trbe M^nns of tni^nnsta^ 351 



third baronet of this family who assumed the name of 

 Wynn, and the present baronetcy comes through the 

 Wilh'ams and not through the Wynn Hne. 



It is with this Sir Watkin WilHams Wynn that the 

 sporting traditions of Wynnstay commence. They are, 

 indeed, somewhat vague, but they have a tragic com- 

 plexion which invests them with interest. Sir Watkin 

 was a Jacobite, and was mixed up in the affair of 

 ' Forty-five,' though whether he was actually ' out ' with 

 Prince Charlie, I have been unable to ascertain. At 

 any rate he felt it expedient to leave Wynnstay till the 

 storm had blown over, and he appears to have enjoyed 

 the protection and hospitality of the Duke of Beaufort. 

 There is, in fact, an old painting at Badminton which 

 represents the Duke and Sir Watkin together, engaged 

 in criticising the points of a thoroughbred colt. 



The Welsh baronet, therefore, I conclude, was not re- 

 garded as a very dangerous rebel, and, no doubt, soon made 

 his peace with the Hanoverians, for he was back again at 

 Wynnstay and hunting the country, certainly in 1748, and 

 probably before that year. It was in the pursuit of his 

 favourite sport that he met his tragic death, which is 

 remembered as a striking instance of the fulfilment of a 

 remarkable dream. Sir Watkin's second wife, Frances, 

 was a daughter of George Shakerley of Hulme, Che- 

 shire. She was young and beautiful, and the difference 

 in age between herself and her husband may be gathered 

 from the fact that he had stood godfather to her at the 

 font. One night Lady Wynn dreamt that she saw her 

 husband killed out hunting. So vivid was the dream that 

 it filled her with foreboding, and she implored Sir 

 Watkin not to go out hunting the next day. He was 

 impressed by her manner, and promised that he would 



