In view of the gallant career of General Sir Thomas Picton it is somewhat curious that no attempt has been made to trace his early ancestry. Several biographical accounts of the famous general have been published, one by the late Dr Henry Owen, but none of them deal with his early forebears.

As to the origin of the name of the Picton Family, there is no very satisfactory evidence. It has been asserted by some that the Pictons either derived their name from, or conferred it on, Picton Castle, but there is no satisfactory proof to support this theory. The opinion probably arose from a confusion between Picton and Picton, in the parish of St, Ishmaels, Co Pembroke. The latter place was owned by John Picton, described as an esquire, who, in 1422,(1) granted to Thomas Perrot, esq., and Alice his wife (daughter of the grantor), all his messuages, lands, and rents, in Bikton in Ros, at the yearly rent of two greyhounds.(2)

Now families of the name of Picton existed in the south as well as in the north of Pembrokeshire, but the opinion of many genealogists is that the Poyston branch was derived from the north.

Lewis Dwnn, in his Visitation, gives two irreconcilable pedigrees of the Picton family. In one instance(3)

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(1) The New style of year has been adopted throughout this article

(2) Cal. of Ancient Deeds, Vol, 111., D. 723.

(3) Vol. I, p, 133.

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he states that Alice Perrot (wife of Thomas Perrot) was the daughter and heiress of John Picton, son of William Picton, the son of Thomas Picton, the son of Sir William Picton while on another page(1) he alleges that the above-mentioned Alice Picton was the daughter of William Picton, the son of Thomas Picton, the son of John Picton, junior, by his wife Maud, the daughter of William Newport, esq. This John Picton, junior, is said to have had a brother William Picton, whose son, Jenkin Picton, had three sons, named John Picton, Thomas Picton, and William Picton, and that John Picton (son of the above-mentioned Jenkin Picton) had a daughter named Jane, who married William Lloyd of Morvil, esq. This pedigree does not state the locality in which the Pictons in question resided, and there is merely a suggested district added by the Editor, when the Visitation was published in 1846.

There is proof that about the year 1580 there was an Owen Picton in the neighbourhood of Nevern(2) At all events he married Jenet (daughter of Rees ap David ap Howell of Penybenglog, in the parish of Meline) ,(3) and by her had a son, named John ap Owen Picton, who lived at Trellifen, in the parish of Nevern. This John ap Owen Picton married Jenet(4) (daughter of James Phillips of Pentypark), and after his death, which must have occurred before 1587, his widow married Philip Griffith.(4)

The children(4) of John ap Owen Picton by his wife Jenet Philipps, were

1. Owen

2. John Picton, who may have been the ancestor of the Poyston branch.

3. Grace Picton.

4. Margaret Picton.

5. Lleuky Picton, who married William Bowen of Pontgynon, in the parish of Meline(5)

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(1) Vol I., p. 167.

(2) Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls, No. 17.

(3) Tucker MS. p. 36.

(4) Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls, No. 50.

(5) Lewis Dwnn’s Visitation, Vol,. p. 166.

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Owen Picton (eldest son of John ap Owen Picton and his wife Jenet Phflippa) was seven years old in 1595. Being under age at the date of his father's death, the queen, on 16, Oct, 1595, granted his marriage and wardship to Hugh Lewis, gent. Hugh Lewis proposed to marry his ward to Elizabeth, the daughter of John Symins, gent., but Owen Picton declined the alliance, and entered upon his property, which comprised a carucate of land in Nevern, whereupon Hugh Lewis, in 1612, brought an action against him in the Great Sessions to recover £200 damages.(2)

According to the Tucker MS.(3) Owen Picton married Mary, the daughter of Thomas Philip Young, and after her decease, which must have occurred prior to 1626, he married Elizabeth (daughter of John Bowen), by whom he had the following children :-(1) George Picton; (2)Sage, the wife of John Devona1d (3) Margaret, wife of James Morgan of Tredrissy (4) Jane Picton (6) James Picton of Swansea. On 3 April, 1626, Owen Picton and his wife Elizabeth levied to Jenkin ap Evan and Rowland Jenkin a fine of two messuages and lands in Moylgrove and Nevern, which proved that he was then married to his second wife. On 3 April, 1629, Owen Picton, and a Thomas Picton (no doubt his eldest son by his first wife) levied to George Owen, gent., a fine of a messuage and 182 acres of land in Nevern, and on 12 Sept., 1636, Owen Picton, Elizabeth his wife, and John Picton, gent. (probably the brother of Owen Picton) levied to Thomas Picton, gent. (no doubt the eldest son of Owen, and nephew of John) a fine of two messuages and 196 acres of land in Nevern.

