Wallace, Alfred Russel (1823-1913)
Born in Usk, Monmouthshire. Wallace began his career as trainee-assistant land surveyor to his brother William Wallace. The brothers worked at first for the Sayce brothers (William and Morris) of Kington and their work included surveying and drawing many of the tithe and enclosure maps for parishes in Radnorshire. The Sayces were involved in the quickly growing Mechanics Institute movement into which Wallace was also recruited publishing his first essay emphasising the importance of scientific study in the institute at the age of seventeen. His work on the enclosure awards led to the redistribution of common lands to already wealthy Radnorshire landlords like Richard Lister Venables and James Watt, an outcome which Wallace later deplored and led to his involvement in the Land Nationalisation movement.
In 1841 the Wallace brothers moved to Neath at first as employees of the Sayces but later in independent practice. Wallace was again involved in the setting up of the local Mechanics Institute and was able to immerse himself in the activities of the scientific societies of South Wales. This led to a keen interest in natural sciences and much field work in botany and entomology. He undertook expeditions to the Amazon and to Sarawak. He came under the influence of Darwin's theories and began to develop ideas of his own based upon his own findings. He published works on the regulation of the introduction of new species and, jointly in 1856 with Charles Darwin, on a theory of evolution through natural selection. He became involved in anthropology, and published articles on the origins of human races for the Anthropological Society. From his return to Britain in 1862 he spent his life writing and lecturing and perhaps his best work was on the geographical distribution of species.
[DNB; R. Elwyn Hughes in BJHS 1989; Gwyn Illtyd Lewis in RT 34]
In 1841 the Wallace brothers moved to Neath at first as employees of the Sayces but later in independent practice. Wallace was again involved in the setting up of the local Mechanics Institute and was able to immerse himself in the activities of the scientific societies of South Wales. This led to a keen interest in natural sciences and much field work in botany and entomology. He undertook expeditions to the Amazon and to Sarawak. He came under the influence of Darwin's theories and began to develop ideas of his own based upon his own findings. He published works on the regulation of the introduction of new species and, jointly in 1856 with Charles Darwin, on a theory of evolution through natural selection. He became involved in anthropology, and published articles on the origins of human races for the Anthropological Society. From his return to Britain in 1862 he spent his life writing and lecturing and perhaps his best work was on the geographical distribution of species.
[DNB; R. Elwyn Hughes in BJHS 1989; Gwyn Illtyd Lewis in RT 34]
Walsh, Arthur John, 2nd Baron Ormathwaite (1827-1920)
Born at Berkley Square in 1827 the son of Sir John Benn Walsh, 1st Baron Ormathwaite (below). He married Lady Katherine Emily Mary Somerset, daughter of the Duke of Somerset. This lady was sympathetic to the hardship of the estate workers on the family’s estates at Warfield Park, Berkshire. In 1874 the estate workers – believing Lord Ormathwaite to be mistreating his lady – treated him to Rough Music, banging on pots and pans at his gate for hours. The expansion of the family estates, conducted so successfully by Sir John Benn Walsh, was brought to an abrupt halt by the second Baron who had been borrowing heavily (using his expected inheritance as security) since at least 1850. Most of his debts were incurred in the pursuit of his abiding passion: shooting. In 1874 The full extent of his liabilities were not revealed, however, until after his father's death in 1881.
In 1886 the Ormathwaite estates had been mortgaged for £153,755. Ten years later the figure stood at £167,731 whilst unsecured creditors were owed over £22,300. By 1890 estate revenue was unable to meet all its annual charges and some frantic selling of assets began. In 1895, Arthur, 2nd Lord Ormathwaite, duly presented to the High Court a petition alleging his inability to pay his debts. Following the petition the court appointed a receiver and a scheme of arrangement to pay off the creditors was drawn up. The bulk of the Irish estates were sold off between 1906 and 1912. The first sales of the Radnorshire estate were delayed until shortly after the death of the 2nd Lord Ormathwaite in 1920.
[RT; Archives Wales website; National Library of Wales - The Ormathwaite Papers]
In 1886 the Ormathwaite estates had been mortgaged for £153,755. Ten years later the figure stood at £167,731 whilst unsecured creditors were owed over £22,300. By 1890 estate revenue was unable to meet all its annual charges and some frantic selling of assets began. In 1895, Arthur, 2nd Lord Ormathwaite, duly presented to the High Court a petition alleging his inability to pay his debts. Following the petition the court appointed a receiver and a scheme of arrangement to pay off the creditors was drawn up. The bulk of the Irish estates were sold off between 1906 and 1912. The first sales of the Radnorshire estate were delayed until shortly after the death of the 2nd Lord Ormathwaite in 1920.
[RT; Archives Wales website; National Library of Wales - The Ormathwaite Papers]
Walsh, John (1726-1795)
Went to India in 1742 where he was appointed a writer at Fort St George. During a second stay in the sub-continent he held a number of administrative posts in the East India Company eventually being appointed to the post of private secretary to his distant relative Lord Clive. He returned to Britain with a private fortune earned through investments in India, and set about creating a personal estate as befitted a country gentleman. In 1768 he purchased the manors of Cefnllys and Coed Swydd and a number of farms in eastern Radnorshire. These estates gave him access to public office and political interest in the county. Walsh had property in other constituencies and fought a number of expensive elections. He died in 1795 leaving his estates to his niece Margaret Benn until her male heir should reach majority, provided they take the name Walsh. This they duly did and the estate was inherited by Sir John Benn Walsh in 1819.
[National Library of Wales - The Ormathwaite Papers]
[National Library of Wales - The Ormathwaite Papers]
Walsh, Sir John Benn, 1st Baron Ormathwaite (1788-1881)
His mother was the niece of John Walsh (above) and through this connection he inherited the considerable estates in Radnorshire and elsewhere in 1819. He also inherited Cumbrian estates from his father John Benn. He continued the family tradition of expansion in Radnorshire, the acreage reaching 12,500 by 1874. He spent a considerable amount on electioneering but was able, through careful management, to weather the difficulties of the Irish famine and a loss of £40,000 on railway investments. He was MP for Radnorshire between 1840 and 1868 and Lord Lieutenant of the county from 1842 to 1878. He died in 1881 and passed on the estates to the 2nd Baron Ormathwaite, Arthur John Walsh (above).
[National Library of Wales - The Ormathwaite Papers]
[National Library of Wales - The Ormathwaite Papers]
Walter, son of Miles of Gloucester
Walter was the second son of Miles of Gloucester, earl of Hereford. He inherited the estate of Brecon on the death of his brother Roger, earl of Hereford in 1155 but died soon after without issue. The lordship passed to his brother Henry.
Warlock, Peter
Composer. see Heseltine, Philip Arnold
Washburne, William (fl.1631)
Of Washborn in Worcestershire. Little is known of the origins or family of this man but he is known to have had connections with influential border landowning families and to have served as Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1631.
[W.V. Lloyd - the Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire]
[W.V. Lloyd - the Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire]
Watkins, Henry (d.1756)
Of Llanfihangel, co. Monm. Tried at Breconshire Great Sessions 1756 for sacrilege. In the parish of Partrishow on 10 July 1756 he sacrilegeously stole from the parish church 1 silver cup (value 15s.); 1 pewter flagon (value 1s.); 1 pewter bason (value 1s). and 1 linen table cloth (value 2/6d). He was ordered for execution on Friday 10 September.
[Mossop]
[Mossop]