William ap John

William ap John¹

• Name Variation: John Williams²
• Name Variation: William Jones³

• Birth*: Merionithshire, Wales
• Marriage*: Wales; Spouse:Ann Reynald¹
• Death*: 1683; at sea¹

Family:

Ann Reynald

• Marriage*: Wales; Spouse:Ann Reynald¹

Children:

Alice Williams⁷
Katherine Williams⁷
Gwen Williams⁷
John Williams+ ⁷ b. 17 Jul 1670, d. 13 Aug 1740

Notes

• Note*: Abstract of the nuncupative will of William Jones and his wife Ann Reynald:
  The orphan children John, Alice, Katherine & Gwen Williams and their trustees Hugh Roberts & John Roberts, both of Merion in the County of Philadelphia gave depositions 1 March 1685/86 that it was the will of their late father William Jones of Merionithshire in Wales and also of their mother Ann Reynald that all their property in Pennsylvania and elsewhere be equally divided among the four children. Inventory was taken the 25th of the 9th month 1685 by Wm. Howell and Edward Jones, of £173:2:6.
  (Abstracted by the compiler. Viewed on FHL 21,721, Philadelphia Wills, Book A, page 24.)³
• Note: Clarence V. Roberts reasoned that William ap John most likely died on shipboard, as "a nuncupative will, delivered in Wales, would scarcely have been made of original record here; and also, had William Jones died on shipboard, his last residence would still have been Wales, as stated in the record."
  He also reasoned that it was likely that Ann Reynald had survived her husband, for a widow would resume her maiden name according to the Welsh custom.¹
• Note: Charles Browning in his book on "Welsh Settlement in Pennsylvania" describes seven 'companies'; William ap John was a member of the first. This company consisted of seventeen subscribers, who pooled £100 to purchase 5,000 acres. In September 1681 William Penn conveyed the land to John ap Thomas of Llaithgwm and Dr Edward Jones as trustees. They in turn conveyed shares to each of the others 28 February & 1 April 1682; these deeds were recorded 22 3rd month 1684. William ap John was one of the subscribers; his share was 156 1/4 acres for £3.2.6.
  
  Subscribers were allotted half their land in what is now Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County. On the Thomas Holmes map it is marked "Edward Jones & Company being 17 Families", and is located on the west bank of the Schuylkill River just north of The Liberty Land. Browning's book contains a first draft map of showing the individual tracts, including "William Joans 76 ac 1/2".
  
  The other half of their land was located in Goshen Township, now Chester County.⁴
• Note: Deed. By indenture dated 1 April 1682 John Thomas of Llaithgun in Co. Merioneth and Edward Jones of Bala in Co. Merioneth promise and grant to William John of Bettus in Co. Merioneth, yeoman, in consideration of £3.2.6, 156 1/4 acres in Pennsylvania, his share of 5000 acres as soon as the 5000 acres are laid out according to the concessions, which 5000 acres William Penn granted on 16 September previous in consideration of £100 to John Thomas and Edward Jones acting as trustees for themselves, William John and others. Recorded 7th 4th mo 1684, Philadelphia Co. Deed Book C1, p. 185-8.
  (Abstracted by compiler. Viewed on FHL microfilm # 21874.)⁵
• Note: This William ap John is also called William John and William Jones. He is not to be confused with the William ap John, or William John, who with Thomas Evan purchased 7,280 acres in Gwynedd Township from Robert Turner and resold to many others, but still had large holdings himself.⁶