Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/John_Wynn%2C_5th_Bt%2C_by_English_School_of_the_18th_Century.jpg/220px-John_Wynn%2C_5th_Bt%2C_by_English_School_of_the_18th_Century.jpg)
Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet (1628 – 11 January 1719) was a Welsh landowner and MP.[1]
Biography
He was the only son of Henry Wynn of Rhiwgoch, Merioneth, and was educated at the Inner Temple, 1646. He inherited the Watstay Estate through his marriage to Jane Evans (daughter of Eyton Evans of Watstay), which he renamed the Wynnstay Estate. He also, allegedly, won the manor of Stanwardine in Shropshire from Thomas Corbett in a snail race.
He succeeded his cousin Sir Richard Wynn, 4th Baronet as a baronet in 1674 but did not inherit the Gwydyr Estate, which passed to his predecessor's daughter Mary.
He served as High Sheriff of Denbighshire for 1671-3, as High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire for 1674-75 and as High Sheriff of Merionethshire for 1675-1676. He was Custos Rotulorum of Merionethshire for 1678-1688, 1690–96 and 1700-1711.[2]
Later life
Sir John lived into his nineties, mainly residing in London, but died without issue in 1719. On his death the Wynn baronetcy became extinct and the ancient House of Aberffraw (which claimed direct descent from Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn in the late 9th century and through him to the legendary line of Brutus) was left without known male issue.
Possible heir and relatives
Had Thomas Jones (Twm Siôn Cati) really been the illegitimate son of John "Wynn" ap Maredudd (as claimed by Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet in his family history), his children would have been next in line, illegitimate sons having the same rights of inheritance as legitimate ones under ancient Welsh law. There are also several claims that "lost" relatives such as a supposed Colonel Hugh Wynn who is alleged to have moved to Virginia and raised a family. However, with no clear heir, Sir John bequeathed the entire Wynnstay estate to Jane Thelwall (great-granddaughter of Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet) who was now married to Sir William Williams, 2nd Baronet (c. 1665 – 20 October 1740). Sir John Wynn and Sir William Williams were the two largest landowners in north Wales at that time and together the combined estate dwarfed all others. In honour of his wife's ancestry Sir William Williams changed his name to Sir William Williams-Wynn of Wynnstay.[citation needed]
The current baronet is Sir David Watkin Williams-Wynn, 11th Baronet (born 1940).
Notes
- ^ Thomas 1900, p. 257.
- ^ Naylor & Jaggar 1983.
References
- Naylor, Leonard; Jaggar, Geoffrey (1983). "Wynn, Sir John (1628-1719), of Rhiwgoch, Merion. and Wynnstay, Denb.". In Henning, B.D. (ed.). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690.
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Further reading
- Roberts, Glyn (1959). "Wynn family, of Gwydir, Caerns.". The National Library of Wales :: Dictionary of Welsh Biography.
- Use dmy dates from January 2012
- 1628 births
- 1719 deaths
- People from Merionethshire
- Baronets in the Baronetage of England
- British MPs 1707–08
- British MPs 1708–10
- British MPs 1710–13
- House of Cunedda
- Members of the Parliament of England (pre-1707) for constituencies in Wales
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Welsh constituencies
- High Sheriffs of Denbighshire
- High Sheriffs of Caernarvonshire
- High Sheriffs of Merionethshire
- 17th-century Welsh people
- People of the Stuart period
- English MPs 1679
- English MPs 1680–1681
- English MPs 1685–1687
- English MPs 1689–1690
- English MPs 1690–1695
- English MPs 1698–1700
- English MPs 1701
- English MPs 1701–1702
- English MPs 1702–1705
- English MPs 1705–1707
- Members of Parliament for Caernarfon