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KEMEYS and KEMEYS-TYNTE family, of Cefn Mabli, Monmouth

The Cefn Mabli branch of the Kemeys family is said to be descended from one Stephen de Kemeys, who held land in what is now Monmouthshire c. 1234. The first connection with Cefn Mabli came when DAVID KEMEYS, son of Ievan Kemeys of Began, married Cecil, daughter of Llewelyn ab Evan ap Llewelyn ap Cynfig of Cefn Mabli c. 1450. They were succeeded by their son LEWIS. The next heirs were JOHN KEMEYS and his son DAVID (died 1564?). David's eldest son, EDWARD, was sheriff of Glamorgan, 1574-5, but died without issue. The estate came to Edward's nephew DAVID, son of Rhys Kemeys of Llanvair Castle. David was sheriff of Glamorgan, 1616-17, and was succeeded by his son EDWARD, whose children either died in infancy or without issue. The estate then developed upon Sir NICHOLAS KEMEYS of Llanvair, son of the afore-mentioned Rhys of Llanvair Castle. He served as sheriff of Monmouthshire, 1631-2, and of Glamorgan, 1638-9. He was also M.P. for Monmouthshire, 1628-9. In 1642 he was created a baronet. An ardent Royalist, he took an active part in the Civil War, and died in defence of Chepstow Castle, 25 May 1648. His son, CHARLES KEMEYS, who had been student at Jesus College, Oxford, and had been knighted in 1643, became the 2nd baronet. Like his father he took an active part in the Civil War, and held Pembroke castle for the king. On its fall he was fined £3,500, and exiled for two years. He died 1658. He was succeeded by his son CHARLES KEMEYS, who had been a student at Wadham College, Oxford. He was M.P. for Monmouthshire, 1685-7, 1695-8, and for Monmouth Borough, 1690-5. His name appears as sheriff of Glamorgan for the period 18-24 March 1689. He was also governor of Cardiff castle in 1702. He died December 1702. His son, again named CHARLES KEMEYS, born 23 November 1688, became the 4th baronet on his father's death. He was sheriff of Glamorgan, 1712-13, M.P. for Monmouthshire, 1713-15, and M.P. for Glamorgan, 1716-34. He died 29 January 1735, without issue, and the baronetcy became extinct.

JANE KEMEYS (died 1747)

Sister of the last baronet. She had married, 1704, Sir John Tynte, bart. (1683-1710), of Halswell, Somerset. They had three sons, HALSWELL (1705-1730), JOHN (1707-1740), and CHARLES (1710-1785), and one daughter, JANE (1708-1741). All their grandchildren died young with the exception of JANE (1738-1825), daughter of the afore-mentioned Jane and Ruishe Hassell, major in the Royal Horse Guards. The estate devolved on her. She married 19 February 1765, colonel JOHN JOHNSON of Glaiston, Rutland, and he assumed the family name of Kemeys-Tynte. He died 1807.

During the 19th century the succession was as follows, in each instance from father to eldest son.

CHARLES KEMEYS KEMEYS-TYNTE (1778 - 1860), M.P.

Born 29 May 1778, M.P. for Bridgwater 1820-37, colonel of the West Somerset Yeomanry. He married 25 April 1798, Anne daughter' of the Rev. T. Leyson, vicar of Bassaleg, Monmouth. He died 22 November 1860.

CHARLES JOHN KEMEYS-TYNTE (1800 - 1882), M.P.

Born 1800, colonel Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry, M.P. for West Somerset, 1832-7, and Bridgwater, 1847-65. He married, as his first wife, 18 July 1820, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Swinnerton, of Butterton Hall, Staffordshire, and, as his second wife, Vincentia, daughter of W. Brabazon, of Rath House, Louth, 15 April 1841. He died 16 September 1882.

CHARLES KEMEYS KEMEYS-TYNTE (1822 - 1891), J.P. and D.L.

Born 16 March 1822, J.P., D.L., for Monmouthshire and Somerset, colonel Somerset Militia. He married, as his first wife, 2 November 1848, Mary, daughter of George Frome, of Puncknoll, Dorset; as his second wife, 1873, Hannah Lewis; and, as his third, 1879, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Fothergill, M.P., Tenby. He died 10 January 1891.

HALSWELL MILBORNE KEMEYS-TYNTE (1852 - 1899), J.P. and D.L.

Born 1852, J.P. and D.L. for Monmouthshire, J.P. for Glamorgan and Somerset. He married 25 September 1875, Rosabelle, daughter of Theobald Walsh of co. Kildare. He died 18 February 1899.

CHARLES THEODORE HALSWELL KEMEYS-TYNTE (1876 - 1934), J.P.

Born 18 September 1876. He served as J.P. for Monmouthshire and Somerset. He married 10 August 1899, Dorothy, daughter of major-general Sir Arthur E. A. Ellis. The abeyance of the barony of Wharton, with which a branch of the family had been connected, was terminated in his favour by writ of summons to Parliament 15 February 1916, and he became 8th baron Wharton. He died 4 March 1934.

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Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

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