Family and Education

bap. 3 Dec. 1674, 1st s. of Thomas Owen of Condover by Isabella, da. of James Campbell of Woodford, Essex.  educ. Christ Church, Oxf. 1691.  m. (1) 20 May 1694, Jane (d. 1699), da. of Edward Vaughan† of Trawscoed, Llanafan, Card., 2s. 1da.; (2) Catherine, da. of St. John Booth of Chester and Vale Royal, Cheshire, 1da.  suc. fa. 1678.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Ludlow 1697, Much Wenlock 1710; sheriff, Salop 1707–8.2

Biography

A prominent figure among the Shropshire Tories, Owen was defeated in the county election in December 1701 but was returned in 1702 at the top of the poll. He was, however, an inconspicuous Member. He voted on 13 Feb. 1703 against agreeing with the Lords’ amendments to the bill for enlarging the time for taking the oath of abjuration, and in March 1704 was forecast by Lord Nottingham (Daniel Finch†) as a supporter of the government’s actions over the Scotch Plot. He was then forecast as likely to support the Tack, but in the event either voted against it or was absent on 28 Nov. 1704. He did not stand at any subsequent election.

Owen was active in supporting the Tory interest in Shropshire in 1710, and was one of the gentlemen who on 3 July 1710 welcomed Dr Sacheverell outside Shrewsbury and conducted him at the head of a triumphal cavalcade into the town. Afterwards, Sacheverell ‘went to Mr Owen’s at Condover, where he was . . . magnificently treated’. Owen was buried on 17 Jan. 1718 at Condover.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

• 1. Salop Par. Reg. Soc. Lichfield dioc. vi. 128, 132, 158, 183; Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. ser. 4, xii. 8; Salopian Shreds and Patches, vii. 2; PCC 49 Hare; Jnl. Chester and N. Wales Arch. Soc. n.s. xxviii. 9.
• 2. Salop RO, Ludlow bor. recs. adm. of freemen; Forster mss, copy of Much Wenlock corp. bk.
• 3. Staffs. RO, Bradford mss, Owen to [–], 4 July 1710; Boyer, Anne Annals, ix. 203; Salop Par. Reg. Soc. 178.