came over, my grandfather had crossed the sea, and settled near Chester on
lands belonging to the Swedes. The reason of his coming was this: about
1669 the Welsh of the English church and the magistrates were greatly
stirred to wrath against the people called Quakers, because of their
refusal to pay tithes. Among these offenders was no small number of the
lesser gentry, especially they of Merionethshire.

My grandfather, Hugh Wynne, was the son and successor of Godfrey Wynne, of
Wyncote. How he chanced to be born among these hot-blooded Wynnes I do not
comprehend. He is said to have been gay in his early days, but in young
manhood to have become averse to the wild ways of his breed, and to have
taken a serious and contemplative turn. Falling in with preachers of the
people called Quakers, he left the church of the establishment, gave up
hunting, ate his game-cocks, and took to straight collars, plain clothes,
and plain talk. When he refused to pay the tithes he was fined, and at last
cast into prison in Shrewsbury Gate House, where he lay for a year, with no
more mind to be taxed for a hireling ministry at the end of that time than
at the beginning.

His next brother, William, a churchman as men go, seems to have loved him,
although he was himself a rollicking fox-hunter; and, seeing that Hugh
would die if left in this duress, engaged him to go to America. Upon his
agreeing to make over his estate to William, those in authority readily
consented to his liberation, since William had no scruples as to the matter
of tithes, and with him there would be no further trouble. Thus it came
about that my grandfather Hugh left Wales. He had with him, I presume,
enough of means to enable him to make a start in Pennsylvania. It could not
have been much. He carried also, what no doubt he valued, a certificate of
removal from the Quarterly Meeting held at Tyddyn y Garreg. I have this
singular document. In it is said of him and of his wife, Ellin ("for whom