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COLLECTIONS 


HISTORICAL  &  ARCHJOLOGICAL 


RELATING   TO 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE 

AND  ITS  BORDERS. 

ISSUED  BY  THE  POWYS-LAND  CLUB  FOR  THE  USE  OF  ITS  MEMBERS. 


VOL.   XXV. 


LONDON : 

PRINTED   FOB   THE   CLUB   BY 

WHITING  &  CO,,  30  &  32,  SARDINIA  STREET,  LINCOLN'S  INN  FIELDS. 

1891. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE   COLLECTIONS. 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    XXV. 

The  Portrait-Brass  in  Bettws  Church.     By  Ven.  Archdeacon 
Thomas,  M.A,,  F.S.A.     - 

History  of  the   Parish   of  Kerry.     By  E,   Rowley  Morris. 
(Continued  from  Vol.  XXIV,  p.  394) 


Roger  de  Mortimer  IV 

Edmund  de  Mortimer  III 

Roger  de  Mortimer  V 

Edmund  de  Mortimer,  last  Earl  of  March 

Richard,  Duke  of  York     - 

Manor  of  Tempsiter 

Transfer  of  Clunesland  to  Montgomeryshire 

The  Forest  of  Clun  and  Kerry  Escape  Money 


10 
12 
18 
24 
28 
30 


Churchstoke  Register — Extracts  -  36 

Pedigree  of  Bishop  Lloyd  of  St.  Asaph.     R.  W.    -  37 

Montgomeryshire  Nonconformity  (Extracts  from  Gaol  Files, 
with  Notes).  By  Richard  Williams,  F.R.Hist.S.  (Con- 
tinued from  Vol.  XXIV,  p.  232)  -  41 

Walsh  of  Llandewi,  Radnorshire  (Lord  Ormathwaite).     By 

Rev.  George  Sandford,  M.A.,  Pant  Purlas,  Llandrindod  73 

Montgomeryshire  Men  who  Matriculated  at  Oxford  University, 

1571-1622      -  81 

Abstracts  of  Ancient  Deeds,  etc.,  relating  to  Meifod,  etc.     By 

Howel  W.  Lloyd,  M.A.,  with  Notes  and  Pedigrees  85 

Arthur  Blayney  and  his  Home,  Gregynog  Hall.    By  W.  Scott 

Owen  105 

Llanwyddyn.     (Continued  from  Vol.  XX III,  p.  186)  115 

III.  The  Church  in  1684  -  *  -    -  -  -       115 

IV.  The  Health  of  the  Vyrnwy  Valley,  by  Hugh  R. 

Jones,  M.A.,  M.D.  t  -      115 

a2 


IV 

Montgomeryshire  Saints,  I.      By  Rev.   John  Fisher,  B.A., 

Curate  of  Llanllwchaiarn  133 

A  Badge  of  the  House  of  Herbert  148 

Excavations  on  the  Site  of  Strata  Marcella  Abbey.     M.  C.  J.         149 

Explanation  of  references  on  Plan   -  -  -160 

Report,  by  Stephen  W.  Williams,  Esq.,  F.R.I.B.A.  -       161 

Explanation  of  references  and  notes  on  Plates  -       177 

Notes  on  the  Tiles  found  -  •  •       187 

Parish  Terriers — Parson's  Pay.     By  Rev.  Elias  Owen,  M.A.         197 
Montgomeryshire  Worthies.     By  Rd.  Williams,  F.R.Hist.S.         205 

Place-names  in  and  around  Montgomery.     By  Richard  Wil- 
liams, F.RHist.S.  221 

Montgomeryshire  Saints.     By  Rev.  John  Fisher,  M.A.   (Con- 
tinued from  p.  147)  235 

Abstracts  of  Ancient  Deeds  relating  to  Meifod  and  elsewhere. 

By  H.  W.  Lloyd,  M.A.     (Concluded  from  p.  104)  253 

A  Genealogical  "  Crux"  and  Solution.     W.  V.  LI.  -         291 

Vavasour  Powell's  Welsh  Bible  296 

Pedigree  of  Jones  of  Garthmill  297 

Appendices  A  to  E  -  -  -  -      308 

Unusual  Forms  of  Growth  in  Plants,  with  Local  Examples. 

By  Rev.  J.  E.  Vize,  M.A.,  F.R.M.S.  319 

Jubilee  Twig     -  ....      325 

Celtic  Bell  from  Llangystenyn  327 

Bronze  Bell  from  Java  349 

The  Engraving  of  the  Eisteddfod  of  1824,  in  Powys-land 

Museum      -  351 

The  old  Quakers'  Burial  Ground  at  Dolcaradog.     By  D.  C. 

Lloyd-Owen    -  353 

An  Ancient  Painting  on  Leather,  in  the  Powys-land  Museum         358 

On  the  Strata  forming  the  Base  of  the  Silurian  in  North-East 

Montgomeryshire.     By  J,  Bickerton  Morgan,  F.G.S.     -         359 

History  of  the  Parish  of  Kerry.      By  E.   Rowley  Morris. 

(Continued  from  p.  35)  -  -  363 

Ecclesiastical  -  -  -  371 

The  Church  before  the  Restoration  in  1883  -  -  381 

The  Church  after  the  Restoration  -  -  382 

Monuments  and  Monumental  Inscriptions  -  -  390 


The  Land  and  Freshwater  Shells  of  Montgomeryshire.     By 

J.   Bickerton    Morgan,   F.G.S.     (Concluded  from  Vol. 
XXII,  p.  234)  394 

Powysiana  399 

LVIII.  Eev.  Rowland  Williams,  D.D.      -  -  -       399 

LIX.  Jones  of  Blue  Bell  and  Westwood  (Supplemental)  -      399 

LX.  Lord  Sandford  of  Sandford         -  -  -       400 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Portrait-Brass  in  Bettws  Church  to  face  p.         1 

Gregynog  Hall  in  1785          -  ,,105 

Coats  of  Arms  carved  on  Oak  Panels  at  Gregynog 

Hall,  1636    -  „  110 

Llanwyddyn  Church  hi  1684  ,,115 

Chart— Health  of  Vyrnwy  Valley  „             131 

A  Herbert  Badge  -  on  p.          148 

Moulding  of  Tower  Pier  in  Chester  Cathedral  -              „             169 

Heraldic  Seal  of  Hawyse,  wife  of  Griffin  ap  Wen- 

wynwyn  „  189 

Strata  Marcella  Illustrations,  1  to  17: — 

Plate        I.  Ground  Plan       -         to  be  mounted  between  p,  160  &  161 
„         II.  Plan  of  Pier  at  A,  on  Ground  Plan  to  face  p.  164 

„       III.  Elevation  Base  of  Pier  at  A  \ 

„         Part  of  Pier  or  Buttress  at  D  (  <  x^- 

Part  of  interior  of  North  WaU  at  E  (    »       10D 
Grave  at  0  (not  F)  on  Plan  ) 

„       IV.  Pier  at  B  on  Plan          \ 

„       C         ,,  f  to  face  each  other  and  be  inserted 

„        V.  Elevation  of  Pier  at  C  (  between  p.  166  &  167 

„     B  ; 

„        VI.  ]  Mouldings          -  -  -     to  face  p.     169 

„     VII.  f          Ditto          -  -  -  172 

„    VIII.  >         Ditto 

„       IX.  (          Ditto 

X.  )          Ditto 


XI.  Two  Heraldic  Tiles— Monumental  Headstone 
XII.  Fragments  of  Carved  Stone  and  Gravestone 

XIII.  Carved  Capitals,  etc. 

XIV.  Glass  and  Miscellaneous  Objects 
XV.  Font  at  Buttington  Church  - 

XVI.  Floor  Tiles 


173 

182 
183 
188 
184 
185 
186 
187 
190 


XVII.  Floor  Tiles  and  Masons'  Marks  -  195 


VI 

Woodcut — "  Old  Garthmill  Hall"  )  to  be  mounted 

„  Shield  of  Arms  carved  in  oak  j  between  pp.  300  &  301 
„  Outline-sketch  of  Celtic  Bell  from  Llangystenyn  -  327 
„  BellofLlangwynodl  »  y  Cambrian  (^ 

„  „       Llanddeusant         ^        .     /    .  1    340 

„       Llanrhyddlad         )        Arch.  Assoo.  |    341 

„          Bell  of  St.  Fillan  J  s  ,  342 

„  „       St.  Eonan  at  Insh  V  A,    ,,      ,        d  <(  344 

;,          Bell  from  Little  Dunkeld  )  «f  Scotland  }  M5 

„          Outline-sketch  of  Bronze  Bell  from  Java  349 

„          Parish  Church  of  Kerry       -  -    to  face  p.  371 

Lithograph, — Tower  of  Church  and  details  of  interior  (two 

pages)  to  be  mounted  between  pp.  380  &  381 


LIST   OF   THE   MEMBERS 

OF  THE 

POWYS-LAND      CLUB 

September  30,  1891. 


Those  marked  *  have  contributed  papers  to  the  "Montgomeryshire  Collections". 
Those  marked  f  are  Donors  of  Objects  to  the  Powys-land  Museum  and  Library. 
Those  marked  J  have  exhibited  articles  of  interest  at  the  Annual  Meeting. 

Addie,  William  Forrester,  Esq.,  Powis  Castle  Park,  Welshpool 
tAdnitt,  W.  H.,  Esq.,  Lystonville,  Shrewsbury 

Babington,  Charles  C.,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  5;  Brookside,  Cambridge 
*fBarrett,  Thomas  Brettell,  Esq.,  Welshpool 
*Bates,  J.  Cadwallader,  Esq.,  Heddon,  Wylam,  Northumberland 
J  Beck,  Peter  Arthur,  Esq.,  The  Derwen,  Welshpool 
tj; Bennett,  Nicholas,  Esq.,  Glanyrafon,  Llanidloes 
fBlack,  Adam  William,  Esq.,  44,  Hyde  Park  Square,  London 

Bolding,  George  Frederick,  Esq.,  204,  Hagley  Road,   Edgbaston, 

Birmingham 
*Bridgeman,  Hon.  and  Rev.  Canon,  M.A.,  The  Hall,  Wigan 

Bridgeman,  Hon.  and  Rev.  J.  R.  0,,  M.A.,  Eectory,  Weston-under- 
Lyziard,  Shifnal 

Brisco,  Wastel,  Esq.,  Southcott,  Reading 

Broughton,  J.  Nightingale,  Esq.,  Sidney  Avenue,  Newcastle,  Stafford- 
shire 
J  Buckley,  Sir  Edmund,  Bart.,  Plas  Dinas,  Dinas  Mawddwy 

Carpenter,  J.  Edward,  Esq.,  Attorney-at-Law,  710,  Walnut   Street, 

Philadelphia,  U.S.A. 

*tClark,  George  Thomas,  Esq. ,  Talygarn,  Llantrissant,  South  Wales 
f  Curling,  Mrs.,  Brookland  Hall,  Welshpool 

Davies,  Edward,  Esq.,  Plas  Dinam,  Llandinam 

Davies,  Rev.  John  Evans,  M.A.,  Llangelynin  Rectory,  Llwyngwril, 
Merioneth 

Davies,  John  D.,  Esq.,  Llanidloes 
tj Davies,  John  Pryce,  Esq.,  Bronfelin,  Caersws 

Davies,  Thomas,  Esq.,  121,  High  Holborn,  London  (deceased) 

Davies,  Rev.  D.  Grimaldi,  M.A.,  Vicarage,  Welshpool 
tDugdale,  John  Marshall,  Esq.,  Llwyn,  Llanfyllin. 


Vlll 

fEvans,  Major  David  Williams,  Bryntirion,  Kingsland,  Shrewsbury, 

and  Glascoed,  Llansantffraid 
J  Evans,    Kev.    Edward,  M.A.,   Rectory,   Llanfihangel-yn-Nghwnfa, 

Llanfyllin,  Oswestry 

fEvans,  Edward,  Esq.,  Bronwylfa,  Wrexham 
tJEvans,  Edward  Bickerton,  Esq.,  Whitbourne  Hill,  Worcester 
f  JEvans,  John,  LL.D.,  Pres.S.A.,  F.R.S.,  Nash  Mills,  Kernel  Hempstead 
tEvans,  Mrs.  John  Hilditch,  Bryn  Issa,  Persh  ore,  Worcestershire 
Eyre,  Eev.  W.,  St.  Beuno's  College,  St.  Asaph 

ftFardo,  George,  Esq.,  Postmaster,  Cardiff 

Ffoulkes,  Rev.  Piers  John  Benedict,  M.A.,  The  Grange,  Jarrow-on- 
Tyne 

Ffoulkes,  Wynne,  His  Honour  Judge,  OldNorthgate  House,  Chester 
*t|Field,  Rev.  Augustus,  M.A.,  Vicarage,  Lydbury  North,  Shropshire 

Foljambe,  Cecil  G.  S.,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Cockglode,  Ollerton,  Newark 

tJGillart,  Richard,  Esq.,  Llynlloed,  Machynlleth 
Goulden,  Joseph,  Esq.,  18,  Lancaster  Gate,  London  (deceased) 

Harlech,  The  Lord,  Brogyntyn,  Oswestry  (Vice-President} 
tHarrison,  George  Devereux,  Esq.,  Fronllwyd,  Welshpool 
*tHarrison,  Lieut.-Col.  Robert  John,  Caerhowel,  Montgomery 

Hawksworth,  Herbert,  Esq.,  M.R.C.S.,  Park  Lane,  Welshpool 

Herbert,   Col.  George  Edward,  Upper  Helmsley  Hall,  Yorkshire, 

and  Glanhafren,  Newtown,  Montgomeryshire 
*JHeyward,  Col.  John  Hey  ward,  Cross  wood,  Guilsfield 
*t}Hill,  Rev.  J.  E.,  M.A.,  Vicarage,  Montford,  Salop 
*|Howell,  Abraham,  Esq.,  Rhiewport,  Berriew,  Montgomeryshire 

Howell,  J.  M.,  Esq.,  Craig-y-don,  Aberdovey 

Hughes,  H.  R.,  Esq.,  Kinmel,  St.  Asaph 

Inner  Temple  Library,  London  (J.  Pickering,  Esq.,  Librarian) 

Jehu  Richard,  Esq.,  21,  Cloudesley  Street,  Islington,  London 
t Jones,  Charles,  Esq.,  Salop  Road,  Welshpool 
Jones,  John  Morgan  Edwards,  Esq.,   Loubcroy,  Wimbledon    Hill, 

Surrey 

*f  JJones,  Morris  Charles,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  F.S.A.Scot.,  Gungrog,  Welsh- 
pool  (Honorary  Secretary} 

*t | Jones,  Morris  Paterson,  Esq.,  20,  Abercromby  Square,  Liverpool 
fjones,  Richard  Edward,  Esq.,  Cefn  Bryntalch,  Abermule,  Mont. 

Jones,  Miss  S.  H.,  6,  Edwardes  Square,  London 
t  Jones,  T.  Parry,  Esq.,  Park  House,  Newtown 

*tJones,  T.  Simpson,  Esq.,  M.A.,  6,  Stone  Buildings,  Lincoln's  Inn, 
and  Gungrog,  Welshpool 

tKynaston,  Rev.  W.  C.  E.,  M.A.,  Hardwicke  Hall,  Ellesmere 


IX 

*tLeighton,  Stanley,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Sweeney  Hall,  Oswestry 
tJLewis,  Rev.  David  Phillips,  M.A.,  Eectory,  Llandrinio 
fLewis,  Rev.  John,  M.A.,  Vicarage,  Ford,  Salop 
Lewis,  Hugh,  Esq.,  M.A.  Cantab.,  Mount  Severn,  Llanidloes 
Lewis,  Rev.  T.  Wolseley,  M.A.,  St.  Idloes,  Pitville  Circus,  Chelten- 
ham 

Liverpool  Free  Public  Library  (Peter  Cow  ell,  Esq.,  Chief  Librarian) 
Lloyd,    Henry,  Esq.,  Pitsford  Hall,  Northampton,  and  Dolobran, 

Meifod 
*fLloy(J,  Howel  William,  Esq.,  56,  Abingdon  Villas,  Kensington,  W. 

Lloyd,  Richard,  Esq.,  Mount  Severn,  Newtown 
tLloyd,  Sampson   S.,  Esq.,  2,  Cornwall  Gardens,  London,  S.W.,  and 

Dolobran,  Meifod 
*f{Lloyd,  Rev.  W.  Valentine,  M.A.,  F.R.G.S.,  Haselbech  Rectory, 

Northampton  (Honorary  Secretary) 
fLovell,  Mrs.  Pugh-,  Llanerchydol,  Welshpool 

fMatthews,  Rev.  Prebendary,  M.A.,  Rectory,  Llandisilio,  R.S.O. 

McCormick,  Rev.  Frederick    H.  J.,    F.S.A.Scot.,    F.S.A.(Ireland), 

etc.,  St.  James,  Whitehaven,  Cumberland 
JMorgan,  Charles,  Esq.,  College  House,  Bromley,  Kent 

Morgan,  David,  Esq.,  High  Street,  Welshpool 

Morgan,  Edward,  Esq.,  Machynlleth 

Morgan,  George,  Esq.,  Fron,  Newtown,  Mont. 

Morris,  E.  Rowley,  Esq.,  Warren  House,  Carleton  Road,  Tufnell 
Park.  London 

Morris,  T.  Rowley,  Esq.,  Bronhaul,  Welshpool 

Murray-Browne,  T.  Lloyd,  Esq.,  Local  Government  Inspector,  Rhyl 
JMytton,  Captain  Devereux  Herbert,  Garth,  Welshpool 

Mytton,  Miss,  Severn  Street,  Welshpool 

Northumberland,  His  Grace  the  Duke  of,  Alnwick  Castle,  North- 
umberland 

Oswestry  and  Welshpool  Naturalist  Field  Club  and  Archaeological 
Society  (Rev.  0.  W.  Fielden,  Frankton  Rectory,   Oswestry, 
Secretary) 
tOwen,  Arthur  Charles  Humphreys,    Esq.,  Glansevern,    Garthmyl, 

Mont. 

Owen,  Edward  H..  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  Tycoch,  Caernarvon 
*fOwen,  D.  C.  Lloyd,  Esq.,  F.R.C.S.,  51,  Newhall  Street,  and  Cler- 

mont,  Woodbourne  Road,  Edgbaston,  Birmingham 
tO wen,  David  Pryce,  Esq.,  Broad  Street,  Welshpool 
*tOweu,  Rev.  Elias,  M.A.,  Efenechtyd  Rectory,  Ruthin 
*0wen,  Rupert  K.  W.,  Esq.,  Caer  Gloew,  St.  Margaret's  Road,  Ox- 
ford 

tOwen,  Rev.  R.  Trevor,  M.A.,  F.S  A.,  Vicarage,  Llangedwyn 
Owen,  Rev.  Thomas,  Christ  Church  Vicarage,  Wellington,  Salop 


*fJPovvis,  The  Earl  of,   Powis  Castle,    Welshpool  (President),   (de- 
ceased) 

tJParker,  Rev.  F.  W.,  M.A.,  Rectory,  Montgomery 
JParry,  Sir  Love  Jones,  Bart.,  F.S.A.,  Madryn  Castle,  Pwllheli 
tPhiliimore,  E.  G.  B.,  Esq.,  Tyn  y  rh6s,  Cemmaes  Road,  R.S.O., 
Montgomeryshire 

Pierce,  Mrs.,  Sherbourne  House,  Leamington 

Powel,  Thomas,  Esq.,  University  College,  Cardiff 

Powell,  Evan,  Esq.,  Broomcliffe,  Llanidloes  and  Powellton,  W.  Va., 
U.S.A. 

Powell,  Matthew,  Esq.,  Welshpool  (Honorary  Treasurer) 
tj Powell,  Samuel,  Esq.,  Ivy  House,  Welshpool 

Powys,  Vere,  Esq.,  1,  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  London 
tPritchard,  W.  E.  Gilbertson,  Esq.,  Ceniarth,  Machynlleth 

Price,  Mrs.,  Marrington  Hall,  Chirbury,  Shropshire 

Pryce,  David  Tanatt,  Esq.,  Bronwylfa,  Cor  wen 
*tPryce,  Edward  S.  Mostyn,  Esq.,  Gunley,  Chirbury,  and  The  Lions, 

Branksome  Woods,  Bournemouth 

tJPryce,  Elijah,  Esq.,  Trederwen  House,  Llansantffraid,  Oswestry 
t Pryce,  Robert  Davies,  Esq.,  Cyffronydd,  Welshpool  (deceased) 
t Pryce,  Thomas,  Esq.,  Pentreheylin,  Llanymynech,  Oswestry 
*Pryce,  Thomas  Edward,  Esq.,  Architect,  35,  Bedford  Row,  London 

Pryce-Jones,  Sir  Pryce,  Dolerw,  Newtown 

Pugh,  William,  Esq.,  Bod  Dyffryn,  Kenley,  Surrey 
*Pugh,  William  Buckley,  Esq.,  Dolfor  Hall,  Kerry,  and  Patrington, 
Hull 

Pughe,  Rev.  G.  R.  Gould,  Mellor  Vicarage,  Blackburn 

tRendel,  Stuart,  Esq.,  M.P.,  4,  Whitehall  Gardens,  London,  W. 
Roberts,  David,  Esq.,  53,  Willow  Street,  Oswestry 
Roberts,  Rev.  Robert  Jones,  M.A.,  Pool  Quay  Vicarage,  Welshpool 
Ruck,  Mrs.,  Pantlludw,  Machynlleth 

Sudeley,  The  Lord,  Toddington,  Gloucestershire  (Vice-President) 

St.  Asaph,  The  Bishop  of,  The  Palace,  St,  Asaph  ( Vice-President) 

Salt,  George  Moultrie,  Esq.,  Quarry  Place,  Salop 

Salusbury,  Rev.  George  Augustus,  M.A.,  Westbury  Rectory,  Salop 
*Sandford,  Rev.  George,  M.A.,  Eccleshall  Vicarage,  Sheffield 

Slaughter,  Very  Rev.  Monsignor,  Plowden,  Shropshire 

Sotheran,  Henry,  Esq.,  136,  Strand,  London 

Southern,  Francis  R.,  Esq.,  Ludlow  (deceased) 
tSquires,  Mrs.  Bonavie,  Marrington,  Branksome  Park,  Bournemouth 

Squires,    Horace    Lynes,    Esq.,    7,    Exchange    Station    Building, 

Liverpool 
t  Storey,  Sir  Thomas,  Westfield,  Lancaster 

tTemple,  Rev.  R.,  M.A.,  Llwyngroes,  Llanymynech,  RS.O. 
*Thomas,  Ven.  Archdeacon,  M.A.,  F.S.A.,  Vicarage,  Meifod,  Welsh- 
pool 


XI 

Tracy,  The  Hon.  Frederick  Hanbury,  M.P.,  116,  Queen's  Gate, 
London 

Trinity  College  Library  (Rev.  R.  Sinker,  M.A.,  Librarian),  Cam- 
bridge 

Twentyman,  Llewelyn  Howel,  Esq.,  Castlecroft,  Wolverhampton 

Vane  Tempest,  Lord  Henry  J.,  Plas,  Machynlleth  (Vice-President) 
Verney,  Lieut.-Col.  G.  H.,  Clochfaen,  Llanidloes 

Wynn,  Sir  Watkin  Williams,  Bart.,  Wynnstay,  Ruabon  (Vice- 
President) 

Williams,  Edward,  Esq.,  Broome  Hall,  Oswestry 
Williams,  E.  W.  Colt,  Esq.,  H.M.  Inspector  of  Schools,  Hagley  Hall, 

Eugeley,  Staffordshire 
tJWilliams,  Rev.  John,  M.A.,  Vicarage,  Llanrhaiadr,  Denbigh 

Williams,  Miss  Mary  C.  L.,  The  Brow,  Ruabon 
*Williams,  Rev.  Canon  Robert,  M.A.,  Rectory,  Llanfyllin  (deceased) 
*ttWilliams,  Richard,  Esq.,  Celynog,  Newtown  (lion.  Secretary) 
*  Williams,  Stephen  W.,  Esq.,  Penralley,  Rhayader 
fWilling,  Edward  S.,  Esq.,  511,  South  Broad  Street,  Philadelphia, 

U.S.A. 

tj  Winder,  Major  Corbett,  Vaynor  Park,  Berriew,  Montgomeryshire 
Woods,  Sir  Albert  W.,  Garter  King  of  Arms,  College  of  Arms, 

London,  E.G. 
Wooding,  David  Lewis,  Esq.,  Beula  Garth,  R.S.O.,  Breconshire, 

(deceased) 

Wright,  Philip,  Esq.,  Mellington  Hall,  Churchstoke,  Montgomery 
*tJWynn,  Charles  Watkin  Williams,  Esq.,  Coed-y-Maen,  Welshpool 
Wynne,  W.  R.  M.,  Esq.,  Peniarth,  Towyn 


After  1st  October,  1891. 

George  Charles,  Earl  of  Powis,  Powis  Castle,  Welshpool,   elected 

President,  19th  Oct.,  1891 
Jones,  Rev.  T.  Charles,  Mill  Place,  Welshpool. 
Lloyd,  Henry  C.,  Esq.,  6,  Half  Moon  Street,  Piccadilly,  London 
Owen,  Chas.  Whitley,  Esq.,  Fronfraith,  Abermule,  Montgomeryshire 
Pryce,  Capt.  Athelstane  R.,  Cyffronydd,  Welshpool 
Talbot,  J.  Arthur,  Esq.,  Croesawdy,  Newtown,  Mont. 
Wooding,  Benjamin,  Esq.,  Beulah  Garth,  Breconshire 
Williams,  Miss,  Gwyndy,  Llanfyllin,  Oswestry 


THE   POWYS-LAND   CLUB. 


ANNUAL  MEETING. 

ON  Monday,  October  19th,  the  annual  meeting  of  this  Club  was 
held  in  the  Powys-land  Museum,  when  the  following  ladies  and 
gentlemen  were  present : — Mrs.  D.  P.  Lewis,  Llandrinio ;  Mrs. 
Curling,  and  Miss  Davison,  and  the  Venerable  Archdeacon 
Thomas ;  the  Rev.  D.  Grimaldi  Davis,  Yicar  of  Welshpool ; 
Abraham  Howell,  Esq.,  Rhiewport;  Capt.  D.  H.  Mytton, 
Garth ;  the  Rev.  D.  P.  Lewis,  Llandrinio ;  Colonel  R.  J. 
Harrison,  Caerhowel ;  Mrs.  Morris  C.  Jones,  Miss  Amy  Jones, 
T.  Simpson  Jones,  Esq.,  Gungrog;  R.  E.  Jones,  Esq.,  Cefn- 
Bryntalch;  Dr.  T.  B.  Barrett,  Welshpool;  T.  Pryce,  Esq., 
Pentreheylin,  Llanymynech  ;  Elijah  Pryce,  Esq.,  Trederwen, 
and  Mr.  Morris  C.  Jones,  Gungrog,  and  Mr.  Richard  Williams, 
Newtown,  two  of  the  hon.  secretaries. 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  MORRIS  C.  JONES,  and  seconded  by 
Mr.  RICHARD  WILLIAMS,  and  unanimously  agreed,  that  the 
Venerable  Archdeacon  THOMAS  should  occupy  the  chair. 

The  CHAIRMAN  in  opening  the  meeting  said  : — 
In  taking  the  chair  this  afternoon  I  feel  that  your 
thoughts  will  at  once  recur  to  the  same  subject  as  my 
own,  the  gap  in  the  history — I  hope  not  in  the  life,  nor 
in  the  continuity — but  in  the  history  of  the  Powys-land 
Club.  To-day  is  the  first  time  for  many  years,  and 
probably  since  the  establishment  of  the  Club,  in  which 
we  miss  from  this  chair  the  familiar  face  and  figure  of 
our  late  President.  We  miss  his  presence  the  more 
because  of  the  warm  interest  he  always  showed  in  the 
work  of  this  Club,  because  of  the  regular  attendance 
which  he  always  gave  at  its  annual  or  anniversary 
meetings,  and  because  of  the  readiness  with  which  he 
placed  at  the  service  of  the  Club  both  valuable  material 
and  pecuniary  aid.  On  all  these  grounds,  and  by  virtue 
of  his  many  qualifications,  social,  intellectual,  and  ter- 


Xlll 


ritorial,  he  was  naturally  fitted  to  be  the  head  of  this 
Society,  the  natural  choice  of  the  literary  Club  of  Powys- 
land,  and  we  were  proud  of  him.  Born  to  great  wealth, 
occupying  one  of  the  highest  positions  in  the  land, 
endowed  with  intellectual  power,  enriched  with  gifts 
of  mind  of  a  very  high  order,  with  every  temptation  to 
take  life  easily,  with  every  facility  to  gratify  his  own 
inclinations,  and  to  indulge  any  wishes  that  he  chose 
to  entertain,  he  nevertheless  felt  that  those  gifts  and 
powers  and  opportunities  were  not  intended  for  his 
own  gratification,  but  for  the  good  of  others,  and  so  he 
resisted  the  temptation  to  spend  on  and  please  himself 
in  order  that  he  might  the  better  fulfil  his  duty  towards 
them.  Thank  God  that  he  made  that  choice,  that  he 
resisted  the  temptation  to  take  life  selfishly,  and  that 
he  looked  upon  his  advantages — and  they  were  very 
great — as  a  trust  to  be  used,  as  a  charge  from  One 
above,  as  a  responsibility  for  which  he  would  have  to 
give  account.  And  his  leisure,  or  what  to  others  would 
have  been  leisure,  he  regarded  as  the  means  to  carry 
out  his  duty.  I  suppose  few  men  really  have  had  so 
little  leisure  as  he  had,  because  few  were  so  busy,  so 
ready  to  deny  themselves,  in  order  that  they  might  the 
better  help  others,  few  more  devoted  to  the  public 
good  or  more  ready  to  help  on  worthy  local  purposes. 
With  every  surrounding  that  might  lead  him  to  gratify 
himself  had  he  so  chosen,  his  life  was  very  simple,  very 
plain,  almost  severe.  This  was  no  growth  of  old  age, 
or  of  later  years ;  the  seeds,  we  may  be  assured,  were 
sown  in  his  childhood,  and  I  remember  one  to  whom 
he  served  as  fag  at  Eton  years  ago  telling  me  of  his 
diligence  and  love  of  books ;  and  we  know  that  under 
the  guidance  of  that  splendid  man,  George  Augustus 
Selwyn  (afterwards  Bishop  of  New  Zealand  and  of  Lich- 
field),  it  developed  in  his  after  life,  and  we  have  seen 
the  evidence  of  it  in  the  scholarship  which  placed  him 
in  the  first  rank  in  his  University  of  Cambridge,  a 
scholarship  so  mature  and  so  congenial  that  he  followed 
it  up  through  the  busiest  years  of  his  after  life.  It  was 


XIV 


his  delight  to  read  the  old  classics,   and  an  evident 
pleasure  to  him  to  set  off  his  letters  with  some  in- 
teresting,   apt,    and    scholarly   quotation.       One    can 
almost  see  the  smile  upon  his  face  as  he  penned  some 
witty  phrase    or  wrote  down    some  apt  illustration. 
His  University  showed  their  appreciation  of  his  scholar- 
ship, and  his  worth,  by  making  him  their  High  Steward, 
and  none  could  have  more  fitly  filled  that  office.     He 
was  an  indefatigable  reader,  equally  versed  in  the  old 
classics  of  Greece  and  Rome  as  in  the  various  branches 
of  modern  literature,  by  no  means  excluding  a  wide 
range  of  novels.     But  with  all  this   he  was   a  very 
careful  reader  and  a  very  minute  critic.     I  remember 
once  talking  to  Mr.  John  Murray,  the  great  publisher, 
who  asked  me  if  I  knew  Lord  Powis,  and  his  remark 
was  that   he  was   continually   receiving   criticisms  of 
articles  from  him,  and  the  editors  of  the  Powys-land 
Club  Transactions  and  of  the  Archceologia  Cambrensis 
could,   I  am  sure,  say  the  same  thing.     Very  aptly, 
therefore,  was  a  man  of  such  literary  tastes  and  intel- 
lectual power  chosen  to  be  our  head  and  President — 
the   first   President — of   the    Powys-land   Club,    and 
equally  aptly  was  he  selected  to  represent  the  educa- 
tional element  of  the  committee  of  the  County  Council ; 
nor  need  I  remind  you  that  he  was  the  first  President 
of  the  North  Wales  College  at  Bangor.     But  those 
literary  tastes,  great  as  they  were,  did  not  disqualify 
him  from  taking  an  active  part  in  what  is  called  prac- 
tical  and   public   business — they   rather   set   off  and 
adorned  his  part  in  that  work.     Many  of  yourselves 
know  better  than  I  do  how  active  and  how  diligent  he 
was,  and  how  helpful  and  valuable  his  services  were  in 
county  business,  not  only  in  Montgomeryshire,  but  also 
in  Shropshire  and  Herefordshire  ;  on  how  many  com- 
mittees he  served,  and  served  well ;  and  those  of  many 
different  kinds,  legal,  financial,  social,  educational.    Be- 
sides all  these,  there  were  the  continuous  claims  of  the 
property  entrusted  to  his  care,   and  you  know  how 
anxious  he  was  about  the  well-being  and  the  welfare 


XV 

of  those  who  lived  upon  that  property.  In  everything 
he  undertook  he  combined  a  minuteness  and  critical 
carefulness  with  a  strong  business-like  character.  But 
I  should  be  wanting  to  him,  I  should  be  wanting  to 
you,  I  should  be  wanting  to  myself,  if  I  omitted  to 
speak  here  of  his  services  to  the  Church,  of  which  he 
was  so  faithful  a  member.  Here  especially,  at  Welsh- 
pool,  one  may  quote  the  expression,  "  Si  monumentum 
quseris  circumspice".  When  he  came  of  age,  that  event 
was  commemorated  by  the  erection,  as  the  fittest 
memorial  to  him,  of  Christ  Church,  and  you  know  how 
much  he  did  in  after  years  to  promote  the  interests  of 
the  parish  church.  At  Pool  Quay  there  is  a  church 
which  he  built  and  founded  ;  and  at  Oswestry  his 
benefactions  were  exceedingly  great  and  valuable.  Of 
course,  in  speaking  of  these  benefactions,  I  am  speaking 
only  of  what  is  known  and  public,  but  I  believe  that 
what  is  known  and  public  forms  but  a  very  small 
portion  of  what  he  really  did.  Whatever  his  good- 
ness and  his  large  ability  prompted,  whatever  his 
zeal  in  doing  good  and  the  part  which  as  leader  in  the 
county  it  was  his  to  take,  he  supplemented  it  all  with 
an  amount  of  well-doing,  of  charitableness,  and  of  help- 
fulness, which  was  known  to  nobody  except  himself  and 
his  bankers.  We  regret  his  absence  to-day,  but  we  are 
proud  to  have  had  him  so  long  as  our  President,  and  I 
felt  that  I  could  not  take  this  chair,  even  for  a  tem- 
porary occasion  like  the  present,  without  paying,  in 
your  name  as  well  as  in  my  own,  what  I  am  sure  you 
will  all  agree  with  me — such  tribute  as  I  could  to  one 
who  so  well  deserved  all  we  could  say  on  his  behalf. 

The  CHAIRMAN  then  called  upon  Mr.  Richard  Williams,  one 
of  the  Secretaries,  to  read  the  report  of  the  Council. 

The  Report  of  the  Council  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Powys- 

land  Club,  held  on  the  19th  October  1891. 

During  the  past  year  death  has  removed  not  only  an  unusual 
number  of  our  members,  but  also  our  President.  The  late  Earl  of 
Powis  had  held  the  office  of  President  for  twenty-four  years,  that  is 
to  say,  since  the  institution  of  the  Club,  and  died,  as  he  lived, 


XVI 


The  Powys-land  Club  in  account  with  Matthew  Powell,  Esq., 

and  ending 

To  Cash  paid  as  follows  : — 

„  Messrs.   Whiting  and  Co.,  for  Printing   Report   of 

Meeting  and  Supplementary  Part          -  -      £9159 

„  Ditto,  for  Printing  Part  XLVIII  -       59     9     3 

„  Ditto,  for  Printing  Part  XLIX  -       63     2     6 

„  Paid  for  Strata  Marcella  Illustrations      £31     5     0 

„  Paid  for  other  Illustrations  2  15  0 

34  0  0 

„  Paid  for  Postage  of  Report  and  Parts  XLVIII  and 
XLIX  to  Members ;  also  of  back  Parts  to  New 
Members ;  Printing  and  Postage  of  Circulars, 
and  Wrappers,  collecting  Subscriptions,  and  ac- 
knowledging same,  Reporter,  copying  Docu- 
ments, etc.  -  15  0  11 

Museum — Paid  printing  Labels,  etc.  1     1  10 

Balance  carried  down    -  -  -1341611 


£317     7     2 


XVII 


Hon.  Treasurer,  for  the  year  commencing  1st  October  1890, 
30th  September  1891. 

By  Balance  in  hand      -  -  ,£157     4     8 

„  Cash  received  from  Subscriptions  as  follows  : — 
3  Subscriptions  from  Original  Members  at  10s.  6d. 

each      -  1  11     6 

100  Subscriptions  from  ordinary  Members  at  £1    Is. 

each       -  -     105     0     0 

Special : — 
1  The  late  Earl  of  Powis       -  550 

Arrears  received    -  -  770 

Subscriptions  of  next  year  received  in  advance  from 

Members  -       36     4     6 

25  Members  who  last  year,  or  previously,  paid  this 
year's  Subscription  in  advance 

22  Members  in  arrear,  amounting  (besides  bad  debts) 
to  £21  10s.  Qd. 

151  Number  on  List  of  Members  on  30th  Sept.  1891. 

Cash  received  for  booka  sold  -  -  4  14     6 


£317     7     2 


1891,  October.     By  Balance  in  hand  brought  down      -     1341611 


VOL.  XXV. 


XV  111 

universally  respected.  His  high  character,  and  many  gracious 
gifts,  were  recognised  by  none  more  than  by  the  members  of  the 
Powys-land  Club.  The  other  members  whose  loss  we  deplore  are 
the  Rev.  Canon  Williams,  a  member  of  the  Council,  William  Fisher, 
Esq.,  Robert  Davies  Pryce,  Esq.,  Joseph  Groolden,  Esq.,  Francis  R. 
Southern,  Esq.,  Thomas  Davies,  Esq.,  and  David  Lewis  Wooding, 
Esq.  The  Club  as  a  body  may  find  some  consolation  for  these 
lamentable  losses  in  the  fact  that  the  places  of  some  of  the  deceased 
members  have  been  filled  by  their  nearest  relatives  and  successors — 
the  late  Earl  of  Powis,  by  the  present  Earl  ;  Captain  Pryce,  by  his 
eldest  son,  Captain  Athelstane  R.  Pryce ;  Mr.  David  Lewis  Wood- 
ing, by  his  son  Mr.  Benjamin  Wooding ;  and  the  Rev.  Canon 
Williams  by  his  niece,  Miss  Williams.  The  custom  of  sons  and 
near  relatives  succeeding  deceased  members  has  obtained  largely  in 
the  Powys-land  Club,  there  being  no  less  than  twenty  instances  of 
such  succession.  Six  members  have  resigned,'  and  since  1st 
October  1890  eight  new  members  have  joined.  It  is  the  duty 
of  this  meeting  to  elect  the  officers  of  the  Club.  The  Council 
propose  that  George  Charles,  Earl  of  Powis,  should  be  elected 
President  of  the  Club  in  the  place  of  the  late  Earl ;  that  J.  Marshall 
Dugdale,  Esq.,  should  be  elected  a  member  of  the  Council,  in  the 
place  of  the  late  Rev.  Canon  Williams,  and  that  the  other  officers 
should  be  re-elected.  Several  donations  of  considerable  interest 
have  been  made  to  the  Museum.  An  attempt  was  made  in  1885 
to  establish  an  agricultural  class,  but  unsuccessfully,  as  mentioned 
in  the  report  for  that  year.  The  experiment  is  being  repeated  this 
year,  and  commenced  on  the  8th  October  inst.,  with  good  prospects 
of  success.  The  finances  of  the  Club  are  in  a  satisfactory  condition. 
No  lack  of  material  for  the  Montgomeryshire  Collections  has  as  yet 
been  experienced.  The  Council  would  nevertheless  be  glad  if  the 
number  of  contributors  was  increased,  so  as  to  ensure  a  larger 
number  and  greater  variety  of  subjects  being  treated  of,  more 
especially  parochial  histories. 

The  CHAIRMAN  then  called  upon  the  SECRETARY  to  read  an 
abstract  of  the  TREASURER'S  Report.  (See  pages  xvi  and  xvii.) 

The  Rev.  D.  G-RIMALDI  DAVIS  was  called  upon  to  read  the  report 
of  the  Committee  of  the  Powys-land  School  of  Science  and  Art. 
He  said  :  Mr.  Morris  Charles  Jones,  to  whose  unremitting  energy  the 
continuance  of  the  Art  School  is  generally  due,  has  put  into  my 
hands  the  following  report  for  the  past  year,  which  I  now  have 
great  pleasure  in  reading  : — 

Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  Powys-land  School  of  Science 

and  Art. 

The  attendance  of  the  classes  and  the  fees  received  have  been  as 
follows : — 


XIX 

DAY  CLASS.  EVENING  CLASS. 

Attendance.         Fees.         Attendance.        Fees. 

Term  ending  llth  Nov.  1890  ...  9  ....£410  0  ...  18  ...£219  6 

Term  ending  24th  Feb.  1891  ...  10  ...     6  10  0  ...  19  ...     3     6  6 

Term  ending  12th  May  1891  ...  8  ...     5  13  6  ...  22  ...     3  17  0 

Term  ending  21st  July  1891  ..  9  ...     6     6  0  ...  18  ...     2  19  6 

Totals  ...       36       £22  19     6  77        £13     2     6 

Schools  coming  in  a  body  at  a  reduced  fee  of  5s.  instead  of  12s.  Qd.  have  been  : — 

School  A.  School  B. 

Attendance.          Fees.  Attendance.           Fees. 

1st  quarter    ...     7     ...    £1  15     0  ...       6       ,..    £1  10     0 

2nd  quarter  ...     7     ...       115     0  ...       4       ...       100 

3rd  quarter  ...     6     ...       1  10     0  ...       3       ...       0  15     0 

£500  £350 

Summary. 

Day  Class  £2219     6 

Evening  Class ...  13     2     6 

Private  Schools.  A  ...  ...  ...  £5     0     0 

„     'B  350 

850 

£44     7     0 

Results  of  Examinations. 

In  Freehand,  two  Students  passed  1st  Class,  one  of  them  being 
marked  excellent.  Four  passed  2nd  Class,  and  four  failed.  In 
Model  Drawing,  one  passed  2nd  Class  and  five  failed.  In  Geo- 
metrical Drawing,  two  passed  and  one  failed. 

External  Pupils :  Practical  plane  and  solid  Geometry,  one  passed. 
Freehand  Drawing,  one  passed  1st  Class,  one  passed  2nd  Class, 
and  two  failed.  Perspective,  two  passed  1st  Class,  excellent,  and 
one  2nd  Class.  Model  Drawing,  one  failed. 

The  Rev.  G.  DAVIS,  having  read  the  report,  said  :  The  School  has 
progressed  in  some  degree  during  the  past  year,  and  during  the  last 
few  weeks  there  have  been  connected  with  the  School,  agricultural 
classes,  and  we  are  looking  forward  with  a  great  deal  of  hope  to 
those  classes  giving  a  new  impetus  to  technical  and  agricultural 
knowledge  in  this  district ;  and  in  this  case,  too,  I  must  publicly 
declare  our  great  indebtedness  to  our  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  School 
of  Art. 

The  CHAIRMAN  :  1  propose  "  that  the  reports  be  printed  and  cir- 
culated,that  George  Charles,  the  Earl  of  Powis,be  elected  President  of 
the  Club,  that  Mr.  J.  Marshall  Dugdale  be  elected  in  the  place  of  the 
late  Canon  Williams,  and  that  the  other  officers  be  re-elected."  I  have 
already  spoken  of  our  indebtedness  to  our  late  President,  and  am 
sure  you  will  all  agree  with  me  that  we  could  not  have  a  more 
suitable  successor  in  the  chair  than  the  new  Earl.  We  hope  the 
office  will  be  a  tie  that  will  bind  him  closely  to  the  interests  of 

b  2 


XX 

Powys-land,  and  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Society  he  will  find  an 
immense  amount  of  information  which  will  deepen  his  interest  in 
that  large  stake  which  he  holds  amongst  us.  I  hope  the  new  Earl 
will  tread  in  the  steps  of  his  uncle,  and  if  report  speaks  as  truly,  as 
it  does  kindly  of  him,  we  are  not  likely  to  be  disappointed  in  him. 
I  am  also  glad  to  find  that  Canon  Williams's  place  will  be  filled  by 
one  from  the  same  neighbourhood,  one  who  is  also  likely  to  con- 
tribute to  the  pages  of  the  Journal.  I  say  this  because  he  has 
already  shown  a  literary  turn  by  editing  very  usefully  and  helpfully 
the  Decanal  Magazine  for  Llanfyllin.  I  refer  to  Mr.  J.  Marshall 
Dugdale.  No  words  are  necessary  from  me  in  putting  forward  the 
names  of  the  officers  of  the  Club  for  re-election.  It  is  a  pleasure  to 
see  that  our  interests  are  so  well  looked  after,  and  year  after  year 
the  publication  of  the  Journal  testifies  to  the  success  which  has 
crowned  our  work.  During  the  last  year  we  have  had  both  paro- 
chial and  natural  history,  and  a  great  variety  of  subjects  treated  in 
the  Journal.  In  the  last  issue  we  had  a  most  admirable  chapter 
upon  the  mediaeval  and  ecclesiastical  history  of  Kerry,  which  I  was 
exceedingly  glad  to  see.  To  myself  there  have  been  matters  of 
special  interest,  including  the  church  seats  at  Meifod,  which  re- 
opened a  chapter  in  the  history  of  my  own  parish  in  the  17th 
century.  There  were  also  the  very  interesting  deeds  belonging  to 
the  Williames's  of  Ystym  Colwyn,  which  throw  a  light  upon  its 
still  earlier  history.  Having  said  this,  and  having  moved  the 
resolution  I  have  just  read,  I  should  like  to  say  just  one  word 
upon  another  subject.  It  bears  reference  to  the  most  interesting 
bell,  one  of  our  chief  acquisitions  during  the  past  few  months.  I 
do  not  think  it  is  quite  in  its  right  place  ;  it  is  not  that  it  would  be 
more  carefully  looked  after  or  more  highly  valued  if  it  were  else- 
where, but  the  proper  place  for  it  is  either  Llangystenyn  Church  or 
St.  Asaph  Cathedral.  It  is  one  of  the  most  ancient  Celtic  bells,  and 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  relics,  and  in  its  way  the  most  valuable 
object  in  the  Museum.  I  think  it  a  little  hard  that  it  should  be  here. 
In  the  very  opening  page  of  the  last  issue  of  the  Journal  a  pro- 
minent antiquary  wrote  an  article  on  Parochial  Terriers,  with  some 
deserved  comments  on  certain  instances  of  the  shameful  neglect  of 
parochial  papers  in  the  past.  I  agree  with  every  word  he  said,  but, 
curiously  enough,  an  antiquary  in  the  same  county,  possibly  the 
same  individual,  in  his  anxiety  for  preserving  this  particular  object, 
has  been  the  means  of  getting  it  transferred  to  this  Museum.  Having 
said  this  I  beg  form-ally  to  propose  the  resolution. 

Mr.  A.  HOWELL  seconded  the  motion,  and  said  that 

In  common  with  the  inhabitants  generally  of  Montgomeryshire 
and  Shropshire  and  the  surrounding  districts,  and  particularly  with 
the  inhabitants  of  Welshpool  and  Welshpool  district,  we  most 
deeply  regret  the  loss  of  our  late  President,  the  late  Earl  of  Powis, 
to  whom  all  were  indebted  for  constant  benefits,  for  within  my 
recollection,  the  period  of  upwards  of  sixty  years,  of  which  some 


XXI 

twenty  years  was  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father,  called  Edward 
Herbert,  Earl  of  Powis  (the  grandfather  of  the  present  Earl  of 
Powis),  who,  during  that  period,  he,  the  late  Earl  Edward  James, 
Earl  of  Powis,  assisted,  and  during  the  subsequent  forty  years  and 
upwards,  those  benefits  were  conferred  by  himself.  There  was 
nothing  which  he  saw  was  for  the  benefit  of  his  neighbours  that  he 
did  not  most  liberally  contribute  to,  and  devote  his  own  personal 
assistance  if  he  thought  it  necessary  or  beneficial.  In  regard  to 
Welshpool,  he  assisted,  among  other  things,  in  its  being  provided 
with  a  water  supply,  sewerage,  and  other  sanitary  improvements, 
converting  the  town  from  being  the  most  unhealthy  to  one  of  the 
most  healthy  towns  in  the  kingdom  ;  and  he,  unasked,  supplied  them 
at  a  nominal  rent  for  a  long  term  of  years  with  the  water  and 
reservoir,  and  a  syphon  communication  with  the  highest  parts  of 
all  the  houses  in  the  town,  saving  to  the  inhabitants  a  very  large 
cost,  something  equal  to  all  the  other  expenditure ;  and  in  the 
restoration  of  the  parish  church,  and  the  restoration  and  erection 
of  other  churches,  and  public  benefits,  he  undertook  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  cost.  I  can  speak  of  most  of  them  through  having 
had  the  honour  of  being  mayor  of  the  town  during  four  years,  and 
also  alderman  and  member  of  the  Council  some  twenty  years,  and 
during  which  periods  the  sanitary  improvements  were  carried  out ; 
and  for  the  first  fifty  years  of  the  sixty  years  during  which  the 
quarterly  accounts  were  printed  and  published,  the  charge  of 
which  I  had  under  the  direction  of  the  Finance  Committee,  of 
which  committee  the  Grandfather  was  Chairman  during  the  first 
twenty  years,  and  the  Uncle  during  the  remaining  forty  years  and 
upwards.  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  say  that  I  am  aware  the  present  Earl 
has  expressed  himself  desirous  of  following  in  the  steps  of  his  late 
uncle  in  public  matters,  and  also  that  he  is  very  competent  to  do 
so,  and  also  to  know  that  he  is  willing  to  succeed  the  late  Earl  as 
President  of  the  Powys-land  Club.  As  regards  Mr.  Marshall 
Dugdale,  I  am  able  to  say  from  experience  that  few  were  able  to 
excel  him  in  the  transaction  of  public  matters ;  and  as  to  Mr. 
Morris  Charles  Jones  and  his  co-secretaries  and  the  other  officers  of 
the  Club,  all  well  knew,  from  constant  experience  from  the  esta- 
blishment of  it,  that  in  the  performance  of  their  services  they  could 
not  be  excelled. 

The  CHAIRMAN  :  There  are  many  present  who  are  so  deeply 
interested  in  the  well-being  of  the  Powys-land  Club,  that  I  should 
be  glad  if  anyone  would  speak  who  wishes  to  make  any  remark 
before  the  subject  is  put  to  the  meeting. 

Rev.  D.  PHILLIPS  LEWIS  said :  I  wish  to  say  a  few  words,  being 
one  of  the  .original  members  of  the  Club,  and  on  the  Council,  and 
having  attended  every  annual  meeting  of  the  Club  for  twenty-four 
years,  except  one.  As  regards  our  dear  old  President,  I  do  not 
think  that  I  can  add  much  to  the  speech  of  Archdeacon  Thomas, 
who  has  said  pretty  well  all  there  is  to  say.  I  can  only  tell  the 
meeting  that  I  was  at  St.  John's  with  the  Earl  (then  Mr.  Herbert), 


XX11 

and  that  he  was  remarkable  for  his  diligent  attention  to  his  classical 
studies  and  for  the  strict  propriety  of  his  conduct,  avoiding  the 
society  of  the  fast  and  dissipated ;  he  was  commonly  to  be  seen 
walking  with  the  most  virtuous  of  the  Fellows,  generally  men  of 
High  Church  proclivities.  I  noticed  also  that  without  seeing  much 
of  undergraduate  society  he  was  remarkably  kind  and  attentive  to 
Montgomeryshire  men. 

Mr.  R.  E.  JONES  said :  There  is  a  matter  which  I  wish  to  put 
before  the  members  of  the  Club,  but  to  do  so  in  a  proper  manner, 
would  tire  you,  I  fear,  too  much,  and  as  the  meeting  has  already 
lasted  some  time,  I  will  not  therefore  weary  your  attention  any  more 
than  I  can  possibly  help.  What  I  wish  to  suggest  is,  the  undertaking 
of  a  work  by  the  Club,  which  I  am  quite  sure  would  be  of  the  greatest 
utility  to  everyone  interested  in  the  past  history  of  the  country. 
You  are  all  aware  that  in  the  Eecord  Office  in  London  there  is  a  vast 
collection  of  documents,  many  of  which  relate  to  the  history  of 
Montgomeryshire.  What  I  wish  to  suggest  is  this — that  the  Club 
should  endeavour  to  get  a  descriptive  catalogue  or  calendar  of  those 
documents  drawn  up,  and  that  a  special  fund  should  be  opened  for 
the  purpose  of  defraying  the  necessary  cost,  to  which  members  of 
the  Club  who  are  interested  (I  hope  a  great  number)  might  con- 
tribute. I  would  further  suggest  that  the  work  should  be  carried 
out  under  the  general  superintendence  of  a  Committee  of  the  Club, 
and  that  the  catalogue  should  become  the  property  of  the  Club 
when  it  is  complete.  I  am  anxious  to  bring  this  question  forward 
now,  because  there  is  a  member  of  the  Committee  residing  at 
present  in  London,  who  is  more  qualified  than  any  other  to  under- 
take the  work,  as  he  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  Record 
Office,  and  understands  exactly  what  a  catalogue  such  as  that 
which  I  would  urge  should  contain.  The  preliminary  cost  at  all 
events  will  not  be  very  great.  I  would  suggest  that  the  Club  should 
try  to  raise  a  sum  of  £20  or  £30,  and  then  in  a  little  time,  when 
the  money  is  exhausted,  you  will  be  able  to  see  whether  it  had  been 
well  laid  out,  and  be  in  a  position  to  consider  the  matter  further. 
Of  course  you  all  know  that  the  gentleman  to  whom  I  have 
referred  is  Mr.  E.  Rowley  Morris.  The  other  day  I  had  a  commu- 
nication from  him,  in  which  he  says  he  is  willing  to  give  his  best 
co-operation  in  the  matter,  and  he  surely  will  be  the  fittest  person 
to  undertake  the  work.  Mr.  Morris  has  a  strong  opinion  as  to  the 
extreme  value  of  the  documents  in  the  Record  Office  as  illustrative 
of  the  past  history  of  the  county.  I  myself  have  had  some  ex- 
perience in  the  Office,  and  can  speak  of  the  great  difficulty  which  a 
person  unacquainted  with  the  building  and  its  contents  has  in 
procuring  the  information  he  desires.  I  hope  something  can  be 
done  in  the  matter,  and  I  shall  be  happy  to  subscribe  towards  the 
expenses. 

The  CHAIRMAN  :  The  suggestion  Mr.  R.  E.  Jones  has  made  is  so 
very  valuable  that  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear  what  Mr.  Morris  Jones 
thinks  of  the  subject. 


XXlll 

Mr.  MORRIS  C.  JONES  :  I  cordially  approve  of  all  Mr.  E.  E.  Jones 
has  said,  and  shall  be  very  happy  to  do  all  I  can  to  carry  the  sug- 
gestion out.  I  can  not,  however,  undertake  the  financial  part  of 
the  business,  the  collecting  of  the  subscriptions. 

Mr.  E.  E.  JONES  :  I  will  undertake  to  do  anything  that  is  neces- 
sary, and  anything  which  no  one  else  will  undertake.  Will  Mr. 
Morris  Jones  act  as  Secretary  ? 

Mr.  MORRIS  C.  JONES  :  I  will,  with  pleasure. 

Dr.  BARRETT  :  I  should  like  to  ask  whether  it  is  intended  that  the 
calendar  should  embrace  the  records  of  this  part  of  the  Principality 
or  of  the  Principality  at  large  ? 

Mr.  R.  E.  JONES  :  My  intention  is  to  confine  the  scheme  to  the 
county  of  Montgomery,  as  it  would  be  a  very  large  undertaking  to 
include  the  whole  of  Wales.  Mr.  Rowley  Morris  told  me  there  is  a 
large  number  of  documents  lying  at  the  Record  Office,  which  were 
removed  from  Welshpool  during  the  last  century— <•  county  records. 

Dr.  BARRETT  :  A  large  portion  was  removed  from  Welshpool  to 
Wrexham.  I  shall  be  pleased  to  subscribe  £1  Is.  to  the  fund. 

The  CHAIRMAN  :  I  think  that  considerable  fruit  is  likely  to  result 
from  this  discussion,  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  join  in  the  subscriptions 
and  give  £1  Is. 

The  resolution  was  then  put  to  the  meeting  and  carried  nem.  con. 

The  following  subscriptions  were  also  announced  amidst  applause  : 
Mr.  E.  E.  Jones,  £5  ;  Mr.  Morris  C.  Jones,  £1  Is. ;  Mr.  Abraham 
Howell,  £2  2s. ;  and  Mr.  Richard  Williams,  £1  Is. 

The  CHAIRMAN  :  It  would  be  well  if  the  meeting  nominated  a  small 
committee  to  consider  what  you  would  like  to  have  done,  and  the 
best  means  of  doing  it. 

It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  RICHARD  WILLIAMS,  and  seconded  by  the 
Rev.  D.  GRIMALDI  DAVIS,  and  unanimously  agreed  to,  that  the  Chair- 
man, Mr.  R.  E.  Jones,  Mr.  Morris  C.  Jones,  Mr.  Richard  Williams, 
and  Dr.  Barrett,  be  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the 
scheme. 

Capt.  MYTTON  :  I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  proposing  that  a  vote 
of  thanks  should  be  given  the  Chairman  for  presiding  this  afternoon. 
We  are  very  sorry  that  we  have  not  the  presence  of  one  who  pre- 
sided over  us  for  so  many  years,  but  we  must  all  be  thankful  that 
we  have  had  a  Chairman  at  this  meeting  who  is  well  qualified  to  act 
as  Chairman  of  the  Powys-land  Club.  Archdeacon  Thomas  has  for 
many  years  assisted  us  by  his  energy  in  a  literary  manner  and  by 
attending  our  meetings ;  he  has  done  a  great  deal  to  promote  the 
success  of  our  Club,  and  has  contributed  largely  to  the  journals,  and 
we  are  very  thankful  to  him  for  presiding  here  to-day.  We  like  him 
in  every  respect,  except  in  the  character  of  a  detective,  for  the 
Powys-land  Club  is  always  rather  jealous  to  preserve  anything  that 
once  comes  within  its  walls.  I  do  not  think  I  can  do  better  than 
offer  him  a  post  that  I  was  offered  the  other  day,  that  of  becoming 
a  vice-president  of  the  Literary  and  Scientific  Institute,  and  if  he 


XXIV 

would  like  to  join  that  institution,  I  could  not  do  better  than 
substitute  his  name  for  mine. 

Mr.  R.  E.  JONES  :  I  have  great  pleasure  in  seconding  the  pro- 
posal. 

The  CHAIRMAN,  in  responding,  said  :  I  hope  at  the  next  meeting  we 
shall  have  our  new  President,  and  in  conclusion  I  wish  God-speed 
to  the  Society  and  its  works. 

The  meeting  then  terminated. 


XXV 


CLASSIFIED  LIST  OF  ARTICLES 

PRESENTED,  BETWEEN  NOVEMBER  1890  AND  NOVEMBER  1891, 

TO  THE  POWYS-LAND  MUSEUM  AND  LIBRARY,  WITH  THE 

NAMES  OP  THE  DONORS.* 

(Continued from  "Montgomeryshire  Collections", 
Vol.  xxiv,  p.  xxiv.) 


STONE  :— 

Presented  by  (54)  NICHOLAS  BENNETT,  Glanyrafon  (1891). 

A  Hammer-stone,  Hornblende  Schist,  5J  inches  in  length  and 
3f  inches  at  the  broadest  part,  and  weighs  2  Ibs.  and  5J  ounces. 
Ploughed  up  on  the  site  of  W abash  battlefield,  Indiana,  U.S.A.  It 
is  very  similar  in  form  to  the  Hammer-stone  from  Massachusetts, 
figured  No.  72,  on  p.  647,  in  the  Smithsonian  Report  for  1888,  in 
an  article  entitled,  "A  Study  of  Prehistoric  Archaeology."  It  is 
there  stated  that  "the  grooved  axes  are  peculiar  to  the  United 
States.  They  are  not  found  at  all,  or  rarely,  in  European  countries. 
They  were  used  with  a  handle,  which  was  attached  by  means  of  a 
withe  or  thong  which  passed  around  in  the  groove." 

BRONZE  : — 

Purchased  (492)  by  Subscription  (1891). 

An  Ancient  Celtic  Bell,  formerly  in  Llangystenyn  Church.  (See 
paper  upon  it  in  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxv,  p.  327. 

IRON  : — 

Presented  by  (484)  EDWARD  GRIFFITHS,  Upper  House  Inn, 

Llandyssil  (1891). 

A  Cromwellian  Sword — found  in  a  trench  near  Cefn  Bryntalch. 
It  has  been  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Schort,  Carpenter,  Llandyssil,  for 
200  years. 

Presented   by    (170)  CHARLES  AP  THOMAS,   Plas  Ynca,   Singlewell 
Road,  Gravesend  (1891). 

A  fragment  of  Iron,  left  at  Beechy  Island  by  Franklin,  1844-46. 


*  Each  donor's  name  has  a  large  number  prefixed,  and  each  of  his  dona- 
tions is  numbered  consecutively  with  a  small  number.  This  is  done  for  the 
future  identification  of  the  donations. 


XXVI 

NATURAL  HISTORY  : — 

Presented  by  (485)  J.  A.  SMITH,  Newtown  (1891). 
A  small  Collection  of  Minerals  and  Fossils. 

Presented  by  (486)  J.  F.  WALKER,  M.A.,  45,  Brotham,  York. 

Set  of  Minute  Fossil  Brachiopoda,  from  the  Wenloch  Shale  at 
Buildwas. 

Presented  by  (487)  S.  L.  BOWERS  NICHOLSON,  14,  Cambrian  View, 

Chester  (1891). 

A  Puffin,  stuffed  and  mounted.  Caught  alive  on  the  19th  June 
1891,  on  the  road  between  Bishop's  Castle  and  Montgomery,  by  the 
Donor.  It  lived  for  three  days,  and  died  at  Royal  Oak  Inn,  Welsh- 
pool. 

FOREIGN  CURIOSITIES  : — 

Presented  by  (452)  Lieutenant  W.  C.  WILLIAMS- WYNN,  Royal  Horse 
Artillery  (1891). 

A  "  Poshteen",  or  Sheep-skin  Coat,  made  at  Peshawur,  on  the 
Punjaub  frontier  of  India.  Worn  by  the  officers  of  the  Staff  and 
some  regiments  of  Native  Cavalry  in  the  Afghan  War  of  1879-80. 
Cost  32  rupees.  Very  elaborate  coats  cost  from  70  to  100  rupees. 
Brought  home  from  India  by  the  Donor. 

Presented  by  (411)  FRANCIS  PARRY  (1891). 

A  20  Dollar  Note  of  the  "  Confederate  States  of  America",  dated 
"Richmond,  February  17th,  1864." 

MISCELLANEOUS  CURIOSITIES  : — 

Presented  by  (482)  E.  H.  OWEN,  F.S.A.  (1891). 

Two  Rushlight  Holders. 
Specimens  of  Rushlights. 

A  "  Cawg",  an  implement  used  for  manipulating  or  carding  the 
wool  made  into  home-spun  woollen  garments. 

Presented  by  (483)  DAVID  PRYCE  (1891). 
A  Flail. 

Presented  by  (492)  Mrs.  GRIMALDI  DAVIS  (1891). 
A  Spinning  Wheel  of  oak,  nicely  carved. 

Presented  by  (481)  Miss  KATE  WILLIAMS  (1891). 

Wax  Impression  of  Seal  of  Ithel  ap  Bleddyn,  Prince  of  Wales, 
who  lived  about  1100. 


XXV11 

PAINTINGS,  MAPS,  ETC. 

Presented  by  (451)  JOSEPH  GOOLDEN  (1891). 

A  small  Miniature  Portrait  (in  a  morocco  case)  of  Thomas  Parry, 
of  Madras.  (See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xix,  p.  243.) 

A  Photograph  of  a  Painting  by  Tilly  Kettle,  taken  in  Madras, 
1762,  representing  the  Gun-room  of  Norfolk  flagship,  containing 
three  portraits — that  on  the  right,  "  Admiral  Cornish  (E.  I.  Fleet)", 
that  in  the  centre,  "  Thomas  Parry  (Private  Secretary  to  Admiral 
Cornish)",  and  that  on  the  left,  "  Capt.  Kinperfelt  (afterwards  lost  in 
the  Royal  George)". 

Presented  by  (1)  MORRIS  C.  JONES,  F.S.A.  (1891). 

An  Ancient  Painting  on  Leather.  .  (See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxv, 
p.  358.) 

Presented  by  (411)  FRANCIS  PARRY  (1891). 

An  Ancient  Map  of  Montgomeryshire,  "  Montgomeria  Comitatus 
&  Comitatus  Mervinia". 

Presented  by  (353)  Mrs.  SQUIRES  (1891). 

An  Edition  of  the  Holy  Bible,  published  in  1758,  by  Alexander 
Kincard,  Her  Majesty's  Printer,  Edinburgh,  bound  in  two  volumes, 
full  calf,  and  most  elaborately  tooled. 

Presented  by  (488)  CHAPMAN  AND  HALL  (1891). 

Catalogue  of  Modern  Works  on  Science  and  Technology,  classified 
under  Authors  and  Subjects. 

Presented  by  (111)'  Miss  PATERSON  (1891). 

The  Triumph  of  Philosophy,  or  The  System  of  the  Universe,  by 
J.  Gillespie,  1890. 

Presented  by  (489)  G.  W.  SHRUBSOLE  (1891). 

On  the  Identity  of  the  Mediolanum  of  the  2nd  and  10th  Iter  of 
Antoninus,  by  the  Donor. 

Presented  by  THE  LIVERPOOL  POLYTECHNIC  SOCIETY  (1891). 
Journal,  January  to  December,  1890. 

Presented  by  (99)  GEORGE  FARDO  (1891). 

Handbook  of  Cardiff,  prepared  for  the  use  of  the  British  Association. 
Programme  of  British  Association. 
„  Excursions. 

Presented  by  (411)  F.  PARRY  (1891). 
Proceedings  of  Royal  Geographical  Society,  June  and  July,  1890. 


XXV111 

Presented  by  ANON. 

The  London  Chronicle  for  1783,  March  25  to  27. 
Presented  by  (133)  J.  J.  HOWARD,  LL.D.  (1891),  in  exchange. 
Miscellanea  Genealogica  et  Heraldica,  12  Nos. 
Presented  by  (461)  EDITOR  OF  RELIQUARY  (1890),  in  exchange. 
Eeliquary,  Nos.  from  October  1890  to  October  1891. 

Presented  by  (481)  EDITOR  OF  THE  ANTIQUARY  (1891). 
Monthly  Nos.  from  January  1891. 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL  SOCIETIES'  TRANSACTIONS  received  in  exchange  for  the 

Powys-land  Club  Publications  : — 

From  (25)  THE  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  LONDON  (1891). 
Proceedings.     List  of  Fellows.     Vol.  xiii,  p.  ii  and  iii. 

From  (73)  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  SCOTLAND  (1891). 
Proceedings.     Vol.  xii,  New  Series,  1888-90. 
From  (222)  THE  CAMBRIAN  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  (1890). 
Archseologia  Cambrensis,  1890. 

From  (224)  THE  ROYAL  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  INSTITUTE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN 

AND  IRELAND  (1890). 
Transactions.     No.  185. 

From  (255)  BERWICKSHIRE  NATURALIST  CLUB  (1890). 
Proceedings.     Vol.  for  1887-89  (1890). 

From  (254)  BIRMINGHAM  AND  MIDLAND  INSTITUTE  (1891). 
Transactions  of  years  1888-89  and  1890. 
Table  of  Contents  of  Transactions. 

From  (351)  THE  BRISTOL  AND  GLOUCESTERSHIRE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL 

SOCIETY  (1890). 

Transactions.    Vol.  xiv,  i  and  ii ;  Vol.  xv,  p.  i. 
Domesday  Survey  of  Gloucestershire,  1889. 

From  (45)  THE  BRITISH  ARCH^OLOGICAL  ASSOCIATION  (1890). 
Journal.     Vol.  xlvi,  pt.  4;  vol.  xlvii,  pts.  1,  2,  and  3. 

.  From  (293)  THE  CAMBRIDGE  ANTIQUARIAN  SOCIETY  (1891). 

Proceedings,  pt.  30  (No.  4  of  Vol.  vi),  No.  xxxi.  Proceedings,  No.  1 
of  7th  Volume.  - 

Pedes  Finiurn,  relating  to  Cambridgeshire,  from  7  Rich.  I  to  end 
of  reign  of  Rich.  III. 

From  (287)  THE  CHESTER  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  AND  HISTORIC  SOCIETY 

(1891). 
New  Series.     Vol.  iii  (1888-90). 


XXIX 

From  (436)  GLASGOW  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  (1891). 
Transactions  (N.S.).     Vol.  i,  p.  iv,  and  Index  and  Title  Page. 
Report  of  Council  for  Sessions  1889-90. 

From  (296)  THE  GLASGOW  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY  (1891). 

Proceedings.     Vol.  xxi. 
From  (223)  THE  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND  (1891). 

Nos.  3,  4,  o,  6,  and  7,  vol.  i,  (Fifth  Series). 
From  (298)  LEICESTER  LITERARY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY  (1891). 

Transactions.     New  2nd  Series,  vol.  ii,  pts.  5,  6,  and  7,  April  1891. 
From  (286)  THE  LITERARY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY,  LIVERPOOL. 

Transactions.     Vols.  xliv  and  xlv. 
From  (44)  LONDON  AND  MIDDLESEX  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  (1891). 

Transactions.     P.  xxi,  Appendix  to  vol.  vi. 

From  (278)  THE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  (1891). 

The  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography.     Vol.  xiv, 
No.  4.  Vol.  xv,  Nos.  2  and  3. 

From  (309)  THE  SHROPSHIRE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  AND  NATURAL  HISTORY 

SOCIETY  (1891). 
Yol.  ii,  2nd  Series,  pt.  3  ;  Vol.  iii,  pts.  1  and  2. 

From  (387)  THE  SOMERSETSHIRE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  AND  NATURAL 

HISTORY  SOCIETY  (1891). 
Proceedings  during  1890.    Vol.  xvi,  New  Series. 

From  (342)  SMITHSONIAN  INSTITUTION  (1890). 
Reports  for  1888  and  1889. 

From  (292)  THE  SUFFOLK  INSTITUTE  OF  ARCHAEOLOGY  AND  NATURAL 

HISTORY  (1891). 
Proceedings.     Yol.  vii,  pt.  2. 

From  (46)  THE  SURREY  ARCH^OLOGICAL  SOCIETY  (1891). 
Collections.     Vol.  x,  pt.  2. 

From  (297)  THE  WILTSHIRE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  AND  NATURAL  HISTORY 

SOCIETY  (1891). 
The  Magazine.     Nos.  73  and  74. 

From  (72)  THE  YORKSHIRE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL 

SOCIETY  (1891). 
Transactions.     Parts  43  and  44. 

From  (290)  THE  WORCESTER  DIOCESAN  SOCIETY  (1891). 
Report  and  Papers  of  the  year  1889. 


XXX 


ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  DONORS  OF  ARTICLES  AND  BOOKS  PRE- 
SENTED   TO   THE  POWYS-LAND  MUSEUM  AND  LIBRARY. 
From  October  1890  to  October  1891. 


Chapman  and  Hall,  488 
Davis,  Mrs.  Grimaldi,  491 
Griffiths,  Edward,  484 
Nicholson,  S.  J.  Bovvers,  487 
Owen,  E.  H.,  482 
Pryce,  David,  483 
Purchased  by  Subscription,  492 


Shrubsole,  G.  W.,  489 
Smith,  J.  A.,  485 
Walker,  J.  F.,  486 
Williams,  Miss  Kate,  481 
Wynn,  Lieut.  F.  C. 
Williams-,  490 


OBITUARY   OF   MEMBERS   OF    THE    POWYS-LAND   CLUB 
SINCE  OCTOBER  1890. 


1890.  Dec.      5.   FKANCIS  R.  SOUTHERN,  Esq.,  Ludlow. 

1891.  March  25.    THOMAS  DAViES,Esq.,  121,  High  Holborn,  London. 
May       7.    EDWARD  JAMES,  Earl  of  Powis  (President). 

June    17.    WILLIAM  FISHER,  Esq.,  Maesfron,  Welshpool. 
July     20.    Rev.  Canon  WILLIAMS,  Llanfyllin  (Member  of  the 

Council). 
„       29.   JOSEPH  GOOLDEN,  Esq.,  1 8,  Lancaster  Gate,  London. 


XXXI 

The  POWYS-LAND  CLUB  exchanges  publications  with  the  fol- 
lowing Literary  Societies,  viz.  :— 

The  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,  Royal  Institution,  Edinburgh. 

The  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Newcastle-on-Tyne  (Hon.  Secretary, 
R.  Blair,  Esq.,  South  Shields). 

The  Royal  Archaeological  Institute   of    Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
Oxford  Mansions,  Oxford  Street. 

The  Berwickshire  Naturalist  Club  (James  Hardy,  Esq.,  Old  Cambus, 
Cocksburnspath,  Hon.  Sec.). 

The   Bristol  and    Gloucester  Archaeological   Society  (The  Museum, 
Gloucester). 

The  British  Archaeological  Association,  32,  Sackville  Street,  Piccadilly 

The   Cambrian  Archaeological  Association  (care  of  J.  Romilly  Allen, 
Esq.,  20,  Bloomsbury  Square,  London,  W.C.) 

The  Cambridge  Antiquarian  Society  (Rev.  S.  S.  Lewis,  F.S.A.,  Corpus 
Christi  College,  Secretary). 

The  Chester  Archaeological  and  Historical  Society,  Grosvenor  Museum, 
Chester. 

The  Royal  Institution  of  Cornwall  (The  Hon.  Secretaries,  Truro). 

The  Honourable  Society  of  Cymmrodorion,  London    (Secretary,  E. 
Vincent  Evans,  Esq.,  27,  Lonsdale  Chambers,  Chancery  Lane,  W.C.) 

The  Essex  Archaeological  Society  (H.  W.  King,  Esq.,  Leigh  Hill,  Leigh, 
Essex,  Secretary). 

Glasgow  Archaeological  Society  (care  of  James  Maclehose  and  Co., 
Vincent  Street,  Glasgow). 

The  Glasgow  Philosophical  Society,  Glasgow. 

The  Kent  Archaeological  Society  (Rev.  W.  A.  Scott  Robertson,  M.A., 
Throwley  Vicarage,  Faversham). 

The  Leicestershire  Architectural  and  Archaeological  Society  (care  of 
Messrs.  Clarke  and  Hodgson,  5,  Gallow  Gate,  Leicester. 

The  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society  of  Liverpool  (Royal  Institu- 
tion, Liverpool). 

The  London  and  Middlesex  Archaeological  Society  (G.  H.  Birch,  Esq., 
Hon.  Sec.,  9,  Buckingham  Street,  Strand,  London). 

The  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  No.  920,  Spruce  Street,  Phila- 
delphia, U.S.A. 

The    Shropshire  Archaeological  and   Natural    History   Society  (The 
Museum,  Salop). 

The  Smithsonian  Institution,  Washington,  U.S.A. 

The  Somersetshire  Archaeological  and  Natural  History  Society  (The 
Castle,  Taunton). 

The  Suffolk  Institute  of  Archaeology  and  Natural  History  (Rev.  C. 
Haslewood,  F.S.A.,  St.  Matthew's  Rectory,  Ipswich). 

The  Surrey  Archaeological  Society,  8,  Danes  Inn,  Strand,  London. 

The  Sussex  Archaeological  Society. 

The  Yorkshire  Archaeological  and  Topographical  Society  (G.  H.  Tom- 
linson,  Esq.,  Huddersfield). 

The  Wiltshire  Archaeological  Society  (The  Museum,  Devizes). 

The  Worcester  Diocesan  Architectural  and  Archaeological  Society  (J. 
Noake,  Esq.,  London  Road,  Worcester,  Secretary). 


0»tf  tro  mafcm  Mfe  m»wnrDim>fTOWinariuonbmtrw«ii<t ftiffiftrfcto 
man  trtnpmrrtoAratffrft  ffltmwnilf  ifrtuun  tmpfr  Cut  trwrRramrttftrfaint 
m  ditto  rnrfiR  muitf  almDonaaprzr  ipomano  p  poflt  autibautc  cm*  ma 
"  *  • 


PORTRAIT     BRASS     IN      BETTWS     CHURCH. 


MONT:  COLL:  VOL.  XXV  to  face  page  I. 


THE  PORTRAIT   BRASS  IN   BETTWS 
CHURCH. 

BY  YEN.  ARCHDEACON  THOMAS,  M.A.,  F.S.A. 


THE  Church  of  Bettws-Cedewain  possesses  a  memorial 
which  is  unique  as  far  as  this  county,  and  unique,  I 
believe,  as  far  as  this  diocese  is  concerned — a  Pre- 
Reformation  portrait  brass. 

Pre-Reformation  memorials  of  any  kind  are  very 
rare  in  Montgomeryshire,  and  may  be  counted  on  the 
fingers  of  the  two  hands.  They  are  : 

(a)  The  Romano-British  tombstone  of  "  RST  ECE  filia 
Paternini"  in  Llanerfyl  churchyard. 

(b)  The  Celtic  crossed  stone  in  Meifod  Church. 

(c)  Fragments  of  one  or  two  floriated  crosses  now 
in  the  vestry  of  Llanfihangel  Church. 

(d)  The  following  effigies  in  stone  :— 

1.  In  Llanfair  Caereinion  Church;  a  knight  in  armour, 

who  has  been  identified  by  Mr.  W.  Valentine 
Lloyd  as  "  David  ap  Gruffydd  Vychan",  Lord 
of  Rhiwhiriaeth,  Neuaddwen  and  Coedtalog 
(1884,  176). 

2.  In    Montgomery    Church  ;    two    in    the    south 

transept :  viz.,  one  a  Mortimer  and  the  other 
unidentified,  bub  apparently  a  Mortimer  also. 

3.  In  Pennant  Melangell  Church,  into  which  they 

have  been  removed  out  of  the  churchyard,  two 
effigies  of  members  of  the  family  of  Rhirid 
Flaidd ;  probably  lorwerth  (li  Hie  jacct  Et- 
wart"),  second  son  of  Madoc  ap  Rhirid  Flaidd 
and  Gwladys  his  wife. 
And  these,  I  think,  are  all. 

VOL.  XXV.  B 


2  THE  PORTRAIT  BRASS  IN  BETTWS  CHURCH. 

(e)  There   is    no    early  stained  glass   that    we    can 
recognise  as  of  a  portrait  character,   unless  it  be  per- 
haps a  kneeling  figure  in  the  east  window  of  Llanllugan 
Church,  which  may  represent  a  former  abbess  or  reli- 
gieuse  of  that  nunnery. 

(f)  Lastly,  there  is  this  brass  in  Bettws  Church,  which 
is  not  merely  the  only  one  of  so  early  a  period  in  the 
county,  but  it  bears  also  a  portrait,  with  an  inscription 
and    date   to  fix  its  appropriation  and   emphasise  its 
details. 

It  is  fixed  in  the  west  wall  of  the  church,  which  is 
also  the  eastern  wall  of  the  tower,  near  the  south  angle, 
at  a  height  of  about  eight  feet  from  the  floor.  Being 
in  a  dark  corner,  it  can  easily  escape  unnoticed,  and 
even  when  examined,  can  only  be  properly  made  out 
with  the  aid  of  a  rubbing.  Thomas  Pennant,  in  his 
Tours  in  Wales  (iii,  198),  wrote  in  1778  that  "he 
stopped  to  see  the  church  of  Bettws,  seated  in  a  bottom, 
dedicated  to  St.  Beuno,  and  formerly  belonging  to  the 
nunnery  of  Llanllugan  in  this  county/'  (This  is  an  error : 
it  was  to  the  Abbey  of  Strata  Marcella  it  had  belonged.) 
"  The  steeple  makes  a  figure  in  these  parts.  It  was 
built  by  one  of  its  ministers,  whose  figure,  in  priestly 
vestments,  carved  on  a  brass  plate,  is  fastened  to  one 
of  the  walls."  He  then  quotes  the  inscription,  not  as 
in  the  original  with  its  contractions,  but  as  reproduced 
in  full  upon  a  later  brass  plate  now  placed  above  it. 
And  he  adds,  that  "this  brass  was  originally  fixed  on  a 
great  slab  of  oak,  still  in  its  place  on  the  floor,  which 
also  is  covered  with  oak  :  so  scarce  was  stone,  so 
plentiful  wood !  The  great  chest  is  made  of  a  single 
trunk  of  oak." 

The  figure  is  2  ft.  6  ins.  in  height,  by  8  inches  in 
its  broadest  part,  and  is  interesting  for  its  details. 
The  vestments  consist  of  a  "  chesible"  with  an  orna- 
mental border  or  parure ;  beneath  it  the  "alb",  with 
the  parure,  or  ornamentation  in  front  of  the  skirt ;  the 
fringed  ends  of  the  "  stole"  are  seen  on  either  side ; 
the  "  maniple"  hangs  over  the  left  wrist,  and  the  "amice" 


THE  PORTRAIT  BRASS  IN  BETTWS  CHURCH.  3 

with  its  parure  is  shown  as  a  collar  round  the  neck. 
The  hair  is  cut  short  and  shows  the  coronal ;  the  face 
is  clean-shaven  ;  the  hands  are  joined  upon  the  breast 
and  clasp  a  chalice,  on  which  is  a  wafer  stamped  with 
a  cross  crosslet.  The  shoes  have  rounded  toes,  and 
are  sewn  up  the  front. 

The  inscription,  in  old  English  characters,  with 
frequent  contractions,  is  in  very  fair  preservation,  and 
has  much  to  tell  us  : 

ORATE    PRO    AIA    DNI    JOHIS    AP    MEREDYTH 
DE    POWYSIA    QVONDM    VICARII    ISTl'    ECCLIE    DE    BETTYS 

IN    GUI'   TEMPORE    EDIF1CATV    EST    CAMPANILE 

IBIDEM1    EMPTE    SVNT*    TRES    CAMPANE    ET    FACTA    SUNT 

IN    DICTA   ECCLIA    MVLTE    ALIA    BONA    OPERE 

IPO  VICARIO  P  POSSE  AUXILIANTE.  CUl'  AIA 
PROPICIET'  DEVS  AMEN  .  DAT'  IPO  VIVENTE 

ANNO    DNI    MILLIMO    CCCCCXXX10. 

