Vernon, of Hanbury, co. Worcester, wife of Henry Cecil, Esq., afterwards Marquis of Exeter, whose marriage was dissolved by Act of Parliament, in June, 1791.
The above mentioned Meredith Evans, Esq., was the 16th in descent from Madoc, one of the sons of Ririd Vlaidd, Lord of Penllyn, Pennant, and Bryn, extensive districts in the county of Merioneth, which were eventually divided and sub-divided by the law of Gavel, among his progeny.
Ririd Vlaidd lived in 1070, and acquired great reputation by his distinguished intrepidity in many conflicts, in which he defended his country. He was also Lord of the Eleven Towns, in Shropshire; but his favorite residences were Rhiwaedog, Neuaddau, Gleision, &c., all in the vicinity of Bala, co. Merioneth. From this chieftain was descended David Lloyd, Esq., whose son married the only daughter and heiress of Sir Alexander Myddleton, constable of Montgomery castle, from which marriage are descended the Myddlelons of Gwaenunog, near Denbigh; and of that house was the enterprising and patriotic Sir Hugh Myddleton, who brought the New River to London:– his brother. Sir Thomas Myddleton, founded the branch of Chirk Castle, and was also Lord Mayor of the British metropolis:– from the same origin sprung another David, son of Griffith, of Pen-y-ralt, who married Lowry, daughter of Howel Vaughan, of Glan-y-Lynn Tegid, and took the name of Vaughan.
In 1672, Edward Vaughan of Glan-y-Lynn Tegid, son of another Howel Vaughan, married Mary, daughter of John Purcell, of Llangedwynn. In Nov. 1715, Ann, co-heiress of the said Edward Vaughan, married Watkin Williams Wynn, Esq., eldest son of Sir William Williams, Bart.
Thomas Evans, cousin to Edward Vaughan, married the only daughter of Edward Eyton, of Wynnstay, Esq. The Lloyds are connected by marriage with the Wynnes of Hazlewood, co. Sligo. Ririd’s coat armorial will be found among the quarterings of the most respectable families in North Wales.
Captain Evans, whose services we are about to notice, is the 13th in descent from Jeaun Vlaidd, whose tomb is in the church of Llanuwchlyn, and thereon his figure in armour, having a conic helmet, &c. &c. The patrimony of this branch is Pen’r allt, in the parish of Llanvawr. The cognomen of Evans was first borne by Evan, son of Evan Lloyd, grandfather of Meredith Evans, and nephew to Robert Price, Baron of the Exchequer, who made a distinguished figure, both as a senator and a judge, in the reign of William III. The said Evan Evans fought, as an officer of cavalry, at the battle of Dumblain, in 1715.
The subject of this memoir commenced his naval career, under the patronage of Lord Dudley and Ward, uncle to the present peer. He first embarked in 1782, as a midshipman,
