Plâs Hen and Talhenbont) only one son, Richard Vaughan of Cors y Gedol. He1 rebuilt Plâs Hen, as it now stands, in 1607, and likewise the Gate-House at Cors y Gedol in 1630. After his death his widow married William Lloyd, a younger son of Bodidris in Iâl, who, when he was Sheriff for Carnarvonshire, in the time of Cromwell, was overtaken in the road to Carnarvon, and inhumanly put to death by a party of Royalists. Some say that he was dragged alive to the Cross at Bangor, and there left to expire. This William Van was a man of letters and of polite education. He was a great friend of Ben Jonson the poet, who made him a present of his works, which I have by me. In James Howel's Letters you will find one to him,2 which shows that he was esteemed amongst the learned. In 1616 he erected a curious monument to his father's memory, from a design given him by Jones, the Royal architect, and his countryman, with whom he was very intimate. It stands at this time entire, in the chapel built by his father, adjoining Llanddwywe, the parish church of Cors y Gedol. This new chapel he had not finished before his death. Inigo Jones also gave him the design for the GateHouse at Cors y Gedol. William Vaughan was an excellent scholar, and had a fine taste for poetry, both Welsh and English. He was arrested for the county, as I find by a Welsh poem written by a good author in those times, and paid a considerable fine; but for what reason I cannot learn.

3

Richard Vaughan, the second of that name, of Cors y Gedol and Plâs Hen, married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Owen of Clenennau, and had William. He (Richard Vaughan) represented the county of Meirionedd in Parliament, and was so very fat and unwieldy that the folding doors of the House of Commons were opened to let him in, which is never done but when the Black Rod brings a message from the King, who being 1 William Vaughan.

2

Epistola Ho Eliana, sect. 1, p. 39. 3 It is still there (1874).

then in the House of Lords, the folding doors opened, when the rumour in the House was, "the Black Rod or the Welsh knight is coming." His fat at length grew so troublesome to him that he brought surgeons from London to his house at Cors y Gedol, to cut out the fat, and the operation was successfully performed; but by some accident, soon after, some of the larger bloodvessels burst open, so he died in about the thirtieth year of his age, and left William, an infant, under the guardianship of Sir John Owen, his mother's father.

William Vaughan, who died in 1669, aged thirtyseven, made some addition to Cors y Gedol by extending the west end of it. He married Ann, daughter to Gryffydd Nannau of Nannau. She died in 1701, aged sixty-one. They left two sons and four daughters.

Gryffydd Vaughan, the eldest son, possessed the inheritance, after his father, for several years, and died, unmarried, in his forty-fifth year, leaving his estates to his brother Richard, who was the youngest of all the family.

The eldest daughter married Athelystan Owen of Rhiwsaeson.3

Ann, the second daughter, married Vincent Corbet of Ynys y Maengwyn.1

The third daughter, Catrin, married Gryffydd Wynn of Bodeon, and had two sons, named Thomas and William. Thomas married the coheiress of Glynllivon, and was made a baronet. Catharine, their mother, married, secondly, Col. Hugh Nanney of Nannau, by whom she had four daughters. Ann, the eldest, and Mary, the youngest, died unmarried. Catharine, the second

1 He died Sheriff of Merionethshire, 19th July, 12 Charles I (1636). His widow was remarried to John Havers, Esq., of Whittlebury, co. Northampton. Administration to her effects granted upon 25th October 1641.

2 He was born 14th Sept. 1653, and dying 15th June 1697, was buried at Llanddwy we.

3 She died at Shrewsbury in 1719, aged sixty-four.

4 He died 6th Jan. 1723, aged seventy-two.

5

He died 21st Sept. 1680, aged thirty-three.

daughter, becoming heiress, married William Vaughan of Cors y Gedol, and had one daughter, who married David Jones Gwyn of Taliaris, but died without issue. The third daughter married Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt, and had issue, Hugh, Robert, Howell, and Gryffydd; and one daughter, Catharine Vaughan.

[The above Gryffydd2 (of Cors y Gedol) was Sheriff of Caernarvonshire in 1659; his son Gryffydd was Sheriff for Meirioneth in 1677.]

Richard Vaughan, the third of the name, of Cors y Gedol, succeeded his brother Gryffydd in 1693, and married Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir Evan Lloyd, Bart., of Bodidris in Iâl, by whom he had two sons, William and Evan, now living, and four daughters. Anna Maria (died an infant), Elizabeth, Catrin, and Ann, who died, and was buried at Llanddwywe. Elizabeth is now living, and unmarried. Catharine married Dr. Hugh Wynn (brother to Robert Wynn of Bodscallen, who died a bachelor), she having a son and a daughter. The son died an infant. Margaret, their daughter and heir, married Sir Roger Mostyn, Bart., of Mostyn, and has by him two daughters, and bids fair for several more sons and daughters: whom God long preserve! (p. 165).

