OWEN, John (d.1613), of Bodsilin, Anglesey; Clenennau, Caern. and Porkington, Salop.

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

4th s. of Owen ap Robert of Bodsilin, Llanfeirian, Caern. by Angharad, da. and coh. of David ap William ap Griffith of Cochurllan. educ.?Shrewsbury 1577. m. bef. 1596, Elin (d.1626), da. or gd.-da. of William Maurice of Clenennau, 3s. 5da.

Offices Held

Servant of (Sir) Francis Walsingham, of (Sir) Robert Sidney by 1607; muster master, Caern. 1595; dep. mayor and constable of Caernarvon castle by 1597.

Biography

Owen’s return as the representative for Caernarvon Boroughs in 1597 is no doubt accounted for by his offices of deputy mayor and constable. The earlier part of his career was spent in the service of Sir Francis Walsingham. After Walsingham’s death he had hoped to enter the service of Robert Cecil but was in fact employed in France in the following years, though he must have been in England for his marriage and, presumably, (though he made no mark there) to attend the 1597 Parliament. The burgesses of Caernarvon Boroughs were appointed to committees concerning navigation (12 Nov.) and Newport bridge (29 Nov.). Writing to Cecil in August 1601 he again expressed his desire to enter his service, but by October 1607 he was serving Sir Robert Sidney, then Viscount Lisle, who refers to him as John Owen, son of Robert of Bodsilin. Owen’s subsequent career is obscure. He died on 16 Mar. 1613, leaving his eldest son, the future royalist officer in the civil war, little more than 12 years old. The widow married Sir Francis Eure.

DNB (Owen, Sir John); DWB, 624, 709; Griffith, Peds. 136, 218; Dwnn, Vis. Wales, ii. 157, 164; T. Jones Pierce, Clenennau Letters, 33; HMC Hatfield, xi. 371; D’Ewes, 556, 565; Cal. Wynn Pprs. nos. 155, 1034; C142/339/101.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A. M. Mimardière

Notes