The following is the article on Robert Owen by Thomas Allen Glenn in "Merion of the Welsh Tract" and all credit is due to that writer and document:

ROBERT OWEN (see Note 1), son of Owen ap Evan, of Fron Goch, and Gainor, born at Fron Goch, Merionethshire, Wales, circa 1657; died in Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Tenth-month 8th, 1697, and was buried in the ground of the Merion Friends' Meeting on the 10th of the same month. His brother-in-law, Hugh Roberts, says of him: " He was one that feared the Lord from his youth, being convinced of the truth when about seventeen years of age . . . traveling several times through his native country, Wales, where he was of good service. In 1690 he came into Pennsylvania, where he lived about seven years, visiting this and the adjacent provinces, and was also very useful in the meeting where he resided, . . . a man of peace, hating all appearance of contention, endued with wisdom and authority, yet merciful unto the least appearance of good in such as he had to do withal."

Regarding his earlier life in Merionethshire many particulars have been obtained. The following from Besse's Sufferings of Friends," Vol. I., P. 755, is the first mention we have of him as a Quaker: "Anno 1674, on the 3d day of the month called May, John David, Robert David, Robert Owen, Cadwallader
Thomas, and Hugh Roberts were taken by the Sheriff with a process and committed to Dolgelly Goale, being indicated at sessions some time before for their being absent from National Worship." "Robert Owen, of Vron Goch" was one of those Quakers fined for meeting at Llwyn y Braner, in the parish of Llanvawr,
May 16, 1675, together with his two sisters, Elin, who afterwards married Cadwallader Thomas ap Hugh; and Jane, wife of Hugh Roberts. His younger brother, "Evan Owen ye son of a widdow called Gainor, hose late husband was Owen ap Evan of Vron Goch," was also present at a meeting, "though but 9 or 10 years old."

Robert was appointed one of the overseers of the will of John Thomas, of Llaithgwm, which document is dated 9th February, 1682, and was executed in Wales, but probated in Pennsylvania in the year 1688. He is described therein as "Robert Owen late of fron goch neer Bala in the County of Merionyth." Subsequent to this date, however, I find him still a resident of the parish of Lianddervel in Merionethshire". On the 8th day of the Sixth-month (August), 1690, the Quarterly Meeting of Friends held at Tyddyn y Garreg, Merionethshire, granted a certificate of removal to this Robert Owen. He appears as a witness to sundry deeds executed in Merionethshire in 1682: and recorded in Philadelphia, 1684, in Deed Book C I, for land in Pennsylvania, viz.:
"John Thomas, of Llaethgwm, Merioneth, yeoman," to "Edward Jones, of Bala Chyrurgeon," dated 1st April. "Edward Jones, of Bala, to Hugh Roberts, of the township of Ciltalgarth, yeoman," dated the last day of February. This certificate is of (removal) record in Book 1st, pp. 286-87 of the Merion, Radnor and Haverford Meeting, and is as follows:

To o' Friends & Brothers in the Province of Pennsylvania. These are to certifier as occasion shall require, unto whom it may concern in the behalf of o' dearly beloved friende & Brother Robt. Owen & Rebecca his wife & their dear & tender children. That they are faithful & beloved friends, well known to be serviceable unto Friends & brethren since they have (become convinced), of a Savory & Blameless conversation. Alsoe are psons Dearly beloved & Respected of all sorts. His testimony sweet & tender, reaching to the quicking seed of life, of a meek, quiet & gentle Behavior; we cannot alsoe but bemoan the want of his company, being he was near and dear unto us & seasonable in intention for Pennsylvania many months before his removal, now seeing it remaineth still on his mind, & in order therein unto finding his way clear & freedom in the truth according to the measure manifested unto him, we thought it o' duty to commend him unto you as o' dear & faithfull friend & brother, and hereby desiring their faithfull services in the truth may increase & abound among you to their endless joy without end.

Att o' quarty. Meeting att Tyddyn y Garreg in Merionethshire the eight of the sixe month in the year 1690. Ellis Morris Hugh David Rowland Ellis Jn. Evan Hugh Rees Robert Vaughan Ellin Ellis Rees Thomas Jane Robt. Rees Evan Margaret Robt. David Jones Ann Rowland Evan Owen Gainor Jones Regnald (Rowland?) Rowland Owen Humphrey Lewis Owen Margaret David Owen Lewis Jonett Johnes Griffitt Robt. Elizabeth Jones Evan Rees (Humphrey Owen's signature does not appear of record on the original entry in the Merion, Radnor and Haverford records, but be is believed to have signed the original certificate.)