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(1) Lewis Dwnn’s Visitation, Vol I, p. 166.

(2) Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls, No. 96.

(3) p.36

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Owen Picton must have died prior to 1640, as at the Spring Sessions in that year Alban Owen sited Elizabeth

Picton (described as widow and administratrix of Owen Picton of Trellyfen, in the parish of Nevern, gent.)(1)

for £200, due on a bond given by Owen Picton on 18 Oct 1616 By Mary, his first wife, Owen Picton had the following children

(1). Thomas Picton

(2). Owen Picton,(2) who married Catherine, the daughter of William Myles of the parish of Whitechurch, Co. Pembroke. His wife died in 1679, her will dated 17 June in that year, having been proved at Carmarthen on 30 Oct following. By her he had the following children :-(i) Owen Picton of Whitchurch, in Kemes; (2) Elinor, wife of - James; (3) Mary Picton(3) (4) Jane Picton.

Thomas Picton (eldest son of Owen Picton by his first wife Mary Young) married Elizabeth (described in the will as Elin), the daughter of Thomas Warren of Trewern, in the parish of Nevern, and widow of .......Griffith, by whom she had two children, Abel Griffith and Grace Griffith. By his wife Elizabeth, Thomas Picton had two daughters, named Elizabeth Picton and Grace Picton. By his will, dated 2 Feb., 1656, and proved in London on 9 May following, Thomas Picton gave his wife an annuity of £3 for her widowhood, charged on Croft Vael, Gwdwn Dywatty, and other parcels of land, and appointed his two daughters to be residuary legatees. In concluding his will lie pathetically said, "My wife deserves better at my hands, yet her mother's non-performance with her and me of the bargains between them hath utterly disenabled me to give her any more without gross injury to my poor children, who are to pay about £100 of my debt."

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(1) Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls, No. 154

(2) Will. of his brother Thomas Picton, proved in London in 1656

(3) She married at Whitchurch on 11 Oct, 1685, James John

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The pedigree of the Pictons of Kemes has now been brought down to a later date than the period at which there is proof of the existence of a John Picton, residing in the parish of Rudbaxton, who was, undoubtedly, the direct ancestor of the Pictons of Poyston. This John Picton (whom we will call 'the testator ' in order to distinguish him from others of his name), is described in his will, dated 1 May, 1666, and proved at Carmarthen on 3 Sept. following, as being a gentleman in the parish of Rudbaxton. His will reveals that his mother was twice married, as a legacy is bequeathed by it to David Reynolds, the son of James Reynolds, the testator's half brother. Now the ‘ Plea Rolls for County Pembroke’(1) record a suit against John Reynolds of Poyston in the parish of Rudbaxton, gent., and in the Roll(2) for 1630, is a challenge to the sheriff, which states that Elizabeth, the wife of John Reynolds, one of the coroners for the county, was the daughter of John Voyle. It may therefore very well be that this Elizabeth Reynolds was the mother of the testator and daughter of John Voyle of Philbeach in the parish of Marloes. Unfortunately. The Will does not mention the name of the testator's father, but in view of the fact that John was a favourite name for two subsequent generations of the Poyston branch of the Pictons, and assuming that the father of the testator bore the name of John; the dates would just admit of his being John the son of John ap Owen Picton of Trellyfen by his wife Jenet Philipps

But it is by no means certain that John Picton (the testator) was the son of John ap Owen Picton and as we shall see later on there is another and in the writer's opinion a more probable theory.

