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Original and copied Civil War and Commonwealth papers which show the effects of major national events at county level. These include accounts of maintaining military troops and of war contributions in Ardudwy, [1644x1650?]; a royal pass for an army officer going to Ireland, 1645; an agreement for the surrender of Oxford, 1646; and a report of the Sub-Committee of the Commonwealth, 1654. Other subjects of interest are Sir John Owen 's governorship of Conwy Castle, notably his dispute with Archbishop John Williams and conditions stipulated for surrender of the fortress, [1645-1646]; the treatment of Royalists at castles in North Wales; the quartering of troops in Merionethshire; the sequestered lands of Sir John Owen in Caernarfonshire, the affected estate of William Owen and a demand of £1200 on the estate of the latter 's wife, Catherine Anwyl, 1646-1660; and information against Sir John Carter in respect of his political and religious activities [c. 1659].

Letters exchanged between members of the Maurice and Owen families of Clenennau and Brogyntyn, and other correspondence from friends or associates in Wales and England, together with a number of important official documents deriving from county administration in Caernarfonshire during the Tudor and Stuart periods, 1485, 1573-1698. Many of the early letters and papers, 1580-1622, relate to the joint deputy lieutenancy in Caernarfonshire of Sir William Maurice and Sir John Wynn, showing their preoccupation with the raising and organisation of militia troops for the defence of Caernarfonshire and for despatch to Ireland. Other topics include Sir William Maurice's position as deputy vice-admiral of North Wales and the protracted civil lawsuits in which he was engaged. The collection also constitutes an important historical source for the conduct of the Civil War in North Wales. Items from that period primarily concern Sir John Owen and his brother, Col. William Owen, Royalist commanders at Conwy and Harlech respectively, and their subsequent treatment under the Commonwealth and Restoration, 1643-1666. Many of the letters from 1678 to 1698 reveal the life of Sir Robert Owen, his debts, estate business, cultural interests and attachment to the Jacobite cause, together with contemporary political news. Apart from individuals already mentioned, prominent correspondents include the Privy Council of Elizabeth I, mostly through Henry Herbert, President of the Council in the Marches of Wales, 1587-1600; Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais, 1605-1616; Ralph, Lord Eure, 1607-1617; members of the Brynker family, 1603-1681; the Wynn family of Glyn and Sylfaen, 1625-1697; the Anwyl family of Park, 1636-1693; Charles I, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice, 1642-1647; Lord Byron, 1644-1648; John Williams, Archbishop of York, 1645-1646; George Twisleton, 1649-1660; the Godolphin family of Abertanat, 1658-1698; John Gadbury, 1679-1688; and Edward Lhuyd, 1696-1697.

Includes an agreement between William Owen of Porkington and his sisters for the occupation of Constable 's Hall, 1626, and assignments of the lease of crown lands in Penychen to Ellin and Penelope, 1627, 1642; deeds associated with the surrender by Ellis Maurice to John Owen of Tyddyn Mawr yn y Pennant, Penyfed, 1626/7; a letter of attorney by William Owen empowering his brother, John, to take possession of lands in Penyfed originally leased to their mother, Ellen Eure, 1629; post-nuptial settlements of William Owen and his wife, Mary, 1630/1, 1637; and family trust settlements by Sir John Owen of the Clenennau estate, lands in Denbighshire and Shropshire, Rhedynogfelen and Gest, 1633/4, 1663.

Letters to Col. William Owen and his wife Mary, 1634-1670. Correspondents of note include Richard Anwyl discussing, among the more common topics, the post of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, other royal appointments and the union of Scotland 1669; George [Griffith], bishop of St Asaph, on appointing a suitable vicar and schoolmaster at Oswestry, 1664; Owen Griffith on hostility to the Dutch, seizure of commodities and a frigate accident in London, 1667; and Robert [Morgan], bishop of Bangor, on a preferment to the living of Llanegan in Llyn, 1669. Other correspondents include Thomas Mackworth, 1663, John Mordaunt, 1655, and Penelope Owen, 1634, and further, general topics are: events in parliament; estate business in Shropshire, Penychen and Hitchin, 1655-1669; sequestration of the estate of Sir John Owen, 1659; the taking of stone from the demolished town walls of Oswestry, 1668; and obtaining a college place for William Owen the younger.

Correspondents include William Dafudd, farm bailiff of Porkington, on financial pressures affecting the estate and the sale of Nant, 1690.