period, with the names also of the entire body of other Corporate
Officers, Aldermen, and Common-Councilmen, elected under the Municipal
Reform Act:—
1673 Richard Pope, first Mayor
1674 Sir John Trevor, Master of the Rolls
1675 Richard Edwards
1676 Richard Lloyd, Ford
1677 John Blodwell
1678 John Lloyd
Dying in his mayoralty, succeeded by Edward Owen
1679 Richard Price
1680 John Glover
1681 Peter Griffiths
1682 Humphrey Foulks
1683 William Price
Appointed instead of Thomas Edwards, who died before he
was sworn
1684 Hugh Jones
1685 Phillip Ellis
1686 Sir Robert Owen, Porkington
1687 Roger Edwards
1688 Morgan Powell
1689 Thomas Jones
1690 Thomas Powell, Park
1691 Thomas Pritchard
1692 John Muckleston
1693 John Price
1694 David Lloyd
1695 Richard Jones
1696 Sir Robert Owen (second time)
1697 John Skye
1698 Nathaniel Edwards
1699 Peter Jones, Llanfyllin
1700 Francis Tomkies
1701 William Jones
1702 Humphrey Davenport, Hayes-Gate
1703 Roger Green
1704 Thomas Powell, Park (second time)
1705 Robert Lloyd, Aston
1706 John Davies
1707 Edward Lloyd, Trenewydd
1708 Thomas Tomkies
1709 Thos. Kynaston, Maesbury
1710 John Price (second time)
1711 Richard Jones
1712 John Skye (second time)
1713 Roger Green (second time)
1714 John Davies (second time)
1715 Thomas Warter
1716 George Edwards
1717 Robert Lloyd, Aston (second time)
1718 Owen Hughes
1719 Thomas Edwards
1720 John Evans
1721 Richard Payne
1722 Richard Maurice
1723 Nathaniel Price
1724 Peter Povall
Dying in his mayoralty, succeeded by Owen Hughes
1725 John Kyffin
1726 Richard Thomas
1727 Edward Lloyd, Llwynymaen
1728 Watkin Williams Wynn
1729 Charles Lloyd, Trenewydd
1730 William Owen, Porkington
1731 John Huxley
1732 John Mytton, Halston
1733 Nathaniel Kynaston
1734 Richard Powell
1735 Robert Williams
1736 Robert Barkley
1737 Thomas Jones
1738 John Burgess
1739 Corbett Kynaston
Dying in his mayoralty, succeeded by Thomas Tomkies
1740 William Price
1741 John Jones
1742 John Hughes
1743 John Mort
1744 Peter Williams
1745 David Morris
1746 Richard Lloyd
1747 Richd. Williams, Penbedw
1748 Vincent Phipps
1749 Nathaniel Jones
1750 John Griffiths
1751 John Williams
1752 John Griffiths
1753 Edward Price
1754 Thomas Jones
1755 John Jones
1756 Thomas Rathbone
1757 Edward Evans
1758 John Basnett
1759 Nathaniel Price
1760 Edward Evans
1761 Robert Lloyd
1762 Richard Price
1763 John Edwards
1764 Richard Jones
1765 John Gregory
1766 William Griffiths
1767 Richard Morrice
1768 John Evans
1769 John Lloyd
1770 Watkin Williams, Penbedw
1771 John Mytton, Halston
1772 Robert Godolphin Owen, Porkington
1773 E. Thornes
1774 Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., Wynnstay
1775 William Griffiths
1776 Francis Chambre
1777 Joseph Richardson
1778 John Croxon
1779 Noel Hill, Shrewsbury
1780 Edward Brown
Dying in his mayoralty, succeeded by Nathaniel Price
1781 Thomas Vernon
1782 Edward Wynn Evans
1783 John Kynaston, Hardwick
1784 Richard Bickerton
1785 Thomas Howell
1786 Richard Salisbury
1787 Wm. Mostyn Owen, Woodhouse
1788 Lewis Jones
1789 John Gibbons
1790 John Lovett
1791 John Probert
1792 John Mytton, Halston
1793 Rev. Turner Edwards
1794 Arthur Davies
1795 Rev. John Robert Lloyd
1796 Owen Ormsby
1797 Thomas Lovett
1798 Robert Lloyd
1799 John Jones
1800 Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart.