"  Pray  for  the  soul  of  Sir  John  ap  Meredyth  of  Powys,  formerly 
Vicar  of  this  Church  of  Bettws  ;  in  \\hose  time  the  Tower  was  built ; 
and  at  different  periods,  three  bells  were  bought,  and  many  other 
good  works  done  in  the  said  Church.  The  Vicar  himself,  helping  to 
his  utmost.  God  be  merciful  to  his  soul.  Amen.  Dated  in  his 
lifetime  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  one  thousand  five  hundred  and 
thirty-one." 

We  have  here  a  distinct  record  of  an  important 
restoration  of  the  church  immediately  before  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  great  Reformation  movement.  Whether 
there  was  any  tower  earlier  than  this  we  cannot  say ; 
probably  not,  as  the  term  used  is  "  edificatum",  not 
"  re-edificatum".  Whatever  supplied  its  place,  we  may 
be  pretty  sure  was  made  of  that  fine  and  abundant 
Montgomeryshire  oak  which  so  amazed  Pennant  by  its 
contrast  with  that  of  his  own  sea-dwarfed  timber  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Dee.  The  three  bells  do  not  appear 
to  have  occupied  their  place  more  than  a  hundred 
years.  As,  of  the  present  three,  two  are  dated  1630 
and  a  third  was  recast  in  1830 — a  coincidence  of  dates 
worth  noting. 

The  expression  ''quondam  Vicarii",  formerly  Vicar, 

1  I-identidem. 

B  2 


4  THE  PORTRAIT  BRASS  IN  BETTWS  CHURCH. 

would  naturally  imply  that  he  was  no  longer  such  ;  and 
the  prayer  for  mercy  on  his  soul — "cujus  animse  pro- 
picietur  Deus" — would  ordinarily  indicate  that  he  was 
dead  ;  but  the  statement  that  it  was  set  up  during  his 
lifetime  (ipso  vivente)  leads  me  to  conclude  that  he 
erected  it  at,  and  to  commemorate,  the  restoration,  but 
so  as  to  serve  as  his  epitaph  and  memorial  for  after- 
time. 

And  now  the  question  arises,  Who  was  he  ?  Neither 
"  John"  nor  "  Meredith"  were  very  distinctive  names 
even  at  that  period ;  and  Powys  is  a  term  of  wide 
expansion,  even  if  we  do  not  stretch  beyond  the  limits 
of  our  own  Collections.  But  we  may  find  some  little 
help  in  the  Norwich  Taxation  of  A.D.  1253,  which 
enumerates  among  the  deaneries  of  this  diocese 
"  Decanatus  de  Powys'.  The  name  had  dropt  out  of 
use  before  the  Taxation  of  A.D.  1291  ;  but  its  parishes 
occur  there  under  the  smaller  divisions  of  Cedewain 
and  Pole,  and  Caereinion  and  Mechain.  It  is  within 
this  area,  therefore,  that  I  think  we  ought  to  look  for 
the  identification  of  the  church  restorer.  I  have  looked 
through  the  reprint  of  Lewis  Dwnn's  Pedigrees  of 
Montgomeryshire  Families,  but  without  success.  The 
nearest  approach  seems  to  be  under  the  heading 
"  Mynavon,  Dwyryw",  where  the  names  occur  more 
than  once  in  connection,  as  if  it  were  a  family  name. 
But  before  we  can  satisfactorily  identify  our  subject 
we  must  have  further  evidence  to  guide  us  ;  and  I  hope 
it  may  not  be  long  in  forthcoming,  now  that  attention 
has  been  drawn  to  it.  As  members  of  the  Powys-land 
Club,  we  ought  to  make  an  effort,  and  a  successful  one, 
to  complete  the  story  of  our  very  interesting  memorial 
brass. 


MEIFOD    PARISH    NOTES. 

BY  VBN.  ARCHDEACON    THOMAS. 


Specimen  of  Notes  kept  as  mentioned  in  his  speech  at  Annual  Meeting 
of  Club  on  \lth  Oct.  1889  (see  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxiii,  p.  xviii). 

Extract  from  Speech. — "  In  my  own  case  at  Meifod 
I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  keeping  a  large  folio  book 
with  pages,  each  under  its  own  heading,  for  the  dif- 
ferent houses  in  the  parish,  the  noted  people  connected 
with  it,  its  many  earthworks  and  ecclesiastical  memo- 
randa, and  so  on  ;  and  dotting  down  whatever  bits  of 
information  I  might  come  across,  under  its  proper  head. 
It  is  extraordinary  what  an  amount  of  material  accu- 
mulates in  the  course  of  four  or  five  years,  and  it 
seems  never  to  end." 


Page  63. 

Terriers,  1774,  )  Moduses  on  "  Cae  y  Walk"  between  Pentrego  and  the 

and  1779.     \    church  on  the  meadow  adjoining  it  westwards,  and  two 

other  adjoining  meadows ;  and   on   "  Y  Skogen"  in  Dyffryn  T. 

JQ  only  of  Tithes  on  Freeth,  and  is  paid  to  Vicar  only. 

i  tithe  corn  and  hay  of  Penylan,  a  part  and  parcel  of  the 
Township  of  Broniarth. 

"  There  is  a  pretended  claim  of  a  modus  of  a  Red  Rose  and  two 
Peppercorns  in  lieu  of  the  Tithe-hay  out  of  the  tenement  or 
farm  of  Ystymcolwyn,  now  in  the  holding  of  Thomas  Downes, 
that  hath  been  yearly  offered  to  the  Vicar  and  Impropriator  of 
the  Parish  :  but  not  upon  any  certain  day  ;  neither  have  we, 
they,  or  any  of  us  allowed  it  as  such ;  or  have  we  ever  heard  or 
believe  that  the  predecessors  or  owners  of  the  said  tithe  ever 
acknowledged  it  or  allowed  it  as  a  modus,  or  hath  it  been  taken 
notice  of  or  inserted  in  any  Terrier  of  this  parish." 

"  Ceiniog  y  llys":  Arfer  Ei  gasglu  gan  y  clochydd  ar  Ddydd  Llun  y 
Pasg.  (?  Court  Leet). 

"  Treth  y  plant  gordderch"    Thomas  Bebb  remembers  collecting  it  to 
send  to  Llanelwy.     "  Else  the  children  had  died  excommunicate, 


6  MEIFOD    PARISH    NOTES. 

and  been  refused  Christian  burial."     What  in  the  world  could 
this  have  been  1     (Ex  inform.  T.  B.) 

Coal  searched  for  near  Alltfawr,  and  at  some  depth  a  dark,  bitumi- 
nous shale  found.  Sir  Koderick  Murchison  having  told  the 
workers  it  was  impossible  to  find  coal,  the  work  was  given  up, 
and  the  tools  left  in  the  pit.  (Ex  inform,  C.  W.  YV.  W.) 

Poor-Home  for  the  Parish,  1758. 

Attitude  towards  it.  Resolutions  of  Vestry,  March  5.  Agreed 
at  the  Vestry  : 

"  That  all  these  present,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed, 
will  act  uprightly,  unanimously,  and  consistently  with  the 
original  powers  granted  for  erecting  a  Workhouse  against  all 
opposers. 

( '  That  they  are  resolved  not  to  look  upon  any  advantage  in 
hand  that  may  be  attended  hereafter  with  bad  consequences. 

"  That  they  will  not  by  any  means  agree,  grant,  or  order  relief 
to  any  person  whatever  who  will  not  go  to  the  said  house,  or 
accept  \vhat  may  be  allowed  or  given  out  of  the  Legacies  or 
Bequests  of  the  parish  for  staying  out. 

u  That  if  any  children  of  the  poor  shall  be  sickly,  distempered, 
or  weak  of  body,  unlikely  to  be  useful  or  proper  for  labouring 
and  farmer's  work,  that  the  same  shall  be  put  to  such  trades 
as  shall  best  befitt  them  at  the  expense  of  the  Parish. 

"  That  a  Vestry  shall  be  held  every  fortnight  on  English  Sun- 
days in  the  evening,  to  consult  and  promote  the  business  of 
the  Parish  untill  the  said  house  is  established,"  etc. 

Specific  grants,  and  signatures  of  those  present. 

1824.  Agreement  to  allow  Mr.  Eichard  Bennion  101.  p.  a.  for  attend- 
ing to  the  Poor.  (Vestry  Mem.) 

1560.  "  2nd  Eliz.  The  D.  and  Chapter  of  Ch.  Ch.  granted  a  lease  of 
the  Rectories  of  Welshpool,  Guilsfield,  and  Meifod,  to  Humphrey 
Lloyd  for  three  score  years  at  the  rent  of  three  score  and  five 
pounds  eight  shillings  and  eightpence.  Humphrey  Lloyd  be- 
queathed them  to  Barbara  his  wife,  who  about  the  year  last 
past  married  William  Williams  (Deposition  in  Record  Office, 
Ex  inform.  R.  E.  Jones,  Cefn  Bryntalch).  Humphrey  Lloyd 
was  the  Historian.  Barbara,  his  wife,  was  daughter  of  George, 
only  son  of  George  Lord  Lumley,  and  her  second  husband  was 
the  grandfather  of  Lumley  Williams,  who  married  the  daughter 
and  heiress  of  Ystum  Colwyn." 


Page  141  PENTREGO. 

1620  Will'mus  ap  Caddr.  et  Anna  Phillips,  marit. 

1623  Joysa  Phillips,  sepulta. 

Gwallter  Mechain  says  first  Proprietor  was  a  Phillips. 


MEIFOD    PARISH    NOTES.  7 

1648  Randolph  Davies,  Vicar,  marrd.  Mary,  da.  of  Rev.  John  Wil- 
liams. Her  sister,  a  Quaker,  lived  at  Pentrego. 

1685  Terrier  speaks  of  the  Tithe  Meadows  of  the  late  Ambrose 
Phillips,  Esq.,  w'h  correspond  to  Cae  Walk,  bet'n  Pentrego  and 
the  Village.  The  heiress  of  Phillips  m'd  John  Lloyd  of  Eynant 
(Meyrick  Lloyd  rated  1744).  Their  heiress  rn'd  William  Hum- 
phreys of  Llwyn.  Humphreys  sold  it  to  Rt.  Hon.  C.  W.  W. 
Wynn,  M.P. 

Mont.  Coll.  state  that  it  formerly  belonged  to  Trevor  family  (?). 
Authority  ? 

1674  Ambrose  Phillips.     DyfFn  T.  in  Poor  Extracts. 

1675  Robert,  son  of  Ambrose  Phillips.     Exchanges  land  with  John 
Jones  of  Gilyog,  q.  v. 

(N.B. — Benefactions  to  Shrewsbury  School,  1712,  include 
Mr.  Ambrose  Phillips,  Fellow  of  St.  John's,  Camb.,  and  late 
scholar,  author  of  vol.  of  Poems,  pub.  1749.  Brother  of  Robert 
P.,  Mayor  in  1701.  Sons  of  Ambrose  Phillips,  draper.) 

1757-8  "  William  Humphreys,  Esq.,  of  Llwyn,  and  Ann,  daughter  of 
John  Lloyd,  Ksq.,  m'd  at  the  Parish  Ch.  10th  Jan."  (Heiress  of 
Pentrego,  Alltfawr,  and  Gil). 

1736-7  "John  Lloyd  of  Eynant,  Esq.,  and  Elizabeth  Phillips  of 
Pentrego  were  married  ye  seventh  day  of  January,  1726." 

1737-8  "Elizabeth  and  Catherine,  daughters  of  John  Lloyd,  Esq  ,  of 
Eyuant,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  was  born  5th  Feb.  and  baptised 
20th  Feb."  1738  Catherine  was  buried  4th  May.  1737 
Elizabeth,  4th  May. 

1739  "Anne,  da.  of  John  Lloyd  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  was  bapt'd 
Sept.  4th." 

1740  "Elizabeth,  ye  wife  of  John   Lloyd    of  Pentrego,   Esq.,   was 
buried  the  3rd  day  of  July." 

Eynant  in  Llanwddyn  Ped.  of  Wynn  :  see  Mont.  Coll.,  1874, 
106.  Mary  Lloyd,  coheiress  of  Rhys  Wynn— Thomas  Lloyd  of 
Domgae. 

1757  "  The  founder  of  the  Humphreys  family  was  one  John  Hum- 
phreys, a  solicitor,  who  settled  at  Llanfyllin  c.  1710.  Many 
fine  farms  in  Meifod,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  this  county, 
formed  part  of  the  estate,  the  rental  of  which  at  one  time  was 
12,000/.  a  year."  (Hist.  Llanfyllin,  M.  C.,  1870,  p.  67.) 

The  Humphreys  of  Llwyn  were  of  Mardy  in  Gwyddelwern. 
Roger  Humphreys  of  Llanfyllin,  Attorney-at-law,  was  buried  in 
Gwyddelwern  in  1773.  He  was  a  brother  of  Wm.  Humphreys,  Vr. 
of  Corwen,  1737-47. 

The  last  of  the  family  died  at  the  Red  (now  the  White) 
House  in  the  village,  having  been  supported  by  the  charity  of 


8  MEIFOD    PARISH    NOTES. 

friends  and  relations,  and  is  buried  in  the  Ch.  yard,  at  the  E. 
end  of  the  church. 

1776  Mr.  Meyrick  Lloyd,  Gent,,  of  Dyfryn,  bur,  May  25. 
1787  John  Lloyd,  late  of  Pentrego,  Gent,,  bur.  Aug.  7. 


1736-7.    |  |                  | 

Elizabeth  Phillips=j=John  Lloyd  of  Eynant.  Meyrick     John  Lloyd, 

| Lloyd,            ob.  s.  p. 

]~                 ~~f~~              '  •  |      1757,  06,  s.  p.            1787. 

Elizabeth,       Catherine,        Anne,  =sWm.  Hum-  1776. 
b.  and  d.          b.  1737.         b.  1739,       phreys  of 
1737.               d.  1738.         heiress.         Llwyn, 


Present  house  only  part  of  the  old  one :  a  balustrade  around  it 
within  memory.  Mr.  C.  W.  Wynn  has  seen  a  view  of  the  house  on 
an  old  map  at  Llangedwyn  ;  not  there  now, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH   OF   KERRY. 

BY   E.    ROWLEY-MORRIS. 
(Continued  from  Vol.  xxiv,  p.  394.) 

ROGER  DE  MORTIMER  IV. 

BY  Phillippa,  daughter  of  William  de  Montacute,  Earl 
of  Salisbury,  he  had  issue  two  sons — 

1.  Roger,  who  died  in  his  lifetime;  and 

2.  Edmund,  who  succeeded  him. 

He  also  had  two  daughters — 

1.  Margaret,  who  married  Robert  de  Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford. 

2.  Margery,  who  married  John,  Lord  Audeley. 

Phillippa  survived  him,  and  had  for  her  dowry,  among 
other  places,  the  castle,  town,  and  lordship  of  Mont- 
gomery, with  the  new  town  and  cantred  of  Kedewen 
and  the  comot  of  Kerry. 

EDMUND  DE  MORTEMER  III,  born  Candlemas  Eve, 
1351,  was  under  age,  as  has  been  shown  above,  at  his 
father's  death,  yet  at  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was 
employed  to  negotiate  with  the  Commissioners  of  the 
King  of  France  touching  a  peace  between  the  two 
realms.  Subsequently  he  was  also  despatched  into 
Scotland  on  a  like  mission.  The  King  appointed  him 
one  of  the  Privy  Council.  He  married  Phillippa, 
daughter  and  heir  of  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence, 
third  son  of  King  Edward  III,  making  proof  of  her 
age,  he  had  livery  of  the  lands  of  her  inheritance. 
In  the  same  year  (1369-70)  he  accompanied  the 
King  in  his  expedition  to  France,  as  also  he  did  three 
years  later,  being  at  the  time  in  ward  to  William, 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  Hichard,  Earl  of  Arundel. 
He  had  livery  of  his  own  lands  before  he  attained  his 


10  HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

full  age;  through  this  marriage,  Kerry  and  Kedewen 
at  a  later  period  reverted  to  the  Crown.  His  great- 
grandson,  Richard,  Duke  of  York,  who  was  slain  at 
Wakefield  in  1460,  granted  charters  of  liberties  to 
Kerry  and  Kedewen. 

He,  Edmund  de  Mortemer  above,  died  at  Cork,  in 
Ireland,  on  Friday,  the  Feast  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist, 
in  Christmas,  1381,  in  the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his 
age.  By  his  own  special  request  his  body  was  deposited 
in  a  certain  cathedral  there  till  the  flesh  should  be 
consumed,  and  then  his  bones  to  be  translated  to  Wig- 
more  and  buried  with  the  Lady  Phillippa  his  wife, 
which  was  done. 

By  Lady  Phillippa  he  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters — 

1.  Roger,  his  son  and  heir. 

2.  Sir  Edmund  Morfcirner,  Knight. 

3.  John,  executed  1402. 

1.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Henry  Percy  ("  Hotspur")  ;    and 

2.  Phillippa,  who  was   twice  married,  first  to  the  Earl    of 
Pembroke,  secondly  to  Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel. 

In  his  Inquisition  post  mortem  (No.  43,  anno  5  Ric. 

11  (1381-2),  among   his    possessions   are   enumerated 
the  cantred  of  Dolforwyn ;  Montgomery  and  Chirbury, 
but  not  Kerry,  which  was  held  in  dower  by  his  lady, 
Phillippa,  and  in  1384  it  appears  to  have  been  in  the 
King's  hands,  as  well  as  Montgomery  and  Kedewen. 
In  Ministers   Accounts  (No.   4,   7-8    Richard    II)  is  a 
statement  of  the   arrears  of   the  accounts  in  the  de- 
mesnes of  Kerry,  Kedewen,  and  Montgomery.     Both 
Edmund  de  Mortimer  and  his  lady,  Phillippa,  made 
wills,  the   former  dated   at  Denbigh  in  Wales  ;  they 
are  preserved    at  Lambeth,1  and    have  been  printed. 
There  is  no  reference  to  lands  in  either. 

ROGER  MORTIMER  V,  was  born  at  Usk,  and  was  eleven 
years    of    age    at    his    father's    death.      His    ward- 
ship   was    sold    by    the    King    to    Richard,    Earl    of 
Arundel,    on    purpose    that     he    would    marry    that 
1  Register  Courtenay,  fos.  188-89. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PAFvISH    OF    KERRY.  11 

nobleman's  daughter ;  but  subsequently  the  wardship 
was  transferred  to  Thomas  Holland,  Earl  of  Kent,  to 
the  intent  that  he  should  marry  Alianore  his  daughter, 
whicli  he  did. 

He  was  made  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  and  in  the 
Parliament  held  anno  9  Richard  II,  by  reason  of  his 
descent  from  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  was  declared 
heir-apparent  to  the  Crown  of  England. 

In  22  Richard  II,  1398,  he  was  killed  in  Ireland  on 
the  Feast  of  St.  Margaret  the  Virgin.  His  body  was 
brought  to  Wigmore.  By  his  wife  Alianore  he  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters — 

1.  Edmund,  son  and  heir,  six  years  old  at  his  father's  death. 

2.  Roger. 

1.  Anne. 

2.  Alianore. 

His  widow  Alianore  subsequently  married  Edward 
de  Charleton,  Lord  Powys,  and  by  him  had  two 
daughters,  Joan  and  Joice,  who  were  his  co-heirs. 

There  are  two  effigies1  in  Montgomery  Church 
ascribed  to  members  of  the  Mortimer  family.  In 
volume  vi  of  these  Transactions,  pp.  435-39,  these 
effigies  are  described,  and  one  of  them  illustrated. 

During  the  operation  connected  with  the  restoration 
of  Welshpool  Church,  a  handsome  tile  with  the 
Mortimer  arms  upon  it  was,  as  before  mentioned,  dis- 
covered, and  is  now  deposited  in  the  Powys-land 
Museum,  with  other  tiles  found  at  the  same  time. 

Lady  Alianore  apparently  did  not  long  remain  a 
widow,  for  in  1403  she  "represented  to  the  King  the 
charge  she  was  at  in  the  maintenance  of  her  two 

1  In  a  paragraph  in  the  Art  Journal  for  1874  (p.  30),  which  we 
believe  was  written  by  the  late  Rev.  C.  Boutell,  it  is  stated  that  this 
effigy  is  the  only  effigy  of  a  Mortimer  of  the  house  of  the  Earl  of  March 
known  to  be  in  existence.  He  states,  "  It  was  executed  about  the  year 
1390.  The  companion  effigy  has  no  other  distinguishing  heraldic  ac 
cessory  than  the  Yorkist  'Collar  of  Suns  and  Roses';  but  it  is  remark- 
able as  a  work  of  the  sculptor's  art,  and  may  be  assigned  to  about 
A.D.  1465." 


12  HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

daughters  by  her  first  husband,  Roger  Mortimer,  Earl 
of  March,  and  likewise  the  devastation  of  all  her  dowry 
in  Wales  and  the  Marches  (by  Owen  Glyndwr),  and  also 
the  spoil  upon  her  then  husband's  land  by  the  Welsh, 
and  obtained  the  grant  of  all  annuities,  forfeitures, 
and  reversions  of  annuities  which  the  said  Earl  her 
first  husband  had  assigned  to  several  persons  of  the 
value  of  £150  a  year."1  She  did  not  survive  long  to 
enjoy  this  grant,  for  she  died  on  the  23rd  of  December 
1410,  and  all  the  lands  she  had  held  in  dower  devolved 
to  her  son — 

EDMUND  MORTIMER,  last  Earl  of  March.  He  was 
born  at  the  New  Forest,  on  the  8  Ides  of  November, 
15  Richard  II,  so  he  was  but  six  years  old  at  his 
father's  death.  He  was  delivered  by  King  Henry  IV  in 
ward  to  his  son  Henry,  Prince  of  Wales,  out  of  whose 
custody  he  was  stolen  away  by  Lady  Despencer  ;  but 
being  found  out  again  in  Chiltham  Woods,  he  was 
afterwards  kept  under  stricter  ward.  He  was  the 
right  heir  to  the  Crown  of  England  by  just  descent 
from  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence,  third  son  of  Edward 
III.  He  was  never  married,  and  died  in  1424. 

His  connection  with  Kerry  is  illustrated  by  a 
charter  "  dated  June  1,  3  Hen.  V  (1416,  just  after  he 
had  attained  his  majority).  It  was  a  reward  for  faith- 
ful services  to  Meredith  ap  Adda  Moel,  who  was  his 
steward  of  his  lordships  of  Kerry,  Kedewen,  Arwystli, 
and  Cyfiliog,  and  also  High  Constable  of  Montgomery 
Castle.  He,  moreover,  had  family  claims  upon  Sir 
Edmund,  having  married  a  grand-daughter  of  Sir 
Roger  de  Mortimer."2 

The  stewardship  he  acquired  in  right  of  his  wife 
Elena,  who  was  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Higyn  ap 
Llewelyn  ap  Griffith  ap  Higyn,  who  held  that  office. 
(See  Lewys  Dwnn's  Visitations,  vol.  i,  p.  316.) 

The  following  sketch -pedigree  shows  the  connection. 

1  Feudal  Barons  of  Poivt/s,  p.  29. 

2  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  x,  p.  59. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  13 

Sir  Roger  Mortimer,  Lord  of  Wigmore.=j= 


Eleanor.  =f  Higyn  ap  Llewelyn  ap  Griffith  ap  Higyn. 


Jane.=j=  \Teredydd  ap  Adda  Moel  (1416). 


Jane.=f  Howell  ap  David. 
Janet.=f=Meredydd  ap  Rhys. 

John  ap  Meredith 
[Pryce  of  Glanmeheli]. 

The  charter  has  been  printed  at  length  in  volume  x, 
p.  60,  but  the  following  is  the  tenor  of  it : 

Edmund,  Earl  of  March  and  last  Lord  of  Wigmore  and  Clare,  for  good 
and  faithful  services  rendered  to  him  and  his  ancestors  by  his  Steward, 
Meredith  ap  Adda  Moel  and  his  ancestors,  in  the  Marches  of  Wales,  con- 
ceded to  the  said  Meredith  the  escheats  and  forfeitures  then  in  hand  in  his 
Lordship  of  Kedewen  and  in  the  vills  of  Gwenrhiw  and  Coedtref  in  Kerry, 
to  have  and  to  hold  the  same  to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  for  ever,  with 
the  liberties,  franchises,  and  customs,  subject  to  the  rents  and  services 
from  the  same  due  and  as  of  right  accustomed. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  identify  Elenor,  the 
daughter  of  Sir  Roger  de  Mortimer  of  Wigmore, 
mother  of  the  wife  of  Meredydd  ap  Adda  Moel ;  the 
legitimate  daughters  of  Roger  de  Mortimer,  who  died 
1360,  have  been  accounted  for  supra,  as  also  the 
daughters  of  his  son  Edmund,  who  died  1382.  His 
son,  the  Roger  de  Mortimer  who  died  1399,  had  but 
one  legitimate  daughter,  Anne,  who  married  Richard, 
Earl  of  Cambridge,  second  son  of  Edmund  Langley, 
Duke  of  York. 

In  1402,  Dugdale  states  that  Edmund  above,  then 
only  ten  years  old,  headed  the  Herefordshire  men 
against  Glyndwr,  was  defeated,  and  taken  prisoner ; 
but  it  is  probable  that  it  was  his  uncle  Edmund  who 
led  the  forces,  and  was  defeated  near  Knightori,  taken 
prisoner,  and,  it  is  said,  eventually  married  a  daughter 
of  Glynd wr's. 

Edmund,  last  Earl  of  March,  married  Anne,  daughter 


14  HISTORY    OF    THE    1'ARISH    OF    KERRY. 

of  Edmund,  Earl  of  Stafford,  and  died  on  the  19th 
of  January  1424-5,  then  only  twenty-four  years  old  ; 
with  him  in  the  male  line  ended  the  suzerainty  over 
Kerry  of  the  Mortimers,  though,  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  time,  from  the  date  of  the  first  concession  of  it, 
the  lordship  was  chiefly  held  as  dower  by  the  wives  of 
the  Mortimers. 

The   following    is    a  translation   of   the   Inquisition 
taken  after  his  death. 

Chancery  Inquisition  Post  Mortem,  3  Hen.  VI,  part  2,  No.  32.  25  Dec., 
A.D.  1425.  M.  18. 

Inquisition  taken  at  Bruggenorth,  before  John  Boterell,  Eecheator  of 
the  lord  the  king  in  the  County  of  Salop  and  the  Marches  of  Wales  to  the 
same  County  adjacent,  on  the  Monday  next  before  the  Feast  of  the 
Translation  of  St.  Thomas  the  Martyr,  in  the  3rd  year  of  the  reign  of  King 
Henry  the  sixth,  after  the  conquest,  by  virtue  of  a  writ  of  the  said  lord  the 
king,  to  the  same  Escheator  directed  and  sewn  on  to  this  inquisition,  by 
the  oath  of  John  Esthepe,  etc.,  jurors.  Who  say  upon  their  oath  that 
Edmund,  late  Earl  of  March,  in  the  said  writ  named,  held  on  the  day  on 
which  he  died  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  the  lord  the  king  in  chief,  by 
knight  service,  the  lordship,  manor,  and  land  of  Dynbygh,  etc. 

Also  the  same  jurors  say  that  the  aforesaid  Edmund,  late  Earl  of 
March,  held  on  the  day  on  which  he  died,  in  his  demesne  as  of  ft  e  of  the 
lord  the  king  in  chief,  by  knight  service,  the  castle  of  Doluogren  and  the 
lordship  of  Kedewynk,  with  their  appurtenances,  in  the  Marches  of  Wales  to 
the  said  County  adjacent.  Which  said  castle  is  totally  destroyed  and  is 
worth  nothing  by  the  year.  Also  there  is  there  a  certain  annual  rent  of 
xliij/z.  xiijs.  iiijd.  for  the  works  of  divers  tenants  by  custom  there.  To  be 
paid  at  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  only.  Also  there  is  there  of  divers  cus- 
toms of  husbandry  xviij/z.  xvij.«.  xjc?.  farthing,  and  the  fourth  part  of  a 
farthing.  To  be  paid  annually  at  the  Feasts  of  the  Nativity  of  the  Lord, 
the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary,  and  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  equally.  Also  there  is  there  of  the  farm  of  eleven  watermills  xxiijft. 
by  the  year,  to  be  paid  annually  at  the  Feasts  of  St.  Ciricus  and  St.  Matthew 
equally.  Also  there  is  there  of  the  farm  of  the  bailiwicks  xij/i.  xvjs.  viijd. 
annually  ;  to  be  paid  at  the  same  Feasts  equally. 

Also  there  are  there  clxxix  quarters  and  a  half  ij  bushels  and  a  half .... 
of  corn  of  rent  at  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  annually,  the  worth  of  a  quarter 
5*.  ixd.  Sum.  xlvij/i.  xviijs.  \ijd. 

Also  there  are  there  xxxj  quarters  ij  bushels  iij  a  half  to  be  paid 
at  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  annually,  the  worth  of  a 
quarter  ijs.  Sum.  xij/i. 

Also  there  are  there  CCCvijxxl  hens  the  third  part  and  the  eight  part  of 
a  hen  of  rent,  to  be  paid  annually  at  Christmas,  the  worth  of  a  head  ]d. 
Sum.  xxxj*.  and  perquisites  of  the  Court  of  the  lord  there  are  worih 
by  the  year  Iviijfe'.  iiijV.  vjd 

Also  there  are  there  of  the  farms  of  the  forest  xiiij/i.  iijs.  iiijd.,  to  be  paid 
annually  at  the  Feasts  of  Ciricus  and  Mathew  equally. 

Also  there  are  there  pastures Ugheldros,  Borgh  Ynele,  Dolforyn, 

1  =370. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.       15 

Frith  Vachan,  with  the  pasture  in  Fhid  Yerecoid,  which  are  worth  by  the 
year  vijs.  vjc/.,  to  be  paid  annually  at  the  aforesaid  Feasts  of  Ciricus  and 
Mathew  equally. 

Also  the  said  jurors  say  that  the  aforesaid  Edmund,  the  late  Earl,  in  the 
said  writ  named,  held  on  the  day  on  which  he  died  in  his  demesne  as  of 
fee  of  the  lord  the  king  in  chief,  by  knight  service,  the  lordship  of  Kerry, 
with  its  appurtenances,  in  the  Marches  of  Wales,  to  the  said  County 
adjacent. 

And  there  is  there  of  rent  of  assize  xvjZ*.  vijs.  iiijcZ.,  to  be  paid  annually 
at  the  terms  of  Christmas,  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  arid  St. 
Peter  ad  Vincula. 

Also  there  are  there  of  the  farm  of  lands  and  meadows  to  be  paid 
annually  at  the  aforesaid  Feasts  of  Ciricus  and  Mathew  equally  Ixxiij.s'. 
iiijd. 

Also  there  is  there  for  provision  of  the  steward's  horses,  called  Keyr- 
margh,  by  the  year  xiijs.  iiijt/.,  to  be  paid  at  the  same  Feasts. 

Also  there  is  there  of  the  farm  of  the  mill  of  Keuenperueth,  three  parts 
of  the  mill  of  Wenrew,  and  the  mill  of  Moghteref,  ixli.  vjs.  viijd.  ob.,  the 
farm  of  the  offices  of  the  forest  with  the  agistment  of  the  same  xvft.  xs.,  to 
be  paid  annually  at  the  same  Feasts. 

Also  the  pleas  and  perquisites  of  the  Court  of  the  whole  lordship  afore- 
said are  worth  by  the  year  xxvft.  xvijs. 

And  the  said  jurors  say  that  the  aforesaid  Edmund,  late  Earl  of  March, 
on  the  6th  day  of  the  month  of  June,  in  the  4th  year  of  the  reign  of  King 
Henry  the  fifth,  took  to  wife  Anne,  daughter  of  Edmund,  late  Earl  of 
Stafford,  yet  living. 

And  the  said  jurors  say  that  the  aforesaid  Edmund,  late  Earl  of  March, 
died  on  the  Feast  of  St.  Wulfstan  last  past,  and  that  Richard,  Duke  of 
York,  is  kinsman  and  next  heir  of  the  aforesaid  Edmund,  late  Earl  of 
March,  namely,  son  of  Anne,  sister  of  the  aforesaid  late  Earl  of  March, 
and  he  is  of  the  age  of  14  years  and  more.1 

The  jurors  found  that  he  held  Kerry  as  of  fee  of  the 
lord  the  king  in  chief  by  knight  service,  and  that  his 
receipts  from  the  same  lordship  then  were  : 

A  Rent  of  A?size         -  -  -      £16     7     4 

The  farm  of  lands  and  meadows  3  13     4 

A  rent  called  Keyrmargh  -  -  0  13     4 

The  Mill  of  Keuenpe'ueth2  ^| 

Three  parts  of  the  mill  of  Wenreu    V  968 

The  mill  of  Moghteref 

The   farm    of    the    Offices   of    the 

Forest  with  the  agistment  of  the 

same         -  15  10     0 

The  Pleas  and  Perquisites  of    the 

Court      -  -  -  25  17     0 


1  This  document  is  almost  undecipherable,  and   it  is  more  than 
probable  some  of  the  figures  have  been  incorrectly  rendered. 

2  Cefnperfa  Mill,  near  the  Forest ;  probably  the  reason  why  the 
lord  held   only  three-fourths  of  Gwenrhiw   was,  that  the  Abbot   of 
Cwmhir,  for  his  grange  and  chapel  at  Gwernygoe,  claimed  the  other 
fourth. 


16  HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

The  actual  receipts,  acknowledged  by  and  passed  in 
the  usual  way,  of  the  then  Ringild1  levan  Goch,  are 
set  out  in  detail  in  the  following  account,  which  was 
taken  for  half-a-year  and  seventy-one  days  only,  so  as 
to  end  at  Michaelmas.  As  the  heir  of  the  last  Earl  of 
March  was  a  minor,  the  lordship  was  at  this  period  in 
the  hands  of  the  King. 

Q.  R.  Ministers'  Accounts. 
MONTGOMERY,  KERRY,  AND  KEDEWYNO. 

Accounts  of  divers  ministers  of  the  lordship  aforesaid  from  the  19th  day 
of  January  in  the  3rd  year  of  the  reign  of  king  Henry  the  sixth  [A.D. 
142|]  after  the  conquest,  on  which  day  Edmund,  late  Earl  of  March  and 
Ulster,  closed  his  last  day,  and  the  said  lordship,  as  well  by  the  death  of  the 
said  late  Earl  as  by  reason  of  the  minority  of  the  heir  of  the  same  [Earl], 
was  taken  into  the  hand  of  the  said  king  until  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael 
next  following,  To  wit,  for  half  a  year  and  71  days. 

KERRY  RINGILDRE. — Account  of  Jevan  Goz,  Ringildre  there  for  the 
time  aforesaid. 
Arrears  —None. 

Rents  of  Assize. — Of  1x5.  of  rent  of  assize  there,  called  Kylth  Goil,  at 
the  term  of  Christmas.  Nothing,  because  the  term  of  payment  did  not 
fall  within  the  time  of  the  account.  But  he  answers  for  xvs.  for  part  of 
xxx,1?.  of  rent  there  called  Northth'ane  at  the  terms  of  Christmas  and  St. 
John  the  Baptist,  and  not  more,  because  the  term  of  Christmas  did  not 
fall  within  the  time  of  the  account. 

And  for  xiijs.  iiij^/.  of  rent  issuing  from  cheese  at  the  term  of  St.  Peter 
ad  Vincula. 

And  for  x]li.  ijs.  of  rent  of  assize  there  at  the  term  of  St.  Michael. 
And  for  ijs.  of  increase  of  the  rent  of  Jevan  ap  Gwyn  for  the  bond  land, 
formerly  LLewellin  Duy's,  so  demised  to  the  said  Jevan  beyond  the  ancient 
rent  by  service  by  the  year  at  equal  terms.  Sum.  xij/i.  x;j*.  iiij</. 

Farms.— And  for  Ixiij.s.  iiijrf.  of  the  farm  of  the  meadows  so  demised  this 
year  at  the  term  of  St.  Mathew,  at  the  will  of  the  lord.  Whereof  iijs.  iiijd. 
[is]  of  the  farm  of  the  meadows  of  Kevenperveth  so  demised  this  year. 

And  for  xs.  of  the  farm  of  land  called  Mardref  land,  demised  at  the  will 
of  the  lord  to  divers  bond  tenants;  and  they  used  to  be  let  to  farm  for 
xvijs. 

And  for  xxvjs.  viijc?.  for  the  farm  of  the  demesne  lands  of  the  Bendour 
Vannour  so  demised  this  vear  at  the  term  of  St.  Michael. 


1  A  name  of  the  warning  officer  of  a  county  (Anct.  Laws  of  Wales, 
pp.  656-657).  "  Three  names  applied  to  the  warning  officer  of  a 
country — awful  rumour,  cry  of  country,  and  Ringyll ;  and  road  and 
no  road  are  free  to  such  a  one,  by  day  and  by  night,  wherever  he 
may  have  to  go  officially,  whilst  he  shall  have  in  his  hand  his  horn 
bearing  the  mark  of  the  lord  of  the  territory."  (Ibid.)  A  kind  of 
bailiff  or  sergeant.  (Cowell,  Law  Dictionary.) 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  17 

And  for  xiijs.  iiijri  for  providing  the  steward's  horses,  called  Kermargh, 
so  demised  this  year  at  the  term  of  St.  Mathew  the  Apostle. 

And  for  xx.<?.  ix^/.1  of  the  farm  of  the  whole  mill  of  Kevenperveth,  three 
parts  of  one  mill  of  Wenrew,  and  one  mill  of  Moughedrefe,  with  all  the 
profits  issuing  from  the  waste  land  of  the  commote  of  Kerry  so  demised  at 
three  terms  of  the  year ;  nevertheless  it  used  to  be  let  to  farm  for  xviijW. 

Nor  [does  he  answer]  for  the  farm  of  the  land  of  Strud'.  Nothing,  for 
the  default  of  a  buyer.  Sum.  xvZz. 

Farm  of  the  Bailiwicks. — And  for  Is.  for  the  farm  of  the  office  of  liingildre 
there,  so  demised  to  the  said  accountant ;  nevertheless  it  used  to  be  demised 
by  the  year  for  xxjft. 

For  xxxs.2  for  the  farm  of  the  office  of  Constable  (so  demised  this  year). 
He  does  not  answer  because  no  one  would  undertake  it. 

And  he  is  charged  for  Ixs.  for  the  farm  of  the  Leirwite,  for  the  cause  afore- 
said, this  year  ;  nevertheless  it  used  to  return  Cvjs.  viijt/.  by  the  year,  and 
in  a  year  sometime  elapsed,  viij/t.  Sum.  vijfo". 

Perquisites  of  the  Court. — And  for  xljs.  iijJ.  of  the  pleas  and  perquisites 
of  the  six  Courts  there  held  this  year,  as  appears  by  the  rolls  of  the  same 
delivered  and  examined  upon  this  account.  Sum.  xljs.  iije?. 

Sum  total  received,  xxxvjfc".  xiijs.  vijrf.  Of  which  there  is  allowed  him 
iijs.  for  the  expenses  of  the  steward  holding  the  Courts  of  the  lordbhip 
aforesaid  this  year. 

And  [there  is  allowed]  him  xxtZ.  for  parchment  bought  for  the  rolls  of 
the  Court  this  year,  namely,  for  the  whole  lordship. 

And  there  is  delivered  to  the  said  receiver  of  the  charge  of  the  said 
accountant,  xxxs. 

And  to  the  same  of  the  rent  of  Michaelmas  in  the  4th  year,  ixli.  xxe/. 

It  is  respited.— And.  vs.  of  the  decay  of  rent  of  divers  lands  and  tene- 
ments being  in  the  hand  of  the  lord  for  default  of  the  tenants,  because  he 
could  not  levy  it,  as  is  witnessed  on  the  account. 

And  there  is  allowed  him  xxxs.  of  the  farm  of  the  office  of  Constable 
above  charged,  until,  etc..  for  the  cause  above  noted  in  the  title  "  Farms". 

And  [there  is  allowed]  him  Ixs.  for  the  like  for  the  office  of  Leirwite  this 
year,  until,  etc.,  for  the  cause  aforesaid. 

And  [there  is  allowed]  him  viijft.  vs.  xjd.  of  the  farm  of  the  mills  above- 
said,  beyond  the  xxs.  ixc?.  approved  this  year. 

The  Ringildre  there  for  next  year,  ciijs.,  viijd. 

The  farm  of  the  mills  there  this  year  (whereof  above),  ixZi.  vjs.  viijd.3 

To  the  accountant,  vij/i.  xijs.  viijd. 

KERY  FOREST. — Account  of  Jevan  ap  Owen  the  forester  there  for  the 
time  aforesaid. 

A  rrears. — None. 

Issues  of  the  Forest. — But  he  answers  for  xliijs.  iiijc?.  of  the  farm  of  the 
forest  there  so  demised  to  the  said  accountant  for  this  year  ;  nevertheless 
it  used  to  be  let  to  farm  for  xijli. 

He  does  not  answer  for  the  sale  cf  wood  there  this  year  for  the  cause 
alleged  in  the  preceding  account.  Nor  does  he  answer  for  the  honey  and 


1  These  figures  are  crossed  out,  and  over  them  is  written  :  "  He 
is  charged  upon  the  account  for  ix^'.  vjs.  viijc?." 

2  Crossed  out,   and  over  it  is  written :  "  And  he  is  charged  for 
xxxs." 

3  Crossed  through. 

VOL.  XXV.  C 


18  HISTORY    OF   THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

wax  there  this  year,  because  none  happened  [to  be]  within   the   time 
aforesaid.  Sum.  xliijs.  iujd. 

Perquisites  of  the  Court  [of  the  Forest"]. — And  he  answers  for  vs.  vjd.  of 
the  pleas  and  perquisites  of  six  Courts  there  held  this  year,  as  appears 
by  the  rolls  of  the  same  delivered  and  examined  upon  this  account. 

Sum.  vs.  vjd. 

Sum  total  received,  xlviijs.  xc?.  Which  he  delivered  to  the  said  receiver 
for  the  charge  of  the  said  accountant. 

And  he  is  quit  here. 

As  will  have  been  noticed  above,  the  jurors  found 
that 

RICHARD,  DUKE  OF  YORK, 

"was  kinsman  and  next  heir  of  Edmund,  late  Earl  of 
March,  namely,  son  of  Anne,  sister  of  the  aforesaid 
Earl  of  March,  and  he  is  of  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
and  more." 

Richard,  Duke  of  York,  married  Cicely  Nevill, 
daughter  of  Ralph,  Earl  of  Northumberland.  He  was 
father  of  Edward  IV  and  Richard  III.  In  the  wars 
of  the  Roses  many  Montgomeryshire  men  took  part. 
Richard  himself  was  slain  at  Wakefield  in  1460. 
Before  his  death  he  granted  a  charter  of  liberties  to 
Kerry  (and  Kedewen),  which  charter  was  subsequently 
confirmed  by  Henry  VII.  As  the  charter  of  Richard, 
Duke  of  York,  is  set  out  in  the  Inspeximus  of  Henry 
VII,  we  print  both  here,  though  the  latter  is  out  of 
place  as  to  date. 

INSPEXIMUS  AND  CONFIRMATION  BY  HENRY  VII  OF  THE  CHARTER  OF 
RICHARD,  DUKE  OF  YORK,  EARL  OF  MARCH,  AND  LAST  LORD  OF 
WIGMORE,  CLARE,  AND  KERRY. 

HENRY,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King  of  England  and  France,  and  Lord 
of  Ireland.  To  all  to  whom  these  present  Letters  shall  come,  Greeting. 
We  have  inspected  the  two  Charters  of  Kerry  and  Kedewen1  by  our 
beloved  brother,  Richard,  Duke  of  York,  to  the  tenants,  inhabitants,  and 
residents  of  our  lordships  of  Kerry  and  Kedewen,  granted. 

Of  which  Charters  the  tenor  of  the  Charter  of  Kerry  follows  in  these  words : 
Richard.  Duke  of  York,  Earl  of  March,  and  last  Lord  of  Wigmore,  Clare, 
and  Kerry, — KNOW  that  by  these  presents  we  grant  to  all  the  tenants  and 

1  These  Charters  were  granted  and  confirmed  by  Henry  VII 
together.  We  have  eliminated  the  parts  which  relate  to  Kedewen, 
as  that  concession  will  more  appropriately  appear  under  the  "  History 
of  Newtown". 


HISTORY    OF   THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  19 

residents  of  our  lordship  of  Kerry  that  they  and  their  heirs  may  for  the 
rest  be  quit  of  and  exonerated  from  all  Fines  and  Amerciaments  to  us  or 
our  heirs  in  anyway  belonging,  Summonses  by  the  Ringild  of  our  lordship 
aforesaid,  Impoundage  within  the  Court  there  held  by  him  called  Comanfa, 
provided  always  that  they  obey  each  summons  by  the  Lord  or  his  Council, 
Steward,  Receiver,  or  Representative  (locum  tenens]  ;  and  whereas  the 
tenants  and  residents  of  the  lordship  aforesaid  before  this  time  for  felling 
or  cutting  any  trees  or  branches  of  trees  in  a  certain  wood  called  in  Welsh 
Gwater,  for  every  such  trespass  by  the  law  of  the  Country  had  to  pay  three 
silver  pounds — 

We  also  grant  to  them  and  their  heirs  that  they  may  be  quit  and 
exonerated  from  such  fine  of  three  pounds  ;  but  that  they  shall  for  every 
such  trespass  done  to  our  timber  in  the  wood  belonging  to  the  Lord,  pay 
the  sum  of  five  shillings  according  to  the  laws  and  customs  of  our  lordship 
aforesaid. 

It  was  usual  if  any  woman  accused  any  one  of  violence  (raptum)  before 
the  officers  aforesaid,  that  the  defendant  should  pay  to  us  a  fine  of  three 
pounds. 

We  will  and  grant  by  these  presents  that  all  defendants  in  such  cases  may 
be  quit  and  exonerated  from  such  fines  of  three  pounds. 

We  grant  also  to  them  and  their  heirs  that  so  often  as  their  horses  or 
their  cattle  are  impounded  within  our  forest  of  Heerehowell  they  shall  pay 
therefor  the  sum  of  five  shillings  and  no  more.  We  remit  and  release  by 
these  presents  to  the  same  tenants  and  to  their  heirs  all  our  right  and 
claim  which  we  have  to  a  certain  rent  called  in  Welsh  "  Kylch  Goil"  and 
"  North'ane",  which  amounts  to  the  yearly  sum  of  four  pounds  and  ten 
shillings. 

We  pardon  also  and  release  Jeuan  ap  Howel  ap  John  Madd'  ap  Howel 
and  Gruff  ap  Dykos,  and  their  heirs,  from  certain  services  which  our 
Ringild  in  the  lordship  aforesaid  before  this  time  compelled  him  and  his 
ancestors  to  make,  namely,  the  pursuit  of  fugitives  and  the  making  of 
distraints  at  the  Lord's  Park  there  for  rents,  amerciaments,  and  fines, 
belonging  to  the  Lord. 

We  also  grant  that  no  Ringild  in  the  lordship  aforesaid  may  take  any 
Fine  of  the  tenants  and  residents  aforesaid,  or  from  their  heirs,  exceeding 
the  sum  of  fourpence— except  in  the  case  where  the  Lord  is  entitled  to 
take  a  Fine  of  seven  pounds  ;  in  such  case  the  Ringild  shall,  as  of  old,  take 
the  fine  of  seven  pounds,  according  to  the  law  and  custom  of  the  country. 

And  all  privileges,  liberties,  laws,  and  customs,  by  the  said  tenants  and 
residents  and  their  ancestors  heretofore  had,  used,  and  enjoyed,  we  approve, 
ratify,  and  confirm  by  these  presents. 

For  which  gifts,  concessions,  remissions,  pardons,  and  reliefs  the  said 
tenants  and  residents  shall  grant  to  us  six  hundred  marks,  payable  during 
six  years  next  following — that  is  to  say,  the  first  payments  receivable  at 
the  Feast  of  All  Saints1  and  of  the  Apostles  Phillip  and  James1  next 
following,  and  thus  from  year  to  year  at  the  Feasts  aforesaid,  until  the 
aforesaid  sum  of  six  hundred  marks  shall  be  fully  paid. 

In  testimony  whereof  to  these  presents  we  have  set  our  seal. 

Given  at  our  Castle  of  Montgomery,  the  last  day  of  August,  in  the  25th 
year  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VI  after  the  Conquest  (Thursday,  August 
31,  1447). 

1  1st  Nov.  and  1st  May. 

c2 


20  HISTORY    OF   THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

CONFIRMATION  BY  HENRY  VII.1 

KNOW  that  we,  moved  by  certain  causes  and  considerations,  all  and 
singular,  the  customs  and  liberties  specified  in  the  Charters  of  our  aforesaid 
brother,  have  ratified,  approved,  granted,and  confirmed  it,  and  by  these  pre- 
sents do  ratify,  approve,  and  grant  to  our  aforesaid  tenants,  inhabitants,  and 
residents  of  Kerry  and  Kedewen,  their  heirs  and  successors — so  that  neither 
we  nor  our  heirs  nor  our  successors  may  exact,  claim,  or  bring  forward  any 
right,  title,  claim,  demand,  or  interest  of  or  in  the  aforesaid  grants,  customs, 
and  liberties,  nor  in  any  part  thereof  in  the  future,  but  may  be  wholly 
excluded  therefrom  for  ever. 

And  know  further  that  we  of  our  grace  remit,  release,  and  for  us  and 
our  heirs  and  successors  for  ever  quit  claim  to  all  and  singular  our  tenants, 
inhabitants,  and  residents  of  our  lordships  of  Kerry  and  Kedewen  aforesaid, 
and  to  their  heirs  and  successors,  all  our  right,  title,  and  claim  which  we 
ever  had,  have,  or  in  any  way  may  have  in  future,  of  and  in  certain 
customs  called  in  Welsh  Amobrithaieth,  otherwise  called  Amobrships,  so  that 
neither  we  nor  our  heirs  nor  our  successors  may  or  shall  in  future  exact, 
claim,  or  bring  forward  any  right,  title,  or  claim  of  or  in  the  aforesaid 
customs,  but  may  be  wholly  excluded  therefrom  for  ever. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  these  our  Letters  to  be  made 
Patent.  Witness — Ourself  at  Westminster,  the  second  day  of  July,  in  the 
twenty-second  year  of  our  reign  (Thursday,  2  July  1507). 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  Richard,  Duke 
of  York,  made  the  following  concessions  to  his  tenants 
and  others  in  Kerry. 

1.  Exonerated  them  from  all  Fines  and  Amerciaments. 

2.  Exonerated  them  from  Summonses  by  the  Ringild  within  the  Court 
there  held  by  him,  called  Comanfa. 

3.  Cancelled  a  Fine  of  .£3  for  cutting  any  trees  or  branches  in  a  wood 
called  Cwayter — substituting  a  new  fine  of  5s.  for  each  offence. 

4.  Abolished  a  Fine  of  £3  formerly  payable  to  the  Lord,  for  violence 
to  a  woman. 

5.  A  fine  of  5s.,  and  no  more,  for  any  horses  or  cattle  that  strayed  into 
his  Forest  of  Heerhowell. 

6.  Remitted  a  Rent   called    North'ane,  which  amounted  annually  to 

£4:    10*. 

7.  Released  Jeuau  ap  Ho  well  ap  Madd'2  from  the  service  which  the 
Ringild  compelled  him  and  his  ancestors  to  do  in  levying  fines  and  making 
distraints  for  rents,  amerciaments,  and  fines  belonging  to  the  Lord,  at  his 
Park  there. 

8.  Limited  the  Ringild,  in  fines  upon  tenants  and  residents,  to  4d.,  except 
where  the  Lord  was  entitled  to  a  fine  of  £7,  according  to  the  law  and  custom 
of  the  country. 

1  Richard,   Duke  of  York's  Charters  and  the  Confirmations    are 
enrolled  on  Patent  Roll  Anno  22  Hen.  VII,  pars.  2,  membrane  -fr 
(1506-7). 

2  See  Dwnn's  Reprint,  p.  116  :  "  Howell  ap  Madoc  of  Welshpool, 
who  married  Leiky,  a  grand-aunt  of  Howell  ap  Tudor,  who  first  came 
to  Mochdre.     The  latter  was  ancestor  of  the  Pryces  of  Newtown  and 
Glanmeheli." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF   KERRY.  21 

9.  Ratified  and  confirmed  all  privileges,  laws,  and  customs  which  their 
ancestors  had  and  enjoyed. 

10.  Henry  VII  abolished  the  customary  payment  called  Amobyr. 

In  a  MS.  at  Loton,  being  extracts  from  the  Accounts 
of  the  Ministers  of  Richard,  Duke  of  York,  for  the 
Honour  of  Montgomery  and  its  members,  for  the  year 
1457,  the  names  of  the  officers  of  Kerry  lordship 
appear  as  follows  : — 

KERRY  RINGA'. 

i.  Jeuan  ap  Meredith  ap  Howell,  late  Undersheriff. 

II.  Madoc  ap  Jeuan  G-och  ,, 

n.  Madoc  ap  Jeuan  Goch  „ 

Jenkin  ap  Meredith  ap  Hoell1  „ 

in.  Jeuan  Lloyd  ap  Maurice  ,, 

I.  Jeuan  ap  Meredith  „ 

in.  Jeuan  Lloyd  ap  Morris  ,, 

KERRY  FOREST. 

iv.  Maurice  Vychan  Forester 

i.  Jeuan  ap  Meredith  ap  Howell,  late 
v.  Bedo  ap  Jevan  ,, 

John  Duy2  „ 

vi.  Madoc  ap  Morys  ap  Madoc  ap  Einion 
vn.  Madoc  ap  Morys  Vychan 

KERRY  RINGA'  (BAILIWICK). 
Howell3  ap  Eignion,  Farmer  of  Lerewic  (late). 


Madoc  of  Golly 


Hoell  ap  Eignion5  „ 

viii.  Evan  Lloyd  ap  Evan  ap  Madoc,  last  Undersheriff. 
ix.  Meredith  ap  Evan  ap  Madoc,  Undersheriff. 
ix.  Meredith  ap  Evan  ap  Madoc,  Forester  (last). 
I.  Jeuan  ap ap  Meredith  ap  David,  Forester. 

In  Lewys  Dwnn's  Reprint  of  Montgomeryshire  Pedi- 
grees, on  pp.  114-120,  is  a  pedigree  of  the  family  from 
whom  the  New  town  Hall  Pryces  and  other  families 
deduce.  The  tradition  is,  that  the  first  of  the  family 
settled  in  Mochdre  as  representative  of  the  Lord  of 
Kerry  ;  the  following  will  go  some  way  to  confirm  the 
tradition,  as  well  as  show  that  nearly  if  not  all  the 
good  official  appointments  were  kept  in  the  family, 

1  Meredith   ap    Howell  of  Kerry,   Esq.  (Dwnn's  Reprint,  p.  107). 
Jenkin  was  probably  his  son,  same  family. 

2  This  I  cannot  identify. 

3  and  5  Same  person,  family  name.    See  p.  116,  Howell  ap  Eignion, 
but  probably  too  early. 

4  This  is  possibly  a  misprint ;    I  cannot  identify  him. 


22  HISTORY    OF   THE   PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

though  neither  a  Pryce  of  Newtown  or  Glanmeheli 
appears,  perhaps  because  they  or  one  of  them  held  a 
superior  office. 

Howell  ap  Tudor,=p    Who  first  came  to  Mochdre. 
p.  13  &  I 

Einion  ap  Howell,=^Agnes,  sole  heiress  of  Adda  ap  Meurig  of 
p.  116.  .  Kerry. 


Madoc  ap  Einion,=p= 

p.  117.  |  _ 

|  I 

Maurice  ap  Madoc,=p  Evan  Gcch  ap  Madoc,=f= 

_  p.  117.  |  p.  117.     _  | 

nil 


Madoc  (vi),      Evan  Lloyd      Maurice  Vychan=f=        Madoc  ap  Evan=^Gwen 


conjectural.      ap   Maurice       ap  Maurice  (iv), 
(in),  p.  117.  p.  117. 


Goch  (u), 
p.  118. 


hwy- 
far. 


i  r  -r 

Madoc  ap  Maurice    Evan  ap  Madoc=f=  Joned,=pJeuan  ap  Mere 

(vn),  conjectural.       ap  Evan  Goch,  p.  118.      dith  ap  Howell, 
p.  118.  (i),p.  118. 




i  j  i 

Evan  Lloyd  ap  Evan  Meredith  ap  Evan  Bedo  ap  Jeuan 

ap  Madoc  (viu),  ap  Madoc  (ix),  (v), 

conjectural.  conjectural.  conjectural. 

Kerry,  from  the  accession  of  Edward  IV,  may  be 
said  to  have  been  in  the  hands  of  the  King.  There  is 
an  "Account"  (7-8  Edw.  IV,  No.  166,  1467-8)  ana- 
logous to  the  one  already  dealt  with.  Little  more  is 
heard  of  Kerry  until  the  Kings  commenced  making 
grants  of  offices,  etc.,  to  persons  for  services  rendered, 
or  grants  of  mills,  lands,  etc. 

In  1483-4,  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Eichard  III, 
he  granted  for  life  to  Henry,  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
the  Stewardship  and  Receivership  of  the  lordship  of 
Kerry,  Kedewen,  and  Newtown,  (Patent,  July  15, 
1  Richard  III,  Appendix  to  Ninth  Report,  Deputy 
Keeper  of  the  Records,  p.  12.) 

On  the  accession  of  Henry  VII  he  became  possessed 
of  the  Mortimer  estates,  and  appointed  his  uncle 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  23 

Jaspar,  Duke  of  Bedford,  and  others,  commissioners 
to  hear  and  determine  all  causes  among  the  tenants 
of  the  earldom  of  March  (Pat,  I  Hen.  VII,  18  Feb.) 

In  the  fifth  year  of  his  reign  he  granted  for  life  to 
Richard  Pole,  a  Knight  of  his  body,  the  offices  of 
Steward  and  Receiver  of  the  lordships  and  manors 
of  Montgomery,  Kerry,  and  Kedewen,  in  the  Marches 
of  Wales,  and  the  Constableship  of  Montgomery  Castle 
(Pat.,  11  March,  5  Hen.  VII,  1489-90). 

The  following  year,  on  the  7th  July,  writs  were 
issued  to  all  the  counties  and  in  the  Marches,  giving 
notice  of  an  intended  war  with  France,  and  requiring 
the  assistance  of  the  King's  subjects  in  this  arduous 
affair,  each  one  according  to  his  means,  and  to  certify 
their  proceedings  to  the  Council  of  State  (Pat.,  Hen. 
VIIy  7  July,  anno  vi,  p.  64). 

The  writ  for  the  lordship  of  Kerry  was  addressed 
to  Richard  Pole,  Knight.  On  pages  473-4  of  the  first 
volume  of  these  Collections  are  references  to  several 
Ministers'  Accounts  relating  to  Kerry  and  other  lord- 
ships in  the  county.1  There  are  also  other  Accounts 
of  the  same  kind  for  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII  and 
Elizabeth,  and  later  ;  they  are  of  no  special  interest 
except  in  the  disclosure  of  names,  which  at  these 
periods  are  obtainable  from  the  Records  of  the  Great 
Sessions,  and  which  to  a  great  extent  have  already 
been  printed  in  Miscellanea  Historica. 

With  the  death  of  Henry  VII,  and  the  accession  of 
his  son,  the  latter  cancelled  many  if  not  all  the  Patents 
granting  privileges  and  places  to  favourites  and  others 
by  the  former,  substituting  New  Patents  under  his 
own  seal. 

During  the  reign  of  the  latter,  the  four  new  Welsh 
Bounties  were  constituted,  mainly  out  of  the  Marches, 
and  a  different  system  of  government  was  introduced. 
We  shall  have  much  to  say  yet  in  connection  with  the 
lordship  of  Kerry.  We  shall  find  with  the  new  order 

1  See  Appendix,  for  dates  and  particulars. 


24  HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

of  things  a  new  race  of  men  ;  among  them,  in  the  fore- 
front, the  ancestors  of  the  noble  Earl  who  at  this  day 
enjoys  some  of  the  privileges  in  the  lordship  of  Kerry 
which  were  granted  to  Roger  de  Mortimer  in  1278. 

There  are  two  or  three  subjects,  connected  with  the 
parish  of  Kerry,  of  considerable  interest,  which  could 
not  well  be  introduced  into  the  preceding  description 
of  the  devolution  of  the  lordship  and  its  internal  his- 
tory. Possibly  this  point  would  be  as  convenient  or 
more  so  than  any  other  to  make  a  few  remarks  upon 
them.  The  principal  one  is  in  reference  to  a  district 
anciently  known  as  Kerry-  Valdewyne,  which  appears 
to  have  been,  from  an  early  date,  a  member  of  the 
manor  of  Tempsiter,  within  the  Honor  of  Clun,  though 
the  inhabitants  of  the  district  of  Kerry -Yaldewyne  do 
not  appear  to  have  been  governed  by  precisely  the 
same  customs  and  laws  as  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Tempsiter. 

We  avail  ourselves  of  some  valuable  information 
taken  from  Mr.  Salt's  pamphlet  on  the  Honor  and 
forest  of  Clun?  in  this  connection. 

THE  MANOR  OP  TEMPSITER,  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  HONOR  OF 
CLUN  ;  AND  KERRY- VALDEWYNE. 

The  above  Manor,  which  contained  twenty-three  townships 
and  comprised  within  it  much  of  the  district  lying  on  the 
western  side  of  Offa's  Dyke,  as  well  as  several  townships 
lying  on  the  eastern  side  of  it,  contains  about  40,000  acres,  or 
half  the  Honor  of  Clun.  It  appears  to  have  been  captured 
from  the  Welsh  at  an  early  period,  for  in  1293  the  occupiers 
paid  Eichard,  Earl  of  Arundel  and  Lord  of  Clan,  £200  for 
certain  privileges,  namely,  that  they  should  have  Chace 
throughout  the  whole  of  Tempsett,  for  every  beast,  except  in 
the  Forest  of  Clun  and  Kingstell  (Kingsley  Wood,  near 
Knighton).  That  thenceforth  they  should  not  be  compelled, 
in  pleading,  to  answer  word  for  word,  but  should  only  answer 
by  three  words,  that  is,  that  it  was  not  so  as  alleged  against 
them,  and  of  this  they  put  themselves  upon  their  country. 
That  appears  to  be  simply  a  plea  of  "  Not  Guilty". 

1  Privately  printed,  1858. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PARISH    OF    KERRY.  25 

The  Lord  also  bound  himself  that  he  would  not  take  or 
cause  to  be  taken  any  cattle,  nor  any  kind  of  blade/  nor  any 
goods  of  theirs  against  their  will  unless  they  are  for  sale;  and 
if  any  of  their  goods,  wheresoever  they  might  be,  should  be 
for  sale,  the  Lord  would  have  them  before  any  other  person, 
for  as  much  as  they  could  get  from  any  other  person,  and  pay 
for  the  same  within  forty  days.  Among  the  witnesses  are 
Bynon  Lorth,  Robert  ap  Howell,  and  Codog  ap  Wyn,  who 
were  of  the  parts  of  Montgomery. 

Notwithstanding  the  above  grant,  the  men  of  Tempseter 
seem  to  have  been  much  oppressed  by  the  Bailiffs  of  the  Lord 
in  the  next  reign,  for  in  the  llth  of  Edward  II  (1317) 
another  deed  was  executed,  in  which  the  Lord  agreed  to 
relieve  the  men  of  Tempsit  of  their  grievances,  which,  accord- 
ing to  Eyton,  seem  to  have  been  that  there  was  an  excessive 
number  of  Bailiffs  employed  in  Tempsitt,  and  the  Lord  agreed 
to  reduce  the  number  in  that  district  to  one  Provost  with  his 
Servieur  (Steward),  and  one  Steward  and  two  Under-Bailiffs 
for  Kerry-  Valdewyne. 

Eytori  considered  Kerry-Valdewyne  to  have  been  so  called 
from  Baldwin  de  Boilers,  Lord  of  Montgomery,  who,  says 
Eyton.  probably  had  a  seigneury  over  the  district  in  Henry 
the  First's  time.  We  are  of  opinion  that  Kerry  extended 
further  to  the  south  in  those  days  than  at  present.  Some 
evidence  at  a  later  period  will  be  set  out  in  support  of  this 
view,  and  that  Baldwin  de  Boilers2  had  no  seigneury  over  that 
district,  or  rights  other  than  the  men  of  Montgomery  had 
possessed  from  time  immemorial. 

The  boundaries  of  the  Manor  of  Tempsiter  may  be  defined 
as  starting  at  Knighton,  following  the  course  of  the  Teme  up 
to  the  junction  of  that  river  with  the  Rhyddwr  brook  at 
the  Gorddwr  farm  in  the  parish  of  Bugaildu,  and  on  the  other 
side,  Offa's  Dyke  to  Newcastle,  excluding  probably  Spoad 
township,  which  is  in  Clun  parish.  This  would  cover  part  of 
Llanfair  Waterdine  parish,  if  not  the  whole  of  it,  and  Bettws- 
y-Crwyn,  in  which  latter  parish  the  Forest  of  Clun  is  com- 
prised, but  from  which  the  men  of  Ternpsett  were  excluded 
by  the  arrangement  made  when  they  paid  the  £200. 

There  is  no  record,  so  far  as  we  have  seen,  that  de- 
scribes the  boundary  of  the  manor  of  Tempsiter  on  the 

1  We   question   if   this  does   not   refer   to    corn  of  some  species. 
Bladium,  corn  on  the  ground,  in  the  blade. 

2  Inq.  post  mortem,  taken  in  1252-3  (anno  50  Henry  III,  No.  29), 
only  mentions  Lydham  manor  and  the  manor  of  Montgomery. 


26  HISTORY    OF   THE    PARISH    OF   KERRY. 

Kerry  side  as  extending  beyond  the  Rhyddwr  brook, 
and,  going  eastwards  from  the  source  of  that,  as  pass- 
ing beyond  the  watershed  of  Kerry  Hill,  following  the 
modern  boundary  between  the  counties  of  Salop  and 
Montgomery  ;  but  there  is  a  very  ancient  and  well- 
known  tradition  connected  with  a  stone  that  used 
formerly  to  be  on  Kerry  Hill,  near  the  source  of  the 
Rhyddwr  brook.  The  spot  is  marked  on  the  Ordnance 
Map. 

The  tradition  connected  with  this  stone  is,  that  a 
person  of  the  name  of  William  Cantlin,  overtaken  in  a 
snowstorm,  perished  at  the  spot,  and  there  was  a  dis- 
pute as  to  whether  the  parish  of  Kerry  or  the  parish  of 
Bettws-y-Crwyn  should  be  at  the  expense  of  burying 
the  body.  Ultimately,  it  was  removed  and  buried  at 
Bettws-y-Crwyn,  and  the  tradition  is  that  Kerry  parish, 
before  this  event  occurred,  extended  a  considerable  way  to 
the  southward,  but  that  after,  the  parishioners  of  Bettws 
claimed  up  to  the  spot  where  the  body  was  found,  and 
set  up  the  stone  to  mark  the  boundary  of  the  parish. 
If  there  is  any  meaning  in  the  inscription,  the  body 
must  have  been  buried  at  first  on  the  spot.  The  stone 
has  since  been  removed  from  its  old  position,  and 
placed  just  inside  the  gateway  by  Mr.  Botfield's  plan- 
tations, near  the  "  Biddings",  and  an  elegant  cross 
placed  beside  it. 

At  the  Court  of  Tempseter,  held  on  Monday  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Oswald,  in 

the  7th  year  of  Richard  II  (1383-4). 

"The  free  tenants  of  Kerry  bald  win  were  accused  that  they  have  con- 
cealed services,  to  wit,  Reliefs,  Amobrage,  and  Warmetak,  which  they  were 
accustomed  to  render  as  the  other  free  tenants  of  Tempseter,  who  deny  and 
say  that  they  are  of  other  tenures  than  the  other  free  tenants  of  Tempseter, 
and  will  not  put  themselves  on  the  country.  Accordingly,  a  warrant  is 
given  to  all  the  men  of  Tempseter,  and  the  same  country  gave  judgment 
that  they  remain  in  prison  until  they  are  willing  to  put  themselves  on  their 
country."1 

Apparently,  the  free  tenants  of  Kerry baldwin  were 
present  in  person  at  this  Court,  and  because  they  were 
contumacious,  and    would    not   plead,  they  were  im- 
prisoned.    We  conceive  this  implies  that   they  must 
1  Mr.  Salt's  pamphlet  on  the  Honor  and  Forest  of  Clun. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  27 

have  been  few  in  number,  and  that  they  occupied  some 
part  of  Ternpcester,  bordering  on  Kerry  lordship,  from 
which  it  had  been  detached  at  some  unknown  period, 
and  that,  when  detached,  the  people  retained  the  cus- 
toms which  prevailed  in  Kerry.  We  suggested1  that 
the  "Upper"  and  "Lower  Short  Ditches',  which  project 
some  distance  into  the  modern  county  of  Salop,  were 
thrown  up  to  mark  the  boundary  of  the  territories 
belonging  to  Cwm  Efir  Abbey.  It  is  just  possible  that 
the  land  on  the  Kerry  side  of  the  Clun  River,  down 
perhaps  as  low  as  Newcastle,  was  the  district  known  as 
Kerry-  Valdeivin. 

In  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  a  suit  between 
the  Crown  and  several  freeholders  and  copyholders  of 
Clun,  the  boundary  of  Clun  was  minutely  set  out. 
The  depositions  were  taken  at  JReilth,  in  the  county 
of  Salop,  on  the  8th  May  1576.  The  mears  were 
described  so  as  to  exclude  Kerry.  One  of  the  de- 
ponents, Morris  ap  Owen  of  the  Reilth,  yeoman,  aged 
about  eighty  years,  who  had  deposed  to  the  boundaries, 
was  asked  how  he  knew  that  they  were  as  he  had  de- 
scribed them,  said  that  about  sixty  years  before  (1516), 
at  which  time  the  Lords  of  Clun  held  Jura  Regalia 
within  the  lordship  of  Clun,  and  the  Lords  of  Kerry 
within  the  lordship  of  Kerry,  he  saw  two  men  hanged, 
whose  names  he  did  not  remember,  for  certain  offences 
by  them  committed.  The  one  of  the  said  two  men 
was  hanged  within  the  lordship  of  Clun  at  the  side  of 
the  brook  called  the  Rithor,2  by  the  Steward  and  officers 
of  the  lordship  of  Clun  ;  and  the  other  man  was 
hanged  within  the  lordship  of  Kerry,  on  the  other 
side  the  said  brook,  within  less  than  a  bowshot  to  the 
other,  by  the  Steward  and  officers  of  the  lordship  of 
Kerry,  and  he  said  both  were  hanged  the  same  day.3 

1  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiii,  p.  89.  2  Rhyddwr. 

3  We  have  seen,  but  cannot  recall  the  reference,  that  the  Earls 
of  Arundel  held  the  Honor  of  Clun  by  the  service  of  executing  all 
the  criminals  sentenced  to  death  in  the  county  of  Salop.  Closely 
adjacent  to  the  spot  referred  to  by  the  deponent  stands  the 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF   KERRY. 

Mainstone  and  Reilth,  with  Edenhope  and  Castle- 
wright,1  form  one  parish.  The  whole,  except  Castle- 
wright,  is  now  accounted  in  Salop.  Eyton  could  not 
say  that  Mainstone  and  Reilth  were  held  under  any 
English  suzerain  before  the  14th  century,  for  he  never 
heard  of  such  places — that  is,  he  did  not  find  the  names 
on  the  Rolls.  He  therefore  left  it  undetermined 
whether  they  were  involved  in  the  Domesday  Manor 
of  Clun,  or  whether  they  had  been  annexed  to  that 
Honor  by  conquest  before  the  subjugation  of  Wales,  or 
by  some  conventional  process  subsequently.  Even 
Mainstone  Church  is  heard  nothing  of  till  after  the 
Reformation,  when  it  is  mentioned  in  the  Visitation  of 
1587  as  in  the  diocese  of  Hereford.  This  district  may 
have  been  Kerry-Valdewine,  as  it  is  not  far  away  from 
Lydham,  which  Baldwin  de  Boilers  held  at  his  death. 

At  a  later  period  some  references  will  be  made  to 
evidence  given  at  trials  in  connection  with  the  ancient 
boundary  between  Kerry  and  Clun,  but  it  will  be  seen 
by  what  follows  below  that  when  Henry  YJII  formed 
the  four  new  counties  the  whole  of  Clunnesland  was 
set  to  the  new  county  of  Montgomery,  and  for  a  few 
years  the  "  lay  subsidies"  were  levied  under  Mont- 
gomery. One  of  our  early  Sheriffs,  1554,  was  Richard 
Powell  of  Edenhope,  Mainstone,  described  as  in  Mont- 
gomeryshire. 

TRANSFER  OF  CLUNNESLAND  TO  MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 

The  power  of  the  Lord  Marchers  to  inflict  capital 
punishment  was  taken  away  by  the  Statute  of  27th 

ruins  of  a  small  castle,  marked  on  the  Ordnance  as  "  Castle  Bryn 
Amlwg",  or  "  Castell  Cefn  Vron".  Locally  it  is  called  Castle  Oil 
Rlion.  It  stands  on  an  elevation  some  two  or  three  hundred  yards 
from  the  boundary  of  Clun  lordship  at  that  point.  It  has  no 
history.  A  mile  to  the  east  of  it,  on  the  summit  of  Gvvridd,  formerly 
could  be  seen  very  perfect  traces  of  ancient  hill  cultivation.  The 
"  Butts"  followed  the  contour  of  the  hill-side  and  were  of  various 
sizes,  but  the  furrows  showed  that  the  ploughing  was  deep.  Since 
the  enclosure  of  the  Bettws  Hills,  modern  cultivation  has  obliterated 
these  memorials  of  the  prehistoric  agriculturist. 
1  Spelt  in  an  old  will  (1560-80),  Castell  Wryclie. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  29 

Henry  VIII,  chap.  26,  and  by  section  7  of  that  Act 
Clunnesland  was  transferred  to  Montgomeryshire. 
Clunnesland  then  meant,  and  does  to  this  day  mean, 
the  whole  district  of  country  through  which  the  river 
Clun  passes,  from  its  rise  at  Ffos-y-Rhys  on  the  north- 
western side  of  Clun  Forest  to  its  fall  into  the  Teme 
below  Clunguuford  at  the  south-eastern  extremity  of 
Purslow  Hundred,  so  that  the  Hundreds  of  Clun  and 
Purslow  were  thereby  made  parts  of  Montgomeryshire, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Bishop's  Castle  district  of 
the  latter. 

A  Bill  filed,  or  intended  to  be  filed,  in  the  Court  of 
the  Lord  President  of  the  Marches  of  Wales,  in  or 
about  1649,  relating  to  the  Honor  of  Clun,  contains  the 
following  recital :  "And  whereas  by  a  late  Statute, 
27th  Henry  VIII,  the  said  Lordship  was  annexed  and 
made  parcel  of  the  County  of  Montgomery,  and  after 
by  a  private  Act  in  Queen  Mary's  time  it  was  trans- 
ferred and  annexed  to  the  said  County  of  Salop,  and 
made  liable  to  such  His  Majesty's  laws  as  the  said 
County  of  Salop  was  subject  unto."1 

Mr.  Salt,  in  his  pamphlet  on  the  Honor  and  Forest 
of  Clun,  pp.  14-16,  doubted  the  accuracy  of  the 
statement  above,  but  had  not  investigated  it.  By 
28th  Henry  VIII,  chap.  3,  power  was  given  to  the 
King,  during  three  years,  to  allot  newly  the  towns  in 
the  Shires  and  Marches  of  Wales.  Notwithstanding 
the  above  Statute  of  28th  Henry  VIII,  and  by  another 
Statute,  31  Henry  VIII,  chap.  11,  this  authority  was 
continued  to  the  King  for  three  years  longer.  Mr. 
Salt  thought  it  more  likely  that  Clun  should  have  been 
restored  to  Shropshire  under  the  powers  given  by 
these  Acts,  at  a  time  when  the  state  of  Wales  was 
much  under  the  consideration  of  the  King  and  his 
advisers,  than  by  a  private  Act  passed  early  in  the 

1  No  doubt  Mr.  Salt's  conjecture  was  correct,  for  Clun  is  taxed  for 
the  first  time  under  Shropshire  in  the  Lay  Subsidies  in  2-3  Edward 
VI  (1549-50).  See  Shropshire  Subsidies  *$\  also  VV>  W>  W> 
and  y5^7;  but  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  record  fixing  the  exact 
date. 


30  HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

reign  of  Queen  Mary,  of  which  there  is  no  trace  in  any 
of  the  printed  Statutes. 

Another  matter  of  considerable  importance  in  the 
early  days  was  the  terms  upon  which  persons  who  dwelt 
near  a  "  Band  Forest",  but  who  were  not  within  the 
lordship  to  which  the  forest  belonged,  lived  with  their 
neighbours.  Clun  Forest,  as  will  be  observed,  adjoined 
Kerry  parish  on  the  one  side  for  several  miles. 
Possibly  the  £7  fine  reserved  by  Richard,  Duke  of 
York,  when  he  granted  his  charter  to  Kerry  in  1457, 
was  in  connection  with  his  Forest  of  Hirhowell,  as 
his  neighbour,  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  levied  that  sum  for 
a  breach  of  the  Forest  Laws.  The  location  of  this  forest 
is  unknown  to  us  ;  but  as  the  district  at  the  back  of 
Llandinam  is  still  known  as  Htrhowell,  and  as  his 
Foresters  Hved  apparently  in  and  about  Mochdre, 
perhaps  the  wild  district  between  Dolfor  and  the 
boundary  of  Kerry,  Mochdre,  and  Llandinam  parishes 
may  have  been  the  Forest  of  Heerhowell.  It  is  one 
of  those  questions  that  wait  for  solution. 

The  Kerry  men  seem  to  have  made  an  amicable 
arrangement  as  regards  any  casual  trespasser  in  Clun 
Forest. 


THE  FOREST  OF   CLUN,  AND  KERRY  ESCAPE 

MONEY. 

The  Forest  of  Clun  contained  about  17,000  acres; 
roughly  speaking,  that  part  of  it  as  it  was  in 
1837  before  the  enclosures,  was  bounded  as  follows. 
Commencing  at  the  Quabs,  about  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  south  of  Bettws-y-Crwyn  Church,  it  ran  north- 
west to  the  Rhyddwr  brook,  thence  along  the  course 
of  the  brook  to  Croes-y-sarney,  along  Kerry  Hill  to 
the  eastward  by  the  old  position  of  the  "  Cantlin 
Stone",  thence  following  the  Bishop's  Castfe  road  to 
Offa's  Dyke,  following  that  earthwork  southward  to 
the  village  of  Newcastle.  The  Hall  of  the  Forest, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  31 

Badger  Moor,  Black  Mountain  Farm,  and  the  Lawn, 
on  the  Bettws-y-Crwyn  side  as  going  from  Newcastle 
towards  The  Anchor,  were  not  within  the  Forest  of 
01  un  ;  neither  were  the  Cross-ways,  Cefncelynog  and 
Barrets,  a  district  east  of  the  Biddings.  Upper 
Edenhope,  Lower  Dolfawr,  and  Middle  Dolfawr  were 
outside.  Looking  at  a  coloured  map,  these  appear  like 
islands  in  an  archipelago. 

The  Forest  bounded  Kerry  parish  the  full  length 
of  the  latter  on  the  south  side,  up  to  the  juncture  of 
the  Rhyddwr  brook  with  the  county  of  Radnor. 
Although  Clun  Forest  now  is  mainly  a  green  pasture 
or  cultivated  lands,  except  where  modern  plantations 
of  larch,  etc.,  have  been  made,  two  centuries  ago 
it  was  well  wooded.  It  was  described  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  VI  as  a  Band  Forest,  meaning  an  ancient 
forest,  of  which  the  mears  and  bounds  had  been 
publicly  proclaimed  or  banned  throughout  the  whole 
shire  or  lordship  Marcher.  The  district  within  the 
bounds  thereby  became  subject  to  the  Forest  Laws. 

How  cruelly  and  tyrannically  these  laws  were 
executed  in  many  of  the  forests  of  Wales  and  the 
Marches  of  the  same  may  be  learnt  by  reading  the 
preamble  to  the  Statute  of  27  Hen.  VIII,  chap.  7. 

The  later  Earls  of  Arundel  do  not  appear  to  have 
enforced  the  Forest  Laws  at  all  vigorously  after  the 
reign  of  Henry  VI  (1422-14),  with  perhaps  one 
exception  :  "that  if  any  inhabitant  or  other  did  hawk, 
hunt,  fish,  or  fowl  within  the  Forest  without  licence, 
he  was  by  the  custom  of  the  Forest  to  forfeit  £7" — a 
large  sum  in  those  days. 

We  have  seen  that  the  freeholders  of  Kerry  refused 
to  hold  under  the  lordship  of  Clun.  Notwithstanding 
this  refusal,  an  agreement  was  made  with  them  (at 
a  very  early  date,  not  yet  ascertained),  which  was 
creditable  to  both  parties.  The  cattle  and  horses  of 
the  Kerry  men  would  unavoidably  at  times  be  found 
in  Clun  Forest,  and  the  arrangement  was,  that  the 
Kerry  men  should  pay  the  Lord  of  Clun  two  marks 


32  HISTOKY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

yearly  for  such  trespass,  in  return  for  which  their 
cattle  and  horses  were  not  to  be  treated  as  estrays. 
This  bargain  continued  until  1797,  when  the  enclosure 
of  the  commons  of  Kerry,  which  adjoined  Clun  Forest, 
put  an  end  to  the  payment.  It  was  known  by  the 
name  of  "  Kerry  Escape  Money".1 

The  writer  has  not  been  able  to  examine  any  of  the 
Court  Rolls  relating  to  the  Court  Baron  of  Kerry,2  but 
as  Tempset  adjoined  it,  and  in  the  early  days  was 
probably  in  its  customs,  rents,  services,  etc.,  some- 
what similarly  situated,  a  few  extracts  from  Mr. 
Salt's  pamphlet  on  the  Honor  and  Forest  of  Clun 
may  be  of  interest,  and  useful  to  compare  with 
the  services,  rents,  etc.,  disclosed  in  the  Ministers' 
Accounts  supra.  The  Court  Rolls  are  of  the  period 
of  Richard  II  (1377-99)  ''Their  contents  are,  gene- 
rally speaking,  the  fixing  of  heriots3  and  reliefs,  arid 
assessing  sums  "in  Misericordia"  (amerciaments= 
a  pecuniary  punishment  at  the  mercy  of  the  Lord). 
These  varied  from  35.  to  6d.  each,  for  what  were 
considered  minor  offences,  such  as  detaining  the  Lord's 
heriots,  for  agreeing  without  licence,  for  not  attending 
the  bailiff's  summons,  for  a  false  plaint,  for  unjustly 
raising  the  hue  (pursuing  after  a  malefactor),  for  draw- 
ing blood,  for  false  swearing,  etc. 

