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Lady Frances Morgan may have
been an aunt of the Jesuit priest, David Lewis. He was born in Abergavenny
in 1616 and returned to the Cwm, financed by the Morgan family, in 1648. He
worked in the area as a Catholic priest for 30 years—outlawed, of course.
There was a price on his head. We know that he often visited Llantarnam
where he said Mass, celebrated Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. He was
eventually captured at the Smithy, just opposite the Greenhouse Public House
near the end of the Abbey Drive. The Smithy is no longer in existence but a
large metal disc in the pavement, outside the present Post Office, marks the
site. David Lewis was taken to London and questioned by no less a person
than Titus Oates himself. In August 1679, he was returned to Usk prison
where he was executed for his faith.
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Although Edward was convicted of harbouring priests in 1639, he was,
nevertheless, created a Baronet by Charles I in 1642, a rather unusual
action given the circumstances. It may have been an acknowledgement of the
great help given by Edward to the cause of Charles I . However his support
for the Royalist cause was to have later repercussions. His estates were
seized. At his death in 1653, his son, another Edward, succeeded to the
title. He petitioned for the lands to be returned to him and seems for a
while to have settled for a semi-conformity in religious matters. However
on his marriage to Frances, a fervent Catholic, he seems to have
re-committed himself to Catholicism. Llantarnam Abbey once again gave
shelter to Catholic priests. “at Llantarnam, an eminent papist’s house in
Monmouthshire, there is a room fitted up chapel-wise where Father David
Lewis, a Popish priest, has said Mass for many years.”
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When Edward Morgan died in 1682 there were no direct male descendants and
the title passed to an uncle, James Morgan who does not appear to have
lived at Llantarnam. He died without male heirs and so the title lapsed.
The estates passed to Edward Morgan’s eldest granddaughter who had married
Edward Bray.
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