1801 Richard Croxon
1802 Lawton Parry
1803 Richard Jebb
1804 Thomas Skye
1805 Rev. James Donne
1806 Robert Cartwright
1807 Thomas Longueville Jones
1808 William Lloyd
1809 Robert Roberts
1810 John Sheppard
Dying in his mayoralty, succeeded by Thomas Hilditch
1811 Edward Edmunds
1812 John Croxon
1813 Rev. Charles Arthur Albany Lloyd
1814 Hon. Thomas Kenyon
1815 Thomas Morris
1816 S. Leach (R. Salisbury, Deputy)
1817 Rev. George Lloyd, Selattyn (Mr. Cartwright, Deputy)
1818 Thomas Netherton Parker
1819 H. W. W. Wynn (Mr. Salisbury, Deputy)
1820 W. Lovett (J. V. Jones, Deputy)
1821 John Bonnor, Brynygwalia (Robert Roberts, Deputy)
1822 Henry Pinson Tozer Aubrey
1823 W. Ormsby Gore
1824 John Mytton (Thomas Hilditch, Deputy)
1825 John Jones (second time)
1827 Rev. Turner Edwards
1827 Roger Mercy Cockerill
1828 Robert Morrall
1829 Peploe Cartwright
1830 Thomas Lovett
1831 Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart. (second time) (Dr. Donne, Deputy)
1832 Thomas Longueville Longueville
1833 John Jones, jun.
1834 James Edwards
1835 John Croxon
1836 Francis Campbell
1837 Charles Thomas Jones
1838 G. Dorset Owen
1839 Griffith Evans
1840 Thomas Penson
1841 John Hayward
1842 W. Williams
1843 W. Williams (re-elected)
1844 W. Price
1845 Thomas Rogers
1846 John Miles Hales
1847 Thomas Hill
1848 John Jones
1849 Edward Morris
1850 Edward Morris (re-elected)
1851 Thomas Minshall
1852 William Hodges
1853 Thomas Edwards
1854 George Harvey Williams
ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN.
ALDERMEN—1835:
John Jones Peploe Cartwright
Richard Croxon T. L. Longueville
Thomas Morris John Jones, jun.
COUNCILLORS—1835:
EAST WARD. WEST WARD.
John Croxon John Hayward
Francis Campbell Thomas Rogers
George D. Owen Edward D. Bennion
Francis Lucas Charles Thomas Jones
Griffith Evans John Jones, jun.
James Howell Charles Sabine
Richard Bill William Williams
William Price James Williams
William Roberts Thomas Penson
COUNCILLORS—1836:
Thomas Penson Edward Edwards (in the room of
James Williams, deceased)
John Miles Hales
William Williams
Robert Edwards
John Tomkies
John Croxon
John Hayward
Francis Campbell
Thomas Rogers
George Dorset Owen
Edward David Bennion
Francis Lucas
Charles Thomas Jones
Griffith Evans
John Jones, jun.
James Howell
Charles Sabine
1837:
Francis Lucas Charles Thomas Jones
Griffith Evans Thomas Jones Rogers
James Howell John Davies
Thomas Penson Edward Edwards
John Miles Hales William Williams
Robert Edwards John Tomkies
John Croxon John Hayward
Francis Campbell Thomas Rogers
George Dorset Owen Edward David Bennion
ALDERMEN—RE-ELECTED IN 1838:
Peploe Cartwright, T. L. Longueville, and John Jones, jun.