The  fines  for  crimes  are  for  larger  sums,  extending 
from  5s.  for  a  petty  theft  upwards,  to  £5  or  more  for 
manslaughter,  sureties  being  always  required  for  the 
larger  sums.  The  amount  is  always  noted  in  the 
margin,  whether  mentioned  in  the  body  or  not.4 

Also  there  are  entries  which  show  that  if  an  accused 
person  stood  mute,  or  denied  to  hold  of  the  Lord. 

1  Salt's  pamphlet  on  the  Honor  and  Forest  of  Clun. 

2  There  are.  we  believe,  some  imperfect  Rolls  yet  remaining  among 
the  muniments  of  the  Earl  of  Powis  at  Powis  Castle,  as  well  as  one 
or  more  minute-books  of  the  proceedings. 

3  This  was  paid  under  the  old  Welsh  system,  on  the  death  of  an 
Uchelwyr,  under  the  name  of  an  "  Ebediw". 

4  This  is  the  usual  custom. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   PARISH   OF   KERRY.  33 

or  refused  to  put  himself  upon  the  judgment  of  the 
Court,  he  was  sent  to  prison. 

Also,  if  heriots  were  not  duly  yielded  or  compounded 
for,  or  if  the  tenant  died  without  goods,  the  Lord  seized 
the  land  till  the  heir  came  in  and  paid  not  only  the 
relief1  payable  by  a  new  tenant,  but  the  heriot  also. 

Here  are  a  few  entries  as  an  illustration. 

"  Court  of  Tempseter.— Edward  the  third  in  the  6th  or  7th  year2  (1333). 

"  Hahnot  Welch  held  Wednesday  next  after  the  feast  of  the  Conversion 
of  St.  Paul. 

"  Henry  Walden  died  who  held  of  the  Lord  one  Messuage  and  twenty- 
six  acres  of  land,  whereby  hath  accrued  to  the  Lord  an  heriot,  and  for 
goods  and  entrance  into  the  lands,  and  hath  fined  Lewky  his  wife,  13s.  4d. 

Mr.  Salt  says,  "  This  entry  shows  that  at  this  date 
the  Welch  tenants  were  of  sufficient  number  and 
importance  to  have  a  Halmot  or  Court  Baron  to  them- 
selves ;"  and  he  submitted  that  the  following  entries  go 
far  to  show  that  the  customary  laws  of  the  Honor 
(of  Clun)  in  the  Welsh  part  of  it  were  founded  upon 
those  of  Howell  Dda?  and  in  many  respects  identical 
with  them. 

"Richard  II  in  the  7th  year  (1383).  Monday  next,  before  the  feast 
of  the  Ascension  of  Our  Lord.  Mercy,  6d.  William  ap  Jevan  hath 
given  the  Lord  6(7.,  to  have  an  Inquisition  whether  his  house  was  burnt  or 
not.  Mercy,  \"2d.  Jevan  ap  Llewelyn,  in  mercy  for  burning  the  house  of 
the  said  William.  Mercy,  2s.  Griffith  ap  Rills  and  Rosser  in  mercy  for 
game." 

"  Court  of  Tempseter. — Monday,  in  the  feast  of  the  Conversion  of  St. 
Paul  the  sixth  year.  Judgment  given  by  twenty-four  of  the  best  men  of 
Tempseter,  upon  Phillip  Pagin  (or  Payne),  that  he  be  outlawed  in 
Tempseter  and  proclaimed  in  Court. 

"  Court  of  Tempseter  held  Monday,  on  the  morrow  after  the  feast  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  40s.,  the  parents  of  Richard  de  Acton  give  to  the  Lord  40*. 
for  the  Peace  had  of  Philip  Payne,  who  was  outlawed  for  the  death  of 
Richard  de  Acton,  and  that  the  Bailiffs  of  the  Lord  be  assisting  to  levy 
ten  pounds  of  the  Sureties  of  the  aforesaid  Philip  Payne,  to  witt,  Gar, 
Hugh  the  son  of  David,  and  Roger  Payne.  Goods  6  marks,  of  the  goods 
of  Philip  Payne,  outlawed,  found  in  Tempseter,  6  marks.  Pledge  William 
Gam." 

1  A  "  relief  was  a  fine  paid  by  the  heir  at  a  tenant's  death. 

2  Edward  III  commenced  his  reign  on  January  25th,  1327.     The 
anniversary  of  St.  Paul's  conversion  is  also  on  January  25th.     The 
Court  was  therefore  held  on  Wednesday,  28th  January  1333. 

3  Mr.  Salt  made  use  of  Robert's  translation,  of  the  Ancient  Laws  of 
Cambria. 

VOL.  XXV.  D 


34  HISTORY    OF   THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY. 

"  Mercy,  Qd.  Phillip  Falch  in  mercy  for  Trespass  made  in  the  house 
which  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord." 

"  Mercy,  Qd.  The  same  Philip  in  mercy  for  breaking  the  Constitution 
of  the  Country." 

"  Court  of  Tempseter  held  Monday,  the  morrow  after  beheading  of  St. 
John  in  the  seventh  year  (1384).  Two  sheep,  price  2s.  Two  sheep  of 
Wlad  Goch,  deceased,  accrued  to  the  Lord  according  to  the  custom  of 
the  country,  she  being  a  harlot," 

"  Court  of  Tempseter  held  Monday  next  before  the  feast  of  St  John 
the  Baptist  in  the  seventh  year,  2s.,  Llwys,  son  of  Howell,  gave  to  the 
Lord  to  have  judgment  of  the  Court,  if  his  sister  ought  to  have  part  of  his 
inheritance,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country." 

"  Court  of  Tempseter  held  Monday  next  after  the  feast  of  the  Trans- 
lation of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury  in  the  seventh  year.  Next  Laurence 
Pricket  is  accused  at  the  suit  of  Nicholas  Thebaud  in  a  plea  of  felony  and 
robbery,  to  wit,  of  two  horses  with  their  harness  to  the  value  of  six1 
marks,  which  said  Laurence  being  present  stood  mute,  and  therefore  it  is 
considered  by  the  Court  that  no  warrant  of  mainprise2  till  such  time  as 
he  will  speak." 

Some  riders  annexed  to  the  Rolls  of  the  6  and 
7  Edw.  Ill  (1333-4)  contain  entries  of  seizures  by  the 
Lord's  officer,  Meredith  ap  Gilbert,  of  the  lands  of 
persons  who  were  what  is  termed  "  Kilgh"  (Cylch). 
The  following  are  examples  : 

11  The  inheritance  of  Eve,  the  daughter  of  Llewelyn  Voil,  who  oweth 
Kilgh,  is  in  the  hands  of  Meredith  ap  Gilbert." 

"The  inheritance  of  Eignion  Talgron  is  in  the  hands  of  Meredith  ap 
Gilbert,  who  oweth  Kilgh" 

Mr.  Salt  mentions  that  in  the  Honor  of  Clun,  when 
he  compiled  his  paper  (1858),  there  were  some  small 
annual  payments  made,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Meal 
Rents",3  payable  on  St.  Barnabas  Day  (June  llth) 
yearly.  These  were  understood  to  be  a  money  com- 
position for  a  render  in  kind  anciently  made  of  meal 
to  feed  the  Lord's  hounds  when  he  hunted  in  the 
township,  and  were  supposed  to  have  originated  from 
the  Cylch-Dyfrgivn  of  the  Welsh,  which  was  an  obli- 
gation on  tenants  to  provide  for  the  huntsmen  and 
hounds  of  the  prince  when  he  came  to  hunt  otters. 

1  This  figure  is  not  certain. 

2  Not  to  be  bailed. 

3  The  "  Gwestfa",  or  food  rent,  in  which  honey  was  an  important 
element,  commuted  later  into  the  Punt  dwngc,  the  pound  of  silver, 
which  survives  as  the  fealty  or  tunk  rent  in  some  parts.     Probably 
the  chief  rents  now  paid  in  Kerry  represent  this  rent. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    KERRY.  35 

They  were  payable  in  respect  of  tenements  of  great 
antiquity. 

Besides  these  meal-rents,  the  same  farm  in  many,  but 
not  in  all,  cases  pays  another  small  rent  to  the  land- 
lord called  "  Trewith  Pynt".  This  rent  is  due  at  St. 
Martin's  Day  (Nov.  llth),  payable  only  once  in  two 
years,  or  in  each  even  year.  The  annual  amount  was 
about  one-sixth  of  the  meal-rent  when  divided  between 
two  years. 

During  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  years  (1512-15), 
the  Swainmote  Courts  for  Clun  were  held  three  or 
four  times  yearly,  and  the  attachments  for  Vert—  that 
is,  "  cutting  or  destroying  anything  bearing  green  leaf 
which  may  cover  a  deer" — are  very  numerous,  as  also  are 
those  for  turning  goats,  pigs,  sheep,  and  cattle  into  the 
Forest  ;  but  the  Lords  seem  to  have  tacitly  permitted 
these  practices,  as  the  fines  were  seldom  more  than  4cL 
for  "  Vert"  goats  and  pigs;  2d.  for  sheep,  and  from  6d. 
to  Is.  for  cattle. 


D  2 


36 


CHUECHSTOEE    REGISTER. 


THE  Churchstoke  Register,  from  which  the  following 
extracts1  are  given,  commences  with  entries  of  the  year 
1558. 

1590.  Ric.  Corbett,  gent.,  of  Wold,  Churchstoke,  to  him  and  his 
heirs  a  rorae  or  place  for  a  pew  5  ft.  by  3  ft.  granted  by  the 
parishioners. 

1622.  John  Warde,  Litterat,  b'd  July  8. 

1623.  George  Oakley's  "servus"  Rowland  b'd  Sep.  18. 

„  Eliz.,2  w.  of  Edw'd  Home,  rector  of  Wentnor,  b'd  Oct.  18. 

,,  Edw.  Home,  Clerk,  and  Jane  Lingan,  m'd  Feb.  3. 

1624.  Jocosa,  d.  of  Edmond  Tipton,  Clerk,  and  Marg't,  b'p  Mar.  30. 
1631.  Edw.  Home,  Clerk,  b'd  Feb.  7. 

1636.  Ririd  ap  David  de  Hopton,  b'd  Aug.  9. 

,,      Erasmus   Powell,3    Clk.,    and   Elinor    Clearke,   wid.,    m'd 
Nov.  15. 

1652.  Win.  s.  of  Wm.  Lawrence,  Clk.,  and  Dorothy,  b'p  Nov.  29. 

1698.  John  Dunne,  M.A.,  minister  18  years,  b'd  at  Lidbury  North, 
Jan.  18. 

1700.  Francis  Brooks,  Papist,  b'd  Jan.  17. 

1701.  Rich'd  Jones,  Chirurgeon  and  Clerk  of  this  parish,  and  Isabel, 
the  d.   of  George  Arthur  of  Pen  aron,  in  the  p'sh  of  Kerry,   m'd 
Oct.  10. 

1704.  Charles  Mason,  Esq.,  his  page  Charles,  b'p  June  18,  at. 
about  10,  a  West  Indian,  and  surnamed  Hector. 

1  These  appeared    in   "Shropshire  Shreds  and   Patches",   in  the 
Salopian  Journal  of  21  April  1880. 

2  She  was  the  second  daughter  of  Edward  Broughton  of  Upper 
Broughton,  near  Bishop's  Castle.     Her  sister  Jane  married  the  quaint 
historian,  Oliver  Matthews,  of  Bishop's  Castle.     Their  mother  was 
Joan  Pilsworth  of  Staffordshire.     In  the  Broughton  pedigree  in  the 
College  of  Arms,  Vincent's  Coll.,  the  Rev.  Edward  Holmes  is  styled 
of  "  Rockley,  Justic.  ad  pacem". 

3  Erasmus  Powell,  vicar  of  Clun,  was  the  fourth  son  of  Hugh  Powell 
of  Ednop,  by  his  wife  Margaret,  daughter  of  Matthew  Goch  Price  of 
Newtown  Hall,  Sheriff  of  Montgomeryshire  in  1548. 


37 


PEDIGREE    OF    BISHOP    LLOYD    OF 
ST.  ASAPH. 


THE  following  pedigree  of  Bishop  Lloyd,  extracted 
from  a  MS.  kindly  lent  by  Mr.  T.  LI.  Murray-Browne, 
Local  Government  Inspector,  and  one  of  the  Bishop's 
descendants,  will  interest  many  readers  of  the 
Montgomeryshire  Collections.  Bishop  Lloyd  is  so 
well  known  as  one  of  "  The  Seven  Bishops"  who 
resisted  King  James  II's  unconstitutional  proceed- 
ings, that  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  more  than 
briefly  recapitulate  the  events  of  his  life.  He  was 
born  at  Tylehurst,  in  Berkshire,  in  August  1627,  and 
was  educated  at  Oxford,  where  he  took  his  B.  A.  degree 
in  1642  (being  only  fifteen  years  of  age),  and  proceeded 
M.A.  in  due  course.  In  1648  he  received  Deacon's 
orders,  and  in  1656  was  ordained  Priest.  In  1660 
he  became  Prebendary  of  Ripon,  and  in  July  1666 
Chaplain  to  the  King.  In  1667  he  proceeded  Doctor 
of  Divinity,  and  became  Prebend  of  Salisbury,  and 
the  following  year  Vicar  of  St.  Mary's,  Reading,  and 
Archdeacon  of  Merioneth.  In  May  1672  he  was 
installed  Dean  of  Bangor,  and  in  1674  Canon  Resi- 
dentiary of  Salisbury.  In  the  latter  end  of  1676  he 
became  Vicar  of  St.  Martin's  in  Westminster,  and  on 
October  3rd,  1680,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph,  in  succession  to  Dr.  Isaac  Barrow.  On  the  8th 
of  June  1688,  he,  with  Archbishop  Bancroft  and 
the  Bishops  of  Ely,  Chichester,  Bath  and  Wells, 
Peterborough,  and  Bristol,  were  committed  to  the 
Tower  for  resisting  the  King  when  he  tried  to  abrogate 
the  penal  laws  by  his  own  personal  authority.  The 
seven  bishops  were  publicly  tried  at  Westminster 
Hall,  and  acquitted  on  the  fifteenth  of  the  same 


38  PEDIGREE  OF  BISHOP  LLOYD  OF  ST.  ASAPH. 

month,  amid  general  acclamations.  He  subsequently 
took  a  part  in  bringing  about  the  accession  of  William 
arid  Mary  to  the  throne,  and  was  made  Lord  Almoner 
to  their  Majesties.  In  October  1692  he  was  translated 
to  the  see  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry,  and  in  1699 
to  that  of  Worcester.  He  died  in  1717,  aged  ninety 
years. 

Bishop  Lloyd  was  a  prelate  of  singular  learning 
and  ability,  and  of  untiring  industry  and  devotion 
to  duty.  Bishop  Burnet,  his  contemporary,  writes 
of  him,  "  He  is  a  person  most  indefatigable  in  his 
industry,  and  the  most  judicious  in  his  observations 
of  any  that  is  known,  and  is  one  of  the  greatest 
masters  of  style  now  living."  He  published  a  large 
number  of  sermons  and  pamphlets,  and  some  larger 
works.  During  his  tenure  of  the  see  of  St.  Asaph 
he  laboured  to  win  back  the  Nonconformists  by  friendly 
conference  and  argument.  For  this  purpose  he  invited, 
first,  the  Quakers  to  meet  him  at  the  Town  Hall  at 
Llanfyllin.  and  afterwards  the  Presbyterians  at  Os- 
westry,  to  confer  together  and  discuss  their  points  of 
difference.  At  the  former  the  Quakers  were  ably 
represented  by  Charles  and  Thomas  Lloyd  of  Dolobran, 
and  the  debate,  which  lasted  three  days,  was  conducted 
with  much  credit  to  both  parties.  Some  account  of  it 
has  already  appeared  in  Mont.  Coll.,  iii,  p.  63,  and  x, 
p.  96.  Although,  as  might  have  been  expected,  neither 
party  succeeded  in  convincing  the  other,  the  debate 
increased  their  respect  towards  each  other,  and  through 
the  Bishop's  good  offices  the  persecuted  Quakers  in 
this  diocese  were  treated  with  greater  consideration, 
and  several  of  them  who  were  still  in  prison  were  dis- 
charged. 

B.  W. 


PEDIGREE  OF  BISHOP  LLOYD  OF  ST.  ASAPH. 


39 


PEDIGREE   OF  THE   RIGHT  REV.  WILLIAM   LLOYD,  D.D., 

BISHOP    OF    ST.  ASAPH. 

Authorities  for  the  different  Lines : 

From  Llywarcli  ab  Bran,  taken  from  Llwyd's  Pedigree. 

From   Bleddyn  ab  Cynfyn  to  Elin,  heiress  of  Henblas,  from  Mr. 

Protheroe's  MSS. 

From  Ednyfed  Fychan,  Burke,  Landed  Gentry  (Lloyd  of  Plymog). 
For  Bleddyu  ab  Cynfyn,  see  Yorke's  Royal  Tribes  of  Wales. 


Gwenllian,= 
verch 
Ehys  ab 
Gruffydd, 
descended 
through 
Ehys  ab 
Tewdwr 
and  Hywel 
Dda  from 
Ehodri 
Mawr. 

LLYWARCH  AB  BRAN^Gwenllian. 
Founder  of  the  2nd 
Noble  Tribe  of  North 
Wales,    desc.    from 
Ehodri  Mawr. 
2.                   1. 

FYCHAN.          ystl.         gan. 

BL 

Ma 

lor 

Gn 

A 
1 

Ma 

Lk 
Lie 

BDDYN   AB    CYNFYN. 

:edydd. 
werth  Goch. 

iffydd    Fychan,    the 
Vild  Knight  of  Caer 
lywel. 

dog  Goch. 

welyn. 
welyn  Fychan. 

Gronwy.=fMorf-     lorwerth.^Jane. 

1  ydd. 

1                                 I 

Angh-=j=Tewdwr.         Philip, 
arad. 

Madoc. 

1 

Gron  wy.  =f=G  weur  vul. 
I 


Llewelyn. 


2. 


Tudor  ap  Gronwy  ( grand-  =pMallt. 
father  by  his  first  wife, 
Margaret,  of  Owen  Tu- 
dor. 

Goronwy  Fychan. 
Morfydd.=pGwilym. 

Tudor  Fychan.=j= Agnes. 

Owen  Tudor.=j=Grace,  dau.  of  Sir 


Dafvdd  Gethin. 


Llewelyn. 


Tudor. 


Ad 
Llewelyn. 

Gruffydd. 

I 
Dyfydd  Goch. 

Llewelyn. 

I 

Ieuan.=j=Nest. 
Margaret.^Eobert. 


I 


Henry  Bold.       Dafydd.=f  ELIN,  HEIRESS  OF  HENBLAS. 


Eichard  Owen.=^Elizabeth. 

I 


40 


PEDIGREE  OF  BISHOP  LLOYD  OF  ST.  ASAPH. 


|a 
Richard  Owen.=f=Margaret. 


John  ap  Dafydd.=f  Gwen. 


CATHERINE  OWEN.=PDAFYDD  LLWYD. 

I 


Anne.=f= William  Lloyd  of  Hen- 
I  bias. 

Whence  Lloyds  of  Henblas. 


Richard  Lloyd,  Rector=pAnne  Wicken. 
of  Tilehurst. 


WILLIAM    LLOYD,    b.   1627,  ordained=f=Anne,  grand-dau.  of  Samuel  Fell, 


Deacon  1648,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph 
1680,  committed  to  the  Tower  1688, 
Lichfield  and  Coventry  1692,  Wor- 
cester 1699;  06.  1717. 


Dean  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford, 
descended  from  Thomas,  Earl  of 
Norfolk,  son  of  Edward  I,  by 
Margaret  of  France. 


Elizabeth  Poulden,=f= William  Lloyd,  Chancelloi 
1694.  of  Worcester. 

John   Soley=p  Elizabeth, 
of  Sand- 
bourne. 


=Jane  Thompson  of  Esk- 
rick,  Yorkshire. 


I 
John  Soley.=?= 


Mary  Light-=f 
foot. 

1 
=John  Lloyd, 
Rector  of 
Ryton. 

Mary.=f=Thora  as 
Baker. 

Mary,  heiress.=j=Rev.  William  Lloyd  Baker. 


John  =j=Margaret 
Soley. 


T 


Skey. 


Annabella=r=Thomas  John=pMary    Sharp,    heiress    of 


Ralfe.      I   Lloyd  Baker. 


ob.  s.  p. 


o&.  s.  p. 


Wm.  Sharp,  descended 
from  Sir  Richard  Gran- 
ville,  Lord  High  Ad- 
miral of  England,  and 
through  him  from  Regi- 
nald the  Rich,  a  Danish 
Earl. 


Thomas  Murray  =pCathe-        Benjamin=pMary         Thomas  Barwick=j=Mary 


Browne. 

rine. 

Chapman 
Browne, 

Anne 
Lloyd. 

Lloyd 

Baker. 

Fen 
wick 

1                            | 
Thomas  Lloyd           Charles 
Murray  (Local       Chapman 
Gov.  Insp.) 

Walter          James  Henry 
Raleigh.           Granville. 

William 
Bevil. 

! 

1 

1 

Annabella     William       Charles      Benjamin 
Maria.          Lloyd.         Orde.       Chapman. 


Granville          Henry 
Edwin  Orde 

1  loyd.  Lloyd. 


41 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY; 

EXTRACTS  FROM  GAOL  FILES,  WITH  NOTES. 
BY  R.  WILLIAMS,  F.R.HisT.S. 
(Continued  from  Vol.  xxiv,  p.  232.) 


1675  (27  Chas.  II).     Great  Sessions  held  at  Pool,  Sept.  20th 
1675. 

Names  of  Jury  summoned.^- 

1  Jur.  Rob'tus  Merricke  de  Churchstocke,  Gen. 

Ric'us  Buckley2  de  Llandysill,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Jones3  de  Colynog,  Gen. 

2  Jur.  Edr'us  Davies  de  Penrhyn,  Gen. 

3  Jur.  Joh'es  Davies  de  Penrhyn,  Gen. 

4  Jur.  Morriceus  Jones  de  Weege,  Gen. 

5  Jur.  Edr'us  Hugh  de  Castle,  Gen. 

Griffinus  Evans  de  Cwmberllan,  Gen. 

6  Jur.  Ric'us  Peers  de  Kilkewydd,  Gen. 

7  Jur.  Will'us  Baxter  de  Llanwonog,  Gen. 

8  Jur.  Jon.  Phillipps  de  Ederton. 

9  Jur.  Dauid  Lewis  de  Penstrowed. 

10  Jur.  Carolus  Jones  de  Llaudyssill. 

11  Jur.  Dauid  Dauies  de  Penrhyn. 

12  Jur.  Jonathan  Ho  wells. 


1  For  the  copies  of  the  Jury  Panels  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  R.  E. 
Jones,  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Powys-land  Club. 

2  Richard  Buckley  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  John  Buckley 
Williames,  Esq.,  of  Pennant  and  Glaohafren,  Sheriff  1820,  who  died 
in  1866,  aged  90.     (See  Mont.  Coll.,  ix,  p.  351.) 

8  John  Jones  was  an  Attorney,  living  at  Meifod.  "  About  the 
same  time  [1675],  Charles  Lloyd  of  Dolobran  had  ten  young  beasts 
taken  from  him  by  John  Jones  of  Golynog,  an  Attorney-at-law,  who 
was  that  year  Overseer  of  the  Poor  of  the  Parish  of  Meifod,  upon  a 
warrant  from  David  Maurice"  of  Penybont.  (Life  of  Richard  Davies, 
the  Quaker.) 


42  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

Borough  Inquest. 

Burg  de  Montgom'y. 

1  Jur.  Edr'us  Brown  vill  de  Mountgom'y,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Houseman  de  ead.,  Gen. 

2  Jur.  Joh'es  Ward  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Erasmus  Jones  de  ead.,  Gen. 

3  Jur.  Thomas  ffrauncis  de  ead. 

Carolus  Jones  de  Poonfrayth  [qy.  Fronfraith],  Gen. 

4  Jur.  ffranciscus  Reignold  de  Mountgom'y,  Gen. 

5  Jur.  Alexander  Hamon  de  ead.,  Gen. 

6  Jur.  Edr'us  Houseman  de  ead.,  Gen. 

7  Jur.  Edmundus  Ireland  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Walterius  Cowp  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Henricus  Boadney  de,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Powell  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Burg  de  Llanvillinge. 

Humffr'us  Meredith1  de  Brongaine,  Gen. 

8  Jur.  Joh'es  Pughe1  de  llanvethen,  Gen. 

Humffr'us  Plymley1  de  llanvillinge,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Griffithes1  de  Treueylange  [Trewylan]. 
Will'us  Lewis1  de  Trefnaney,  Gen. 

9  Jur.  Edr'us  Oliuer2  [Llanfyllin]. 

10  Jur.  Edr'us  Lloyd1  [of  Llandrinio]. 

Burg  de  Llanydloes. 

Will'us  Evans  de  Lany wared,  Gen. 
Morganus  Owen  de  Bryntaven,  Gen. 
Ricardus  Swancott  de  Maestregymer,  Gen. 
Ricardus  Howell  Dauid  de  Treveth  lawcoied,  Gen. 

11  Jur.  Ric' us  Rowland. 

Burg  de  Pola. 

Thomas  Morris  de  lladyvdol  [Llanerch-hudol],  Gen. 
Stephanus  Niccolls  de  Gyngrogvawr.  Gen. 
Ric'us  Griffithes  de  Tretherwen,  Gen. 

12  Jur.  Jno.  Prichd. 

13  Jur.  Alexander  Humffreys. 


1  All  these  were  among  the  Burgesses  elected  at  the  first  Great 
Leet  for  the  Borough  of  Llanfyllin,  held  25th   Oct.   1673.     (Mont. 
Coll.,  xxiii,  p.  146.) 

2  Elected  a  Burgess  20th  Oct.  1676.     (Ibid.) 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL   FILES.  43 

Grand  Jury  (Inq.  Mayna). 
Llanvillinge  H. 

1  Jur.     Joh'es  Kyffin  de  Bodvath  [Bodfach],1  Ar. 

Thomas  Cadd'r  de  Rhisgog,  Gen. 

Josephus  Ellis  de  Vachwen,  Gen. 

Willi'mus  John  Lewis  de  Peniarth,  Gen. 

David  Thomas  de  Bodyddan,  Gen. 
ex.     Cadd'r  Robert2  de  Pennant,  Gen. 

Ehydz  John  Thomas  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Thomas  de  Marchnant  ucha,  Gen. 

Hugo  Cadd'r  de  Llangynog,  Gen. 
ex.     David  Edward  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Newtowne  H. 

2  Jur.     Rlc'us  Glynne  de  Aberbechan,  Gen. 

3  Jur.     Willi'us  Price  de  Vachwen,  Gen. 

Thomas  Owen  de  Garthgellin,  Gen. 
Ric'us  Jones  de  ead.,  Gen. 

4  Jur.     Thomas  Gwynne  de  Aberhavespe,  Gen. 

Jacobus  Baxter  de  Hendydley,  Gen. 
Jacobus  Broom  well3  de  Aberhavespe,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Ellis  ap  Evan  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Llanydloes  H. 

ex.     Lodovicus  Lewis4  de  Dole  y  gwenyth,  Gen. 
ex.     David  Evans  de  Glyn  brochan,  Gen. 

Evanus  Morris  de  Manleth,  Gen. 

Moriceus  Bowen  de  Bodyarth  [Bodaioch  ?],  Gen. 

Arthurus  Morris  de  Weege,  Gen. 
ex.     Moriceus  Edwards  de  Masemawre,  Gen. 

1  John  Kyffin  was  Sheriff  in  1678. 

2  He  lived  at  Cwni-lleeh-ucha,  of  which  he  was  the  owner,  and  was 
a  poet.     He  died  12th  Feb.  1708.     (Mont.  Worthies.) 

3  One  of  the  Chief  Constables  for  Newtown  Hundred  in  1678. 

4  Ludovic  Lewis  was  probably  one  of  the  Commissioners  for  the 
county  for  raising  funds  for  the  support  of  the  army  of  the  Common- 
wealth (Mont.  Coll.,  ii,  p.  348).     He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Pryce  of  Park,  and  sister  of  Matthew  Pryce,  M.P.  for  Montgomery 
Boroughs,  by  whom  he  had  three  daughters,  co-heiresses :  1,  Mary, 
married  to  Robert  Ingram  of  Glynhafren  ;  2,  Elizabeth,  married  to 
Rhys  Williams,  Ystumcolwyn  ;  and  Lydia,  married  to  John  Pryce 
of  Cyfronydd    (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  224).    He  was  descended  through 
Meredydd  Benwyn  from  Brochwel  Ysgythrog,  Prince  of  Powys. 


44  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  I 


Caurse  H. 

5  Jur.     Joh'es  Powell  de  Bacheltrey,  Gen. 

Will'mus  Bright  de  Hopton,  Gen.  chall 
ex.     Thomas  Crumpe1  de  Uppington,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Rogers  de  Trewerne,  Gen. 
Thomas  Bowdler2  de  Midletowne,  Gen. 
Ric'us  ap  Prichard  de  Crygion,  Gen. 

Deyther  H. 

ex.     Willi'us  Derwas3  de  Penrhyn,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Jones  de  Colfarm  [Collfryn1?],  Gen. 

Petrus  Edwards  de  Penrhyn  lethan  [fechan],  Gen. 
ex.     Edr'us  Austine  de  Llandrinio,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Richards  de  ead.,  Gen. 

6  Jur.     Joseph  Lloyd. 

Morgan  Dauid  de  Darowen.          " 
ex.     Morris  Syre  de. 

Arthur  Thomas  de  Pen'nt. 
Joh'es  Ellis  de. 

7  Jur.     Arthur  James  de  Kylkewyth.  [These  are  not  in  the 

TT  1        T71  .       .1   .      f~1 -  „!-     I  TT 3 3          O    T~v  _        i  1  ~\ 


Hugh  Evans  de  Greenrhym. 
Tho.  Jones  de  Llandyssill. 

8  Jur.     Rowland  Thod.  Penegoes. 

Jo'n  Griffithes  de  fForden. 

9  Jur.     Dauid  Price  de  Penstrowed. 


Hundred  of  Deythur.] 


1  There   are  (or  were)  two  inscriptions  on  ledger  stones  in    the 
chancel  of  Buttington  Church,  commemorating  members  of  the  Crump 
family.     (Byegones,  Aug.  21,  1872.) 

2  The  Bowdlers  were  at  one  time  perhaps  the  most  powerful  family 
in  Montgomeryshire  ;  but  the  name  is  now  found  only  among  a  few 
persons  of  humble  rank.     Baldwin  de  Boulers  was  the  first  Norman 
Lord  of  Montgomery,  and  from  him  the  Welsh  called  that  town  Tre 
Faldwyn  (Eyton's  Ant.  of  Shropshire,  vol.  vii,  p.  7).     This  was  about 
the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century.     Some  of  his  descendants  be- 
came implicated  in  the  rebellion  of  Owen  Glyndwr,  and  lost  their 
estates  (Mont.   Coll,  iv,  p.  329).     "  Joh'es  Bowdler  de  Middletowne, 
Gen.",  occurs  on  a  Grand  Jury  list,  10  Charles  I,  and  "  Thomas  Bowdler 
de  Middletowne,  Gen.",  14  Charles  II.     "  Thomas  Bowdler  of  Middle- 
towne" appears  as  an  hereditary  burgess  of  Welshpool  on  the  "  Old 
Eyle"  of  1678,  and  "John  Bowdler  of  Middletowne"  on  the  28th 
September  1721.     (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  233.) 

3  William  Derwas  was  eighth  in  descent  from  Sir  Griffith  Yaughan, 
Knt.  Bannerett,  of  Garth.     (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  222.) 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  45 

Mathravall  H. 

Robertus  ap  Olliver1  de  Kenhinva,  Gen. 
ex.     Joh'es  David  de  Rhiwhiriarth,  Gen. 
David  Lloyd  Jun'  de  Llangynew,  Gen. 

10  Jur.  Watkinus  Edwards  de  Kevenyllys,  Gen. 

Poole  H. 

David  Morris  de  Broniarth,  Gen. 
Griffinus  Evan  de  Kevenllyffus,  Gen. 
Ric'us  Lewis  de  Braniarth,  Gen. 
Thomas  Price  de  Dolewen,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Lewis  de  Llansanfraid,  Gen. 
ex.     Carolus  Whitfield  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Thomas  Howard  de  Towsewed  [q.  Trawscoed],  Gen.   - 

Montgomery  H. 

1 1  Jur.  Ambrosus  Gethyn2  de  Clothey,  G-en. 

Ric'us  Harris  de  Castlewright,  Gen. 

Griffinus  Powell  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Robertus  Myricke  de  Churchstooke,  Gen. 

12  Jur.  Ric'us  Griffithes  de  Mellington,  Gen. 

Machynlleth  H, 

Henricus  Vaughan  de  Issagareg,  Gen.  ad  r'  J.  tn  . 
Walterus  Price  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Jones  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Griffinus  Evan  de  Darowen,  Gen. 
Ric'us  Meredith  de  ead.,  Gen. 
ex.     Moseus  Lewis  de  Llanvechan,  Gen. 

Joh'es  ap  Pugh  John  de  Uchygarreg,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Pugh  de  Cwmllowy,8  Gen. 

13  Jur.  Priamus  Price  [of  Dol-las]. 

[No  Presentments  or  File ;  probably  lost.] 

1676,  March  31  (28  Charles  II).      Great   Sessions  held  at 
Montgomery. 

No'ia  Jur.  ad  inquirendum,  etc. 
Montgomery  Hundred. 

1  Jur.  William  Pugh,  Esq. 

2  Jur.  George  Gravener  of  Mochtrey,  Gen. 

Thomas  Evans  of  Brynllewarch,  Gen. 
John  Thomas  of  Aston,  Gen. 

1  Son  of  Oliver  Humphreys  of  Cynhinfa,  by  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Rees  ap  Morris  of  Ystradfaelog.     (See  Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  227.) 

2  On  Grand  Jury  1661.    (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  213.)    The  Gethins  of 
Brompton   and   Cloddiau   were  a  branch   of  the  once  powerful  De 
Boulers  or  Bowdler  family.     (Ibid.,  vi,  p.  67.) 

3  See  a  paper  on  Pughe  of  Cwmllowi,  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  243. 


46  MONTGOMERYSHIRE   NONCONFORMITY  : 

ex.     Edward  Mill  ward  of  Huntington  [Hyssington],  Gen. 
Evan  Griffithes  of  the  same,  Gen. 
John  Jones  of  Churchstocke,  Gen. 
Dauid  Lewis  of  the  same,  Gen. 

Llanidloes  Hundred. 
Edward  Evans  of  Rhyd  y  Carrow,1  Esq. 
Edward  Bowen2  of  Pen  yr  Alt,  Gen. 
Edward  Owens3  of  Dole  y  Llys,  Gen. 
Jenkin  Williams  of  Eskir  goch,  Gen. 
Dauid  Lewis  de  Penstrewidd  [Penstrowed],  Gen. 
Lewis  Jones  of  Llandinam,  Gen. 

Poole  Hundred. 

Danid  Hanmer  of  Varchoell,  Gen. 
Dauid  Morris  of  Braniarth,  Gen. 
John  Lewis  of  Lledrod,  Gen. 
Thomas  Price  of  Dolwar,  Gen. 

Machynllelh  Hundred. 
Roger  Mostyn*  of  Kernes,  Esq. 
Henry  Parry  of  Machynlleth,  Gen. 
Henry  Vaughan  of  Isse  y  Garreg,  Gen. 
Edward  Savagg5  of  Llambrynmaire,  Gen. 


1  He  was  one  of  those  who  compounded  for  their  estates  in  1648. 
In  his  Petition  he  admitted  that  "he  was  a  servant  to  Prince  Morris 
in  this  warre  against  ye  Parliam't",  but  pleads  "  that  he  came  in  to 
the  parliament  in  October  1645".     (Mont.  Coll.,  xviii,  p.  286.)     Rhyd 
y  Carw  is  in  Trefeglwys. 

2  The  ancestor  of  the  Bo  wens  of  Tyddyn. 

3  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  pp.  46  and  201.     He  was  living  in  1704. 

4  Of  Dolycorslwyn.     Sheriff  in  1661.     He  was  probably  the  eighth 
son  of  Sir  Roger  Mostyn,  Knt.,  and  his  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter 
and  heiress  of  Hugh  Pugh  of  Dolycorslwyn.   He  is  referred  to  by  Richard 
Da  vies  the  Quaker  as  "  Colonel"  Mostyn.     (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  218.) 

5  The     Savage    family    came    to    Llanbrynmair    probably   from 
Trefeglwys.     Edward  Savage  of  Maestrefgomer  was  on  the  list,  but 
not  of  the  Grand  Jury,  23  Charles  I  (1647),  and  "  Joh'es  Savadg  de 
Trefegloes,   Gen.",   occurs  on  a  similar  list,  14  Charles  II  (1662). 
The  Rev.  Andrew  Savage  was  Vicar  of  Llanbrynmair  from  1663  up 
to  his  death,  Oct.  1680,  and  was  buried  there.     Six  of  his  children 
were  baptised  there.     Edward  Savage  married  Sarah  Jones  at  Llan- 
brynmair on  the  21st  May  1672,  and  had  several  children.     Richard 
Savage  married  Elizabeth  Moody  at  Welshpool,  28th  January  1693. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them  at  Welshpool,  two  subsequently  at 
Tregynon,  one  at  Darowen,  and  three  at  Llanbrynmair.     He  became 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  47 

3  Jur.  Richard  Rowland  of  Dare  Owen,  Gen. 

Walter  Price  of  ysse  y  Garreg,  Gen. 

Llanvilling  Hundred. 
William  Jones  of  Penarth,  Gen. 
John  Robert  Thomas  of  Teirtrey,  Gen. 
John  Meredith  Thomas  of  the  same,  Gen. 
Owen  Thomas  Evau  of  Halven,  Gen. 

New  Towne  Hundred. 
John  Bishopp  of  DufFryn  Llanvaire,  Gen. 
Edward  Humffreys  of  Bryn  Talch,  Gen. 

4  Jur.  William  Seyre  of  Aberhaley,  Gen. 

Richard  Rees  of  Llanvaire,  Gen. 
fFrancis  Reignalds  of  Llandysill,  Gen. 
Dauid  Meredith  of  Llanwethelan,  Gen. 
ex.     Jeremy  Reignalds  of  Llandysill,  Gen. 

Deythur  Hundred. 

15  Jur.  William  Lloyd  of  Llandrinio,  Gen. 
Robert  Dauies  of  Tretherwen,  Gen. 

Caurse  Hundred. 

5  Jur.  John  Boudler1  of  Midletowne,  Gen. 

Thomas  Gittins  of  Heldre,  Gen. 

6  Jur.  Nathaniell  Mathews  of  Cletterwood,  Gen. 

Mathraval  Hundred. 
Robert  ap  Oliver2  of  Kenhinva,  Gen. 
Charles  Morris  of  Garthbihio,  Gen. 
Watkin  Evans  of  Crane,  Gen, 

7  Jur.  David  Lloyd  of  Pentree  [Llangyniew],  Gen. 

8  Jur.  Dauid  Williams  of  Brynglas,  Gen. 

9  Jur.  Dauid  Evans  of  Mathravell,  Gen. 

11  Jur.  Dauid  Price. 

12  Jur.  Edr'us  Pugh  de  Penrhose. 
10  Jur.  Dauid  Evan  de  Brynellen. 

13  Jur.  Tho.  Owen. 

Dauid  Morgan  de  Machenlleth. 
Tho.  Prichd.  Humfreys  de  eadem, 
Wm.  Ed'es  de  Midleton. 
Ric'us  Buckeley3  de  Rhandir. 

14  Jur.  Ric'us  Jones  de  Bettus. 

GEORGE  LLEWELIN,  Ar.  Vic.  [Sheriff.] 

Vicar  of  Llanbrynmair  in  1705,  where  he  died  June  10th,  1709. 
There  are  several  members  of  the  Savage  family  still  to  be  found  in 
the  parishes  of  Llanwnog,  Trefeglwys,  Llandinam,  and  Mochdre. 

1  See  ante,  p.  44,  note. 

2  See  ante,  p.  45,  note.  3  See  ante,  p.  41,  note. 


48  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

The  p'sentm't  of  the  Grand  iury  for  the  said  County  of 
Mountgom'y — 

Wee  p'sent  and  say  that 

Rees  Humffreys  of  ye  p'ish  of  Llandrinio,  in  ye  s'd  County 
of  Mountgom'y,  yeom.,  and  Rich'd  Owen  of  Llandrinio,  afore- 
said, in  ye  s'd  County,  yeoman,  for  the  space  of  one  month  now 
last  and  long  before  absented  themselves  from  the  p'ish  church 
of  Llandrinio,  aforesaid,  in  the  said  County,  and  are  of  the 
opinion,  Tenets,  and  iudgments  of  the  Quakers. 

It  We  p'sent  and  say  that  John  Richard,  alias  Cowpfer], 
of  Llandrinio  aforesaid,  in  the  said  County,  mason,  and  Mary 
Richards,  of  Llandrinio  aforesaid,  did  inhabite  and  dwell  in  a 
certaine  cottage  in  Rhos,  in  ye  township  of  Llandrinio  afore- 
said, in  the  said  County,  for  ye  six  months  last  past,  and  that 
ye  said  John  and  Mary,  upon  or  about  ye  xxixth  day  of 
May  last,  inclosed  p't  of  ye  lands  called  Rhos,  Llandrinio, 
being  ye  right  and  interest  of  ye  freeholders  of  the  said  town- 
ship of  Llandrinio,  and  that  the  said  John  and  Mary  are  of  a 
bad  fame  and  conversation. 

Borough  Inquest. 

No'ia  Jur.  ad  ingruirend'  p9  D'no  Rege  p'  sepal'  Bury  Com9  p'd. 
Mountgom'y  Vill\ 

\  Jur.     ffranciscus  Reignalds,  Gen. 

2  Jur.     Edr'us  Price,  Gen. 

Robt'us  Mason,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Humfreyes,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Howsman,  Gen. 
Ric'us  Morgan,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Griffith,  Gen. 
Carolus  Jones,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Oliver,  Gen. 

3  Jur.     John  Roberts,  Gen. 

4  Jur.     Rob'tus  Morgan,  Gen. 

Henricus  Bradney,  Gen. 
Willi'mus  Humfreyes,  Gen. 

5  Jur.     Dauid  Dailies,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Lloyd,  Gen. 

6  Jur.     Waltrus  Cowper,  Gen. 

Edr'us  Dauies,  Gen. 

7  Jur.     Reignaldus  Powell,  Gen. 

8  Jur.     Edr'us  Bowen,  Gen. 

9  Jur.     Ric'us  Adams,  Gen. 

Edr'us  Berwicke,  Gen. 
Rob'tus  Powell,  Gen. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  49 

Pola  ViU\ 

Edr'us  Lloyd  de  Guilsfeild. 
Joh'es  Tudder  de  Pola. 

Llanvilling. 

Humfridus  Meredith.1 
John  Rider.2 
Willi'rnus  Lewis.1 
Thomas  Ca'dder. 

10  Jur.  Ric'us  Berwicke.3 

11  Jur.  Alexand'r  Hamon.3 

12  Jur.  Ric'us  Dauies. 

Jeremiah  Powell. 

13  Jur.  Edmund  Ireland.3 

GEO.  LLEWELIN,  Ar.  Vic. 

It.  Wee  doe  present  Thomas  Hamon4  and  his  wife  and  the 
rest  of  his  family  for  not  coming  to  church  to  heare  devine 
service  within  ye  space  of  too  moneths  last  past. 

It.  Wee  doe  present  Elizabeth  Jones,  daughter  of  Charles 
Jones  of  Poole,  for  selling  ale  without  Licence  and  intruding 
upon  the  Libertyes  of  the  Borough  of  Montgomery. 

[Jurors'  names.] 

1676  (28  Charles  II).  The  pr'sentm'ts  of  ye  Grand  Jury  att 
ye  greate  Sessions  held  and  kept  for  and  w'thin  ye  sM  County, 
att  Poole  in  ye  s'd  County,  ye  25th  of  September  1676,  as 
followeth  : — 

We  p'sent  Wm.  Perkinson6  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  as  dissenters 
for  absenting  themselves  from  their  p'ishe  church  to  heare 
devine  service  and  sermon  upon  Sundayes  and  other  ffestivalls 
w'thin  ye  p'ishe  of  Churchstoke,  for  w'ch  they  stand  excommu- 
nicated for  six  moneths  last  past. 

1  See  ante,  p.  42. 

2  John  Rider  of  Keel,  tanner,  elected  a  Burgess  25th  Oct.   1673, 
(Mont.  Coll.,  xxiii,  p.  147.) 

3  These  were  Burgesses  of  Montgomery,  not  Llanfyllin.     See  ante, 
p.  42. 

4  Thomas  Harnon  and  his  family  were  Quakers,  living  at  Mont- 
gomery.     See   previous   presentment.      (Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  232.) 
Hamon  was  one  of  those  who  signed  a  remonstrance  with  Cadwalader. 
Edwards   when  he  left  the  Quakers.      See  Life  of  Richard  Davies. 
See  also  subsequent  presentments,  post. 

5  See  previous  presentments.     (Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  pp.  203,  205, 
206,  and  208.) 

VOL.  XXV.  E 


50  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

Margarett,1  ye  wife  of  David  Rogers  of  ye  p'ish  of  Kerry, 
and  Gwenn  Morris,  widowe,  of  ye  same  parish  (as  Dissenters), 
for  ye  like. 

Eubule  Edwards,2  of  ye  p'ishe  of  Guildfield,  in  ye  s'd  County 
(as  a  Recusant),  for  ye  like. 

Thomas  Price,3  of  Llanvilling,  in  ye  sM  County  (as  a  Re- 
cusant), for  ye  like. 

Wm.  Beuseley,4  of  ye  p'ishe  of  Trevegloes,  in  ye  s'd  County 
(as  a  Dissenter),  for  ye  like. 

Wm.  Browne,5  of  ye  p'ishe  of  Llandynam,  in  ye  s'd  County, 
for  ye  like. 

Alexander  Edwards,  of  ye  p'ishe  of  Carnoe,  in  ye  s'd  County 
(as  a  Quaker),  for  ye  like. 

Mary,6  ye  wiefe  of  Edward  Rogers,  of  ye  p'ishe  of  Kerry  (as 
a  Dissenter),  for  ye  like. 

1677,  April  23.  A  great  Sessions  houlden  and  kept  in  the 
towne  of  Poole  for  the  County  of  Mountgomery  for  this 
present  year,  1677. 

We,  the  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  Dythur,  do 
p'sent  the  defect  of  the  new  Bridg  uppon  the  river  Virnwy, 
being  destroyed  by  the  said  river  betweene  the  Hundred  of 
Dythur  and  the  County  of  Denby  ;  likewise  we  p'sent  Richard 
Owenes1  of  Llandarinio,  and  Reese  Humphreys7  of  the  same,  for 
not  conforming  to  the  Church  of  England.  There  is  nothing 
more  p'sen table  w'thin  the  s'd  Hundred  to  the  best  of  ourre 
knowledg. 

by  us,  SOLOMON  PUGH. 

JOHN  JONES. 
April  ye  27th,  1677. 

The  retturne  of 

Thomas  Gryffithes  and  Thomas  Gryffithes,  both  High 


1  See  previous  presentments.     (Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  230.) 

2  Eubule  Edwards  lived  at  Hendrehen.     (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  182, 
note.} 

3  Price,  "  the  Papist".     (See  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  204,  note.) 

4  See  previous  presentments,  ibid.,  pp.  207,  230 ;  also  202  (where 
he  is  described  as  of  Carno). 

5  Previous  presentment.     (Ibid.,  p.  229.) 

6  Previous  presentments.     (Ibid.,  pp.  205,  206.) 

7  See  ante,  p.  48. 


EXTRACTS   FROM    GAOL   FILES.  .51 

Constables  of  ye  Hundred  of  Poole,  doe  p'sent  as  is  under- 
written. 

p'r  us,  THOMAS  GEIEFITHES, 
THOMAS  GEIFFITHES, 
High  Constables  of  ye  Hundred  of  Poole. 


i  Insufficient. 

Mathravall  Joridge     j 

Eubulus  Edwards1     )    /  ,  x 

-,  i  .  T  i       >  (recusants). 

and  his  son  J  ohn    j    v 

John  Pritchard2  Smith  (recusant). 
David  Jones3  a  now  [non]  Conformist. 

and  alsoe  Pontescowrid  Bridge  to  be  insufficient  ;  but  in  ye 
repaire  with  all  speed. 

The  High  Constable  of  the  Hundred  of  Poole  returned  not 
anything  p'sentable  except  "  that  the  p'son  under-named  is  a 
non-Conformist,  other  things  been  fair  and  well." 

THOMAS  LLOYD,  Llanerchrochwell.4 
et  uxor  eius.5 

1677,  April  23.  Atb  the  Greate  Sessions  of  our  Sou'aigne 
Llord  the  King  held  att  Welsh  Poole,  for  the  County  of  Mont- 
gom'y,  the  three  and  Twentieth  day  of  Aprill,  Annoq.  Dom'i 
1677,  before  Sir  Job  Charlton,  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  Chester, 
Mountgomery,  Denby,  and  Flint. 

The  names  of  the  Jurio's  to  enquire  for  o'r  Sou'aigne  Lord 
the  King,  and  for  the  sev'all  Burrows  of  Poole,  Llanvilling, 
Mountgomery,  and  Llanydlosse. 

1  See  supra,  p.  50. 

2  John  Pritchard  lived  at  Groeslwyd,  Guilsfield. 

3  In  1675,  David  Jones  of  Broniarth  (probably  the  same  person) 
had  a  brass  pan  and  a  cow  taken  from  him  upon  a  Warrant  from 
David  Maurice  of  Penybont,  for  attending  a  Quaker's  meeting  at 
Cloddiecochion.     (Life  of  Richard  Davies.) 

4  This  was  Thomas  Lloyd  of  Dolobran,  who  at  this  time  resided 
at  Maesmawr.     (See  Mont.  Worthies.     See  presentment,  Mont.  Coll., 
xxiv,  p.  231.) 

5  Added  by  another  hand.     Thomas  Lloyd's  wife  was  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Gilbert  Jones  of  Welshpool.     She  proved  a  most  devoted  wife, 
and  accompanied  her  husband  to  Pennsylvania  ;  but  died  soon  after 
their  arrival  at  Philadelphia,  which  then  (1683)  consisted  of  three 
or  four  huts  surrounded  by  a  dense  forest.     Mrs.  Lloyd  was  the  first 
person    interred    in   the    Friends'    burial-ground    at    Philadelphia. 
(Mont.  Worthies.) 

E  2 


52  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY: 


Thomas  Parry, 

Gen. 

Tool]. 

Thomas  Morris, 

)» 

"Llanerchydol], 

Roger  Griffiths, 

5» 

'Garth]. 

John  Vaughan, 

75 

Varchoel], 

David  Roberts, 

5) 

Leighton]. 

Arthur  Evans, 

)  J 

Buttington]. 

John  Purcell, 

J> 

Wolstonmynd]. 

William  Lloyd, 

?J 

Kilkewydd]. 

Morris  Jones, 

1 

John  Roberts 
John  Thomas 

Selected  out  of  the 
r                         t,        j 

Robert  Lloyd 

hazard. 

Thomas  Roberts, 

J 

Court    hap- 


We,  the  Jurio's  above  named,  upon  o'r  oaths  doe  p'sent  the 
p'sons  undernamed  for  not  comeinge  to  church  to  hear  Devine 
Service  for  the  space  of  three  mounghts  last  past,  contrary  to 
the  laws  in  that  case  made  and  p'vided. 

Charles  Lloyd  of  Poole,1  Gen.,  et  uxor  eius. 
Richard  Davies,2  et  uxor  eius,  of  the  same. 
William  Man,2  Gun  Smight,  of  Poole. 
David  Jones,2  et  uxor  eius,  of  Poole. 
Margarett  Leinard,  widdow,  of  Poole. 
Gwen  Penrin,2  widdow,  of  Poole. 
Ales,2  the  wief  of  George  Blackbourne  of  Poole. 
Peter  Meredyth,2  et  uxor  eius,  Llanerchidol. 
John  Hatfield,2  et  uxor  eius,  of  Poole. 
Samuel  Jones2  of  the  same. 
David  Roberts2  of  Hope,  et  uxor  eius. 
Mary,2  the  wief  of  Rowland  Rob'ts  of  the  same. 
Ann  Griffithes  of  the  same,  paup.  [pauper]. 
Anne  Jones  of  Cletterroode,  widdow. 
Dorothy  Griffithes  of  the  same,  paup. 
Mary  Wilkes2  of  the  same,  paup. 
Katherin  Jones  of  Treffnant,  widdow. 
Jane  Jones  of  the  same,  spinster. 
Christopher  Clough  et  uxor  eius,  de  Cletterrood. 
Katherin  Priched  of  Trallwn  Gelen,  widdow. 
Thomas  Prichard  of  the  same,  her  son. 
***** 

1  Previous  presentments,  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  pp.  202, 221.    His  man- 
sion at  Dolobran  had  at  this  time  been  partially  destroyed,  and  his 
possessions  placed  under  prcemunire.     He  had  therefore  been  obliged 
to  take  a  house  at  Welshpool. 

2  All   these  had   been   previously  presented    in  April  1675  (see 
Mont.    Coll.,  xxiv,  231-2.)     Some  were  Quakers,  some  Popish  re- 
cusants, and  some  probably  Independents. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL   FILES.  53 

As  for  we,  the  Jurio's  aforesaid,  and  upon  o'r  othes  doe  p'sent 
the  p'sons  undernamed  for  meeting  in  Conventicles  upon 
sev'all  Lord  Days  wi'in  three  mounethes  last  past,  contrary  to 
the  Laws  in  that  case  made  and  pr'vided,  att  the  house  of 
Charles  Lloyd,  Gent.,  of  the  towne  of  Poole  before-mentioned. 

[Reported  that  Buttington  Bridge,  carried  away  by  the  last 
flood,  had  been  repaired  by  the  inhabitants  and  occupiers  of 
lands  within  the  Hundred  of  Caurse.] 

At  the  Great  Sessions  held  and  kept  at  the  Towne  of  Poole 
for  the  County  of  Mountgomery,  the  23rd  day  of  April  1677, 
before  Sir  Job  Charlton,  Knt.  and  Bart.,  the  King's  majesties 
Cheife  Justice  for  the  several  Countyes  of  Chester,  Mount- 
gom'y,  Denbigh,  and  Fflynt. 

The  presentm't  of  the  Grand  Inquest  there  as  afores'd. 
Wee  p'sent 

Thomas  Man  sell,  ^) 

Richard  Davies, 

Evan  Davies,  >   All  of  the  p'ish  of  Myvod.1 

Owen  John  Robt.  and    | 

Watkin  David,  J 

Rees  Humfrey.2 

Richard  Owen,2  of  the  p'ish  of  Llandrinio,  for  not  coming  to 
church  to  hear  Devine  service  for  this  two  months  last  past. 

And  likewise  p'sent  Euble  Edwards,  Gent.,3  and  John 
Edwards,  his  sonne,  being  Popish  Recusants,  and  John 
Pri chard8  Smyth  and  David  Jones,3  for  not  coming  to  Church, 

all  of  the  p'ish  of  Guilsfield. 

i 

Jurors. 


John  Williams,       Esq. 
John  Vaughan,      Gen. 
Richard  Griffithes,    „ 
Lewis  Jones,             „ 
John  Derwas,            „ 
Rich.  Lloyd,               „ 
Robert  Vaughan,       „ 

Ystymcolwyn].4 
Myvod]. 
Tretherwen]. 
[Llansanfrayd]. 
Penrhyn]  . 
"de  eadem]. 
;Colfryn]. 

1  All  Quakers.  Of  these,  Richard  Davies  (not  R.  Davies  of  Pool), 
Owen  John  Robt.  (or  Owen  Jones),  and  Watkin  David,  had  already 
suffered  imprisonment  in  Montgomery  Gaol,  with  Charles  Lloyd  and 
several  others,  whence  in  the  year  1672  they  had  been  discharged 
by  Letters  Patent.  (Mont.  Coll.,  xi,  p.  92.) 

*  See  ante,  pp.  48  and  50. 

3  See  ante,  pp.  50  and  51. 

4  John  Williams  of  Ystymcolwyn  was  Sheriff  in  1679.     See  post. 


54  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 


Tho.  Evans,  Gen. 

John  Pugh, 
Grif.  Evans, 
Richard  Powell, 
Jon.  Edwards, 
Nath.  Mathews, 
William  Edwards, 
John  Ellis, 


Burgeding]. 

"Llanvre  hen],  q.  Llanfechain. 
Kelliber  issa,  Kerry]. 
"Kelliber  issa,  Kerry]. 
^Graig,  Kerry]. 
Cletterwoode]. 
Middletown]. 
of  Llanwothin). 


but  not  in  the  panel — selected  out  of  persons  in  Court. 

Presentment  of  the  Grand  Jury  made  at  Montgomery,  at 
the  Great  Sessions  held  on  24th  Sept.  1677. 

Wee  p'sent  William  Powell  of  Gwestydd,  in  ye  p'sh  of 
Llanllwchaiarn,  for  turning  ye  water  out  of  course  that  runneth 
from  ye  lands  of  Bees  Jones  of  Gwestyd,  in  ye  said  p'sh,  to  ye 
lands  of  William  Price,  now  in  ye  possession  of  Thomas 
Edwards  of  ye  p'ish  afores'd,  being  on  ye  wast  or  Commone 
within  ye  s'd  townshipp  of  Gwestyd. 

Borough  Jury. 

Wee  p'sent  Ann  Hamon1  and  her  family  for  not  coming  to 
Church  to  heare  divine  servis. 

Grand  Jurors. 

Machynlleth  Hundred. 
Humfrey  Evan  Meredith,  Uchygarreg,  Gen. 
Thomas  ap  Richard  Humfrey  de  eadem,  Gen. 
Morgan  David,  Uchcoed,  Gen. 
Edwd.  Pugh,  Iscoed,  Gen. 
Rowland  Edwards.  Gwernybwlch,  Gen. 
John  Meredith,  Brynuchel,  Gen. 
David  ap  Hugh  David,  Blaenglessig,  Gen. 
Rich.  Rowland,  Cwmbychan,  Gen. 
John  Edward  Griffiths,  Caersewddfan,  Gen. 
Edward  Savage,2  Tavolwern,  Gen. 
David  Lloyd,3  Pennant,  Gen. 

DAVID  MAURICE,4  Sheriff. 

1  The  widow  of  Thomas  Hamon  of  Montgomery;  see  ante,  p.  49. 
Richard  Davies  refers  to  her  as  "an  honest  old  woman  who  had 
received  the  truth  some  time  before  (1660).     My  wife  and  I  went  to 
visit  her." 

2  See  ante,  -p.  46. 

3  Probably  of  Caelan.     He  was  buried  Jan.  3,  1715. 

4  David  Maurice  of  Penybont,  Sheriff  this  year,  was  a  most  violent 
persecutor  of  Nonconformists,  but,  strange  to  say,  there  are  arrears 
of  Church  rates  standing  against  his  name  in  the  parish  books  to 
this  day.     (Mont.  Coll,  iv,  p.  128.)     Richard  Davies  relates  how,  on 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL   FILES.  55 

The  p  sentm't  of  the  Grand  Jury  of  the  s'd  County  at  the 
Assizes  held  at  Llanvilling  the  jth  of  April  1678. 

****** 

We  alsoe  p'sent  John  Thomas  Morris1  and  Margaret  his 
wife,  of  the  p'ish  of  Llannothin,  John  Thomas  ap  Howell  and 
his  wife,1  of  ye  s'd  p'ish,  John  Humffrey  and  his  wife,1  and 
Edward  Thomas  Morris1  and  his  supposed  wife,  all  of  the  s'd 
p'ish  of  Llannothin,  and  David  Lloyd  of  Llanothin  aforesaid, 
for  not  coming  to  their  p'ish  church  for  three  mounthes  last 
past. 

Wee    likewise    p'sent    Rowland    Owen,2    John     Rowthe- 

the  7th  March  1675,  he  came  to  a  meeting  at  Cloddie-cochion,  near 
Welshpool,  with  fourteen  or  fifteen  persons,  mostly  armed,  dispersed 
the  meeting,  and  fined  Thomas  Lloyd  £20  for  preaching,  the  House 
£20,  and  the  hearers  five  shillings  apiece.  On  the  16th  June 
following,  he  drove  away  four  cows  and  a  mare — "  all  worth  about 
XI 6"— belonging  to  Thomas  Lloyd.  (Richard  Davies*  Life.)  "  Being 
made  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  this  year,  he  could  not  act  as 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  so  he  fell  into  a  great  rage,  for  that  the 
said  office  was  like  to  be  chargeable  to  him.  So  that  year  we  had 
peace  and  quietness;  and  when  his  Sheriff-ship  was  over,  he  was 
coming  through  a  brook  called  Lynlleth  (Cynlleth),  near  his  own 
house  at  Penybont,  and  it  was  supposed  his  horse  threw  him,  and 
he  was  carried  into  the  river  Tannat  a  considerable  way  down  and 
there  miserably  perished."  (Ibid.}  The  death  of  Maurice  created  a 
profound  impression,  and  was  long  considered  by  the  persecuted 
Nonconformists  as  a  judgment  from  heaven.  The  Rev.  Philip 
Henry  thus  referred  to  it  in  his  Diary  :— "  1678,  Mar.  20.  This  day 
Mr.  David  Morrice  of  Pennabont,  J.P.  in  Montgom.  and  Denb.,  was 
drown'd  in  Tannat,  near  his  own  house,  being  on  horseback,  and  in 
ye  daytime  and  not  drunk  ;  not  found  quickly.  When  found,  much 
bruised,  his  horse  had  thrown  him  in  the  water.  Hee  had  been 
very  bitter  towards  dissenters  and  severe  in  fining  them — 'twas  he 
yt  prosecuted  Mr.  Kinaston  and  Mr.  Barnett  for  ye  meeting  two 
years  since  at  Brangwyn,  and  fined  Mr.  Barnett  20/6.  for  preaching, 
when  he  had  only  pray'd  and  read  his  Text  (because  that  was  a  sign 
he  intended  to  preach),  and  cast  them  in  an  appeal.  Hee  was 
indited  last  Assize  at  Denbigh  by  his  fellow  Justices  for  Knavery  in 
converting  ye  poore's  part  of  ye  fine  to  his  own  use.  It  is  not  long 
since  hee  said,  as  I  hear,  that  he  would  mend  his  course  of  life,  but  did 
not."  (Byegones,  Mar.  28,  1883.) 

1  These  were  Quakers.     See  previous  presentments,  Mont.  Coll., 
xxiv,  p.  229.     See  also  post. 

2  Also  a  Quaker.     He  was  living  in  1 708,  and  signed  a  "  Testi- 
mony" on    the  death  of  Richard  Davies,  and  joined  with  Charles 
Lloyd  and  others  in  another  "  Testimony"  signed  at  a  meeting  of 


56  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

rick,1  and  Gwen  verch  John,  all  of  ye  p'ish  of  hirnant,  for 
not  coineinge  to  church  for  three  monthes  last  past. 

We  p'sent  Eubol  Edwards2  of  hendrehene,  Gen.,  John 
Prichard  of  Garth,  Smith,  David  Johnes3  of  Broniarth  and 
Sibley  his  wife,  all  of  the  p'sh  of  Guilsfield,  for  not  comeing  to 
their  church  for  three  mounthes  last  past. 

We  alsoe  p'sent  the  Inhabitants  of  ye  p'ish  of  Llangunnew 
for  not  making  p'visson  for  ye  poor  of  the  s'd  p'ish  as  by 
llawe  is  required.4 

Arthur  Yaughan,5  Ar.     [Tretherwen]. 
Evan  Bowen,6         Gen.  fGolfryn]. 

Friends  held  at  Dolobran  on  25th  of  llth  month,  1708.  (See  Life 
of  Richard  Davies.  See  also  post.) 

1  John  Rowtherick,  or  Rhydderch,  of  Hirnant.     Eichard  Davies 
refers  to  him  as  "  a  Friend,  an  honest  man,  who  could  not  pay  Tithe 
for  conscience'  sake",  and  gives  an  interesting  account  of  law  proceed- 
ings brought  against  him  by  the  Rector  of  the  parish  (Hughes),  who, 
however,  got  the  worst  of  it,  and  was  sued   by  his  own  attorney 
for   the   costs.     Rector   Hughes   is   named  in    Walker's   Sufferings 
of  the  Clergy  as  one  of  those  who  were   deprived  of  their  livings 
during  the  Commonwealth;  but  he  is  described  in  the  Parish  Register 
as  "  a  true  son  of  ye  Church,  who  kept  his  Rectory,  and  read  ye  Comon 
Prayer   during   Cromwell's   usurpation."     He   died    in  1682,    aged 
eighty-three.     {Mont.  Coll.,  xiii,  p.  61.) 

2  See  ante,  pp.  50,  51,  and  53.  3  gee  jijj, 

4  By  the  43  Eliz.,  cap.  ii,  sec.  1,  it  was  enacted  that  "the  church- 
wardens and  overseers  of  the  poor  of  every  parish,  or  the  greater 
part  of  them,  shall  raise  weekly,  or  otherwise  (by  taxation  of  every 
inhabitant,  parson,  vicar,  and  other,  and  of  every  occupier  of  lands, 
houses,  tithes  impropriate,  propriations  of  tithes,  coal-mines,  or  sale- 
able underwoods  in  the  said  parish),  a  convenient  stock  of  flax,  hemp, 
wool,  thread,  iron,  and  other  ware  and  stuff,  to  set  the  poor  on  work ; 
and  also  competent  sums  for  the  necessary  relief  of  the  lame,  impo- 
tent, old,  blind,  and  such  other  among  them  being  poor  as  are  not 
able  to  work,  and  also  for  the  putting  out  poor  children  apprentices." 

5  Sheriff,  1691. 

6  Richard  Davies,  in   his  Autobiography,  relates   that    Margaret 
Bowen,  wife  of  John  Bowen  of  Collfryn,  "  an  old  Friend",  came  to 
Montgomery,    where   he   was   in    prison,   to   visit   her  friends   and 
brethren,  the  professors,  in  prison,  and  he  prevailed  on  her  to  cany  a 
letter  from  him  to  his  wife  at  Welshpool.     Having  read  it  to  her, 
"she  was  tenderly  affected,  turned  to  her  brethren  again,  and  said, 
'  Surely  these  people  will  never  come  to  us,  but  we  must  go  to  them.' 
Some  time  after,  through  much  trouble  and  affliction,  she  came  to 
receive  the  truth,  to  live  in  it,  and  obey  it."     She  was  probably  the 
mother  of  this  Evan  Bowen. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES. 


57 


Reese  Lloyd, 
Morton  Griffiths, 
Richard  Griffiths, 
John  Derwas, 
Edward  Lloyd, 
David  Evans, 
Stephen  Thomas, 
David  Ellis, 
David  Jones, 
Henry  Davies, 
Thomas  Edwards, 
Lewis  Jones, 
John  Ehudderch,1 
Charles  Bowdler,2 
Wm.  Griffithes, 


Gen. 


Cowney]. 

Tirymynech]. 

Tretherwen]. 

'Llandrinio]. 

Varchoel]. 

Llan'chrochwell] , 

Same]. 

Rhiwargor]. 

Llanhafon]. 

Cowney]. 

Llan'chrochwell]. 

Hirnant]. 

[Teirtre]. 


JOHN  KYFFIN,S  Esq.,  Sheriff. 


1678,  llth  October.     (Llanfyllin.) 

A  Retourne  of  Richard  Lloyd,  Gent.,  one  of  the  Con- 
stables of  ye  Hundred  of  Montgorn'y,  said  he  had  nothing1 
to  p'sent  in  his  Division  of  the  Hundred  [but  added  by  some 
one  subsequently  in  different  coloured  ink — 

Mary  Rodgers,4  the  fife  (sic)  of  Ed.  Rodgers,  and  Gwen 
Arthur,  w'ch  are  dissenters  from  the  church,  etc.]. 

Evan  Roberts,  one  of  the  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred 
of  Poole,  presented  Mr.  Euble  Roberts  [qy.  Edwards  ?]5  for  not 
coming  to  church,  and  David  Jones6  and  Sibell  his  wife,  for 
the  same,  both  of  the  parish  of  Gulfild. 

Apud  Llanvilling  decimo  die  Octobris  1678,  I,  Charles 
Kadwalder,  one  of  the  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred  afore-' 
said,  doe  p'sent  as  followeth.  I  p'sent 

1  This,  obviously,  cannot  be  the  same  as  "John  Rowtherick",  the 
Quaker,  referred  to  above. 

2  See  ante,  p.  44: — "Joh'es  Bowdler  de  Tiertref"  (Meifod)  and 
"  Joh'es  Bowdler  de  Dolobran,"   Gen.,  occur  on  a  Grand  Jury  List r 
11  Charles  I. 

5  John  Kyffin,  Esq.,  the  Sheriff  this  year,  was  of  Bodfach,  Llan- 
fyllin, which  he  enlarged  in  1661.     "  The  Kyffins  of  Bodfach  ended 
in  an  heiress,   Elizabeth,   daughter   of  William   Kyffin,  married  to- 
Adam  Price  of  Glanmiheli;  and  the  heiress  of  the  Prices  to   Bell 
Lloyd,  Esq.,  of  Pontruffudd."     (Yorke's  Royal  Tribes,  p.  99.)     Bell 
Lloyd  was  father  of  the  first  Lord  Mostyn.    The  property  now  belongs 
to  J.  0.  Lomax,  Esq. 

4  See  ante,  p.  50.  5  See  ante,  pp.  50,  51,  53,  and  56. 

6  See  ibid. 


58  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  I 

Charles  Lloyd1  [of  Dolobran], 
Thomas  Lloyd2  [his  brother], 
Richard  D'd3  ap  Griffith, 
Evan  D'd  ap  Griffith, 
Watkin  D'd  ap  Owen, 
Owen  John  Robert, 

all  of  the  p'ish  of  Mivod,  as  desenters  from  the  Church  of 
England.  There  is  nothing  more  p'sentable  within  the  sM 
Hundred,  but  all  things  good  and  faire. 

p.  me,  CHARLES  KADWALADEE. 

John  Griffiths,  one  of  the  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred 
of  Deythwr,  p'senteth  the  wife  of  James  Lawton 

for  n on- Conformists. 

The  P'sentment  of  James  Bromhall,  James  Thomas,  the 
Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  JSlewtowne,  in  the  County  of 
Mountgom'  afforesaid. 

The  names  of  the  absentees  from  church.  Wee  dow  present 
Lewis  Turner4  et  uxor,  of  Aberhavesp  p'ish,  Rowland  Tudge 
et  uxor,  of  the  same,  John  Turner  of  Tregynon  p'ish,  Llewis 
Turner  of  the  same,  Thomas  Tudge4  et  uxor,  of  Monnavan 
p'ish,  Humphrey  Steeuens4  et  uxor,  of  Llanwithellane  p'ish. 

We  have  noething  else  to  p'sent,  but  all  things  in  good 
repaire. 

JAMES  BROMHALL, 
JAMES  THOMAS, 

Chief  Constables. 

John  Edmunds,  one  of  the  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred 
of  Montgomery, 

tf  I  doe  p'sent  Evan  Harris5  as  a  Recusant,  and  not  coming 
to  church.  I  have  nothing  else  to  my  knowledge." 

At  the  Great  Sessions  held  at  Llanfyllin  on  the  llth  October 
1678, 

The  Grand  Inquest  presented  John  Thomas6  and  Margaret 
his  wife,  of  the  p'ish  of  Llanwythin,  being  absentees  from 
church,  and  common  frequenters  of  Convinticles. 

Edward  Thomas6  and  his  wife,  of  the  same,  for  ye  like. 

1  Ante,  p.  52.  2  Ante,  p.  51. 

3  He  was  one  of  those  who,  with  Charles  Lloyd  and  four  others, 
were  sent  to  prison  at  Welshpool,  in  1661,  for  refusing  to  take  the 
Oath  of  Allegiance  and  Supremacy.     (Richard  Davies's  Life.) 

4  See  previous  presentments,  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  pp.  205,  206. 

5  Later  on  described  as  of  the  township  of  Castle wright. 

6  See  ante,  p.  55. 


EXTRACTS    FKOM    GAOL   FILES.  59 

John  Humphreys,1  of  ye  same,  for  ye  like. 

John  Rhudderch,1  of  the  parish  of  Hirnant,  for  ye  like. 

Rowland  Owen1  of  Hirnant. 

They  likewise  presented  Zacharias  Morris  of  Eskireth,  in 
the  p'ish  of  Trefeglwys,  for  keeping  a  Greyhound,  and  coursing 
and  killing  hares,  being  not  qualified2  so  to  do  according  to  ye 
Statutes  in  that  case  made  and  p'vided. 

John  Gardner  of  Trefeglwys,  for  ye  like. 

John  Crumpe3  of  Myddeltown,  for  ye  like. 

John  Bowdler,3  of  ye  same,  for  ye  like. 

David  Meredith  of  Llandrinio,  for  ye  like. 

JOHN  KYFJFIN,  Esq.,  Sheriff. 

24  October.  The  Return  of  John  Davies  and  William 
Thomas,  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  Mathraval. 

They  had  nothing  to  present  (<  but  John  Christopher  for  not 
comeiog  to  church,  being  a  popish  recusant." 

1679,  April  26th  (31  Chas.  II),  at  Pool 
The  High  Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  Montgomery  pre- 
sented, 

Mary  Rogers,4  the  wife  of  Edward  Rogers,  of  the  parish  of 
Kerry,  and 

Evan  Harris,5  of  the  township  of  Castlewright,  for  not  coming 
to  church. 

The  Constables  of  Newtown  Hundred  presented 
Lewis  Turner6  and  his  wife,  of  Aberhafesp, 
Reighnold  Wilson  and  wife,  of  the  same, 
Rowland  Tudge6  and  wife,  of  the  same, 
Humphrey  Steephen6  and  wife,  of  Llanwythelan3 
Henry  Williams7  of  Llanlochaiarn, 
absentees  from  church. 

1  See  ante,  p.  55. 

2  By  22  and  23  Car.  II,  cap.  25,  sec.  3,  every  person  not  having 
an  estate  of  inheritance  worth  £100  a  year,  or  a  leasehold  estate  for 
life,  or  for  ninety-nine  years  or  more,  worth  £150  a  year,  other  than 
the  son  and  heir-apparent  of  an  esquire  or  person  of  higher  degree,  and 
the  owners  of  forests,  parks,  warrens,  etc.,  was  thereby  declared  to 
be  not  allowed  to  keep  guns,  bows,  greyhounds,  setting-dogs,  ferrets, 
coney-dogs,  lurchers,  hays,  nets,  lowbels,  harepipes,  gins,  snares,  or 
other  engines  for  taking  or  killing  game.     Penalty,  X20. 

3  See  notes  in  p.  44,  ante.  4  See  ante,  pp.  55  and  57. 
5  See  ante,  p.  58.  6  See  ibid. 

7  This  was  the  celebrated  Nonconformist,  Henry  Williams  of 
Scafell.  See  Mont.  Coll.,  iv,  p.  169,  for  a  full  account  of  his  life  and 
sufferings.  See  also  Mont.  Worthies. 


60  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

The  Return  of  Edward  Savage  and  Giles  Jarmon,  High 
Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  Llanidloes,  and  they  doe  p'sent 
as  followeth,  vizi  : — 

In  Trefeglwys  Parish. — William  Bewslay,1 

Lewis  Griffith,2 
Llanidloes  Parish. — John  Robert,2 

Griffith  Jerman,2 

Llangiricke  Parish. — Lewis  Jerman, 
John  Jerman,3 
absentees  from  church. 

The  Borough  Jurors. 

Thomas  Lloyd  of  Pool,  Gen. 

Gabriel  Lloyd  of  Pool,  Gen. 

Samuel  Wolaston  of  Pool,  Gen. 

Thomas  Vaughan  of  Gungrog  vawr,  Gen. 

David  Roberts  of  Layton,  Gen. 

Joseph  Pugh  of  Layton,  Gen. 

Gilbert  Hughes  of  Pool,  Gen. 

Lewis  Davies  of  Pool,  Gen. 

Richard  Jeffreys  of  Pool,  Gen. 

John  Reignolds  of  Trallwmgollen,  Gen. 

Rich'd  Williams  ]  Selected  out  of  persons 

John  Symons        >  in  Court. 

Edward  Jones      j    No  addresses  given. 

Wee,  the  Jurors  affores'd,  upon  our  oathes,  doe  p'sent  the 
p'sons  undernamed  for  popish  recusants  for  not  coming  to 
church  for  this  three  months  last  past  : — 

John  Hatfield4  of  Poole,  and  Gwen  his  wife. 

John  Rowton  of  the  same. 

Gwen  Penthrin,4  Widd.,  of  the  same. 

Alice,  the  wife  of  George  Blackborne,4  of  the  same. 

1  See  ante,  p.  50. 

2  These  were  Quakers  ;  see  post.     The  Quakers  were  at  one  time 
very  numerous  in  the  parishes  of  Trefeglwys,  Llanidloes,  and  Llan- 
gurig.     A  Quaker's  garden,  or  burial-ground,  and  an  old  meeting- 
house are  still  preserved  near  Staylittle  (Trefeglwys),  and  the  last  of 
the  Llanidloes  Quakers  (Brown)  died  from  30  to  40  years  ago. 

3  John  Jerman  was  a  Quaker.     For  attending  a  meeting  held  at  his 
house  in  1677  a  number  of  the  Friends  were  arrested  ;  seven  of  them 
were  committed  to>  prison,  others  were  fined,  and  being  unable  or 
refusing  to  pay,  had  their  cattle  seized.    They  were  :  John  Potts,  one 
cow  and  six  young  beasts,  worth  £12  10s. ;   Griffith  Jarman,  five 
young  beasts,   £7  10s. ;   John  Roberts,  a  cow,  .£3  ;  John  Jarman,  a 
cow,  £2  10s.  ;  David  Owen,  a  horse,  £2.      (Mont.  Coll.,  ix,  p.  264.) 

4  See  ante,  p.  52.     Those  who  still  adhered  to  the  Catholic  religion 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  61 

Jenkin    Morgan    of    Trail w in gollen,    and    Mary   his 

wife. 
Richard  Hill,  Groome  to  the  Right  Hon'ble  Will,  the 

Earle  of  Powis. 
....  Bradford,  servant  to  the  Right  hon'ble  Earl  of 

Powis. 

Rose,  the  wife  of  William  Heylin  of  Trallumgollen. 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Evans,  of  the  same. 
David  Morgan  of  the  same. 
Thomas  Richards1  of  Trallumgollen,  Smith. 
Katherine  Richard,1  Widd.,  of  the  same. 
Mary  Williams  of  Llanverchidole,  Widd. 
David  Roberts1  of  Hope,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 
Mary,  the  wife1  of  Rowland  Roberts  of  Hope. 
Peeter  Mreadith1  of  Llanverchidole,  yeoman. 
Samuel  Jones1  of  Poole,  Laborer. 
Humfrey  Mreadith  of  Poole. 
Thomas  Price2  of  Llanvilling,  Gent. 
Regino[ld]    Obines  [or  Obries]  of  Buttington,   and 

Mary  his  wife.3 

Humfrey  Jones  of  the  same,  Surjan  barber. 
Christopher  Cluck1  and  his  wife,  of  the  same. 
....  the  wife  of  Richard  Griffiths  of  Trewarne. 
Elizabeth  Langford  of  Buttington,  Spinster. 
William  Ruffe  of  Gungrog  vaure. 
John  Ruffe4  of  the  same. 
Hugh  Ruffe  of  the  same. 
Thomas  Ruffe  of  the  same. 
John  Richards6  of  Groise  lloyd. 
Mr Smith,  of  Green  Hall,  within  the  Burrow 

of  Llanvilling. 

Wee,  the  Jurors  afores'd,  doe  also  p'sent  the  p'sons  hereafter 
named  for  not  cominge  to  heare  devine  servise  : — 


formed  at  this  time  quite  a  numerous  colony  at  Welshpool  and  in 
its  immediate  neighbourhood.  Tradition  points  to  a  spot  near 
Buttington  Hall,  where  a  Catholic  chapel  at  one  time  stood. 

1  See  ante,  p.  52. 

2  See  ante,  p.  50. 

3  Previously  presented    (see  Mont.   Coll.f  xxiv,    p.   230)    as    "  a 
papist". 

4  Previously  presented  for  recusancy.    (Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  203.) 
•?  The  same,  probably,  as  "John  Pritchard,  Smith."     See  ante,pp. 

51,  53  and  56. 


62  MONTGOMERYSHIRE   NONCONFORMITY  : 

Eichard  Davies1  of  Poole,  Feltmaker,  and  Tassie  his  wife. 
Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Tompson. 
David  Jones,1  Baker,  and  Mary  his  wife. 
Elizabeth,  the   servant  of  the  s'd  Richard  Davies,  felt- 
maker. 

Anne,  the  wife  of  William  Price  of  Poole. 
Oliver  Bedoes2  of  Poole. 
William  Man1  of  Poole,  Gunsmith. 
Margaret  Lewis3  of  the  same,  Widd. 

Grand  Inquest. 

Machynlleth  Hundred  (Persons  Summoned). 
David  Lloyd4  de  Pennant,  Gen. 
Randulph  Owen5  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Rich'd  Rowlands  de  Noddfa,  Gen. 
Rich.  Morris,  Gwernybwlch,  Gen. 
Edw.  Savage  de  Tavolwerne,  Gen. 
Owen  Lloyd,  Machynlleth,  Gen. 
Thomas  Parry,  Ysygarreg,  Gen. 
Lewis  Thomas,  Pennant,  Gen. 

Robert  Edwards,  Gwernybwlch,  Gen.  (No.  5  on  Jury.) 
Rees  Meredith  de  Noddfa,  Gen. 

JOHN  WILLIAMS,  Esq.,6  Sheriff. 


1  These  were  previously  presented  several  times.     See  ante,  p.  52. 

2  Oliver  Bedoes  and  his  father  were  presented  at  the  Great  Sessions 
in  Oct.  1654,  "  for  open  prophaners  of  the  Lord's  dayes,  and  spending 
the  Sabbaths  in  idleness  and  worldly  occasions  for  these  4  monethes 
last  past  or  thereabouts."     (Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  204.)     He  seems  to 
have  at  this  time  forsaken  his  irreligious  mode  of  life,  and  to  have 
joined  the  Quakers. 

3  She  was  the  Widow  of  William  Lewis,  of  Cloddiecochion,  who, 
about  1657,  when  Rich'd  Davies,  who  was  related  to  him,  attempted  to 
preach  there,  refused  to  let  him  do  so,  but  led  him  out  to  the  Common 
and  shut  the  gate  against  him.     He  and  his  wife  afterwards  "  received 
the  Truth",  and  this  house  became  a  Meeting-house  for  the  Friends 
for  over  40  years.     (R.  Davies' s  Life.) 