Some time before this, 11th of First-month, 1678-9, Robert Owen had married, according to Friends' ceremony, Rebecca Owen, daughter of Owen Humphrey (or Humphreys), Esquire, a gentleman who "had a good and indefeasible estate of inheritance" called Llwyn-du, in the township of Llwyngwrill and parish of Ltangelynin, Talybont, Merionethshire, which he had succeeded to in or about 1664 (Owen Humphrey was the son of Humphrey ap Hugh, died circa 1664, ap David ap Howell a Gronwy ap Einion; descended from the families of Llwydiarth, Nannau and Tal y Llyn, Herbert, and the English families of Stanley, Clifford, Mortimer, Strange, and from Edward 111. See Humphrey). The agreement concerning a marriage settlement was executed on the 6th of First-month, 1678, between Gainor John, mother of Robert Owen, and Owen Humphrey. The bond of this contract, "Owen Humphrey de Llwundu" to " Robt Owen de vron goch comt Penllin, gener." (gentleman), dated as above, is extant. The witnesses were, Rowland Ellis, Edward Vaughan, John ap Thomas, Cadwallader Thomas. The following is a copy of the marriage certificate, the original of which is still in the possession of a descendant, Mrs. Mary A. Haines, of Rosemont, Pennsylvania: Be it Knowen by these p'esents unto all whom it may concern that upon the eleventh day of the first month 1678-9 Robt. Owen Eldest son of Owen ap Evan (deceased) late of Vron goch in the comot of Penlin & in the County of Merioneth hath taken Rebeccah Owen first daughter of Owen Humphrey of Llwyn du in the Comt. of Talybont in the Courity aforsd to be his wife & that by the free Assent & consent of their parents & near relations & friends of the truth, And that according to the example & practice of primitive Christians followers of the truth. And the sd Rebeckah in like manere hath taken sd Robt. Owen to be her husband The day & yeare above written in the P'esence & sight of us the witnesses hereunder written. Owen Humphrey her father

John William Caddr Thomas (1) John Owen (12)

Rowland Ellis (2) Joseph Samuel (13)

Hugh Robert (3) Richard Humffrey (14)

Humphrey Owen (4)

Elizabeth Thomas Rowland Owen (5)

Hannah (Prichard?) Edward Vaughan Ellin Rees Ellis Rees (6)

Gwen Rees Evan john (7)

Anne Owen Rees Evan Elizabeth Owen John Thomas Gainor John John Humphrey (8)

Lydia Samuel Humphrey Reynolds Rebecca Samuel John Howell (9)

Gobeithia Daniel Samuel (10)

Elizabeth Owen. Rees John (11)

[Notes for above names:

(1) Father of John Cadwalader, and husband to Ellen Owen, sister to Robt. Owen.

(2) Nephew of Owen Humphrey, and cousin to Rebecca Owen.

(3) Husband of Jane, sister to Robert Owen.

(4) Brother of Rebecca.

(5) Brother of Rebecca.

(6) Father of Rowland Ellis.

(7) Son of John William ap Humphrey, of Llangelynin.

(8) Brother of Owen Humphrey.

(9) From Llanwddlyn, Montgomeryshire; cousin of Owen Humphrey.

(10) alias Daniel Humphrey, son of Samuel Humphrey, deceased.

(11) Rees John William.

(12) Brother to Rebecca.

(13) Brother to Daniel.

(14) Brother-in-law to John Humphrey.]