COUNCILLORS—1838:
George Dorset Owen John Hayward
David Thomas Thomas Rogers
William Smale Nathaniel Minshall
Francis Lucas Charles Thomas Jones
Griffith Evans Thomas Jones Rogers
James Howell John Davies
Thomas Penson Edward Edwards
John Miles Hales William Williams
Robert Edwards John Tomkies
COUNCILLORS—1839:
Thomas Penson William Williams
John Miles Hales John Tomkies
Robert Edwards Edward Edwards
William Price (in the room of G. John Hayward
D. Owen, deceased)
Thomas Rogers
David Thomas
Nathaniel Minshall
William Smale
Charles Thomas Jones
Francis Lucas
Thomas Jones Rogers
Griffith Evans
Richard Cross (in the room of
Richard Salter (in room of James John Davies, deceased)
Howell, deceased)
1840:
Francis Lucas Richard Powell (in the room of
Thomas Jones Rogers)
Griffith Evans
Richard Cross
Richard Salter
Thomas Hughes (in the room of
Thomas Penson Charles Thomas Jones, appointed
Alderman)
John Miles Hales
John Tomkies
Robert Edwards
William Williams
William Price
Edward Edwards
David Thomas
John Hayward
William Smale
Thomas Rogers
Nathaniel Minshall
ALDERMEN—1841:
Thomas Penson (in the room of Charles Thomas Jones
John Croxon, who had left the
borough) John Jones
COUNCILLORS—1841:
John Miles Hales John Hayward
William Price Thomas Rogers
David Thomas Nathaniel Minshall
William Smale Richard Cross
Francis Lucas Thomas Hughes
Griffith Evans Richard Powell
Richard Salter William Williams
Robert Edwards John Tomkies
Charles Osburn (in the room of Edward Edwards
Thomas Penson)
COUNCILLORS—1842:
John Miles Hales William Williams
Robert Edwards John Tomkies
William Price Edward Edwards
David Thomas John Hayward
Griffith Evans Thomas Rogers
William Smale Nathaniel Minshall
Richard Salter Richard Cross
Charles Osburn Thomas Hughes
Pryce Morris (in the room of Richard Powell
Francis Lucas)
Henry Hughes appointed Coroner June 20th, 1842.
1843:
Griffith Evans Richard Cross
Richard Salter Thomas Hughes
Charles Osburn Edward Williams
John Miles Hales William Williams
Thomas Hill (in the room of R. John Tomkies
Edwards, deceased)
Edward Edwards
Pryce Morris
John Hayward
William Price
Thomas Rogers
David Thomas
Nathaniel Minshall
William Smale
ALDERMEN—RE-ELECTED NOVEMBER, 1844:
T. L. Longueville, Peploe Cartwright, and John Jones, jun.
COUNCILLORS—1844:
John Broughall (in the room of Thomas Rogers
David Thomas)
John Hayward
William Smale
Nathaniel Minshall
Griffith Evans
Thomas Savin (in the room of
Richard Salter Richard Cross)
Charles Osburn John Jones (in the room of Thomas
Hughes)
John Miles Hales
Edward Williams
Thomas Hill
William Williams
Thomas Minshall (in the room of
Pryce Morris) John Tomkies
Edward Edwards
1845:
Thomas Hill John Phillips
John Miles Hales Edward Edwards
William Williams Charles Humphreys
William Price Thomas Rogers
Edward Morris (in the room of John Hayward
John Broughall, who had left the
borough) Nathaniel Minshall
William Smale Thomas Savin
Griffith Evans Edward Williams
Richard Salter John Jones
Thomas Minshall
1846:
Thomas Edwards John Jones
Thomas Minshall Edward Williams
William Isaac Bull Edward Edwards
William Williams James Weaver (in the room of
Charles Humphreys, deceased)
John Miles Hales
John Phillips
Thomas Hill
John Hayward
William Price
Nathaniel Minshall
Edward Morris
Thomas Rogers
William Smale
Edw. Wynne Thomas (in the room of
Mr. Savin, deceased)
ALDERMEN—ELECTED NOVEMBER, 1847:
John Hayward, Thomas Penson, and William Williams.
COUNCILLORS—1847:
Edward Morris David Lloyd
William Price Nathaniel Minshall
Jeremiah Jones Thomas Thomas Rogers
John Lacon (in the room of W.
Williams, Alderman)
1848:
John Lacon Edward Roberts
Thomas Hill George Morrall Bickerton
William Hodges David Jameson
John Miles Hales appointed Coroner, and Robert Simon Clerk of the
Peace, April 27th, 1848 (in the room of Henry Hughes, deceased).