4  See  ante,  p.  54. 

6  Of  Gellidywyll,  Llanbrynmair,  great-grandson  of  Morris  Owen  of 
Rhiwsaeson. 

6  Of  Ystumcolwyn,  ancestor  of  the  Buckley- Williames  family  of 
Pennant,  Berriew.  His  wife  was  Meriel,  daughter  of  Richard  Powell, 
Esq.,  of  Worthen,  but  dying  without  issue,  21st  Dec.  1685,  he  left 
his  estates  to  his  nephew,  Lumley  Williams,  Esq.  (Mont.  Coll.,  ix, 
p.  349.) 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  63 

1679,  October  20th  (31  Charles  II),  at  Montgomery. 
Ad    Sessionam   magna  ten't  apud  Mountgom'y  pro   Com. 
Mountgom'y  xx°  die  Octobris  Anno  Rx.  Car's  s'c'di  nunc  Angl. 
etc.  xxxi  Annoq.  D'ni  1679. 

The  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Inquest  sworn  for  the  body 
of  the  s'd  County  the  day  and  yeare  above  written  are  as 
followeth — 
Wee  p'sent 

John  Thomas  Morris1  and  Margaret  his  wife, 
John  Thomas  ap  Howell1  and  Anne  his  wife, 
Jno.  Humphreys1  and  his  wife, 

all  of  ye  p'ish  of  Llanowthinge,  in  the  s'd   County,  to  be  dis- 
senters from  church,  being  reputed  Quakers,  etc. 

Wee  alsoe  p'sent  John  Mills,  of  ye  p'ish  of  Llanownog,  to  be 
a  dissenter  from  church,  and  Howell  Meredith  for  ye  like. 

Wee   alsoe  p'sent  ye    p'sons   undernamed    to    be   reputed 
Quakers,  etc.,  dissenters  from  church. 

John  Meredith,  of  the  p'ish  of  Kemis,  and 

his  eldest  sonne. 

Richard  Owen,  of  ye  p'ish  of  Mackenleth.    j-   Quakers. 
Katherine  Davies  and  Ann  Davies,  of  ye 

p'ish  of  Darowen. 

Ralph  Oliver  and  his  wife,  of  ye  p'ish  of 
Llanowringe. 


Lewis  Turner,2  of  the  p'ish  of  Aberhavesp 
Henry  Williams,2  of    ye  p'ish   of  Llan- 


Dissenters 

from 

llachayarne.  church. 

Lewis  Morgan  and  his  wife,  of  the  same  | 

place. 

Robert  ap  Evan  ap  Owen,  of  ye  p'ish  of  Llanrhayder,  and 
his  wife,  Papists. 

Borough  Inquest. 

We  p'sent  Anne  Hammon,3  widow,  and  Mary  her  daughter, 
as  dissenters  of  ye  church,  whoe  goeth  under  the  notion  of 
Quakers. 

JOHN  WILLIAMS,  Esq.,  Sheriff. 

1680,  Sept.  2nd  (32  Charles  II).  Great  Sessions  held  at 
Montgomery,  2nd  Sept.  1680. 


1  Previously  presented.     See  ante,  pp.  55  and  58. 

2  Also  these  ante,  pp.  58  and  59. 

3  See  ante,  p.  59. 


64  MONTGOMERYSHIRE   NONCONFORMITY  : 


Jury  Panel. 

David  Powell,1  Esq. 

Evan  Robert  of  Guilsfild. 

John  Cadd  of  Penhrine. 

Owen  Penhrine  of  the  same. 

Edd.  Gauruon  of  Llanervill. 

Roger  Owen  of 

Edward  Poole  of  Mochtred. 

Rich,  ap  Richard  Crugon. 

Mathew  Price,  Kerry. 

Edward  Powell,  Tregoonon. 

Will.  Powell,  Llantarchayarme. 

Thomas  Evans  of  Bronyarth. 

Evan  Evans2  of  Cwmyranneth  [Cwmyranel,  Carno]. 
Jur.   7.  David  Austyn  of  Llanwithelan. 

John  Meredith  of  Llanvair. 

Richard  Williams  of  Llanvair. 
Jur.  5.  Rees  Evans  of  Carno. 

John  Jones  of  Dwyryw  [Manafon]. 
Jur.  9.  William  Syre  of  Aberhaley  [Tregynon]. 

Richard  Rees  of  Carno. 

John  Evan  Gwynne  of  Llanvair. 

Edward  Hughes3  of  Llanbrynmair. 
Jur.  10.  Thomas  Foley  [qy.  Soley?]  of  Pullan  [Tregynon]. 

John  William  of  Llanvair. 

John  Gamon  of  Manavon. 

Evan  Roberts  of  Gullsfield. 

Edward  Jones  of  Llanynog. 
Jur.  11.  John  Ellis  of  Argoed  [Trefeglwys] . 
Jur.  12.  Griffith  Evans  of  Penymaes. 


1  David  Powell,  Esq.,  was  Sheriff  in  1662. 

2  Evan  Evans  of  Cwmyranel  was  descended  from  Evan  Lloyd, 
Lord  of  Carno.     His  wife  was  Catherine,  daughter  of  Lodwick  Lloyd 
of  Gwestydd.     (Ex.  inf.,  Mr.  E.  R.  Morris.) 

3  At  the  Great  Sessions  held  in  October  1654,  Edward  Hughes 
was  presented  "  for  being  reported  to  chase  catties  with  his  doggs 
most  comonly  every  Lord's  day  since  the  moneth  of  May  last  off 
1654,  and  hereby  doth  p'judice  his  neighbors  greately  by  pulling  off 
the  tayles  of  their  catties  with  his  doggs,  to  their  greate  losse  and 
annoyance,  and  to  the  disturbance  of  the  publique  peace".     (Mont. 
Coll.,  vii,  p.  204.)     He  lived  at  Cwmcarnedd,  and  died  in  December 
1696,  when  he  is  described  in  the  Register  of  Burials  as  "  grandsevus". 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  65 


Nom*  Jar3  inter  Um'i  Regem  et  Prisonar  ad  Barram. 

Newtowne  Hund. 
Jur.  1.  Mathew  Morgan1  of  Aberhavespe,  Esq. 

Charles  Jones  of  Bronywood  [Llandyssil],  Gen. 
Jur.  2.   Edward  Blayney  of  Vachire  [Berriew],  Gen. 

Charles  Jones  of  Bronywood  [Llandyssil],  Gen. 

William  Syre  of  Aberhalle  [Tregynon],  Gen. 

Cadd'er  Davies  of  Peurhyn,  Gen. 

Howell  Powell  of  Berriew,  Gen. 

Richard  Buckley  of  Rhandir,  Gen. 

David  Austyn  of  Llanythellan,  Gen. 

Griffith  David  of  ye  same,  Gen. 

Llanvillin  Hund. 

ex.    Sydney  Bynner2  of  Bodyddon,  Gen. 
John  Wms.  of  Tirtre,  Gen. 

Mathynleth  Hund. 

Jur.     3.  Theodore  Price  of  Uchcoed,  Gen. 
Jur.     4.  Richard  Rowland  of  Noddva. 
Jur.     5.  Rees  Meredith  of  Darowen,  Gen. 
Jur.  11.  Randle  Owen3  of  Pennant,  Gen. 

Evan  Evans  of  Coomyranney,  Gen. 

MontgonCy  Hund. 

Richard  Herbert4  of  Coomydalva,  Esq. 
Jur.  12.    Solomon  Bewen  of  Hurdley,  Gen. 

Ambrose  Gething  de  Clothie,  Gen. 
Jur.    6.  Michaell  Gething  of  the  same,  Gen. 

Jonathan  Howell  of  Mellington,  Gen. 

Ed'rus  Evans  of  Garthgellin,  Gen. 

Samuel  Lloyd  of  Kelliver  ucha,  Gen. 

Cawrse  Hund, 

Thomas  Lloyd  of  Kilkewidd,  Gen. 
William  Lloyd  of  fforden,  Gen. 

1  He  was  the  son  of  Meredith  Morgan,  Sheriff  in  1635,  and  him- 
self served  that  office  in  1648. 

2  He,  with   Evan  Vaughan,   Esq.,  were   named    in   the  Charter 
granted   by  King  Charles  II,   1673,  the  first  Bailiff  of  Llanfyllin. 
(Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  142.)     He  was  buried  21st  Oct.  1694,  aged  70, 
at  Llanrhaiadr,  where  a  Latin  epitaph  engraved  on  his  tomb  records 
his  amiable  qualities.     (Byegones,  Jan.  10,  1872,  and  Feb.  5,  1873.) 

3  Of  Gellidywyll,  Llanbrynmair ;  see  ante,  p.  62. 

4  Richard  Herbert  of  Cwmydalfa  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Herberts 
of  Dolforgan  and  Glanhafren,    (See  Pedigree,  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  1 77.) 

VOL.  XXV.  F   " 


66  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  I 

Owen  Watkin  of  Hudan,  Gen. 
John  Powell  of  Bacheldre,  Gen. 

Mathravall  Hund. 

John  Thomas  of  Llanvaire,  Gen. 

John  Edwards  of  Mellinygreeg,  Gen. 
Jur.    7,   9.  David  Lloyd  of  Llanginew,  Gen. 

David  Evans  of  Brinellen,  Gen. 
Jur.  9,  10.    Samuell  Homes  of  Llanginew,  Gen, 

Llanidloes  Hundred. 

David  Powell  of  Maesmawre  [Llandinam]. 
John  Wilson1  of  ffynant  [Trefeglwys],  G-en. 
Jur.  8,  11.   Richard  Bennett  of  Glyribrochan,  Gen. 

Morgan  Evan  James  of  Kevenyvody  [Llangurig],  Gen. 

Poole  Hund. 

Ric'us  Mitton,2  Esq.,  de  Posting. 
Jar.  10, 12.  Thomas  Evans  of  Guildfeild,  Gen. 

Thomas  Rogers,  Junr.,  of  Burdgedine,  Gen. 

Newtown  Hund. 
Dauid  Dailies  of  Pullan,  Gen. 
Humfrey  Morris  of  Bettus,  Gen. 
Evan  Dauid  ap  Evan  Bredoe  of  Glynharden,  Gen. 
Wm.  Price  of  Dolvorin  [Bettws],  Gen. 
Charles  Jones  of  Bronywood  [Llandyssil],  Gen. 
Edward  Powell  of  Ucheldre  Bettus,  Gen. 
Michaell  Gethin  of  Clothie,  Gen. 
Randle  Owen  of  Gellydowili8  [Llanbrynmair], 
Evan  Thomas  of  Manavou. 

Noia  JUT.  int.  D'mi  Regem  et  Prisonar  ad  Barram. 
Jur.  1.  Dauid  Powell,  Esqr. 

Rees  Thomas  ap  Evan  of  Llany warred  [Llangurig],  Gen. 
Dauid  Owen4  of  Kevenyvodey  [Llangurig],  Gen. 

1  The  Wilson  family  were  settled  for  generations  at  Trefeglwys. 
The  Rev.   Hugh  Wilson  was  vicar  of  that  parish  in   1677.     He  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  father  of  the  Rev.  John  Wilson  of  Pene- 
goes,   the  father  of  the  great  landscape   painter,  Richard   Wilson. 
(See  Mont.  Coll.,  vii,  p.  224.) 

2  Richard   Mytton,   Esq.,  of  Pontiscowryd,  was  Sheriff  in  1674. 
He  was  descended  from  an  ancient  Shropshire  family.     (See  Pedigree 
in  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.   277.)     He  died,  and  was  buried  at  Meifod, 
30  December  1715. 

3,  See  ante,  pp.  62  and  65. 

^.•Ancestor  of  the  Owens  of  Glansevern.     See  Pedigree,  Mont.  Coll. 
iii.  232. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  67 

Richard  Bennett  of  Glynbrochau,  Gen. 

Morris  Morgan  of  the  same,  Gen. 

Evan  Dauid  ap  Evan  Bedoe  of  Glynhaven,  Gen. 

Vincent  Peers  of  Lloyny brain e,  Esqr. 

Dauid  Dauies  of  Llandynam,  Gen. 

Lewis  Price  of  Surnant  [Llanvvnog],  Esqr. 

John  Evans  of  Escoh  &  Castle  [Llanwnog],  Gen. 

Evan  Evans1  of  Coomyranill,  Gen. 

Morgan  Humfreys  of  Glyntrefnant  [Trefeglwys],  Gen. 

Jenkin  William  of  the  same,  Gen. 

William  Syre  of  Aberhalle  [Tregynon],  Gen. 

Win.  Price  of  Dolevorin  [Bettws],  Gen. 

John  Bright  of  Kilcochwan,  Gen. 
Jur.  3.  Humfrey  Morris  of  Llanythion,  Gen. 

Eichard  Buckley  of  Randir,  Gen. 
Jur.  4.  Mathew  Mathewes  of  Dyffryn  Llanvaire  [Newtown],  Gen. 

James  Baxter  of  Hendydley  [Llanllwchaiarn],  Gen. 

Wm.  Price  of  Vachwen,  Gen. 

Robert  Jones  of  Garthmill,  Gen. 

Thomas  Bowen  of  Alt  Issa,  Gen. 

Oliu'  Thomas  of  Penrhyn,  Gen. 

John  Caddy  of  the  same,  Gen. 

Edward  Blayney  of  Vaynor  ucha,  Gen. 

Inquisitio  Magna. 

Llanvillinge  H. 

Jur.  1.  Edwardus  Vaughan  de  Llwydiarth,2  Ar. 
Jur.  2.  Eiceus  Wynne3  de  Kynon,  Ar. 
Jur.  3.  Joh'es  Lloyd4  de  Llanhafan,  Ar. 
Jur.  4.  Riceus  Pryce5  de  Nan tfy lion. 

Carolus  Bowdler6  de  Teirtre  [Meifod],  Gen. 

Ric'us  Jones  de  Maine,  Gen. 

Thomas  Morris  Vaughan  de  Garth  Glynn  vawr,  Gen. 

Dauid  Thomas  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Sidney  Bynner7  de  Llanvillin,  Gen. 

Llanidloes  Hund. 
Jur.  5.  Euanus  Glynne8  de  Glynne,  Ar. 


1  See  ante,  pp.  64  and  65. 

2  Sheriff  in  1688.  3  On  Grand  Jury,  1663. 

4  He  was  descended  from  Brochwel  Ysgithrog.     He  was  Sheriff  in 
1685,  but  died  before  his  year  was  expired,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother,  Robert  Lloyd,  Esq. 

5  On  Grand  Jury,  1663.  «   Qn  Grand  Jury,  1663. 

7  See  ante,  p.  65. 

8  Sheriff  in    1675.     He   committed   James    Halliday   and   other 

F  2 


68  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

David  Powell1  de  Maesmaure,  Ar. 
Jur.  6.  Price  Clurme  de  Glandulasse,  Gen. 
Jur.  7.  Edwardus  Owen  de  Penyralt,  Gen. 

Euanus  Euans2  de  Cromyraunell,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Owen  D'Rhydlyddan,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Powell  de  Llandynam,  Gen. 

Morganus  Euan  James  D'Kevenvoddy  [Cefnhafodan,  Llan- 
gurig],  Gen. 

Joh'es  Wilson3  de  ffynant,  Gen. 

Mathravall  Hund. 

8.  Edward  Lloyd  de  Mathravall,  Ar. 
ex.  Rees  Lloyd  de  Cowny,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Davies  de  Rhewhiriarth,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Owen  de  Moile  y  veliarth,  Gen. 
Edward  Thomas  de  Kevenlisse,  Gen. 

Newtowne  Hund. 

Jur.     9.  Edr'us  Devereux  de  Beriew,  Gen. 
Jur.  10.  Will' us  Price  de  Vachwen,  Gen. 

Joh'es  Price  de  Doleveryn  [Dolforwyn],  Gen. 

Carolus  Jones,  Junr.,  de  Bronywood,  Gen. 

Will'us  Price  de  Aberbechan,  Gen. 

Priamus  Price  de  Beriew,  Gen. 
Jur.   11.  Thomas  Gwynn  de  Lloydcoed,  Gen. 

Machynleth  Hund. 
Jur.   12.  Will'us  Pugh  de  Mathavarne,  Ar. 

Rhandolphus  Owen4  de  Llanbrinmaire,  Gen. 
Ric'us  Morgan  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Will'us  Jones  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Griffinus  Meredith  de  Kernes,  Gen. 
Morganus  Lewis  Morgan  de  Darowen,  Gen. 
Lodovicus  Morgan  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Morganus  Dauid  de  Penegoes,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Euan  Ho  well  de  ead.,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Prichard  David  de  Mathynleth. 
Humfrus  Thomas  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Deithur  Hund. 

Petrus  Edwards  de  Penrhyn  uchan,  Gen. 
Ric'us  Griffithes  de  Tretherwen,  Gen. 
Rob'tus  Davies  de  ead.,  Gen. 

Friends  to  prison  for  holding  a  meeting  near  Llanidloes.    (72.  Davies's 
Life.) 

1  Ante,  pp.  64  and  66.  2  Ante,  pp.  65  and  67. 

2  Ante,  p.  66.  4  See  ante,  pp.  62,  65,  and  66. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  69 

Poole  Hund. 

David  Morris  de  Pole,  Gen. 
Edr'us  Edwards  de  Burgedine,  Gen. 
Carolus  Jones  de  Broniarth.  Gen. 
Joh'es  Pugh  de  Lanvechan,  Gen. 
Meredicus  Evans  de  ead..  Gen. 

Cause  Hund. 

Thomas  Bethell  de  Hydan,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Phillipps  de  Ederton,  Gen. 
Ric'us  ap  Prichard  de  Crugion,  Gen. 
Joh'es  Owens  de  Rhandore,  Gen. 

Mountgom'y  Hund. 

Jur.  13.  Richardus  Griffithes  de  Mellington,  Gen. 

Edr'us  Milward  de  Hissington,  Gen. 
Jur.   14.  Joh'es  Price  de  Hondley,  Gen. 
Jur.   15.  Joh'es  Lewis  de  Hopton,  Gen. 

Presentment  of  James  Dell,  one  of  the  High  Constables  for 
the  Hundred  of  Caurse,  who  said  he  had  nothing  to  present 
that  he  knew  of,  "  except  that  Jenking  Morganes1  and  Mary 
his  wife,  David  Morgans1  and  Gwen  Morgans,  and  Eichard 
Hill1  would  not  come*  to  Church/' 

John  Price,  the  other  High  Constable  for  Caurse  Hundred, 
presented  Edward  Tayleur  and  Margaret  his  wife,  for  not 
coming  to  church. 

Robert  Davies  and  Evan  Gryffith,  Chief  Constables  of  the 
Hundred  of  Mathrafal — 

"  Wee  p'sent  John  Cristofer2  of  Mathrauall,  for  absenting 
hymself  from  his  parish  Church  since  the  first  day  of  August 
last,  and  for  Popish  recusantcy,  as  wee  are  informed  by  report, 
because  that  he  is  not  none  [known  ?]  of  any  of  our  Parishes. 

"Wee  have  neyther  independans  nor  quakers  w' thin  our 
hundred  to  our  knowledge,  and  nothing  else  to  p'sent  but  all 
fayre  and  good/' 

ROBERT  DAVIES. 
EVAN  GRIFFITH. 

The  Presentm't  of  Griffith  Jones,  one  of  ye  Chiefe  Con- 
stables of  ye  Hundred  of  Llanvilling  att  ye  great  Sessions  held 
att  Montgomery  ye  second  day  of  September  1680. 

1  Ante,  p.  61.  2  Ante,  p.  59. 


70  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY  : 

I  doe  p'sent  Rowland  Owen1  and  John  Rydd'r1  ap  Evan, 
both  in  ye  p'ish  of  Hirnant,  being  reputed  quakers,  and  not 
coining  to  their  p'ish  church  not  this  twelve  raonthes  or 
above. 

Likewise,  John  Thomas  Morris1  and  his  wifq  for  ye  like. 

Edward  Thomas  Moris1  and  his  wife. 

John  Thomas  Powell1  and  his  wife  for  ye  like — all  these  in 
ye  p'ish  of  Llanwthyn. 

Likewise,  I  p'sent  Robert  Evan  ab  Owen2  and  his  wife,  of 
Cefencoch,  in  ye  p'sh  of  Llanrhaiadr,  for  being  reputed  popish 
recusant,  and  not  coming  to  there  parish  church  since  the 
beging  [beginning]  of  August  last  past. 

I  have  nothing  else  p'sentable  to  my  knowleg. 

By  me,  GEIFFITH  JONES. 

Apud  villam  de  Mountgomery  in  dicto  Comitatu  Justiciar'm 
D'ni  Regis  Magna  Session,  suae  tenta  apud  Mountgom'y 
p'dicti  secundi  die  Septembris  Anno  Regni  Regis  Caroli 
Sec'di  nunc  Anglise  etc.  xxxij0. 

Imps,  wee  p'sent,  Humffery  Thomas,  ' 
Morris  Harry, 
Tho.  Owen, 
John  William, 
Morris  Morgan,  and 
William  Thomas, 

all  of  the  towne  and  p'ishe  of  Machenlleth,  for  not  comeinge 
to  churche  to  heare  Divine  Seruis,  being  reputed  Quakers. 

lie.,  wee  p'sent  Richard  Owen  and  his  wife,  of  the  p'ishe  of 
Penegos,  for  not  coming  to  church  to  heare  Divine  Seruis, 
beinge  reputed  Quakers. 

***** 

RICHAED  ROWLANDS,  \  TT-  7  n      i  -LI 
HUGH  RICHAEDS,       }  Hi9h  Constables. 

The  P'sentments  of  the  Jury  for  the  Burrough  afores'd 
septimo  die  Septemb'r.  An'o  R  Rs  Caroli  SVd'  nunc  Anglie 
etc.  Tricessimo  s'c'do  Anoq.  D'n'i  1680  doe  p'sent  as  foil's 
[follows]. 

Imprimis,  wee  of  the  Jurij  doe  p'sent  Anne  Hamon,3  Mary 
Harnon,  and  all  the  rest  of  her  family  for  [not  ?]  cominge  to 
her  church  to  heare  Devine  Servise,  and  Robert  her  son-in- 
law. 

1  See  ante,  pp.  55,  58,  59,  and  63.  2  See  ante,  p.  63. 

3  See  ante,  pp.  54  and  63. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    GAOL    FILES.  71 

Francis  Reignold.  Edw.  Ireland. 

Edward  Price.  Richard  Whittingharn. 

George  Peers.  Humphrey  Roberts. 

Edward  Davies.  Reinold  Powell. 

Alexander  Hamon.  John  Powell. 

Morris  Lloyd.  Richard  Berwick. 
Edward  Benet. 

Apud  Mountgom'y  tertio  die  Septembris  An'o  R.  Ris  Carol, 
s'c'di  nunc  Angl.  et  xxxij0  anoq.  DVi  1680. 

Wee  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  High 
Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  Llanidloes  in  the  s'd  Countie, 
doe  p'sent  Richard  Eltonhead  and  Anne  his  wife,  of  the  p'ish 
of  Trevegloes  in  the  s'd  Countie,  for  not  comeinge  to  church 
and  for  being  reputed  to  bee  Roman  Catholicks. 

And  further  wee  p'sent  Alexander  Bdes  and  Margarett  his 
wife,  of  the  p'ish  of  Carno  in  the  s'd  Countie,  for  not  corneing 
to  Church  and  for  being  reputed  Quakers. 

And  further  wee  p'sent  John  Robert1  of  Llanidloes  in  the 
s'd  countie,  Smith,  for  not  comeing  to  church  and  for  being 
reputed  Quakers. 

And  further  wee  p'sent  William  Beversley2  and  Margarett 
his  wife,  for  not  comeing  to  Church  and  for  being  reputed 
Phanatiques  Inhabiteing  in  Trevegloes  in  the  said  Countie. 

And  further  wee  p'sent  Lewis  Griffith,1  of  the  p'ish  of 
Trevegloes  in  the  s'd  Countie,  for  not  comeing  to  church  and 
for  being  reputed  Phanatiques. 

RICH.  REES,  \  m  •  f  r>      411 

DAVID  WILLIAMS,    }  ^ef  Constables. 

Hundred  of  Deythur — 

Wee  p'sent  the  wife  of  James  Laugh  ton,  of  Collfryn,  for 

being  a  reputed   popish    Recusant,   and   for  absenting   from 

church. 

GRIFFITH  DERWAS,  )  ni  .  £  n      ,  7 , 
EDW.  GARLAND,     <$  Chief  Constable,. 

Hundred  of  Pool — 

We  p'sent  Euble  Edwards3  and  John  Edwards,  Richard 
Trolus4  and  his  wife,  John  Griffith,  Alen  Griffith,  John  Griffith, 

1  See  ante,  p.  60. 

2  Ante,  pp.  51  and  60. 

3  Ante,  pp.  50,  51,  53,  and  56. 

4  An    Independent    mentioned   by   Richard   Davies  in  his  Auto- 
biography as  being  in  prison  in  Welshpool  in  1681.     He  lived  at 
Llanfechain.     (See  Mont.  Coll.,  iv,  p.  163.) 


72  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    NONCONFORMITY. 

Thomas  Field,1  Job.  Griffith,  Mary  Fox,  vld.2  Thomas  Ruffe,3 
Hugh  Ruffe,3  John  Hattfield  and  his  wife,4  David  Jones  and 
his  wife,5  Thomas  Lloyd,  Gent,  and  his  wife,6  to  be  absentees 
from  church. 

KICHARD  HUMPHREY,  JOHN  MEREDITH. 

The  p'sentment  of  William  Griffith,  one  of  the  Chiefe 
Constables  of  the  Hundred  of  Llanwilling,  at  the  great 
Sessions  held  at  Mountgy  the  2  day  of  Sept.  1680. 

I  doe  p'sent  Charles  Lloyd,7  John  Monsel,  Richard  DM  ap 
Griffithe,7  to  be  Reputed  Quakeres  of  the  parishe  of  Myvod. 

I  doe  p'sent  William  David,  of  the  same  parish,  for  absenting 
himselfe  from  his  parish  Church  twice  the  first  of  August  lasfc 
past. 

By  me,  WILLIAM  GRIFFITHES. 

Wee,  Mathewe  Mathewes  and  Rees  Williams,  High  Con- 
stables of  the  Hundred  of  Newtown,  doe  p'sent  to  the  Grand 
Jury  of  the  Great  Sessions  as  followeth — 

Imp  mis,  wee  doe  p'sent  Humphrey  Stephens8  and  Elino'r 
his  wiefe,  to  be  absentees  from  there  p'sh  Church. 

lie.,  wee  doe  p'sent  Thomas  Tudge8  and  his  wiefe  for  the 
like. 

Ite.,  wee  doe  p'sent  Lewis  Turnor8  and  John  Tumor  and 
his  wiefe  for  the  like. 

lie.,  wee  doe  p'sent  Ffrancis  Hancose  and  his  wif  for  the 
like. 

Ite.,  wee  doe  p'sent  Henry  Williams9  and  his  wief  for  the 
like. 

Ite.,  wee  doe  p'sent  Evan  Moris  and  his  wiefe  for  the  like. 

Ite.,  wee  doe'  p'sent  Katherine  Mathewes  for  the  like. 

Ite.,  wee  doe  p'sent  the  wief  of  Joseph  Lloyd  for  the  like. 

Wee  have  noe  more  to  o'r  knowledge  to  p'sent. 

REES  WMS,  MATHEW  MATHEWES. 

1  Previously  presented  for  recusancy.     (M.   Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  203.) 
The  Fields  lived  at  or  near  Pool  Quay,  and  were  blacksmiths. 

2  The  widow,  probably,  of  Geo.  Fox,  Gent.,  of  Rheteskin,  presented 
in  Oct.  1663  for  recusancy.     (M.  Coll.,  xxiv,  p.  203.) 

3  Ante,  p.  61.  4  Ante,  p.  60. 

5  Ante,  p.  62.  6  Ante,  pp.  51  and  58. 

7  Ante,  pp.  52  and  58.  b  Ante,  p.  58. 

9  Of  Scafell ;  ante,  pp.  58,  59,  and  63. 

(To  be  continued. ) 


73 


WALSH    OF   LLANDEWI,  RADNORSHIRE 
(LORD   ORMATHWAITE). 

BY   THE   REV.   GEOEGE   SAND  FORD,   PANT   PURLAS, 
LLANDRINDOD. 


THE  inhabitants  of  Radnorshire  are  gratified  by  the 
friendly  recognition  on  the  part  of  the  Powys-land 
Club  of  time-honoured  spots,  and  eventful  incidents,  in 
the  history  of  their  County,  as  in  the  papers  on  the 
Rood  Screen1  of  Llananno,  the  Radnor  fortresses,  and 
on  the  beautiful  ruins  of  the  once  famous  Abbey  Cwm 
Hir,  their  only  religious  house  of  great  antiquity,  and 
architectural  beauty.  They  have  been  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  light,  which  modern  research  has  thrown 
on  their  common  annals,  and  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude 
to  the  students  of  antiquarian  lore,  who  have  revealed 
the  neglected  memoirs  of  olden  time.  They  regard 
the  Museum  and  Library  of  the  Powys-land  Club  at 
Welshpool,  as  faithful  repositories  of  valuable  intelli- 
gence, and  reference  for  a  future  age. 

Moreover,  in  their  intercourse  with  their  Mont- 
gomeryshire neighbours,  they  feel  vividly  the  ties  of 
nationality  in  the  chain  of  mountains,  which  rivets 
their  gaze.  The  language  of  Southey,  in  his  poem  of 
"  Madoc",  retains  its  charm  for  the  Cambrian  reader  : 

"  Lo  yonder 

My  native  mountains,  and  how  beautiful 
They  rest  in  the  moonlight !     I  was  nurst  among  them  ; 
They  saw  my  sports  in  childhood,  they  have  seen 
My  sorrows,  they  have  saved  me  in  the  hour 
Of  danger  ;     .     .     .     I  have  vowed  that,  as  they  were 
My  cradle,  they  shall  be  my  monument." 

1  Mont.  Coll. ,  vol.  vii,  vol.  xv,  and  vol.  xxiv. 


74  WALSH    OF    LLANDEWI,  RADNORSHIRE. 

They  are  also  mutually  gratified  by  the  ever-grace- 
ful meanderings  of  the  Wye,  which  is  their  common 
inheritance,  and,  like  a  silver  band,  unites  Montgomery- 
shire with  Radnorshire,  North  with  South  Wales. 

"  The  voice  of  blood  shall  reach, 
More  audible  than  speech. 
We  are  one." 

The  Excursionist  traverses  with  feelings  of  delight 
and  admiration  the  course  of  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Wye,  and  appreciates  the  special  loveliness,  which 
Nature  has  imprinted  upon  every  portion  of  its 
romantic  course. 

The  Geologist  is  intent  on  scrutinizing  the  strata  of 
its  rocky  bed  between  Rhayader  and  Hay  ;  and  the 
Annalist  of  Powys-land  recalls  the  memories  of  Welsh 
independence,  as  he  visits  the  chosen  site  of  the 
residence  of  Llewelyn  ap  Griffith,  Prince  of  North 
Wales,  at  Aberedw  on  the  Wye,  from  which,  as  a 
central  station,  that  gallant  Chieftain  issued  his  orders, 
and  marshalled  his  patriotic  forces,  in  the  final  struggle 
for  independence,  when  he  had  entrusted  North  Wales 
to  the  vigilant  care  of  his  brother,  David. 

A  little  higher  up  the  course  of  the  Wye  on  the 
Brecknockshire  side,  near  its  confluence  with  the  Irvon, 
that  ill-fated  Prince  was  pierced,  when  unarmed,  by 
the  spear  of  an  English  knight,  and  his  remains  lie 
buried  in  Cwm  Llewelyn,  a  glen  of  melancholy  interest. 

"  After  life's  fitful  fever,  he  sleeps  well." 

Moreover,  the  illustrious  family  of  the  Mortimers  of 
Wigmore  Castle,  co.  Hereford,  which  boasted  of  its 
alliances  with  the  regal  line  of  Gwynedd,  and  England, 
possessed  strong  forts,  and  broad  acres,  in  both  portions 
of  Powys-land;  and  subsequently  the  Barleys,  the 
distinguished  Earls  of  Oxford,  and  Mortimer,  succeeded 
to  a  large  portion  of  their  domain  in  the  southern 
county  in,  and  about,  the  contributory  borough  of  Cefn 
Llys,  which  has  lately  been  denuded  of  its  electoral 
privileges. 


WALSH    OF    LLANDP:WI,  RADNORSHIRE.  75 

Among  the  leading  families  of  Radnorshire  may  be 
named  the  Lewises  of  Harpton  Court,  Radnor,  which 
obtained  a  widespread  distinction  through  the  states- 
manlike qualities  of  Sir  Thomas  Frankland  Lewis, 
Bart.,  P.O.,  and  his  still  greater  son,  Sir  George  Corne- 
wall  Lewis,  second  Bart.,  M.P.  for  Radnor  Boroughs 
in  1855,  and  the  De  Wintons  of  Maeslough  Castle, 
whose  representative  was  M.P.  for  Radnorshire  1837-40. 

I  must  also  mention  the  Green- Prices  of  Norton 
Manor,  Presteign.  The  first  baronet  of  that  family 
(L.)  represented  the  Radnor  Districts  1863-69,  and 
subsequently  the  county,  1880-5.  At  his  election  in 
1880  he  obtained  1,137  votes.  Mr.  Robert  Baskerville 
Mynors  (C.)  of  Evancoyd  polled  only  800. 

Mr.  Charles  Coltman  Rogers  of  Stanage  Park  (L.) 
represented  the  Radnor  Boroughs  on  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Marquis  of  Hartington  to  the  constituency  of 
N.E.  Lancashire,  and  was  a  candidate  for  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  County  in  1885,  when  he  was  defeated 
by  the  Hon.  Arthur  Walsh.  He  remarked,  on  that 
occasion,  that  "he  felt  confident  that  at  the  next 
election  Liberalism  would  again  triumph  in  the  county"; 
but  that  expectation  was  not  realized. 

As  this  paper  is  closely  connected  with  the  noble 
family  of  Lord  Ormathwaite,  I  beg  to  observe  that 
they  have  represented  the  County  of  Radnor  for  the 
last  fifty  years,  excepting  the  Parliament  of  1880-5, 
that  they  have  possessed  the  high  office  of  Lord- 
Lieutenant  from  1842  to  1891,  and  that  they  have 
contracted  alliances  with  the  leading  families  of  the 
aristocracy  of  England.  They  are  the  chief  landowners 
of  the  County,  being  in  possession  of  12,428  acres, 
embracing  large  tracts  of  land  bordering  on  the  ser- 
pentine course  of  the  Ithon,  the  chief  tributary  of  the 
Wye  in  Radnorshire. 

I  need  not  particularize  the  ancestors  of  this  distin- 
guished family  beyond  the  name  of  John  Benn,  Esq., 
of  Whitehaven,  Cumberland,  who  possessed  energy 
and  ability,  the  characteristic  qualities  of  his  race. 


76  WALSH    OF    LLANDEWI,  RADNORSHIRE. 

His  son,  William  Benn,  Esq.,  of  Moor  Row,  Cumber- 
land, married  Mary,  daughter  of  Timothy  Nicholson, 
Esq.,  and  died  in  1759. 

The  son  of  the  above  William  Benn  was  John  Benn 
of  Ormathwaite,  a  beautiful  seat  near  to  the  far-famed 
lake  of  Derwentwater,  and  chosen  hereafter  to  furnish 
a  title  to  his  descendants.  He  was  born  Feb.  10th, 
1759,  and  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Fowke,  Esq.,  of  Bexley,  Kent,  and  grand-daughter  of 
J.  Walsh,  Esq.,  Governor  of  Fort  St.  George.  He 
and  his  lady  assumed  the  additional  surname  and 
arms  of  Walsh  by  royal  permission,  4th  April  1794,  in 
compliance  with  the  will  of  J.  Walsh,  Esq.,  of  War- 
field  Park,  Bracknell,  co.  Berks.  From  this  source 
he  obtained  a  large  estate  in  the  county  of  Radnor. 
He  was  created  a  Baronet,  14th  June  1804,  and  having 
established  the  fortunes  of  his  family  on  a  firm  basis, 
he  died,  June  7th,  1825.  His  relict  died  September 
29th,  1836. 

Sir  John  Benn  Walsh,  the  second  Baronet,  added 
largely  to  the  honours,  and  reputation,  of  his  family. 
He  was  born  9th  Dec.  1798,  and  succeeded  his  father, 
as  second  Baronet,  7th  July  1825.  He  married,  Nov. 
9th,  1825,  Lady  Jane  Grey,  youngest  daughter  of 
George  Henry,  sixth  Earl  of  Stamford  and  Warrington, 
and  sat  as  M.P.  for  Sudbury,  1830-4,  arid  was  regarded 
as  a  powerful  speaker  in  the  spirited  debates,  which 
preceded  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill. 

On  Monday,  the  fourth  of  July  1831,  Lord  John 
Russell  moved  the  second  reading  of  the  Bill  to  amend 
the  representation  of  the  people  in  England  and  Wales. 
Then  it  was  that  Sir  John  Walsh,  member  for  Sudbury, 
standing  high  in  the  confidence  of  the  Conservative 
party,  moved  as  an  amendment,  that  the  Bill  should  be 
read  that  day  six  months.  After  a  discussion,  which 
lasted  three  nights,  during  which,  on  the  second  night, 
Mr.  T.  B.  Macaulay  delivered  a  most  eloquent  speech, 
the  amendment  was  rejected  by  367  votes  to  231,  and 
the  original  motion  was  carried. 


WALSH    OF    LLANDEWI,  RADNORSHIRE.  77 

Sir  John  Benn  Walsh  was  returned  again  for 'the 
same  borough  in  1838-40.  In  1840  he  became  a 
Knight  of  the  Shire  for  the  county  of  Radnor,  and 
retained  his  seat,  until  he  was  raised,  on  account  of  his 
public  services,  to  the  House  of  Peers,  by  the  title  of 
Lord  Ormathwaite,  in  1868.  He  was  appointed  Lord- 
Lieutenant  of  Radnorshire  1842-75,  and  was  also  a 
Deputy  Lieutenant  of  Berks.  His  address  to  each  of 
the  electors  was,  as  follows,  in  1865  : 

1865.- 
"  DEAR  SIR,  "  28,  Berkeley  Square,  London. 

"As  a  dissolution  will  occur  immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
present  session,  I  take  the  liberty  of  acquainting  you  with  my 
intention  to  offer  myself  again  as  a  candidate  for  the  high  honour  of 
representing  the  County  in  the  next  Parliament,  and  I  beg  most 
earnestly  and  respectfully  to  solicit  the  favour  of  your  vote  and 
interest. 

"  I  am,  your  faithful,  humble  servant, 

"JOHN  WALSH." 

His  Radnorshire  residence  was  Knill  Court,  near 
Kington,  which  he  occupied  as  the  tenant  of  Sir  J. 
Walsham,  Bart.  He  entertained  for  awhile  thoughts 
of  erecting  a  mansion  near  the  site  of  an  old  British 
castle,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  Alpine  Bridge, 
Pontygraig,  over  the  Ithon,  near  Penybont,  com- 
manding the  picturesque  valley  of  that  river,  and  the 
conical  hill  of  Cefn  Llys,  so  celebrated  in  the  last 
conflicts  of  border  warfare,  and  embracing  the  verdant 
slopes  of  Cwmbryth  Bank,  where  a  herd  of  deer  might 
have  enhanced  the  loveliness  of  the  landscape. 

The  first  Lord  Ormathwaite  died  in  1881,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  only  son  Arthur,  who  was  born  in 
1827,  and  was  educated  at  Eton  and  Trin.  College, 
Cambridge.  He  was  formerly  a  Captain  of  the  1st 
Life  Guards,  and  a  Magistrate  for  Berks  and  co. 
Hereford,  and  M.P.  for  Leominster  1865-8,  and  a 
joint  member  of  the  House  of  Commons  with  his 
father  during  that  period. 

Upon  the  elevation  of  the  second  Baronet  to  the 


78  WALSH    OF    LLANDEWE,   RADNORSHIRE. 

peerage  in  1868,  be  contested  Radnorshire  with  Mr. 
Richard  Green-Price,  subsequently  first  Baronet,  and 
was  successful.  The  issue  was  as  follows:  Walsh  (C.), 
889  ;  R.  Green-Price  (L),  882.  He  represented 
Radnorshire  for  twelve  years.  He  is  Hon.  Col.  of  the 
2nd  battalion  of  the  South  Wales  Borderers,  and  is  a 
County  Councillor.  He  married,  in  1858,  Lady 
Katherine  Emily  Mary  Somerset,  third  daughter  of 
Henry,  seventh  Duke  of  Beaufort,  K.G.  His  chief 
residence  is  at  Eywood,  near  Titley,  R.S.O.,  but  he 
has  also  a  seat  at  Llandewi,  Radnorshire,  commanding 
the  winding  course  of  the  Ithon. 

The  eldest  son  of  the  second  Lord  Ormathwaite  is 
the  Honourable  Arthur  Henry  John  Walsh,  born  1859. 
He  was  formerly  first  Lieutenant  of  1st  Life  Guards, 
and  is  a  D.  L.  for  Radnorshire.  He  has  sat  as  M.P. 
for  Radnorshire  (C.)  since  1885,  when  his  address  to 
the  electors  was  to  this  effect : 

"I  have  proclaimed  myself  as  a  moderate  Conservative,  a 
Conservative  of  progressive  views.  By  this  I  mean  that  I  am  of 
opinion  *  State  should  come  before  Party',  and  therefore  some 
measures  I  shall  support,  whether  they  be  introduced  by  Conservatives 
or  Liberals. 

11 1  shall,  if  elected  as  your  representative,  devote  my  whole  time 
and  energy  to  promote  and  foster  any  measures,  or  actions,  having  for 
their  object  the  revival  of  trade  and  the  encouragement  of  agricul- 
ture. 1  shall  at  all  times  identify  myself  with  your  local  interests. 

"Eywood,  Nov.  2nd,  1885." 

On  his  return  as  M.P.  for  Radnorshire  again  in  the 
following  year,  he  thus  expressed  his  gratitude  to  the 
constituency  : 

"  To  the  Free  and  Independent  Electors  of  Radnorshire. 
"  Gentlemen, 

"  To  you,  my  tried  friends,  who  have  twice  placed  me  in  the  proud 
position  of  Member  for  Radnorshire,  I  owe  a  debt,  which  I  can  never 
hope  to  repay ;  but  I  would  also  tender  my  thanks  to  those,  who 
have  thought  it  their  duty,  from  conscientious  motives,  to  oppose  me, 
and  from  whom  through  two  arduous  contests  I  have  experienced 
nothing  but  personal  courtesy. 

"  I  trust  that  we  shall  not  be  embroiled  in  another  political  contest 


WALSH    OF    LLANDEWI,  RADNORSHIRE.  79 

for  a  long  time  to  come,  and  I  venture  to  hope,  that  any  political 
differences,  which  may  have  arisen  will  be  at  once  adjusted,  and 
friendship  restored  in  all  cases. 

"I  am,  Gentlemen, 

"Your  faithful  and  obliged  servant, 

"ARTHUR  WALSH. 
"Eywood,  July  19th,  1886." 

The  Honourable  Arthur  Walsh  married,  at  St. 
Paul's,  Knightsbridge,  July  26th,  1890,  the  Lady 
Clementina  Frances  Anne  Pratt,  born  in  1870,  sister 
of  the  Marquis  Camden,  who  was  closely  connected 
with  South  Wales,  having  a  seat  at  The  Priory,  Brecon. 
The  present  peer  has  a  large  family  of  six  sons,  and 
three  daughters. 

During  the  present  century  the  family  of  Walsh  has 
advanced  step  by  step  to  a  high  pitch  of  prosperity, 
and  influence.  It  has  obtained  repeated  marks  of 
favour  from  the  Crown,  and  has  faithfully  adhered  to 
its  political  principles,  and  fulfilled  with  energy  and 
talent  the  numerous  duties  of  the  public  trusts  com- 
mitted to  its  charge.  Great  is  its  popularity  in 
Powys-land,  but  not  greater,  than  it  has  fairly  won. 
and  deserved. 

The  family  influence  of  the  Walshes  is  prominent  in 
South  Wales,  especially  in  the  counties  of  Radnor,  and 
Brecon. 

The  first  Lord  Ormathwaite  was  distinguished  by  the 
authorship  of  several  literary  works,  and  by  his  elo- 
quence in  the  imperial  Parliament,  and  on  many 
interesting  occasions  of  a  local  nature. 

When  in  company  with  the  late  Sir  George  Corne- 
wall  Lewis,  Bart.,  of  Harpton  Court,  he  addressed  his 
friends,  and  neighbours,  at  agricultural,  meetings,  or  the 
hustings  ;  it  was  a  subject  of  pride,  and  pleasure,  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Radnorshire,  that  they  could  boast  of  two 
representatives  of  the  aristocracy  of  their  County,  so 
remarkable  for  their  abilities,  attainments,  and  cour- 
tesy ;  but  there  were  many  who  conferred  the  palm  of 
eloquence  on  their  Lord  Lieutenant,  and  still  treasure 
in  their  recollections  the  power,  and  charm,  of  his 


80  WALSH    OF    LLANDEWI,    RADNORSHIRE. 

addresses.  His  Lordship's  portrait  is  still  observable 
in  the  homesteads  of  his  numerous  tenantry. 

The  alliances  of  the  present  Lord  Ormathwaite  and 
his  son,  the  Hon.  Arthur  Walsh,  have  been  closely  con- 
nected with  the  adjoining  County  of  Brecon,  for  the 
Duke  of  Beaufort  has  a  romantic  seat  at  Llangattock 
Park,  Crick-Howel,  and  the  late  Marquis  Camden,  father 
of  Lady  Clementina  Walsh,  when  Earl  of  Brecknock, 
represented  the  County  Town  in  1866,  where  he  sub- 
sequently possessed  considerable  property,  amounting 
to  7,000  acres,  contiguous  to  his  seat,  called  the  Priory. 

The  present  Lord  Ormathwaite  is  a  County  Coun- 
cillor of  Radnorshire,  and  devoted  to  the  duties  of  his 
office. 

ARMS. — Argent,  a  fesse  sable,  cotised  wavy  gules,  between 
six  martlets  of  the  second. 

CREST. — A  griffin's  head  erased  per  fesse  wavy  argent  and 
ermine,  beak  and  ears  or. 

SUPPORTERS. — On  either  side  a  griffin  ermine,  gorged  with  a 
collar  vair,  and  pendant  therefrom  an  escutcheon  argent, 
charged  with  a  martlet  sable. 

MOTTO. — "  Virtus  et  veritas  vincunt." 

SEATS. — Ormathwaite,  Keswick,  Cumberland  ;  Warfield 
Park,  Bracknell,  Berkshire;  Eywood,  Titley,  E.S.O.,  Hereford- 
shire ;  Llandewi,  near  Penybont,  Radnorshire. 

CLUBS. — Carlton,  White's,  Marlborough,  Bachelors'. 


81 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE   MEN 

WHO    MATRICULATED    AT 

OXFORD    UNIVERSITY,    1571-1622. 


THE  following  names,  dates  of  matriculation,  stations 
in  life,  and  college,  it  is  conceived  will  be  acceptable 
and  useful  for  genealogical  purposes  to  members  of  the 
Powys-land  Club.  A  word  of  explanation  will  suffice  to 
make  the  description  clear.  "  Pleb.  f."  =  plebeiusjilius. 
Plebeius  is  the  expression  used  in  describing  the 
position  of  lowest  grade  in  the  social  scale  at  matri- 
culation. In  Elizabethan  English  it  is  equivalent  to 
"yeoman",  and  every  student  whose  father  was  lower 
than  a  gentleman  would  be  so  described  ;  a  reference 
to  the  wills  of  Montgomeryshire  men,  which  have  been 
or  will  be  printed  in  the  Journal  of  the  Powys-land 
Club,  will  disclose  what  a  limited  number  of  the 
testators  are  described  either  as  Esquires  or  Gentle- 
men, and  yet  by  their  wills  it  is  made  apparent  they 
were  in  many  instances  large  landowners,  and  possessed 
of  considerable  personal  property  and  money.  Had 
the  lists  of  debts  owing  to  the  testators  been  appended 
to  the  extracts,  they  would  have  shown  that  the 
Armigerous  families  were  very  frequent  borrowers  from 
the  yeomen. 

The  appended  list  would  have  been  greatly  improved 
if  the  Oxford  Registers  had  been  examined  and  the 
names  of  the  fathers  of  the  students  added,  as  it  would 
have  facilitated  the  identification  of  those  who  belong 
to  the  less  prominent  county  families. 

E.  R.  M. 


VOL.  XXV. 


82         MONTGOMERYSHIRE  MEN  WHO  MATRICULATED 

1575.  20   Sep.  Lewis  Rowland, pleb.  f.  18.1  Jesus. 

1577.  20  Dec.  Jenkin  Lloyd,  Arm.  f.  17.  Balliol. 

1578.  20  July  John  Howsman,  pleb.f.17.  Brasenose. 
„  „          John  Morris,  Gen.  f.     18.  „ 

8  Dec.  John  Heyny,  pleb.  f.     23. 

1581.  17  Nov.  Edw.  Pugh,  Gen.  f.        18.  Jesus. 

23  Nov.  Hugh  Griffith,  pleb.  f.  23.  Christ  Church. 
.,          24  Nov.  Morris  Owen,  Arm.  f.   19.  Jesus. 
„  ,,         John  Davies,  pleb.  f.  26  or  16.  Magdalen.    , 

1581-2.     2  Mar.  Thomas  Lloide,  Gen.  f.  17.   Brasenose. 

1582.  11  May.  Chas.  Harbarte,  Arm.  f.  15.  Magdalen. 

„    "     Geo.  Harbart,  Arm.  f.  16. 

1583.  19  July  Edw.  Pryce,  Arm.  f.      22.  Gloucester  Hall. 
1584-5.     5  Mar.  Win.  Lloide,  pleb.  f.       20.  Brasenose. 

1585.  2  July  David  Blayney,  Gen.  f.  17.  Magdalen. 
„  ,,         Evan  Davies,  pleb.  f.    17.  „ 

„  5  Nov.  Rich.  Owen,  pleb.  f.      19.  Jesus. 

1586.  21  Oct.   Rich.  Griffins,  Gen.  f.  17.  Case's  Students. 
1586-7.  17  Mar.  John  Porter,  pleb.  f.     18.  Jesus. 

1587.  13  June  Hu mphrey  Price, Gen. f.  29.  Broadgates  Hall. 
1587-8.  [Blayney],  2Maurice,  Gen. 

f.  18.  Magdalen. 

1588-9.  25  Jan.  Oliver  Lloyd,  Arm.  f.    18.  St.  Mary  Hall. 
„          24  Mar.  Matthew  Herbert,  Esq. 

f.  26.  Lincoln. 

1593-4.    9  Feb.  Richard  Price,  pleb.  f.  19. 
1594.      10  Oct.    Thos.  Price,  pleb.  f.       18.  New  College. 
1596.3     14  May  Edw.  Herbert,  Arm.  f.   14.  University. 

1596.  14  Oct.    Robert  Hughes  (Hewes), 

pleb.  f.  20.  St.  Mary  Hall. 

1597.  „         Absalom  Gethyn( Salop), 

pleb.  f.  17.  Broadgates  Hall. 

,,  „         Rowland  Pughe,  Gen.  f.  18.  Jesus. 

Robert  Ffloyd,  pleb.  f.  17.  Oriel. 

„  ,,         John  Lewes,  Gen.  f.      20.  Jesus. 

1597-8.  27  Jan.    Hump.  Jaspar,  pleb.  f.  21.  Lincoln. 

1598.  30  June.  Hugh  Vaughan,  pleb.  f.  19.  Oriel. 
„            8  Dec.    George  Backster  (Baxter), 

pleb.  f.  16.  Balliol. 

1599.  19  Oct.    John  Maurice  (Morrice), 

pleb.  f.  17.   Oriel. 

1  Age. 

2  Inserted  in  a  later  handwriting. 

s  This  belongs  to  end  of  May  or  beginning  of  June. 


AT    OXFORD    UNIVERSITY,    1571-1622.  83 

1599.  13  Dec.   David  Haver1  (Haues), 

pleb.  f.  19.  Christ  Church. 

}f  9g.      14  Mar.  Hump.  Herbert, Arm. f.  15.  Lincoln 
_,,         Roger  Vaughan,  Gen.  f.  17.       ,, 

1600.  12  Dec.  Win.  Johnes  (Jones), 

pleb.  f.  20.  Magdalen. 

David  Blayney,  Gen.  f.  20.  St.  Edmund  Hall. 

1601.  24  April  Hugh  Moris  (Morrice), 

pleb.  f.  18. 

„          22  May  Wm.  Penryn  (Penren), 

Arm.  f.  14.  Jesus. 

1601-2.  19  Mar.  John  Pughe,  Gen.  f.     19.   St.  Mary  Hall. 

1602.  30  April  Sampson  Price  (Salop), 

Cler.  f.  16.  Exeter. 

„  15  Oct.    Rich.  Pearke  (Pearkes), 

pleb.  f.  15.  St.  Mary  Hall. 

1604.  18  May  Matthew  Johnnes  (Jones), 

pleb.  f.  l7.  Jesus. 

15  June  Jeffrey  Griffis,  Gen.  f.  16. 
1604-5.  22  Feb.  Edd.  Vaughan  (Ed.)  (sic.  -, 

?  Edmund),  pleb.  f.    19.  Corpus. 

1605.  26  April  Erasmus  Evans,  Gen.  f.  18.  Jesus. 

26  July  Daniel  Jones,  pleb.  f.    18.  St.  Mary  Hall. 
1605-6.     8  Mar.  Charles  Evans,  Gen.  f.  16.  Brasenose. 

1606.  12  Dec.  Edward  Piper,  pleb.  f.  20. 

„  „         Rich.  Evans,  Cler.  f.      18.  Lincoln. 

1607.  20  Nov.  Michael  Lucas,  pleb.  f.  15.  Jesus. 

1608.  1  July  Edw.  Herbert,  Arm.  f.  17.  Queen's. 

Wm.  Herbert,  Arm.  f.  17. 

1610.      16  June  Wm.  Powell,  Cler.  f.  15.  Hart  Hall. 

,,         18  June  Rich.  Morice,  Cler.  f.  18.  „ 

,,  „         John  Owens  ....  Paup.  Schol. 

„  7  Dec.  Robert  Evans,  pleb.  f.  19.  Christ  Church. 

1612.      30  Oct.  Hugh  Lloyd,  Gen.  f.  14.  All  Souls. 

David  Lloyd,  Gen.  f.  15.  Hart  Hall. 

*         x  *  *  *  *  • 

1615.      12  May.  Hump.  Penryn,  pleb.  f.  20.  Jesus. 
„          27  Oct.    Wm.  Edwards,  Cler.  f.  17.  Oriel. 
John   Kyffin    (Kiffin), 

Gen.  f.  19.       „ 

8  Dec.  Thos.  Spenser,  pleb.  f.  18.  Hart  Hall. 

1  I  wonder  does  this  mean  Aberhafesp  ? 

G  2 


84      MONTGOMERYSHIRE   MEN    AT    OXFORD   UNIVERSITY. 

1616.      12  April  Eich.  Judge  (Tudge), 

pleb.  f.  17.  New  Inn  Hall. 

„          26  April  Hump.  Davies,  pleb.  f.  20.  Hart  Hall. 
„  3  May  Kich.    Owen,  Arm.   f. 

[Tertius]  20.  Jesus. 

„  „         Thomas  Owen,  Arm.  f.  18.        „ 

„          21  June  Robert  Bern und,pleb.f.22.   Christ  Church. 

8  Nov.  Oliver  Thomas,  Gen.  f.  18.  Hart  Hall. 
1617-18.  10  Feb.  Hump.1  Lloyd,  pleb.  f.  20. 
1619-20.     4  Feb.  Rich.  Blayney,  pleb.  f.  23.  All  Souls. 

1621.        2  Nov.  Thos.  Jones,  pleb.  f.       21.  Hart  Hall. 

„  „  Morgan  Pughe,  pleb.  f.  21.  „ 

„  „  Eich.  Davies,  pleb.  f.     20.  Jesus. 

9  Nov.  Godfrey  Davies,  pleb.  f.  20.  Hart  Hall. 
„               „  Rowland  E  vanes,  pleb.  f.  20.  „ 


Note  at  foot :  "He  matriculated  on  15  May  1618." 


85 


ABSTRACTS   OF    ANCIENT   DEEDS,   ETC., 

RELATING    TO 

MEIFOD  AND   ELSEWHERE. 

BY  H.  W.  LLOYD,  M.A. 


IN  perusing  the  following  abstracts,  our  readers 
may  be  interested  to  learn  that,  although  there  are 
several  contemporary  poems  of  Welsh  Bards  to  de- 
scendants of  Ednyved  Vychan,  there  are  none,  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  writer,  addressed  to  Robin  ab 
Gruffydd,  the  subject  of  the  earliest  of  the  grants. 
But  there  are  four  compositions  by  Gutto'r  Glyn,  one 
in  honour  of  his  grandson,  and  three  of  his  great-grand- 
nephew,  William  Vychan  of  Penrhyn,  in  which  not 
only  his  individual  magnificence,  generosity,  and 
nobility  of  character  are  extolled,  but  his  family  and 
ancestry  also.  Two  of  these  are  entitled,  "I'r  Gwr  o'r 
Penrhyn" — "To  the  man  (par  excellence)  of  Penrhyn"; 
and  the  third  to  "  Sir  William  Vychan  of  Llandgai, 
Chamberlain  of  Gwynedd",  in  which  he  styles  him  also 
Captain  of  Caernarvon.  Especial  reference  is  made  to 
his  connection  with  the  Stanleys,  through  Janet,  his 
mother,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Stanley  of  Hooton,  in 
Cheshire,  Kt.,  his  immediate  predecessor  in  the  office. 
The  poet  proclaims  him  the  first  man  in  Mona,  and 
even  in  North  Wales.  The  last  poem  ends  thus  : 

"  Piau  'r  gaer  pwy  agoriad  1 
Pwy  'r  glo  ar  bob  pen  ein  gwlad  1 
Pwy  roi  'n  frig  ar  Penrhyn  fry  1 
Pwy  ond  Wiliara  a'  i  deulu  ? 
Piau  'r  glod,  pwy  a  rydd  gwledd  ? 
Pencenedl,  penaig  Gwynedd." 


86        ABSTRACT  OF  ANCIENT  DEEDS,  ETC., 

TRANSLATION. 

Who  is  it  has  the  key  of  the  Fortress  ? 

Who  is  the  lock  to  each  hill  of  our  land  1 

Who  is  set  up  on  high  above  Penrhyn's  top  1 

Who  but  William  and  his  kin. 

Who  is  it  has  renown,  who  is  it  gives  the  banquet  ? 

The  Head  of  our  race,  the  supreme  leader  of  Gwynedd. 

(1.)  Grant  by  Henry  VI,  A.D.  1439,  to  Robin1  ab 
Gruffydd  ab  Gwilym  of  lands  in  Bodvai  and  Dwy- 
gyvylchi,  in  Hundred  of  AJber  and  Comot  of  Llechwedd 
Uchav,  by  letters  patent  signed  and  witnessed  by  the 
King  at  Caernarvon.  Attached  is  the  Great  Seal  of 
England,  partially  broken. 

Henricus  Dei  gratia  Anglise  et  Ffrancise  et  D'us  Hibernise  Omni- 
bus Ballivis  et  fidelibus  suis  ad  quos  prsesentes  literae  pervenerint  : 
salutem  Sciatis  quod  nos  per  finem  Sex  Solidorum  et  octo  denari- 
orum  nobis  per  Robyn  ap  Gruffydd  ap  Gwillym  fecimus  dedimus  et 
concessimus  eidem  Kobyn  licenciam  perquirendi  sibi  heredibus  et 
assignatis  suis  duo  tenementa  tres  bouat'[as]  terrae  arabilis  et  duas 
acras  prati  cum  suis  perte'iis  in  Villis  de  Bodvayo  et  doygyvolgy2  in 
Comoto  de  Vghaph3  de  Gruff  ap  Gwladus  vgh  (i.e.,  verch)  Eden[yved] 
ap  Llewelyn  Wyllt  et  unum  ten'  cum  pertmentiis  in  Villa  de 
Doygyvolgy  de  Tud[ur]  ap  Nest  vgh  Ken'  (Cynwric)  habendum  et 


1  The  grandson  of  the   grantee,   viz.,   "William  ap    Griffith   ap 
Kobyn"  ap  Gruffydd  ap  Gwillym,  is  witness  to  a  deed  dated  the  12th 
day  of  January  1485  (2  Kic.  III).      His  sons  were  William,  Thomas, 
David,  and  Robert.     "  Thomas  ap  William  ap  Gruffyd"  is  feoffee  to 
a  deed  dated  26th  October,  27  Hen.  VIII,  1535.     The  will  of  Robert, 
fourth  son,  in  which  he  is  styled  "  Robert  Williams,  alias  Robert  ap 
William  ap  Griffith  ap  Robin,  burges  of  Conwy",  is  dated  9th  May 
1546.     He  mentions  in  it  his  son,  "  Hugh  ap  Robert  Williams  of 
Conway",    and    his   daughter,    Katherine,    verch    Robert    Williams. 
Further  particulars  of  the  ancestors  and  descendants  of  the  family  of 
Williams   of   Cochwillan,   and   Ystymcolwyn,    Meifod,  are  given  in 
Lewys  Dwnn,  vol.  ii,  pp.  86  et  seq. 

William  Williams  of  Cochwillan  was  the  eldest  son  of  William, 
eldest  son  of  WTilliam  ap  Griffith  ap  Robyn  above,  by  Dorothy, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Griffith  of  Penrhyn,  in  the  county  of 
Carnarvon.  Harry,  son  of  William  Williams,  sold  Cochwillan. 

2  Dwygyvylchi,  near  Conway. 

8  Uchaf.  In  "  Parthau  Cymru",  in  the  Myvyrian  Archaiology,  the 
Cantrev  or  Hundred  of  Aber  is  divided  into  two  Comots,  Llechwedd 
Uchaf  and  Llechwedd  Isaf  (Upper  and  Lower  Llechwedd). 


RELATING    TO    MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  87 

tenendum  de  nobis  ut  Principe  Wallisa  per  servicia  inde  debita  et 
de  nostra  (?)  consueta  orane  occ'one  (occupatione  ?)  vel  impedimento 
nostro  vel  heredum  nostrorum  Justiciariis,  Est  vicecomitum  aut 
aliorum  Balliuorum  seu  ministrorum  nostrorum  quorumcunque.  In 
cuius  rei  testimonium  has  literas  nostras  fieri  fecimus  patentes  Teste 
me  ipso  apud  Caernarvon  xxiiij  die  Octobris  Anno  regni  nostri  decimo 
septimo.  ["Est "  is  in  MS.,  but  in  error  for  "Et."} 

Robyn  ab  Gruffyd  ab  Gwilym  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Heilin 
ab  Sir  Tudor  of  Nant  and  Llangynhaval,  eldest  son  of 
Ednyved  Vychan,  was  lord  of  Penrhyn  arid  Cwch- 
willan,  through  the  marriage  of  his  great-grandfather, 
Gruffydd  ab  Heilyn,  with  Eva,  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Gruffydd  ab  David  ab  Tudor  ab  Madoc,  son  and  heir 
of  larddur,  who  preceded  Ednvyed  Vychan  in  the 
office  of  Grand  Forester  of  Snowdon  to  Llewelyn  the 
Great.  (See  Hist,  of  Powys  Vadoc,  vi,  pp.  427-8,  where 
Robyn  is  wrongly  called  Robert,  the  two  names  being 
in  those  days  distinct.)  He  was  ancestor  of  William, 
and  Henry,  and  Lumley  Williams,  whose  names  appear 
at  a  later  period  in  this  collection  of  deeds.  A  poem 
is  extant  addressed  by  Guto'r  Glyn  to  his  grandson, 
William  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Robyn  of  Cochwillan,  and  three 
other  poems  to  lords  of  Penrhyn  of  the  other  branch  of 
the  family. 

(2.)  Charter,  16th  Eliz.,  1574,  by  Humphrey  ab 
David  Lloyd  of  Traeth  Vyrnwy,  granting  vill  and 
lands  in  Peniarth,  co.  Montgomery,  to  Owen  ab  Hughe 
Lloyd  de  Traeth  (?)  Vyrnwy,  and  William  ab  John  ab 
Rees.  Kevnlly vyn  (smooth  ridge  ?),  Melynnog  Vawr 
(large  appurtenance  of  a  mill  ?),  and  Tre  y  Mayn 
(hamlet  of  the  stone,  or  the  township  of  Main  ?)  also 
named. 

(3.)  21st  Eliz.,  15th  July.  Indenture  of  Humphrey 
ab  David  ab  Lewis  of  Vill  de  Strad  Vyrnwy,  etc. 

(4.)  23rd  Eliz.  Gwen  vch.  Elis,  widow,  relict  of 
Hugh  ap  John  Gruffith,  grants  to  William  Williams  of 
Cochwillan,  Esq.,  lands  sold  to  him  by  her,  and  come 
to  her  as  dowry  after  her  husband's  death,  within  the 
Vills  of  Bodlewyn  (qu.  Bodlewyddan  ?),  Llaethvayne, 
and  Towynan,  in  co.  Denbigh.  Witnessed  by  Gruff 


88        ABSTRACT  OF  ANCIENT  DEEDS,  ETC., 

Lewys  ap  Mores,  Elis  ap  John  ap  Mredith,  Thomas  ap 
Edward,  Richard  ap  Harri,  John  Madryn,  and  one 
illegible. 

(5.)  42nd  Eliz.,  A.D.  1600.  Indenture,  Peter  Semyne 
of  London,  marchaunt  straunger,  and  Henry  Wil- 
liaraes  of  Cowhitland1  (Cochwillan)  and  Edward  Graye, 
co.  Salop,  payment  of  £500  for  a  debt  of  £1,200 
made  dependent  on  the  return  from  "  Constantinople 
in  Grecia  under  the  dominion  of  the  great  Turke"  of 
Thomas  Morris,  etc. 

(6.)  38th  Elizabeth.  Bond,  Cadwaladr  Griffith  ap 
Hugh  of  Eleyrnion,  Gen.,  Thomas  Lewis.  By  Adam 
Mitton,  co.  Cam.,  1596,  to  William  Williames,  Arm.,  of 
£100,  due  on  F.  of  S.  Michael.  Edward  of  Acton 
Burnel],  and  Mostyn  are  named. 

(7.)  Deed  of  "  Elizaeus  ap  John  ap  Howel  Davydd 
de  Carnethwen  (Carnedd  Wen)  in  Com.  Fflynt,  Gen., 
Margaret  Walker  de  Okewood  (?),  in  com.  p'do  et 
Thomas  Yaughan  ap  Robert  (?)  ap  Ithell  de  eudes  (?)" 
in  same  co.,  remitting  to  Thomas  ap  David  ap  John 
Carnedd  Wen,  in  co.  Flint,  etc.  Date  of  Eliz.  cut 
out  apparently. 

(8.)  A.D.  1604.  Bond  of  Roger  ap  David  of  Maes- 
brooke,  co.  Salop,  to  William  Williams  of  Cochwillan. 

(9.)  A.D.  1656.  Conveyance  by  Dorothy  Williams 
of  Peniarth,  co.  Montgomery.2 

(10.)  James  Armerer  of  Yurnwy  fall  (for  Vyrnwy  ?), 
bound  to  William  Williams  of  Cochyllan  for  Tothyn 
(Tyddin)  y  Ty  Mawr  in  £50.  17th  Eliz.,  1575. 

(11.)  27th  Henry  VIII.     Reinallt  (Ringnaldus,  in 

1  A.D.  1600.      Henry  Williams,  son  of  William  Williams  of  Coch- 
willan, here    being    styled    of  "  Cowhitland",  seems  to  supply  the 
needed  identity  of  "  William   Williams   of  Cowhitland",   Sheriff  of 
Montgomeryshire  in  1596,  with  the  father  of  Herry  Williams.     The 
latter  sold  Cochwillan  to  the  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

2  Dorothy,  widow  of  Lumley  Williams,  son  of  Henry  Williams  of 
Cochwillan,  was  the  heiress  of  Rhys  ap  Thomas  ap  Rhys  ap  David  ap 
Ithell  of  Ystymcolwyn,  Meifod,  by  his  wife  Margaret,  daughter  of 
John  Owen  Vaughan  of  Llwydiarth  (Ilarl.  MS.  1936,  under  "Ystym 
Colwyn"),  Sheriff  in  1583. 


RELATING    TO    MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  89 

orig.)  ap  John  Wyn,  ap  John  ap  leuan  Vychan  to  Rice 
ap  David  ap  Ithell  ap  leuan  ap  Meredith,  de  eadem. 

(12.)  8th  Hen.  VIII.  Charter  of  David  ap  Llew- 
elyn ap  Hoell  ap  Cong  (sic  ;  qu.  for  Cyngen  ?),  freeholder 
of  the  King  of  Llaethvaen  in  Comot  of  Uwchdulas  in  co. 
of  Denbigh,  to  John  ap  Llewelyn  ap  Gruffydd  Lloyd, 
one  parcel  of  land  in  said  Vill.1 

(13.)  Indenture  of  Maurice  ap  Rees  ap  leuan  Vychan, 
William  ap  Davydd  Kyffin,  co.  Montgomery,  yoman 
(sic),  to  Rondulp[h]  Hanmer  of  Penley.  12th  Eliz., 
28th  May.2 

(14.)  John  Griffith  of  Caernarvon,  son  and  heir  of 
George  Griffith,  releases  to  Rece  ap  Nicholas  ap 
Gruffith  of  Llanllechid,  co.  Caern.,  yeoman,  the  tene- 
ment, etc.,  called  "  Yr  Arowe",  in  parish  of  Enghenell 
in  Comot  of  Llivon  in  co.  Anglesey.  38th  Eliz.,  24th 
May  1596.  Seal  attached,  but  broken. 

(15.)  Grant  by  Alanus  de  Kighley  of  Vill  of  Bot- 
ford  in  Com  mot  of  Malltraeth  in  co.  of  Anglesey,  in 
free  farm,  to  David  ap  Richard  ap  David  Srnyth, 
witnessed  by  William  Forde,  rector  of  parish  of 
Beaumaris,  and  others.  Who  this  Alanus  was  I  have 
hitherto  been  unable  to  learn.  If  "Kighley"  be  the 
same  place  as  Cichley  in  Anglesey,  as  in  all  probability 
it  is,  he  must  have  preceded  in  the  occupation  of  it  the 
Griffiths  of  that  place,  a  cadet  branch  from  Penrhyn, 
a  daughter  of  one  of  whom  married  Edward  Thelwall 
of  Plas  y  Ward,  son  of  Simon,  son  of  Richard,  A.D. 
1600.  Botford  also  is  not  now  to  be  found  as  a  place- 

1  27th  Hen.  VIII,  '1535.     "  Rice  ap  David  ap  Ithell  ap  leuan  ap 
Meredith"  of  Ystymcolwyn,  grandfather  of  Dorothy  Williams  above. 
"  Rees  Goch  dd.   ap   Ithell"  and   "  Lodovicus  ap  DD.  ap  leuan  ap 
Thomas,  gen'osi",  were  bailiffs  of  Llanvillinge  in  the  17th  Eliz.,  1574. 

2  12th  Elizabeth,  28th  May  1570.  Randolph,  or  Randel  Hanmer  of 
Penley,  Flint,  was  the  second  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  knighted 
at  the  taking  of  Tournay,   by  Jane,  daughter  of  Randel  Brereton. 
He  was  Sheriff  of  Montgomeryshire  in  1561. 

"  Wm.  ap  Davydd  Kyffin,  co.  Montg.,"  though  here  styled  "yo- 
man", was  a  descendant  of  Madoc  ap  Meredydd,  Prince  of  Powys. 
His  father  was  "  p'son  of  Llanfihangel  in  Blodwel",  and  son  of  Griffith 
Kyffin  of  Cae  Coch,  by  Margaret,  daughter  of  Howell  Vychan  of 
Llwydiarth.  (Harl.  MS.  1936,  under  "Caeth  Coh".) 


90  ABSTRACT    OF    ANCIENT    DEEDS,  ETC., 

name  in  the  island,  and  sounds  as  though  it  were 
compounded  of  Welsh  and  English  :  bod,  dwelling,  and 
Ford,  an  English  person.  The  name  is  that  of  the 
first  witness  to  the  deed,  William  Ford,  rector  of  the 
parish  church  of  Beaumaris,  who,  in  Welsh  fashion, 
may  have  called  his  house  Bod  Ford — Ford's  abode. 
The  whole  of  the  island  probably  became  forfeit  to  the 
Crown  after  Glyndwr's  insurrection — which  all  the  five 
sons  of  Sir  Tudor  ab  Goronwy  furthered  with  all  their 
power,  with  the  single  exception,  perhaps,  of  Meredith, 
the  father  of  Owen  Tudor — and  was  appropriated  to 
Katharine,  Queen  of  Henry  V,  on  her  marriage  to  him, 
as  her  dowry.  Hence,  as  a  natural  consequence,  both 
secular  and  ecclesiastical  property  in  it  would  fall  into 
the  hands  of  Englishmen,  and  to  Welshmen,  as  in  this 
case,  only  by  subinfeudation.  The  name  of  the  Sove- 
reign in  whose  reign  the  deed  was  executed  has  been 
nibbled  away  by  a  false  and  traitorous  mouse  ;  whether 
Yorkist  or  Lancastrian  cannot  now  well  be  ascertained, 
but  his  era  probably  of  18th  or  19th  century. 

(16.)  Grant  by  Edden'  (Ednvyet)  ap  Moruit  (Mor- 
vydd)  vch.  Nest,  the  King's  freeholder,  of  the  Cornot 
of  Uchayh  (Llechwedd  Uchaf,  see  No.  1),  co.  Caern., 
of  a  meadow,  because  situate  between  the  holding  of 
Davydd  and  Keven  Enys  (Cevn  Ynys)  Geveys  (?),  in 
the  Yill  of  Bodvaye  in  the  said  Comot  that  was  in  the 
hand  of  Nest,  daughter  of  Med'  (Meredith)  Thomas, 
to  Gruffydd  ap  Robyn  ap  Gruffydd  (son  of  the  grantee 
of  Deed  No.  1).  Witnessed,  by  Hoell  and  others. 
Dated  from  Aber,  20th  October,  36th  Hen.  VI.  Seal 
nearly  perfect ;  device  perhaps  a  bird,  or  a  man  with 
shield  on  his  arm  running. 

(17.)  16th  Eliz.,  A.D.  1574.  Bond  of  Humphrey  ap 
Thomas  ap  Leweis  (sic)  of  Stradyvyrnwy,  co.  Mont- 
gomery, gen.,  to  Hhys  ap  Thomas  ap  Ithell  of  Ystym- 
colwyn,  gen.,  and  to  Thomas  ap  Rhys  of  the  same, 
gen.,  in  £100.  5th  Aug.,  19th  Eliz.,  1577.  * 

1  16th  Eliz.,  A.D.  1574.  Rhys  ap  David  ap  Ithell,  the  father  to 
Thomas  ap  Khys,  his  son,  both  of  Ystymuolwyu  (see  Deed  No.  22). 


RELATING    TO    MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  91 

(18.)  Mortgage  of  four  score  and  eighteen  pounds 
on  land  sold  by  William  Williams  of  "  Chochyllan"  (sic) 
to  William  Bulkeley  of  Goedan  in  Anglesey.  Penalty, 
£1,000,  to  be  paid  in  the  south  porch  of  Bangor 
Cathedral  on  the  last  day  of  October  1604  or  1605. 
Dated  19th  October,  1st  James  I,  King  of  England, 
France,  and  Ireland,  and  37th  of  Scotland,  1604. 
Autograph  signature  of  William  Bulkeley,  and  of 
John  Trygarn  and  other  witnesses. 

For  pedigree  of  Bulkeley  of  Coedan  see  Hist.  Powys 
Vad.,  vi,  419.  Seal  perfect,  but  impression  indistinct. 
Slightly  visible,  part  of  a  stag's  horn  and  chevron,  pro- 
bably the  coat  of  larddur. 

(19.)  25th  Eliz,  1583.  John  Owen  Vaughan1  of 
Lloydarth  (sic)  grants  in  fee  farm  to  his  well-beloved 
(son  ?)  of  Ty  Newydd  in  Kyffin,  co.  Montgomery,  a 
township  named  Ystymwynan,  co.  Montgomery. — N.B. 
The  'whole  of  the  right  margin  of  this  deed  has  been 
snipped  off! 

(20.)  Bond  of  Randolph  Pole  of  London,  to  Wyl- 
lyam  Wyllyams  (sic)  of  the  city  of  Chester,  Esq.,  in  £60, 
for  £30  due  on  Feast  of  Presentation  of  St.  Mary  the 
Virgin  next.  Witnesses,  Gregory  Kinge  and  Ryce 
Williams.  On  obverse  of  seal  the  capital  letters  E.  H. 

(21).  Letter  dated  15th  June  1725,  of  Abra'  Glan- 
ville,  to  Roderick  Lloyd  (attorney),  as  to  "  Miss 
Conway's  disbursements". 

(22.)  5th  February,  28th Eliz.,  1585  O.S.2  Release 
by  Rhys  ab  David  ab  Ithell  of  Ystymcolwyn,  co. 
Montgomery,  gen.,  and  Thomas  ap  Rees  ap  David  ap 
Ithell,  his  son  by  one  Mar'ett,  daughter  of  David  ap 
leuan  Bach  of  the  same  vill  and  co.,  gen.,  to  "  dilecto 

1  John  Owen  Vaughan  was  Sheriff  in  1583.     His  son  was  Owen 
Vaughan  of  Llwydiarth. 

2  28th  Eliz.,   1585.     The  son,  "  Thomas  ap  Rhys  ap  David  ap 
Ithel  de  Ystymcolwyu,  gen.",  and  grandfather  of  Dorothy,  wife  of 
Lumley  Williams,  appears  on  a  Montgomeryshire  Grand  Jury  in  the 
36th  and  43rd  Eliz.,  1593  and  1601.     Burke,  under  Sir  R.  Bulkeley 
Williams  Bulkeley  of  Penrhyn,  Bart.,  erroneously  styles  him  "  Rhys 
Thomas  of  Ystymcolwyn".     See  vol.  v,  p.  417,  n.  1. 


92        ABSTRACT  OF  ANCIENT  DEEDS,  ETC., 

nobis  in  x'po"  George  Gruffith  of  Llanvechen  (Bron- 
gain),  co.  Montgomery,  gen.,  in  three  parcels  of  arable 
land,  meadow  and  pasture,  a  quart7  parte  unius  fale- 
arie  terrse — Anglice,  "one  peny  taske";  another  in  the 
Vill  of  Brynkynvch'n,  co.  Montgomery  ;  a  third  part 
containing  by  estimation  three  bushels  of  "seminant" 
(qu.  seed-corn  ?)  in  the  Vill  of  Llanvechen,  between 
the  lands  of  John  ap  Mathew  ap  David  and  of 
Richard  ap  David  ap  leuan,  uet  in  quodd'n  co  nine  (?) 
ibm  vocat'  caie  Meibion  David." 

(23.)  18th  James  I  of  England,  etc.,  of  Scotland 
54th.  Bond  of  Evan  ap  William  of  Risgog,  Robert 
Williams  of  Nantmeichiad,  David  ab  Humphrey,  sen., 
of  ibid.,  yeoman,  and  David  ab  Evan  of  ibid.,  in  co. 
Montgomery,  to  John  ap  John  ap  Owen  of  Penyarth, 
gen.,  in  £52.  Dated  30th  December.  N.B. — One 
witness  is  named  "  John  Huncbache".  There  are  four 
perfect  seals,  each  with  a  device. 

(24.)  Bond  of  performance  of  conditions  of  a  mort- 
gage of  same  date,  from  John  Griffith  of  Ystymcolwyn, 
co.  Montgomery,  yomari,  Edrin  (Edward)  ap  John,  his 
son  and  heir-apparent,  William  ap  John,  his  younger 
son,  to  Henry  Calcott  of  Ystymcolwyn,  gen.,  in  £50, 
due  8th  November,  22nd  James  I  of  England,  etc., 
and  58th  of  Scotland,  1624.  Witnessed  by  Owen  ap 
Richard,  Robert  ap  John,  Thomas  ap  levan,  Rees 
Thomas,  Tho.  Lloyd,  Edward  ap  Thomas,  David  ap 
John.  Seals  gone  ;  a  large  piece  nibbled  away. 

(25.)  Bond  for  performance  of  certain  indentures  "of 
co-equal  date",  29th  of  November  1600,  or  later — the 
left  margin  being  torn  away — by  Dorothy  Williames  of 
Ystymcolwyn,  widdowe,  to  Thomas  Owen  of  Llyn- 
lleodd,  Esquier,  co.  Montgomery,"  sealed  with  my  seal", 
a  part  of  which  extant,  but  detached.  Witnessed  by 
E.  Wyn,  Derwas  Griffith,  Rice  Lloyde,  Nicholas 
Robinson  (qu.,  first  Protestant  Bishop  of  Bangor?), 
Robert  Lloyde,  Hon.  Gilms  (?),  Richard  Davies.1 

1  "  Nicholas  Robinson,"  the  witness  to  this  deed  (November  1600 


DELATING    TO    MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  93 

(26.)  21st  Charles  II,  1668.  Bond  in  £500  (quin- 
que  cent,  libris)  of  Lurnley  Williams  of  Gelli  Gaer,  co. 
Montgomery,  to  John  Williams  of  Ystymcolwyn.1  Sig- 
nature of  Lumley  Williams.  Witnessed  by  Andrew 
Parry,  P.  Lloyd,  Jo.  Davies.  Seal  cut  out. 

(27.)  Bond  of  Thomas  Wynne  of  Garth,  gen.,  and 
Gruffud  Lloyd  of  Maesmawr,  co.  Montgomery,  Arm. 
David  Lloyd,  Jeffrey  Pochye  (?)  of  Llandissilio  (ibid.), 
gen.,  Humphrey  ap  Roger  als  Wynne  of  Trelydan, 
co.  Montgomery,  and  Jasper  ap  Hughe  of  Rhyd 
Heskyn  (ibid.),  gen.,  to  William  Williams,  Armig.,  in 
£300.2  Dated  28th  January,  27th  Eliz.,  1585.  Wil- 
liam Williams  to  enjoy  quietly,  etc.,  certain  arable 
land,  pasture,  meadowe,  and  wood,  in  township  of 

or  later),  could  not  have  been  the  "  first  Protestant  Bishop  of  Bangor", 
as  Nicholas  Robinson,  Bishop  of  Bangor,  died  in  1584.  "  Derwas 
Griffith"  of  Glyntwymyn,  Cemmes,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Griffith  Kyffin  of  Cae  Coch,  and  was  the  son  of  "  Edny  ved  Gruffythe 
de  Kernes,  gener.",  on  a  Montgomeryshire  second  Jury  of  Inquisition 
in  the  35th  Eliz.,  1592. 

1  21st  Charles  II,  1668.     John  Williams  of  Ystymcolwyn  was  the 
son  of  Lumley  Williams  by  his  wife  Dorothy,  daughter  and  heiress 
of  Rhys  ab  Thomas  ap  Rhys  ap  David  ap  Ithell  of  Ystymcolwyn. 

