George Owen

George Owen (died 1665) was a Welsh officer of arms, York herald from 1633. Life The son of George Owen of Henllys, by his second wife, he was conceived out of wedlock, and born at Henllys in Pembrokeshire. He was appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant in place of John Bradshaw on 28 February 1626, and was promoted to the post of York herald by signet in December 1633, and by patent 3 January following. Owen attended the Earl of Arundel in the First Bishops' War of 1639, and, according to Anthony Wood, was despatched on a mission in the king's service to Wales in following year. He was with the retinue of Charles I at Oxford in 1643, where, on 12 April, he was created D.C.L., and he subsequently accompanied the king when the royal forces moved to invest Gloucester on 10 August. At some point after early 1645, Owen was asked to act as deputy to the Clarenceux King of Arms, William Le Neve, who had been sent abroad. Owen then went over to the parliamentary side, being confirmed as York herald. Officiating at events of the new regime, he was nominated successively as Clarenceux and Norroy King of Arms; but was on bad terms with Sir Edward Bysshe, the Garter King of Arms.