Charles Gardiner Humphreys, bom in 1723, was the first member of the family to settle in Montgomery. After qualifying as an Attorney, he settled at The Bank House, close to Montgomery Castle. He was a man of some eminence in the Town and became a substantial landowner. Under the Will of his mother, Anne, he inherited the Joyce Hall property in Kent in 1756. However he must have disposed of it as it is not mentioned again. He married in 1755, Martha, daughter of John Bright of Totterton Hall, Lydbury North. He died in 1787 and Martha died in 1804 aged 78, having had six sons and three daughters. A grey marble tablet still to be seen, was placed on the North wall of Montgomery Church in their memory.


Charles Gardiner Humphreys's Will dated 2nd Feb. 1786, is a very lengthy one but a shortened version may be of interest.

'I give unto my dear wife the Charles was born in 1723. Charles Humphreys ... house I live in as to all my household goods furniture linen plate and my other personal estate (except for ready money and security for money which I shall dispose of as hereinafter mentioned) I give and bequeath the same to my dear wife to be disposed of by her amongst my children in such manner as she shall think fit (except that I give my Bay mare to my daughter Anne) Also I give unto my dear wife the new house near the churchyard, the two houses and land called the Grove and the Crogpren, the several farms and land called Vron, Gerthey and the Hole, a tenement called Mount Yolo and another called Cefnycoed all lying in the Parish of Llandysil Also I give unto my son Charles Gardiner a dwelling house and garden called Clawddy Drey, two other dwelling houses and gardens in the several holdings of Samuel Row and William Wellings and also those dwelling houses and gardens the late property of Mr. Edwards of Deptford all situated in the Township of Montgomery and also the several lands called the Close, the Mear, Nantyhenni, Verlon Meadow, Close y Delon, all situated in the Parish of Montgomery and also that messuage and lands called Oxley or Gwemywalion in the Parish of Llandysil Also I give to my son Samuel all that messuage and land called Little Weston in the Parish of Churchstoke Also I give unto my son James all that messuage and land called Brompton during the time of his clerkship or until the time he shall become entitled to the farm called the Vron and other premises devised to my said wife Also I give to my son Richard those several messuages and lands in the Parish of Bettws which I purpased of Mr.Benjamin Baxter but it is my desire that he shall not be entitled to the rents thereof until he returns to Great Britain but my sons James and Edward shall from my decease be entitled to the whole rents thereof equally between them and in case my said son Richard shall dye abroad I direct and hereby devise all the said lands to my said sons James and Edward Also I give unto my said daughters Anne and Mary all the Stock or money which I have in the Funds of 3% Consols being about £ 5000. I have a mortgage of about £ 1,000 on two messuages called Peniath and Chappel in the Parish of Myvod it is my desire that the above sum be applied towards paying off the Principal of £ 2000 to Mr. Marsh of Llanidloes and now secured by a mortgage on Oxley Farm Also I give to my son Edward thesum of £ 200 to put him in business and support him in clothes and other necessarys during that period Also I devise to my son Edward the messuage and lands in the Parish of Kerry called Pantyvaleg and Cromdegal and also all my right and interest in a lease of a tenement called Cloot in the Parish of Kerry from my brother James Christmas and lastly I appoint Richard Price of Knighton my saidwife and son Charles Gardiner Humphreys joint executors.

signed 2nd day of February 1786. Chas. G. Humphreys.'

He passed away in 1787.