"Andrew  Parry,"  probably  of  Main,  Meivod,  according  to  Harl. 
MS.,  under  "Meivod",  was  the  son  of  Robert  Parry  ap  Jankyn  ap 
John  ap  Harry  by  his  wife  Margaret,  daughter  of  Humphrey  Gruff, 
ap  Hugh  of  Meivod.  Andrew  Parry,  by  his  wife  Margaret,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Tannat  ap  Rees  Tanat  of  Abertanat,  had  a  son,  John 
Parry  (ib.). 

2  27th  Eliz.,  1584.     Thomas  Wynne  of  Garth  was   the  son    of 
Humphrey  ap  John  Wynne  ap  Griffith  ap  Eeginald,  third  son  of  Sir 
Griffith  Vaughan,  Knight   Banneret,    of  Garth,   Guilsfield,   by   his 
second    wife    Joyce,    daughter    of    Humphrey  Lloyd   of  Leighton. 
Catherine  Wynne,  his  half-sister  by  his  father's  first  wife,  Anne, 
daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Herbert  of  Montgomery,  married  Griffith 
Lloyd  of  Maesmawr,  Sheriff  in  1580. 

Humphrey  ap  Roger  Wynne  of  Trelydan  married  Margaret, 
the  sister  of  Thomas  Wynne  of  Garth.  Jaspar  ap  Hugh  of  Rhyd 
Heskyn  was  another  brother-in-law  of  Thomas  Wynne,  having 
married  his  sister  Ales.  "Jesp'us  ap  Hughe  de  Ehidheskin,  gen.", 
was  on  a  Montgomeryshire  jury  in  the  41st  Eliz.,  1597. 

David   Lloyd  Jeffrey,  a  descendant  of  Gruffydd  Deuddwr  of  the 


94  ABSTRACT    OF    ANCIENT    DEEDS,  ETC., 

Garth  ami  Guylsfelde,  co.  Montgomery,  as  agreed  in 
one  payre  of  Indentures.  Signatures  of  Thomas 
Wynne  and  Griffith  Lloyd,  and  witnesses.  Three  seals; 
one  has  a  cross  on  it. 

(28.)  25th  August,  13th  William  III.  Endorsed, 
Chirograph  Fine  to  Mr.  [Lumley]  Williams  from 
Mr.  John  Bowen  and  use.  (his  wife  Gaynor)  for  Bryn 
Kynvelin.  At  Court  of  Great  Sessions  at  Pool  (Pola), 
before  Sir  Joseph  Jekyll  and  Sir  Salathiel  (?)  Lovell, 
Knt.  Lands  valued  by  acreage.  No  seal. 

(29.)  The  following  grant  illustrates  the  occupation 
of  a  Trev  or  Yill  by  common  descendants  of  a  single 
ancestor  at  so  comparatively  late  a  date  as  1449,  thus  : 


lorwerth  du.=F 

i 


leuan  ap  Iorwerth.=f= 

i 


Tudur  ap  leuan  ap  Ior.=f=          Res  ap  leuan  ap  lorwerth. 
\ 

Hoell  ap  Tudur.  Res  ap  Tudur. 

Sciant  prsesentes  et  futuri  quod  DOS  Res  ap  leuan  ap  lorwerth  duy 
(for  du,  black)  hoell  ap  Tudur  ap  leuan  ap  lorwerth  et  Ees  ap 
Tudur  ap  leuan  ap  lorwerth  liberi  tenentes  doraini  regis  villse  de 
Bodvaye  de  Comot  vcharh  (sic)  in  Com'  de  Caern'  dedimus  et  con- 
cessimus  et  hac  carta  nostra  pro  nobis  et  heredibus  nostris  in  per- 
petuum  confirmavimus  Griffith  ap  Robyn  ap  Gmffyth  libertatera  (?) 
de  eisdem  villis  Comos  (sic)  et  cum  (or  Com.)  heredibus  et  assignatis 
omnibus  unam  parcellam  (?)  terrae  vocatam  Y  Ddol  (the  meadow)  in 
perpetuum  (next  word  indistinct  and  partly  gone)  wd  (?)  Edneuet 
or  tenemen'  [for  Ednyved,  or  qu.,  read  tenement?]  lorwerth  duy 
juxta  flumen  Ogvayn  (Ogwen)  et  alia  p8td  (sic)  (prsedicta  ?)  omne 
p'cell  (parcellam  ?)  vocatam  yrrynyo  (?)  in  eodem  loco  in  ista  villa 


Tribe  of  Brochwel,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Owen  ap  Meredith 
ap  Llewelyn  ap  Tudor  of  Meivod  (Mont  Coll.,  vol.  viii,  p.  411). 
"  David  Lloid  ap  Jeffrey,  gen'os.",  and  "  Reseus  ap  Dd.  ap  Ithell, 
gen'os.",  of  Ystymcolwyn,  appear  on  the  same  county  jury  in  the  14th 
Eliz.,  1572. 


RELATING    TO    METFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  95 

una  cum  cursu  et  introitu  aquae  ad  nostrum  molendinum  aquaticum 
ibidem  cum  suis  implementis  omnibus  (a  word  gone)  habendas  et 
tenendas  praadictas  parcellas  cum  suis  supradictis  pertinentiis 
Grnffydd  et  heredibus  suis  de  nobis  et  heredibus  nostris 
(here  comes  a  long  interlineation  in  very  small  and  indistinct 
writing,  which  may  have  been  added  at  any  time),  et  nos  vero  pre- 
dicti  Rees  ap  leuan  Hoell  ap  Tudur  et  Res  ap  Tudur  pro  nobis  et 
heredibus  nostris  predictis  parcellas  omnes  prsedictas  et  terras  cum 
cursu  omni  (this  word  seems  erased)  aquae  ad  nostrum  molendinum 
cum  omnibus  pertinentiis  praedicto  Gruff  ap  Robyn  ap  Gruff  heredi- 
bus et  assignatis  suis  contra  omnes  gentes  Warantizabimus  et  in  per- 
petuum  defenderaus.  Hujus  (1)  cartas  nostrse  sigilla  nostra  apposui- 
mus  hiis  testibus  William  ap  Res  ap  Gruff,  Davydd  Coch  ap  leuan, 
ap  pg  ?  (or  Res  1),  leuan  ap  Madoc  ap  Res,  Math'w  ap  Madoc,  et 
Robyn  ap  Madoc,  cum  multis  aliis.  Dat.  apud  Llanllechit  vicesimo 
die  Maij  Anno  Rr.  Henr.  sexti  de  conquest'  Anglise  vicesimo  quinto. 
A.D.  1449. 

It  is  remarkable  that  in  this  deed  no  mention  is 
made  of  any  equivalent  to  be  rendered  by  the  grantee 
for  these  valuable  lands  and  watercourse,  the  paternal 
inheritance  and  freehold  of  the  grantors.  It  would  be 
interesting,  if  it  could  be  learnt,  to  know  what  compen- 
sation, if  any,  was  made  to  them  for  this  surrender  of 
their  few  hereditary  acres  to  the  great  and,  through  his 
English  connection,  powerful  lord  of  the  district.  The 
existence  of  a  water-mill  may  also  be  a  noticeable  fact 
at  so  early  a  date. 

(30.)  This  is  an  Award  made  by  one  whose  name  is 
not  easily  read,  from  the  fact  that  the  ink  is  exceed- 
ingly faint,  and  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  deed, 
principally  at  the  beginning,  where  the  name  of  the 
arbitrator  and  cause  of  dispute  must  have  been  fully 
stated,  has  been  destroyed  by  mice  and  damp.  The 
disputants  were  Gruffydd  ap  Robyn  ap  Gruffydd 
ap  Gwilym,  his  sister  Lowry,  Thomas  ap  Robyn, 
Davydd  Goch,  Hoell  ap  Robyn,  leuan  ap  Hoell  Vychan 
Goch,  leuan  ap  Robyn.  The  subject  of  the  Award  is 
the  equitable  distribution  of  "  hur  fadr's"  inheritance, 
in  accordance  with  "  an  Ondenture",  probably  his  will, 
and  comprises  "  beestys",  "sheepe",  "silver  gurdells", 
"  Jewells"  "  on[e]  horse,  sadd[ull]  and  bridull",  and 


9G 


ABSTRACT    OF   ANCIENT   DEEDS,  ETC., 


other  "  moveabul  goods".  Places  named  are  "  Tethin 
(Tyddyn)  Gwillym"  and  "  Tethyn  Eignion  Wythel" 
(Wyddel,  i.e.,  the  Irishman,  so  nicknamed  for  his 
Irish  connection  or  proclivities).  The  first  line  of 
the  deed,  as  well  as  it  can  be  made  out,  runs  thus, 
some  of  the  words  and  names  being  extended  : — "  This 
is  ye  Award  ....  y  ....  lawes  of  Bys  a[pj  .... 
Goghe  ap  Madoc  ap  leuan  ap  Eignion  ap  Morgan  (this 
reading  of  the  name  is  not  quite  certain)  ap  leuan 
ap  Maredud  11  (Llewelyn)  ap  Hulkin  ap  Davydd  ap 
leuan."  The  names  of  Llewelyn  ap  Hwlkin  (Howelkin, 
diminutive  of  Howel)  may  be  recognised  as  occurring 
among  the  descendants  of  Hwva  ab  Cynddelw  of 
Prisaddfed,  in  Anglesey,  Chief  of  one  of  the  Fifteen 
Noble  Tribes.1  Poems  by  Howel  Cilan  and  Guto'r 
Glyn  show  that  this  Llywelyri  ab  Hwlkin  had  then  five 
sons — Hugh,  Lewys,  Davydd,  Gruffydd,  and  Ehys. 
Maredydd,  then,  was  probably  not  his  son.  Arid  as 
the  word  "  ap"  is  omitted  between  these  two  names 
only,  it  would  seem  that  Llewelyn  appears  as  the 
second  "  Arbitror"  in  the  case.  The  final  sentence  in 
the  document  is  as  follows  : — 

"  To  ye  Award  we  now  Arbitrors  Above  Sayd  put  to  our  Sel[y]s 
Wryton  and  Gefyn  there  al.  ou'  Assent  at  Bangor  in  ye  Cathedral 
Churche  on  Setersday  nest  aft.  Saynt  Marty n  Day  in  Wynt'r  yis 
Wittenesse  Ar  Thomas  Colendfus].  Hughe  Alick  Chaunce  of  Bang', 
Richa  (sic)  ap  Rise  and  many  others,  yn  ye  Raignynge  of  Kyng  Harry 
ye  sixt  ye  xxi  Wynt'r  of  his  rayne." 

(31.)  Conveyance  by  "  Griffinus  Lloyd  ap  Edmond2 
villat'  de  Llanchrochroell,  in  com.  Mountgoinerye, 
Esq.,  Galfridus  Lloyd  Villa  de  pola",  to  Gilbert 
Humphrey  de  Pola  et  Evan  ap  'John  ab  leuan,  31 
Eliz.,  1589. 

1  See  Hist.  Powys  Vadoc,  ii,  136,  and  note. 

2  Griffith  Lloyd  ap  Edmund  ap  Thomas  ap  Hugh  ap  Cadwalader, 
second  son  of  Sir  Griffith  Vaughan  of  Garth,  was  Sheriff  for  the  year 
1580.     He  was  of  Maesmawr,  in  the  township  of  Llannerch  Brochwel, 
Guilsfield. 


RELATING   TO    MEIFOD    AND   ELSEWHERE. 


97 


Tangwystl=f=Ednyved  Vychan.  =  (2nd  wife)   Gwenllian,  dau.  of  the   Lord 
(1st  wife).  Rhys,  "  the  fairest  woman  in  Wales". 


Sir    Tudor=j= Alice,  d.  of  Richard  ab  Cadd'r,  2nd  son  of  Or.  ab  Cynan. 
of  Nant 

and 

Llangyn- 
haval.      j 

Heilin    ab=p  Eva,  d.  of  Owen  ab  Bleddyn  ab  Owen  Brogyntyn. 
Sir  Tudor.  I 


Gruffydd  =j=Angharad,  d,  of  leuan  ab  Gruff,  ab  Madoc  Ddu  ab  Llewelyn  ab 
ab  Heilin.    |  Rhirid  ab  Owain  ab  Edwin,  Prince  of  TegeingL 


Gwilym  ab=f=Angharad,  d.  and  heir  of  Gruff,  ab  Davydd  ab  Tudor  ab  Madoc 
Gruffydd.   |       ab  larddur,  Grand  Forester  of  Snowdon,  Lord  of  Penrhyn. 

Gruffydd  =f  Generys,  d.  of  Madoc  (Hist.  Poit\   Vad.,  iv,  293),  ab  Goronwy 
ab         |      Vychan,   drowned  in   1381,   ab   Sir  Tudor  ab  Goronwy  ab 
Gwilym  Ednyved  Vechan. 

(by  his 
marriage 
united  the 
two  lines 
ofTudors). 


Robyn  ab=j=Angharad,  d.  of  Rhys  ab  Gruffydd 
Gruffydd  ab  Goronwy  ab  Howel  ab  Cara- 
of  Coch-  doc  ab  lorwerth  ab  larddur  (as 
willan,  above). 

Iivingl439.  | 

Gruffydd  =fMallt,  d.  of  Gruffydd  Derwas  ("Nan* 
~u  t>~u:~,     I  „«"  T>~A  -\ 


ab  Robin. 


T 


Ped,). 


Gwilym  ab  Gruffydd  of 
Penrhyn  m.  Morvydd, 
heiress  of  Penmynydd, 
d.  of  Grono  Vychan  ab 
Sir  Tudor  ab  Grono  ab 
Tudor  Hen  ab  Grono  ab 
Ednyved  Vychan;  and 
2ndly  Jonet,  d.  of  Sir 
Wm.  Stanley,  Kt. 


Gwilym  Vychan  of  Pen- 
rhyn, Esq.,  Chamber- 
lain of  North  Wales,  m. 
Alice,  d.  and  h.  of  Sir 
Richard  Dalton,  Kt.,  of 
Bysbain,  co,  Lancaster. 


William  ab=f=Angharad,  d.  of  Davydd  ab  leuan 

Gruffydd        ab  Einion,  Constable  of  Harlech. 
(witness  to 

a  deed 

1485).1      | 

William.  =r=Dorothy,  d.  of,  Sir  William  Griffith 
I      of  Penrhyn,  m.  Jane,  d.  and  co*h. 
|      of  Sir  William  Troutbeck,  Kt. 

William  =p(l)  Agnes,  d.  of  John  Wynn  ab=si(2)  Barbara,  d.    of  George, 

Williams  V  Meredith    of    Gwydir    (see  only  son  of  John,  Lord 

of  Coch-  Lewys  Dwnn,   ii,   131 ;    and  Lumley,   executed   for 

willan;  Hist.  Pow.  Vad.,  vi,  428).  having  joined  the  "Pil- 

viv.  in  grimage  of  Grace"  in 

1553.  1538. 


1  Three  poems  to  him  by  Guto'r  Glyn,     He  was  Sheriff,  1485,  for 
service  at  Bosworth,  for  life,  and  Chamberlain  of  North  Wales  in  1508. 
VOL.  XXV.  H 


98  ABSTRACT    OF    ANCIENT    DEEDS,  ETC., 


Translation  from  the  Welsh  of  Hengwrt  MS.  96,  p.  603,  by  ROBERT 
VAUGHAN,  the  Antiquary. 

Wm.  Yaugban  (Yychan),  Chamberlain  of  No.  Wales  (son  of 
Gwilym  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Gwilym  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Heilin,  by  his  2nd 
wife  Sioned  (Jonet\  d.  of  Sir  Wm.  Stanley  of  Hooton,  Chamberlain 
of  No.  Wales  and  Chester),  had  all  the  land  of  his  father,  and  the 
land  also  of  Paris  (from  whom  Paris  Mountain)  by  his  mother's 
influence,  and  in  the  18th  year  of  Henry  VI  (1440)  he  got  himself 
made  a  denizen  under  covenant  that  he  should  not  marry  any  Welsh- 
woman, so  he  married  Alice,  dau.  and  heir  of  Sir  Richard  (or  William) 
Dalton,  Kt.,  by  a  dau.  of  Lord  Clifford,  his  wife.  Their  son,  Sir  Wm. 
Griffith  Hael  (the  Liberal),  m.  Jane,  dau.  of  Sir  Wm.  Troutbeck,  Kt., 
by  his  wife,  a  sister  of  Sir  Thomas  Stanley.  Their  dau.  Joriet  m. 
Sir  Thomas  Salisbury  of  Lleweny.  Sir  Wm.  Griffith,  Kt.,  son  of  Sir 
Wm.  Griffith  the  Liberal,  Chamberlain  of  No.  Wales,  m.  Jane,  d.  of 
Sir  Thomas  Stradling,  Kt.  He  had  a  son,  Wm.  Griffith,  who  died  in 
Ireland  ante  patrem  s.  p.,  having  m.  a  dau.  of  Wm.  ap  William  of 
Cychwillan.  His  brother,  Edward  Griffith,  Esq.,  the  2nd  son  of  Sir 
Wm.  Griffith,  succeeded  to  Penrhyn,  and  m.  Jane,  d.  of  Sir  John 
Puleston,  Kt.  He  dying  s.  p.,  the  3rd  brother,  Sir  Rhys,  had 
Penrhyn,  with  other  lands,  and  m.  (1)  Margaret,  d.  of  Morys  ab 
Elise  of  Clenennau,  relict  of  Meredydd  ab  leuan  ab  Robert  (qu.  if 
this  is  the  fact,  as  not  in  Hist,  of  Gwydir  Family),  o.  s.  p.,  and  (2) 
Catharine,  d.  of  Sir  Piers  Mostyn  of  Talacre. 

John  Griffith  of  Cichley,  Esq.,  ab  Sir  William  Griffith,  m.  Margaret, 
d.  of  Meredydd  ab  leuan  ab  Robert  of  Gwydir.  He  had  a  brother  (or 
half-brother — his  father  is  said  to  have  m.  twice),  Rowland  :  and  a 
son,  Wm.  Griffith,  who  m.  Catharine,  d.  of  Roger  White,  Esq.  Also 
six  daus.  :  (1)  Grace,  ux.  John  Mostyn  of  Pen  y  Gelli,  son  of  Piers 
Mostyn  of  Talacre.  (2)  Elin,  ux.  James  ab  Owen  of  So.  Wales. 
(3)  Dorothy,  ux.  Edward  Thelwall  ab  Simon  Thelwall.  (4)  Maude, 
innupt.  (5)  Jane.  (6)  Margaret,  ux.  Thos.  Wyn  ab  John  ab  Harri 
of  Ruthin. 

William  Griffith  of  Cichley  m.  secondly,  Dorothy,  d.  of  Edw.  Bellot 
of  Buckton,  co.  Flint,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons — Edward,  Griffith, 
Bellot,  John,  and  Bulkeley.  He  m.  thirdly,  Agnes,  d.  of  John  ab 
Rhys  ab  leuan  of  Tref  Meibion  Meyric,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons, 
William,  Robert,  and  Rhys.  Wm.  Griffith  of  Cichley  had  also  three 
natural  daus.  by  Gwenllian,  descended  from  Gruff,  ab  Sandde  ab 
Cadrod  Hardd. 

(32.)  12th  Eliz.,  A.D.  1570.  Bond  of  Alexander 
Cottes  "  de  Com5  Cint'  Cest' ",  generosi,  to  Wm. 
Williams,  Esq.  [of  Cochwillan],  in  100  marks,  dated 
the  last  day  of  September  of  xij  Elizth.,  for  a  lease 
made  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  John's,  in 


RELATING   TO    MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  99 

Chester,  to  one  Richard  Cradock,  of  a  barn  in  the 
parish  of  St.  John's.  A  seal  attached,  but  broken  and 
tied  with  thread.  On  it,  perhaps,  a  spray  with  leaves, 
or  it  might  be  a  horse's  head  caparisoned. 

By  his  first  wife  Agnes,  d.  of  John  Wynn1  ab 
Meredydd  of  Gwydir,  William  Williams  of  Cochwillan 
is  said  to  have  had  a  son  Owen,  disinherited,  and  a 
daughter,  Elen,  wife  of  Sir  William  Williams  of  Vaenol, 
created  Baronet  1622  (Hist.  Poiv.  Fad,  vi,  428),  son 
of  Thomas  Williams  of  Vaenol,  son  of  William  Williams 
of  Cochwillan  by  his  wife  Lowry,  d.  of  Henry  Salisbury 
of  Llanrhaiadr.  Also  three  other  daughters,  Jane, 
wife  of  William  Coetmor,  and  Catherine  and  Margaret. 
He  married,  secondly,  Barbara,  d.  of  John,  Lord  Lumley 
(or  George,  son  of  John),  executed  1538  ;  s.  p.  (L. 
Dwnn.) 

(33.)  1619.  Bond  of  John  Robert  ap  David  of 
[see  Bryngwyn,  vol.  v,  256]  Llanvechan,  and  Robert 
Gruffydd  of  Bodynvol.  co.  Montgomery,  to  Robert  ap 
Robert  ap  Robert  of  Abertanat,  in  co.  Salop. 

(34.)  1643.  Conveyance  by  Griffith  ap  Robert  ap 
Richard,  Free  tenant  of  the  King  of  "villa  de  Bodryth 
de  Kemettmen",2  co.  Caernarvon,  yeoman,  to  Evan  ap 
Robert  ap  Richard  of  Aberdaron,  and  William  ap 
Robert  ap  Richard  of  Bryn  y  Kroes,  of  his  interest 
in  Bodrith,  and  to  use  of  his  daughter  Elizabeth. 

(35.)  12  James  I,  A. D.  1614.  A  com  mission  to  Henry 
and  William  Nedham,  and  Sir  William  Herbert. 
Knight,  a  Privy  Councillor,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  and 
others,  to  transfer  the  venue  of  a  cause  to  another  county. 
^  (36.)  23  Eliz.,  A.D.  1581.  Release  (in  Latin)  by 
Edward  ap  John  ap  Hugh  Conwey  (sic)  of  Llanelian, 
co.  Denbigh,  joyner,  and  Margaret  v'ch  John  Gryffyth, 
his  wife,  one  of  the  sisters  and  heirs  of  Hugh  ap  John 


1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xi,  p.  421. 

2  Cymytmaen,  in  Lleyn.     Rhys  Gloff,  said  to  have  been  a  son  of 
Rhys  Vychan,  a  Prince   of  South  Wales,  is  described  as   Lord  of 
Cymytmaen.     Bodryth  was  part  of  the   property  of  Williames  of 
Meillionydd,  afterwards  of  Ystym  Colwyn. 

H  2 


100  ABSTRACT    OF    ANCIENT    DEEDS,  ETC., 

Griffith,  late  of  Llanelian,  deceased,  late  brother  of 
Margaret,  to  William  Williams  [of  Cochwillan].  Wit- 
nessed by  Arthur  Williams,  John  Lloyd,  Lewis  Gronow, 
and  others,  on  25th  August. 

A.D.  1584.  Acquittance  by  Thomas  Hanmer,  late  of 
Penley,  co.  Flint,  to  Edward  Hanmer. 

(37.)  5  Edward  VI,  1552.  Indenture  of  Robert  ap 
Davydd  ap  Ithell,  and  Hughe  ap  Davydd  ap  Ithell 
[qu.  younger  brothers  of  Rhys  ab  Davydd  ?].  Places 
named  :  Ystyffylley  and  Ystym  Kolwyn. 

(38.)  A.D.  1629.  Bond  to  Lumley '  Williams  of 
Ystymcolwyn,  by  Edward  ap  John  ap  Griffith  of 
Alberbury,  Ringnandus  [not  quite  legible]  ap  John 
Wyn  ap  John  vichan  de  Mechen  Iscoed  in  co.  Mont- 

f  ornery,   generosus,  et  David  Lloid  ap  John  loyd  ap 
ohn  ap  leuan  vichan  de  Mechen  [of  Bryngwyn  and 
Brongain],  to  Rice  ap  David  ap  Ithell  ap  leuan  ap 
Me'dith. 

(39.)  19  Charles  I,  A.D.  1644.  Settlement,  dated 
13th  July,  by  Lowry  Glynne  of  Ystym  Cegid,1  Wid- 
dowe,  in  consideration  of  part  of  marriage  portion  on 
Arthur  Williams  of  Myllionyth,  Esquier,  for  preferre- 
ment  of  Anne,  dau.  of  Lowry  Glynne,  now  the  wife  of 
Arthur  Williams,  of  the  messuage  called  Tyddyn  Ysky- 
borie,  Bodnithoedd,2  lying  between  the  river  Bottwnog 
east,  and  the  lands  late  of  Hugh  Jones  of  Bodnithoedd, 
now  in  possession  and  occupation  of  Gwenne  Ellis, 
south  and  west,  and  a  small  (sic)  stream  of  running 
water  running  through  a  place  called  Nant  yr  Evel, 
north  in  the  township  of  Bodnithoedd,  co.  Caernarvon, 
for  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  Lowry  Glynne,  and 
after  her  to  said  Arthur  Williams  in  remainder,  on 
condition  that  she  shall  not  be  compelled  to  travel  from 

1  Formerly  Own  y  Van.     Catherine,  d.  and  h.  of  Robert  Owen, 
High  Sheriff  in  1621,  carried  the  estate  to   the  Glynnes.     See  H. 
Gwydyr  F.y  pp.  30,  36,  78,  ed.  1878. 

2  See  the  accompanying  pedigree,  showing  that  this  place  in  Lleyn 
had  been  the  residence  of  a  family  descended  from  the  Princes  of 
North  Wales. 


RELATING    TO    MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  101 

her  dwelling-house.  The  sign  manual  of  Lowry,  viz., 
L.  and  a  circular  mark.  (Glynne  was  her  maiden  name.) 

The  deed  is  enclosed  in  a  memorandum  stating  that 
Lowry  Glynne  was  the  late  wieff  of  Robert  Owen  of 
Ystym  Kegid,  deceased,  in  trust  to  Henry  Williams  of 
Maes  y  Caffoll  (or  Gassoll?),  Esq.  Witnessed  (1643)  by 
Thomas  Glynne,  Henry  Williams,  Hugh  Wyn,  Will. 
Wynne,  Mereh  (?),  or  Merth  (?),  Gruffyth  Bruniau  (?), 
Go  Griff  dolessg  (sic),  John  Lloyd,  Harri  ap  Bees, 
William  Hughes,  Bell  Gruff  (?),  John  Owens.  A  deed 
affixed  to  the  above  appoints  Owen  Wynne,  Gentleman, 
her  Atturney,  to  enter  into  the  messuage  in  the  name 
of  Lowry  Glynne,  and  signed  with  her  mark,  like  a 
Y  — .  On  the  seal  is  an  impression  too  faint  to  de- 
cipher, but  something  like  the  horns  of  a  stag  are  still 
visible,  perhaps  part  of  the  coat  of  the  Oochwillan 
family  from  larddur. 

The  following  pedigree  of  the  old  family  of  Bod- 
nithoedd  is  taken  from  Hengwrt  MS.  96,  in  the  auto- 
graphy of  the  antiquary,  Robert  Vaughan. 

Sir  Gruffydd  Lloyd  ab  Sir  Ehys,  2nd=f=Gwenllian,  d.  of  Cynan  ab  Meredydd 
son  of  Gruffydd,  2nd  son  of  Ednyved 
Vychan  by  Gwenllian. 


ab  Owen  Gwynedd. 


Sir  Ieuan=f...,  d.  and  h.  of  Sir  Thomas  Puleston,  brother  of  Sir  Eoger 
Lloyd.     I  Puleston. 


Gruffydd  ab  Sir=pGwenllian,  d.  of  Howel  ab  lorwerth  Vychan  of  Caernarvon, 
leuan. 


leuan  =pJonet,  d.  of  Ithel  ab  Cynwric  Goch  ab  Davydd  Chwith  (or  the 
Vychan.  |      Left-handed)  ab  Davydd  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Cariadoc  ab  Thomas 
ab  Ehodri  ab  Owen  Gwynedd. 


Llewelyn  Vychan.=i=Gwen,  d.  of  Madoc  ab  leuan  ab  Einion. 


I 


Madoc.  =f(l)  Angharad,  d.  of  leuan  ab  Davydd=j=(2)  Angharad,  d.  of  Gruff- 


ab  Gronow  ab  Davydd  Ddu  (or 
Ewth  ?) 


ydd  ab  Eobin  of  Coch- 
willan. 


b 


102  ABSTRACT   OF   ANCIENT    DEEDS,  ETC., 

T 


I    I    I    I    I 

1.  Robert  ab=j=Mallt,  d.  and  h.  of  Lewis   ab  Howel  ab   Llewelyn  ab 
Madoc.  Howel. 


2.  Hugh. 

3.  Jam es.  =  Catharine,  d.  of  Richard  Trygarn. 

4.  Gruff ydd.  =  ...,  d.  of  Ithel  ab  lorwerth  ab  Einion. 

5.  William  Lloyd.  =  G wenhwyvar,  d.  of  Meredydd  ab  leuan  ab  Meredydd. 

Morris.  =f  Jonet,  d.  of  Owen  ab  Meyric  ab  Llewelyn. 

William.  =  ...,  d.  of  Robert   Gruffydd  of  Plas  Newydd  in  Porthaml  in 

Anglesey. 


1.  Willis 


rilliam  ab  Madoc. 

2.  Davydd. 

3.  Rhys.  =  Sabel,  d.  of  John  ab  Robert  ab  Llewelyn  ab  Ithel. 

4.  Hugh.  =  Catharine,  d.  of  Hugh  ab  Richard  of  Bodwrda  in  Lleyn. 

[This  pedigree  is  given  with  some  variation  in  Lewys  Dwnn, 
vol.  ii,  p.  81.] 

(40.)  J636. 

Distribution  of  the  Seats  in  the  New  He  in  Myvott  (Meivod)  Church, 

in  1636. 

The  Seates  in  the  newe  He  are  thus  disposed  by  the  Commissioner, 
beginning  in  the  north  end  of  the  He  and  soe  upwards  to  the  East, 
asfolloweth,  1636  : 

The  vacant  place  ov.  agst.  fyrst  Seate  for  Oliver  Morrice  and 
Euan  ap  Jon.  ap  Wm.'s  wife. 

1.  The  ffirst  forme  for  William  dd.  ap  Cadwr.,  Dauid  ap  John  and 
Jon.  ap  Euan  ap  Howell,  and  for  the  wife  of  Euan  ap  Hugh  of 
Peniarth. 

2.  The  second  forme  for  Me'ddith  ap  Lewis  Meredith,  Thomas 
Rondiel  Lloyd,  and  Dauid  ap  Euan  ap  Lewis. 

3.  The   3   forme  for  John  Tanley,  Thomas  ap  Jenij,  Meredith  ap 
John,  and  William  Prynald. 

4.  The  4th  forme  for  the  Viccar's  servants. 

5.  The  5th  forme  for  Rees  ap  Evan's  wife  of  Cefen-Llyfno,  for 
Richard  ap  Lewis's  wife,  and  for  Rees  ap  Evan's  wife,  Brynbwa. 

6.  The   6th  forme  for  Owen  ap  Richard's  wife,  Edward  ap  Hum- 
fre's  wife,  and  for  Robert  Griffiths  and  his  wife. 

7.  The    7th   forme   for   the   wife    of    Thomas   ap  John,  for   the 
wife  of  Lewis  ap  Hughe,  for  the  wife  of  Richard  Dauid  of  Trevedryd, 
and  for  the  wife  of  Cadwaladr  Roberts  of  Ystymcolwyn. 

8.  The  8th  forme  for  Cadwaladr  ap  Hugh,  William  ap  Euan,  and 
David  ap  Lewis. 


RELATING   TO   ME1FOD  AND  ELSEWHERE.  103 

9.  The  9th  forme  for  John  ap  John  ap  Rynald,  John,  William,  and 
Eichard  Dauid  of  Trevedryd. 

10.  The  10th  forme  for  Thomas  ap  John,  Cadwaladr  ap  Evan,  and 
Evan  Lewis. 

1 1.  The  llth  forme  for  John  Draycott,  John  Calcott,  and  for  their 
wiffes. 

12.  The  12th  forme  for  Meredith  Howell,  Dauid  ap  dd.  ap  dd., 
and  for  theyre  wiffes. 

13.  The  13th  forme  for  John  Crooke,  Dauid  ap  Eichard,  Lewis  ap 
dd.  ap  Humffrey  ap  Evan. 

14.  The   Hth   form  of  30  inches  for  Mr.  John  Humffreys  for  to 
erect  a  seate. 

15.  The  15th  forme  of  30  inches  for  Mr.  Roger  Vaughan  to  erect 
a  seate. 

16.  The  16th  place  of  30  inches  for  Lumley  Williams,  Esq. 

17.  The  17th  place  of  30  inches  for  Mr.  Ellis  ap  Ellis  and  John 
Bowdler. 

18.  The  18th  place  of  30  inches  for  Mr.  Edward  Harries  and  for 
Edward  Powell. 

19.  The  19th  place  of  30  inches  for  Mr.  Andrew  Parry. 

20.  The    20th   place    for  Griffith    Bynner  and    his    Sonne.  John 
Bynner. 

21.  The  21st  place  for  Mr.  Edward  Vaughan. 

22.  The  22nd  place  for  Mr.  Humffrey  ap  John  ap  William,  Andrew 
Lawton,  and  William  Jones  of  Cwm. 

23.  The  23rd  place,  being  uppermost  of  all,  for  James  Mytton,  Esq., 
for  Mr.  Richard  Hunt, 

Over  against  the  upp'most  Seate  a  shorte  Seate  for  Mr.  William 
Herbert,  close  to  the  Wall  under  the  wyndow,  soe  that  he  comes  not 
below  the  Arch. 

It.  The  second  arch,  John  Lloyd,  Esq.,  is  to  extend  both  his  seats 
as  far  as  conveniently  they  may  be,  soe  they  hinder  not  the  passadge. 
And  the  voyd  place  betwixt  the  Arch  and  the  seate  that  Mr.  Lloyd 
enedeth  to  be  for  Dauid  ap  Richard,  for  to  erect  a  forme. 

It.  The  3  Arch,  Lumley  Williams,  Esq.,  is  to  place  a  Seate  from 
the  side  of  the  arch  to  Mr.  John  Matthews  his  Seate,  where  his 
wife  sits. 

It.  Relative  to  the  greate  paynes  taken  by  Mr.  John  Matthews 
for  the  bringinge  in  of  the  money  lefte  for  erectinge  of  this  plan,  The 
Commissioners  with  one  assent  thinke  fitte  that  Mr.  Matthews  well 
deserves  to  have  licence  to  erect  a  seate  under  the  3  arch  over  against 
Mr.  Lumley  Williams'  seate,  and  the  rather  for  that  his  wiffe's  seate 
here  unto  adjoyning  is  in  our  knowledge  too  narrow  and  straight. 
and  both  Mr.  Williams'  seate  and  Mr.  Matthews'  seate  to  be  extended 
under  the  arch  to  the  passadge  through  the  He. 

It.  The  fourthe  arch,  Mr.  John  Vaughan  is  to  erect  a  seate  as  farr 
as  conveniently  it  may  be  done,  and  Mr.  Mathews  and  Herbert 
Vaughan  are  also  to  extend  theirs  as  farr  as  conveniently  they 


104        ABSTRACT  OF  ANCIENT  DEEDS,  ETC. 

may.     Thomas  Maurice,  Esq.,  is  to  erect  himself  a  seate  ov.  against 
the  viccar's  wife's  seate  under  the  new  Arch. 

Mr.  ROBERT  FFOULKES,  Vicar  of  Myvod. 
ANDREW  PARRY      )  Churchwardms_ 
JOHN  HUMFFREES  / 
JOHN  LLOYD,  Esq.  ^ 

THOMAS  MAURICE,  Esq.    | 
LUMLEY  WILLIAMS,  Esq.  }•  Commissioners. 

Mr.  JOHN  VAUGHAN, 

Mr.  JOHN  MATTHEWS 


105 


ARTHUR  BLAYNEY  AND  HIS  HOME, 

GREGYNQG   HALL. 
BY     W.     SCOTT     OWEN. 


MUCH  has  already  been  published  relating  to  Arthur 
Blayney,  Esq.,  of  Gregynog,  who  was  born  in  the  year 
1716,  and  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty. 

A  very  full  account  of  that  fine  old  sample  of  a 
Welsh  country  gentleman  has  appeared  in  the  Mont- 
gomeryshire Collections,  vols.  xviii,  xxi,  and  xxii,  which 
can  hardly  be  improved  upon ;  but  little  has  yet  appeared 
about  his  home  and  surroundings  at  Gregynog,  to  which 
the  writer  wishes  to  devote  most  of  this  article. 

Arthur  Blayney,  High  Sheriff  for  the  county  in  1764, 
a  lineal  descendant  of  Brochwel  Ysgythrog,  Prince  of 
North  Wales,  617  A.D.,  was  one  of  a  large  family,  he 
being  the  third  son  of  John  Blayney,  Esq.,  of  Gregynog, 
and  Ann  Weaver  his  wife  ;  and  although  of  the  last  two 
generations  there  were  twenty-three  children,  yet  he 
alone  was  left  as  the  last  male  representative  of  that 
ancient  line  ;  and  as  he  never  married,  the  name  in  Wales 
died  out,  and  his  estates  passed  to  his  cousin,  Susan 
Weaver,  married  to  Henry  Tracy,  Esq.,  of  Toddington. 

A  century  almost  has  passed  since  his  death,  yet  his 
memory  is  still  green  amongst  the  old  folks  of  the 
district  in  which  he  passed  so  much  of  his  long  and 
useful  life.  Although  possessed  of  ample  estates,  he 
remained  to  the  day  of  his  death  a  man  of  the  simplest 
habits.  Endowed  with  good  abilities  and  the  respect 
of  all  his  neighbours — due  to  a  blameless  life  and  a 
hatred  of  meanness  or  trickery,  unbounded  hospitality 
to  both  rich  and  poor,  a  kindly  heart  and  a  helping- 
hand  for  all  who  strove  honestly  to  keep  themselves — 


106       ARTHUR  BLAYNEY  AND  HIS  HOME, 

he  never  courted  notoriety,  having  on  many  occasions 
refused  to  represent  his  native  county  in  Parlia- 
ment. 

For  a  full  account  of  Arthur  Blayney,  see  the  Appen- 
dix to  Yorke's  Royal  Tribes.  In  that  account  he  is 
said  to  have  been  very  good  to  his  tenants,  and  this  is 
borne  out  by  the  fact  that  on  his  Welsh  estates  being 
revalued,  fourteen  years  after  his  death,  the  rental 
showed  an  increase  of  almost  50  per  cent. — a  fact  which 
shows  how  cheaply  his  farms  were  let. 

He  was  devoid  of  all  unseemly  pride,  and  the  writer 
has  heard  an  old  woman  relate  how  he  often  used  to 
call  and  see  her  mother,  and  how  he  would  look  around 
at  her  furniture  and  ask,  "  Have  you  this  or  that  ?"  and 
if  she  had  not  got  such  a  thing,  he  would  appear  next 
day  carrying  in  his  own  hands  what  was  wanted,  even 
down  to  a  broom  or  a  plate  ! 

He  was  a  true  sportsman,  arid  kept  his  hounds, 
which  were  beagles,  at  Lediarte  Deren,  by  Highgate, 
under  the  care  of  Mr.  T.  Sturkey,  and  shot  his  part- 
ridge with  a  stalking-horse.  On  a  Sunday  all  his 
servants  were  driven  to  church  in  a  sort  of  waggon, 
which  the  old  folks  say  was  made  entirely  of  wood,  no 
iron  being  used  in  its  construction. 

Mr.  Yorke  says  that  he  was  famed  for  his  wines  and 
the  liberality  of  bis  cheer  ;  and  if  the  size  of  his  wine- 
glasses, one  of  which  the  writer  has  seen,  is  any  criterion, 
it  must  be  true.  Such  a  glass  would  rather  surprise  a 
drinker  of  old  port  in  these  days,  being  more  like  a 
tumbler  than  a  wine-glass,  it  being  5  ins.  high  and 
2>\  ins.  in  diameter  ! 

Tradition  relates  that  he  insisted  on  all  his  tenants 
keeping  white  fowls,  and  that  he  who  dared  to  trans- 
gress received  a  prompt  rating  for  his  bad  manners ; 
and  that,  in  order  to  induce  apprentices  to  follow  the 
path  of  godliness  and  cleanliness,  he  invariably  made 
each  a  present  of  a  Bible  and  a  comb  ! 

His  portrait  hangs  in  the  hall  at  Gregynog,  taken 
when  an  old  man,  and  a  kindly  face  it  is. 


GREGYNOG    HALL. 


107 


The  annual  value  of  his  estates  was  as  under  : — 


Montgomeryshire  Lands  - 
Morville  Hall  Estate  (Shropshire)- 
Tithes       - 


£  s.  d. 

4,782  19  6 

1,592  3  0 

675  12  0 


6,990  14     6 

In  addition  to  this,  the  writer  believes  that  some 
£200  to  £300  a  year  arose  from  lands  in  Herefordshire. 

The  Montgomeryshire  estates  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing farms  or  holdings  : — 

RENTAL   OF    THE    GREGYNOG   ESTATES    IN   THE   YEAR 
1795  AND  1809. 

HOLDINGS, 


Aberhafesp  Parish. 

Glanrhyd,  Buxtons  and  Bryn-y- 
groes. 

Penllanliky. 

Bwllchcaehaidd. 

Hill  farm. 

Tyny  Wttra. 

Werny  Toe. 

Piece  part  of  Vachwen  farm. 

Little  Bryn-y-groes. 

Fachwen,  exclusive  of  two  de- 
tached pieces. 

Galtyffynon. 

Mellinygloch. 

Cwm. 

Llanwnog  Parish. 
Rhydlydan  farm. 
Mill  house  and  lands. 
Henfryn  farm. 
Bembow's  meadow. 
Public-house,  building  and  land 
Late  Brown's  building  and  gar- 
den. 

Late  Richards'  house. 
Llwynybrain. 

Newtown  Parish. 
House,  building,  etc. 
House,  etc. 


House,  etc. 

Bear  Inn  and  lands. 

House  and  standings. 

Glascoed. 

Penarth. 

Cefn-y-fastre. 

Allotted  land  on  Cefn-y-fastre. 

Allotted  cottage  and  garden  on 

Newtown  Green. 
Allotted  lands. 

Llanllwchaiarn  Parish. 
Tyny  Cwm  and  allotted  lands. 
Pwll-Coch. 

Llandyssil  Parish. 
Pentre. 
Balbro. 

Kerry  Parish. 

Manllwyd  and  allotted  lands. 
Gwernewidd. 
Little  mill. 
Cefn-y-coed,  Thomas's  tenements 

and  allotted  lands. 
Allotted  lands  on  Cefn-y-fastre. 
Do.  do. 

Berriew  Parish. 
Penycoed  and  allotted  lands. 
Allotted  land. 


108 


ARTHUR   BLAYNEY   AND    HIS    HOME, 


Rectory,  Place  Llwyn,  etc. 

Penyfridd  and  allotted  lands. 

Wern. 

Caethugley. 

Wharf  and  lime-kilns. 

Timber  wharf. 

Bettws  Parish. 
Penyllan. 

Cwmdockin  and  allotted  lands. 
Cefnupol  and  allotted  lands. 
Brynrorin  and  allotted  lands. 
Garth. 

Glanbechan  and  allotted  lands. 
Tynyllidiart. 
Tynyrwttra. 
Highgate. 
Wain. 

Upper  Garth. 
Middle  Garth. 
Garth  cottage. 
Llyast  Goch. 
Coedtrefe. 
Bryn  Coch. 
Little  Garth. 
Llettytwlch. 

Bellanewidd  and  allotted  lands. 
Penygaer  and  allotted  lands. 
Bryn-y-Cull  and  allotted  lands. 
Llwyn- Coch  and  allotted  lands. 
Llyast. 
Pentre. 

Little  Penybryn. 
Pencarnions  and  allotted  lands. 
Gwernybaidd. 
Glomen  and  allotted  lands. 
Pontyperchill. 
Coppice  tenement.1 
Ystimcolwyn. 
House  and  garden  (E.   Lloyd). 

Tregynon  Parish. 

House,  Fulling  mill,  and  land.2 
Pwllan  farm,  with  Bam  hall  and 
Galynog. 


Gwaintrebedde. 

Hafod-Talog. 

Chapel  meadow. 

Fraithwen. 

Bron  Rees. 

Fir  house. 

Old  mill  and  lands. 

Cwm  Barn  house. 

Cefngwifed. 

Little  Brithdir. 

Upper  Wern. 

Tydu. 

Wern  meadow. 

Rhos  Pant. 

Gogwia. 

Lletty  Evan  Llydan   and    Long 

Birches. 
Cwm  Kignant. 
Fachwen. 
Tynyshettin. 
Llwynmelin. 
Cae-Garrw. 
Village  meadow. 
Dolymelin. 
Penybryn. 
Cottage,  house,  etc. 
Moat  meadow. 
Caetan  Llan. 
Tyny  Coed. 
Neyodd  Rees  Llwyd  (exclusive  of 

Caegarw  in  1809). 
Tylurney  and  Steel's  Croft. 
Birch  house. 
Cochshidan. 
Tynygraig. 
Dairy. 
Aberclawdd. 

Smith's  house,  shop  and  land. 
House,  etc. 
Ty-Gwealt. 
Brithdir. 
Glanrafon. 
Tyn-y-banal. 

Porthman's  and  Gron  meadow. 
Cae-Gwastad. 


1  Now  called  "  Lane  Tenement". 

2  Now  called  «  Walk-Mill". 


GREGYNOG   HALL. 


109 


Frwdwen. 

Wainsarnew. 

Argoed. 

Tynybryn. 

Baxter's  land. 

Lower  Wern. 

Cae-Grassy  house,  etc. 

Tithe  barn,  house,  etc. 

Cwmearl. 

Lower  Llwynmelyn. 

Cracklands. 

Middle  Wern. 

Werndu,   Lower   Gregynog,  and 

Reservoir  piece. 
Greatwood. 
Horse  meadow. 
Church  house  farm. 
Penbertou's  Wood. 
Wernypallis. 
Cae-G-o  meadow. 
Upper  Gregynog,  Garden  meadow 

and  Bankypiece. 
Tynewidd. 


Penstrowed  Parish. 
Ty-Mawr. 
Penstrowed  Hall. 
Cefn  Hir. 

Llandinam  Parish. 

Carnedd. 
Maesmawr. 

Forden  Parish. 

Penyllan  (exclusive  of  land  added 
to  the  Hole  farm,  1809). 

Hole  farm  (with  lands  added  from 
Penyllan). 

Quob  tenement. 

House  in  lease. 

Trelystan  Parish. 

Church  farm. 

No  name  (Richard  Russel). 

Do       (Betton's). 
Dingle  tenement. 


Total  (in  1795),  £4,782     19     6;     (In  1809),  £7,156     7     6 


The  old  house  in  which  Mr.  Blayney  lived  so  long 
stood  where  the  present  house  now  stands,  most  of  the 
new  house  being  built  upon  its  foundations.  It  was 
an  old  house,  smaller  than  the  existing  house,  con- 
taining a  ground-floor  and  two  bedroom  floors,  built 
of  red  brick  covered  with  blue  slates,  and  a  slate  roof; 
it  could  not  have  been  in  any  way  a  picturesque 
building.  It  was  very  much  out  of  repair  and  overrun 
with  rats,  and  the  rooms  much  smaller  than  those  of 
the  present  house. 

The  great  feature  of  the  house  was  the  "  Carved 
Parlor",  situated  in  the  south-east  wing,  in  which  was 
the  magnificent  old  carved  oak  panelling,  now  in  the 
dining-room  of  the  new  house. 

This  carving  was  executed  by  Dutch  carvers,  brought 
over  to  Wales  for  the  purpose  about  the  year  1636, 
shown  by  two  carved  panels,  one  bearing  a  half-moon 


110  ARTHUR   BLAYNEY    AND    HTS    HOME, 

and  a  sun,  with  JUNE  22  ;  the  other  a  sun  with  a  face, 
and  ANO  »J<  DNI  1636,  with  an  anchor  beneath  it. 

The  arms,  shown  on  accompanying  sketches,  are  all 
carved  on  oak  shields,  there  being  eight  shields,  showing 
the  arms  of  the  great  Welsh  houses  connected  with 
the  family,  as  well  as  the  Blayneys'  coat  of  arms, 
elaborately  carved  and  placed  over  the  fireplace. 

The  following  is  supposed  to  be  the  proper  description 
of  these  arms  : — 

1.  1  and  4.  Three  horses'  heads  erased  (arg.)  for  Blayney  (Broch- 

well  Ysgythrog.  2.  [Arg.]  Three  cooks  [gu.~\t  for  Einion 
Sais.  3.  [Erm,.~\  A  lion  rampant  [argr.]  for  C}rnric  ap  Rhi- 
wallon.  Motto:  "  Virtutis  comes  invidia"  (Jealousy  is  the 
companion  of  Virtue). 

2.  [Sa.~\  A  chevron  engrailed,  ermine  between  3  trefoils   slipped 

\arg,~\  for  Loftus  or  Ely. 

3.  [Sa.]  A  chevron  between  3  spear-heads  [arg,~],  for  Caradoc  Freich- 

fras,  Earl  of  Hereford,  one  of  King  Arthur's  Knights  of  the 
Round  Table. 

4.  [  Vert.']  A  wolf  passant  [         ],  the  mouth  pierced  with  an  arrow 

[art?.],  for  Bleddyii  ap  Maenarch  ;  or  perhaps,  as  said  in  an  old 
letter  in  the  possession  of  Lord  Sudeley :  "  A  Saxon  coat  of 
arms."  No  name  given. 

5.  [Sa.~\  A  chevron  between  3  fleurs-de-lys  [ar#.],  for  Collwyn  ap 

Tango,  Lord  of  Evionedd,  founder  of  one  of  the  Royal  Tribes, 
1050. 

6.  [Or.]  A  lion  rampant  [#w.J,  crowned  [or],  for  Cynfyn,  founder  of 

one  of  the  Royal  Tribes  ;  or  perhaps  for  Howell  ap  Jerva,  Lord 
of  Arwstli. 

7.  [Vert.~\   3  eagles  displayed  in  fess  [or],  for  Owen  Gwynedd,  Prince 

of  North  Wales. 

8.  [         ]  Per  pale  \az.  and  gii.~\  3  lions  rampant  [arg.],  for  Herbert. 

9.  \Gu.  ?]  On  a  garb  [arg.  f]  a  bird  [sa.  ?],  for  Herle  (?) ;  or  perhaps 

for  Watcyn  ap  Ion  Hir. 

10.  [Ar.]    A  dragon's  head   [vert],  holding  a  bloody  hand  in  the 
mouth,  for  Rhys  Goch  of  Ystrady  w,  or  Philip  Hir. 

The  rooms  given  in  an  old  inventory  of  1795  are  as 
follows  : — 

1.  Carved  dining  parlour.  8.  Housekeeper's  sitting-room. 

2.  Small  parlour.  9.  Store  closet. 

3.  Passage  to  best  hall.  10.  Still-room  maid's  closet. 

4.  Best  hall.  11.  Upper  larder  or  pantry. 

5.  Drawing-room.  12.  Servants'  hall. 

6.  China  closet.  13.  Kitchen. 

7.  Common  hall  or  kitchen.  14.  Scullery  and  pantry. 


GREGYNOG    HALL.  Ill 

15.  Still  and  feathering  room.  30.  Lobby. 

16.  Milk  room.  31.  Store-room. 

17.  Cheese  room.  32.  Lower  larder. 

18.  Dairy  kitchen.  33.  Cellars. 

19.  Under  butler's  bedroom.  34.  Butler's  pantry    and    other 

20.  Lower  store-room.  rooms  over  out-buildings. 

21.  Steward's  old  offices. 

12'2.  Wash-house.  Bedroom  Floors. 

23.  Laundry.  1.   Crimson  bedroom. 

24.  Brewhouse.  2.  Yellow  „ 

25.  Bakehouse.  3.  Chintz  „ 

26.  Bottle-room.  4.  Cotton  „ 

27.  Boot-room.  5.  Blue  „ 

28.  Salting-room.  6.   Green  „ 

29.  Powdering  or  wig  room.  And  10  attics. 

Luxuries,  now  quite  common,  did  not  exist  in  those 
days.  The  carved  dining- parlour  had  no  carpet,  but  a 
painted  floor-cloth,  15ft.  by  12  ft.  The  drawing-room 
furniture  was  scant,  though  there  was  a  carpet  14  ft. 
by  13  ft.,  but  no  ornaments,  and  only  one  picture,  and 
that  of  Morville  Hall. 

The  bedrooms  had  only  a  strip  of  carpet  at  the  ends 
and  sides  of  the  beds,  and  only  two  pictures  are  men- 
tioned in  all  the  bedrooms  put  together.  Each  bed- 
room was  supplied  with  a  pair  of  bellows  and  extin- 
guishers. 

There  were  no  old  carved  bedsteads,  which  seem  to 
have  been  generally  of  mahogany. 

Bells  there  were  to  all  the  bedrooms,  but  only  one 
clock  amongst  them  all. 

Amongst  the  furniture  were  the  following  oddities  : 

4  spit  forks  and  cuckolds.  A  "  dry  cow"  (whatever  that  may 
2  long  duck  guns.  be). 

2  flying  duck  guns.  2  empty  treacle  casks. 

1  old  musket.  A  stand  with  linen  yarn  on  it. 

1  stalking  horse.  A  single  reel  with  yarns  on  it. 

5  pairs  of  horse-pistols.  One  old  linen  spinning-wheel. 

5  swords  and  scabbards.  Wig-blocks,   shaving    cans,    wig- 

Pewter   plates    and    31     wooden         irons,  and  silk  powder-puffs, 
trenchers. 

Lighting  was  all  by  means  of  brass  candlesticks  and 
candles. 


112  ARTHUR   BLAYNEY   AND    HIS    HOME, 

The  reader  will  have  gathered  from  the  above  what 
manner  of  house  and  estate  Mr.  Blayney  owned,  and  I 
think  the  following  extracts  from  his  own  accounts  will 
show  still  further  that,  with  so  large  a  house  and  so 
ample  an  income,  he  was  strictly  economical  and  un- 
usually simple  in  his  tastes. 

Household  Establishment.  Outdoor  Servants. 

£     s.    d.  £     s.    d. 

Butler  31   10     0  per  ann.     Groom  1212     0  per  aim. 

Under  butler     880       „  Gardener         24     3     0       „ 

Housekeeper  21     0     0       „  Bailiff  12  12     0       „ 

Cook  19  19     0       „  Under  bailiff    880,, 

Under  cook       660,,  Dairy  maid       660,, 

Chambermaid  660  Brewer  660 


93     9     0  80     7     0 

This  for  a  house  of  with  over  fifty  rooms  may  seem 
strange  to  us  now,  but  it  points  to  the  simplicity  and 
economy  of  past  days,  and  to  the  greater  capabilities  of 
servants  at  that  date  than  now. 

There  remain  still  a  few  extracts  taken  from  Mr. 
Blayney's  private  accounts,  written  clearly  and  neatly 
in  his  own  handwriting  down  to  within  six  weeks  of 
his  death,  which  may  be  of  interest. 

Note  in  his  accounts  : — 

"  1770.     Old  style  ceased  September  1752,  and  next  day  was 
accounted  September  14th  new  style." 

Here  is  a  sample  of  the  amount  of  wine  purchased  : 

Vintner's  Port  Wine. 

£    s.    d. 

1770.         12  Gallons  AUicant  220 

6       „        English  Spirits      -         110 

3       „        French  Brandy      -         110 

42       „        Southam  Cyder     -         220 

63  640 

£    s.    d. 

1773.     A  pipe  of  port  wine  -       51  11     6 
Carriage  from  Lond  on 
„        from  Salop  - 


1784.     Pipe  of  port,  hogshead  of  Sherry 
1792.     Hogshead  of  Cadcavella    -  25 


GREGYNOG    HALL.  113 

Anent  the  port  wine.  The  worthy  Editor  of  the 
Montgomeryshire  Collections  has  kindly  sent  me  a 
curious  old  document,  dated  September  1786,  by  which 
it  appears  that  Mr.  Blayney,having  purchased  40  gallons 
of  port  and  40  gallons  of  sherry  at  Liverpool,  had  it 
sent  by  sea  to  "  Derwinlase",  near  Machynlleth,  where 
the  wine  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  dishonest  carter,  who 
made  holes  in  the  casks  and  drank  a  large  quantity  of 
the  wine,  losing  the  rest  en  route,  probably  after  his 
heavy  libations.  The  document  goes  on  to  say  that 
Mr.  Blayney,  having  been  "  craftily  and  subtilly  de- 
ceived and  defrauded",  claimed  the  sum  of  £100  as 
damages,  but  it  ,does  not  appear  whether  he  got  it  or 
not. 


Further  Extracts  from  Accounts. 

£    s.    d. 
1773.  Jan.    7.  Salmon   (now  out  of  season  at 

that  date)  070 

Apr.  10.  5  ravens  026 

Apr.  23.  A  kite  0     1     0 

May    1.  Window  tax                                  -  5     4     0 

Mr.  Clements  for  wigs                 -  3     3     0 

July  9.  Leather  breeches  for  Ned            -  1     5     0 

Doeskin  breeches                          -  110     0 

Oct.  18.  2  wood  cocks  -050 

1         do.  010 

Evan  Thomas,  in  lieu   of  Blew 

Livery  and  Breeches              -  6     3     0 

1789.                    Making  seven  ruffled  shirts         -  1     4     6 

2  pieces  of  Irish  cloth  890 

Sub.  to  a  bride                            -  3     3     0 

Innoculating  4  children              -  0  10     0 


In  concluding  what  must  necessarily  be  a  somewhat 
disjointed  article,  the  writer  gives  a  few  prices  of 
commodities  as  taken  from  Mr.  Blayney's  accounts, 
which  may  be  of  interest,  with  a  hope  that  what  has 
been  written  above  may  be  an  addition,  if  but  a  small 
one,  to  other  accounts  already  published  of  one  of  our 
brighest  types  of  a  real  old  Welsh  gentleman. 

VOL.  XXV.  I 


114 


ARTHUR   BLAYNEY    AND    HIS    HOME. 


Beef 

Cheese 

Pork 

Salmon 

Wheat 

Barley 

Oats 

Peas 

Potatoes 


Prices  of  Commodities. 

1763. 

s. 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

0 

2  per  Ib. 

Sheep      - 

0 

7 

0 

each. 

0 

3       „ 

Wool 

0 

12 

G 

st.  lOJlbs. 

0 

2       „ 

Board  Wages  - 

0 

2 

G 

per  week. 

0 

6       „ 

Maid  —  Wages 

2 

15 

G 

6 

0  bushel. 

Boy 

6 

0 

0 

3 

6       „ 

Thatcher    „ 

0 

1 

0 

a  day. 

7 

6       „ 

Server         „ 

0 

0 

6 

, 

2 

6       „ 

Labourer    „ 

0 

0 

10       „ 

2 

4 

Women       ,, 

0 

0 

6 

„ 

MONT:  COLL. VOL.  XXV. 
to  face  page  115. 


LLttNWDDVN   CHURCH    IN 


115 


LLANWDDYN. 


III.— THE  CHURCH  IN  1684. 

IN  the  official  account  of  the  progress  of  the  Duke  of 
Beaufort  through  Wales  in  1684,  from  the  original 
MS.  of  Thomas  Dyneley,  there  is  a  paragraph  about 
this  church  and  a  view  of  it.  both  of  which,  we  think, 
it  will  be  desirable  to  reproduce.  The  site  of  the 
church  now  forms  part  of  Vyrnwy  Lake.  The  para- 
graph runs  as  follows  : — 

"  Seven  miles  from  Bala,  and  within  4  miles  of  Mr.  Vaughan 
of  Lluider  [Llwydiarth],  we  passed  by  Llanwddyn  Church, 
leaving  the  church-yard  on  the  right  hand,  att  which  place 
they  expressed  their  loyaltie  and  good  affeccon  toward  his 
Grace  by  jangling  of  their  little  bell,  of  which  they  spared  not, 
the  strangeness  of  the  noyse  whereof  caused  me  to  enter 
therein,  where  observable  I  found  the  rope  to  be  Funis 
triformis,  consisting  of  iron  chain  upward,  gad  or  twisted  withs 
next,  and  rope  in  fine." 


IV. — THE  HEALTH  OF  THE  VYRNWY  VALLEY. 

By  HUGH  R.   JONES,  M.A.,    M.D.(Cantab.),   B.Sc.(Lond.),   late 
Surgeon,  Liverpool  Corporation  Waterworks,  Llanwddyn. 

Comparatively  few  opportunities  are  obtained  of 
observing  the  effect  of  a  complete  change  in  the 
physical  features  of  a  district  upon  the  people  living 
in  that  district  and  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood. 
In  this  connection,  be  it  remembered  that  in  the  term 
"  physical  features"  is  included,  not  only  the  confor- 
mation of  the  district  [i.e.,  the  height  above  sea-level, 
the  elevation  of  hills  above  the  plain,  the  angle  of  de- 
clivity of  the  hills,  the  amount  of  hill  and  plain,  the 

1  Continued  from  Mont.  Coll.t  vol.  xxiii,  p.  186. 

I  2 


110  LLANWDDYN. 

course  and  characters  of  the  valleys  and  ravines  in  the 
hills,  the  geological  formation,  the  watershed  and 
watercourses],  but  also  the  exposure  to  winds  and  the 
character  of  the  winds,  the  amount  and  duration  of 
sunlight,  the  amount  and  frequency  of  rain,  the  com- 
position of  the  soil  (its  mineralogical  characters  and 
the  presence  in  it  of  vegetable  and  animal  substances, 
its  covering  by  trees,  brushwood,  etc.,  the  amount  of 
air  and  moisture  in  it),  and  the  height,  and  variation 
in  height,  of  the  subsoil  water.1 

Changes  can  be  artificially  induced  in  a  few  only  of 
these  factors,  which  together  make  up  the  physical 
features  of  a  district.  The  more  frequent  changes  con- 
sist in  an  alteration  in  the  level  of  the  subsoil  water, 
or  in  an  alteration  in  the  character  of  the  covering  of 
the  soil,  which  may,  however,  induce  changes  to  some 
extent  in  certain  of  the  other  factors,  e.g.,  the  amount 
and  frequency  of  rain. 

The  extensive  drainage  operations  of  the  modern 
engineer,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of  a  damp,  low- 
lying,  uncultivated  tract  of  country  into  a  fertile  plain, 
have  been  followed  by  a  marked  influence  on  the  health 
of  the  district.  This  is  shown  by  the  great  improve- 
ment in  the  health  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Fen 
country,  and  the  almpst  complete  disappearance  from 
that  district  of  malarious  disease,  previously  so  very 
frequent.  Similar  improvement  in  health  has  followed 
the  sewering  of  many  towns.  In  these  instances  the 
level  of  the  subsoil  water  has  been  depressed,  but  the 
level  is  occasionally  raised,  e.g.,  by  building  an  obstruc- 
tion in  the  course  of  a  river,  but  usually  only  a  small 
area  is  thus  affected. 

The  conformation  of  a  district  is  rarely  changed  ;  but 
the  formation  of  a  large  artificial  inland  lake  by  the 
Corporation  of  Liverpool  over  the  site  of  the  small 
hamlet  of  Llanwddyn,  Montgomeryshire,  has  com- 
pletely changed  the  conformation  of  the  upper  valley 

1   Vide  Parkes,  Hygiene,  7th  ed.,  p.  23. 


LLANWDDYN.  117 

of  the  river  Vyrnwy.  An  unique  opportunity  is  thus 
afforded  of  testing  the  results  upon  health  due  to  this 
form  of  physical  change.  The  subject  is  of  sufficient 
interest  to  place  upon  record,  arid  to  discuss  certain 
observations  concerning  the  health  of  the  valley  pre- 
vious and  subsequent  to  the  formation  of  the  lake. 
But  it  is  necessary,  first,  to  describe  briefly  the  Vyrnwy 
Valley  prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  construction 
of  the  reservoir,  as  well  as  the  subsequent  changes  in 
physical  features. 

THE    VYRNWY    VALLEY. 

The  river  Vyrnwy,  indirectly  a  tributary  of  the 
river  Severn,  rises  to  the  east  of  the  Berwyn  Moun- 
tains, and  was  formed  near  the  old  village  of  Llan- 
wddyn  by  the  coalescence  of  a  number  of  mountain 
streams.  The  part  of  the  valley  affected  by  the  Liver- 
pool Waterworks  is  4f  miles  long,  and  from  J  to  f  mile 
broad.  High  hills,  2,000  feet  above  sea-level,  rise 
abruptly  on  either  side  and  at  its  upper  end,  so  that 
the  valley  is  almost  completely  shut  in  by  them,  except 
at  the  lower  or  south-eastern  end.  The  hills,  except 
in  places  where  they  are  too  steep  to  admit  of  vegeta- 
tion, show  a  fine  turf  to  the  top,  where  the  bog  and 
heath  commence.  The  bottom  of  the  valley  was  very 
flat,  and  consisted  of  alluvium  and  marsh,  and  was  in 
part  converted  into  a  network  of  watercourses  by  the 
irregular  windings  of  the  numerous  mountain  streams. 
Little  land  was  cultivated  in  the  district.  The  geo- 
logical formation  of  the  district  belongs  mainly  to  the 
Upper  and  Lower  Silurian  systems. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  valley,  midway  between  its 
upper  and  lower  ends,  the  old  village  of  Llanwddyn 
was  built  on  the  estuary  of  the  Cedig,  and  consisted  of 
two  streets  crossing  at  right  angles.  A  few  farm  houses 
were  scattered  in  the  bed  of  the  valley  and  along  the 
hillsides.  The  total  number  of  houses  in  the  valley  was 
about  130,  and  the  population  about  450. 


118  LLANWDDYN. 

The  lower  end  of  the  valley  is  very  narrow,  and  a  bar 
of  rock  was  found  at  this  part  considerably  nearer  the 
surface  than  rock  is  found  elsewhere.  Upon  this  rock- 
bar  a  masonry  embankment  has  been  built,  damming 
back  the  water,  so  as  to  form  a  lake  4£  miles  long 
and  |  mile  broad,  having  a  capacity  of  13,125  million 
gallons.  The  new  lake  restores  the  valley  to  its  prime- 
val condition,  for  there  is  strong  evidence  that  an 
ancient  lake  of  glacier  origin  once  existed,  and  that  the 
flat  strath  of  the  modern  valley  was  formed  by  the 
gradual  silting  up  of  the  lake  by  debris  deposited  by 
the  mountain  streams. 

The  construction  of  the  reservoir  was  begun  in  1880, 
and  consequently  a  large  number  of  workmen  and  their 
families  immigrated  into  the  valley.  To  provide  ac- 
commodation for  them,  two  series  of  semi-detached 
wooden  huts  were  erected,  each  hut  consisting  of  a 
large  living  room,  a  storeroom,  two  small  bedrooms, 
and  a  sleeping  apartment  for  twelve  men.  Others  of 
the  workmen  were  taken  in  as  lodgers  at  the  houses 
for  miles  around.  Complaints  of  overcrowding  were 
occasionally  made  by  the  sanitary  authorities,  but  the 
evil  was  only  temporary.  Earth  closets  were  used 
throughout  the  valley,  and  near  the  centres  of  popula- 
tion were  emptied  daily,  less  frequently  at  the  more 
remote  houses. 

The  residents  in  the  valley  may  be  classed  as  follows  : 
(1)  farmers  ;  (2)  the  engineering  arid  clerical  staif ;  (3) 
skilled  workmen,  comparatively  few  in  number,  con- 
sisting of  fitters,  joiners,  etc.  ;  (4)  quarrymen,  mostly 
Welshmen  from  neighbouring  districts,  and  occupying, 
for  the  most  part,  the  group  of  wooden  huts,  known  as 
the  "Quarry  Huts";  (5)  masons;  (6)  navvies,  who 
were  distinctly  superior  to  the  men  usually  employed 
on  public  works  to  do  the  same  kind  of  work.  Apart 
from  the  necessary  exposure  to  cold  and  wet,  the 
character  of  the  employment  was  healthy.  A  few 
men,  however,  employed  in  tending  stone-crushing 
machinery,  which  generated  much  fine  dust,  and  others 


LLANWDDYN.  119 

engaged  in  the  dusty  occupation  of  measuring  cement, 
suffered  to  some  degree  from  persistent  bronchitis. 
Although  the  blasting  was  very  extensive,  only  on 
one  occasion,  when  a  new  explosive  was  being  tested, 
were  any  ill  effects  noticed. 

The  principal  works  consisted  in  the  construction  of 
12  miles  of  road,  the  excavation  of  foundations  for  the 
dam  and  Vyrnwy  tower,  the  erection  of  the  dam, 
tower,  and  •  other  buildings,  the  construction  of  the 
Hirnant  tunnel  (2f  miles  long— the  first  part  of  the 
aqueduct),  quarrying  and  dressing  the  necessary  stone, 
and  the  distribution  of  material  by  steam  tramways. 
The  nearest  railway  station  is  at  Llanfyllin,  12  miles 
away,  and  all  machinery,  coals,  cement,  etc.,  were  con- 
veyed to  the  works  by  road. 

On  November  28th,  1888,  the  valves  in  the  dam 
were  closed,  and  the  formation  of  Lake  Vyrnwy  began. 
All  accumulations  of  filth  in  the  valley  had  been  re- 
moved, the  old  houses  dismantled,  fired,  and  finally 
blown  by  dynamite.  No  burials  had  taken  place  in 
the  village  churchyard  since  1880,  but  a  new  cemetery 
was  opened  b'elow  the  dam,  to  which  all  the  remains 
from  the  village  churchyard  were  removed  in  1886,  and 
from  the  church  in  1888. 

The  lake  gradually  and  continuously  increased  in 
size  until  the  end  of  April  1889,  when  its  area  was 
approximately  1,000  acres.  From  that  time  until  the 
end  of  July  1889,  owing  to  the  loss  of  water  by  the 
discharge  of  statutory  compensation  water  to  the  river 
Vyrnwy,  and  by  evaporation,  and  on  account  of  the 
prevalence  of  dry  weather,  it  fell  about  2J  feet. 
Thenceforward  it  steadily  rose,  until  the  first  over- 
flow occurred  on  November  22nd,  1889,  within  twelve 
months  of  the  first  formation  of  the  lake.  The  area  of 
the  full  lake  is  1,121  acres  ;  its  greatest  depth  is  84 
feet ;  top  water  level  is  825  O.D. 

Early  in  June  1889,  coincident  with  the  access  of 
hot  weather,  a  considerable  quantity  of  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  gas  was  emitted  with  the  monthly  statutory 


120  LLANWDDYN, 

compensation  water,  which  is  drawn  from  near  the 
bottom  of  the  lake,  and  discharged  through  tunnels  in 
the  dam  during  four  consecutive  days  each  month. 
Afterwards  the  gas  escaped  also  with  the  daily  com- 
pensation water,  which  is  drawn  from  a  slightly  higher 
part  of  the  lake.  At  the  same  time  a  copious  deposit 
of  oxide  and  basic  carbonate  of  iron  took  place  in  the 
river  bed,  extending  for  a  distance  of  several  miles. 
Pieces  of  bog  floated  to  the  surface  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  lake,  and  a  faint  odour  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
was  occasionally  perceptible  over  the  surface  of  the. 
water,  more  especially  in  cloudy  weather.  The 
masonry  of  the  dam  and  tower  became  slightly  dis- 
coloured, similarly  to  the  river  bed.  White  streaks 
on  the  surface  of  the  lake  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the 
valley  are  frequently  observed. 

In  July  1889  the  weather  became  cold  and  wet,  and 
towards  the  beginning  of  August  all  perception  of 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas  was  lost,  and  no  further 
precipitation  of  iron  was  noticed. 

It  is  probable  that  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas 
was  formed  by  the  decomposition  of  peat  and  other 
vegetable  matter,  and  this  was  most  intense  at  the 
bottom  of  the  lake.  The  sudden  reduction  of  pressure 
in  the  discharge  tunnels  accounts  for  the  intensity  of 
the  smell  below  the  dam.  Owing  to  the  great  heat  of 
June  the  decomposition  of  vegetable  matter  was  too 
rapid  to  allow  further  oxidation-processes  by  which 
the  sulphuretted  hydrogen  would  have  been  destroyed. 
The  slight  odour  over  the  surface  of  the  lake  was  due 
to  sulphuretted  hydrogen  which  escaped  change  in  its 
passage  upwards.  No  ill  effects  due  to  the  gas  were 
observed,  with  this  exception,  that  one  or  two  members 
of  the  indoor  engineering  staff  suffered  from  headaches, 
which  were  relieved  by  a  meal  and  open  air  exercise. 
Fish  were  quite  unaffected.  Coincidently  with  the 
emission  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  the  deposit  of  iron 
was  noticed  in  the  river  bed.  A  number  of  chalybeate 
springs  exist  in  the  valley ;  much  iron,  too,  would  be 


LLANWDDYN. 


121 


dissolved  from  the  bogs.  The  water  in  the  lake  has  a 
slight,  but  distinct,  acid  reaction,  owing  to  peaty  acids 
in  solution,  which  doubtless  prevented  the  deposition 
of  iron  to  any  appreciable  extent  on  the  margin  of  the 
lake.  During  the  passage  of  the  compensation  water 
through  the  discharge  tunnels,  considerable  aeration 
and  oxidation  occurs,  and  the  iron  was  therefore 
deposited  in  the  river  bed. 

If  water  be  taken  from  the  lake  and  kept  in  a  closed 
bottle,  little  deposit  occurs,  but  eventually  the  water, 
originally  of  a  slight  yellowish  colour,  becomes  con- 
siderably darker.  If  exposed  to  air,  a  more  copious 
flocculent  precipitate,  brownish  in  colour,  occurs,  and 
the  water  becomes  considerably  clearer.  If  artificially 
oxidised,  a  clear  colourless  water  is  obtained,  or  if 
artificially  reduced,  a  clear  water,  with  slight  yellowish 
coloration,  results.  The  first  step,  therefore,  in  the 
oxidation  of  the  water  is  shown  by  its  deeper  colour. 
The  result  of  experiment  agrees  with  the  observation 
of  the  water  of  the  lake.  During  the  hot  weather  the 
colour  was  first  intensified,  and  then  became  fainter, 
arid  the  colour  varies  also  according  to  the  quality  and 
quantity  of  the  water  flowing  into  the  reservoir,  the 
flood  waters  containing  most  peat.  Probably,  there- 
fore, the  lake  will  take  considerable  time  to  lose  com- 
pletely its  peaty  coloration,  but  once  the  great  propor- 
tion has  been  oxidised,  the  incoming  water  will  be 
rapidly  and  effectually  bleached,  and  then,  and  not  till 
then,  Liverpool  will  be  supplied  with  an  almost  abso- 
lutely perfect  water. 


Analysis  of  Water — River  Vyrnwy — in  parts  per  100,000. 


Solids 

5-000 

Soda 

0-319 

Organic  carbon 
Organic  nitrogen 
Ammonia 

0-346 
0-034 
0-003 

Potash      . 
Magnesia 
Lime 

0-191 
0-183 
0-366 

Total  nitrogen 
Hardness 
Chlorine  . 

0-037 
1° 
0-742 

Alumina  . 
Sulphuric  acid 
Silica 

0-227 
0-655 
0-400 

122 


LLANWDDYN. 


The  analysis  of  lake  water  will  probably  yield  a  result 
even  more  satisfactory. 

The  climate  remains  to  be  considered.  It  is  almost 
needless  to  mention  that  the  rainfall  of  the  district  is 
both  very  high  and  very  variable.  During  the  decade, 
1880-89,  the  minimum  recorded  rainfall  exceeded  32 
inches,  while  the  maximum  was  nearly  119  inches. 
Rain  falls  on  about  200  days  each  year ;  April,  May, 
June,  and  March  are  the  driest  months.  Very  heavy 
snowstorms  are  frequent  in  winter.  The  direction  of 
the  winds  is  very  variable,  but  westerly  winds  prevail 
on  nearly  200  days.  In  1889  the  direction  of  the 
wind  was  W.  on  72  days,  N.W.  61,  N.  31,  N.E.  32, 
E.  29,  S.E.  32,  S.  44,  S.W.  64. 

The  mean  monthly  maxima  and  minima  tempera- 
tures have  been  deduced  from  all  the  data  existing, 
and  show,  as  would  be  expected,  a  lower  minimum 
than  is  experienced  near  Liverpool,  while  the  maximum 
does  not  vary  so  greatly.  Frosty  nights  are  frequent 
until  late  in  May. 


Mean  Monthly  Maxima  and  Minima  Temperatures. 


Maximum 
Minimum 

Mean 


Maximum 
Minimum 

Mean 


Jan. 
41.45 
31.41 

Feb. 
42.31 
31.73 

March. 
43.88 
36.53 

April. 
51.98 
34.25 

May. 
60.09 
39.58 

June. 
69.10 
46.47 

«6.2 

36.6 

36.2 

41.6 

48.1 

56. 

July. 
68.34 
48.10 

Aug. 
65.10 
4540 

Sept. 
59.75 
42.68 

Oct. 
52.04 
38.27 

Nov. 
45.64 
35.44 

Dec. 
40.8 
31.11 

56.3 

53.5 

49.9 

44.15 

40.1 

35-9 

Having  thus  described  the  valley,  its  physical 
features,  and  the  recent  change  in  them,  its  inhabi- 
tants, and  their  occupations,  I  proceed  to  consider  the 
valley  health.  I  shall  first  of  all  briefly  consider  the 
diseases  which  occur  in  the  valley,  and  then  endeavour 
to  determine  their  incidence,  and  shall  finally  inquire 
what  influence  upon  the  valley  health  resulted  from  the 
formation  of  Lake  Vyrnwy. 


LLANWDDYN. 


123 


THE    DISEASES    OF    THE    VYRNWY    VALLEY. 

(I)  Statistics  of  3240  cases  of  illness  occurring  at 
Vyrnwy  between  August  1,  1882,  and  March  31, 
1890,  have  been  analysed. 


Analysis  0/3240  Cases  of  Illness  between  August  1,  1882,  and 
March  31,  1890. 

Convulsions 

Epilepsy 

Headache  and  Neuralgia 

Bronchitis  .    . 

Pneumonia 

Phthisis    . 

Croup  and  Laryngitis 

Diphtheria 

Pleurisy   . 

Dyspepsia 

Gastritis  . 

Diarrhosa 

Febricula 

Stomatitis  . 

Tonsillitis 

Rheumatism 


Confinements  398 


Debility 


28 

Scarlet  fever 

6 

17 

Pertussis  . 

62 

100 

Influenza  . 

76 

504 

Measles    . 

40 

88 

Parotitis  . 

16 

16 

Varicella  . 

10 

19 

Hepatic  disease 

21 

42 

Renal  disease 

49 

27 

Skin  diseases 

104 

306 

Disease  of  heart 

29 

184 

„        of  eye 

29 

185 

„        of  ear 

9 

127 

Erysipelas 

33 

27 

Unclassified 

325 

98 

Diseases  of  Women 

66 

133 

Injuries    . 

325 

83 

-      Total                        3240 

From  the  above  table  it  will  be  seen  that  diseases  of 
the  respiratory  system  were  very  numerous.  Of  the 
eighty-eight  cases  of  pneumonia,  fifty-eight  were  in 
adults.  The  excessive  frequency  of  these  cases  is 
partly  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  severity  of  the 
weather,  partly  by  the  carelessness  of  the  men.  In 
the  early  spring  of  1888,  a  distinct  epidemic  of  pneu- 
monia occurred  (vide  Chart),  chiefly  adults  were 
attacked,  and  a  number  of  deaths  occurred.  Its 
prevalence  was  attributed  to  the  greater  variations  in 
temperature,  and  to  the  influence  of  the  north-easterly 
winds.  Dr.  Charles  Lovegrove  (who  was  surgeon  at 
Vyrnwy  until  June  1888)  records  the  epidemic  in  a 
letter  to  the  British  Medical  Journal  (July  21,  1888), 


124 


LLANWDDYN. 


and  surmises  that  it  may  have  been  of  the  same  nature 
as  the  epidemic  at  Middlesborough. 

Coincidently  with  the  increase  in  cases  of  pneumonia,1 
a  marked  increase  in  cases  of  gastritis  was  noticed,  and 
many  cases  of  diphtheria  occurred.  "  Gastritis"  was 
ever  very  prevalent  at  Vyrnwy.  In  the  mildest  form 
the  cases  consist  in  sudden  feverishness  (the  tempera- 
ture rises  to  101°-10H°),  with  great  backache,  headache, 
and  pains  in  the  limbs.  Occasionally  a  little  sore 
throat  is  present,  often  repeated  shiverings  occur,  but 
not  of  sufficient  severity  to  be  called  rigors.  The 
tongue  is  dry  and  thickly  furred.  Herpetic  eruptions 
on  the  chin  and  lips  have  been  noticed.  Recovery 
frequently  occurs  in  twenty-four  to  thirty-six  hours, 
marked  by  profuse  perspiration.  The  more  severe 
cases  are  followed  by  vomiting,  less  frequently  by 
diarrhoea,  not  seldom  by  both.  Of  the  178  cases 
recorded  in  the  surgeon's  book,  1882-1889,  twenty- 
nine  occurred  in  the  spring  (February,  March,  April), 
forty-nine  in  the  summer,  forty-nine  in  the  autumn, 
fifty  in  winter.  No  cause  was  usually  discoverable, 
but  the  symptoms  are  suggestive  of  a  poison  belonging 
to  the  class  of  ptomaines.  The  cases  are  undoubtedly 
more  frequent  after  changes  in  the  weather,  more 
especially  after  sudden  wet,  as  is  shown  by  the 
weather-record,  yet  this  association  is  scarcely  an 
explanation. 


Jan. 

Feb. 

March. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

4   5 

3   6 

8   6 

5  11 

5   9 

6   J 

4   7 

0   6 

7   1 

3   4 

4   4 

10   1 

July. 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

1888.  1889. 

16   5 

12  10 

2   5 

7  12 

19   7 

11   6 

8   2 

11   2 

2   5 

6   2 

6   1 

8   1 

Bain2 

Gastritis 


Rain 

Gastritis 


(The  condensed  statistics  for  May  and  October 
hardly  support  the  theory,  but  when  the  monthly 
statistics  are  further  analysed,  they  are  found  to  do  so.) 

1  This  observation  has  been  recently  confirmed  by  Dr.  Parsons  in 
bis  report  on  an  epidemic  of  pneumonia  at  Scotter,  Lincolnshire. 

2  The  numbers  indicate  relative,  not  absolute,  rainfall. 


LLANWDDYN.  125 

The  cause  cannot  be  found  in  the  water-supply,  for 
the  cases  occurred  equally  all  over  the  valley.  The 
water-supply  was  different  in  the  different  parts  of  the 
valley. 