We have now set out the evidence in favour of a descent from the Kemes stem, and we will now examine the possibilities of a Branch of the Picton family in the parish of Martletwy.

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(1) No. 115. (2) No. 135

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The earliest discovered ancestor of this branch is a Morgan Picton, who lived at and owned a farm called Pescaverne(1), in the parish of Martletwy. This Morgan Picton had a brother called Thomas Picton, and three sisters named Johan Picton, Anne Picton, and Jenett Picton, and his wife's name is given as Gilian. Morgan Picton, by his will, dated 20 Sept., 1604, and proved at Carmarthen on 9 Oct. following, devised his farm, called Pescavarne, to his son and heir, Philip Picton, and also gave legacies to his childern, Edward Picton, Thomas Picton, Jobn Picton, and Elizabeth Picton.

Phillip Picton (eldest son of Morgan Picton) married, but the identity of his wife(2) is not disclosed in the will. Thanks, however, to a dispute having arisen in regard to the effect of Morgan Picton's will, we learn from the decision in a suit in the Great Sessions, held in Sept., 1727, that, notwithstanding that the farm of Pencanarne had been devised in its entirety to Philip Picton, it should, on the death of Philip. which occurred on 1st. April, 1625, have descended (as to one-third part thereof, and as to tbe reversion of two-third parts thereof) to John Picton (son and heir of the said Philip Picton) who was then four years old. Now, so far as dates are concerned, this John Picton, the son of Philip, may very well have been the father of John Picton of Rudbaxton, the testator.

tet us now see what evidence is available in support of this theory. In the first place it must be noted that Morgan Picton owned land in the parish of Martletwy, and later on in this article it will be seen by the will of

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(1) In the Papers of the Great Sessions for 3 Car, I., called Pescanarne.

(2) A suit is mentioned in Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls, No. 124, in which Thomas Picton sued Elizabeth Picton alias Bowen (administratrix of Philip Picton of Martletwy, yeoman, deceased, to recover £10, which the said Philip on 3 July, 1622, had promised to pay to the plaintiff. It is uncertain whether the Elizabeth Picton in question was the wife as well as the administratrix of Philip Picton, or whether she was the second wife of Owen Picton of the Kemes branch, (See p.45). In the latter event it indicates the probability of a close connection between the two clans of Pictons.

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John Picton senior(1), dated 13 Mar., 1716, that he also owned land in Marletwy. Moreover, among the Papers of the Great Session for 7 Jac. I, there is a copy of a lease, dated 10 Feb., 1607, of a messuage and lands at Scollock, in the parish of Ambleston, granted by Phillip Picton of Martletwy to John Thomas of Lawrenny, for five years. It will also be observed that John Picton senior, in 1710, held messuages and lands at Scollock. It may be contended that the above-mentioned lands might have been purchased by John Picton senior(1), but in that case, it mnst have been a very curious coincidence, and it is rather difficult to account for a person living in Rudbaxton purchasing land so far away and so Inconveniently situated as at Martletwy.

Taking all things into consideration it seems much more probable that John Picton, the testator, was identical with John, the son of Philip Picton, than with John Picton, the son of John ap Owen Picton.

It is by no means clear as to when Poyston came into the possession of the Pictons. The above-mentioned will of John Picton (the testator) merely describes him as being of the parish of Rudbaxton. It seems certain that in 1620, Poyston was in the tenure of John Reynolds(2) but whether as tenant or owner it is impossible to say. There is nothing to show whether John Reynolds was the first or second husband of the mother of the testator, but in the event of his being the second husband, he may have held Poyston in right of his wife. John Picton, the testator, devised no real property by his will, but it is possible that his realty may have been settled on his son, subject to a life interest in a portion of it given to his widow.

So far as evidence is available, John Picton (the testator) had two full sisters, namely, Joan Picton, who married William Morgan, and Gwenllian Picton who married - Thomas. John Picton (the testator)

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(1) Son of John Picton, the Testator

(2) Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls, No 115.

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married Elinor(1) (daughter of George Haward of Fletherhill), to whom her father bequeathed £100 provided she and her husband, John Pioton, released all claims of action against her brother, George Haward.

