The Edwinsford Family Tree from 1745 to 1970.

Disgrifiad

Sir Nicholas Williams died without issue on 19 July 1745 and was buried in the family vault at Talley. It was during his lifetime that much was done to improve the house and gardens of Edwinsford. He was succeeded by his brother Thomas of Great Russell Street, Middlesex. His eldest daughter Bridget, by his second marriage to Anne Singleton, married Robert Bankes Hodgkinson, who was High Sherriff of Carmarthenshire and MP for Wareham. He arranged for the Edwinsford Bridge, across the Cothi, to be rebuilt. As Robert and Bridget died without issue, the Edwinsford Estate passed to Thomas Williams' youngest daughter, Arabella.

On 11 June 1762, Arabella, the youngest daughter of Thomas Williams and niece of the great Sir Nicholas Williams, married James Hamlyn of Clovelly Court, Devonshire. The marriage brought about the merger of the Edwinsford and Clovelly estates for generations. James Hamlyn represented Carmarthenshire in Parliament in 1793 and 1796 and during his period as M.P.was granted a baronetcy on 7 July 1795. He died in London on 8 June 1811 aged 76 and was buried in the Clovelly family vault. Dame Arabella had died previously in May 1797 aged 58 and was buried in Talley. They left four children, James, Zachary, Priscilla and Arabella. James had assumed the surname and arms of Williams on the death of his mother and became Sir James Hamlyn Williams, 2nd Baronet, when his father died.

James Hamlyn Williams married Diana Anne Whittaker of Stratford, Essex on 22 June 1789. He was nominated as candidate for the 1802 Election by his father and stood against William Paxton of Middleton Hall. Williams won the vote but Paxton petitioned the House arguing that Thomas Owen had shown partiality to him. Eventually, the dispute was settled and James was declared elected as M.P for Carmarthen on 6 April 1803. In later years, Sir James and Lady Diana spent more and more time at Edwinsford improving the estate here and at Cwrt Derllys and Clovelly. In December 1828, they bought the Plas Demesne and Talley Lakes and constructed a canal linking the two lakes. Sir James died at Clovelly in December 1829 and was buried there. They had six children, the eldest became Sir James Hamlyn Williams and spent most of his time at Edwinsford, where he made extensive alterations. He died at Clovelly on 10 October 1861 and was buried in the family vault on the north west side of Clovelly Church. Lady Mary survived him until 1874 and was buried at Talley amongst the surroundings she loved so much. Sir James left no male heir and with his death the Baronetcy became extinct.

Mary Eleanor, the daughter of Sir James Hamlyn Williams and Lady Mary and the inheritor of the Edwinsford Estate, married Sir James Drummond, 3rd Baronet of Hawthornden, Midlothian. Sir James assumed the surname of Williams in addition to and before that of Drummond. He died on 10 May 1866, whilst his widow continued to live at Edwinsford until her death in August 1872.They had five children, James Hamlyn Williams, Edwin Fortescue, Hugh Henry John Fortescue, Frances Dudley and Arabella Mary.

Sir James Hamlyn Williams-Drummond, the 4th Baronet was born at Clovelly Court on 13 January 1857. In 1889, he married Madeleine Diana Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw Castle, Wigtonshire. She was a grand-daughter of Arabella Williams (Lady Barham) the daughter of Sir James Hamlyn Williams of Edwinsford. Sir James’s love of Talley exceeded every other interest. Lady Madeline devoted much of her time and energy in relieving poverty and suffering. Through her efforts, the Alltmynydd Sanatorium was built. The foundation stone was laid on 25 April 1905 by H.R.H. Princess Christian, who accompanied by her daughter Princess Victoria, paid a four - day visit to Edwinsford. An oak tree was planted on the lawn at Edwinsford to commemorate the occasion and to mark the close friendship between Her Royal Highness and Lady Williams-Drummond. Unfortunately, she did not live to see the sanatorium built as she died in 1907.

On the death of the 4th Baronet on 6 June 1913, the title and Edwinsford Estate passed to their only child James Hamlyn Williams, who was born on 25 May 1891. He married Lady Enid Malet Vaughan, daughter of the 6th Earl of Lisburne of Crosswood, Cardiganshire. Lady Enid died in 1958 and Sir James in 1970. He was buried in Talley Churchyard.