OWEN, HUGH (1761-1827), cleric and local historian;
son of Pryce Owen, physician, Shrewsbury (‘Pryce Owen of Bettws,’ Mont., according to R. Williams, Mont. Worthies, 2nd ed.), and his wife Bridget, daughter of John Whitfield. Although the connection of Hugh Owen with Wales is but slight he merits inclusion as the joint-author, with J. B. Blakeway, of A History of Shrewsbury, two vols., quarto, 1825, a work which is still of value to Welsh historians. He was educated at S. John's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1783, M.A. 1807). He became vicar of S. Julian's, Shrewsbury, 1791, prebendary of Gillingham Minor in the cathedral of Salisbury, 1803, in 1819 presented to a ‘portion’ of the vicarage of Bampton, Oxon., became archdeacon of Salop, 27 Dec. 1821, and prebendary of Bishopshill, in the cathedral of Lichfield, 30 March 1822, and, finally, he succeeded J. B. Blakeway as minister of the royal peculiar of S. Mary's, Shrewsbury, 1826. He d. at Shrewsbury 23 Dec. 1827. His son, Edward Pryce Owen, is separately noticed.
Bibliography:
- D.N.B.;
- R. Williams, Mont. Worthies (2nd. ed.).
Author:
Sir William Llewelyn Davies, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A. (1887-1952), Aberystwyth
