen, esquire of the body, by Elizabeth, daughter of Roger Vaughan of Porthaml, Breconshire. He married (1) Anne, daughter of Lewis ap John of Baglan, Glamorgan; (2) Maud, daughter of Richard Jenkins of Llanowen (?Llanoethin, Glam.), and had five sons including Henry Morgan I, customer of Cardiff, and four daughters.4

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes

• 1. CPR, 1569-72, pp. 468-9; PCC admon. act bk. 1572, f. 2.
• 2. Clark, Limbus, 258-9; CP, vi. 628-9; CPR, 1558-60, p. 90.
• 3. CPR, 1560-3, p. 386; 1569-72, pp. 468-9; G. Owen, ‘Desc. Wales’, Desc. Pemb. ed. H. Owen, ii. 390; PCC admon. act bk. 1572, f. 2.
• 4. Clark, 311, 316.