1849:
Thomas Minshall John Jones
William Isaac Bull Edward Williams
Walter Edwards Edw. Wynne Thomas
ALDERMEN—ELECTED NOVEMBER, 1850:
T. L. Longueville, Peploe Cartwright, and Thomas Rogers.
COUNCILLORS—1850:
Edward Morris Thomas Jones
Jeremiah Jones Thomas David Lloyd
William Edwards William Morris
1851:
John Lacon George Morrall Bickerton
William Roberts Thomas Edwards
William Hodges George Harvey Williams
1852:
William Isaac Bull Jackson Salter
Thomas Minshall Francis Roberts
Walter Edwards William Hayward
ALDERMEN—ELECTED NOVEMBER, 1853:
Thomas Hill, John Jones, and Edward Morris.
COUNCILLORS—1853:
Edw. Wynne Thomas James Thomas Jones
William Edwards David Lloyd
William Morris William Morris
1854:
John Lacon Thomas Edwards
William Roberts George Morrall Bickerton
William Hodges George Harvey Williams
Benjamin Churchill (in the room
of Walter Edwards, resigned)
[For the above List of Aldermen and Common-Councilmen, up to and
including 1846, we are indebted to the Representative of a gentleman who
filled the Civic Chair, and who for many years recorded the changes in
the Municipal Body. The subsequent List is from the Corporation Poll
Books.]
Antiquities.
OSWESTRY CASTLE.
OUR readers will have already learnt that Oswestry, from an early period
in the history of the nation, bore no undistinguished part. Fixed in the
midst of an arena of fierce and convulsive conflicts for many ages; its
early state of warlike defence, rendered so complete by the sagacious
Edward I., and forming a powerful post on the Border Lands, the eyes of
monarchs and their gallant nobles were frequently directed towards it for
succour or defence. The Castle, in its primitive state, may have been a
palace fit for regal splendour. The honour of erecting it is assigned,
as we have previously mentioned, to Madog, descended from an illustrious
Welsh Prince, the strenuous ally of Henry II., in his Welsh wars, and
whose sire was the constant confederate of Randel the Third, and of his
son, Hugh Cyveiliog, the fourth Earl of Chester. Madog was a man of high
distinction in his day, and, being Prince of Powys, of which division
Oswestry formed a part, there is presumptive evidence that the Castle was
built by him, as the Welsh historians maintain, or very considerably
enlarged or repaired. The English records fix its existence even before
the Norman Conquest, and show that “Alan, a noble Norman,” received it
immediately from William the Conqueror, on his accession. “This Alan,”
adds Dugdale, the historian, “was the stock of the Fitz-Alans, Earls of
Arundel; a potent race that flourished (with fewer checks than are usual
with greatness) for near five hundred years.” It may be necessary to
mention here, to aid the reader as to dates, that Madog died A.D. 1159,
and that the Norman Invasion occurred in 1066. If Dugdale is to be
relied upon, the Castle of Oswestry was built at a period anterior to the
Conquest, but he makes no mention of Madog. He says, “There was a Castle
at _Oswaldster_ at the time of the Conquest;” and Pennant, a good
authority, adds to this note of Dugdale, “I think it very probable.” The
able Welsh tourist further remarks, “The artificial mount on which it was
placed indicates it to have been earlier than the Norman era. The
Britons and the Saxons gave their fortresses this species of elevation.
The Normans built on the firm and natural soil or rock, but often made
use of these mounts, which they found to have been the site of a Saxon
castle. I believe this to have been the case with that in question. A
Fitz-Alan repaired or re-built, and added to that which he met with here:
a tower also (as is not unfrequent) might receive the name of _Madog_,
complimentary either to the son of _Meredydd_ (Madog’s father), or some
other great man of the same title.” We have collected all the
authorities we could find on this vexed question; but the actual date of
the building of the Castle, and the veritable party to whom the honour of
founding it is due, are still among the undiscovered facts of ages past.
