MORGAN, Richard (d.c.1630), of Fronfraith (Llandyssil), Mont.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

m. Margaret, da. of Thomas Lloyd of Gwern y buarth, Llandyssil, wid. of Charles Powell of Llandyssil, 3s.1

Offices Held

Dep. sheriff, Mont. 1600; bailiff, Montgomery 1610-12.2

Biography

Nothing is known of the parentage of this Member, whose family cannot have been of any local importance; it appears in none of the contemporary pedigrees and none of its members qualified for local office before Richard Morgan’s return to Parliament. The estate was not even assessed to subsidy until Morgan appeared on the roll in 1598 — probably after his marriage, to which he seems to have owed his position in county society. His wife’s family, owners of the adjacent estate of Gwern y buarth, had been substantial taxpayers in the parish since 1571, and they had important connexions by marriage. During his term of office as deputy sheriff Morgan was accused by a neighbouring yeoman in Star Chamber of illegal entry into his lands, wrongful imprisonment, corruption and illegal exactions. He had many other disputes about land between 1595 and 1615, but these were settled more peaceably by the process of fine and recovery: they show his territorial interests as extending from his own parish to Montgomery town, Manafon, Castle Caereinion, Llandinam and Kerry, all in the south-eastern section of the shire. He was by now of sufficient standing to send his third son Robert (born in 1608) to Cambridge in 1624; this son became bishop of Bangor after the Restoration (1666-73).3

He died intestate before 12 Sept. 1630, when letters of administration were granted to his widow.4

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A.H.D.

Notes

  • 1. Wood, Ath. Ox. ed. Bliss, ii. 889-90; Dwnn, Vis. Wales, i. 300.
  • 2. Star Chamber, ed. Edwards (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. i), 130; Mont. Colls. xliv. 104.
  • 3. E179/222/379, 222/274, 265/266; Dwnn, loc. cit.; Star Chamber, loc. cit.; Mont. Recs. (Mont. Colls. Supp.) 435, 497, 513, 555, 565; DWB, 651.
  • 4. PCC admon. act bk. 1630, f. 189.