Richard Vychan was Sheriff for Meirioneddshire in 1698, and for Caernarvonshire in 1699. He was chosen M.P. the first of Queen Anne, and continued to represent the county of Meirioneddshire till he died, in March 1734, aged sixty-eight, leaving behind him a widow and five children in full age, and one granddaughter, of whom more hereafter. Mrs. Vychan survived her husband nineteen years, dying in March 1758, aged eightythree. Richard Vychan obtained universal esteem by his integrity and unbiassed conduct. He made great improvements in and about Cors y Gedol. The first was to modernise the house within by a thorough repair, wainscotting and new-flooring the whole, which before

1 Raised to the dignity of a baronet in 1792.

2 William. He was Sheriff for Carnarvonshire in 1655-6.

was only plaster. He also took down the old stone mullions and ancient windows, and put up sashes. He made great improvements in the gardens, and added several new rooms to the house. He likewise began the avenue from the house to the church, and greatly improved the farm and demesne. He was buried at Llanddwywe, where there is a monument erected to his memory by his widow. His son William married in his lifetime, on whom he settled a handsome maintenance then, and left a large jointure to his widow,' besides her own estate of Bodidris, the reversion of which he gave his son Evan Vychan, who now enjoys it; and likewise genteel fortunes to his three daughters.

William Vychan, now living, 1770, the eldest son of Richard Vychan, married Catharine, second daughter and heiress (after her eldest sister's death) of Hugh Nanney of Nannau, by whom he had one daughter and heiress, Ann, who married David Jones Gwynn of Taliaris in Carmarddenshire, who died without issue, as before related. William represented the county of Meirionedd in five Parliaments, 1734, 1741, 1746, 1754, and 1761; and in 1768 he declined standing, having about that time buried both his wife and daughter; and now lives at his ease, and retired, at Cors y Gedol, the family seat in his native county, of which he is LordLieutenant.

[In another hand is the following conclusion.]

William Vaughan, the writer of the above memoir, was the eldest son of Richard V., Esq., of Cors y Gedol,

1 Widow of Richard Vaughan. Of this Richard Vaughan an amusing anecdote is told in connection with his representation of Merionethshire. There was a call of the House. Mr. Vaughan was not in his place. The Serjeant-at-Arms, who was sent to bring him to town, arrived at Dolgelley, where the whole population were in league with the great house of Cors y Gedol. The Serjeant inquired the way there. "Go to Cors y Gedol at this time of year!" (it was winter) was the reply; "the mountains are impassable." "But," said the Serjeant, "I see there is an estuary between this and Barmouth. Could not I go by boat?" "No," was the reply; "between Barmouth and Cors y Gedol are marshes equally impassable." And Mr. Vaughan did not go to London for the "call".

by Margt., sole heiress of Sir Evan Lloyd, Bart., of Bodidris. He was born in 1707, old style; sent to Chester School in 1716; and four years afterwards to one Mr. Ellis at Mortlock, London, where he remained till the death of his master, which was sudden, he having stabbed himself. Then he was sent to St. John's College, Cambridge, and left upon the death of George I, in 1727; and in 1732 he married Catharine, daughter and heiress of Hugh Nannau of Nannau, by Catharine his wife, daughter of William V. of Cors y Gedol, his father's eldest sister. His wife died soon after the marriage of her daughter. Ann, the only child of this marriage, was born in February 1733-4; and a month after, his father, Richard Vaughan, died, who left behind him two sons and three daughters, -William, Evan Lloyd, Elizabeth, Catharine, and Ann. On the death of Lewys Owen of Penniarth,' one of his godfathers, Wm. was chosen Custos Rotulorum of the county of Merion., and Lord Lieutenant on the resignation of Earl Cholmondeley. In 1754 died Sir William Wynn,3 on the 20th of May; and on the 20th Oct., same year, died Dr. Wynn. Ann, the only daughter of Mr. Vaughan of Cors y Gedol, was married on July 6, 1756, at St. James' Church in London, by Dr. Mostyn, to D. Jones Gwynn of Taliaris, Esq. On March 16 [1758] died Mrs. Vaughan at Cors y Gedol. On Feb. 6, 1760, died Mrs. Ann Vaughan at Plâs Hen, and was buried at Llanddwywe.

DOLGELLAU.

Dolgellau is the chief town of the county of Merioneth, although it has but very little to recommend it to the tourist, besides the fact of its being so good a centre

1 In Dec. 1729.

2 Mr. Vaughan's commission bears date 28th April 1762.

3 M.P. for Carnarvon. Younger son of Griffith Wynn of Bodvean, by Catharine, daughter of Wm. Vaughan of Cors y Gedol.

4 Husband of Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Vaughan above.