[Picture: Oswestry Castle]
There is still, however, a notable event connected with Oswestry Castle
that gives to its history surpassing interest, and ranks it among the
more remarkable military relics of the nation. If the pains-taking
researches of Chalmers, the historian of Scotland, are to be relied upon,
one of the distinguished occupants of Oswestry Castle was the founder of
the Stewart royal family. The real origin of that race of sovereigns had
long perplexed genealogists; but the labours of Chalmers, who has
minutely investigated all the written and printed records on the subject,
have proved beyond further controversy that Walter, the son of Alan (the
two first Norman possessors of Oswestry Castle), the son of Flaald, and
the younger brother of William, the son of Alan, who was the progenitor
of the famous house of Fitz-Alan, the Earl of Arundel, _was the first of
the Stewarts_. Symon, and other Scotch historians, trace the Stewart
family to a Thane of Lochabar. Lord Hailes disputed this and other
opinions, treating them as fabulous, but it was reserved for Chalmers to
establish and set at rest the long-contested question as to the origin of
the Stewart race. Lord Hailes himself acknowledges that Walter, who
flourished under David the First of Scotland, and Malcolm the Fourth, was
_indeed_ the first Stewart of Scotland; but he is unable to determine
where, and what was the commencement of this family. The subject is
important to every native of our land; but to the people of Oswestry it
is of paramount interest, as it connects with the town, however remotely,
the genealogy of our present beloved monarch, QUEEN VICTORIA.
Chalmers’ evidence on this subject is curious and interesting. He tells
us that the great exploit of Walter, the son of Alan, was the founding of
Paisley monastery, during the reign of Malcolm IV., by transplanting a
colony of Cluniac monks from the monastery of Wenlock, in Shropshire.
Such, then, he adds, was the connection of Walter the First Stewart with
Wenlock, and with Isabel de Say, who married William, the brother of
Walter. Alan, the son of Flaald, married the daughter of Gwarine, the
famous Sheriff of Shropshire, soon after the Norman conquest; and of this
marriage William was the eldest son of Alan, and the undoubted heir both
of Alan and of Gwarine. Alan, the son of Flaald, a Norman, acquired the
manor of Oswestry soon after the Conquest. Alan was undoubtedly a person
of great consequence at the accession of Henry I. He was a frequent
witness to the king’s charters, with other eminent personages of that
court. Mr. Chalmers, in his further investigations, proves the fraternal
connection of William, the son of Alan, by a transaction which had before
been as new to history as it is singular in itself. It has already been
shown that Oswestry was the original seat of Alan on the Welsh border.
Clun was added to his family by the marriage of his son William, who
built Clun Castle; and John Fitz-Alan, Lord of Clun and Oswestry, by
marrying Isabel, the second sister of William de Albany, the third Earl
of Arundel, who died in 1196, became Earl of Arundel, and changed his
residence from Shropshire to Sussex. Now, Richard Fitz-Alan, Earl of
Arundel, being with Edward III., during the year 1335, and claiming to be
_Stewart of Scotland by hereditary right_, sold his title and claim to
the king for 1000 marks, which purchase he cautiously had confirmed to
him by Edward Baliol; but Richard Fitz-Alan had not any right to the
Stewartship of Scotland. Walter, who was the first purchaser of this
hereditary office, was the younger brother of William, the son of Alan,
the progenitor of Richard Fitz-Alan, the claimant; and till all the
descendants of the first purchaser had failed, the claim could not ascend
to the common father of the two families. But Robert the Stewart, who
was born of Margery Bruce, on the 28th March, 1315–16, and became King of
Scots the 2nd February, 1370–1, under the entail of the crown, was then
in possession of the hereditary office of Stewart, by lineal descent.
