Williams family, of Gwernyfed

Family

Williams family, of Gwernyfed

Sir David Williams (?1536-1613) bought the Gwernyfed estate in 1600 from John Gunter. Sir David's grandson, Sir Henry Williams (d. 1652) was created a baronet in 1644. Sir David's grand-daughter, Elizabeth Williams, carried by marriage the Gwernyfed estate to Sir Edward Williams (d. 1721) of Eltham, who was descended from the Williams family of Talyllyn. However the family title did not pass with the estate, but went to Sir Walter Williams. The estate descended in the male line until the death without a surviving son of Sir Edward Williams in 1804. He had married firstly, Mary, daughter of Isaac Leheup of Gunthorpe, Norfolk. Gwernyfed was inherited by his daughter, Mary Williams. She married Thomas Wood of Middlesex, and their son, Thomas Wood (1777-1860) was M.P. for Breconshire, 1806-1847. The estate remained in the hands of the Wood family until it was sold in 1922.