Cases  of  this  kind  are  frequent  in  ordinary  practice 
(Fagge,  Medicine,  vol.  ii,  p.  319),  and  have  been  found 
associated  with  weather  changes,  but  their  excessive 
frequency  in  the  Vyrnwy  Valley  deserves  considera- 
tion. It  is  difficult  to  avoid  believing  that  the  ex- 
cessive frequency  in  1888  (1886,  22  cases;  1887,  11 
cases  ;  1888,  73  cases  ;  1889,  36  cases)  was  associated 
in  some  way  with  the  prevalence  of  pneumonia, 
tonsillitis,  and  diphtheria,  for  association  with  epi- 
demics has  been  previously  noticed.  The  year  188G 
was  the  driest  year  recorded  at  Vyrnwy,  and  the 
rainfall  in  1887  was  23  per  cent,  below  the  average, 
in  1888  0'3  per  cent,  below,  and  in  1889  16  per  cent, 
below.  The  changes  in  the  level  of  the  subsoil-water 
may  therefore  have  had  some  influence. 

As  regards  treatment,  salicylate  of  sodium  yielded 
almost  uniformly  good  results. 

During  January,  February,  and  March  1890,  a  very 
extensive  epidemic  of  influenza  occurred  in  the  district. 
The  first  cases  occurred  four  miles  from  the  works,  in 
houses  at  the  entrance  to  the  valley,  but  afterwards 
the  distribution  became  general. 

The  cases  of  diarrhoea  do  not  call  for  special  note. 
They  were  more  frequent  during  July,  August,  and 
September.  First  quarter,  23  ;  second  quarter,  26  ; 
third  quarter,  65  ;  fourth  quarter,  48. 

Zymotic  Diseases. — Sporadic  cases  of  mumps, 
measles,  and  scarlet  fever  are  not  uncommon  ;  not  in- 
frequently well-marked  epidemics  occur.  The  origin  of 
the  first  case  is  usually  quite  undiscoverable,  and  fre- 
quently no  connection  between  the  earlier  and  later 
cases  can  be  traced.  Although  so  many  strangers 
settled  in  the  valley,  it  is  a  matter  for  congratulation 
that  no  infection  was  directly  introduced. 

(a)  Mumps. — A  distinct  epidemic,  spring  1890. 


126  LLANWDDYN. 

(6)  Scarlatina, — No  epidemic. 

(c)  Measles. — Epidemic,  October  1889,  in  the  valley 
of  the  river  Co/n"\$y. 

(d)  Small-pox. — One  case  only  in  1885. 

(e)  Whooping  Cough. — Epidemic  in  1886.     The  old 
treatment  for  whooping  cough  consisted  in  sending  the 
patient's  father  to  the  seventh  son  of  a  family  of  sons 
only,  who  was  to  be  persuaded  to  cut  a  piece  of  bread 
and  to  spread  butter  on  it.     Then  he   must  breathe 
upon   it  seven   times.     When   this   was  given  to  the 
child,  rapid  recovery  was  expected. 

(/)  Diphtheria. — Although  1888  was  exceptionally 
healthy,  as  shown  by  the  Quarterly  Returns  of  the 
Registrar-General,  yet  the  deaths  from  diphtheria  were 
considerably  above  the  average,  and  a  large  number  of 
epidemics  occurred  which  were  widely  distributed.  In 
very  few  cases  could  any  definite  cause  for  the  disease 
be  assigned,  but  it  was  generally  attributed  to  want  of 
sanitary  precautions.  In  one  instance  it  was  found 
that  diphtheria  was  more  prevalent  on  retentive  than 
absorptive  soils.  In  Kendal  it  prevailed  in  the  flattest 
and  most  low-lying  district,  over  which  a  fog  had  hung 
for  some  time  with  great  persistency.  In  Camberley 
and  York  town  it  occurred  in  damp,  boggy  situations. 
In  several  instances  cases  of  sore  throat  preceded  by 
some  time  the  actual  outbreak  of  diphtheria. 

At  Vyrnwy  the  year  1888  was  very  unhealthy. 
Following  and  partly  coincident  with  an  outbreak  of 
pneumonia  in  the  spring,  an  epidemic  of  diphtheria 
occurred,  the  most  characteristic  features  of  which  are 
instanced  in  the  cases  just  enumerated.  Forty- two 
cases  in  all  were  recorded, — twenty-four  in  the  spring 
and  eighteen  in  the  autumn.  The  first  part  of  the 
epidemic,  which  began  in  March,  abated  towards  the 
end  of  May.  Seven  deaths  occurred.  A  solitary  case 
occurred  in  June  in  an  isolated  farmhouse  ;  and  during 
July,  August,  and  September  seventeen  cases,  with  two 
deaths,  occurred  in  the  Cynon  Huts  and  in  houses 
along  the  river  course.  It  is  said  by  the  old  inhabi- 


LLANWDDYN.  127 

tants  that  diphtheria  is  by  no  means  of  infrequent 
occurrence  in  the  valley.  A  widespread  and  very  fatal 
epidemic  occurred  in  1858 — at  the  time  the  term 
diphtheria  began  to  be  introduced  into  English  medical 
literature.  In  1880  eight  cases  occurred  in  the  valley. 
There  is,  however,  reason  to  believe  that  the  disease 
was  then  imported  from  Llanymawddwy.  Between 
1871  and  1880  twenty-one  deaths  were  registered  from 
diphtheria  in  the  Vyrnwy  area,  which  includes  a  con- 
siderably larger  district  than  the  works. 

Dr.  Parsons,  a  medical  inspector  of  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board,  reported  upon  the  outbreaks  of  1880  and 
of  1888.  With  regard  to  the  latter  he  was  unable  to 
offer  any  explanation  as  to  its  origin.  The  steps  taken 
to  suppress  it  may  be  worthy  of  mention.  At  first  it 
was  not  possible  to  persuade  parents  to  allow  their  sick 
children  to  be  removed  to  a  hospital.  I  therefore 
caused  all  healthy  children  from  infected  houses  to  be 
isolated  in  a  creche  under  the  charge  of  a  trained 
nurse,  and  strict  quarantine  was  enforced.  The  ex- 
periment was  partially  successful,  for,  although  only 
one  case  occurred  in  the  crdche,  new  cases  still  broke 
out  in  fresh  places.  A  hospital  for  diphtheria  was 
established,  and  all  cases  were  removed  there.  By 
this  time  parents  believed  in  the  wisdom  of  this  course, 
which  was  more  than  justified  by  the  complete  success 
which  followed  its  adoption.  The  epidemic  speedily 
died  out.  Efficient  isolation  and  disinfection  of  all 
infected  houses  was  carried  out.  The  forty-two  cases 
occurred  in  twenty-five  families.  Two  or  three  cases, 
besides  those  occurring  in  the  same  household,  were 
traced  to  direct  infection. 

The  noteworthy  features   of  the    epidemic,   in    the 
earlier  and  later  manifestation,  were  : 

1.  A  general  tendency  to  follow  the  river  course,  the 

earlier   cases    occurring  nearest  the    source    of 
the  river. 

2.  Almost  all    cases  occurred  in  low-lying  marshy 

situations. 


128  LLAKWDDYN. 

3.  A  coincident  increase  in  the  number  of  cases  of 

sore-throat  and  gastritis.  • 

4.  "  Simple"  sore-throat  occurred  in  members  of  one 

or    two    households    before  "diphtheria"    was 
recognised. 

Sore-throat  has  always  been  prevalent.  The  more 
severe  cases  resolve  themselves  into  well-marked 
quinsy,  and  frequently  result  in  tonsillar  abscess.  The 
old  inhabitants  recommended  for  this  complaint  the 
application  to  the  throat,  as  a  cataplasm,  of  a  handful 
of  the  dark  hair  (cut  at  midnight)  from  the  black  stripes 
across  the  shoulders  of  the  colt  of  an  ass. 

Cases  of 'rheumatism  andneuralgia  are  very  numerous ; 
typical  "  brow  ague"  is  not  infrequent. 

Little  remains  to  be  said  concerning  other  diseases. 
Goitre  is  very  common  in  the  district,  and  many  of  the 
wives  of  the  workmen  complained  of  an  enlargement 
in  the  neck  after  they  had  resided  in  the  valley  some 
years.  The  thyroid  in  the  latter  cases  was  certainly 
enlarged,  and  the  enlargement  was  believed  to  be 
recent.  The  softness  of  the  water,  and  the  difficulty 
of  obtaining  an  adequate  supply  of  fresh  vegetables, 
explain  the  large  number  of  cases  of  constipation. 
Intestinal  worms  are  common  ;  venereal  disease  is 
almost  unknown  ;  erysipelas  is  riot  infrequent. 

THE    DISTRIBUTION    OF    SICKNESS. 

The  valley  naturally  divides  itself  into  two  districts. 

1 .  The  part  which  is  now  covered  by  Lake  Vyrnwy, 
"the   Cynon   Division",  consisting   of  (a)  the  village, 
situate  ^  mile  from  the  old  river  course,  and  2  miles 
from  the  dam,  and  including  a  few  farm-houses  in  the 
bottom  of  the  valley  ;  and  (b)  the  "  Cynon  huts",  built 
on  a  steep  slope,  on  rock  and  clay  and  marsh,  situated 
near   the  dam,  together  with  a  few  stone  houses  in 
close  proximity  to  them.     The  average  annual  popula- 
tion of  "Cynon"  was  742. 

2.  The    higher  part    of  the    valley,    "  the    Quarry 


LLANWDDYN. 


129 


Division,"  consisting  of  (a)  the  Quarry  huts,  situate 
the    subordinate    valley    of  Afon-y-dolau-gwynion. 


in 


Built  on  gravel,  on  a  fairly  steep  slope,  and  inhabited 
for  the  most  part  by  a  distinct  class  of  workpeople,  this 

roup  of  houses  rightly  constitutes  a  separate  division  ; 

b)  all  houses  above  the  new  level  statutory  road,  which 
goes  all  round  the  valley,  following  the  contours  of  the 
hills — at  about  860  O.D.  ;  and  (c)  a  few  houses  below 
the  embankment  and  near  to  it,  largely  the  property 
of  the  Liverpool  Corporation,  and  inhabited  for  the 
most  part  by  Corporation  employes,  which  have  been 
included  in  this  division  on  account  of  the  similarity  in 
situation.  The  average  annual  population  of  the 
"  Quarry"  was  963. 

The  following  table  shows  the  incidence  of  cases  in 
the  two  districts  : — 

Analysis  of  2,448  Cases  of  Illness  according  to  Locality. 


Cynon. 

Quarry. 

Year. 

Men. 

Women. 

Children. 

Total. 

Popula- 
tion. 

Cases. 

Popula- 
tion. 

Cases. 

18821 

711 

80 

856 

40 

5 

35 

43 

47 

125 

1883 

832 

186 

978 

135 

14 

108 

109 

118 

335 

1884 

879 

207 

1024 

126 

26 

111 

132 

116 

359 

1885 

894 

190 

1039 

124 

23 

89 

131 

•  ll7 

337 

1886 

849 

168 

993 

125 

20 

74 

105 

*  134 

313 

1887 

848 

144 

992 

86 

15 

51 

89 

105 

215 

1888 

674 

253 

1020 

153 

64 

122 

143 

205 

470 

1889 

248 

66 

822 

143 

55 

59 

94 

111 

264 

Total 

742 

1294 

963 

932 

222 

649 

846 

953 

2448 

222  cases  occurred  in  the  neighbouring  valleys,  and 
are  not  further  considered. 

Of  the  remaining  2,226  cases,  1,294,  or  58  per  cent., 
occurred  in  the  Cynon  or  submerged  district,  and  932, 
or  42  per  cent.,  in  the  Quarry  district.  If  the  popula- 
tions had  been  equal  in  the  two  districts,  the  difference 
in  the  incidence  would  be  more  marked — in  the  pro- 
portion of  sixty-four  to  thirty-six. 


VOL.  xxv. 


Five  months  only. 


K 


130 


LLANWDDYN. 


The  greater  incidence  of  sickness  in  the  Cynon  dis- 
trict must  be  mainly  due  to  difference  in  situation,  for 
the  houses  in  the  two  districts  were  very  similar  in 
construction.  The  Quarry  huts  were,  however,  in- 
habited by  more  temperate  tenants,  and  were  kept 
cleaner. 

If  the  incidence  of  certain  diseases  (e.g.,  pneumonia, 
pleurisy,  etc.)  in  the  two  districts  be  compared,  the 
greater  frequency  in  the  Cynon  district  is  still  notice- 
able. 


Cynon.  Quarry. 
Pneumonia          .61  39 

Pleurisy  .57  43 

Diphtheria  .84  16 

Tonsillitis  66  34 


Cynon.  Quarry. 
Rheumatism        .     55  45 

Gastritis  .     49  51 

Diarrhoea  58  42 


Neuralgia 


63 


37 


These  numbers  have  been  calculated  for  equal  popu- 
lations. Therefore  we  may  conclude  that  not  only  was 
the  total  illness  in  the  Quarry  district  less,  but  also 
that  the  type  was  less  severe  than  at  Cynon.  And  this 
is  confirmed  by  the  death-rate.  Between  1880  and 
1890,  202  deaths  were  recorded,  giving  an  average 
death-rate  of  1 1  per  thousand  per  annum  for  the  whole 
district.  The  Quarry  and  Cynon  are  situated  in  two 
registration  districts.  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  the 
medical  officer  of  health's  reports  for  the  Cynon  district 
only.  These  show  that  the  death-rate  in  that  district 
varied  from  12  to  14  per  thousand  per  annum.  The 
Quarry  rate  must  therefore  be  less.  The  annual  num- 
ber of  deaths  is  so  small  that  it  is  necessary  to  consider 
a  series  of  years,  to  avoid  drawing  misleading  con- 
clusions. 

Ten  persons  over  sixty  years  of  age  died,  thirteen 
over  seventy,  eleven  over  eighty,  and  two  over  ninety. 
Sixty-five  children  under  five  years  of  age  died,  and 
forty-two  of  these  were  under  one  year.  The  returns 
of  the  registered  cause  of  death  are  also  incomplete, 
111  only  being  accounted  for.  Of  these  fifty  were 
under  five  years  of  age. 


LLANWDDYN. 


131 


Convulsions 

5 

Diarrhoea 

3 

Diphtheria 

.     5 

Meningitis 

2 

Cancer 

2 

Variola 

.     1 

Pneumonia 

26 

Placenta  prsevia 

1 

Enteric  fever 

.     1 

Cardiac 

o 

Injury 

3 

Erysipelas 

.     1 

Phthisis 

3 

Pertussis 

5 

Old  age 

.     4 

Hepatic 

1 

Laryngitis 

1 

Other  causes 

.  37 

Renal 

4 

THE   INFLUENCE    OF    THE   LAKE. 

It  is  now  possible  to  inquire  into  the  influence  the 
lake  has  exerted  on  the  health  of  the  district,  but  even 
after  careful  study  of  the  statistics  no  definite  or  satis- 
factory answer  can  be  given. 

Reference  to  chart  will  show  that  the  sickness  in 
1889  was  less  than  in  any  year  except  1887.  We  may 
therefore  infer  that  the  resultant  effect  upon  health,  even 
if  not  beneficial,  was  not  prejudicial.  Furthermore,  it  is 
seen  that  cases  of  bronchitis  show  a  distinct  increase, 
while  cases  of  tonsillitis  and  gastritis,  though  above  the 
average,  show  a  marked  improvement  on  1888.  Cases 
of  rheumatism  and  pneumonia  are  below  the  average. 
It  is  premature,  however,  to  found  any  theory  upon 
this  result,  especially  when  the  increased  frequency  of 
many  diseases  every  second  year  is  noted. 

The  only  cases  which  were  fairly  attributable  to  the 
direct  influence  of  the  lake  were  four  cases  of  persistent 
bronchitis,  at  once  relieved  by  change  of  residence  from 
near  the  margin  of  the  lake  to  houses  on  more  elevated 
ground ;  an  obstinate  case  of  sciatica,  which  recovered 
on  removing ;  and  one  case  of  asthma. 

But  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  final  result 
upon  health  will  be  beneficial,  depending  upon 

I.  The  submersion  of  the  less  healthy  part  of  the 
valley,  and  the  general  improvement  in  the  sanitary 
state  of  the  houses  on  the  hill-sides. 

n.  Changes  in  physical  features — (a)  The  temperature 
will  be  more  equable,  the  daily  range  less.  Water 
absorbs  heat  more  slowly  than  air,  parts  with  it  less 
readily,  and  stores  up  a  greater  quantity,  (b)  Fre- 
quently mists  used  to  gather  in  the  bottom  of  the 

K  2 


132  LLANWDDYN. 

valley,  separated  by  a  distinct  line  of  demarcation  from 
the  clear  air  beyond.  The  air  cooled  by  the  passage 
down  the  steep  hill-sides,  and  stagnating  in  the  almost 
confined  valley,  used  to  condense  into  mist.  Marked 
diminution,  in  density  and  in  frequency,  has  already 
been  observed,  (c)  A  slight  increase  in  the  rainfall  of 
the  district  will  be  noticed. 

in.  The  action  of  the  lake  as  a  reservoir  will  act 
beneficially  on  the  country  lying  below  the  embank- 
ment in  two  ways — (a)  The  Act  of  Parliament  secures 
even  during  the  driest  seasons  a  minimum  daily  dis- 
charge of  ten  million  gallons  to  the  river  Vyrnwy, 
equivalent  to  more  than  three  times  its  minimum  dry- 
weather  flow.  (6)  The  watershed  of  Lake  Vyrnwy 
bearing  a  large  proportion  to  the  total  watershed  of 
the  river  Vyrnwy,  floods  will  be  less  frequent  and 
less  excessive  as  soon  as  water  is  delivered  to  Liverpool. 
At  present,  while  the  lake  is  full,  the  discharge  of  flood 
waters  is  more  rapid,  and  consequently  the  floods  are 
large. 

The  results  of  the  present  inquiry  may  be  briefly 
summarised  : 

1.  The    upper    valley   of  the    river   Vyrnwy   was 
divisible  into  two  districts  differing  in  physical  con- 
formation, of  which  the  more  low-lying  was  distinctly 
the  less  healthy. 

2.  The  low-lying  district  has  been  covered  by  Lake 
Vyrnwy. 

3.  The  formation  of  the  lake  was  followed  by  no 
prejudicial  effects  upon  health. 

4.  The  probability  that  in  the  future  a  beneficial 
effect  will  result  from  the  presence  of  the  impounded 
water  both  as  a  lake  and  as  a  reservoir. 

As  yet  it  is  impossible  to  draw  any  very  precise 
inferences,  but  material  has  been  collected,  which  will 
at  some  future  time  enable  an  inquiry  to  be  made  to 
determine,  with  a  considerable  degree  of  accuracy,  the 
exact  influence  which  the  existence  of  Lake  Vyrnwy 
exerts  upon  the  district. 


133 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE  SAINTS. 

BY   THE   REV.    JOHN   FISHER,    B.A.,    CURATE    OF 
LLANLLWCHAIARN. 


I. 

S.  AELHAIARN  lived  in  the  sixth  century,  and  was  a 
brother  to  SS.  Llwchaiarn  arid  Cynhaiarn.  The  Cata- 
logues of  the  Welsh  Saints  show  great  variations  on  the 
part  of  the  copyists  in  the  genealogy  of  these  saint- 
brothers.  S.  Aelhaiarn's  name  is  written  Ael-,  El-, 
arid  AI-,  with  all  the  variations  of  the  latter  component 
part,  -haiarn,  -hayarn,  -haearn,  and  -haern.  His  father 
is  said  in  the  different  MSS.  to  be  Hygarn  ab  Caerwael 
abCyndrwyn(7o£olf$£,104,  reprint  1888);  Hygaruael, 
Hugarvael,Hyrgaruael,or  KygarvaelapKyndruyn;  Cyn- 
fael,  or  Cynwel  ap  Cyndrwyn  ;  Keruael,  Kervael,  or 
Kyrvael  m.  Kendrwyn  ;  Garanvael  ap  Cyndrwyn,  and 
Morfael  ap  Cyndrwyn  (Myvyrian  Archaiology,  416-427, 
2nd  ed.,  and  Achau  y  Saint  in  Rees's  Lives  of  the  Cam- 
bro-British  Saints,  267).  Upon  the  whole,  it  may  be 
said  that  the  MSS.  point  to  a  form  which  may  be 
written  Hygarfael.  Then  we  have  another  difficulty, 
as  to  the  name  of  the  place  he  lived  at,  which  is  given 
us  ad  loc.  It  is  said,  in  all  the  MSS.,  to  be  in 
Caereinion  in  Powys,  with  two  exceptions,  which  say 
it  was  Yngheredigiawn,  "  in  Cardiganshire" — evidently 
a  misscript.  He  is  said  to  be  o  lystin  wynnan,  o  Llys- 
tinwennau,  oles  tinwynan,  o  Lystenwynnen,  olys  Tud- 
wynnan,  o  lystin  Wennan,  o  Lys wynnan,  o  les  Tin- 
wynon,  o  Lys  Tinewyn  o  chref  Leysfyw  wynwyn 
ynghaer  Einon.  On  the  whole,  the  best  form  of  the 
name  of  his  patrimony  would  seem  to  be  Llystin 
Wennan  (or  Wynnan — a  man's  or  woman's  name,  v.  Y 
Cymmrodor,  xi,  47)  ;  but  authorities  do  not  appear  to 


134  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

be  able  to  satisfactorily  identify  the  precise  locality  of 
the  place  in  the  district  covered  by  the  name  Caereinion. 
However,  suffice  it  to  say  that  he  belonged  to  a  royal 
and  illustrious  family.  Our  saint's  grandfather — Cyn- 
drwyn — was  a  Prince  of  that  part  of  ancient  Powys 
which  included  the  vale  of  the  Severn  about  Shrews- 
bury, and  bore  rule  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifth 
century.  He  had  eight  sons  and  nine  daughters. 
One  of  his  sons  was  the  valorous  Cynddylan,  who  suc- 
ceeded him  in  his  principality.  Cynddylan  and  all  his 
brothers,  it  seems,  were  slain  in  defending  the  town  of 
Tren  against  the  Saxons ;  and  their  loss,  particularly 
that  of  Cynddylan,  the  aged  bard  Lly  warch  Hen  very 
pathetically  bewails  in  a  long  elegy  in  the  Red  Book  of 
Hergest  (Skene's  Pour  Ancient  Books  of  Wales,  ii,  279- 
291  ;  Myv.  Arch.,  87-92).  In  this  elegy  the  name  that 
should  represent  Hygarfael  is  written  Caranmael,  which 
tallies  well  with  that  given  in  one  Catalogue,  Garanvael 
(Myv.  Arch.,  422).  No  doubt  his  children,  deprived  of 
their  possessions  through  these  constant  wars,  assumed 
the  religious  life.  S.  Aelhaiarn's  church  is  said,  in  the 
authorities  already  given,  to  be  ym  maes  kegitua  (or 
simply  ynghegidva)  y-mpowys,  "  in  Cegidfa,"  i.e.,  Guils- 
field,  in  Powys.  After  him  are  also  called  Llanael- 
haiarn,  in  Carnarvonshire,  and  the  ancient  parish  of 
Llanaelhaiarn,  in  Merionethshire,  which  has  now  for 
some  three  centuries  been  absorbed  into  that  of  Gwy- 
ddelwern.  Its  church  or  chapel  is  now  extinct,  but 
one  of  the  townships  still  bears  the  name  Aelhaiarn. 
His  brother,  S.  Cynhaiarn,  founded  the  church  of 
Ynyscynhaiarn,  in  Carnarvonshire,  which  seems  to 
show  that  the  two  brothers  accompanied  one  another. 
Various  dedications  have  been  assigned  to  Guilsfield 
church — S.  Giles,  wrested,  of  course,  from  the  name  of 
the  parish ;  All  Saints,  according  to  Browne  Willis  ; 
and  S.  Tyssilio.  from  its  having  been  from  very  early 
times  a  capella  under  the  mother  church  of  Meifod, 
and  the  fact  that  its  festival,  November  8th,  agrees 
with  that  of  S.  Tyssilio  alone  (Thomas's  History  of  the 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE   SAINTS.  135 

Diocese  of  St.  Asaph,  735).  The  probability  is  that  S. 
Aelhaiarn  was  the  first  to  found  a  church  here,  which 
was  afterwards  re-dedicated.  His  festival  (gwyl  mab- 
sant)  is  said  to  be  November  1st  (Rees's  Essay  on  the 
Welsh  Saints,  275).  In  writing  of  Llanaelhaiarn, 
Pennant  (Tours  in  Wales,  ii,  384,  ed.  1883)  says  that 
its  church  is — 

"  Dedicated  to  S.  Aelhaiarn,1  or  the  saint  with  an  iron  eyebrow 
[ael  means  also  the  brow ;  with  it  cf.  the  name  Talhaiarn],  from  a 
legend  too  absurd  to  relate.  Near  it  is  a  fine  well,  once  much  fre- 
quented for  its  reputed  sanctity." 

S.  ARDDUN  BENASGELL,  or  "  the  Wing-headed",  lived 
in  the  seventh  century,  and  was  the  daughter  of  S. 
Pabo  Post  Prydein  (or  rather  Prydyn,  "  Pictland"),  a 
king  in  the  North,  who,  on  losing  his  territories  in  his 
wars  with  the  Gwyddyl  Ffichti,  or  Pictish  Goidels, 
retired  to  Wales  (lolo  MSS.  126).  Her  mother  was 
S.  Gwenaseth,  the  daughter  of  Rhufon  Rhufoniog  ;  and 
she  had  three  brothers — SS.  Dunod  Fwr  (or  Wr), 
Sawyl  Benuchel,  and  Cerwydd.  She  married  8. 
Brochfael  Ysgythrog,  Prince  of  Powys,  to  whom  she 
bore,  among  other  children,  the  great  S.  Tyssilio. 
She  is  included  in  most  of  the  Catalogues  of  the  Saints, 
but  no  churches  are  attached  to  her  name.  Dolarddun, 
an  old  manor  house  in  the  parish  of  Castle  Caereinion, 
is  said  to  be  called  after  her  (Myv.  Arch.,  417),  but  it 
is  quite  possible  it  is  here  only  the  adj.  arddun,  sub- 
lime, grand.  There  was  another  Arddun,  the  wife  of 
Cadgor  ab  Gorolwyn,  and  a  Ceindrych  Benasgell. 

S.  BEUNO  (Latinised  to  Beunonus)  lived  during  parts 
of  the  sixth  and  seventh  centuries.  He  was  the  son  of 
S.  Hywgi  (otherwise  called  Bugi,  and  his  name  also 

1  The  word  haiarn  enters  into  the  composition  of  a  great  number 
of  personal,  and  sometimes  place,  names  in  all  the  Celtic  languages. 
The  word — in  modern  literary  Welsh  haiarn  or  haearn,  sounded 
colloquially  harn  in  most  parts  of  S.  Wales — presents  a  roost  per- 
plexing variety  of  forms  in  Mediaeval  Welsh  MSS.,  as  may  be  seen 
from  the  list  of  names  given  by  Prof.  Rhys  in  his  Lectures  on  Welsh 
Philology,  419,  2nd  ed.,  from  the  Liber  Landavensis,  Cambro-Brit. 
Saints,  etc. 


136  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

occurs  in  the  misscript  forms,  Binsi,  Pesgi,  Ingi,  and 
Insi)  ab  Gwynllyw  Filwr  ab  Glywys  ab  Tegid  ab 
Cadell  Deyrnllwg,  and  his  mother's  name  is  given  in 
the  different  accounts  as  Beren,  Peren,  Perfferen,  and 
Teneu,  the  daughter  of  Lleuddun  Luyddog  (variously 
written;  theLeudonus  whogavehis  nametoLeudonia  = 
Lothian)  of  Dinas  Eiddyn,  i.e.,  Edinburgh.  He  was 
therefore  closely  related  to  SS.  Catwg  Ddoeth  and 
Cyndeyrn.  There  is  a  Buchedd  Beuno  Sant  printed 
in  the  Cambro-Brit.  Saints,  13-21,  and  he  also  figures  in 
the  Vita  S.  Winfrede  (ib.9 198-209).  From  this  Welsh 
Life  we  learn  that  his  father  was  a  gentleman  (gwr 
bonnhedic— called  here  Bugi)  living  in  Powys  at  a  place 
called  Banhenic,  near  the  Severn.  He  and  his  wife 
(called  here  Beren,  verch  Lawdden)  were  persons  of 
virtuous  lives,  and  were  well  on  in  years  when  S.  Beuno, 
their  only  child,  was  born.  When  grown  up,  S,  Beuno 
was  sent  to  Caerwent  to  be  educated  for  the  ministry 
of  the  church  under  S.  Tangusius,  who  is  no  doubt  to 
be  identified  with  S.  Tangwn  ab  Talhaiarn.  The 
account  of  his  life,  as  given  in  this  Buchedd,  would 
take  up  too  much  space  to  follow  closely  here,  and  I 
must  content  myself  with  just  noting  the  principal 
events  recorded  in  it.  On  being  informed  of  his  father's 
critical  illness  he  returned  to  Powys  ;  and  after  his 
death  he  was  graciously  received  by  Maun,  son  of 
Brochfael  Ysgythrog,  Prince  of  Powys,  who,  "  for  his 
own  soul,  and  the  soul  of  his  father,  gave  Aberriw 
[=  Berriew]  to  God  and  Beuno."  He  left  the  banks  of 
the  Severn  owing  to  the  approach  of  the  Saxons,  and 
proceeded  with  his  disciples  through  Meifod — where  he 
met  S.  Tyssilio — -to  Prince  Cynan,  son  of  Brochfael, 
who  gave  him  Gwyddelwern,  where  he  erected  a 
church.  After  having  been  here  for  some  time  he 
seems  to  have  been  obliged  to  leave  the  place  ;  "and  he 
travelled  as  far  as  the  banks  of  the  River  Dee  to  seek 
for  a  place  to  pray  to  God,  but  found  none  ;  and  then 
he  came  to  Temic,  the  son  of  Eliud  ;  and  this  Temic 
gave  to  Beuno  for  ever,  and  free  from  claim,  a  town.- 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  137 

ship  (tref)';  and  there  Beuno  built  a  church,  and  it  was 
consecrated  to  God."  In  the  Vita  S.  Win/rede  this 
Temic,  whose  wife  was  a  sister  to  S.  Beuno,  is  called 
Teuyth,  the  son  of  Eylud.  He  was  a  nobleman  of  con- 
siderable influence  in  the  district  around  Holywell. 
He  had  one  only  child,  a  daughter,  who  was  named 
Gwennvrevvy  (usually  called  now  Gwenffrewi  in  Welsh, 
and  Winefred  in  English),  and  he  appointed  S.  Beuno 
her  religious  instructor.  On  a  certain  Sunday  Caradog, 
the  son  of  Alauc,  a  neighbouring  prince,  happened 
to  turn  into  her  father's  house  when  she  was  all 
alone,  and  he  became  so  captivated  with  her  sur- 
passing beauty  that  he  offered  her  violence.  She  re- 
fused to  gratify  his  criminal  desires,  and  fled  towards 
the  church  of  S.  Beuno,  whither  her  parents  had  gone, 
and  where  the  saint  was  celebrating  Mass  at  the  time. 
Enraged  at  this  disappointment,  he  pursued  after  her, 
and,  overtaking  her  just  as  she  was  getting  to  the 
church  door,  struck  off  her  head  with  his  sword.  S. 
Beuno  came  out  and  cursed  Caradog  ;  and,  as  the  two 
hagiographers  add,  "he  immediately  melted  in  his 
sight,  as  wax  before  a  fire,"  "into  a  melted  pool."  He 
then  took  up  the  head  and  fitted  it  on  to  the  corpse, 
and  prayed  God  that  she  might  be  restored  to  life 
again.  His  prayer  was  answered  ;  and  on  the  spot 
where  her  blood  fell  a  copious  fountain  sprang  up, 
which  flows  to  this  very  day,  and  is  called  after  her 
"S.  Winefred's  Well",  from  which  the  town  of  Holy- 
well,  in  Welsh  Treffynnon,  takes  its  name.  Soon  after 
this  S.  Beuno  left  Holywell  to  S.  Winefred,  and  paid  a 
visit  to  Rome  ;  but  before  doing  so  he  asked  of  her  one 
favour,  and  that  was  to  send  him  annually,  on  the  vigil 
of  S.  John  Baptist's,  a  habit  (casula) — her  own  handi- 
work— which  she  had  only  to  put  upon  a  favourite 
stone  of  his  in  the  middle  of  a  river,  whence  it  would  duly 
find  its  way  to  him  wheresoever  he  might  be,  and  that, 
moreover,  without  in  the  slightest  degree  getting  wet. 
Its  virtue  was  such  that  it  never  could  get  wet ;  and 
this  is  the  origin  of  the  epithet  casulsych  (—  casula  sicca) 


138  MONTGOMERYSHIRE   SAINTS. 

which  one  sometimes  finds  attached  to  S.  Beuno'sname  ; 
e.g.,  the  calendar  of  the  fifteenth  century  Hengwrt 
MS.  45. l  One  of  those  converted  to  the  Faith  upon 
this  signal  miracle  was  Cadfan,  King  of  Gwynedd,  who 
promised  him  much  land.  Cadwallon  soon  succeeded 
his  father  as  king,  and  gave  S.  Beuno  a  place  in  Arfon 
called  Gwaredauc,  for  which  he  gave  him  a  golden 
sceptre  (guaell)  worth  sixty  cows.  He  then  proceeded 
to  build  a  church  on  the  spot,  but  after  he  had  built  it 
and  was  raising  a  wall  round  it,  he  was  interrupted,  the 
land  being  claimed  as  belonging  to  a  certain  infant ; 

O  O         O 

and  so  S.  Beuno  lost  it.  Cadwallon  arrogantly  refused 
to  grant  him  any  other  land  in  its  stead.  S.  Beuno 
thereupon  turned  away  and  left  him  under  a  curse. 
Gwideuit,  the  king's  cousin,  however,  ran  after  him  and 
overtook  him,  "  arid  for  his  own  soul,  and  the  soul  of 
Cadwallon  [by  a  misscript  called  here  Idwallon],  his 
cousin,  he  gave  to  God  and  Beuno  his  own  township, 
called  Kelynnawc  [i.e.,  Clynog  Fawr  yn  Arfon],  for 
ever."  Some  time  after  this  S.  Beuno  restored  to  life 
again  Digwc,  the  daughter  of  Ynyr  Gwent,  whose  head 
had  been  cut  off  by  her  husband  at  a  place  called 
Pennard  in  Arfon.  He  performed  very  many  other 
miracles  besides,  we  are  told  ;  and  at  the  close  of  his 
life  he  obtained  a  Beatific  Vision  of  Heaven,  whither  he 
is  invited  by  the  Father.  He  died  April  21st,  ever 
afterwards  regarded  as  Gwyl  Feuno,  and  was  buried,  it 
is  said,  at  Clynog,  an  honour  which  is  also  claimed  for 
Bardsey  Isle  and  Nevin.  As  might  be  expected,  a  great 
many  churches  and  chapels  are  dedicated  in  his  name, 
some  of  which,  if  not  all,  he  founded  personally.  The 
following  is  as  nearly  as  possible  a  complete  list  of 
them  : — Berriew,  and  Bettws  (originally,  no  doubt,  a 
cdpella  baptismalis — reduced,  as  in  other  instances,  to 
Capel  Bettws,  then  Bettws — under  Berriew  ;  in  the 
Myv.  Arch.,  743,  the  parish  is  called  P.  y  Cedwg),  in 
Montgomeryshire  ;  Aberffraw  and  Trefdraeth,  in  Angle- 

1  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Egerton  Phillimore,  editor  of  Y  Cymmro- 
dor,  for  transcripts  of  the  Hengwrt  MSS.  Calendars. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  139 

sey  ;  Clynog  Fawr,  Penmorfa,  Bottwnog  (under  Mell- 
teyrn,  Kees's  Welsh  Saints,  332),  Carngiwch  and  Pistyll 
(both  chapels  under  Edeyrn),  in  Carnarvonshire  ; 
Llanycil  (the  mother  church  of  Bala),  and  Gwyddel- 
wern,  in  Merionethshire  ;  and  Llanfeuno,  a  chapel  to 
Clodock,  Herefordshire,  afterwards  dedicated  to  S. 
Peter  (built  on  land  granted  to  S.  Beuno  by  his  disciple 
Prince  Ynyr  Gwent ;  Cambro-Brit.  Saints,  14,  300). 
There  was  a  chapel  (now  extinct)  called  Capel  Beuno, 
in  the  township  ofGwespyr,  in  the  parish  of  Llanasa, 
and  the  village  of  Gwespyr  has  hence  been  sometimes 
called  Trebeuno  (Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  293 ;  Rees's 
Welsh  Saints,  335).  S.  Beuno's  Jesuit  College  is  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  S.  Asaph.  The  old  church  of  the 
Carnarvonshire  parish,  called  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  741, 
P.  Denio,  but  now  usually  called  Pwllheli,  is,  in  one 
place  in  the  Bangor  Diocesan  Calendar,  said  to  be 
dedicated  to  S.  Beuno,  but  in  another  to  S.  Deneio  (or 
Tyneio  ab  Seithenyn).  Of  the  two  the  S.  Tyneio  dedi- 
cation is  the  more  probable,  though  that  is  only  a  sup- 
position (Rees's  Welsh  Saints,  236,  332).  About  a  mile 
from  the  village  of  Berriew  is  a  stone  called  Maen 
Beuno,  which  still  marks,  probably,  the  spot  whereon 
he  first  preached  the  Glad  Tidings  in  this  part.  There 
is  a  Ffynnon  Beuno  and  Gwern  Beuno  near  Gwyddel- 
wern  Church,  called  by  Gutyn  Owain  (ob.  c.  1480),  in 
one  of  his  poems,  Ty  Feuno  (cf.  Ty  Ddewi).  We  have 
"Acre  Fey  no"  and  "  Ffynnon  Veyno"  in  Llanycil  parish 
(Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  720).  There  is  a  Ffynnon  Beuno 
also  at  Clynog.  S.  Beuno  is  especially  known  as  the 
founder  of  the  celebrated  monastic  institution  Bangor 
Clynog,  called  also  Bangor  Beuno  yng  Nghlynog  Fawr 
yn  Arfon,  of  which  the  lolo  MSS.  130,  113,  say  :— 
"  And  that  was  the  most  celebrated  of  all  the  Bangers 
in  Gwynedd  for  the  sciences  and  piety,  and  afterwards  it 
was  made  a  monastery,  as  it  is  at  present" ;  and  it  was 
also  celebrated  "for  learning  and  the  arts".1  He  is 

1  There  is  a  beautiful  old  Carnarvonshire  tradition  about  a  very 
devout  monk  of  Bangor  Beuno,  who  slept  for  hundreds  of  years  with- 


140  ,      MONTGOMERYSHIRE   SAINTS. 

recorded  to  have  founded  it  in  616  ;  and  here  he  seems 
to  have  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In  another 
place  (ib.,  107)  he  is  said  to  have  been  at  one  time  a 
saint  of  Bangor  Catwg,  his  uncle's  collegium  in  Glamor- 
gan ;  and  he  is  there  called  Pen  rhaith  Gwynedd,  which 
means  (but  it  must  be  taken  for  what  it  is  worth)  that 
he  exercised  some  sort  of  ecclesiastical  supremacy  over 
Gwynedd.  Pennant,  writing  of  Clynog  towards  the 
close  of  the  last  century,  says : — 

"  Adjoining  the  church  is  the  chapel  of  St.  Beuno.  The  passage  to 
it  is  a  narrow  vault  covered  with  great  flat  stones,  and  of  far  greater 
antiquity  than  either  church  or  chapel,  which  seem  nearly  coeval. 
Leland  speaks  of  the  first  as  new  worke,  and  the  architecture  verifies 
his  account.  He  speaks  also  of  the  old  church,  where  St.  Beuno 
lieth,  being  near  the  new.  The  passage  is  the  only  part  left.  The 
chapel  was  probably  built  after  that  traveller  had  visited  the  place, 
in  the  room  of  the  old  church,  which  might  have  fallen  to  ruin.  In 
the  midst  is  the  tomb  [since  removed]  of  the  saint,  plain  and  altar- 
shaped.  Votaries  were  wont  to  have  great  faith  in  him,  and  did  not 
doubt  but  that  by  means  of  a  night's  lodging  on  his  tomb  a  cure 
would  be  found  for  all  diseases.  It  was  customary  to  cover  it  with 
rushes,  and  leave  on  it  till  morning  sick  children,  after  making  them, 
first  undergo  ablution  in  the  neighboring  holy  well ;  and  I  myself  once 
saw  on  it  a  feather  bed,  on  which  a  poor  paralytic  from  Meirioneddshire 
had  lain  the  whole  night,  after  undergoing  the  same  ceremony."  "  The 
offerings  of  calves  and  lambs,  which  happen  to  be  born  with  the  Nod 
Beuno,  or  mark  of  St.  Beuno,  a  certain  natural  mark  in  the  ear,  have 
not  entirely  ceased  [discontinued  now].  They  are  brought  to  the 
church  on  Trinity  Sunday,  the  anniversary  [this  is  not  correct]  of  the 
Saint,  and  delivered  to  the  churchwardens  ;  who  sell  them  and  put 
the  money  they  receive  for  them  into  a  great  chest,  called  Cyff  St. 
Beuno,  made  of  one  piece  of  oak,  secured  with  three  locks.  From 
this  the  Welsh  have  a  proverb  for  attempting  any  very  difficult  thing, 
'  you  may  as  well  try  to  break  up  St.  Beuno's  chest'.  The  little 
money  resulting  from  the  sacred  beasts,  or  casual  offerings,  is  either 
applied  to  the  relief  of  the  poor,  or  in  aid  of  repairs."  (Tours  in  Wales, 
ii,  385,  387.) 

Ear-marked  calves  are  still  highly  regarded  by  the 
farmers  of  Clynog.  A  saying  of  S.  Beuno's  is  preserved 

out  waking  in  a  wood  hard  by,  called  Llwyn  y  Nef  (CymruFu,  183-4, 
y  Brython  for  1860,  p.  110).  It  is  a  variation  of  "Yr  Hen  Wr  o'r 
Coed"  legend,  the  Welsh  counterpart  of  the  Seven  Sleepers,  Rip  Van 
Winkle,  etc. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  141 

in  the  anonym ous  Englynyon  y  Klyweit,  the  Epigrams 
of  the  Hearing,  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  129 — 

"  A  glyweisti  a  gant  Beuno 
Kan  dy  bader  ath  credo 
Racagheu  dy  thycya  ffo." 

"  Hast  thou  heard  what  Beuno  sang  1 
*  Chant  thy  Pater  noster  and  Credo  ; 
From  death  flight  will  not  avail.'" 

In  the  much  later  Chivedlau  'r  Doethion,  the  Sayings  of 
the  Wise,  in  the  lolo  AfSS.s  256,  it  is  given  somewhat 
differently — 

"  A  glywaist  ti  chwedl  Beuno, 

Wrth  bawb  a  gyrchant  atto  1 

Rhag  Angau  ni  thyccia  ffo." 

"  Hast  thou  heard  the  saying  of  Beuno 
To  all  who  resorted  to  him  1 
1  From  death  flight  will  not  avail.'  " 

Somehow  the  allusions  to  S.  Beuno  in  mediaeval  Welsh 
literature  are  not  very  numerous  nor  particularly 
pointed.  Dafydd  ah  Gwilym  (1340-1400),  however,  in 
one  of  his  poems  (Barddoniaeth,  375,  ed.  1789),  feels 
confident  that  he  would  screen  him  in  one  of  his  love 
affairs.  There  is  a  Welsh  Life  of  him  in  the  Jesus 
College  MS.,  Llyfr  yr  Ancr  o  Landdewi  Brefi,  written 
in  1346,  now  in  course  of  publication .  The  text  of  the 
Buchedd  published  in  the  wretchedly  edited  Cambro- 
Brit.  Saints  is  professed  to  be  from  the  MS.  in  the 
library  of  the  Earl  of  Macclesfield,  collated  with  the 
Jesus  one. 

S.  BROCHFAEL  YSGYTHROG,  or  "the  Fanged",  was  a 
Prince  of  Powys  in  the  first  half  of  the  seventh  century. 
He  is  included  as  a  saint  in  the  Achau  y  Saint  of  the 
Truman  MS.  in  the  lolo  MSS.,  129-130,  where  we  are 
told  that  "  he  was  slain  in  the  battle  of  Bangor  Orchard 
[A.D.  613],  when  that  cor1  [Bangor  Iscoed]  was  destroyed 

1  Cor  is  believed  by  Prof.  Rhys  to  be  from  the  same  source  as  the 
Irish  cuirim,  "  I  put  or  place."  Mr.  Egerton  Phillimore  believes  that 
bangor  in  genuine  Welsh  was  never  a  generic  term  for  a  monastery, 


142  MONTGOMERYSHIRE   SAINTS. 

by  the  Pagan  Saxons".  This  is  inaccurate,  for  we  are 
told  by  Bseda  that  he  escaped  ;  and  he  died,  according 
to  the  Annales  Cambria,  in  662.  His  name  is  written 
in  Old- Welsh  Brochmail,  later  Brochuail,  Brochfael, 
Brochwael,  and  Brochwel.  The  name  occurs  in  the 
form  Brohornagli  on  the  sixth  or  seventh  century 
inscribed  st6ne  at  Voelas  Hall,  near  Bettws  y  Coed 
(Rhys's  Welsh  Philology,  264,  372,  2nd  ed.).  Being  a 
great  prince,  he  is  often  alluded  to  in  Welsh  literature, 
but  as  his  saintship  rests  on  rather  doubtful  authority, 
I  shall  not  pursue  his  history.  He  was  the  husband  of 
S.  Arddun  Benasgell,  and  the  father  of  S.  Tyssilio.  No 
churches  are  dedicated  to  him,  but  there  is,  or  was,  a 
Ffynnon  Brocliwel  at  Shrewsbury. 

S.  CADFAN  live'd  for  the  greater  part  in  the  sixth 
century,  and  was  the  son  of  Eneas  Ledewic  of  Llydaw 
(called,  by  misscripts,  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  419,  Elieas 
ledwyr  and  Elias  Letwyr),'and  Gwen  Teirbron,  daughter 
of  Emyr  Llydaw  (not  daughter  but  sister  to  Hy wel  ab 
Emyr  Llydaw,  as  stated  in  the  lolo  MSS.,  103),  a 
prince  of  a  district  in  Armorica.  The  name  Cadfan 
appears  earliest  in  the  form  Catamanus  on  the  Llangad- 
waladr  (Anglesey)  seventh  century  inscribed  stone  ; 
then  we  have  the  intermediate  form  Catrnan  as  S. 
Cadfan's  own  name  in  the  Vita  S.  Paterni  (Cambro- 
Brit.  Saints,  189).  He  was  the  leader  of  one  of  the 
great  bands  of  missionaries  who  came  over  to  this 
country  from  Armorica.  Among  the  saints  who  accom- 
panied him  are  mentioned  the  Montgomeryshire  Saints 
Tydecho,  Trinio,  Llonio  Lawhir,  and  Cynon  (lolo  MSS., 
111-2),  all,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  named,  cousins 
to  S.  Cadfan.  Most  of  his  large  band  were  relations  of 
his — of  the  Gwelygordd,  or  Clan,  of  Emyr  Llydaw, 
which  has  supplied  the  Catalogues  of  Welsh  Saints  with 
so  many  names.  They  betook  themselves  hither,  no 
doubt,  owing  to  the  advance  of  the  Franks,  who,  under 

but  that  that  meaning  was  deliberately  put  upon  the  word  by  the 
writers  of  those  comparatively  late  documents  printed  in  the  lolo  MSS. 
(Y  Cymmrodor,  xi,  83-4.) 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  143 

Clovis,  were  at  this  time  establishing  themselves  in 
Gaul.  Losing  their  possessions,  they  devoted  them- 
selves to  religion,  like  many  others  of  the  noblesse  of 
those  times.  In  one  of  the  notices  (with  others  to  the 
same  effect)  in  the  Achau  of  the  lolo  MSS.,  103,  we 
are  told  that  it  was  "in  the  time  of  Gwrtheyrn  Gwr- 
thenau  he  came  to  this  Island,  with  Garmon  ab  Rhi- 
diggys,  from  Gaul,  his  native  country,  to  renew  Faith 
and  Baptism  in  this  Island".  To  connect  S.  Cadfan's 
arrival  here  with  either  of  the  two  visits  (A.D.  429, 
447)  of  S.  Garmon  is,  of  course,  a  monstrous  ana- 
chronism ;  and  it  may  be  here  mentioned  that  the 
statements  often  made  in  the  Acfiau  of  the  lolo  MSS. 
form  perfect  patchworks  of  irreconcilable  facts.  S. 
Garmon,  as  is  well  known,  was  uncle  to  Emyr  Llydaw, 
S.  Cadfan's  grandfather.  In  another  place  (ib.,  131), 
however,  we  are  told  that  they  came  here  in  two 
separate  bands.  Besides  being  distinguished  by  birth 
and  otherwise,  S.  Cadfan  has  been  highly  regarded  by 
the  Welsh  as  a  saint.  He  was  the  founder  of  Llangad- 
fan,  in  Montgomeryshire,  and  Towyn,  in  Merioneth- 
shire ;  but  he  is  esteemed  more  especially  as  the  first 
Abbot  (Penn  rhaith,  or  Principal,  lolo  MSS.,  133)  of 
Bangor  Gadfan  in  Enlli,  or  Bardsey  Isle,  which  he 
founded  with  the  help  of  Einion  Frenin,  Prince  of 
Lleyn.  S.  Cadfan  and  his  companions,  we  are  told  (ib., 
103),  had  themselves  been  previously  saints  of  Bangor 
Illtyd  and  Bangor  Catwg,  but  they  nearly  all  went  with 
him  to  Bardsey.  Bangor  Gadfan  soon  became  very 
celebrated,  for  we  are  told  that  "  there  were  with  them 
a  great  many  saints  of  the  Welsh  nation,  whither  they 
went  after  Bangor  Fawr  in  Maelor  had  been  destroyed 
by  the  Pagan  Saxons  ;  and  from  the  other  cdrau  a  great 
many  went  also"  (ib.,  112)  ;  so  many  that  C6r  Gadfan  in 
Bardsey  was  "  for  20,000  saints  (sic) ;  there  were  no 
cells  there,  but  every  one  did  as  he  pleased  ;  and  after 
the  20,000  saints  Bardsey  became  a  c6r  with  a  cell  for 
500  saints"  (ib.,  151).  The  little  Isle1  became  the 
1  The  earliest  reference  to  it  in  Welsh  literature  that  I  am  aware 


144  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

Welsh  Insula  Sanctorum — the  Isle  of  the  Blest — and 
its  soil  was  deemed  so  sacred  that  it  became  the 
favourite  cemetery  for  saints  and  kings,  and  everybody 
rwho  could  secure  the  privilege.  It  enclosed  within  its 
| limits  the  bodies  of  no  less  than  20,000  saints,  to  whose 
memory  Lord  Newborough,  the  owner  of  the  Isle,  has 
erected  a  monument.  Owing  to  its  sanctity  and  the 
danger  often  attending  the  voyage  across,  three  pil- 
grimages thither  were  considered  equal  to  a  pilgrimage 
even  to  Home — ranking  second  to  S.  David's  in  this 
respect.  Llywelyn  Fardd  (1230-80)  has  a  somewhat 
difficult  poem,  Canuy  Gaduan  (Myv.  Arch.,  248-250), 
wherein  he  sings  the  praises  of  SS.  Cadfan  and  Lleu- 
ddad  Llydaw,  and  particularly  of  the  church  of  Towyn, 
which  he  says  had  three  altars — S.  Mary's,  S.  Peter's, 
and  a  third  "  given  by  a  hand  from  heaven"  (a  anlloued 
o  nef),  meaning  S.  Cadfan's.  He  extols  its  costly 
crozier  (vagyl),  its  clergy,  relics,  marble,  choir,  sanctuary, 
music,  water,  blessing,  etc.  A  rude  stone  pillar, 
bearing  an  inscription,  once  stood  in  Towyn  church- 
yard over  a  spot  where  it  was  thought  S.  Cadfan's  body 
lay  buried.  The  stone  is  now  inside  the  church.  Prof. 
Rhys,  however,  does  not  accept  the  reading  of  Prof. 
Westwood  and  Ab  Ithel,  and  for  the  supposed  name 
Cadfan  he  would  read  Adgan  (Archceologia  Cambrensis, 
xix,  243  ;  1874).  It  is  not  known  for  certain  where  he 
was  buried.  His  body  is  traditionally  claimed  both  by 

of  is  in  the  Gododin  Gwarchan  Maelderw  of  Taliessin  (flor.  sixth  cen- 
tury) in  the  thirteenth  century  MS.,  The  Book  of  Aneurin  (Skene's 
Four  Ancient  Hooks,  ii,  98),  where  we  meet  with  the  following 
lines — 

"  Kychwenychwy  enlli  weles 
A  lenwis  miran  mir  edles." 

The    poem    is    altogether  a  very  difficult    and  obscure   one.     The 
couplet  is  thus  translated  by  Canon  Silvan  Evans  (ib.,  i,  416) — 
"  I  do  mutually  wish  for  the  repose  of  Enlli, 
The  fair  aspect  of  which  is  filled  with  deep  interest." 

Here  legend  (with  certain  variations)  places  Merlin's  Glass  House, 
in  which  he  crossed  thither,  taking  with  him  his  suite  of  Nine  Bards 
and  the  Thirteen  Treasures  of  Britain. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  145 

Towyn  and  Bardsey  ;  but  the  probability  is  that  he 
was  buried  in  the  latter,  and  that  the  Towyn  tradition 
owes  its  origin  to  the  supposed  reading  on  the  stone. 
His  chapel  stood  at  the  north-east  end  of  Towyn 
churchyard  in  1620.  There  is  a  S.  Cadfan's  Well  at 
Towyn,  which  is  considered  highly  efficacious  in  rheu- 
matic and  scrofulous  cases.  Ffynnon  Cadfan  at  Llan- 
gadfan  has  been  partially  filled  up  by  the  new  road 
from  Cann  Office  to  the  church  (Thomas's  St.  Asaph, 
765).  He  has  been  regarded  as  the  patron  saint  of 
warriors,  which  leads  one  to  suppose  that  he  must  once 
have  led  a  military  life,  before  he  was  forced  to  leave 
Armorica.  Hence  the  epithet  mob  Cadfan,  "  Cadfan's 
son/'  with  which  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi  (flor.  c.  1440-90) 
compliments  the  subject  of  one  of  his  poems  (Gwaith, 
375).  Dafydd  ab  Gwilym  uses  the  expression  Myn 
Delw  Gadfan  .  .  .  .  a  'i  grog  !  "  by  Cadfan's  image 
....  and  his  cross  !  "  (Barddoniaeth,  130).  His 
festival  is  said  to  be  November  1st  (Welsh  Saints, 
215). 

S.  CADFARCH  lived  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth 
century,  and  was  a  son  of  Caradog  Freichfras  ab  Llyr 
Merini,  the  distinguished  regulus  of  Brecknock,  by 
Tegau  Eurfron,  the  daughter  of  Nudd  Hael,  celebrated 
in  the  Triads  for  her  beauty  and  chastity.  Judging 
from  the  lists  given  (Myv.  Arch.,  415-6,  420  ;  lolo  MSS. 
104,123  ;  Cambro-Brit.  Saints,  267),  he  appears  to  have 
been  their  second  son.  He  was  brother  to  SS.  Cawrdaf 
(who  succeeded  his  father),  Tangwn,  and  Maethlu  (or 
Arnaethlu),  and  the  father  of  S.  Elgud.  In  two  MSS. 
forming  the  alphabetical  Bonedd  y  Saint  in  the  Myv. 
Arch.,  420,  he  is  wrongly  stated  to  be  the  son  of  Cowrda 
( =  Cawrdaf).  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  saint  of 
Bangor  Dunod,  on  the  banks  of  the  Dee  (lolo  MSS. 
104).  He  was  the  founder  of  Penegoes  Church,  called 
also  occasionally  Llangadfarch,  in  Montgomeryshire  ; 
and  Abererch  in  Carnarvonshire,  though  some  say  its 
founder  was  S.  Cawrdaf — hence  its  alias  Llan  Gawrda 
in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  741.  There  is  a  Ffynnon  Cadfarch 

VOL.  XXV.  L 


146  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

near  the  site  of  a  now  extinct  capella,  called  Llanged- 
wycld,  at  the  northern  end  of  Abererch  parish,  and  a 
Ffynnon  Cawrdaf  at  Abererch.  There  is  also  in  the 
neighbourhood  a  Cadair  Cawrdaf;  but  the  lists  above 
referred  to  certainly  will  have  it  "  Cadfarch  Sant  yn 
Abererch  yn  Lleyn".  S.  Cadfarch's  Well  at  Penegoes, 
celebrated  for  its  efficacy  in  cases  of  rheumatism,  is 
close  by  the  church  on  a  part  of  the  glebe-land.  Some 
verses  in  praise  of  "  Ffynnon  Penegoes"  have  been 
written  by  a  local  bard,  which  are  appended  to  his 
Notes  and  Narratives,  etc.,  by  the  Rev.  J.  Williams, 
the  present  rector  of  the  parish.  His  festival  is  said  to 
be  October  24  (Welsh  Saints,  270).  Lewis  Clyn  Cothi 
(Gwaith,  427,  430)  refers  to  Gwyl  Gadfarch,  the  Pene- 
goes wakes. 

S.  CURIG  (variously  spelt  Cirig,  Cyric,  etc.,  in  Latin 
Cyricius),  generally  styled  Curig  Lwyd,1  i.e.,  "  the 
Blessed,"  and  occasionally  Curig  Farchog,  i.e.,  "the 
Knight,"  is  classed  by  Rees  (  WelsJi  Saints,  307)  among 
the  saints  of  "  uncertain  date",  after  those  of  the 
second  half  of  the  seventh  century.  Welsh  hagiology 
is  very  silent  as  to  his  parentage.  The  Achau  of  the 
Cobb  MS.  in  the  lolo  MSS.,  145,  gives  us— "  Cirig 
Sant  ap  Urien  ap  Cynfarch  (in  al.  ap  Arawn  ap  Cyn- 
farch)".  All  the  other  Catalogues  are  silent  upon  the 
point ;  and,  generally  speaking,  the  lolo  MSS.  Cata- 
logues are  not  over-trustworthy.  Granting  that  this 
particular  notice  is  correct,  I  have  no  means  of  deciding 
whether  his  father  was  Urien  or  Arawn.  His  name,  at 
any  rate,  does  not  appear  in  the  lists  usually  given  of 
Urien's  children.  From  the  Ystorya  Brenliined  y 
Brytanyeit,  as  published  in  Rhys  and  Evans's  Red 
Book  of  Hergest  Bruts,  we  learn  that  there  were 
three  royal  brothers,  called  Lieu,  Vryen,  and  Arawn, 
the  sons  of  Kynuarch  (his  wife  elsewhere  said  to  be 
Nefyn,  of  the  family  of  Brychan  Brycheiniog),  king  of 

1  Llwyd  really  means  grey — thence  hoary,  venerable,  blessed,  holy. 
The  bards  of  the  Middle  Ages  repeatedly  use  Duw  Livyd  and  lesu 
Lwyd. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  147 

a  district  in  North  Britain,  among  whom  King  Arthur 
apportioned  the  districts  he  had  wrested  from  the 
Saxons  thus — to  Llew  he  gave  Lodoneis  (Lothian, 
according  to  Dr.  Skene),  to  Urien  Reged  (in  South 
Wales),  and  to  Arawn  Yscotlont.  The  father  and 
the  three  sons,  particularly  Urien,  were  celebrated  as 
great  warriors,  but  met  with  rather  varied  fortunes, 
and  some  of  them  latterly  adopted  the  religious  life. 
S.  Curig  is  said  in  Williains's  Eminent  Welshmen,  s.  v., 
to  have  been 

"  a  saint  celebrated  for  his  learning  and  holy  life,  who  came  [from 
where  ?]  and  settled  in  Wales  in  the  seventh  century.  Having  landed 
at  Aberystwyth,  he  travelled  inland,  and  rested  upon  the  summit  of 
a  high  mountain,  which  still  bears  the  name  of  Eisteddva  Gurig,  or 
Curig's  seat  [we  have  a  Ffos  Gurig  near  S.  David's]  ;  from  whence 
looking  around  him,  he  perceived  a  fertile  valley,  in  the  retirement  of 
which  he  determined  to  build  a  church,  which  is  called  from  him 
Llangurig,  in  Montgomeryshire.  He  was  also  a  bishop  of  a  see  in 
Wales,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  that  of  Llanbadarn  Vawr." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  upon  what  authority 
these  statements  are  given.  Though  we  do  not  know 
much  about  him,  his  name  is  not  infrequently  met  with 
in  Mediaeval  Welsh  literature,  which  certainly  shows 
that  he  was  long  held  in  high  estimation.  He  was  an 
especial  favourite  with  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi.  He  ad- 
dresses his  hero  in  one  poem  (Gwaitli,  99) — 

"  Aed  lluryg  Curig  Yarchog  gwraidd, 
I'th  ogylch,  i'th  gylch,  i'th  lys  galchaidd." 

This  couplet  shows  that  he  had  great  faith  in  the  pro- 
tection he  would  derive  from  "  the  brave  Knight  Curig's 
coat  of  mail".  S.  Curig  and  his  lluryg  are  also  con- 
nected on  p.  454,  which  prove  that  he  was  traditionally 
esteemed  as  a  warrior  as  well  as  a  saint. 


(To  be  continued.} 


L  2 


A  BADGE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  HERBERT. 

. 


A    BASCULE.1 

THE  wyvern,  or  a  winged  serpent,  was2  a  badge  of  the  Herberts, 
and  is  now  their  crest.  On  the  Standard  of  the  "Lord 
Chamberlain",  in  Excerpta  Historica,  p.  163,  the  dragon  or 
wyvern  has  in  its  mouth  a  sinister  hand  couped  gules. 

It  appears,  however,  from  a  recent  publication  that  the 
wyvern  is  not  the  only  badge  of  the  House  of  Herbert. 

In  a  paper  by  Mr.  Cadwalader  J.  Bates/  on  <f  The  Border 
Holds  of  Northumberland'',  when  describing  the  "Lion  Tower" 
of  Warkworth  Castle,  the  front  of  which  is  decorated  with  the 
armorial  insignia  of  the  Earls  of  Northumberland,  Mr.  Bates 
states  that  on  the  under  side  of  a  battlemented  cornice  three 
badges  are  carved. 

The  third  (with  which  we  are  alone  concerned,  and  of  which 
an  illustration  is  given  above)  is  described  as  follows  : — 

"  A  bascule  or  counterpoise  for  raising  a  drawbridge,  charged  with  the 
words  Ma  Comfort.  This  last  badge  is  known  to  have  been  that  of  the 
HOUSE  OF  HERBERT,  of  which  the  Countess  of  the  fourth  Earl  was  a 
daughter, while  the  entire  motto,  Esperance  Ma  Comfort,  seems  to  have  been 
peculiar  to  her  husband." 

The  motto,  Ma  Comfort,  is  remarkable. 

In  a  note,  Mr.  Bates  states  that  the  Herbert  bascule  appears 
also  on  the  under  part  of  the  cornice,  above  the  lion  rampant, 
over  the  outer  gateway  of  the  barbican  at  Alnwick,  which  there 
is  proof  was  carved  before  the  death  of  the  fourth  Earl  in  1489. 

Henry,  fourth  Earl  of  Northumberland,  married  Maud, 
daughter  of  William  Herbert,  first  Earl  of  Pembroke. 

M.  C.  J. 

1  "Bascule. — An  apparatus  acting  on  the  principle  of  the  lever  or 
pulley,    whereby  one   end  is  raised  when  the  other  is   depressed  ; 
especially  in  Bascule-bridge,  a  kind  of  draw-bridge  balanced    by  a 
counterpoise  which  rises  or  falls,  usually  into  a  prepared  pit,  as  the 
bridge  is  lowered  or  raised."     (Murray's  New  English  Dictionary.) 

2  See  Badges  of  the  Great  Nobility,  "  Herald  and  Genealogist,"  vol. 
vii,  pp.  338,  348,  and  350.     It  is  not  mentioned  in  the  list  given  in 
Boutell's  Heraldry,  p.  236. 

3  Archceologia  ^Eliana,  vol.  xiv,  p.   146,  citing  Longstaff's  Percy 
Heraldry ;  see  also  Vincent's  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum. 


149 


EXCAVATIONS  ON  THE  SITE   OF   STEATA 
MAECELLA    ABBEY. 


IN  May  1890  the  project  was  conceived  of  exca- 
vating the  site  of  this  Abbey.  The  Secretary  of  the 
Powys-land  Club  wrote  to  one  of  the  local  newspapers 
a  letter,  dated  4th  June  1890,  in  which  he  said  : 

"  So  far  back  as  1871  there  has  been  published  in  the  Montgomery- 
shire Collections  (see  vols.  iv,  v,  vi,  and  x)  an  account  of  this  Abbey, 
containing  all  the  material  for  its  history  that  was  available,  and  no 
expense  or  trouble  was  spared  in  collecting  it,  but  hitherto  no 
attempt  has  been  made  to  explore  its  site  by  excavation.  '  Excava- 
tion' (says  the  Times,  in  a  leading  article  on  the  27th  May  last) 
'  is  the  modern  method,  and  the  modern  watchword  of  the  scholar. 
.  .  .  Since  1870,  when  Dr.  Schliemann  began  his  striking  career  as 
an  excavator,  the  thing  has  been  reduced  to  a  science,  and  Govern- 
ments, as  well  as  private  enthusiasts,  have  taken  up  the  practice 
of  it.' 

"  No  vestige  of  the  Abbey  is  now  visible — the  site  only  is  marked  by 
its  being  called  the  'Abbey  Bank',  and  the  only  traces  of  any 
buildings  having  stood  there  are  some  slight  ridges,  like  terraces. 
On  many  occasions  a  wish  has  been  expressed  to  make  excavations, 
with  a  view  of  ascertaining  the  size  and  style  of  the  buildings,  but  no 
one  presented  himself  who  had  had  experience  of  such  operations, 
and  the  requisite  knowledge  and  skill  to  conduct  them.  For  anyone 
other  than  an  expert  to  undertake  such  a  task  would  be  rash  in  the 
extreme,  and  probably  result  in  disastrous  disappointment.  Although 
nineteen  years  have  elapsed  since  the  first  article  upon  the  Abbey 
appeared  in  the  Montgomeryshire  Collections)  no  opportunity  has 
occurred  until  now  to  repair  the  omission." 

He  then  detailed  circumstances  which  led  him  to 
invite  Mr.  Stephen  W.  Williams,  of  Rhayader,  who 
had  had  experience  in  excavating  the  sites  of  two 
other  Welsh  abbeys  —  Strata  Florida  and  Abbey 
Cwmhir — to  come  and  inspect  the  site  of  this  Abbey, 
and  give  us  the  benefit  of  his  experience. 

Mr.  Williams  accepted  the  invitation,  and  came  on 


150  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

the  23rd  May,  and,  in  a  letter  dated  the  25th  May, 
gave  a  full  report  of  our  inspection.  In  that  report 
Mr.  Williams  enters  into  various  particulars,  upon 
which  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  very 
well  worth  while  to  excavate  and  lay  bare  so  impor- 
tant a  Welsh  abbey  as  Strata  Marcella. 

Upon  this  report,  we  obtained  the  permission  of  the 
Earl  of  Powis,  the  owner  of  the  land,  and  of  his 
tenant ;  and  the  former  very  generously  placed  at  our 
service  half-a-dozen  workmen  for  a  week,  to  enable  us 
to  make  a  preliminary  excavation.  During  this  pre- 
liminary investigation,  after  tracing  the  walls  of  the 
Abbey  for  a  considerable  distance,  a  trench  was  cut 
across  the  supposed  site  of  the  church,  and  founda- 
tions were  reached  4ft.  6  ins.  in  thickness,  and  12  ft. 
further  north  an  outcrop  of  sandstone  was  found, 
which,  when  stripped,  proved  to  be  the  base  of  a 
clustral  column  5  ft.  by  6  ft.  This  important  discovery 
led  to  the  trench  being  driven  further  northward, 
when  what  seemed  to  be  the  north  wall  of  the  church 
was  discovered,  and  projecting  beyond  the  line  of  the 
wall  a  square  piece  of  red  sandstone,  which  subse- 
quently was  pronounced  to  be  the  foundation  of  one 
of  the  buttresses.  Other  discoveries  of  masonry  were 
made,  and  a  number  of  encaustic  tiles  were  found,  and 
also  a  grave,  which  are  hereafter  particularly  described 
in  Mr.  Williams's  report. 

Upon  these  discoveries  being  made,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  make  a  complete  exploration  of  the  site  of 
the  church  if  sufficient  funds  could  be  raised,  and  a 
committee  was  formed,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Grimaldi 
Davies,  Vicar  of  Welshpool,  the  Yen.  Archdeacon 
Thomas,  F.S.A.,  Mr.  W.  Forrester  Addie,  Dr.  Gill, 
and  Mr.  C.  E.  Howell,  with  power  to  add  to  their 
numbers.  It  was  thought  that  an  expenditure  of 
£100  would  go  far  to  effect  the  object  in  view,  and 
an  effort  was  determined  to  be  made  to  raise  that 
sum,  but  that  as  soon  as  £50  was  promised  we  would 
commence  operations.  A  detailed  report  of  the  dis- 


STRATA    MARCELLA   ABBKY.  151 

coveries  was  published  in  the  Osivestry  Advertiser  of 
the  30th  July,  accompanied  by  the  following  letter 
from  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Powys-land  Club  : — 

EXCAVATIONS  AT  STRATA  MARCELLA  ABBEY. 

SIR, — Our  operations  on  the  site  of  the  Abbey  have  given  indica- 
tions which  encourage  us  to  persevere  to  make  a  complete  explora- 
tion of  the  site  of  the  Abbey,  by  clearing  away  the  depth  of  two  or 
three  feet  of  debris  which  now  obscure  its  remains. 

It  is  intended  to  form  a  committee  to  conduct  the  more  extensive 
and  systematic  operations  that  will  be  necessary,  and  the  following 
gentlemen  have  signified  their  assent  to  act  upon  such  committee  : — 
The  Yen.  Archdeacon  Thomas,  F.S.A.,  the  Rev.  Grimaldi  Davies, 
Vicar  of  Welshpool,  Mr.  W.  Forrester  Addie,  Dr.  Gill,  and  Mr.  C.  E. 
Howell,  and  we  invite  all  who  are  interested  in  such  subjects  to  join 
the  Committee,  and  give  their  assistance. 

It  is  thought  that  the  expenditure  of  £100  would  go  far  to  effect 
the  object  in  view,  and  an  endeavour  will  be  made  to  raise  that  sum, 
and,  as  soon  as  we  see  our  way  to  £50,  to  commence  upon  excavating 
and  investigating  the  eastern  end  of  the  Abbey  Church,  where  we 
may  expect  to  make  interesting  discoveries.  A  gentleman  (Mr.  A.  C. 
Twentyman,  of  Castlecroft,  Wolverhampton)  has  spontaneously 
offered  £5  to  the  fund,  and  I  am  willing  to  give  the  like  amount,  as 
a  commencement. 

Our  week's  work  has  necessarily  left  the  surface  of  the  ground  in 
disorder,  and  we  are  under  great  obligation  to  the  noble  owner  and 
the  worthy  tenant  for  their  permission  to  make  the  trial.  In  return 
for  their  kind  consideration,  we  feel  bound  either  to  commence  our 
further  operations  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  or  to  restore  the 
surface  to  something  like  its  former  state. 

Early  communications  will,  therefore,  be  thankfully  received  by 
yours,  etc.,  MORRIS  C.  JONES. 

Gungrog,  near  Welshpool, 
28th  July  1890. 

The  mode  adopted  for  raising  the  money  was  by  pro- 
curing reprints  from  the  Oswestry  Advertiser  of  the 
letter  of  the  4th  June  1890,  and  also  of  the  report  of 
the  preliminary  exploration,  with  the  Secretary's  letter 
of  28th  July  appended,  and  circulating  them  amongst 
the  members  of  the  Powys-land  Club  and  others  likely 
to  be  interested.  The  appeal  was  promptly  and  liberally 
responded  to,  as  appears  by  the  statement  of  receipts 
and  expenditure,  which  we  append  : — 


152 


EXCAVATIONS  ON  THE  SITE  OF 


STRATA  MARCELLA  ABBEY  EXCAVATION  FUND. 


s.  d. 

0  0 

1  0 
3  0 

0  0 

0  0 


10     6 


1890  Receipts.  £ 

Aug.  7  Morris  C.  Jones    ...     5 

,,       A.  C.   Humphreyes 

Owen,  Esq 1 

„        Capt.  Mytton    3 

,     9  Miss  Corrie    3 

„  11  W.W.  Watts,  Esq., 

Cambridge    3 

,,        Mrs.  Squires 1 

H.  W,  Lloyd,  Esq.     0 

„        Mrs.  Kerrisou    0 

,,       Hon.  and  Rev.  John 

E.  O.  Bridgeman 

„       E.  H.  Wood,  Esq.... 

„       W.  E.M.Wynne,  Esq. 

„        Dr.  Gill  

,,  12  Stanley    Leighton, 

Esq.,  M.P 

A.  Howell,  Esq 

„       E.     M.      Bickerton 

Jones,  Esq 

„  13  A.   C.   Twentyman, 

Esq.,  W  Ivrhmptn 

Samuel  Powell,Esq. 

T.    Eowley  Morris, 

Esq... 

14  0.  Slaney  Wynne, 

Esq 

Eev.  E    J.  Eoberts 

15  J.MarshallDugdale, 

Esq 

,,  16  Col.  Harrison    

„  18  Miss  Mytton 

„  G.  D.  Harrison,  Esq. 
„  Dr.  Hawks  worth  ... 
„  23  Professor  Boyd 

Dawkins,   F.E.S. 
,,        Eichard     Williams, 

Esq 

„  26  Lord  Sudeley    

„       Dr.  Sowerby 

Sept.  6  The  Earl  of  Powis  20 
„   10  John  Evans,  Esq., 

President  of  Soc. 

of  Antiq 

„   16  Mrs.  Pearce 1 

„    17  E.  Mostyn  Pyrce, 

Esq.. 

,,         Mr.     John    Jones, 

builder  

,,    19  Eev.    D.   Grimaldi 

Davies,  M.A.    ... 
,,   20  Eev.      Prebendary 

Matthews 

„  22  Alex.  Davies,  Esq. 
„  26  Eev.  G.  A.  Salus- 

bury,  M.A 330 


1     0 

0 

3     3 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     0 

0 

2  10 

0 

0     4 

0 

5     0 

0 

1     0 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     0 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     1 

0 

]     1 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     0 

0 

1    1 

0 

3     0 

0 

0  10 

6 

0     0 

0 

1     1 

0 

1     0 

0 

0  10 

0 

0  10 

6 

1    1 

0 

1    1  - 

0 

0  10 

0 

1890                 Payments. 
Aug.  13  Paid    for    cheque- 
book   

„     16  „  Wages,    as  per 

wages  book 

„     23  „  do 

„     30  „  do 

Sept.   6  „  do 

„     13  „  do 

„     20  „  do 

„     27  „  do 

Oct.     4  „  do 

„       8  „  do 

,,  Mr.    E.    Green, 
the    tenant,    for 
surface    damage 
„  Mr.    Worthing. 
ton     G.     Smith, 
artist,  for  draw- 
ings, and  travel- 
ling expenses  ... 
„  S.  W.  Williams, 
for  his  travelling 

expenses    

„  J.  and  M.  Morris 
for  unclimbable 
rails  fixed  around 
the  "Monks' 

Grave"  

PETTY  DISBURSEMENTS —    s.    d. 

Hostages 10    6 

1st  reprint  from  Oswes- 
try    Advertiser    (pre- 
sented by  the  Editor) 
Gratuity    to   man    who 

found  the  bit  of  silver  1  0 
Gratuity  to  men  lent  by 

Lord  Powis  for  a  we<k  11  0 
Recc.  and  Wages-books  0  8 
Gratuity  to  man  who 

found  Elizabethan  coin    2    0 
Paid    for    2nd     reprint 
from  Oxwestry  Adver- 
tiser       7    0 

Balance  remaining  unex- 
pended in  Lloyd's  Bank, 
Limited  .. 


£  s.  d. 
026 

399 
69<) 
8  14  0 
8  18  0 
999 
8  14  0 
510 
165 
090 


10     0     0 

550 
330 

200 


1  12     1 


106 


£75  14     6 


£75  14     6 


STRATA   MARCELLA   ABBEY.  153 

Since  this  account  was  made  out,  a  donation  of 
£5  has  been  spontaneously  offered  by  Col.  Picton- 
T'urberville,  R.A.,  of  Ewenny  Priory,  Bridgend,  if  the 
further  exploration  of  the  Abbey  should  be  determined 
upon. 

On  the  12th  August  1890,  the  committee  met  on 
the  site  at  9  A.M.,  when  Mr.  Addie  fixed  the  place 
where  the  debris  was  to  be  deposited,  and.  on  behalf 
of  Lord  Powis,  agreed  to  lend  us  barrows  and  planks, 
and  also  to  allow  one  of  his  lordship's  men  (Mr.  Edward 
Matthews)  to  act  as  foreman,  who  took  an  enthusiastic 
interest  in  the  work.  The  committee  met  again  at  the 
same  place  at  twelve  at  noon,  there  being  present  Mr. 
S.  W.  Williams,  Mr.  T.  Simpson  Jones,  Captain  Westby, 
and  the  Hon.  Secretary,  when  Mr.  Edward  Matthews 
was  appointed  foreman  and  was  instructed  to  engage 
six  men  at  3s.  a  day,  and  to  obtain  the  barrows  and 
planks  from  Lord  Powis's  saw- yard,  and  to  begin  work 
on  Thursday,  the  14th  August.  The  committee  in- 
spected the  ground,  and  Mr.  S.  W.  Williams  arranged 
that  the  first  job  should  be  the  tracing  out  the  north 
and  south  walls  of  the  church.  The  operations  ex- 
tended from  the  14th  August  to  the  8th  October 
without  a  day's  intermission.  We  propose  to  give  a 
short  account  of  the  course  of  the  excavations,  stating 
what  was  discovered  and  where,  but  we  leave  to  Mr. 
Williams,  in  his  report,  to  determine  and  state  the 
value  and  significance  of  the  various  remains  found. 

During  the  first  nine  days,  up  to  the  23rd  August, 
attention  was  directed  principally  to  the  line  of  the 
south  and  north  walls  of  the  church.  With  reference  to 
the  south  wall  it  was  found  in  a  very  unsatisfactory  and 
broken  condition,  and  not  unfrequently  all  traces  of 
it  were  lost,  but  afterwards  recovered.  Pursuing  it 
eastward,  it  ceased  where  one  may  have  expected  to 
have  found  the  south  transept.  Of  the  latter  not  a 
trace  was  found,  nor  does  it  appear  likely  to  exist,  as 
there  is  a  depression  in  the  surface  there.  Following 
the  wall  westward,  it  was  traced  for  some  200  feet 


154  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

and  upwards ;  but  frequently  the  men  were  in  despair, 
thinking  they  had  lost  it. 

With  reference  to  the  north  wall  we  had  better 
success,  although  it  was  razed  at  intervals  to  the  low- 
est layer  of  the  foundation.  Starting  at  the  square 
projecting  sandstone  found  at  the  preliminary  excava- 
tion, and  pursuing  it  eastward,  at  the  distance  of  about 
39  feet,  we  reached  another  projecting  sandstone,  4  feet 
6  inches  wide,  at  the  point  E  on  the  plan,  this  being 
another  buttress.  The  wall  proceeded  for  one  yard 
further  and  then  ceased. 

Determining  to  cut  across  the  line  of  wall  in  a 
northerly  direction,  we  came  to  the  face  of  an  imperfect 
wall,  which  we  followed  northward  for  18  feet,  where 
it  appeared  to  end.  We  then  cut  a  trench  in  an  east- 
ward direction  for  35  feet  ;  there  was  a  wall  for  5 
feet  of  that  distance,  then  it  failed,  but  for  the  last 
9  feet  6  inches  of  the  35  feet  the  wall  reappeared 
and  then  failed.  We  then  cut  across  it  in  a  south- 
ward direction  and  found  no  wall.  We  had  hoped  to 
have  traced  the  north  transept,  but  were  not  at  this 
time  successful.  Starting  from  the  same  point,  we 
followed  the  north  wall  in  a  westerly  direction  for  a 
distance  of  about  236  feet,  measuring  from  the  east 
end,  and  found  two  foundations  of  two  projecting 
buttresses  at  certain  intervals  (see  plan),  but  we  did 
not  reach  the  west  end  of  the  church.  The  trench  had 
now  gone  to  a  great  depth — seven  or  eight  feet — and 
the  progress  was  slow. 

During  this  period  we  also  cut  a  trench  near  the 
south  side  of  the  chancel,  or  east  end  of  the  church,  in 
a  northward  direction.  This  brought  us  to  a  piece  of 
masonry  in  situ,  which,  when  cleared  out,  seemed  to  be 
a  corner  or  a  buttress  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the 
extreme  east  wall  of  the  church  ;  it  is  shown  on  the 
plan.  Further  cutting  northward  revealed  no  further 
wall. 

In  this  neighbourhood  some  debris  was  removed, 
when  a  large  number  of  encaustic  tiles,  all  broken, 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  155 

were  found,  and  also  a  small  piece  of  masonry,  marked 
F  on  the  plan;  and  also,  further  north,  a  large  number 
of  moulded  stones.  During  this  period,  near  the  line 
of  the  south  wall  the  two  gravestones  (fig.  11,  plate 
xii,  and  fig.  4,  plate  xi)  were  found.  On  23rd  August 
Mr.  Williams  paid  us  a  visit  of  inspection,  and  he 
recommended  that  the  full  force  of  the  men,  now  in- 
creased to  ten,  should  be  put  on  to  the  east  end  of  the 
church,  and,  working  westward,  should  clear  the  debris 
away  to  the  floor-level  of  the  church. 

During  the  week, -from  23rd  to  30th  of  August,  we 
followed  his  instructions,  and  in  clearing  the  east  end 
(marked  "Presbytery"  in  plan)  a  large  number  of  en- 
caustic and  incised  tiles  were  found,  but  all  in  great 
disorder.  In  one  instance  we  found  four  whole  tiles 
and  two  half  tiles  set  in  mortar,  but  not  to  any  design. 
Two  of  the  tiles  bore  the  "  two  lions  passant",  the 
Le  Strange  arms,  as  to  which  more  hereafter.  On  the 
26th  we  found  the  grave  marked  0  on  the  plan.  It 
is  built  with  flags,  apparently  on  their  edges.  It  is  6 
feet  long  and  2  feet  wide  at  west  end,  and  1  foot 
6  inches  at  east  end,  and  about  1  foot  deep.  It  had 
no  cover,  and  the  edges  of  some  of  the  flags  were 
through  the  turf  and  were  covered  with  lichen.  It 
contained  only  one  small  bone  and  some  broken  tiles.- 
Between  this  grave  and  the  church  the  ground  was 
full  of  bones,  but  no  grave  or  headstone  was  found 
there.  In  the  middle  of  the  part  marked  "  Tower"  on 
the  plan  we  found  a  piece  of  lead  piping  2  inches  in 
diameter  and  9  feet  long.  When  followed  and  dug 
out  it  seemed  to  be  quite  disconnected.  Near  this 
spot  there  were  also  a  number  of  large  carved  stones, 
one  of  which  is  represented  by  fig.  1,  plate  vi.  which 
are  supposed  to  be  portions  of  the  pier  of  the  tower. 
During  this  week  we  removed  a  large  mass  of  debris, 
with  no  great  result,  until,  on  the  28th  August,  at  noon, 
we  struck  upon  masonry,  which,  when  cleared,  proved  to 
be  base  of  some  carved  columns  at  B  on  plan,  which  is 
represented  on  plate  iv,  fig.  B,  and  on  plate  v.  As  we 


156  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

proceeded  further  westward  there  was  a  great  depth 
of  debris  to  be  removed,  and  consequently  our  progress 
was  slower. 