The issue of the marriage of John Picton (the testator) by his wife, Elinor Haward, was-

1. John Picton.

2. Margaret Picton, the wife of James Wogan of Goodhook, in the parish of Usmazton, who was the son of John Wogan of Wiston. She died before the year 1682, administration of her effects having been granted at Carmarthen in that year(2)

John Picton senior (son of John Picton the testator, by his wife, Elinor Haward) was a minor at the date of his father's death. The will of his widow, Phoebe Mary, dated 24 Dec., 1719, and proved at Carmarthen on 8 August. 1722, reveals that be was twice married, and also makes it clear that she was his second wife. The identity of his first wife is not definitely ascertained. Dr. Henry Owen was under the impression that she was the heiress of Charles Stepney but however, this may have been, it is certain that the issue of this marriage was a son, named John Picton.

On 11 Nov., 1710, John Picton senior, described as of Poyston, granted to Sir John Philipps of Picton Castle, bart., and John Pember of Prendergast, clerk (1) a messuage and lands (one ploughland) in Ambleston, Co. Pembroke, and messuages and lands (one ploughland) called Triffelton and Hook, in the parish of Ambleston, and (a) messuages and lands (four ploughlands) at Scollock, in the parish of Ambleston, on trust (as to the property numbered 1) for John Picton junior (eldest son of John Picton senior) for his life, with remainder to his first and other sons successively in tail, with re-mainder to his daughters, with similar remainders to

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(1) Will of George Haward, dated 30 June, 1650, and proved in London on 10 Feb 1652

(2) See West Wales Historical Records, Vol VI, p 212

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Thomas Picton (second son of John Picton senior), with remainder to William Picton (third son of John Picton senior) in fee simple; and on trust (as to the property numbered 2) for the said John Picton senior for his life, with remainder to his said son John Picton junior, for his life, with remainders similar to those declared as to the property numbered 1

The second wife of John Picton senior, was Phoebe Mary, the daughter of John Prichard, who was the son of Rev. Dr. Thomas Prichard, prebendary of Mathry, and archdeacon of Llandaff, by his wife Phoebe, the second daughter of Theophilus Field) bishop of St Davids in 1626.

John Picton senior, In his wiIl (dated 13 Mar., 1716, and proved at Carmarthen on 16 Oct, 1719). is described as of Poyston, and must have resided at that place from 1710, but no evidence has been found as to how he acquired the property It is possible that it came to him through his marriage with his wife, Phoebe Mary Prichard. The facts in favour of this theory are that her grand-mother, Phoebe Prichard (nee' Field) is described in her will (dated 28 Jan., 1678, and proved at Carmarthen on 27 April, 1679) as of Poyston, and by it she bequeathed to her son, James Pritchard, 'the long table in the hall at Poyston.' Moreover, her daughter Phoebe Prichard, spinster, in her will (dated 21 Jan., 1671, and proved at Carmarthen on 23 Sept, 1673) bequeathed to her mother all the red furniture in my chamber at Poyston.' It is of course possible that John Picton might have bought Poyston, and that his grandmother-in-law, and his aunt-in-law might have lived with him there, but the bequests of furniture in two several rooms rather suggest that the Prichards owned the property.

The issue of the marriage of John Picton senior, to his second wife, Phoebe Mary Prichard, was

1. Thomas Picton, who was born in the year 1665.

2. William Picton

By the will of John Picton senior, we find that in addition to lands in Ambleston, he owned property in the parishes of Martletwy and Yerbeston, whiech he devised to his son William Picton, and lands in the parishes of Rudbaxton and Bletherston, which he gave to his son Thomas. The latter property no doubt included Poyston.

Thomas Picton (son of John Picton, senior, and his wife Phoebe Mary Prichard) married Frances (the daughter of - Bowen of Lewiston) and died on 4 July, 1727, aged 42(1) He was survived by his wife Frances, who (Died on 15 Nov., 1775, aged 86 years(1) By his will, dated 26 June, 1827, and proved at Carmarthen on 25 Sept. following, he appointed his wife Frances to be executrix and residuary legatee.

