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and Tir Sienkyn Voel at Y Voelgoch, 8 Welsh acres of arable and pasture on the north of the highway between Newport bridge and Cardigan, and a further 12 Welsh acres. These were never redeemed and became the ab- solute property of the mortgagee, who, on 1 March 1628 granted them to his "youngest son now living", Robert Bowen of Llwyngwair, gentleman. He had always been interested in his ancestry, and when Lewys Dwnn called at Llwyngwair in October 1591, James showed him the family muniments, and paid the herald two shillings for recording the pedigree and the heraldic achievement of many quarters. In 1624 when nearly eighty years of age, James Bowen served as High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire. The occasion was not as joyful as it might have been, for his wife, who had been ailing for some time, died during his shrievalty. She was Eleanor (also called Elen) daughter of John Griffith of Cichle in Llanfaes, Anglesey, son of Sir John Griffith of Penrhyn, Caer- narfonshire, one of Wales' most illustrious families. The widower did not survive her for long, and died at Llwyngwair on 22 October 1629 at the age of 86, and, according to his Funeral Certificate recorded in the College of Arms by George Owen, Rouge Croix Pursuivant, he "was interred with Escochions, in the parish church of Nevern". The main escutcheon borne on the melancholy occasion showed in the first and fourth quarters, azure a lion rampant or within an orle of roses or, in the second quarter gules a chevron or between three true-love knots or, and in the third quarter, azure a bird standing argent. James Bowen's will, dated 20 March 1628-9, proved on 25 November following, opened with these pious words "I commend my soule into the handes of the omnipotent Jehova my maker, redeemer, and sanctifier, and my body to be interred untill the daie of Joyefull resurrection". He bequeathed a shilling towards the fabric of the cathedral church of St. Davids, and £ 5 "towards the building of a newe steeple at Nevarne church", and £ 5 towards the reparation of Newport church; to his son Morgan, 10 shillings; to his son Robert Bowen, a "coffer or chest lying in the entrie behinde the parlor", and a brass pan pawned to testator by Lewis Jenkins for 40 shillings; to his daughter Mary wife of Marcus Bowlton, 5 shillings; to his daughter Elizabeth wife of David William and her son James, 20 shillings apiece; to his daughter Jane wife of Phillipp ab Owen, 10 shillings; to his daughter Mawde Bowen and her son James, 10 shillings apiece; to his daughter Ethliw Bowen and her son James, 10 shillings apiece; to William second son of testator's son George, £ 40 and testator's best gelding; to John youngest son of the said George, £ 10; to his servant Eignon Mathias 2 yearling heifers, 20 shillings in money, and 10 lambs "at Kirickestide" next after my decease; he left the residue of all his goods to his son George whom he appointed sole executor. Testator signed the will and sealed it with one of the family's heraldic device, the true-love knot, generally known as "the Bowen knot". The will was witnessed by James Bowen the elder of Pon- tgynon, James Bowen the younger of Lloyngwair, James Morgan, John Lewis, and "R.B. The reference in the will to "Kirickestide" recalls the local saint, and the antiquary of Henllys has several references to St. Curig's fair, "ffair Gurig", in the Newport district. The saint's day was the 16th of June. The inventory and valuation of deceased's goods, compiled by Morgan