In  the  week  from  1st  to  6th  September  as  we 
proceeded  we  found  bits  of  carved  stone,  and  also 
tiles  and  fragments.  By  the  2nd  September  we 
had  cleared  out  the  centre  of  the  church  to  our  first 
trench  across  the  nave.  The  base  of  the  column  first 
discovered  (marked  A  in  plan)  was  fully  exposed,  but 
no  corresponding  column  was  found  on  the  south  side. 
The  carved  piece  of  stone  (fig.  6,  plate  xm)  was  found 
in  this  neighbourhood.  On  the  3rd  September  we 
came  to  an  ornamental,  and  apparently  important  piece 
of  masonry,  about  20  feet  further  west  of  the  base  of 
the  column  A,  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  nave.  It 
is  marked  C  on  the  plan,  and  is  figured  on  plates  iv  and 
v.  It  looked  to  us  like  one  side  of  a  gateway  or  door- 
way. Another  carved  stone  (fig.  7,  plate  xm)  was  found 
hereabouts.  For  three  days  more  the  men  proceeded 
with  the  excavations,  many  large  and  small  carved 
and  moulded  stones  being  found,  but  none  in  position. 
As  the  distance  for  wheeling  was  getting  very  long,  we 
began  to  wheel  into  the  cloister  garth. 

One  man  was  then  employed  to  complete  the  ex- 
ploration of  the  south  wall  of  the  church,  and  at  the 
distance  of  about  270  feet  from  the  east  end  we  found 
the  south  wall  to  cease,  and  another  wall  to  run  in  a 
northerly  direction,  which  we  followed  until  we  were 
convinced  it  was  the  west  wall  of  the  church.  The 
man  then  went  to  the  north  wall,  and  at  a  depth  of 
eight  or  nine  feet  or  more  found  that  wall  to  cease, 
and  that  there  was  the  foundation  of  a  wall  running 
southerly.  This  satisfactorily  established  that  we  had 
arrived  at  the  west  end  of  the  church,  the  length  of 
which  was  shown  to  be  equal  to,  or  to  exceed  that  of 
any  abbey  in  Wales  except  one.  Thus  this  week's 
work  concluded  satisfactorily. 

In  the  week  from  the  8th  to  15th  September  the 
excavation  was  now  becoming  deeper  and  the  progress 


STRATA    MARCELLA   ABBEY.  157 

slower.  We  came  upon  an  irregular  piece  of  masonry, 
which  is  marked  L  on  the  plan.  It  had  a  carved  or 
moulded  stone  built  into  it,  but  was  regularly  formed  on 
the  northern  side.  Eighteen  feet  further  west  we  found 
a  foundation  of  flags  in  the  centre  of  the  nave,  and 
only  five  feet  further  on  we  came  to  some  masonry  (at 
D  on  the  plan)  of  quite  a  different  character  to  any  pre- 
viously found.  It  looked  like  the  base  of  an  outside 
buttress.  The  week  was  chiefly  occupied  in  removing 
a  large  quantity  of  soil  in  which  a  considerable  number 
of  moulded  stones  and  some  tiles  were  found,  and  it 
became  a  question  where  to  deposit  the  soil.  Mr. 
Williams  came  on  a  visit  of  inspection,  and  took  par- 
ticulars of  measurement  for  the  plan  of  the  church. 

In  the  week  from  the  15th  to  20th  September,  after 
employing  two  days  in  removing  soil  without  much 
result,  upon  considering  the  state  of  the  funds  and 
the  probable  claim  for  surface  damage,  and  also  the  ex- 
pense of  levelling  the  land,  it  was  determined  to  stop 
the  excavation  at  the  line  P  marked  on  the  plan,  and 
to  confine  the  further  operations  to  levelling  the 
ground  from  that  line  to  the  east  end  ;  first  ascertaining 
definitely  by  excavation  whether  any  remains  of  the 
south  and  north  transepts  were  in  existence.  We  cut 
trenches  in  the  supposed  site  of  the  south  transept, 
and  failed  to  find  any  remains  whatever ;  the  de- 
pression of  the  surface  showed  that  all  walls  and 
foundations  had  been  removed.  We  were  more  for- 
tunate with  the  north  transept,  the  presumed  site  of 
which  we  cleared  out  to  the  floor-level.  On  the  west 
side  there  was  a  wall  2  ft.  6  ins.  wide,  but  which 
evidently  was  imperfect,  and  had  been  wider.  It  ex- 
tended northerly  18  ft.,  as  before  mentioned.  The 
excavations  showed  that  at  the  north-west  corner 
there  were  remains  of  foundations  5  ft.  by  5  ft.  No 
wall  was  found  on  the  north  side,  but  at  a  distance  of 
35  feet  from  the  north-west  corner,  in  an  eastward 
direction, there  were  foundations  apparent,  7  ft.  by  6  ft., 
which  we  concluded  was  the  north-east  corner  of  the 


158  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

transept.  But  we  could  find  no  trace  of  the  east  wall. 
The  conclusion  we  came  to  wras,  that  the  north 
transept  was  about  18ft.  by  35  ft.  In  clearing  out 
the  north  aisle  we  came  to  a  bit  of  the  north  wall  at 
E  on  the  plan,  about  5  ft.  long  and  2  ft.  high,  in  situ. 
It  showed  signs  of  having  been  whitewashed,  as  indeed 
many  of  the  moulded  stones  found  did.  This  is  the 
only  bit  of  the  internal  wall  of  the  church  which  is 
now  extant.  It  is  delineated  on  plates  in  and  v.  The 
whole  of  this  week  was  occupied  in  levelling  and 
putting  the  surface  of  the  ground  in  order  ;  on  the 
23rd  six  of  the  men  were  dismissed. 

From  29th  September  to  8th  October  the  foreman 
only  was  employed,  except  another  man  for  two  days. 

On  the  7th  and  8th  October,  Mr.  Worthington  G. 
Smith  was  engaged  in  sketching  the  remains  and 
relics,  and  on  the  latter  day  the  operations  were 
brought  to  a  close  for  the  present.  The  Earl  of  Powis 
kindly  had  a  plan  made  of  a  plot  of  land  about  16 
yards  square,  which  comprised  the  sites  of  the  principal 
remains  found  (viz.,  those  marked  A,  B,  and  E — the 
part  of  the  north  wall  showing  the  two  buttresses,  and 
C),  around  which  he  directed  a  fence  to  be  erected  in 
order  to  preserve  such  remains  ;  and  a  large  pile  of  the 
carved  and  moulded  stones  found  was  also  made  in  the 
centre  of  the  proposed  enclosure.  His  lordship  also 
gave  us  permission  to  fix  an  unclimbable  iron  fence, 
5  ft.  G  ins.  high,  around  the  grave  at  0  on  the  plan, 
which  has  accordingly  been  done. 

The  result  of  the  excavations,  it  is  considered,  has 
been  satisfactory — the  object  in  view  of  ascertaining 
the  size  and  style  of  the  Abbey  Church  has  been 
attained  .l 

To  the  writer — a  septuagenarian — there  was  an  inci- 

1  During  the  excavation  we  had  few  visitors  when  the  men  were 
at  work,  but  in  the  evenings,  and  particularly  on  Sundays,  crowds  of 
people  visited  the  site  and  carried  away  any  pieces  of  tile  or  stones 
they  could  find.  This  necessitated  our  taking  away  daily  all  tiles, 
carved  stones,  or  other  relics  found. 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  159 

dental  advantage.  Eight  weeks,  or  forty-eight  working 
days,  were  occupied  in  the  operations  ;  the  site  of  the 
Abbey  is  two  miles  from  his  house,  and  he  drove  his 
pony  there  (with  hardly  an  exception)  twice  a  day. 
He  generally  spent  five  hours  a  day  there  (sometimes 
more)  and  put  off  all  other  engagements.  Therefore 
he  travelled  at  least  300  miles,  and  spent  240  hours  in 
the  field.  There  was  but  one  wet  day.  The  result  of 
his  sojourn  in  the  salubrious  air  of  Strata  Marcella 
was,  that  his  health,  which  had  not  been  strong,  was 
improved,  an  intended  and  periodic  autumnal  visit  to 
Buxton  was  dispensed  with,  and  a  doctor's  bill  de- 
ferred for  an  indefinite  period. 

We  annex  Mr.   Stephen  W.  Williams's  report,  for 
which  the  Powys-land  Club  is  much  indebted  to  him. 


160  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 


EXPLANATION  OF  REFERENCES  UPON  THE  PLAN. 


PLATE  I. — GROUND  PLAN. 

A.  Pier  shown  on  plate  n,  and  in  perspective  on  plate 

in,  upper  figure.   (For  detailed  description,  see 
p.  164.) 

B.  Pier  shown  on  plate  iv,  upper  figure,  and  in  per- 

spective on  plate  v,  lower  figure  (see  p.  167). 
c.  Pier  shown  on  plate  iv,  lower  figure,  and  in  per- 
spective on  plate  v,  upper  figure  (see  p.  167). 

D.  Part   of  pier  shown  in  perspective  on  plate    in, 

second  figure  from  top  (see  p.  168). 

E.  Part  of  interior  of  north  wall,  shown  in  perspective 

on  plate  in  (see  p.  171). 

F.  Steps  to  presbytery  (see  p.  168). 

G.  Masonry  (see  p.  168). 

H.  Position     where    bones    of    infants     were    found 

(see  p.  169). 
j.   West  wall  of  tower. 
K.  East  wall  of  tower  (see  p.  169). 
L.   Masonry  in  situ  (see  p.  168). 
M.  Masonry  in  situ  (see  p.  167). 
N.  Foundation  of  modern  wall  (see  p.  164). 
o.   Grave  shown   in    perspective  on   plate    in,   lower 

figure  (see  p.  171). 
P.  Extent  of  excavations. 
Q.   (?)  Buttress  (see  p.  165). 
R.  Ditto     (seep.  165). 

S.  Foundations. 
T.   Foundation  of  thin  wall  (see  p.  168). 


STRATA    MARCELLA   ABBEY.  161 


REPORT   ON   EXCAVATIONS  AT  STRATA  MARCELLA 
ABBEY,   NEAR   WELSHPOOL. 

BY    STEPHEN    W.    WILLIAMS,    F.E.I.B.A. 


On  the  24th  of  May  1890,  I  visited  for  the  first 
time  the  site  of  the  ruined  Abbey  of  Strata  Marcel! a, 
situated  upon  the  north  bank  of  the  river  Severn,  a 
short  distance  above  Pool  Quay  weir,  and  near  to  the 
main  road  leading  from  Welshpool  to  Oswestry. 

On  that  occasion  I  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Morris 
C.  Jones,  F.S.A.,  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Powys- 
land  Club ;  his  son,  Mr.  Simpson  Jones ;  Mr.  J. 
Bickerton  Morgan  of  Welshpool,  and  Mr.  Green,  the 
tenant  of  the  farm  upon  which  the  Abbey  was  situated. 

Our  survey  that  day  was  confined  to  walking  over, 
and  a  careful  examination  of,  the  site  which  had  been 
occupied  by  this  once  important  Welsh  monastery,  an 
off-shoot  of  Whitland,  and  founded  by  Owen  Cyfeiliog, 
A.D.  1170.  Not  a  trace  of  buildings  of  any  kind 
appeared  above  ground ;  all  that  was  visible  were 
certain  irregularities  in  the  general  surface,  which 
sloped  somewhat  gradually  from  north  to  south  on 
the  northern  side  of  a  central  depression  of  consider- 
able area  ;  south  of  this  it  was  more  level,  and  still 
further  south  was  a  deep  drain,  occupying  the  line  of 
an  ancient  water-course,  and  skirting  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  site ;  this  has  been  laid  with  large 
pipes  and  partially  filled  up,  and  most  probably  had 
been  used  as  the  main  drain  into  which  the  Abbey 
sewers  had  emptied. 

Subsequently  I  learnt  that,  in  the  earlier  part  of 
the  present  century,  a  farmhouse  and  outbuildings 
had  stood  upon  a  portion  of  the  ground  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  Abbey,  and  those,  equally  with  the  church 
and  monastic  buildings,  had  totally  disappeared. 

VOL.  xxv.  M 


162  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE   SITE    OF 

Not  a  vestige  remained  of  the  Abbey  or  farmhouse  ; 
the  only  record  of  the  existence  of  the  monastery  at 
this  spot  was  in  the  name  of  the  field,  called  the 
"  Abbey  Bank",  and  the  only  traces  of  buildings 
having  stood  there,  were  the  slight  ridges,  like  terraces, 
and  the  usual  plentiful  crop  of  nettles  which  betoken 
former  human  habitation. 

On  carefully  examining  the  ground  near  two  large 
elm  trees,  one  of  our  party,  Mr.  Bickerton  Morgan, 
pointed  out  a  slab  of  stone  projecting  from  the  surface 
of  the  soil,  and  upon  clearing  this  we  found  it  was  a 
fragment  of  a  foundation  of  a  wall  bearing  due  north 
and  south. 

In  the  ruins  of  the  old  weir  near  the  site,  in  the 
bed  of  the  Severn,  we  discovered  several  fragments  of 
moulded  freestone,  and  at  Pool  Quay  Vicarage  we 
found  the  very  beautiful  carved  capital,  illustrated  on 
plate  xin,  fig.  1.  This  exquisite  specimen  of  Early 
English  foliage  apparently  formed  part  of  the  capital 
of  a  detached  shaft  carrying  the  rear  arch  of  a  lancet- 
window  ;  the  circular  portion  had  surmounted  a 
slender  shaft  of  quatrefoiled  section.  At  the  same 
time  we  also  secured  another  fragment  of  capital  of 
early  Transitional  work,  dating  probably  between  1170 
and  1190  ;  this  apparently  had  formed  part  of  a  door- 
way (plate  xn,  fig.  7). 

The  other  interesting  relic  of  the  Abbey  which  we 
saw  that  day  was  the  font  of  Buttington  Church,  and 
it  is  clearly  an  Early  English  capital  obtained  from  the 
ruins  of  Strata  Marcella,  and  converted  into  a  font. 
This  has  been  admirably  drawn  by  Mr.  W.  G.  Smith, 
and  is  illustrated  on  plate  xv.  This  capital  must  have 
surmounted  a  single  detached  shaft,  and  may  have  been 
the  central  pillar  carrying  the  groined  roof  of  the 
chapter-house.  The  foliations  of  this  capital  possess 
the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the  Early  English  period, 
viz.,  the  stiff  upright  stems  with  graceful  curling 
conventional  foliage ;  it  is  an  extremely  fine  specimen 
of  stone-carving  of  that  date,  and  a  valuable  illustra- 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  163 

tion  of  the  beauty  of  the  work  at  Strata  Marcella, 
and  proves  that  here,  as  at  Strata  Florida,  the  work- 
manship displayed  was  in  no  way  inferior  to  that  in 
the  finest  English  abbeys  of  the  same  period. 

The  carving  of  the  Buttington  font  may  be  com- 
pared with  the  capitals  from  the  Abbey  of  Cwmhir, 
illustrated  on  plate  at  page  414,  vol.  xxiv,  Mont. 
Collections,  and  it  will  be  observed  how  great  is 
the  resemblance  in  the  design  and  workmanship  in 
fig.  1  on  that  plate  with  the  sculpture  at  Strata  Mar- 
cella ;  it  would  require  no  great  stretch  of  imagination 
to  suppose  that  one  and  the  same  hand  carved  the 
work  at  both  places. 

Immediately  after  my  visit  to  Strata  Marcella,  I 
prepared  and  sent  to  Mr.  Morris  Charles  Jones,  F.S.A., 
a  short  report  of  our  inspection  of  the  site,  and  the 
conclusions  I  came  to  as  to  the  probability  of  finding 
some  remains  of  the  church  and  monastic  buildings  if 
excavations  were  undertaken. 

This  report  was  published,  together  with  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Morris  C.  Jones,  in  the  Oswestry  Advertiser 
of  June  4th,  1890,  and  also  appeared  in  "Archaeo- 
logical Notes  and  Queries"  in  the  Archceologia  Cam- 
brensis,  July  1890. 

Thanks  to  the  energy  of  Mr.  Morris  C.  Jones,  this 
resulted  in  the  raising  by  public  subscription  of  a  fund 
which  enabled  him  to  proceed  with  the  work  of 
excavation,  and  on  the  21st  of  July  we  commenced 
with  a  small  gang  of  workmen  to  break  ground.  Our 
first  opening  was  made  along  the  line  of  foundations, 
a  fragment  of  which  was  observed  on  our  first  visit 
near  to  one  of  the  elm  trees  marked  upon  the  plan ; 
this  wall  we  traced  for  a  length  of  91  ft.,  and  found 
that  it  terminated  at  its  southern  end  very  near  the 
deep  drain  before  described  ;  upon  following  it  north- 
wards, we  came  upon  a  wall  going  westwards,  and,  a 
little  further  on,  traces  of  a  second  wall  in  the  same 
direction.  Between  these  two  walls  fragments  of  en- 
caustic tiles  were  picked  up,  pieces  of  stained  glass, 

M  2 


164  EXCAVATIONS    ON   THE    SITE    OF 

and  there  were  distinct  traces  of  the  bed  of  mortar  in 
which  the  tile  paving  had  been  laid.  This  was 
evidently  a  portion  of  the  monastic  buildings,  and  we 
were  therefore  much  encouraged  when  we  discovered 
that  the  foundations  of  this  wall  on  the  eastern  side 
were  fairly  perfect  for  a  height  of  from  1ft.  to  1  ft.  Gins., 
and  hoped  that  by  following  out  the  line  of  it  we  should 
eventually  come  upon  the  chapter-house  and  line  of 
the  east  wall  of  the  south  transept ;  in  this,  however, 
we  were  disappointed ;  beyond  the  point  shown  in 
black  upon  the  plan  we  failed  to  find  any  trace  of 
foundations  in  continuation  of  the  wall  we  had  laid 
bare,  and,  after  cutting  several  cross-trenches,  we  did 
not  discover  any  further  foundations  at  this  point. 

Masses  of  fallen  stone  on  their  edges  at  the  spot 
marked  "  probable  site  of  chapter-house"  on  plan, 
appeared  to  have  formed  part  of  a  groined  roof,  but 
not  a  trace  of  groin  mould  or  foundations  did  we  find. 

Our  next  efforts  were  directed  to  ascertaining  the 
line  of  the  church,  and  assuming  that  the  depression 
in  the  surface  of  the  ground  about  the  centre  of  the 
site  indicated  the  position  of  the  cloister  garth,  a 
trench  was  driven  northwards,  commencing  a  little 
south  of  the  dotted  line  of  foundation  marked  N  on 
plan  ;  we  first  of  all  cut  through  the  foundations  of  a 
thin  wall  which  had  been  built  of  fragments  of  the  ruins, 
and  contained  moulded  freestones ;  this  was  evidently 
some  remains  of  the  farm-house  period.  A  little  further 
on  we  came  upon  a  mass  of  foundation  of  considerable 
thickness,  but  with  no  well-defined  face,  and  yet  a 
little  further  in  the  side  of  the  trench  we  discovered 
a  fragment  of  freestone  in  situ,  A,  which,  when  cleared, 
turned  out  to  be  the  only  perfect  base  of  one  of  the 
piers  of  the  nave  arcade  as  yet  discovered. 

This  was  a  most  welcome  find  ;  we  were  now  satisfied 
that  the  church  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  con- 
ventual buildings,  arid  that  the  central  depression  was 
really  the  site  of  the  cloister  garth,  and  this  was  sub- 
sequently proved  when  the  face  of  the  wall  on  the 


MOMT.  COUL.  .VOl-  XXV* 


STRATA 


\\        \\       \\     \ 


OF    PICR.  AT    A    OM  qRjOUND    PL*AN  , 


^'"""^""'  "" 


PART  OF    PteR  OR.  BUTTReSS    A.T  D   or*   PLV\N    F{*.a^v     S.SXX, 


^S?^^5^^ 


PART   OF  INT6RIOR    OF    NORTH    \«/Al_l_      AT    E     ON     FL^N  .FROM 


QRV\V€     AT    F    OK     PLWN  ,  FR.»M      N 


STRATA    MAROELLA    ABBEY.  165 

south  and  western  sides  of  the  cloister   was  followed 
and  traced. 

Continuing  our  trench  northwards,  we  came  upon 
the  line  of  the  north  wall  of  the  church,  the  found- 
ations of  which  were  less  disturbed  than  on  the  south 
side.  Our  next  step  was  to  follow  the  line  of  the 
external  face  of  the  north  wall  east  and  west,  so  as  to 
define  the  outline  of  the  church.  This  resulted  in  our 
finding  the  bases  of  the  buttresses  in  situ,  and  fairly 
perfect,  at  the  points  where  shown  on  the  plan  in 
black,  those  that  are  hatched  with  diagonal  lines  had 
disappeared,  but,  by  spacing  out  the  intervals  carefully, 
their  position  was  fixed,  and  the  six  eastward  ones  were 
found  to  be  most  exactly  spaced  from  centre  to  centre  ; 
the  four  to  the  westward  were  a  trifle  wider  apart 
and  broader. 

The  north-western  angle  of  the  church  was  found 
buried  beneath  a  great  accumulation  of  soil,  and  traces 
only  of  the  foundations  of  the  west  wall  were  dis- 
covered. There  were  indications  of  buttresses  on  the 
lines  of  the  nave  arcade  and  much  clearer  indications 
of  the  foundations  of  the  buttresses  at  the  north- 
western and  south-western  angles  ;  at  the  latter  point 
the  face  of  a  wall  pointing  somewhat  obliquely  in  a 
southern  direction  was  found.  Ihe  line  of  the  south 
wall  of  the  church  was  excavated  eastwards,  and  no 
traces  of  buttresses  could  be  found,  except  that  at  the 
point  opposite  to  the  pier  A,  the  foundation  was 
wider  than  at  the  other  points  where  the  thickness  of 
the  wall  could  be  defined,  and  where  buttresses  were 
not  likely  to  exist.  At  two  points  in  the  south  wall 
we  discovered  junctions  of  walls  going  southwards,  and 
the  eastern  one  of  these  eventually  proved  to  be  the 
western  boundary  of  the  cloister  garth,  and  is,  in  all 
probability,  the  foundation  of  the  east  wall  of  the 
cellarium  and  dorter  of  the  conversi. 

In  excavating  the  outer  face  of  the  north  wall  east- 
wards, a  line  of  wall  was  discovered  going  northwards. 
This  has  been  assumed  to  be,  and  is  shown  on  the  plan, 


166  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

as  the  western  wall  of  the  north  transept.  At  S  and 
8  foundations  of  large  flags  were  discovered,  but  no 
traces  of  lines  of  walls  ;  every  trace  of  the  walls  which 
had  stood  upon  these  had  been  cleared  away  ;  nothing 
remained  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  church  except 
the  south-eastern  angle  of  the  presbytery,  of  which  a 
small  fragment  was  found  sufficient  to  show  that  it  was 
a  portion  of  the  foundation  of  a  buttress  which  had 
escaped  the  hands  of  the  spoiler. 

This,  however,  was  a  valuable  fragment,  as  it  enables 
me  to  define  the  probable  position  of  the  presbytery, 
the  central  tower,  and  the  north  and  south  transepts, 
with  some  approach  to  accuracy,  and  to  indicate  the 
dimensions  of  the  church  of  the  Abbey  of  Strata 
Marcella. 

These  preliminary  excavations  having  been  com- 
pleted, it  was  then  decided  to  clear  the  entire  surface 
of  the  church  to  floor-level,  provided  the  funds  would 
admit  of  our  doing  so.  Unfortunately,  there  was  a 
difficulty  in  disposing  of  the  surplus  soil,  and  as  the 
excavations  proceeded  westwards  the  accumulated 
earth  which  covered  the  foundations  became  deeper, 
consequently  the  actual  space  cleared  extends  only  to 
the  dotted  line  marked  P.  Eastward  of  that  line  the 
entire  area  of  the  church  has  been  excavated  to  the 
floor-level,  and  the  interesting  fragments  of  walls,  bases 
of  shafts,  steps  and  piers,  marked  A,  B,  C,  D.  F,  G,  L, 
and  M  on  plan,  have  been  discovered. 

The  discovery  of  the  base  of  a  pier  at  A  has  been 
previously  mentioned,  and  a  careful  drawing  of  it  to 
scale  is  shown  in  plate  IT.  When  first  uncovered  it 
was  fairly  perfect,  and  is  cased  with  fine  red  sandstone, 
evidently  from  the  Shelvock  or  Grinshill  Quarries,  near 
Shrewsbury.  The  core  was  built  of  rubble  masonry  of 
local  stone. 

It  is  quite  clear,  from  the  plan  of  this  base,  that  the 
nave  piers  of  Strata  Marcella  were  of  clustered  shafts, 
and  fragments  of  these  of  various  sizes  and  dimensions 
were  found  among  the  debris  which  was  excavated. 


MONT. 


4-. 


FtCT 


MONT. COLL.  VOL  XXV. 


STRATA 


pi-  -r. 


PI6R.    >vr    C.     OH    PL.VXN 


&>.*       AT      B 


STRATA   MARCELLA    ABBEY.  167 

Traces  of  foundations  of  some  of  the  other  nave-arcade 
piers  were  found,  but  none  in  such  perfect  condition  as 
this  one,  and  it  is  most  fortunate  that  in  this  single 
instance  so  much  was  found  intact,  as  to  enable  us 
to  make  an  accurate  drawing  of  the  base. 

This  pier  is  also  illustrated  on  plate  in  in  perspective. 
At  B  we  discovered  a  portion  of  the  pulpitum,  the 
solid  stone  screen  which  divided  the  monks'  choir  from 
the  choir  of  the  conversi.  In  this  instance  we  found 
a  portion  of  the  base  moulds  of  the  south  side  of  the 
doorway  quite  perfect  and  in  situ,  never  having  been 
disturbed.  Upon  reference  to  the  view  on  plate  v  it 
will  be  observed  that  there  is  a  large,*  flat,  chamfered 
stone  on  the  west  side  of  the  pulpitum,  and  in  the 
centre  of  it  is  a  round  hole  about  three  or  four  inches 
in  diameter.  The  total  length  of  the  flat  chamfered 
stone  is  seven  feet  two  inches,  and  at  the  end  it  is  still 
two  feet  wide,  but  a  portion  has  been  broken  away  ; 
this  appears  to  me  somewhat  like  the  base  of  a  tomb. 
To  the  right  of  this  were  some  slabs  and  fragments  of 
foundations,  which  might  indicate  the  position  of  one 
of  the  altars'  in  the  choir  of  the  conversi. 

Westwards  of  this,  and  at  C  on  plan,  we  found  a 
somewhat  similar  mass  of  masonry,  but,  in  addition  to 
the  base  moulds,  a  short  length  of  the  jamb  moulds 
remained,  and  instead  of  being  on  the  south  side  of  the 
centre  line  of  the  church,  this  fragment  is  on  the  north 
side.  It  presents  many  peculiarities  ;  it  has  been  built 
upon  an  inferior  and  irregular  foundation  ;  it  does  not 
occupy  the  original  position  for  which  the  jamb  moulds 
and  base  moulds  were  .worked.  It  will  be  observed, 
upon  reference  to  the  very  accurate  illustration  on 
plate  iv,  which  Mr.  Worthington  G.  Smith  has  pre- 
pared, that  the  base  mould  is  not  continuous,  and  that 
the  jamb  moulds  do  not  fit  the  bases.  In  the  wall 
itself  are  fragments  of  mouldings  built  in,  and  when 
carefully  examined  it  is  seen  that  this  is  some  later 
addition  to  the  church.  It  looks  remarkably  like  a 
fragment  of  a  western  doorway,  inserted  when  the 


168  EXCAVATIONS    ON   THE   SITE    OF 

church  was  very  considerably  reduced  in  length,  and  at 
some  period  in  the  history  of  Strata  Marcella  when 
the  eight  western  bays  of  the  nave  arcade  may  have 
become  dilapidated  and  fallen  into  ruins — not  improb- 
ably at  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  the  Abbey  by 
Owain  Glyndwr. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  the  entrance  to  the 
choir  of  the  conversi,  erected  at  some  later  date  than 
the  screen  at  T,  of  which  we  found  the  foundations  of  a 
thin  wall,  and  at  D,  still  in  situ,  the  base  of  a  pilaster 
or  buttress,  illustrated  on  plate  in.  Unfortunately,  so 
little  is  left  in  each  of  these  cases  that  it  would  be 
presumptuous  on  my  part  to  state  absolutely  the  pur- 
poses these  fragments  originally  served,  and  to  what 
they  belonged.  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt  about 
the  pulpitum  at  B — that  is  original  masonry  in  situ  and 
untouched.  The  base  moulds  of  the  south  jamb  of  the 
entrance-door  to  the  choir  are  perfect,  and  the  levels 
indicate  a  four-inch  step  from  the  nave  to  the  level  of 
the  floor  of  the  choir. 

At  L  we  found  a  mass  of  foundations  of  a  wall  five 
feet  three  inches  thick,  which  may  be  the  base  of  a 
tomb  ;  it  comes  exactly  midway  between  the  proper 
position  of  the  two  piers  of  the  nave  arcade  ;  it  seems 
too  thick  for  the  wall,  which  in  some  instances  divides 
the  aisles  from  the  nave  in  Cistercian  churches,  a 
notable  instance  of  which  is  to  be  seen  at  Tintern 
Abbey,  and  of  which  I  also  found  traces  at  Strata 
Florida. 

At  G  another  very  puzzling  piece  of  masonry  was 
found,  the  foundations  of  a  thin  wall  running  east 
and  west,  and  upon  it  a  chamfered  and  rabbetted  sill- 
stone,  5  ft.  8  ins.  long  and  9  ins.  wide.  This  may  be 
some  later  introduction,  but  there  it  was  in  situ,  the 
top  of  the  sill  exactly  1  ft.  above  the  level  of  the 
floor  of  the  choir  as  ascertained  at  the  door  of  the 
pulpitum  B.  Eastward  of  this,  at  P,  was  a  fragment  of 
stone  step,  which  indicated  the  level  of  the  presbytery 
floor,  being  exactly  1  ft.  4  ins.  above  the  floor  of  the 


KOMT«  COIU.VOU  XXV 


STRATA    MABCELLA    ABBEY. 


169 


choir,  which  would  give  four  4-in.  steps  from  choir  to 
presbytery.  Here  the  principal  mass  of  the  fragments 
of  the  tile  pavements  was  found,  and  at  K  could  be 
traced  the  foundation  walls  which  had  carried  the 
four  steps  ;  the  front  of  the  first  step  aligned  with 
the  eastern  face  of  the  eastern  arch  of  the  central 
tow^er,  assuming  the  position  of  this  feature  to  be 
correctly  shown  on  the  plan.  It  was  in  this  part  of 
the  church  that  some  large  blocks  of  red  sandstone 
were  found,  which  Mr.  W.  G.  Smith  has  illustrated  in 
plate  vi,  fig.  1  ;  there  is  an  exactly  similar  moulding  in 
the  pier  of  the  tower  of  Chester  Cathedral  repeated 


w 

Moulding  of  Pier  of  Tower  of  Chester  Cathedral. 

three  times.  I  therefore  think  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  this  is  a  fragment  of  one  of  the  piers  of  the 
tower,  and  would,  if  arranged  as  shown  in  the  sketch, 
be  an  exact  copy  of  the  Chester  example. 

No  traces  of  transeptal  chapels  were  found,  and 
the  entire  absence  of  any  lines  of  foundations  in  this 
part  of  the  church  renders  the  plan  of  the  eastern 
portion  somewhat  problematical. 

At  H  on  plan,  Mr.  Worthington  G.  Smith  found 
interments  of  very  young  children  ;  fragments  of  bones 
of  infants  were  discovered  buried  at  this  point.  This 
is  an  exceedingly  curious  fact ;  and  may  not  this  be 


170  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

some  confirmation  of  the  scandalous  reports  set  forth 
in  the  letters  of  King  Edward  III  to  the  Abbots  of 
Clairvaux  and  Citeaux,  charging  the  monks  of  Strata 
Marcella  with  "  leading  a  fearfully  dissolute  life",  and 
which  are  quoted  in  full  at  pages  138-141  in  vol.  v, 
Montgomeryshire  Collections,  in  the  paper  on  the 
Abbey  of  Ystrad  Marchell  (Strata  Marcella),  by  Mr. 
Morris  C.  Jones,  F.S.A.? 

It  certainly  does  seem  an  extraordinary  thing  to 
find  these  infant  interments  in  a  Cistercian  abbey 
church,  and  one  would  be  glad  to  know  if  any  such  a 
fact  has  been  before  observed.  Quantities  of  human 
remains  were  discovered  scattered  among  the  debris, 
but  in  no  case  did  we  find  any  trace  of  an  interment 
in  situ  or  undisturbed,  except  those  of  children  before 
described. 

Mr.  Worthington  G.  Smith  writes  :  "  Whilst  mea- 
suring near  this  spot  I  picked  up  a  Jiumerus  (upper 
armbone)  and  femur  (thighbone)  belonging  to  a  child 
of  about  six  years  of  age  ;  on  looking  over  the  bone- 
fragments  close  by,  several  other  infantile  humeri  and 
femora  came  to  light,  some  broken  ;  eight  perfect.  On 
calling  the  gardener's  attention  to  these  small  bones,  he 
produced  what  was  to  him  a  remarkable  bone ;  it  was 
the  greater  part  of  a  child's  skull,  curiously  distorted 
and  flattened  by  post-mortem  pressure  ;  skulls  of  young 
people  are  often  so  distorted.  As  a  garden-fork  was  at 
hand,  I  asked  the  gardener  to  carefully  loosen  some  of 
the  surface  soil ;  on  this  being  done  other  infant  inter- 
ments were  seen  in  situ,  no  infant  being  over  seven 
years  ;  the  young  people  were  interred  with  adults, 
side  by  side." 

In  the  presbytery,  and  also  on  the  site  of  the  north 
transept,  a  considerable  quantity  of  encaustic  and 
incised  tiles  were  found,  and  also  here  and  there 
portions  of  the  mortar  in  which  they  were  bedded  ;  all 
the  tiles  were  in  fragments,  and  had  been  much  broken 
up  and  disturbed ;  the  patterns  and  make  of  the  tiles 
exactly  resemble  those  of  Strata  Florida,  and  only 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  171 

two  fresh  patterns  were  found,  which  are  illustrated 
on  plate  xi,  figs.  1  and  2  ;  both  these  are  heraldic 
tiles,  No.  2  being  the  arms  of  Le  Strange  of  Knockin, 
as  to  which  more  hereafter.  The  other  tiles  on  plates 
xvi  and  xvn  are  copied  from  the  drawings  I  made  of  the 
Strata  Florida  tiles  ;  see  pp.  226-27,  The  Cistercian 
Abbey  of  Strata  Florida.  Similar  tiles  were  found 
in  the  recent  excavations  at  Old  St.  Chad's  Church, 
Shrewsbury,  and  we  thus  trace  the  same  patterns 
extending  from  Shropshire  into  Wales;  and  there  seems 
little  doubt  that  they  were  of  Salopian  manufacture, 
probably  made  at  or  near  Broseley,  and  that  many  of 
the  patterns  were  stock  designs  in  common  use  at  the 
time  when  the  tiles  were  manufactured.  Even  in  the 
case  of  the  heraldic  tiles  we  find  the  same  patterns  at 
places  so  far  apart  as  Strata  Florida  and  Strata  Mar- 
cella.  These  tiles  date  about  the  middle  of  the  four- 
teenth century,  and  both  the  tiles  and  freestone  used 
at  Strata  Marcella  would  be  brought  by  barges  up  the 
river  Severn,  which  is  navigable  to  Pool  Quay,  near  the 
Abbey. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  discoveries  we  made 
was  finding,  just  beneath  the  surface  of  the  turf,  a 
grave  formed  of  flagstones  set  on  edge  at  the  point 
marked  0  on  plan,  and  illustrated  on  plate  in.  Some 
of  the  stones  actually  projected  slightly  above  the 
turf,  so  that  the  original  surface  in  this  case  had  been 
cleared  away  and  lowered.  This  grave  occupies  the 
same  position  with  reference  to  the  church  as  the  very 
interesting  series  of  monks'  graves  with  their  head- 
stones and  covering  slabs  that  were  discovered  at 
Strata  Florida,  but  in  that  case  lying  under  something 
like  eight  to  ten  feet  of  debris,  which  had  preserved 
them.  Among  the  fragments  of  carved  and  moulded 
freestone  turned  up  among  the  soil  removed,  was  found 
the  sepulchral  headstone,  fig.  4  on  plate  XI ;  this  no 
doubt  had  originally  stood  at  the  head  of  a  grave  in 
the  monks'  burial-ground,  and  is  probably  of  thirteenth 
century  workmanship.  On  plate  in  is  shown  a  portion 


172  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

of  the  north  wall,  which  was  cleared  down  to  the  floor- 
level.  This  drawing  indicates  very  accurately  the  kind 
of  masonry  used  in  the  walls,  which  internally  were 
plastered  and  whitewashed ;  it  is  of  the  local  stone 
obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Abbey,  in  all  probability 
from  a  quarry  on  the  Rhalt,  a  high,  wooded  escarpment 
of  Upper  Silurian  rock,  situated  no  great  distance  from 
the  site.  All  the  dressed  stonework  of  the  piers, 
arches,  windows,  shafts,  bases,  and  capitals  was  of  red 
or  white  Grinshill  or  Shelvock  stone,  the  red  pre- 
dominating ;  the  white  perhaps  used  in  some  of  the 
capitals,  as  the  font  of  Buttington  Church,  is  of  that 
colour,  and  some  fragments  of  carved  work  found  were 
also  in  the  white  variety  of  Grinshill  stone.  At  some 
time  in  the  history  of  the  Abbey  it  had  been  all  white- 
washed, probably  at  a  late  period,  and  after  it  had 
been  damaged  by  fire  :  this  was  the  case  at  Strata 
Florida.  Among  the  many  fragments  of  dressed  stone 
discovered,  certain  examples  were  selected  for  illus- 
tration, and  they  are  shown  on  plates  vm,  ix,  x,  and  xi. 
We  have  sections  of  arch  moulds  on  plate  vi,  figs.  4 
and  vi  ;  plate  vm,  figs.  1  and  2,  7  and  8,  and  on  plate  x, 
figs.  4,  5,  6,  and  7.  These  mouldings  consist  chiefly  of 
bold  rounds  and  deep  hollows ;  the  rounds  are,  most 
of  them,  filletted,  and  are  of  thirteenth  century  work, 
none  of  them  perhaps  much  later  than  A.D.  1250. 

Shafts  and  a  mullion  are  illustrated  on  plate  vi, 
figs.  2,  3,  and  5 — the  latter  from  a  stone  screen  or 
monument  of  decidedly  Decorated  or  early  four- 
teenth century  character  ;  on  plate  vn  we  have  jamb- 
moulds,  figs.  4,  5,  6,  and  7,  late  Transitional  and  Early 
English  types,  very  similar  in  section  to  jamb-moulds 
of  north  and  south  doors  at  Strata  Florida.  ~Figs.  4 
and  5  on  plate  vm  illustrate  an  exceedingly  clever 
fragment  of  mason's  work,  the  section  showing  an 
outline  similar  to  fig.  7  on  plate  vn. 

Part  of  a  window-head  grooved  for  glazing,  and  a 
window-sill,  is  shown  on  plate  ix,  figs.  6  and  7.  On 
this  plate  we  have  a  piece  of  coping  and  part  of  the 


STRYVTA    A\*RC€LU«A 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  173 

moulding  round  the  inside  of  a  window.  Base  moulds 
are  illustrated  on  plate  iv  ;  plate  vn,  figs.  8  and  9  ;  and 
these  are  all  of  late  twelfth  century  style.  There  is 
also  an  early  base,  which  has  been  reworked  and  used 
in  a  cusped  arch  mould  ;  the  base  is  Early  English,  the 
arch  mould  Decorated,  a  period  of  probably  seventy  or 
eighty  years  elapsing  between  the  time  when  the  stone 
was  first  used  and  the  date  when  it  was  reworked. 

On  plate  Vin  are  shown  two  fragments  of  geometrical 
tracery  not  grooved  for  glass,  which  may  have  formed 
part  of  the  cloister  arcade.  Fig.  1,  plate  vn,  shows  an 
abacus  of  early  type — in  fact,  the  earliest  fragment 
found — and  may  have  formed  part  of  the  capital  of  one 
of  the  doorways. 

On  plate  xi  is  an  interesting  little  fragment,  fig.  9, 
which  probably  was  part  of  a  monument  or  shrine  of 
early  fourteenth  century  date.  Figs.  7  and  8,  on  the 
same  plate,  show  part  of  a  weather-stone,  and  gives  the 
pitch  of  some  roof;  it  is  difficult  to  say  to  what  pur- 
pose the  fragment  of  cylindrical  stone  was  applied  ; 
it  might  have  formed  part  of  a  chimney. 

The  fragments  of  carved  stonework  found  are  illus- 
trated in  plates  XTH  and  xiv  ;  fig.  1,  on  plate  xm,  is  the 
Early  English  capital  found  in  the  weir  in  the  Severn, 
and  removed  to  Pool  Quay  Vicarage,  before  referred  to  ; 
figs.  2,  3,  4,  and  5  are  all  of  the  same  period ;  fig.  7 
is  more  of  Transitional  character  and  earlier,  and  this, 
and  some  of  the  fragments  shown  on  plate  xir,  have  a 
striking  resemblance  to  some  of  the  carved  work  found 
at  Strata  Florida.  The  groin  boss,  fig.  2  on  plate  xn, 
is  a  fragment  of  a  very  fine  piece  of  work,  probably 
early  thirteenth  century. 

The  only  fragment  found  of  an  inscribed  sepulchral 
slab  is  shown  on  plate  xu,  fig.  11  ;  unfortunately,  it 
was  too  much  weatherworn  to  make  out  more  than 
the  letters  H  I  c,  and  traces  of  the  ornamental  border. 

On  plate  xiv  are  shown  some  of  the  miscellaneous 
finds.  Figs.  2,  10,  and  11,  fragments  of  stained  glass 
in  the  original  leading  ;  figs.  7  and  9,  also  fragments  of 


174  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

stained  glass,  the  former  with  part  of  an  inscription  on 
it  in  thirteenth  century  characters  ;  the  latter  has  on  it, 
very  faintly  visible,  a  Maltese  cross.  Figs.  1  and  8  are 
small  fragments  of  bronze  or  laten  ;  fig.  3,  a  die  or 
stamp  ;  fig.  4,  a  strip  of  thin  silver  plate,  gilt,  with 
dots  on  it,  apparently  part  of  the  binding  of  a  book  ; 
and  lastly,  fig.  5,  a  flint-flake  of  prehistoric  age,  a  relic 
of  a  far  earlier  race  than  the  founders  of  Strata  Mar- 
cella  Abbey. 

The  masons'  marks,  illustrated  on  plate  xvn,  may  be 
compared  with  those  found  at  Strata  Florida.  Nos.  2, 
4,  6,  10,  11,  and  possibly  12,  correspond  with  marks 
upon  the  dressed  stone  of  the  Cardiganshire  abbey, 
and  the  men  who  used  these  trade  symbols  may  have 
worked  at  both  places,  as  the  works  during  a  long 
period  must  have  progressed  simultaneously — Rhys 
ap  Gruffydd  refounding  Strata  Florida  in  1164,  and 
Owen  Cyfeiliog  founding  Strata  Marcella  in  1170. 
In  all  probability,  Strata  Florida  was  the  sooner  com- 
pleted of  the  two ;  there  is  but  little  Early  English 
work  there  except  in  the  chapter-house,  whilst  at 
Strata  Marcella  it  predominates  ;  and  of  the  scanty 
fragments  we  have  discovered,  but  little  is  of  early 
Transitional  type.  We,  however,  get  it  in  the  forms 
of  the  bases  of  the  buttresses  in  the  north  wall,  and  a 
somewhat  later  type  in  the  bases  of  the  shafts  of  the 
pulpitum  door. 

So  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  it  would  appear  that 
the  work  done  subsequently  to  the  foundation  of  the 
Abbey  in  1170  must  have  progressed  very  slowly,  and 
that  the  church  could  not  have  been  finished  until 
seventy  or  eighty  years  subsequent  to  the  date  of  Owen 
Cyfeiliog's  first  charter  ;  and  it  appears  from  the  frag- 
ments that  we  have  found,  that  the  nave-arcades  were 
of  Early  English  work,  dating  about  the  earlier  part 
of  the  thirteenth  century. 

With  reference  to  the  dimensions  of  the  church,  the 
following  table  will  enable  a  comparison  to  be  made 
with  the  more  important  ecclesiastical  buildings  in 
Wales. 


STRATA   MARCELLA    ABBEY. 


175 


t 

•g 

"o-tf 

..si 

o  -"3  . 

0  « 

g|   ^ 

•s 

"o 

jl  o> 

1=1 

al.3| 

£  §* 

"o  §  * 

5  -53 

±2  -r? 

Name. 

H 

W)  a 

tl 

®  ^  o 

c'j 

'O   O 

EH 

I; 

II' 

!|f 

J 

!^ 

3° 

I? 

ft.  .  ins. 

ft.   ins. 

ft.   ins. 

ft.   ins. 

ft.  ins. 

ft.  ins. 

ft.  ins. 

ft.  ins. 

Strata  MarcellaAbbey1 
Strata  Florida  Abbey 

273     0 
213     0 

201  0 
132  6 

62    0 
61     0 

96  0 
117  3 

30  0 

28  0 

30  0 

28  0 

72  0 
52  6 

30  0 

28  0 

Cwmhir  Abbey2 



242  0 

69  10 

135  8 

32  0 

— 

— 

— 

St.  David's  Cathedral3 

208  10 

127  4 

51     3 

116  0 

27  3 

27  0 

53  6 

30  3 

St.  Asaph  Cathedral... 

— 

86  0 

68    0 

108  0 

— 

29  6 

— 

— 

Bangor  Cathedral    ... 

— 

116  0 

60    0 

96  0 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Llandaff  Cathedral4... 



107  0 

70    0 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Brecon  Priory  Church 

170    0 

107  0 

34     0 

114  0 

— 

29  0 

34  0 

29  0 

Neath  Abbey 

~~ 

110  0 

— 

110  0 

" 

~ 

_ 

It  will  be  seen,  upon  reference  to  the  figures,  that 
in  point  of  length  of  nave  Strata  Marcella  takes  rank 
after  Cwmhir  Abbey,  and  in  other  dimensions  it 
exceeds  in  size  most  of  the  great  churches  of  the 
Principality. 

I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  original  design  of 
the  church  was  shorter,  and  that  the  four  western 
bays  of  the  nave-arcade  were  a  later  addition ;  the 
buttresses  on  the  north  wall,  opposite  the  three  western 
piers,  are  wider  than  those  to  the  eastward,  and  are 
also  spaced  a  little  further  apart. 

The  west  front  of  a  Cistercian  church  was  generally 
aligned  pretty  nearly  with  the  west  wall  of  the 
cellarium  and  dorter  of  the  conversi ;  in  this  case  it 
extends  exactly  the  length  of  the  four  bays  westward 
of  that  line. 

Of  the  conventual  buildings  but  very  little  was 
excavated,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  these  too  may 
be  thoroughly  explored  ;  the  expense  of  doing  so  would 
not  be  great,  and  it  would  be  most  satisfactory  if  the 
remainder  of  the  surface  within  the  walls  of  the 
church  was  cleared  to  floor-level,  and  the  site  of  the 
cloister  garth  and  domestic  buildings  of  the  monastery 

1  Some  of  these  dimensions  are  approximate. 

2  Never  completed. 

3  As  built  by  Bishop  Peter  de  Leia. 

4  No  transepts. 


176  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE   SITE    OF 

laid  bare.  If  this  is  done,  the  whole  of  the  surplus 
soil  and  debris  should  be  entirely  cleared  away  ;  in  a 
short  time  the  surface  would  become  covered  with 
turf,  the  foundations  of  the  various  buildings,  piers, 
buttresses,  etc.,  would  then  be  seen  just  above  the 
surface,  and  if  fenced  in  and  properly  preserved,  would 
rescue  from  oblivion  what  still  remains  of  one  of  the 
great  Cistercian  houses  of  Wales. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  add  that  though  what  has  been 
already  discovered  may  appear  but  trifling,  as  compared 
with  the  result  of  excavations  at  other  monastic  ruins 
in  Wales  and  elsewhere,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
even  the  site  of  Strata  Marcella  was  doubtful,  and 
that  the  little  that  has  been  done  has  enabled  us  to 
define  the  position  of  the  Abbey,  and,  to  a  large  extent, 
recover  the  plan  and  dimensions  of  its  church,  which, 
when  it  stood  complete  in  all  its  beauty,  was,  in  all 
probability,  a  magnificent  specimen  of  Early  English 
architecture,  and  in  no  way  inferior  to  some  of  the 
greater  English  monastic  churches. 

STEPHEN  W.  WILLIAMS,  F.R.LB.A. 

February  1891. 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  177 


EXPLANATIONS  OF  REFERENCES  TO  PLATES 
AND  NOTES. 


PLATS  II. 

See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  (p.  165  supra.) 
Base  of  pier  on  ground  plan  at  A. 

PLATE  III. 

Upper  figure. — Base  of  pier  at  A  on  ground  plan, 
sketched  from  north-west. 

Second  figure. — Part  of  pier  or  buttress  on  D  on 
ground  plan,  sketched  from  the  south-west. 

Third  figure  from  top. — The  part  of  "the  interior 
of  the  north  wall  at  E  is  the  only  part  of  the  interior 
wall  of  the  church  which  is  extant.  It  shows  that  it 
has  been  whitewashed.  From  this  it  may  be  inferred 
that  the  interior  walls  were  built  of  the  common  stone 
of  the  neighbourhood  and  had  been  plastered."  See 
Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  this  wall  on  page  171. 

Fourth  figure  from  top. — See  Mr.  Williams's  obser- 
vations (p.  171  supra). 

The  "  Monk's  Grave"  at  0  on  ground  plan  is 
formed  by  flags  on  their  edges,  and  is  only  1  ft.  deep  ; 
one  of  the  stones  on  the  edge  was  actually  on  the 
surface,  and  was  covered  with  moss  or  lichen.  It  is 
6  ft.  long  and  2  ft.  wide  at  western  end,  and  nar- 
rowing to  1  ft.  6  ins.  at  east  end.  Graves  something 
similar  were  discovered  on  the  site  of  Old  St.  Chad's, 
Shrewsbury,  but  not  built  with  such  rough  and  un- 
worked  stones.  (Transactions  of  Shropshire  Archaeo- 
logical Society,  2nd  Series,  vol.  ii,  p.  367.) 

A  large  quantity  of  bones,  which  seem  as  if  they 
had  been  previously  disturbed,  were  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood.  Only  a  small  thigh-bone  was  found  in 
this  grave.  To  protect  the  grave  it  has  been  sur- 
rounded by  an  unclimbable  iron  railing,  5  ft.  6  ins. 
high. 

VOL.  XXV.  N 


178  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

This  is  the  only  grave  of  the  sort  found  here.  It 
must  have  been  the  resting-place  of  some  one  of  dis- 
tinction, and  the  question  arises,  Whose  tomb  could 
it  have  been  ? 

The  Brut-y-Saeson  records  the  death  of  Owen 
Cyfeiliog  thus  : — 

"  Anno  1197,  having  taken  upon  him  the  habit  of  religion, 
died  Owen  Cyfeiliog,  and  was  buried  at  Ystrad  Marchell." 

Perhaps  we  may  be  forgiven  if  we  recall  what  we 
wrote  twenty  years  ago,  bearing  upon  this  subject  : 

"  His  having  been  buried  in  the  Abbey  is  an  interesting  fact,  which 
we  trust  may  lead  to  a  search  being  made  on  the  site  o'f  the  Abbey — 
now  a  mere  pasture — for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the  stone  coffin1 
which  probably  contained  the  remains  of  the  venerable  founder.  At 
his  death  he  must  have  been  of  great  age,  as  he  succeeded  his  grand- 
father, Prince  Meredydd>  in  1130,  and  died  1197;  and  as  a  great 
warrior  and  bard  he  found  a  fitting  resting-place  in  the  confines  of  the 
house  which  he  had  dedicated  to  God.  He  was  a  liberal  patron  of 
the  bards  of  his  time,  and,  among  the  rest,  of  Cynddelw,  who  (tradi- 
tion says)  lived  at  Pentre  Mavvr,  near  Tafolwern." 

Why  did  Owen  Cyfeiliog  take  the  cowl  ?  Possibly 
the  reason  may  be  found  in  the  following  circum- 
stance. 

"In  1188,  when  Baldwin,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  made  a 
visitation  of  Wales,  for  the  purpose  of  preaching  the  Crusade,  and 
celebrated  Mass  in  all  the  cathedrals,  which  had  never  been  done  by 


1  Here  we  assumed  that  such  a  mode  of  sepulture  would  be  appropriate 
to  his  rank  as  a  prince,  but  we  did  not  pay  due  weight  to  the  fact  that  he 
had  become  a  monk.  We  find,  however,  that  Mr.  S.  W.  Williams  does 
not  take  our  view,  and  that  he  thinks  that  Owen  Cyfeiliog  would  be  buried 
inside  the  Abbey,  although  we  have  not  found  his  grave.  The  following 
extract,  which  he  quotes  from  Powell's  History  of  Wales,  p.  220,  certainly 
shows  the  general  practice  :  "  A.D.  1200.  The  following  year  Gruffydh  ap 
Conan  ap  Owen  Gwynedh  died,  and  was  buried  in  a  monk's  cowl  in  the  Abbey 
of  Conway,  which  way  of  burying  was  very  much  practised  (especially  by  the 
better  sort),  in  those  days ;  for  the  monks  and  friars  had  deluded  the  people 
into  a  strong  conceit  of  the  merits  of  it,  and  had  firmly  persuaded  them  it  was 
highly  conducive  to  their  future  happiness  to  be  thus  interred.  But  this 
superstition,  together  with  the  propagators  of  it,  they  had  lately  received 
from  England,  for  the  first  abbey  or  monastery  we  read  of  in  Wales,  since  the 
destruction  of  that  famous  house  of  Bangor,  which  savoured  of  Romish 
dregs,  was  the  Ty-Gwyn  built  in  the  year  1116,  after  which  they  mightily 
increased  and  spread  over  all  the  country." 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  179 

either  of  his  predecessors,  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  welcomed 
by  Owen.  G-iraldus,  who  accompanied  the  prelate  in  his  tour, 
informs  us  that  after  Easter,  in  that  year,  he  came  with  his  retinue 
from  Oswestry  to  Slopesbury  (Shrewsbury),  where  they  remained  some 
days  to  refresh  themselves  ;  and  many  assumed  the  cross  in  obedience 
to  the  precepts  of  the  Archbishop,  and  the  gracious  sermons  of  the 
Archdeacon  of  St.  David's.  Here,  also,  they  excommunicated  Owen 
de  Cyfeiliog,  because  he  alone  of  all  the  Welsh  princes  had  not 
advanced  to  meet  the  Archdeacon."1 

"  After  this,"  it  is  added,  "  we  hear  no  more  of  Owen  Cyfeiliog 
until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1197." 

The  announcement  in  the  Chronicles  of  his  death, 
for  the  first  time  reveals  the  fact  of  his  having 
assumed  the  habit  of  religion,  and  is  it  not  probable 
that  he  took  that  step  to  make  peace  with  the  Church, 
and  to  have  the  ban  of  excommunication  removed  \ 
As  a  Prince,  and  as  founder  of  the  Abbey,  his  sepulchre 
might  be  expected  to  have  been  near  the  high 
altar.  But  none  was  found  there.  On  becoming  a 
simple  monk  he  would  lay  down  his  princely  rank  and 
dignity,  and  be  interred  in  the  monks'  burial-ground  ; 
nevertheless,  it  is  natural  to  expect  that  some  distinc- 
tion would  be  allowed  for  him  as  the  founder  of  the 
monastery.  Our  conjecture  is  that  this  rude  grave, 
which  has  survived  seven  centuries,  may  be  his  lowly 
resting-place. 

The  following  incident  shows  the  means  which  the 
monks  of  this  Abbey  did  not  hesitate  to  use  to  enforce 
compliance  with  their  wishes  or  demands.  Within 
three  years  after  Owen  Cyfeiliog's  death,  Cynddelw, 
the  celebrated  bard,  and  (as  before  mentioned)  a 
protege  of  Owen  Cyfeiliog,  had  a  contention  with  the 
monks  of  this  monastery.  When  threatened,  in  his 
mortal  illness,  with  excommunication  by  the  Abbot, 
and  being  told  that  if  anathematised  he  could  not  be 
buried  in  consecrated  ground,  he  replied  by  the  follow- 
ing stanza,  which  has  received  much  admiration,  and 
which  testifies  to  the  irreconcilable  discord  which 
prevailed  between  the  bards  and  the  "  religious": 

1  Mont.  Coll.,  i,  p.  10. 

N  2 


180  EXCAVATIONS    ON   THE   SITE    OF 

"  Cen  i  bai  amnod  dyfod  im  herbyn 
A  Duw  gwyn  yn  g  wy  bod 
Oedd  iawnach  i  fyn  ach  fod 
Im  gwrthfyn  nag  im  gwrthod." 

"  Since  against  me  no  covenant  can  be  shown, 

As  the  pure  God  well  knows, 
Becoming  were  it  for  the  monks 
To  ask,  not  to  reject  me." 


PLATE   IV. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  p.  167  supra.) 
Upper  Illustration. — Plan  of  pier  at  B  on  plan. 
This  seems  in  situ. 

A.  This  stone  is  lower  in  the  ground  than   the  base 
moulding. 

F.  Section  of  base  mouldings,  twice  the   size  of  plan. 

Plan  of  pier  at  C  on  plan.     The  pier  has  all 

been  rebedded. 

Lower  Illustration. — Pier  at  C  on  plan. 
On    bottom    of    west    side,    north    corner,   there    is 

an  arch  mould    used  as   a  base  of  foundation. 

The   dotted   lines    show  jamb-mouldings    mis- 
placed on  bases. 
D.  is  repetition  of  c.     One  should  surmount  the  other. 

Stone  marked  E  is  relaid  and  false  bedded. 
Stone  B.    This  stone  is  lower  in  the  ground  than  the 

base  mouldings. 

G.  Sectron  of  base  mouldings,  twice  the  size  of  plan. 


PLATE  V. 

Upper  figure. — Perspective  view  of  pier  at  C  on 
plan  and  part  of  interior  of  north  wall  -  in  distance 
where  lettered  ;  shown  on  large  scale  on  plate  in.  The 
projecting  square  stone  at  the  eastern  end  of  wall  is 
not  indicated  on  plan. 

Lower  figure. — Pier,  etc.,  at  B  on  plan,  with  stone 
grave  in  distance  where  lettered. 


STRATA    MAECELLA    ABBEY.  181 

PLATE  VI. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these  on  pp.  169 

and  172  supra.} 

Fig.  1.  Moulded  stonework  probably  from  Tower  piers, 
similar  to  Chester  Cathedral. 

2.  Column  from  angle  of  door  or  window,  one  of  a 

great  number. 

3.  Part  of  pier. 

4.  Jamb  of  door  (?)  or  part  of  arch  mould. 

5.  Part  of  arch  mould. 

6.  Mullion. 

PLATE  VII. 

(See  Mr.    Williams's   observations  on  these  on  pp, 

172-3  supra.) 
Fig.  1.  Abacus  mouldings. 

2.  Abacus  from  underneath. 

3.  Portion  of  octagonal  abacus  from  underneath. 

4.  Jamb  mouldings. 

5.  Do. 

6.  Do. 

7.  Do. 

8.  Base  of  column. 

9.  Bases  of  columns. 

PLATE  VIII. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these  stones  on 

p.  173  supra.) 
Fig.  1.  Mouldings  of  great  arch,  %.  2. 

2.  Great  arch. 

3.  Section  of  tracery  ;  no  groove  for  glass. 

4.  Part  of  tracery. 

5.  Section  of  tracery  above. 

6.  Part  of  tracery  ;  no  groove  for  glass. 

7.  Jamb. 

8.  Keystone  of  arch  ;  detail  above,  fig.  2. 

9.  Tracery  ;  no  groove  for  glass. 

10.  Window  tracery  with  orifice  for  iron  bar — one 
of  several. 


182  EXCAVATIONS   ON    THE   SITE    OF 

PLATE  IX. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these  on  p.  172 

supra,) 

Figs.  1,  2.  Coping  of  a  monument  or  screen.    One  piece 
of  this  coping  is  returned  as  shown  on  fig.  2. 

3.  Head  of  door. 

4.  Plan  of  window-sill,  one  of  two,  with  irregular 

mouldings  as  drawn. 

5.  Elevation  of  above. 

6.  Window  mouldings,  with  groove  for  glass. 

7.  Window  sill  of  one  stone,  but  broken  in  two. 

PL.ATE  X. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these  on  p.  172 

supra. ) 

Figs.   1,  2,  3.  Stone  carved  on  three  sides,   old  base 
mouldings,  re-carved  and  re-used  as  an  arch. 

4,  String  mould  of  arch  of  large  size,  bed  line, 

straight. 

5.  Other  mouldings  following  same  curve,  f  inch 

in  21  inches. 

6.  Another  following  the  same  curve. 

7,  Arch  mouldings  of  different  curve.     Note  the 

two  sides  are  different,  as  seen  in  section. 

PLATE  XI. 

(See Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these,  p.  1 73  supra.) 

Figs,  1  and  2.— These  two  tiles  are  mentioned  with 
the  other  tiles  illustrated  on  plates  xvi  and  xvn. 

Fig,  3.  Part  of  a  cylinder  of  stone.  Could  this  be 
part  of  a  circular  chimney-shaft  ? 

Other  stones  of  a  similar  character,  but  externally 
forming  a  hexagon,  and  internally  a  circular  tunnel  or 
shaft,  were  found  in  1881,  under  the  following  circum- 
stances : 

On  December  7th,  188 1,1  Pool  Quay  Weir,  on  the 
river  Severn,  and  near  the  site  of  the  Abbey,  and 
which  had  been  erected  by  the  monks,  and  had  pro- 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xv,  p.  200. 


MOMT.COUL.VOt-  XXV 


MONT,  COUU.VOU  XXV 


ST  RV?  T-A 


PL-  10. 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  183 

bably  been  since  repaired  with  stones  from  the  Abbey, 
was  swept  away  by  a  flood,  and  the  water  above  the 
weir  was  quickly  reduced  to  a  level  with  the  water 
below — a  fall  of  9  or  10  feet.  This  catastrophe  had 
a  remarkable  effect  in  many  ways ;  amongst  others, 
it  laid  open  to  view  several  interesting  pieces  of  the 
Abbey  stone  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  close  to  the  site 
of  the  Abbey.  Three  of  these  stones  are  of  the 
same  thickness,  and  their  exterior  sides  would,  if 
they  were  quite  perfect,  form  a  hexagon,  the  inner 
side  of  each  being  curved,  so  that  when  the  stones 
are  placed  together1  they  form  a  circular  tunnel  or 
shaft.  One  stone  represented  in  the  plan  is  perfect, 
the  others  are  fragments  only  of  stones  of  similar  size 
and  shape.  The  perfect  stone  is  15  inches  on  its 
largest  exterior  side,  and  7^  inches  on  its  two  short 
exterior  sides,  and  forms  one-third  of  a  hexagon.  It  is 
7^  inches  thick.  There  is  an  appearance  of*  the  action 
of  fire-smoke  on  most  of  the  stones.  Subsequently, 
there  were  found  two  more  stones  of  the  same 
dimensions,  except  being  12  inches  thick  ;  these 
evidently  formed  parts  of  another  layer  or  course  ; 
and  also  stones  of  a  third  layer,  but  only  3^  inches 
thick. 

The  suggestion  was  made  by  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Hill, 
formerly  Vicar  of  Welshpool,  that  these  stones  formed 
part  of  a  hexagonal  chimney-shaft,  formed  of  beds  or 
layers  of  three  stones  ;  which  suggestion  was  con- 
firmed by  two  architects  to  whom  the  plan  was  shown. 
One  of  the  architects  thought  that  the  diameter  of 
the  tunnel  or  shaft  being  18  inches  would  imply  a 
chimney-shaft  of  some  important  room,  "  There  are 
(he  added)  a  quantity  of  octagonal  stone  shafts  form- 
ing the  chimneys  of  the  vicars'  houses  in  Wells,  but 
the  tunnels  are  not  more  than  1  foot  or  10  inches 
in  diameter.  They  are  engraved,  with  full  details,  in 
Pugin's  Examples,  No  doubt  this  Strata  Marcella 
chimney  was  about  the  same  date,  viz.,  the  last 
quarter  of  the  fourteenth  century." 
1  See  Flans,  ibid. 


184  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

The  other  architect  thought  "  that  the  dimensions 
and  general  character  of  the  shaft  would  assimilate  to 
that  of  the  kitchen  chimney-shaft  of  the  Vicar's  Close 
at  Wells".  The  conclusion  was  come  to  that  the 
chimney-shaft,  of  which  these  stones  formed  a  part, 
belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Strata  Marcella,  and  was 
the  most  suggestive  of  any  that  had  there  been  found  of 
that  utterly  destroyed  building.  Whether  they,  or  the 
stone,  fig.  3  (plate  xi),  are  sufficient  to  indicate  the 
date  and  character  of  the  Abbey  buildings  must  be 
left  to  experienced  archaeologists  to  decide,  as  well  as 
the  question  whether  the  hexagonal  form  of  the 
chimney  is  a  feature  from  which  any  inference  can  be 
drawn.1 
Fig.  4,  Head-stone  of  grave  with  a  sculptured  cross. 

5  and  6.  Part  of  hood-mould. 

7  and  8,  A  stone  indicating  old  angle  of  roof;  the, 
fillet  projects  2f  inches,  and  the  angle  is.  45-' 
deg,  7  is  section ;  8,  elevation. 

9.  Part  of  a  monument  or  screen  in  white  free- 
stone. 

PLATE  XII. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these,  pp.  162 

and  173  supra.) 

All  the  fragments  of  sculptured  stones  were  found 
during  the  excavation  among  the  debris  removed. 
Fig.  1.   Part  of  a  small  capital. 

2.  Part  of  a  richly  carved  boss  of  a  groined  stone 

roof. 

3.  Part  of  a  narrow  frieze  mould,  or  fragment  of 

capital. 

4.  Part  of  capital. 

5.  Part  of  a  richly  carved  large  capital. 

6.  Part  of  a  grotesque  face  in  freestone. 

7.  Part  of  capital. 

1  It  has  been  suggested  that  the  hexagonal  stones  would  fit  on  to 
circular  ones,  in  which  case  the  lower  part  of  the  chimney  would  be 
circular  and  the  upper  part  hexagonal. 


Ut-.  VQ4.  XXV 


STR^ATA 


7 


"PL.  13, 


STRATA   MARC  ELL  A    ABBEY.  185 

•*, 

Fig.  8.  Part  of  capital. 
9.       Do. 

10.  Do. 

11.  Part  of  inscribed  and    ornamented  sepulchral 
slab  found  near  the  south  wall.      There  are 
signs  of  other  lettering,  which,  however,  are 
too  far  worn  to  be  legible. 

12.  Part  of  angle  of  capital  similar  to  some  found  at 

Strata  Florida. 

PLATE  XIII. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations  on  these,  pp.  162 
and  173  supra.) 

Fig.  1.  This'  carved  capital  was  found  some  years 
ago  by  the  Re  /.  Aug.  Field  in  the  weir  in  the  Severn, 
immediately  bielow  the  Abbey,  and  was  left  by  him  at 
Pool  Quay  Vicarage.  When  we  were  arranging  for 
the  excavations,  Rev.  R.  J.  Roberts,  the  present  vicar 
of  Pool  Quay,  kindly  presented  this  capital  to  the 
Powys-land  Museum,  also  the  fragment  of  carved 
stone,  No.  7,  plate  xn,  which  Mr.  Roberts  thought 
was  possibly  Norman. 

2,  3,  4.  Portions  of  capitals. 

Fig.  5.  This  capital  also  was  found  some  time  ago, 
and  removed  to  the  Coppy  Farm.  When  the  exca- 
vations were  proceeding,  the  tenant  presented  it  to 
Mrs.  Addie,  who  kindly  resigned  it  to  the  Museum. 

The  others,  2,  3,  4,  6,  and  7,  portions  of  carved 
capitals,  were  found  during  the  excavations. 

6  and  7.  Portions  of  flat  frieze,  probably  capital  of 
square  pier. 

PLATE  XIV  (all  full  size). 

(See  Mr.  Williams's   observations  on   these,  p.  173 

supra.) 
Fig.  1.  Object  in  bronze. 

2.  Glass  in  lead. 

3.  White  mould. 


186  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

* 

4.  Thin  strip  of   silver-gilt,   possibly  part   of  the 
binding  of  a  service  book. 

5.  Flint  flake,  white,  grey,  and  lustrous  ;  probably 
palaeolithic,  according  to  Mr.  Worthirigton  G.  Smith  ; 
it  is  in  the  same  mineral  condition  as  Fynnon  Beuno 
cave  flakes. 

6.  Bronze,  query  rim  of  a  paten  (?). 

7.  Glass  in  lead,  with  two  letters  on  the  glass. 

8.  Object  made  of  lead. 

9.  Roundel  of  glass ;  originally  had  a  cross  upon  it, 
but  the  gum  used  to  keep  it  together  has  obscured  it. 

10.  Glass  in  lead. 

11.  Glass  in  lead, 

PLATE  XV. 

(See  Mr.  Williams's  observations,  p.  162.) 
Buttington  Font. — This  font  is  in  Buttington  Church, 
which  is  about  a  mile  from  the  Abbey,  but  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river  Severn.  The  font  was 
always  reputed  "  to  have  been  formed  out  of  one  of 
the  columns  in  the  Abbey  church.  It  had,  until  the 
year  1838,  when  the  church  was  restored,  remained 
covered  with  plaster,  which  was  stripped  off,  and  the 
bold  and  deeply  carved  foliage  came  to  light."1 

Mr.  Worthington  G.  Smith  thinks  it  may  possibly 
have  been  the  capital  of  a  central  octagonal  shaft  of  an 
octagonal  chapter-house. 

The  following  interesting  remarks  were  made  by 
the  Rev.  J.  Parker  (of  Sweeney  Hall)  Rector  of 
Llanyblodwel,  Salop,  in  his  Architectural  Drawings, vol. 
ii,  p.  85  (which  are  now  in  the  possession  of  his  nephew, 
Stanley  Leighton,  Esq.,  M.P.,  of  Sweeney  Hall)  :— 

"  This  beautiful  relic  of  ancient  art  was  until  1838  so  thickly 
coated  with  plaster  and  whitewash,  that  its  elegance  remained 
a  secret,  and  the  '  celata  virtus'  was  very  near  being  thrown 
away  as  rubbish.  It  is  a  most  exquisite  though  damaged  font 
of  the  thirteenth  century,  carved  with  scrupulous  adherence  to 
style,  and  containing  three  rows  of  Gothic  foliage,  arranged  in 
a  way  that  no  sculptor  could  venture  to  improve.  The  general 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xiv,  p.  2,  also  note  1. 


MONT-  CTH.U  .VOL  XXV, 


9, 


-iloor. 


FONT- BVTT1NCTON   CM. 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  187 

design  has  a  resemblance  to  the  capital  and  base  of  a  Gothic 
pillar,  the  shaft  being  of  course  omitted.  The  curling  foliage, 
of  which  the  central  row  bends  in  a  different  direction  from 
those  above  and  below  it,  conveys  a  beautiful  effect  of  move- 
ment, and  is  like  the  branches  of  a  tree  or  the  leaves  of  a  plant, 
swaying  to  and  fro  in  the  wind.  The  pedestal  on  which  it  has 
been  raised  has,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  been  retouched,  and  some- 
what altered.  The  drawing,  from  which  the  engraving  in 
vol.  i  of  Mont.  Coll.  is  taken,  represents  it  as  it  was  ;  there  are 
two  blocks  of  pale  red  sandstone,  such  as  the  neighbourhood 
affords,  but  the  third,  which  contains  the  bowl  of  the  font  and 
the  octagon  around  which  the  foliage  is  carved,  is  of  a  cream- 
coloured  freestone,  and  came  either  from  Grinshill,  near  Salop, 
or  the  quarries  of  Khuabon.  The  contemplation  of  this  present 
fragment,  so  long  concealed,  and  now  so  happily  rescued  from 
destruction,  can  hardly  fail  to  produce  a  degree  of  sadness  in 
the  mind  of  the  spectator.  If  the  remnants  of  Grecian  art 
are  carefully  preserved  and  valued  more  than  the  smoothest 
production  of  the  modern  artist;  if  the  spirit  of  their  work- 
manship is  discovered  in  spite  of  injuries  done  by  time  or 
violence,  how  much  more  highly  should  we  value  a  work  of 
sacred  art  where  human  talent  of  the  highest  order  has  been 
employed  in  providing  for  the  due  celebration  of  a  sacrament." 

From  these  remarks  it  may  be  inferred  that  this 
able  amateur  architect  considers  this  fine  work  of 
ancient  art  had  originally  been  a  font,  and  that  he 
had  not  heard  of  the  tradition  of  its  having  been 
originally  part  of  a  column  from  this  Abbey  church. 


NOTES   ON   THE    TILES   FOUND. 


PLATES  XI,  XVI,  AND  XVII. 

During  the  excavations,  a  large  number  of  tiles  and  fragments 
of  tiles  were  found,  of  various  colours  and  patterns,  which  are 
now  placed  in  the  Powys-land  Museum  ;  very  few  tiles  were 
perfect  •  most  of  them  were  found  in  the  east  end  of  the 
church — chiefly  in  the  presbytery — but  fragments  were  found 
in  every  part  of  the  church  that  was  explored. 

The  two  plates,  xvt  and  xvn,  give  fifteen  patterns  of  tiles,  of 
which  we  found  examples  at  Strata  Marcella.  All  these 


188  EXCAVATIONS    OK   THE    SITE    OP 

patterns  were  also  found  at  Strata  Florida  Abbey,  and  some  of 
them  at  Welshpool  Church. 

None  of  the  tiles  found  at  Strata  Marcella  appeared  to  be  in 
the  position  in  which  they  were  originally  laid  :  wherever  any 
were  found  together  they  were  not  arranged  in  any  order. 

We  refer  to  Mr.  Williams's  remarks  on  the  tiles  delineated 
in  plate  xi  on  p.  171  and  plates  xvi  and  xvn  on  page  171 
supra. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  tiles  were  plain  white  or  buff, 
black,  red,  and  green.  These  were  doubtless  used  to  divide 
and  render  distinct  the  devices  and  compositions  formed  by 
combinations  of  the  ornamented  tiles,  by  separating  intervals 
of  plain  tiles.  In  this  manner  squares  of  4,  9,  16  or  more* 
tiles,  forming  by  their  combinations  a  complete  design,  may  be 
interlaced  with  lines,  which,  at  a  general  view,  would  have  the 
appearance  of  a  fret  or  trellis  work. 

PLATE   XL 

Figures  1  and  2  are  drawings  of  two  floor-tiles  ;  only  one 
example  of  No.  1  was  found,  and  that  in  a  fragmentary  condition, 
and  of  uncertain  colour.  The  shield  is  of  a  greenish  hue, 
bearing  a  white  chevron ;  the  chevron  does  not  come  to  the 
edge  of  the  shield,  and  that  has  given  rise  to  the  idea  that 
there  may  have  been  a  bordure.  We  are  unable  to  identify 
the  armorial  insignia.  A  similar  tile  was  found  at  Strata 
Florida. 

Of  No.  2  numerous  examples  have  been  found — some  whole, 
some  half  tiles,  divided  vertically  and  perpendicularly.  The 
colours  are  not  distinct;  but  as  to  the  armorial  bearings  there 
can  be  no  doubt,  "  Two  lions  passant"  being  the  arms  of  the 
Le  Strange  family.  This  armorial  tile  is,  so  far  as  we  know, 
the  only  one  peculiar  to  this  Abbey.  With  reference  to  the 
Le  Strange  arms  being  found  on  tiles  in  this  Abbey,  we  think 
light  will  be  thrown  upon  it  by  the  following  sketch 
pedigree : — 

Owen  Cyfeiliog,  founder  of  this  Abbey=f  Gwenthlian,  dau.  of  Owen  Gwynneth, 


in  1170,  "  having  taken  the  habit 
of  religion,  died  in  1197,  and  was 
buried  at  Ystrad  Marchell." 


Prince  of  North  Wales. 


Wenwynwyn,  Prince  of  Upper  Powys,=pMargaret,     dau.     of    Kobert     Lord 
d.  1218.  Corbet. 

Griffin    ap    Wenwynwyn,    Prince    of  =Hawyse,  dau.  of  John  Le  Strange,  d. 
Upper  Powys,  d.  dr.  3283.  dr.  Nov.  1310. 


MONT.  COUU .Vol.  XXV 
PL.  11. 


ST  FVATV*     /WA  P^CQ:  L.  LV\ 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  189 

Upon  the  death  of  her  husband,  Griffin  ap  Wenwynwyn,  the 
grandson  of  the  founder,  Hawyse,  his  widow,  had  for  some 
time  the  guardianship  of  her  son,  Owen  de  la  Pole,  and  charge 
of  all  his  lands.  She  held  also  in  the  name  of  dower  the 
manor  of  Buttington,  which  is  only  separated  from  the  site  of  the 
Abbey  by  the  river  Severn.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is 
natural  to  suppose  that  she  was  a  benefactor  of  this  Abbey, 
and  that  her  paternal  arms,  f<  two  lions  passant",  should  be 


Seal  of  Hawyse,  the  wife  of  Griffin  ap  Wenwynwyn. 

found  there.  We  reproduce  a  woodcut  of  her  seal,  which  was 
found  in  digging  a  foundation  at  Oswestry,  and  which  bears 
the  impression  of  a  female  standing  clothed  in  a  kirtle,  the  long 
mantle,  the  round,  low-crowned  reticuled  cap,  and  the  gorget  of 
the  period,  and  holding  a  shield  in  either  hand.  That  on  the 
dexter  side  is  charged  with  the  arms  of  her  husband,  "  a  lion 
rampant",  and  that  on  the  sinister  side  with  the  arms  of 
Le  Strange  (her  paternal  coat),  "  two  lions  passant". 

This  we  conceive  is  sufficient  to  account  for  the  tiles  bear- 
ing the  Le  Strange  arms.  But  we  confess  to  disappointment 
in  not  having  also  found  the  cognizance  of  her  husband,  Griffin 
ap  Wenwynwyn,  the  ruddy  lion  ramping  in  gold.  He  was  a 
benefactor  to  the  Abbey,  but  not  on  the  extensive  scale  of  his 
grandfather  the  founder,  or  of  his  father,  Prince  Wenwynwyn. 

PLATE  XVI. 

Fig.  No.  1.  This  is  an  inlaid  tile  of  red  ground  with  a  white  or 
bufffleur-de-lys.  The  fleur-de-lys  was  in  special  favour  with  the 
designer  of  inlaid  tiles  of  the  Middle  Ages.  In  some  instances 
it  may  have  been  used  as  merely  an  ornament  conformable  to  the 


190  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

style  of  architecture  or  character  of  decoration  prevalent  at 
the  period,  but  devoid  of  any  special  import.  But  in  one  case 
it  was  certainly  introduced  as  the  badge  of  the  founder  of  the 
Abbey,  and,  moreover,  "it  was  the  custom  throughout  the 
Gothic  era  to  introduce  the  shields  of  arms  of  the  sovereign 
and  the  several  members  of  his  family  into  the  architectural 
decoration  of  the  more  important  edifices,  and  in  many  in- 
stances also  the  armorial  insignia  of  benefactors  and  persons 
of  eminence  at  the  time  in  the  realm.  Some  relics  of  this 
usage  remain  in  all  our  cathedrals,  and  in  almost  every  early 
building  that  still  exists."1 

In  Nicholls'  Examples  of  Decorative  Tiles  the  instance  above 
referred  is  given  in  Nos.  53  and  54. 

The  dimidiated  fleur-de-lys  from  Hailes  Abbey,  No.  53, 
is  mentioned  (p.  XT)  amongst  specimens  of  personal  devices  and 
badges.  Hailes  Abbey  was  the  foundation  of  Richard  Earl  of 
Cornwall,  and  King  of  the  Romans  (brother  of  Henry  III, 
King  of  England),  whose  double-headed  eagle,  the  ensign  of 
the  latter  dignity,  is  represented  on  the  2nd  tile,  No.  54.  In 
endeavouring  to  discover  what  dignity  was  represented  by  the 
1st  tile,  No.  53,  we  found  that  the  fleur-de-lys  was  one  of  the 
personal  badges  of  Edward  III  and  other  of  the  Plantagenet 
Princes,  and  that  it  therefore  seemed  probable  from  the  last- 
mentioned  tile  that  the  fleur-de-lys  was  also  one  of  the 
badges  of  Richard  Earl  of  Cornwall,  and  brother  of  Edward 
IIFs  grandfather,  Henry  III.  May  we  venture  to  suggest 
that  the  fleur-de-lys  may  have  been  introduced  here  as  one  of 
the  badges  of  one  of  the  Plantagenet  Princes  ? 

Another,  and  a  local  origin  may,  however,  be  suggested. 
Although  generally  the  fleur-de-lys,  not  being  placed  in  a 
shield,  may  seem  to  indicate  that  it  was  not  an  armorial  bear- 
ing, yet  sometimes  a  tile  is  occupied  by  an  armorial  bearing 
without  the  intervention  of  a  shield  ;  No.  24  of  Nicholls' 
Examples  may  be  quoted  as  an  instance.  This  being  so,  it 
may  be  mentioned  that  Hugo  Gerband  (Lord  of  Trefuant, 
1273)  bore  "  Gu.,  a  fleur-de-lys  or",  and  his  heiress,  through 
the  Pigotts,  married  one  of  the  family  of  Williams  of  Wollaston, 
who  quarter  the  Gerband  arms  (see  Visitations  of  Shropshire, 
1623,  Harleian  Society  publications,  1889,  p.  505).  Wollaston 
or  Willaston  is  close  to  the  Breidden  Hills,  and  not  far  distant 
from  Strata  Marcella  Abbey.  "  Robertus  films  Willielmi  Rufi 
Dominus  de  Wilauston"  (a  member  of  the  family)  granted  a 
charter  to  the  Abbey.2 

1  Boutell's  Heraldry,  p.  338. 

2  We  found  a  small  fragment,  which  appeared  to  be  part  of  a  tile 


MQNT/CQU..VOU  xxv 


STRVXT-/V    /AV\RC€LLV\. 