Their children were

1. John Picton (eldest son) who died on 22 Oct., 1727, aged 7 years,(1)

2. Thomas Picton, to whom his father bequeathed £150.

3. William Picton, to whom his father bequeathed £150.

4. James Picton, (youngest son) who died young.(1)

5. Elizabeth Picton, to whom her father bequeathed £400 when she was 21 years of age. She was baptized at Prendergast on 3 Feb., 1719, and on 2' Oct., 1737, married at Rudbaxton Church, John Warren, the son of John Warren of Trewern, in the parish of Nevern, by Katharine his wife, who was the daughter of Lewis Wogan of Wiston. Elizabeth Warren died on 27 Jan., 1789, aged 69 years.(1)

Thomas Picton (eldest surviving son of Thomas Picton of Poyston, by his wife Frances Bowen) married Cecil,(1) the daughter and heiress of Rev. Edward Powel of Llanddow, Co. Glamorgan. He was sheriff of Co.

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(1) Inscriptions in Rudbaxton Church

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Pembroke in 1749. On 4 March, 1746 he suffered a recovery of the Ambleston property to enure to the use of himself in fee simple, and on 25 March, 1758, be convayed to Francis Bowen of the parish of Prendergast, merchant, a messuage and lands called Ambleston, comprising 192a. 2r. 23p., for the purchase price of £610,(1) and on the same date he conveyed(1) to Thomas Tucker of Hook, in the parish of Ambleston, a messuage and lands (69a. 2r. 19p.) called Triffleton in the same parish. Thomas Picton died on 27 April, 1790, aged 66 years, and was buried at Rudbaxton Church on 30 April following. His wife Cecil died on 13 April, 1806, aged 77 years,(2) and was buried four days later in the same church. Her children(3) by her said husband were-

1. Richard Picton, who afterwards assumed the name of Richard [Picton] Turbervill.

2. Thomas Picton, who was privately baptized at Rudbaxton on 13 May, 1753.

3. Thomas Picton, born On 24 Aug., 1758 and baptized at Rudbaxton on 29th of the same month.

He was afterwards the famous General Sir Thomas Picton, who gloriously fell at Waterloo on 18 June, 1815

4. William Picton, who was baptized at Rudbaxton on 20 July, 1755, and was buried on 5 Jan., 1757.

5. Edward Picton, who was baptized at Rudbaxton on 13 July, 1760. He entered Holy Orders, and resided at Iscoed, near Ferryside, Co. Carmarthen.

6. John Picton, who was brought to church in 1765. He was afterwards General John Picton.

7. Frances Picton, baptized on 28 July, 1751, and buried on 12 April, 1765.

8. Elizabeth Picton, baptized on 28 April, 1753, and died on 3 Feb., 1830, aged 76

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(1) Deeds at Scolton.

(2). Inscriptions at Rudbaxton Church

(3). Rudbaxton Parish Registers

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9. Frances Picton, baptized 30 May, 1756. She married - Morris of Mount Pleasant, near Carmarthen, and died on 10 April 1836 aged 80 years.

10. Cecil Picton, baptized 22 May, 1763 she married In 1795 Rev. George Jenkins.

11. Catherine Picton, baptized 9 Sept., 1763 she married John Warlow of Mathry, Co. Pembroke.

Richard Turbervill, formerly Picton(1) (son of Thomas Picton and Cecil his wife) married Elizabeth, the daughter of Rev. G. Powel of Lanharran. He assumed the name of Turbervill on coming into the Eweeny Priory Estate. His wife died in 1797, and by her lie had the following children(1)

(1) Richard Turbervill, who died unmarried in 1848.

(2) Col. Gervas Powel Turbavill, who died without issue in 1862

(3) Elizabeth Turbervill, who died in 1867.

On the death of all the children of Richard Turbervill Picton, without issue, and the male line of the Pictons of Poyston having died out, the Ewenny Priory Estate vested in Lient. Col. T. Picton Warlow, the grandson of Catherine Picton, who married John Warlow of Mathry.

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(1). Ewenny Priory, By Col. J.P. Turbervill, pp 78-79

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