Walter, the son of Alan, undoubtedly obtained from David I., and from
Malcolm IV., great possessions, a high office, and extensive patronage,
and it may be reasonably asked, by what influence he could acquire from
two kings so much opulence, and such an office? David I. was a strenuous
supporter of the claims of his niece, the Empress Maud, in her severe
contest with Stephen. William, the brother of Walter, influenced by the
Earl of Gloucester, the bastard son of Henry I., and other powerful
partizans of his sister the Empress, seized Shrewsbury in September,
1139, and held it for her interest. He attended her, with King David, at
the siege of Winchester, in 1441, where they were overpowered by the
Londoners, and obliged to flee. Such then were the bonds of connection
between David I. and the sons of Alan, who were also patronized by the
Earl of Gloucester. It was probably on that occasion that Walter
accompanied David into Scotland. William, the son of Alan, adhered
steadily to the Empress, and was rewarded by Henry II. for his
attachment. Thus Walter, the son of Alan, could not have had more
powerful protectors, than the Earl of Gloucester with David I., and Henry
II. with Malcolm the II. When Walter, by those influences, obtained
grants of Renfrew with other lands, and founded the Monastery of Paisley
for Cluniac Monks from Wenlock, he was followed by several persons from
Shropshire, whom he enriched, and by whom he was supported. He married
Eschina, of Moll, in Roxburghshire, by whom he had a son Alan, who
succeeded him in his estates and office when he died, in 1177. Six
descents carried this family, by lineal transmissions, to Robert the
Stewart, whose office, as already stated, was purchased by Edward III.,
and who became King of Scots 1371: Walter, the son of Alan, was followed
by his brother Simon. Thus does Mr. Chalmers treat the history of the
Stewarts, whose blood, he says, runs in a thousand channels.
This historical subject has attracted the attention of a talented
resident of Oswestry, whose taste and research, united with genius and
poetic imagination, have already conferred upon the town no trivial
honour. That gentleman has favoured us with a notice of the CASTLE HILL,
which bespeaks the enthusiasm of the writer, and adds to the interest
which all lovers of history must feel on a topic so closely connected
with the present amiable Sovereign of the kingdom. It is only due to Mr.
SABINE to state (for to him we are indebted for aid in endeavouring to
elucidate a dark and hitherto uncertain portion of Border History) that
he has shed light even upon the pains-taking researches of Chalmers, and
done much towards establishing a fact which, as we now consider it to be
“proven,” cannot fail to confer upon Oswestry an historical importance of
no common degree.
Mr. SABINE’S paper we have pleasure in quoting entire:—
“There is nothing,” he remarks, “in the appearance of this Hill very
imposing or very remarkable. It is a somewhat abrupt mound, with
some rude fragmentary remains of the castle, with which it was
formerly surmounted. It has long been a moot question whether this
mound is natural, or whether it has been raised by artificial means.
Its appearance would seem to indicate that it is the work of man; but
an examination of its geological composition, and a comparison of it
with similar surrounding elevations, lead to the conclusion that it
is the accumulated deposit of ages during a period in which the
district has probably been the area of obstructed and pent-up waters,
which, having been set at liberty, have left exposed the present
undulated portions of the district, of which this mound forms one of
the most prominent. Its present abrupt character—abrupt as compared
with some of the more shelving banks—is easily and obviously
accounted for by manifold encroachments, and by the military
necessity for making the Castle as inaccessible as possible to
hostile attacks. But if there is nothing in the appearance of the
Castle Hill of Oswestry that is remarkable, this cannot be said of
its history; for if there can be one fact topographically of greater
interest than another in the history of a kingdom, it is that which
is connected with the origin of its reigning monarch. To say
nothing, then, of the numerous battle scenes of which Oswestry Castle
has been the witness, and of which, it might say with Æneas, ‘_Quorum
pars magna fui_,’ a note of Sir Walter Scott’s to the “Monastery”
will be a sufficient warrant for saying that Oswestry, in point of
historic interest, is second to no town in the united kingdom. ‘The
acute pen of Lord Hailes (says the author of Waverley), which, like
the spear of Ithuriel, conjured up so many shadows from Scottish
history, had dismissed among the rest those of Banquo and Fleance,
the rejection of which fables left the illustrious family of Stewart
without an ancestor, beyond WALTER, THE SON OF ALAN. The researches
of our late learned Antiquary detected in this Walter the descendant
of Alan, the son of Flaald, who obtained from William the Conqueror
THE CASTLE OF OSWESTRY, IN SHROPSHIRE; and who was the father of an
illustrious line of English nobles, by his first son, William, and by
his second son, Walter, the progenitor of the royal family of
Stewart.’ Few will be bold enough, even if so disposed, to question
the authority of such an antiquarian as Sir Walter Scott, especially
in matters relating to his own country. Assuming, then, that Alan
Fitz-Flaald is the stirp of the Stewart House, a genealogical table
may not be uninteresting to the readers of this work:—
[Picture: Genealogical table] {178}