Robert Nicholl Carne

Rev. Robert Nicholl Carne (né Robert Nicholl) (13 April 1763 - 10 Nov. 1849)^[1] was a Welsh rector, landowner, and a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Glamorgan.^[2] He built Dimland Castle at the end of the 18th century upon land left him by his father, from whom he inherited 99 acres.^[3]

Early years

Dimlands Castle, pictured c. 1850, was built by Nicholl Carne.

Nicholl Carne was born at The Ham, Llanilltud Fawr, Glamorganshire, Wales. He was the sixth son of Whitlock Nicholl (1720-1788), of The Ham, in Llantwit Major, High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1746. His mother was Anne Lewis (1722-1797), Penllyn. His siblings were brothers (Rev.) Iltyd (b. 1743), (Rev.) John, Whitlock, William, and Edward; his sisters were Eleanor (d. 1822), Susan, Anne, Lydia (1st), Lydia (2nd), and Louisa.

Career

He received an M.A. degree and, like two of his brothers, was ordained in 1787. The following year, he became curate of Chavenage House. In 1791, he purchased the Thomas Lewis estate in Llanblethian. By 1795, he was rector of Port Eynon, having moved to Llanmaes House. Records show him to be rector of Llanmaes in 1824.^[3]

As the family mansion, The Ham, was given to the eldest son, Iltyd, Nicholl Carne began building Dimlands in 1799 on land he inherited from his father. Nicholl Carne's original property was small in area, said to be 99 acres. He was known to have purchased surrounding properties, amongst which were Caer Wrgan ("Wrganstown"), the site of the ancient castle of Jestyn ap Gwrgant, lord of Glamorgan and the last ruler of the Welsh kingdom of Morgannwg, as well as the Millways, near Boverton, both originally sections of the Fonmon Castle estate. He also purchased the property of the Earl of Plymouth. Nicholl Carne purchased Whitecross Farm from his relative, Whitlock Nicholl of Adamsdown, it having originally belonged to Nicholl Carne's father.^[4] By 1817, he owned land at Brynsach and Westfield, and by 1835, a farm in Bute. Through his second marriage, he acquired the Nash Estate in 1842, consisting of properties in Nash and Llysworney, and the Lechmore farm.^[5]

Personal life

His first marriage, in 1792, was to Mary (d. 1799), daughter of Daniel Woodward of Chavenage; their only child died in infancy. His second marriage, in 1800, was to Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Capt. Charles-Loder Carne, R.N., and heiress to her uncle, Rev. John Carne, of Nash. They had two sons, Dr. Robert Charles Nicholl Carne (b. 1806) and John Whitlock Nicholl Carne (b. 1816); and four daughters, Emma-Anne, Anna-Maria, Ellen-Louisa, and Frances-Susanna.^[6] Along with his sons, and in right of his wife Elizabeth, he assumed the additional surname of Carne by royal licence on December 16, 1842.^[1][4] He died seven years later at Dimlands, leaving the Nash estate to son Robert, and Dimlands to son John.

References

This article incorporates public domain text from John Bernard Burke's A visitation of the seats and arms of the noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain (1853).

1. "Glamorgan Archives Stradling-Carne of St Donats Castle papers". Archives Wales. June 2005. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
2. Burke, John Bernard (1847). Burke's genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry (Public domain ed.). H. Colburn. pp. 190–. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
3. "Glamorgan Archives Nicholl Carne Family Papers". Archives Wales. February 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
4. Burke, John Bernard (1853). A visitation of the seats and arms of the noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain (Public domain ed.). Colburn. pp. 218–. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
5. Warner, Richard (1800). Second walk through Wales (Public domain ed.). London: Printed by R. Cruttwell; and sold by G.G. and J. Robinson. pp. 79–. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
6. Burke, John Bernard (1858). A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the landed gentry of Great Britain and Ireland (Public domain ed.). Harrison. pp. 180–. Retrieved 27 January 2012.