Early Life: Jane Silence Williams

 Unveiling the Mysteries of Lady Erskine's Early Life

Lady Erskine's life is a fascinating tapestry woven with threads of history and mystery. Yet, despite our best efforts, some details about her early life remain elusive. One of the most puzzling aspects is the scarcity of records from her childhood. Born in 1802 to Rev. Hugh Williams and Mary Playford at Plas Isa in Conwy, Jane Silence Williams would later become Lady Erskine. However, beyond her birth year, we lack specifics, including her exact birth date and baptism records.

The Missing Records of Rev. Hugh Williams

Rev. Hugh Williams, a prominent figure in Conwy, served as both the Vicar of St. Mary's Church and the town's Magistrate. Given his dual roles, one would expect a wealth of documentation pertaining to his activities and family. Surprisingly, the archives are almost empty of his paperwork. This absence is particularly curious, as the Vicar of St. Mary’s would typically keep meticulous records.

What we do find are a few leases for properties that, while interesting, do not provide substantial insights into the Williams family's daily life or Jane's upbringing. Most of the available legal documents pertain to the legal affairs of Jane's uncles and grandparents, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of her early years.

The Family Legacy and Legal Entanglements

The Williams family, despite their notable status, seem to have left a minimal paper trail concerning their personal and professional dealings. This void raises several questions about the family's legacy and the management of their estates. Jane’s father, Rev. Hugh Williams, was not only a religious leader but also a wealthy landowner, inheriting significant estates like Bodlondeb and Pwllycrochon. His sudden inheritance and subsequent family responsibilities might have influenced the paucity of records.

Moreover, the legal wranglings of Jane's uncles and grandparents dominate the surviving documents, suggesting that family disputes and property issues were a recurring theme. These records, while valuable, do not shed light on Jane's formative years or her relationship with her parents.

A Journey of Discovery

The quest to uncover more about Lady Erskine's early life is ongoing. Each piece of information, no matter how small, adds to the complex puzzle of her story. The absence of detailed records about Rev. Hugh Williams and his immediate family presents both a challenge and an opportunity for historians. It encourages us to dig deeper, to explore alternative sources, and to piece together the fragments of Lady Erskine's life from the scant details available.

Source material

 'Tynygongl' was a prominent solicitors office situated in Beaumaris, Anglesey and latterly occupied by Messrs J. S. Laurie and Co. The contents of the collection suggests that the solicitors acted on behalf of numerous gentry families, interestingly both the Hollands and the Williams, with the William's holding land in Anglesey, being within this bundle. 

The genealogy explorations have helped me to better understand just how both Bodlondeb estate and Pwllycrochon estate fell to the youngest son of the Williams of Pwllycrochon, and the Hollands pedigree website provided me an insight in to grave markings and memorial tablets within both Conwy and Llandrillo churches. The paid for Ancestry.co.uk has required a lot more input from me than I had expected, however that isn't to say I haven't found a wealth of contradictory source material I have followed up on, only to question the veracity of it. 

Tracing the Early Life of Lady Jane Silence Erskine

Although I'm still piecing together the full picture, here's what I've uncovered so far.

In 1799, Rev. Hugh Williams became the sole male heir to both his father's and mother's estates. At the age of 50, he found himself managing these substantial holdings. The following year, in 1800, he married a young woman named Mary Playford from Norfolk. The ceremony was witnessed by Rev. James Price, who had recently moved to the area and was leasing Pwllycrochon, Hugh Williams' childhood home. While the official lease is yet to be found in the archives, we gain valuable insights from Price's son's writings, "Old Price's Remains," which provide a glimpse into life at Pwllycrochon from 1800 to 1821.

In 1802, Jane Silence Williams was born. Her name honored her paternal grandmother, Jane, and her aunt, Silence, who still resided at Bodlondeb. Jane's birthplace, Plas Isa, was the former townhouse of the distinguished Owen Holland, a significant landowner in Conwy and an uncle to Jane's father.

Little Jane likely brought joy to her elderly aunts at Bodlondeb, and the bustling town of Conwy, with its pig markets and river traffic, must have provided ample entertainment. However, tragedy struck when she was only eight years old; her father passed away in 1808. Although 58 might seem young today, it was considered an advanced age during the Regency period. The Conwy Chronicle reported that despite his decrepit state, Rev. Hugh Williams was still carried in his chair to address town troubles as the Magistrate of Conwy.

Following her father's death, and with her aunts also passing away (Silence Holland lived to 88), it's presumed that Jane and her mother moved to the quieter countryside of old Bodlondeb by 1812, leaving behind the lively Plas Isa. Owen Holland's 1770s estate map shows a town with numerous gardens and fields, a stark contrast to the more densely populated Conwy of today.

Details about Jane's early life remain sparse. As heir to wealthy estates, she likely received an education befitting a Regency-era daughter. Her mother would have played a crucial role in broadening her horizons beyond Conwy. In 1818, the Conwy Chronicles noted that "Mrs and Miss Williams of Bondlondel (sic.) went to the continent," suggesting a Grand Tour, perhaps inspired by family friends, including the poetess Felicia Dorothea Hemans and her sister, whose works are preserved in the Pwllycrochon manuscripts at Cambo House archives.

While Jane may not have been directly involved in her estates' affairs, her Trustees and Counsel were busy. Legal disputes over ferry rights across the Menai Straits and negotiations for the Menai and Conwy suspension bridges were significant issues. As Jane was not yet 21, she couldn't fully engage in these matters. However, a notable agreement in early 1820 ensured compensation for the loss of her Menai ferry fares, with payments to be made four years later or once the bridge opened, whichever came first. "The £26,394 7s 6d compensation paid to Miss Silence Williams, the owner of the ferry service across the Menai is estimated [to be] one of the highest sums payed to a single person in British history." This would be worth approximately £2,752,956.35 in 2024.

Amidst these developments, Jane met David Erskine in Italy, and they married in August 1821 in Conwy. At 19, Jane was a landed heiress, while David, at 29, was the son of an illegitimate daughter of the 9th Earl of Kellie. Despite this, the Earl and his wife adopted four of their grandchildren and gifted the couple a baronetcy, making David the 1st Baronet of Cambo.

Thus, Jane Silence Williams became Lady Jane Silence Erskine of Bodlondeb and Pwllycrochon. Her story continues to unfold as we explore further into her life and legacy.

References:

Owen Holland map of 1770: https://www.casgliadywerin.cymru/items/8238#?xywh=-41%2C-76%2C1111%2C1127&cv= 

Tynygongl papers: https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/d42dfea6-a610-3d80-a9fb-31dbaf5e92a0

Conwy Chronicles: https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/46b1c225-d41f-36a0-99fb-806d1a2d7c40 

Telford's Menai Bridge: https://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/606465

Cambo House archives, Scotland by permission of Sir Peter Erskine, 6th Bt.