After his coming to Pennsylvania his name is of continual occurrence as executor, administrator, or trustee, or as party to some agreement. He is described in one of these documents, dated 30th May, 1696, as "Robert Owen, of Marioneth, in the County of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman," and is grantee in a deed from Thomas Lloyd (Deed Book E2, Vol. V., p. 174, etc., Philadelphia), dated "the fifth day of the sixth month, Anno Dom. 1691," for a tract of land containing four hundred and forty-two acres, situate in "the Township of Merion," in Philadelphia County, the consideration being one hundred pounds. This "plantation," as it was then called, lay west of the present Wynnewood Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and extended to near the present village of Ardmore. It was confirmed to Evan Owen, eldest son and heir to Robert, by patent (Patent Book A, Vol. Ill., p. 241, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) from Penn's Commissioners, dated 8th February, 1704, Together with the Messuage or Tenement, Plantation. . . Houses, Barns, Buildings, Gardens, Orchards, Woods, Underwoods, Ways, Waters, Meadows, Water-courses, Fishings, Fowlings, Hawkings, Huntings, Rights, Liberties." By a deed dated 31st December, 1707 (Deed Book E4, Vol. IVII., P. 40, etc., Philadelphia), "Evan Owen, of the Township of Merion, in the County of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, son and heir of Robert Owen, late of Merion, yeoman, deceased," conveyed this farm, devised to him by his father, to his brother-in-law, "Jonathan Jones, of Merion, yeoman." A manuscript by Owen Jones, grandson of Robert Owen, says ("Memoir of Charles 1. wister"), "He purchased a large tract of land about nine miles from the city of Philadelphia, in the township of Lower Merion. Here he built a large, commodious dwelling-house, and resided in it during the remainder of his life. He had children, viz., Gainor, Evan, Owen, Elizabeth, John and Robert, some of whom were born in Wales." This house is yet standing, and compares favorably with many of the modern dwellings erected near it. The date is carved on a corner-stone, "1695." Robert Owen was a justice of the Peace for Merion, and by 1695 had, says this old manuscript, "gained the confidence of the people in general, which they manifested by making choice of him to repre-sent them in the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania (elected again, 1697), . . . which position he filled with much reputation. It pleased Divine Providence to remove his beloved wife in the year 1697 (died 8th mo. 23d, buried 25th), which severe trial he survived but a few weeks." Robert, as already stated, outlived his wife - whom he had loved long and tenderly - but a short time, and was buried beside her. Among the eminent Friends whose bones lie near his, scarcely one has left a more stainless, and none a more honored, name. His will, dated " 10th mo. 2d day, 1697," was probated May 16, 1705 (Register of Wills' Office, Philadelphia). He left his plantation in Merion to his eldest son, Evan Owen, and speaks of his other children without mentioning their names. He appoints as overseers John Humphreys, Hugh Roberts, John Roberts, Griffith John, Robert Jones, Robert Roberts, Robert Lloyd, and Rowland Ellis, and appoints his "cousin Griffith John above named" as sole executor. The witnesses were Joshua Owen, Robert Jones, and Rowland Ellis. John Owen, described elsewhere as "ye 2nd son of Owen Humphreys of Llwyn-du," in Merionethshire, and brother to Joshua, above named, subsequently acted as an appraiser. Robert Owen's important services as a minister among Friends must not be overlooked. He was one of the founders of the Merion Meeting, and a trustee thereof, as appears by a deed dated 20^th Sixth-month, 1695, Edward Rees (This was Edward Rees, alias Prees and Price, see elsewhere), of Merion, yeoman, to Robert Owen, Edward Jones, Cadwallader Morgan, and Thomas Jones, of Merion, yeoman, in trust, for one-half acre of land in Merion, "for the purposes of the Merion Meeting." As early as 28th June, 1692, Robert Owen, with Thomas Lloyd, Nicholas Waln, Dr. Griffith Owen, Hugh Roberts, John Symcock, William Byles, and others, the then ministers at or near Philadelphia, signed the communication of the Meeting of Friends in Philadelphia, to the Monthly Meetings of Friends in Pennsylvania, and East and West Jersey, settingforth their displeasure and sorrow at the action of Keith, who was making himself obnoxious to Friends about this time. Perhaps the last documents, executed the year of his death, 1697, that in anyway concerned Robert, are an agreement of his with one Evan Harry concerning the estate of Cadwallader Lewis, deceased, of which Robert Owen was appointed by the court administrator, "Letters of Attorney (Exemplification Book 4, p. 677, Philadelphia), Richard Davies of Cloodie Cochion, Welchpoole (Montgomeryshire), gentleman," to Robert Owen et al., his "true and lawful attys.," date 1st mo. 8th, 1696-7, and a letter from him to Hugh Roberts, then traveling in Wales, dated 24^th of Second-month, 1697. So far as can be ascertained at this late day, Robert and Rebecca Owen had but eight children; or, if there were others, their early decease in Wales renders their existence of little interest. Of these eight, the first four - Evan, Gainor, Elizabeth, and Jane were born in Merionethshire, and are the "tender children" mentioned in the certificate of removal. The rest were born in Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, as appears by the record of their births in the "Book of Births" of the Radnor Monthly Meeting, and there mentioned as children "of Robert and Rebeckah Owen." Their births are also noted in records of said Meeting as "Births in Merion Meeting."
The eight were:
1. Gainor, b. 1681; M. Jonathan Jones.
2. Evan, b. 1683; M. Mary Hoskins.
3. Jane, b. 1685.
4. Elizabeth, b. 1687; M. David Evans.
5. Owen, b. 12 mo. 21st, 1690; M. Anne Wood.
6. John, b. 12 mo. 26th, 1692 ; M. Hannah Maris.
7. Robert, b. 7 mo. 27th, 1695; M. Susanna Hudson.
8. Rebecca, b. 1 mo. 14th, 1697; d. inft.; buried 9 mo. 21st, 1697
("Burials at Merion Meeting," Records of Radnor Monthly Meeting of
Friends. W. T.-17).

Note 1: There was another Robert Owen and Jane, his wife, of Dolseren, near Datgelly, Merionetbshire, who came to Pennsylvania in 1684, on the "Vine," and settled on Duck Creek, New Castle (now Delaware), where a son, Edward Owen, had previously located. Robert aud Jane died in 1685. They had nine sons, all of age before their arrival here, of whom I can name only Lewis, who came with them, settled on Duck Creek and left descenditnts, Dr. Griffith Owen, who accompanied them, and died in Philadelphia; Edward, who remained on Duck Creek and left descendants, Robert Owen, eldest son and heir, who continued to reside on the Dolserey estate, and left issue. (Register of Dalgelly Parish Church.)