Richard Owen Wynne (abt. 1775 - 1821)

Born about 1775 in Penniarth, Merionethshire, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Pearce) Styan — married 3 Jun 1811 (to 12 Aug 1821) in Allahābād, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died 12 Aug 1821 at about age 46 in Dhaka, Bangladesh

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Biography

Richard was born about 1775 into a Welsh aristocratic family. He became an official in the Bengal territories of the East India Company. He sailed from Portsmouth on 29 April 1798 and arrived in India on 6 November. Newspaper reports (see below) mention him working at Calcutta, Juanpore, Benares and Dhaka. He eventually became chief judge at Dhaka (now the capital of Bangladesh). He died there of cholera in 1821.

Sources

• Caledonian Mercury, 30 April 1798, p. 3. findmypast

The article gives a list of 14 ships and their captains that had recently left Britain to sail to destinations in Asia. This is followed by a list of at least some of the passengers on these ships.

EAST INDIA HOUSE

Wednesday, the following Commanders took leave previous to departing for their respective destinations, viz.

...

For Bengal and Bencoolen. – Lord Duncan, Captain George Saltwell.

...

Passengers ....

Per Lord Duncan – .... Richard Owen Wynne ... (among 34 people on this ship)

• en.wikipedia: Lord Duncan (1798 EIC ship)

According to the article, the Lord Duncan was launched in 1798 and broken up in 1813.

1st EIC voyage: The Lord Duncan commanded by Captain George Saltwell sailed from Portsmouth on 29 April 1798. It reached Rio de Janeiro on 6 July, Bencoolen (a part of Sumatra then belonging to the British East India Company) on 24 September, and Diamond Harbour near Calcutta on 6 November. The article includes a copy of a painting of a fleet of East Indiamen ships thought to include the Lord Duncan.

• India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947. familysearch

Elizabeth Margaret Wynne daughter of Richard Owen Wynne baptized 27 January 1803 in Fort William, Bengal, India

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_William,_India Fort William is situated in Calcutta.

• Government Gazette (India), 25 July 1811. findmypast

BENGAL

MARRIAGE. At the House of Dr. Gibb, on the 3d June, at Allahabad, Richard Owen Wynne, Esq. Judge and Magistrate of Juanpore, to Miss Pearce.

• India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947. familysearch

Charlotte Wynne daughter of Richard Owen Wynne, born 18 Dec 1811, baptized 22 Jan 1814 at Calcutta, India

Harriott Wynne daughter of R.O. Wynne and Sarah baptized 17 November 1816 at Benares, India

• India Deaths and Burials 1719 – 1948. familysearch

Richard Owen Wynne, death or burial date: 12 August 1821. Place: Dacca, Bengal. Occupation: 2nd Judge Provincial Ct.

• Chester Courant and Anglo-Welsh Gazette, 5 February 1822, p. 2. findmypast

On the 12th of August last, of cholera morbus, Richard Owen Wynne, Esq. Chief Judge of Daca, in India, and the second son of the late William Wynne, Esq. of Penniarth, Merionethshire. – Mr. Owen Wynne’s talents were of a superior kind, and the independency and uprightness of his career whilst Judge of Serampore, and afterwards whilst he presided as Chief Judge of Daca, repeatedly called forth the warmest applause and approbation. But his excellencies in a Judicial capacity were equalled by his humanity and genuine benevolence as a man : and his death will long be deplored by many who have experienced the sincerity of his friendship and the munificence of his patronage. – His only child, Jane Wynne, died at Morben Lodge, in Montgomeryshire, on the 22nd of July last, a few weeks prior to her lamented parent, in the sixth year of her age. The surprising proofs of early genius which this child exhibited, and the sweetness of her manners and disposition even at so tender an age, endeared her to all her friends and acquaintance, and begat a hope, that a bud, so fair would one day burst out into the loveliest flower.

“But now she is dead –

Gone to her death bed

All under the willow tree.”

• https://biography.wales/article/s-WYNN-PEN-1275

WYNNE family, of Peniarth, Meironnydd

This summary of the history of the family includes: "William Wynne had a brother, RICHARD OWEN WYNNE, who was chief justice of Dacca, Bengal, and died in India in 1821".