PATTCRNS  OF  .PAV€/\£NT  TIL.CS 


8 


*  TiL.es 

,1  ,2.        ,3         .4-       , 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  191 

Fig.  2.  This  tile,  of  which  we  have  several  fragments  but 
no  perfect  specimen,  has  a  red  ground,  with  the  armorial  bear- 
ings of  thel)espencer  family  (viz.,  Quarterly  ar.  and  gu.t  in  the 
2nd  and  3rd  quarters  a  fret  or,  over  all  a  bend  sa.} — evidently 
part  of  a  design  of  four  tiles  intended  to  be  placed  with  the 
bottom  of  the  shields  pointing  to  the  centre.  The  Despencer 
arms  appear  to  be  ubiquitous  in  the  west,  and  probably  have 
no  local  reference.  We  are  not  aware  that  the  family  had  any 
connection  whatever  with  this  neighbourhood.  Mr.  Nicholls, 
in  his  Examples  (p.  xiii),  mentions  certain  instances,  which,  he 
says,  "  show  that  it  is  not  always  safe  to  refer  the  explanation 
of  the  designs  of  tiles  to  the  history  of  the  place  where  they 
may  chance  to  occur,  since,  after  having  been  originally  de- 
signed for  one  place,  they  were  evidently  frequently  adopted 
for  many  other  places  in  the  same  neighbourhood." 

Fig.  3.  This  tile  is  nearly  of  an  identical  pattern  with  Fig.  1 , 
but  it  is  incised  and  encaustic. 

Fig.  4.  This  is  an  incised  and  encaustic  tile  with  the  figure 
of  a  dragon  upon  it.  A  specimen  was  also  found  in  Welsh- 
pool  Church.  A  dragon  with  the  wings  elevated  and  passant 
is  the  Royal  Badge  of  Wales.  As  such  it  was  adopted  by 
Henry  VII,  the  first  of  the  Tudor  kings,  as  one  of  his  badges. 
It  seems  natural  to  conclude  this  tile  bears  the  National 
Emblem,  so  appropriate  to  Welsh  abbeys  aud  churches. 
Edward  III  has  for  one  of  his  badges  a  kindred  animal — a 
griffin.  The  dragon  appears  also  as  a  military  ensign  on  the 
Bayeux  tapestry.  On  Prince  Arthur  Tudor's  seal  the  single 
ostrich  feather  with  scrowls  appear  on  either  side,  and  are  held 
up  by  dragons. 

Fig.  5.  This  is  an  inlaid  tile,  the  ground  whereof  is  red,  and 
the  figures  white  or  buff.  It  has  been  suggested  that  it  is 
one  of  a  set  of  border  tiles  of  very  common  regulation  type. 
Whether  that  be  so  or  not,  we  think  it  has  a  design  which 
possesses  considerable  interest.  Some  have  considered  the 
birds  as  representing  the  dove  which  returned  to  the  Ark 
with  an  olive-branch  in  its  beak.  We  are  inclined  rather  to 

having  the  same  design  as  No.  10  of  the  tiles  figured  in  Williams's 
Strata  Florida,  but  we  were  not  sufficiently  certain  of  the  identity 
to  reproduce  the  drawing.  The  design  of  No.  10  supports  a  sort 
of  shield,  bearing  a  single  fleur-de-lys,  with  another  fleur-de-lys  in  the 
place  of  the  crest.  In  Nicholls'  Examples,  No.  21,  there  is  a 
very  similar  design  on  a  tile  found  at  Warblington,  Hants,  having 
two  birds  supporting  a  heater-shaped  shield  bearing  three  fleurs-de- 
lys,  2  and  1.  Unfortunately,  Mr.  Nicholls  does  not  state  whose 
arms  these  were. 


192  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

assign  it  an  heraldic  origin,  and  to  suggest  that  it  may  be  an 
instance  of  the  "  introduction  of  armorial  insignia  of  persons 
of  eminence  at  the  time  in  the  realm".  Considering  the  fleur- 
de-lys  and  the  dragon  (tiles  1  and  5)  to  be  heraldic  badges, 
we  would  also  regard  these  birds  as  falcons,  which  were 
borne  as  badges  by  many  of  the  Plantagenet  princes.  Edward 
III  had  for  one  of  his  badges  a  falcon  ;  Richard  II,  a  white 
falcon  ;  Richard  III,  a  falcon  with  a  virgin's  face  holding  a 
white  rose  ;  Queen  Elizabeth,  a  crowned  falcon  with  a  sceptre 
(from  her  mother,  Anne  Boleyne,  who  had  the  same  badge). 
But  it  is  to  John  "of  Ghent",  the  fourth  son  of  Edward  III,  and 
the  second  Duke  of  Lancaster,  we  would  more  particularly  point. 
"  His  well-known  shield,  in  addition  to  his  achievement  of 
arms,  is  charged  with  his  badges,  two  falcons  holding  fetter- 
locks in  their  beaks."1  The  fetter  lock  (a  shackle  and  padlock) 
was  borne  by  his  brother  Edmond  ("  of  Langley"),  first  Duke 
of  York,  and  also  by  the  latter' s  great-grandson,  Edward  IV, 
(but  conjoined  with  a  falcon).  In  the  play  of  Richard  II, 
Shakespeare,  in  the  words  he  puts  into  the  mouth  of  Henry 
"  of  Bolingbroke"  (the  eldest  son  of  John  of  Ghent  by  his  first 
marriage,  and  afterwards  Henry  IV),  evidently  makes  allusion 
to  the  badge  of  the  falcon. 

Bolingbroke  loq.  : 

"  O,  let  no  noble  eye  profane  a  tear 
For  me,  if  I  be  gor'd  with  Mowbray's  spear  ; 
As  confident,  as  is  the  falcon's  flight 
Against  a  bird,  do  I  with  Mowbray  fight." 

(Act  I,  Scene  3.) 

Several  of  the  Plantagenet  kings  were  benefactors  of  this 
monastery.  King  John  granted  two  charters  of  confirmation  ; 
Henry  III  granted  a  freedom  from  toll,  which  lasted  until  the 
present  century,  and  within  the  writer's  memory;  Edward  I 
and  Henry  VI  granted  charters  of  confirmation.  What  so  pro- 
bable that  the  armorial  badges  of  their  princely  descendants 
should  be  used  to  adorn  the  Abbey  church?  We  would  there- 
fore venture  to  suggest  that  these  two  birds  on  the  tile  may 
represent  the  badge  of  John  "  of  Ghent" — two  falcons  with 
fetterlocks  in  their  beaks. 

Fig.  6.  We  have  a  fragment  of  a  tile  which  we  thought  bore 
this  pattern,  but  it  is  uncertain.  The  animal  here  depicted 
seems  more  like  a  wyvern  than  anything  else  ;  but  we  are 
unable  to  offer  any  suggestion  as  to  its  significance. 

Fig.  7.  This  is  an  inlaid  tile,  with  red  ground  and  buff  figures, 

1  Bouteirs  Heraldry,  p.  235. 


STRATA   MARCELLA   ABBEY.  193 

and  is  part  of  a  large  pattern  formed  by  four,  or  perhaps 
sixteen  tiles. 

Fig.  8.  This  is  an  incised  and  encaustic  tile  of  a  light  buff 
colour,  with  a  figure  upon  it  representing  what  we  take  to  be 
a  woodman ;  but  there  may  be  difference  of  opinion  on  that 
point. 

Mr.  Williams,  in  his  work  on  Strata  Florida  (p.  212),  de- 
scribes the  pattern  of  this  tile  as  "  exhibiting  the  figure  of 
a  civilian  in  the  costume  of  the  14th  century,  clad  in  a  close- 
fitting  tunic,  or  'cote  hardi',  reaching  to  the  thighs,  with  the 
hood  worn  over  the  head  and  over  the  shoulders ;  close-fitting 
pantaloons,  or  hose,  envelope  the  thighs  and  legs,  and  long 
liripipes  fall  from  his  close-fitting  sleeves.  .  .  .  The  costume 
depicted  on  this  tile  is  of  the  period  of  Edward  II,  and  there- 
fore seems  to  fix  the  manufacture  in  the  14th  century."  The 
Bishop  of  Ely,  too,  thinks  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  cos- 
tume of  this  figure  prevailed  about  the  middle  of  the  14th 
century.  Mr.  Williams  added  to  his  description,  "  In  his  left 
hand  is  held  a  roundel  of  some  description  (it  may  be  intended 
for  a  hunting-horn),  whilst  a  dog  sitting  on  his  haunches,  and 
trees,  figure  as  accessories." 

We  had  taken  the  implement  in  his  hand  to  be  an  axe  or 
other  instrument  for  cutting  or  pruning  trees.  This  impression 
was  confirmed  by  our  finding  in  Mr.  J.  G.  Nicholls'  Examples 
of  Ancient  Tiles,  1845,  in  figure  No.  78,  a  similar  design,  which 
is  thus  described:  "  This  grotesque  figure  of  an  ancient  billman 
is  from  Little  Marlow  Abbey,  Bucks,  and  the  original  is  in  the 
possession  of  Thomas  Wethered,  Esq.,  at  Great  Marlow."  The 
date  is  not  given,  but  it  looks  earlier  than  the  14th  century. 
There  was  also  a  specimen  of  this  tile  found  in  Welshpool  Church. 
This  is  a  design  deserving  of  notice  on  account  of  the  costume 
it  exhibits.  It  has  been  suggested,  and  we  had  previously 
thought  it  probable,  that  this  tile  was  one  of  a  series  repre- 
senting the  months.  "  It  would  seem  that  in  the  Middle  Ages,1 
whether  in  illuminated  manuscripts,  early  printed  books, 
clogg  almanacks,  cut  stone,  carved  wood,  metal-work,  incised 
pavers,  encaustic  tiles,  mosaics,  wall-paintings,  or  painted 
glass,  representations  of  the  months  and  seasons  were  of  fre- 
quent occurrence.  For  each  month  the  custom  was  to  repre- 
sent the  corresponding  sign  of  the  Zodiac,  or  some  charac- 
teristic symbol  or  occupation,  or  both,  with  or  without  the 
name  of  the  month  or  other  inscription.  Bepresentations  of 

1  "  Mediaeval  Representations  of  the  Months  and  Seasons",  Archceo- 
logia,  vol.  xliv,  p.  137. 

VOL.  XXV.  O 


194  EXCAVATIONS    ON    THE    SITE    OF 

the  months  are  common  in  ancient  manuscripts."  To  cite 
two  instances  (which  are  taken  from  many  others  in  the  paper 
quoted)  : 

1.  The  Illustrated  Calendar,  Cotton  MSS.,  Tiberius  B.  v,  in 
the  British  Museum,  referred  to  about  the   10th   century,  the 
labours  of  the  months  are  depicted,  and  (quoting   only   what 
suits  our  present  purpose),  we  find  February   is   represented 
by  the  occupation   of  "  Three  men  pruning  trees,  of  which 
some  resemble  vines." 

2.  One  of  the  pages  in  the  Cologne  edition  of  Bede,  headed 
Mensium  Notce,  is  occupied  by  a  series  of  small  woodcuts  and 
mottoes  emblematical  of  the  months  of  the  year.     February 
thus  appears  : — 

Month.         I  Motto.  |  Sign.  I  Symbol. 

Februarius.   |    Ligna  cremo.    |    A  fish  for  Pisces.    |   Two  men  felling  trees. 

A  number  of  other  examples  are  given,  wherein  February  is 
represented  by  pruning. 

In  Nicholls'  Exam-ples,  page  xviii,  an  example  is  also 
given  of  a  design  on  a  tile,  one  of  a  set  representing  the  months 
by  the  operations  of  husbandry,  after  the  fashion  of  the  old 
almanacks. 

From  the  foregoing,  we  think  we  may  reasonably  suggest 
that  the  ancient  billman  on  this  tile  (if  our  idea  of  the  design 
be  correct)  may  be  one  of  a  series  representing  the*  months, 
and  may  itself  represent  the  month  of  February. 

On  the  jambs  of  the  north  door  of  the  Cathedral  at  Modena1 
is  a  series  of  symbols,  with  the  names  of  the  corresponding 
months  beneath  each,  in  Latin,  and  "  December"  is  represented 
by  "  a  man  cutting  wood",  and  in  a  note  (71)  the  following 
distich  is  quoted : 

"  Yule  logs 
No  season  to  hedge 
Get  beetle  and  wedge 
Cleave  logs  now  all 
For  kitchen  and  hall." 

Tusser,  edit.  1599,  "December's  Abstract." 

But  we  prefer  suggesting  this  tile  for  February.  If,  how- 
ever, our  idea  of  the  figure  being  a  woodman  or  billman  be  not 
considered  correct,  the  representation  on  the  tile  may  be  for 
some  other  month  than  February,  although  it  may  still  form 
part  of  a  set  of  mediaeval  representations  of  the  months. 

Fig.  &  This  is  an  inlaid  and  encaustic  tile,  with  red  ground 
and  buff  figure ;  only  one  specimen  was  found.  It  is  a  corner 

1  Archoeologia,  vol.  xliv,  pp.  153  and  217. 


M  ONT.  COU..VOU  XXV 


STRWT-A 


PAV€A\eNTT|l_eS 


12 


13 


ANASONS     A\V\RKS 


STRATA    MARCELLA    ABBEY.  195 

tile,  and  forms  part  of  a  design  which  probably  comprised 
many  tiles. 

Fig.  10.  This  is  an  incised  and  encaustic  tile,  of  which  a 
number  of  specimens  were  found,  some  all  light  buff,  others 
black,  and  which  would  form  part  of  a  large  design. 

Fig.  11.  This  is  an  inlaid  tile  of  red  ground  and  light  buff 
figure. 

Fig.  12.  This  is  an  incised  tile,  coloured  black,  and  would 
form  part  of  a  large  pattern. 

Fig.  13.  A  large  number  of  these  tiles  were  found,  of  four 
different  colours,  red,  black,  white,  and  green.  They  are 
incised,  and  generally  glazed.  A  specimen  was  found  also  in 
Welshpool  Church. 

Fig.  14.  This  is  an  inlaid  tile,  with  red  ground  and  buff 
pattern.  A  similar  pattern  was  found  in  Welshpool  Church, 
but  not  identical  with  this  tile. 

Fig.  15.  A  large  number  of  these  tiles,  which  were  incised 
and  encaustic,  were  found,  of  three  different  colours,  red,  black, 
and  buff;  four  tiles  complete  the  pattern. 

Masons'  Marks. — Out  of  the  fifteen  specimens  given  in  plate 
XTII,  we  find  six  are  identical  with  the  masons'  marks  given  in 
Williams's  Strata  Florida,  p.  218. 


MISCELLANEOUS  NOTES. 

In  1873,  on  the  barn  of  the  Bank  Farm,  Pool  Quay,  being 
taken  down,  a  considerable  number  of  dressed  and  moulded 
stones  were  found  built  in  one  of  the  walls  with  the  common 
stone  of  the  district.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
these  formed  part  of  the  Abbey  church.  Some  of  them  were 
removed  to  the  Powys-land  Museum,  where  they  now  are. 

In  1875  a  decade  ring  was  presented  to  the  Powys-land 
Museum  by  Mr.  T.  B.  Barrett.  It  is  engraved,  with  a  short 
account,  in  vol.  viii  of  the  Mont.  Coll.,  p.  63.  This  ring  was 
found  at  the  Abbey  barn,  the  site  of  which  is  near  the  Abbey, 
but  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  turnpike  road  and  the  canal,  on 
the  rising  ground.  The  ring  is  of  brass,  and  has  ten  knobs 
and  a  bezel  of  circular  form  engraved  with  a  cross.  The  use 
of  such  rings  can,  it  is  said,  be  traced  back  to  the  close  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  some  have  attributed  them  to  even  an 
earlier  period. 

During  the  excavations  a  bronze  ring  was  found,  about  half 
an  inch  in  diameter ;  also  a  number  of  fragments  of  what  were 


196  STRATA    MAHCELLA   ABBEY. 

taken  to  be  mediaeval  pottery  ;  also  pieces  of  lead  and  iron  ; 
also  a  piece  of  bronze  about  6  ins  long. 

Also  a  circular  stone,  1  ft.  in  diameter  and  4  ins.  thick,  and 
pierced  in  the  centre  with  a  circular  hole  4  ins.  in  diameter. 
It  seemed  as  if  it  was  the  base  of  a  standard  for  a  light,  the  main 
stem  of  which  would  pass  through  a  circular  hole  in  the  centre, 
and  would  be  supported  by  three  branches  dowelled  and  leaded 
in  the  top  of  the  stone ;  the  marks  of  such  mode  of  fastening 
being  visible,  Also  several  roof  tiles,  consisting  of  very 
rough,  hewn  stones  of  great  weight.  These  are  not  un- 
common in  the  neighbourhood.  Also  a  piece  of  lead  piping, 
mentioned  in  p,  155, 

M,  C,  J, 


197 


PARISH  TERRIERS— PARSONS'  PAY. 

BY  EEV.  ELIAS  OWEN. 


IN  one  of  my  previous  papers,  I  alluded  to  the  con- 
tents of  parish  chests,  and  I  then  referred  to  the 
curious  information  which  often  could  be  obtained 
from  the  scraps  of  papers  buried  for  scores  of  years  in 
the  darkness  of  these  but  seldom  opened  coffers.  I 
think  I  also  mentioned  that  too  often  the  corftents  of 
these  chests  were  uncared  for.  In  fact,  I  could  give 
strange  incidents  connected  with  parish  records.  And 
before  commencing  the  subject  which  I  intend  treating 
of,  I  will  give  an  instance  of  the  shameful  neglect  of 
such  documents,  that  has  come  under  my  own  notice. 

A  few  years  ago,  I  attended  the  sale  of  a  clergy- 
man's effects.  His  father  had  been  a  clergyman,  and  he 
had  himself  much  regard  for  everything  connected  with 
the  Church,  and  he  was  a  collector  of  old  things ;  and 
this  latter  remark  will  account  for  what  I  am  about  to 
mention.  As  is  usual  on  the  occasion  of  an  auction, 
things  were  a  good  deal  knocked  about,  and  I  noticed 
on  a  heap  of  loose  papers  in  the  back-kitchen,  a  vestry - 
meeting  book,  with  an  account  of  parish  money  re- 
ceived and  spent,  written  in  a  beautiful  and  legible 
hand.  The  book  had  been  commenced  in  the  early 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  it  was  continued, 
if  I  recollect  rightly,  up  to  the  close,  if  not  further,  of 
that  century.  I  took  the  book  up  and  examined  it. 
There  were  some  missing  leaves  both  at  the  beginning 
and  end,  so  that  I  could  not  see  what  parish  the 
book  belonged  to.  I  could  hardly  think  that  such  a 
valuable  and  curious  remain,  of  other  days,  could 

VOL.  xxv.  p 


198  PARISH    TERRIERS PARSONS*   PAY. 

have  wittingly  been  thrown  on  a  rubbish  heap  for  any- 
one to  walk  off  with  who  felt  so  inclined.  I  went, 
therefore,  immediately  to  draw  the  attention  of  the 
auctioneer  to  the  book,  but  I  could  not  find  him,  and 
as  I  was  obliged  to  leave  by  train  I  left  word  with  a 
friend  to  secure  the  book,  if  it  was  on  sale,  for  me. 
He,  however,  lost  all  sight  of  what  I  thought  much 
of,  and,  alas,  that  record,  I  fear,  was  burnt  as  waste 
paper. 

There  are,  though,  many  churches  that  have  not  lost 
their  old  papers,  and  it  is  a  real  pleasure  to  spend  a 
few  hours  culling  information  of  the  past  from  their 
pages. 

The  Terrier  was  a  document  of  considerable  value 
at  one  time,  but,  in  consequence  of  modern  changes,  it 
has  not  the  same  kind  of  value,  in  our  days,  as  it  once 
had.  It  contains  a  careful  statement  of  all  Church 
property,  and  minute  descriptions  of  rectories,  etc., 
and  glebe  lands  are  given  in  it;  and  the  clergyman's 
and  parish  clerk's  sources  of  income  are  mentioned  in 
Terriers.  It  will,  therefore,  be  evident  that  such  a 
document  was  a  parish  record  of  real  worth. 

Your  readers  know  that  previously  to  the  passing  of 
the  Tithe  Commutation  Act  in  1836,  tithes  were  paid 
on  stock,  dairy  produce,  crops,  etc.  It  is  on  these 
tithes  that  I  intend  speaking  in  this  paper.  The 
subject,  therefore,  belongs  to  ancient  history,  and 
notwithstanding  the  prominency  lately  given  to  tithes, 
I  believe- 1  can  venture,  without  prejudice,  to  write  a 
short  paper  on  tithes  previously  to  1836. 

The  information  I  shall  give  is  derived  from  the 
Parish  Terrier,  and,  therefore,  must  be  correct. 

It  makes  no  difference  where  I  begin,  and  so  I  will 
commence  with  the  parish  of  Llanynys,  a  parish  in  the 
Vale  of  Clwyd,  about  four  miles  north  of  Kuthin. 

The  Llanynys  Terrier  is  dated  1808,  but  this  is 
merely  a  copy  of  a  much  more  ancient  document,  as 
will  be  seen  further  on.  The  articles  tithed  in  that 
parish,  according  to  the  Terrier,  were  many  and  various, 


PARISH   TERRIERS — P ARSONS'   PAY.  199 

including  pigs,  geese,  apples,  flax,  hemp,  honey,  eggs, 
etc.  Some  of  these  articles,  such  as  flax  and  hemp,  are 
no  longer  grown  in  the  parish,  and  but  few  keep  bees. 
Thus,  we  obtain  from  a  perusal  of  these  Terriers  a 
history  of  the  past.  But  I  will  now  give  extracts 
from  the  Llanynys  Terrier  : — 

"  Item  5.  All  persons  within  these  parishes  pay  all  their 
Tythes  of  corn  and  hay  in  kind,  and  none  have  any  right  to 
any  custom  or  prescription  therein/' 

The  tithes  of  corn  and  hay  are  mentioned  first,  as 
being  the  chief  source  of  the  clergyman's  income. 
Occasionally  the  parson  collected  himself  the  tenth 
sheaf,  etc.,  but  sometimes  the  tithe  was  sold  by  public 
auction.  The  sheaf  belonging  to  the  clergyman  was 
marked  by  inserting  into  it  a  sprig  of  hazel,  or  of  some 
other  tree,  and  the  produce  of  no  field  was  allowed  to  be 
carted  away  until  it  had  first  of  all  been  tithed.  Old 
people  have  told  me  that  delay  sometimes  occurred  in 
marking  the  parson's  portion  of  the  produce,  because  the 
marker  could  not  accomplish  all  his  work  in  good  time, 
for,  often  and  again,  several  farmers  would,  at  once, 
require  his  services.  This  delay  was  not,  in  unsettled 
weather,  relished  by  anyone  who  had  grain  ready  to  be 
carried  home;  and  the  Commutation  Act  did  away  with 
all  bitterness  on  this  head,  for  henceforth  the  amount  to 
be  levied  on  the  farms  was  fixed  at  a  corn  rent  instead 
of  an  actual  tenth  sheaf  throughout  a  parish.  But  to 
proceed — 

"  Item  6.  A  lamb  is  tythed  out  of  any  number  above  six, 
only  paying  to  the  Owner  Twopence  for  every  lamb  wanting 
of  ten  ;  but  if  they  exceed  not  that  number,  the  owner  is 
obliged  to  pay  twopence  for  every  lamb." 

From  this  extract  it  will  be  seen  that,  at  the  time 
the  Terrier  was  drawn  up,  a  lamb  was  valued  at 
twenty  pence.  They  are  now  sold  for  from  ten  to 
fifteen  shillings  each.  Even  allowing  for  the  difference 
in  the  value  of  money,  sheep  fetch  in  our  days  a  much 
larger  sum  than  they  did  in  the  early  part  of  this 

P  2 


200  PARISH    TERRIERS — PARSONS*   PAY. 

century.  I  have  spoken  to  a  person  who  told  me  that 
he  had  bought  lambs  at  Bettws-Gwerfil-Goch  sheep 
fair — a  celebrated  fair  on  the  borders  of  the  Vale  of 
Clwyd, — for  two  shillings  each,  and  afterwards  sold  a 
pick  of  them  for  two  and  sixpence  each.  Some  eight 
years  ago,  at  a  fair  in  the  same  place,  lambs  could 
be  bought  for  from  five  to  seven  and  sixpence  each, 
but  at  present  they  are  about  double  that  price. 
Again  quoting  from  the  Terrier  : — 

"  One  penny  is  paid  in  lieu  of  Tythe  milk  for  every  cow. 
(N.B.  This  last  clause  is  only  found  in  the  Terrier  of  1749, 
made  by  the  then  Vicar,  W.  Butler,  and  is  not  found  in  the 
Terriers  of  1710,  nor  in  that  of  1671,  mentioned  above,  and 
seems  to  have  been  an  obvious  mistake ;  for  the  penny  a  cow, 
most  probably,  is  not  paid  as  compensation  for  milk,  but  as  the 
compensation  for  the  calf,  for  nothing  is  paid  for  a  cow  that 
gives  milk  for  more  than  a  year,  or  for  what  is  called  Fuwch 
swynog,  but  only  for  a  cow  that  has  a  calf,  just  as  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  pay  four  pence  for  every  foal  that  drops.  This 
custom  of  every  foal  is  not  mentioned  in  the  old  Terriers,  but 
it  is  always  demanded  and  paid  without  any  doubts  of  its  being 
due.)" 

The  preceding  entry  in  the  Llanynys  Terrier  is  most 
interesting,  as  it  presents  to  view  the  jealous  care  of 
the  parishioners  of  their  rights,  and  also  their  willing- 
ness to  pay  customary  dues,  even  when  they  were  not 
mentioned  in  the  Terrier,  providing  such  demands 
were  in  accordance  with  ancient  custom.  I  know  not 
who  Vicar  Butler  was,  but  the  name  is  English  ;  and 
possibly  the  new  impost  was  only  new  to  the  parish  of 
Llanynys,  for  tithes  differed  in  different  parishes,  and 
the  Vicar  endeavoured  to  introduce  into  his  new 
parish  a  custom  that  prevailed  elsewhere,  but  it  would 
seem  that  the  attempt,  which  is  described  as  an 
"obvious  mistake",  was  ultimately  rectified. 

"  It  is  customary  to  demand  and  pay  a  goose  in  kind  some 
time  before  Michaelmas,  or  the  price  of  a  goose  in  money  for 
every  flock  of  geese,  and  not  one  out  of  every  Ten." 

This    is    a    departure    from    the    usual    custom    of 


PARISH   TERRIERS — PARSONS*    PAY.  201 

tithing,  and  it  is  difficult  to  say  which  party  would  be 
most  benefited  by  the  arrangement.  If  only  a  few 
goslings  lived,  it  would  come  hard  upon  the  farmer ; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  if  fifteen  lived,  the  parson  would 
be  the  loser.  This  arrangement  most  probably  arose 
from  the  difficulty  of  apportioning  a  fractional  value 
upon  a  young  goose  demandable  from  either  party,  as 
in  the  case  of  lambs,  when  the  flock  is  above  or  below 
ten. 

"  It  is  also  customary  in  Llanynys,  as  in  the  neighbouring 
parishes,  to  pay  a  pig  in  kind,  or  the  market  price  of  one,  for 
every  litter.  These  particulars  are  not  taken  notice  of  in  the 
old  Terriers  but  are  demanded  and  paid." 

This  also  is  not  tithe,  but  custom,  and  that  not  only 
in  Llanynys,  but  in  the  neighbouring  parishes.  The 
unwritten  custom  in  other  parishes  becomes  the  written 
custom  in  Llanynys.  It  is  impossible  to  ascertain 
whether  this  was  an  innovation  or  not,  but  the  above 
entry  is  an  honest  entry,  and  states  that  the  old 
Terriers  do  not  take  notice  of  this  demand  ;  but 
evidently  by  1808  the  custom  had  been  established. 
We  can  reasonably  suppose  that  increased  accuracy 
would  be  observed  in  succeeding  Terriers,  and  customs 
previously  not  entered  would  be  entered  in  them  as 
years  rolled  on. 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  things  tithed, 
there  was  a  tithe  of  corn  and  hay  throughout  the 
parish. 

I  will  now,  for  the  sake  of  comparison,  give  extracts 
from  the  Terrier  of  Llanbedr  parish.  This  parish  abuts, 
I  believe,  in  parts  upon  Llanynys  parish,  but,  in  any 
case,  it  is  only  a  short  distance  from  it;  consequently 
the  following  extracts  are  all  the  more  interesting  as 
shewing  how  parishes,  in  close  proximity  to  each  other, 
differed  in  the  matter  of  tithe. 

The  Llanbedr  Terrier  is  dated  the  25th  day  of 
September,  1834,  two  years  only  before  the  passing  of 
the  Tithe  Commutation  Act.  The  Terrier  therefore 


202  PARISH    TERRIERS PARSONS'    PAY. 

brings  us  on  the  very  threshold  of  the  new  manner  of 
paying  tithes. 

"  Item,  to  the  said  rector  is  also  belonging  the  Tythe  of  wool 
throughout  the  said  parish,  and  the  manner  of  Tything  is  this, 
the  Rector  taketh  every  tenth  fleece  of  wool." 

Wool  is  not  mentioned  in  Llanynys  Terrier  as  an 
article  of  tithe,  but  possibly  it  was  there  paid  as  here, 
for  we  have  seen  that  in  Llanynys  Terrier  entries  were 
made  in  modern  times  of  customary  tithes,  that  had 
been  omitted  from  the  more  ancient  documents.  In 
mountain  parishes  this  tithe  of  wool  would  be  very 
valuable  and  useful  to  a  household. 

"Item,  the  Tythe  of  Lambs  in  their  proper  kind  throughout 
the  parish,  and  the  custom  concerning  them  is  this,  if  a 
Person's  No.  is  one  he  pays  two  pence,  and  so  two  pence  till 
seven,  at  seven  he  gives  a  whole  lamb,  the  Rector  paying  back 
sixpence,  at  eight  he  pays  back  four  pence,  at  nine  pays  back 
two  pence,  if  ten  the  Rector  hath  his  lamb  compleat,  and  in 
like  manner  for  every  number  above  ten,  and  if  sheep  are  sold 
in  the  Spring  the  Tythe  of  lambs  is  paid  by  the  person  with 
whom  they  are  lambed,  whether  seller  or  buyer." 

The  tithe  of  sheep  is  the  same  in  these  two  parishes, 
but  there  is  in  Llaubedr  Terrier  an  additional  clause 
about  sheep  sold  in  the  spring.  Evidently,  if  sheep 
were  sold  in  the  spring,  and  bought  by  a  person  who 
lived  a  distance  off  in  some  other  parish,  a  question 
might  arise  as  to  which  incumbent  was  entitled  to  the 
tithe  of  lambs,  the  one  from  whose  parish  the  sheep 
came,  or  the  one  to  whose  parish  they  were  taken.  This 
entry  seems  to  settle  such  a  question  by  stating  that 
the  tithe  belonged  to  that  clergyman  in  whose  parish 
the  sheep  had  been  up  to  the  spring.  This  certainly  is 
equity.  From  this  entry  we  see  how  omissions  in  one 
parish  Terrier  were  fully  given  in  another,  and  we  also 
detect  the  safeguards  resorted  to  to  protect  the 
respective  rights  of  the  people  and  the  parson.  With 
regard  to  the  possible  transfer  of  sheep  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  it  can  only  be  said,  that  sheep  are  hardly 


PARISH    TERRIERS — PARSONS'    PAY.  203 

ever  sold  then  ;    therefore,  the  clause  would  be  acted 
upon  in  very  exceptional  cases. 

"  Item,  to  the  said  Rector  belongs  the  Tythe  of  herbage  of 
cattle,  which  is  Two  shillings  in  the  pound  according  to  the 
rent  of  the  land,  to  be  paid  by  the  owner  of  the  cattle." 

It  will  be  observed  that  this  tithe  of  herbage  is  not 
mentioned  in  Llanynys  parish  Terrier ;  but  in  parishes 
where  fields  were  let  for  grazing,  the  tithes  of  produce, 
which  otherwise  these  grazed  lands  or  fields  would 
produce,  would  be  non-existent,  and  therefore  the 
Rector  would  lose  his  just  dues.  But  by  the  tithe  of 
herbage  he  is  protected  from  all  such  loss.  It  is  worthy 
of  notice  that  the  owner  of  the  stock  pays  the  tithe, 
and  if  the  rent  of  the  field  where  he  feeds  his  cattle  is, 
say  £5,  his  tithe  is  106'.,  or  exactly  a  tenth  of  his  rent. 

"  Item,  there  is  a  modus  of  four  pence  for  every  foal,  and  a 
modus  of  one  penny  for  every  calf/' 

"  Item.  The  Tythe  of  pigs  is  one  to  the  Rector  out  of  each 
litter  taken  up  at  three  weeks  old." 

"  Item,  the  Tythe  of  eggs  at  Easter,  but  uncertain,  the  Tythe 
of  Hemp  and  Flax  are  taken  in  kind." 

It  would  seem  that  the  tithe  of  eggs  had  by  1834 
become  an  uncertain  figure.  This  would  imply  that  it 
had  fallen  into  disuse  in  the  parish.  But  I  have  been 
told  that  in  some  parishes  the  tithe  of  eggs  was  one 
egg  for  each  hen  kept,  and  two  for  each  cockerel.  In 
some  places,  too,  I  have  heard  that  a  small  basket 
full  of  eggs  was  sent  by  large  farmers  to  their  vicar. 
Further  investigation  of  old  Terriers  would  clear  up  all 
doubt  as  to  the  number  of  eggs  due  at  Easter  to  the 
clergy. 

<f  Item,  for  every  married  couple  sixpence,  due  at  Easter, 
Widower,  and  Widow,  threepence." 

The  Easter  dues  or  duties  referred  to  in  the  last 
item  were  general,  but  not  always  the  same  in  amount, 
and  in  some  instances  they  were  collected  after  the 
passing  of  the  Commutation  Act.  This  was  the  case 


204  PARISH   TERRIERS PAKSONS'    PAY. 

in  Llanidloes,  when  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Morgan  was  vicar, 
but  the  dues  were  not  willingly  paid,  and  by-and-by, 
in  consequence  of  this  opposition,  Vicar  Morgan  ceased 
collecting  them.  If  Easter  offerings  are  now  made  to 
the  clergy, — and  in  many  individual  cases  I  am  glad 
to  say  they  are, — they  are  free-will  offerings  given  by 
the  donor  to  his  spiritual  pastor. 

The  subject  which  I  have  treated  of  in  this  short 
paper  is  a  very  interesting  one,  and  it  would  be  well 
if  other  writers  wrould  give  like  instances  of  tithing  in 
their  respective  parishes.  The  manner  of  tithing  was 
somewhat  complicated,  but  when  all  the  parishioners 
were  Church  people,  though  tedious,  the  work  could  be 
carried  out  amicably,  and  where  the  fruits  of  the 
ground  abounded,  and  the  cattle,  etc.,  increased,  the 
tenth  would  be  paid  ungrudgingly  ;  and  in  times  of 
scarcity  priest  and  people  would  alike  suffer. 

It  is  evident  that,  under  the  changed  state  of  society, 
the  old  manner  of  tithing  would  lead  to  continual 
bickerings,  and  the  Tithe  Commutation  Act  was  a  happy 
release  from  considerable  trouble  and  possible  annoy- 
ance to  all  parties  concerned,  although  it  may  be  that 
the  change  was  a  monetary  loss  to  the  clergy. 


205 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE  WORTHIES. 

BY   RICHARD   WILLIAMS,    F.R.HiST.S. 

(Continued  from   Vol.  xxii,  p.  150.) 


DAVIES,  DAVID,  of  Llandinam,  was  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable men  ever  born  and  bred  in  Montgomeryshire. 
Indeed,  few  more  typical  or  successful  Welshmen  ever 
lived.    Born  in  very  humble  circumstances,  and  almost 
entirely  self- taught,  he  yet,  by  his  rare  shrewdness,  great 
natural  ability,  and  immense  energy,  fought  his  way 
to  a  position  of  great  wealth  and  influence.     With  in- 
domitable pluck  and  unremitting  exertion  he  embarked 
during  his  busy  life  in  many  and  various  vast  under- 
takings, conquered  difficulties,  and  overcame  obstacles 
before  which  a  heart  less  stout  than  his  might  have 
quailed,  and  with  hardly  an  exception  it  may  be  said 
that  whatever  he  took  in  hand  prospered.     In  addition 
to  all  this  he  was  distinguished  through  life  for  his 
frankness,    integrity,    strict    adherence    to    principle, 
great  kindness  of  disposition,  and  princely  liberality 
to  every  good  and  deserving  cause.     He  was  born  on 
the  18th  of  December    1818,  at  Drain tewion,  a  small 
hillside  tenement  in  the  parish  of  Llandinam,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  valley,  and  in  sight  of  the  beauti- 
ful house  afterwards  built,  and   for  the  last  twenty- 
five  years  of  his  life    occupied  by  Mr.  Davies.     His 
parents  were  industrious  and  hard-working  persons,  but 
having  a  numerous  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  he 
was  the  eldest,  they  could  not  afford  to  keep  any  of  them 
long  in  school.    After  attending  the  village  school,  then 
held  in  the  parish  church,  until  he  was  eleven  years 
old,  David  was,  therefore,  kept  at  home  to  assist  his 
father,  who  added  to  his  small  farming  business  that 


206  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    WORTHIES. 

of  a  sawyer.  From  this  time  forth  young  David's  life  was 
one  of  hard  and  unremitting  lahour,  and  he  very  soon 
came  to  be  of  great  help  to  his  father.  From  Drain- 
tewion  the  family  removed  to  a  larger  farm  in  the  same 
parish,  called  Neuaddfach,  where  his  father  died.  At 
this  time  he  was  only  twenty  years  old,  and  the  care 
and  support  of  his  mother  and  eight  younger  brothers 
and  sisters  devolved  upon  him.  This  duty  he  did 
not  attempt  to  shirk,  but  addressed  himself  to 
it  with  increased  energy.  He  soon  began  to  specu- 
late in  a  small  way.  One  of  his  earliest  specu- 
lations, it  seems,  was  the  purchase  of  an  oak-tree, 
which  the  late  Capt.  Crewe-Read  wished  to  cut 
down  and  dispose  of,  and  offered  to  sell  to  him  for 
£5.  This  offer  he  promptly  accepted,  and  having 
felled  the  tree  and  sawn  it  into  boards,  he  realised  £80 
by  it.  In  1848  he  took  a  larger  farm,  called  Tynymaen 
— on  part  whereof  now  stands  Plas  Dinam,  the  beauti- 
ful mansion  occupied  by  his  only  son,  Mr.  Edward 
Davies.  His  mother  remained  at  Neuaddfach  until 
her  death.  In  1850  he  also  rented  Gwernerin,  a  still 
larger  farm  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Severn.  He  had 
meanwhile  been  engaged  in  carrying  out  various  con- 
tracts, chiefly  for  the  construction  or  repair  of  bridges 
and  roads.  The  first  of  these  was  a  contract  for  the 
making  of  a  road  and  bridge  at  Llandinam  over  the 
Severn — a  work  wThich  he  carried  out  so  satisfactorily 
that,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  County  Surveyor 
(Mr.  Penson),  a  sum  of  £15  was  paid  to  him  in  addition 
to  the  contract  money. 

In  1851  Mr.  Davies  married  Miss  Margaret  Jones, 
daughter  of  Mr.  Edward  Jones  of  Wern,  Llanfair 
Caereinion,  *who  still  survives  him.  The  only  issue 
of  this  marriage  was  a  son,  Mr.  Edward  Davies. 

The  rapidity  and  completeness  of  his  grasp  of  details, 
and  his  promptness  in  making  up  his  mind,  showed 
themselves  in  his  early  undertakings,  as  they  did  so 
strikingly  in  after  life.  Thus,  after  looking  at  the 
plans  and  specifications  of  the  Oswestry  Smithfield, 


DAVID    DA  VIES.  207 

he  was  asked  how  long  it  would  take  him  to  make  up 
his  mind,  when  he  at  once  replied,  "  Five  minutes," 
other  contractors  stipulating  for  several  days.  He 
secured  the  contract,  and  it  was  while  carrying  it  out 
that  he  first  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Thomas 
Savin,  who  afterwards  became  his  partner  in  several 
important  railway  undertakings.  The  first  of  these 
was  the  railway  from  Llanidloes  to  Newtown,  twelve 
miles  in  length,  and  with  no  railway  within  thirty 
miles  of  either  terminus,  the  nearest  being  at  Oswestry. 
For  this  reason  the  plant  and  materials  were  brought 
chiefly  by  canal  to  Newtown,  and  the  locomotives  and 
carriages  for  working  the  line  were  conveyed  by  road  on 
specially  constructed  waggons  from  Oswestry.  Before 
this  line  was  completed,  Messrs.  Davies  and  Savin  had 
undertaken  the  contract  for  the  Yale  of  Clwyd  line 
from  Denbigh  to  Rhyl,  which  they  completed  in  1858. 
The  XJanidloes  line  was  completed  and  opened  for 
traffic  on  31st  August  1859.  They  then  entered  into 
a  contract  for  the  completion  of  the  Oswestry  and 
Newtown  line  (portions  of  which  had  been  made  by 
other  contractors),  which  they  finished  in  the  summer 
of  1862.  They  also  contracted  for  the  making  of  the 
line  from  Newtown  to  Machynlleth,  which  was  finished 
the  same  year,  and  (in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Ward, 
Mr,  Savin's  brother-in-law)  another  line  from  Brecon  to 
Merthyr.  They  also  promoted  a  line  from  Machynlleth 
to  Aberystwyth  ;  but  Mr.  Savin,  not  content  with  this, 
insisted,  against  Mr.  Davies's  better  judgment,  on  em- 
barking in  extensions  along  the  Welsh  coast,  vid 
Aberdovey  and  Barmouth  to  Pwllheli,  including  also 
the  erection  of  large  and  costly  hotels  at  Aberystwyth, 
Borth,  Aberdovey,  and  other  places.  Binding  his 
remonstrances  to  be  in  vain,  Mr.  Davies  dissolved  his 
partnership  with  Mr.  Savin.  Subsequent  events  fully 
confirmed  the  soundness  of  Mr.  Davies's  judgment, 
and  justified  the  course  he  took  on  this  occasion — 
ending  as  they  did  in  Mr.  Savin's  disastrous  failure  in 
February  1866.  In  partnership  with  Mr.  Ezra  Roberts 


208  MONTC40MERYSHIRE    WORTHIES. 

he  also  made  the  Pembroke  and  Tenby  line,  which  was 
opened  in  1863,  and  subsequently,  in  partnership  with 
Mr.  Beeston,  he  constructed  the  line  from  Aberystwyth 
to  Pencader,  known  as  the  Manchester  and  Milford 
Railway.  The  last  railway  he  made  was  that  from 
Caersws  to  the  Van  Mines,  completed  and  opened  in 
January  1871.  He  was,  however,  for  many  years  a 
director  of  the  Cambrian  Railways  Company. 

In  1863  Mr.  Da  vies  purchased  the  first  of  his 
estates,  comprising  Trewythen  and  other  farms  in 
Llandinam,  and  the  following  year  he  erected,  on  a  site 
commanding  a  lovely  prospect  of  the  Severn  Valley, 
Broneirion,  the  beautiful  residence  which  he  occupied 
during  the  remainder  of  his  days.  In  1865  he  turned 
his  attention  from  railway  construction  to  coal  mining. 
Having  secured  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  Rhondda 
Valley,  he,  in  partnership  with  a  few  of  his  friends,  sank 
several  pits  for  the  purpose  of  working  the  valuable 
coal  deposits  in  that  valley.  Mr.  Crawshay  Bailey, 
the  principal  owner,  was,  it  seems,  at  first  reluctant  to 
part  with  the  land  "to  speculators  and  adventurers". 
Mr.  Davies,  however,  boldly  replied  :  "  I  am  no  ad- 
venturer, but  an  honest  trader,  and  for  every  honest 
guinea  you  will  put  down  I  will  put  another."  This 
straightforward  and  independent  spirit  overcame  all 
obstacles,  and  secured  the  land  on  reasonable  terms. 
The  coal  turned  out  to  be  of  splendid  quality,  probably 
the  very  best  for  steam  purposes,  and  the  demand  for 
it  rapidly  increased.  In  a  few  years  the  undertaking 
became  so  important  that  it  was  found  desirable  to 
convert  it  into  a  limited  company,  under  the  name  of 
"  The  Ocean  Coal  Company,  Limited".  The  Ocean 
Collieries  consist  of  seven  pits,  where  from  six  to  seven 
thousand  persons  are  constantly  employed,  whose  wages 
amount  to  half  a  million  pounds  per  annum,  and  the 
output  of  coal  is  about  a  million  and  a  half  tons  per 
annum.  In  consequence  of  the  great  demand  for  the 
coal  the  profits  have  been  enormous.  Mr.  Davies  him- 
self told  the  writer  that  in  the  golden  year,  1873,  his 


DAVID    DA  VIES.  209 

own  share,  which  was  about  the  half  of  the   whole, 
amounted  to  nearly  £100,000. 

The  successful  development  of  this  great  under- 
taking led  to  one  of  still  greater  dimensions.  The 
heavy  charges  and  inconveniences  which  the  Company 
were  forced  to  submit  to  at  the  hands  of  the  Taff  Vale 
Railway  Company,  and  the  Marquis  of  Bute,  who  had 
a  monopoly  of  the  means  of  transit  and  dock  accommo- 
dation for  the  export  of  the  coal,  became  at  last  in- 
sufferable. Every  effort  was  made  by  the  colliery  pro- 
prietors to  obtain  better  terms  and  facilities,  but  in 
vain.  Then  Mr.  Davies  conceived  the  bold  idea  of 
constructing  a  new  dock  at  Barry  Island,  a  few  miles 
out  of  Cardiff,  with  a  line  of  railway,  twenty-seven 
miles  in  length,  from  the  Rhondda  valley  to  it.  A 
company  was  formed  to  carry  out  this  project ;  surveys 
were  made  and  plans  deposited,  and  the  usual  notices 
were  given  in  November  1882,  and  the  following  session 
the  Bill  was  brought  in.  The  fight  over  it  between 
the  monopolists  on  the  one  side,  and  the  freighters  on 
the  other,  was  one  of  almost  unexampled  severity. 
After  twenty-six  days'  contest  it  passed  Committee  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  but  was  rejected  by  the  Lords' 
Committee  after  a  further  fight  of  seventeen  days.  It 
was  introduced  again  the  following  year,  and  the  battle 
was  renewed  with  still  greater  obstinacy.  The  Lords' 
Committee  sat  thirty-three  days  on  the  Bill,  but  at 
length  passed  it,  and  on  the  14th  August  1884  it 
received  the  Royal  assent,  after  an  expenditure  of 
£70,000.  It  was  Mr.  Davies,  by  his  indomitable  pluck 
and  energy,  the  clearness  of  his  views,  and  the  shrewd- 
ness of  his  judgment,  that  really  piloted  the  Bill  safely 
through  all  the  perils  that  surrounded  it.  The  author- 
ised capital  of  the  Company  was  £2,500,000.  When 
asked  in  cross-examination  in  Committee  how  this 
capital  could  be  raised,  Mr.  Davies,  with  characteristic 
boldness,  replied  :  "  If  the  public  will  not  come  forward, 
I  will  find  the  whole  of  the  money  myself;"  and  no  one 
doubted  his  word.  The  first  sod  of  the  new  dock  was 


210  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    WORTHIES. 

cut  by  Lord  Windsor,  Chairman  of  the  Company,  in 
November  1884,  and  it  was  opened  by  Mr.  Davies,  the 
Vice-Chairman,  in  Lord  Windsor's  absence,  on  the  1 8th 
July  1889.  Barry  Dock  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
kingdom,  and  for  its  special  purpose  of  loading  and 
exporting  coal  it  cannot  be  surpassed.  It  has  already 
proved  an  immense  success  in  every  respect. 

In  July  1865  Mr.  Davies  stood  as  a  candidate  for  a 
seat  in  Parliament  for  Cardiganshire,  his  opponent 
being  Sir  Thomas  Lloyd,  who  defeated  him  by  a 
majority  of  342.  Both  candidates  were  Liberals.  At 
the  General  Election  in  February  1874,  he  was  elected, 
without  opposition,  member  for  the  Cardigan  Boroughs, 
which  he  continued  to  represent  until  they  wrere 
merged  in  the  county  by  virtue  of  the  Reform  Bill  of 
1885.  At  the  General  Election,  which  followed  in 
November  1885,  he  stood  for  the  county,  but  was 
opposed  in  the  Conservative  interest  by  Mr.  Vaughan 
Davies,  whom  he  defeated  by  the  overwhelming  majority 
of  2,323  votes.  When  Mr.  Gladstone  a  few  months 
afterwards  brought  forward  his  Irish  Home  Rule  Bill, 
Mr.  Davies  could  not  agree  with  his  policy,  but  joined 
the  new  party  of  Liberal  Unionists.  At  the  General 
Election  in  July  1886,  which  followed  Mr.  Gladstone's 
defeat,  Mr.  Bo  wen  Rowlands,  Q.C.,  was  brought  for- 
ward as  a  Gladstonian  Liberal  in  opposition  to  Mr. 
Davies,  and  defeated  him  by  a  majority  of  nine  votes 
only.  Party  feeling  ran  very  high,  and  the  smallness 
of  the  majority  was  due,  undoubtedly,  to  Mr.  Davies's 
great  personal  popularity  and  influence  in  the  consti- 
tuency. These  secured  for  him  hundreds  of  votes  which 
otherwise  would  have  gone  for  his  opponent.  He  felt 
this  defeat  keenly,  and  especially  the  bitterness  with 
which  his  return  was  opposed  by  some  who  were  under 
deep  personal  obligations  to  him.  After  this  he  took 
no  part  in  politics.  He  qualified  as  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  Montgomeryshire  in  1873,  and  was  returned 
unopposed  in  February  1889  to  represent  his  native 
parish  on  the  County  Council  for  Montgomeryshire. 


DAVID    DAVIES.  211 

Mr.  Davies  was  a  Nonconformist  of  a  very  robust 
character,  and  a  Calvinistic  Methodist  of  a  very  strict 
type.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  lived  on  the  best 
terms  with  the  clergy  of  his  own  and  neighbouring 
parishes,  and  contributed  liberally  to  all  denominations, 
though  his  munificence  to  his  own  denomination  was 
most  conspicuous.  Indeed,  his  liberality  to  all  religious, 
educational,  and  benevolent  objects  was  almost  un- 
bounded. He  gave  about  £6,000  to  the  University 
College  of  Aberystwyth,  and  the  amounts  he  contri- 
buted towards  the  erection  of  places  of  worship  and 
the  extinction  of  chapel  debts  will  never  be  known, 
but  must  have  amounted  to  tens  of  thousands  of 
pounds.  He  himself  stated  that  he  made  some 
rough  calculation  of  the  amount  of  his  various  sub- 
scriptions during  one  year,  and  found  that  it  came  to 
about  £16,000  ;  but  he  never  again  took  the  trouble 
to  add  them  up.  His  last,  gift  was  £1,000  to  the 
Jubilee  Fund  of  the  Calvinistic  Methodist  Foreign 
Missionary  Society. 

Mr.  Davies  had,  at  different  times,  purchased  several 
considerable  estates  in  the  parishes  of  Kerry,  Llandinam, 
and  Llanwnog,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of 
the  principal  landowners  in  Montgomeryshire.  He 
was  an  excellent  landlord,  spending  annually  thousands 
of  pounds  in  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  in  drainage, 
and  in  other  improvements,  while  the  rents  remained 
the  same,  or  were  lowered.  This  made  him  as  popular 
with  his  tenantry  as  he  had  always  been  with  his 
workmen.  No  man  was  ever  more  respected  by  the 
workmen  than  Mr.  Davies.  He  would  speak  to  the 
workmen  as  a  workman,  and  his  kind,  unassuming 
manner  won  the  hearts  of  all.  Nothing  tried  him 
more  than  to  see  work  badly  performed.  It  is  said  of 
him  that  during  one  of  his  visits  to  the  collieries  he 
was  walking  by  a  place  where  a  number  of  navvies 
were  at  work,  one  of  whom,  it  appears,  was  not  an 
expert  workman,  and  the  way  he  performed  his  work 
was  painful  to  the  eyes  of  the  old  gentleman,  who 


212  MONTGOMERYSHIRE   WORTHIES. 

immediately  asked  for  the  pick  and  gave  the  navvy  a 
lesson  in  the  way  of  using  that  tool,  much  to  the 
amusement  of  his  fellow-workmen.  The  navvy,  with 
a  little  grumbling,  took  the  pick  in  hand  again,  and 
shouted  to  one  of  his  mates,  "  Who  is  that  old  chap  ?" 
He  would  hardly  believe  that  the  man  who  had  just 
given  him  a  lesson,  and  who  was  so  commonly  dressed, 
with  no  outward  show  whatever,  was  the  great 
"  Davies  yr  Ocean",  as  the  colliers  would  call  him. 

One  more  peculiarity  of  Mr.  Davies's  is  worth  a  note. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  physique,  and  on  occasions  when 
his  workmen  would  be  unable  to  proceed  with  their 
work  through  unfavourable  weather,  or  other  circum- 
stances, he  would  visit  them  in  their  sheds  and  go 
through  different  exercises  with  them,  such  as  throw- 
ing the  hammer,  lifting  weights,  and  other  feats  de- 
manding strength.  He  was  a  strict  total  abstainer, 
and  no  intoxicants  were  ever  supplied  to  his  servants 
on  the  farm,  even  in  harvest  time.  He,  too,  was  as 
strict  a  Sabbatarian.  At  all  times,  if  in  any  way 
possible,  he  would  return  home  for  the  Sunday,  in 
order  not  to  rniss  service  with  his  class  in  the  Sunday 
School.  So  strict,  indeed,  were  his  views  regarding 
the  commandment  to  "  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  Day" 
that  he  would  not  open  letters  on  Sunday.  When  a 
young  man,  while  contracting  in  a  small  way,  the  road 
surveyor  who  superintended  the  work  Mr.  Davies 
had  in  hand,  one  Sunday  drove  from  Welshpool  to 
Llandinam,  a  distance  of  about  twenty  miles,  to  see 
him  on  some  matters  connected  with  the  work.  On 
his  arrival  Mr.  Davies  was  at  chapel,  and  a  messenger 
was  despatched  to  him  with  the  intelligence  that  the 
surveyor  desired  to  see  him.  The  reply  was  that  Mr. 
Davies  would  see  the  surveyor  on  the  following  day. 
While  attending  to  his  Parliamentary  duties  in  London 
he  rarely  failed  to  go  down  every  Saturday  to 
Llandinam  to  spend  the  Sabbath  quietly  with  his 
family  in  simple  Christian  worship,  returning  to  town 
again  on  Monday  morning. 


DAVID   DA  VIES.  213 

With  the  exception  of  a  visit  to  Egypt  and  Pales- 
tine at  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  Suez  Canal,  and 
of  another  to  Russia  a  few  years  later,  at  the  invi- 
tation of  the  Grand  Duke  Oonstantine,  who  desired 
the  benefit  of  his  advice  in  regard  to  the  con- 
struction of  railways,  Mr.  Davies  spent  the  whole  of 
his  life  in  England.  His  life  and  work  were  very 
remarkable  in  many  respects,  and  presented  a  striking 
contrast  to  many  self-made  men.  Many  of  these  have 
amassed  large  fortunes  by  following  devious  paths  and 
crooked  ways,  and  by  means  not  always  honest,  while 
others  have  been  flung  into  a  sea  of  wealth  without 
effort,  and  often  without  expectation.  But  in  the  case 
of  Mr.  Davies,  it  was  by  dint  of  hard  plodding  and 
determined  effort;  and  though  circumstances  very 
much  changed  to  him,  yet,  in  the  midst  of  all,  he 
maintained  the  same  characteristics  throughout  his 
life.  His  high  Christian  character,  deep  religious 
convictions,  stability  and  firmness  of  mind,  were  pro- 
minently noticeable  during  his  whole  life.  From 
youth  to  ripe  age,  he  was  the  same — the  same 
in  kindliness  of  heart,  in  purity  of  motive,  in  faith- 
fulness to  his  convictions,  in  fervent  piety,  and  in 
the  exercise  of  beneficence  to  so  eminent  a  degree. 
His  success  depended  more  upon  these  qualities,  com- 
bined with  a  constant  and  careful  vigilance  and 
cautious  forethought,  than  upon  anything  else.  During 
his  younger  years,  Mr.  Davies  was  a  diligent  worker, 
and  throughout  his  life  he  never  shirked  any  laborious 
effort.  When  a  young  man,  he  was  noted  for  diligent 
application  to  the  toil  and  labour  of  those  years,  and 
so  robust  and  healthy  was  he  that  he  was  able  to  do 
with  only  four  or  five  hours'  sleep  out  of  the  twenty- 
four.  The  rest  he  would  devote  to  assiduous  work ; 
and  this  habit  grew  with  him,  so  that  he  was  able,  by 
his  own  example,  to  arouse  the  energies  of  his  work- 
men to  their  full  operation.  He  ever  manifested  a 
broad,  generous,  and  unselfish  spirit  in  all  his  dealings, 
VOL.  xxv.  Q 


214  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    WORTHIES. 

and  never  did  a  mean  or  shabby  thing  to  friend  or  foe. 
His  hand  was  always  ready  to  help  anyone  who  strove 
honestly  to  succeed. 

The  unremitting  anxiety  entailed  in  carrying  out  to 
a  successful  issue  the  stupendous  commercial  projects 
we  have  referred  to  told  severely  upon  Mr.  Davies's 
iron  constitution,  and  probably  helped  to  sow  the 
germs  of  the  disease  to  which  he  ultimately  succumbed. 
His  health  had  been  failing  for  several  years  prior  to 
his  death,  and  for  some  months  he  was  more  or  less  an 
invalid.  The  most  eminent  physicians  were  called  in, 
but  all  efforts  to  restore  him  to  his  former  health  failed, 
and  for  the  last  fortnight  of  his  life  he  was  confined 
entirely  to  bed,  gradually  getting  weaker  every  day. 
He  died  on  Sunday,  the  20th  of  July  1890,  in  his 
72nd  year,  and  was  buried  the  following  Thursday  in 
Llandinam  churchyard.  His  remains  were  followed  to 
the  grave  by  about  2,000  persons  from  all  parts  of 
Wales  and  many  English  towns. 

After  Mr.  Davies's  death,  it  was  generally  felt  by 
his  numerous  friends  and  admirers  that  steps  should 
be  taken  to  commemorate  in  a  suitable  manner  his 
many  virtues  and  great  public  services.  Accordingly 
a  public  meeting  was  held  at  Llandinam,  which  was 
numerously  attended,  and  at  which  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  carry  out  this  object.  In  a  short  time 
nearly  £1,000  was  subscribed  towards  erecting  Mr. 
Davies's  statue  in  his  native  parish. 

As  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  so  good  a  husband 
and  father,  his  widow  and  son  have  also  signified  their 
intention  to  devote  £5,000  for  the  following  purposes  : 
£2,000  for  scholarships  in  connection  with  Intermediate 
Schools  in  Montgomeryshire,  tenable  by  scholars  in 
public  elementary  schools  within  the  county  ;  £2,000 
for  similar  scholarships  in  Glamorganshire,  tenable  by 
scholars  whose  parents  are  employed  at  the  Ocean  Col- 
lieries ;  and  the  remaining  £1,000  for  the  erection  of  a 
Reading  Room  at  Barry  for  the  use  of  workmen  em- 
ployed at  the  dock  and  on  the  railway.  From  this 


DAVID    HOWELL.  215 

munificent  gift  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Davies  has  left 
a  son  who  worthily  follows  in  his  footsteps  and  emu- 
lates his  princely  liberality  in  the  furtherance  of  pro- 
jects for  the  public  good. 

HOWELL,  DAVID,  was  the  son  of  William  and  Eleanor 
Howell,  of  Bontdolgadfan,  Llanbrynmair,  where  he 
was  born  on  the  31st  of  March  1816.  His  father 
carried  on  the  business  of  a  flannel  manufacturer. 
Having  a  large  family  of  twelve  children  (of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  notice  was  the  seventh)  to  bring  up  dur- 
ing the  dear  and  hard  times  preceding  and  immediately 
following  the  downfall  of  the  first  Napoleon,  he  was 
unable  to  give  them  a  better  education  than  that 
afforded  by  the  village  school.  They  had  all  of  them 
to  go  out  into  the  world  at  an  early  age  to  earn  their 
own  bread,  so  a  situation  was  found  for  David  in  a 
solicitor's  office  at  Machynlleth.  After  some  years  he 
was  articled,  and  in  1845  he  was  admitted  a  solicitor 
and  taken  into  partnership  by  Mr.  Hugh  Davies. 
From  this  time  until  within  a  couple  of  years  of  his 
death  he  led  a  very  busy  life  in  the  active  pursuit  of 
his  profession,  enjoying  a  very  extensive  practice,  and 
being  highly  respected  and  trusted  by  all  who  knew 
him.  Mr.  Davies  died  very  suddenly  in  1850,  when 
Mr.  Howell  succeeded  to  his  appointments  as  Clerk 
(now  Registrar)  to  the  County  Court,  Clerk  to  the 
Guardians,  Superintendent  Registrar  and  Steward  of 
the  Manor  of  Cyfeiliog.  He  had  been  for  some  years 
Secretary  of  the  Machynlleth  Savings  Bank,  and  he 
held  that  office  until  the  business  was  transferred  to 
the  Post-office  Savings  Bank  about  twenty  years  later. 
About  the  beginning  of  1855  he  was  appointed  Clerk 
to  the  Justices  of  the  Hundreds  of  Machynlleth  and 
Estirnaner.  In  1857  he  promoted,  and  successfully 
carried  through  Parliament,  a  Bill  for  making  a  railway 
to  Machynlleth  from  the  Llanidloes  and  Newtown 
Railway  at  Moat  Lane,  and  was  secretary  and  solicitor 
to  the  company  until  its  amalgamation  with  others,  in 
1864,  under  the  name  of  the  Cambrian  Railways  Oom- 

Q2 


216         MONTGOMERYSHIRE  WORTHIES. 

pany.  Subsequently  he  successfully  promoted  a  Bill 
for  making  another  line  of  railway  from  Cemmes  Road 
to  Dinas  Mawddwy,  called  the  Mawddwy  Railway, 
and  for  some  years  acted  as  its  secretary.  In  Novem- 
ber 1876  he  was  appointed  Coroner  for  the  Machyn- 
lleth  district  of  Montgomeryshire.  Mr.  Howell,  who 
always  took  great  interest  in  archaeological  matters, 
was  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Powys-land  Club 
from  its  formation  up  to  his  death.  In  1857  he 
married  Isabella  Jane,  daughter  of  the  late  Matthew 
Lewis,  Esq.,  of  Llanfair  Caereinion,  and  a  niece  of  his 
former  partner,  Mr.  Hugh  Davies,  by  whom  he  had 
four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom,  as  well  as 
Mrs.  Howell,  survive.  Mr.  Howell  had  for  some  years 
resided  at  Craigydon,  Aberdovey,  and  for  a  consider- 
able time  his  health  had  been  gradually  failing.  About 
the  beginning  of  August  1890  he  went  to  Llandudno 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  On  Saturday,  the  16th 
of  the  same  month,  he  died  very  suddenly  at  that 
place,  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  following 
Thursday,  the  21st,  was  buried  at  Penegoes,  near 
Machynlleth.  Mr.  Howell,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
owned  considerable  property,  and  he  was  a  most  kind 
and  considerate  landlord.  His  high  integrity,  kindness 
of  disposition,  and  genial  manner  endeared  him  to  a 
large  Circle  of  friends,  by  whom  his  memory  will  long 
be  affectionately  cherished. 

LLOYD,  JACOB  YOUDE  WILLIAM,  generally  known  as 
the  Chevalier  Lloyd,  of  Clochfaen,  Llangurig,  was  the 
son  of  Jacob  William  Hiride,  Esq.,  of  Langham  Hall, 
Essex,  by  Harriet,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  the  late 
Rev.  Thomas  Youde,  of  Clochfaen  and  Plasmadoc. 
He  was  born  in  1816,  and  through  his  mother 
claimed  descent  through  Tudor  Trefor  from  Gwrth- 
eyrn  Gwrtheneu  or  Vortigern,  lord  of  Erging 
Ewias  and  Gloucester.  He  was  educated  at  Wad- 
ham  College,  Oxford,  and  on  the  12th  December 
1868  received  her  Majesty's  licence  to  assume  the 
old  name  of  Lloyd  of  Clochfaen  in  lieu  of  that  of  Hinde, 


J.    Y.    W.    LLOYD.  217 

and  also  to  bear  the  arms  of  Lloyd.      In  early  life  he 
entered  into  holy  orders,  and  for  a  time  was  curate  of 
Old  Chapel,  Llandinam,  but  before  long  he  went  over 
to  the  Church  of  Rome,  and  when  he  succeeded  to  his 
mother's  property  in  1856,  on  her  death,  he  expended 
a  large   portion  of  it  on  the  Church  of  his  adoption. 
Some  years  afterwards  he  joined  the  Pontifical  Zouaves 
in  defence  of  the  temporal  power  of  the  Pope,  serving 
as  a  private.     In  1870  he  was  created  a  Knight  of  the 
Order  of  St.   Gregory  the   Great   by  Pope  Pius  IX. 
He  felt  himself  unable,   however,   to  accept  the  new 
Papal  dogmas   soon  afterwards    promulgated,   and  in 
1875  he,  for  a  time,  discarded  the  title  of  Chevalier, 
but  it  continued  to  be  given  to  him  by  others,  and  he 
was  always  known  as  the  Chevalier  Lloyd.     During  the 
latter  years  of  his  life  he  became  gradually  estranged 
from   the  Roman  Catholic    Church.     In  1877  he  re- 
turned to  Clochfaen,  where  he  continued  to  reside  up 
to  his  death,  and  where  his  catholicity  of  spirit,  his 
kind  and  genial  disposition,  and  his  unstinted  benevo- 
lence and  generosity,  gained  for  him  the  esteem  and 
affection  of  all  around  him.     Among  other  proofs  of  his 
munificence  may  be  cited  the  restoration  in  1878,  at  his 
sole  charge,  of  the  ancient  parish  church  of  Llangurig, 
at  a  cost  of  £l  J,000,  and  this  although  he  was  not  a 
member  of  the   Anglican  Communion.     "  As  a  mark 
of  gratitude  and  esteem  for  his  unbounded  liberality, 
extraordinary  charitableness,  and  his  restoration  of  the 
parish  church/7  his  tenants  and  friends  in  1885  erected 
a  handsome  obelisk  in  his  honour  in  the   village  of 
Llangurig.     The  Chevalier  was  also  devoted  to  anti- 
quarian pursuits,  and  a  contributor  to  the  Archcsologia 
Cambrensis  and  the  Montgomeryshire  Collections.     He 
greatly  assisted  Mr.  Edward  Hamer  in  compiling  the 
"  History  of  Llangurig",  which  appeared  in  the  latter, 
and  was  afterwards  reprinted  and  published  in  a  hand- 
some volume.       But  his  chief  literary  work  was  the 
History  of  Powys  Fadog,  which  came  out  in  six  volumes 
octavo.     This    work,  it   is   true,  contains    much  that 


218  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    WORTHIES. 

might  have  been  with  advantage  omitted,  but  the  mass 
of  pedigrees  and  old  Welsh  poems,  with  translations 
and  other  valuable  materials  illustrative  of  the  genea- 
logy and  history  of  the  district  to  which  it  relates, 
gathered  at  great  trouble  and  expense,  supplies  a 
rich  quarry  for  local  historians  and  genealogists. 
The  Chevalier  died,  after  a  short  illness,  at  Vent- 
nor,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  whither  he  had  gone 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  on  the  14th  October 
1887,  aged  71  years,  and  was  buried  at  Llangurig  on 
the  21st  of  the  same  month.  Having  died  unmarried, 
his  estates  passed  on  his  death  to  his  niece,  Harriet 
Julia  Morforwyn,  the  wife  of  George  Hope  Verney, 
Esq.,  a  son  of  the  Bight  Hon.  Sir  Harry  Verney, 
Bart. 

TUDOR,  OWEN  DAVIES,  barrister-at-law  and  the 
author  of  several  well-known  legal  works,  was  a 
member  of  a  family  long  settled  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Welshpool.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  Owen 
Tudor,  a  Captain  in  the  Royal  Montgomeryshire  Militia, 
and  Emma  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  John  Lloyd  Jones, 
Esq.,  of  Maesmawr,  and  was  born  at  Lower  Garth  in 
the  parish  of  Guilsfield,  on  the  19th  of  July 
1818.  He  was  educated  at  Shrewsbury  School,  and 
choosing  the  Bar  as  his  profession,  he  entered  as  a 
student  at  the  Middle  Temple  in  April  1839,  and  was 
called  to  the  Bar  in  June  1842.  For  many  years  he 
successfully  practised  in  London  as  an  equity  draftsman 
and  conveyancer.  In  1864  he  was  appointed  joint 
Registrar  of  the  District  Bankruptcy  Court  at  Birming- 
ham, the  business  of  which  he  conducted  with  great 
ability.  He  continued  in  office  until  its  abolition  by 
the  Bankruptcy  Act,  1869,  and  after  winding  up  the 
business  of  the  Court  in  a  most  efficient  manner,  he,  in 
1872,  retired  on  a  pension.  Mr.  Tudor  was  a  legal 
writer  of  considerable  repute.  His  most  important 
works  (which  have  gone  through  several  editions),  are 
A  Treatise  on  the  Law  of  Charitable  Trusts ;  Leading 
Cases  in  the  Law  of  Real  Property  and  Conveyancing, 


O.    D.    TUDOR. — RICHARD   WOOSNAM.  219 

and  Leading  Cases  in  Mercantile  and  Maritime  Law. 
He  married,  in  September  1849,  Sarah  Maria,  eldest 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  David  James,  vicar  of  Llanwnog, 
who  still  survives,  and  hy  whom  he  has  left  two  sons, 
of  whom  the  Rev.  Owen  Lechmere  Tudor,  M.A.,  vicar 
of  Willingdon,  Sussex,  is  one,  and  three  daughters. 
Mr.  Tudor  died  at  his  residence  in  South  Kensington, 
London,  on  the  14th  November  1887,  aged  69  years, 
and  on  the  18th  of  the  same  month  was  buried  in  the 
Bromptori  Cemetery  (near  his  parents,  who  died  in 
1870).  In  private  life  Mr.  Tudor's  cultivated  and  well- 
stored  mind  and  his  genial  disposition  endeared  him  to 
a  large  circle  of  friends. 

WOOSNAM,  RICHARD,  of  Glandwr,  Llanidloes,  was 
the  son  of  Mr.  Bo  wen  Woosnam,  solicitor,  Llanidloes, 
and  was  born  in  the  year  1814.  Having  passed  through 
the  University  of  Cambridge,  he  studied  for  the 
medical  profession,  and  went  out  as  an  array  surgeon  to 
India  and  other  places.  He  subsequently  became 
private  secretary  to  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  during  the 
Chinese  war  of  1842,  and  was  present  at  most  of  the 
combined  naval  and  military  actions  which  led  to  the 
conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  peace  signed  before  Nanking 
on  the  29th  August  1842.  For  his  services  he  received 
a  medal,  and  was  appointed  Assistant  Secretary  of 
Legation  to  Her  Majesty's  Mission.  From  that  date 
till  1854  he  filled  successively  the  appointments  of 
Deputy  Colonial  Secretary  at  Hong- Kong,  and  Secretary 
to  Her  Majesty's  High  Commission  to  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  entrusted  to  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  in  1846. 
and  during  the  six  years  of  Sir  Henry's  governorship 
of  Madras  he  acted  as  his  private  secretary.  About 
1868  he  returned  to  this  country,  and,  after  a  short 
residence  at  Cheltenham,  took  up  his  abode  at  Glandwr. 
He  had  also  another  residence  at  Tynygraig,  near 
Builth.  Shortly  afterwards  he  qualified  as  a  magis- 
trate, and  thenceforth  took  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  all  county  and  political  affairs.  For  some  years 
he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Llanid- 


220  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    WORTHIES. 

loes  Bench  of  Magistrates,  the  Llanidloes  combined 
School  Boards,  and  of  the  Newtown  and  Llanidloes 
Highway  Board.  Whatever  duties  he  undertook  it 
was  always  acknowledged  that  he  discharged  them 
with  great  conscientiousness,  sparing  no  pains  to 
study  and  master  all  the  details  of  matters  that  came 
before  him.  Mr.  Woosnam  married  Margaret,  daughter 
of  William  Bell,  Esq.,  of  Queen's  County,  Ireland,  who 
p  re-deceased  him,  and  by  whom  he  left  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  He  died  on  the  27th  of  November 
1888,  aged  74  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  Llanidloes 
Cemetery, 


221 


PLACE-NAMES     IN    AND    AROUND 
MONTGOMERY. 


AT  a  local  literary  meeting  held  at  Montgomery  in 
March  last,  a  prize  was  offered  for  the  best  "  Catalogue 
of  Place-Names  in  and  within  a  radius  of  three  miles  of 
Montgomery,  with  their  meanings''.  The  following 
are  extracts  from  the  adjudication  on  the  four  composi- 
tions sent  in  : — 

"  The  study  of  place-names  is  not  only  in  itself 
interesting,  but  also  very  useful  and  important,  as 
throwing  light  on  the  past  and  almost  forgotten  history 
of  the  localities  where  they  occur.  A  local  name  may 
be  the  only  memorial  left  to  us  of  events  in  the  far- 
distant  past  which  history  has  forgotten  to  commemo- 
rate. It  may  be  even  a  legacy  left  to  us  by  pre- 
historic man.  The  names  of  some  of  our  rivers,  lakes, 
and  mountains  have  hitherto  puzzled  learned  men,  and 
are  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  only  fragments  we 
have  of  a  long-lost  speech — the  speech  of  a  small,  dark- 
haired  race  who  hunted  the  reindeer  and  the  wild  ox 
on  our  hill-sides  and  fished  in  our  rivers  thousands  of 
years  before  ever  a  Norman,  Saxon,  Dane,  or  Roman 
invaded  our  shores,  and  even  before  the  Cyrnry  arrived 
here  from  their  Eastern  home  in  the  land  of  the 
Deffrobani. 

"  Welsh  names,  in  particular,  are  highly  descriptive. 
Sometimes  they  are  those  of  animals,  or  parts  of  the 
human  body  which  they  are  supposed  to  resemble.  To 
the  former  class  belong  the  Twrch  (mole),  Bamv  (calf), 
Iwrch  (roebuck),  Elain  (fawn),  Gwenol  (swallow) ;  and 
to  the  latter  class,  Bron  (a  woman's  breast),  very  com- 
monly applied  to  a  round-shaped  hill  ;  Cefn  (back), 


222      PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

Braich  (arm),   Troed  (foot),  Givdr  (back  of  the  neck), 
Cesail  (armpit),  Esgair  (spur),  etc." 

The  prize  was  awarded  to  Lex  (Mr.  John  E.  Tomley), 
whose  paper  was  described  as  "  very  well  arranged, 
and  abounding  in  explanatory  notes  and  illustrations 
which  were  to  the  point,  and  added  greatly  to  its 
value."  An  extra  prize  was  also  given  to  Zeta  (Miss 
Mary  E.  James)  for  "an  excellent  paper";  and  two 
others,  P.  J.  A.  and  Cmvydryti,  whose  real  names  did 
not  transpire,  were  "  highly  commended".  "  Each 
writer",  it  was  said,  (i  had  supplied  some  names  and 
derivations  omitted  by  the  others.  The  four  incorpo- 
rated into  one  would  make  a  valuable  contribution  to 
the  topography  of  the  neighbourhood." 

This  paper  is  an  attempt  to  carry  out  this  sugges- 
tion, and  at  the  same  time  to  make  some  necessary 
corrections,  and  supply  some  omissions  in  the  four 
papers  sent  in  for  competition. 

R.  W. 


ABERNANT  (Berriew),  "  the  confluence  of  the  brook." 

ACKLEY  (Forden),  "  Oak  place/' 

ALEXANDEA  TERRACE  (Montgomery}.  So  called  in  honour  of 
the  Princess  of  Wales. 

ARGOED  (Church stoke),  "above  the  wood0;  also  "a  place 
sheltered  by  a  wood",  and  sometimes  "  a  wooden  fort". 

ARGAE  HALL  (Berriew)  f  "  the  hall  by  the  dam."  So  named 
after  the  embankment  which  dammed  up  the  river  Severn  and 
diverted  its  course  to  a  mill.  This  was  made  by  Baldwin  de 
Boulers,  lord  of  Montgomery,  to  whom  special  permission  for 
its  construction  was  granted. 

ARTHUR'S  GATE  (Montgomery).  One  of  the  four  entrances  to 
the  town  when  it  was  walled. 

ARTHUR  STREET  (Montgomery).  The  street  leading  to  Arthur's 
Gate. 

BACHELDRE  (GhurchstoJce)  =  Bachell  "a  nook",  and  tre  "a 
township";  "  the  township  in  a  nook".  This  township  was 
Welsh  territory.  It  is  almost  wholly  surrounded  by  townships 
whose  names  terminate  with  the  Saxon  -ton,  as  Hopton, 
Brompton,  etc.;  hence  its  name  of  "  the  township  in  a  nook". 

BAILIFF'S  PATCH  (Montgomery),  a  property  "  Ballivornm  et 


PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY.       223 

Burgensium  de  Montgomery".  It  is  separated  from  the  Flos 
by  the  river  Carnlad,  and  its  rent  was  the  perquisite  of  the 
bailiffs  of  the  borough  during  their  term  of  office. 

BAKER'S  HOLE  (Llandyssil),  a  place  on  the  side  of  the 
Cambrian  Railway,  about  half-way  between  Abermule  and 
Montgomery,  where  a  terrible  accident  occurred  some  twenty- 
five  years  ago.  Baker,  an  engine-driver  in  charge  of  a  goods- 
train,  and  Kerr  his  stoker,  had  been  drinking  at  Abermule,  and, 
to  make  up  for  lost  time,  put  on  extra  steam,  and  the  train 
(being  made  up  chiefly  of  empty  waggons)  soon  attained  a  fearful 
speed,  and  at  this  spot  left  the  metals,  the  engine  rolling  down 
the  embankment,  crushing  to  death  both  Baker  and  Kerr. 

BEERIEW  (Aber  Rhiw),  "  the  confluence  of  the  Rhiw,"  or, 
more  properly,  Yr  Iw,  with  the  Severn. 

BLACK  HALL  COTTAGES  (Montgomery).  Where  these  now 
stand,  Black  Hall  formerly  stood,  "  a  low  building,  but  of  great 
capacity,  my  grandfather  erected  in  his  age,"  says  Lord 
Herbert  of  Cherbury  in  his  Autobiography.  He  adds:  "It 
was  an  ordinary  saying  in  the  country  at  that  time,  when  they 
saw  any  fowl  rise,  '  Fly  where  thou  wilt,  thou  wilt  light  at 
Black  Hall/ "  The  old  building  is  said  to  have  been  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  Its  site  is  now  occupied  partly  by  cottages 
and  partly  by  the  police-station. 

BLUE  BELL  (Brompton  and  Ithiston).  A  public-house  on  the 
roadside  between  Montgomery  and  Bishop's  Castle. 

BOLERO  (Llandyssil),  "the  front  of  the  plain." 

BRADES  (Montgomery).  Several  houses  named  after  a  firm 
with  which  their  owner  had  dealings. 

BRADLEY  (Berriew).  Brad-le,  "  the  place  of  treachery."  A 
cottage  situate  in  a  nook  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Camlad 
with  the  Severn.  The  name  takes  us  back  to  the  time  when  a 
Welsh  chief  by  a  strategical  movement  enticed  his  English 
foes  into  this  corner,  where,  hemmed  in  on  two  sides  by  the 
waters,  the  Saxons  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  wily  Welshman 
and  his  band. 

BROAD  STREET  (Montgomery),  as  its  name  implies,  is  of  ample 
width,  and  its  very  disproportionate  length  would  make  the 
term  Square  more  appropriate  than  Street. 

BROMPTON  (Churchstolce),  "  broom-town."  A  township  so 
named  from  the  prevalence  of  broom  on  its  slopes.  Some, 
however,  derive  the  name  from  the  Welsh  Bron-y-don,  <(  the 
bank  or  edge  of  the  wave,"  on  the  supposition  that  at  one 
time  the  flat  country  below,  being  marshy  ground,  presented 
the  appearance  of  a  lake.  This,  however,  is  too  far-fetched  to 
claim  serious  consideration. 


224      PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

BRON,  "  a  woman's  breast,"  a  name  often  applied  to  a  round 
hill,  or  rising  ground. 

BRONHAFEEN  (Berriew),  "  Severn  bank." 

BEONSEETH  (Kerry),  "  the  steep  slope  ";  also  written  BEON- 
SERCH,  "  the  slope  of  affection." 

BEYNKIN  (ChurdistoJse),  "  a  little  hill." 

BEYNLLYN  (Berriew),  "  Pool  bank." 

BEYNLLWYN  (Berriew),  "grove  hill." 

BEYNTALCH  (Llandyssil),  "  the  broken  hill ;  the  fragment  or 
part  of  a  hill." 

BEYNWLFFYN  (Berriew).     "  Wlffyn,  or  Elphin's  hill." 

BUCKLEY'S  ACEE  (Llandyssil),  a  plot  of  ground  formerly  held 
by  a  tenant  named  Buckley. 

BURNT  HOUSE  (Montgomery),  so  named  because  the  original 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

CAEBITTRA  (Churchstoke),  Cae-butra="  the  dirtiest  field." 
Some  say,  however,  Cae  Bittolws  =  'i  the  buffalo  field/'  but  this 
is  not  very  probable,  although  a  species  of  ox  resembling  the 
buffalo  was  known  in  Wales  in  early  times. 

CAEDU  (Llandyssil),  "  the  black  field." 

CAE-MWGAL  (Montgomery),  "  the  field  of  mist/'  which  very 
accurately  describes  the  spot.  There  is,  a  short  distance  from 
it,  a  place  called  "  the  Devil's  hole",  which  suggests  the 
possibility  of  this  name  being  a  corruption  of  Cae  bwgan,  "the 
goblin's  field." 

CAE  PEIOE  (Brompton  and  Rhiston),  "  the  Prior's  field."  A 
farmhouse  a  mile  distant  from  Chirbury,  the  name  of  which 
recalls  the  time  when  the  Priory,  or  religious  house  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Bennett,  still  existed.  This  Priory  was  founded  in 
the  reign  of  King  John,  and  removed  from  Chirbury  to  Snede 
(Snead)  in  the  time  of  Edward  I. 

CAEEHOWEL  (Montgomery).  "  Howell's  Camp"  or  "  fortifi- 
cation". The  old  Roman  camp  from  which  the  Gaer  farm 
takes  its  name  is  nearly  equidistant  from  that  place  and 
Caerhowel. 

CAMLAD  or  CAMLET,  "  crooked";  a  term  exactly  descriptive  of 
the  winding  course  of  this  stream  along  the  fertile  lands 
through  which  it  passes.  It  is  said  to  be  the  only  stream 
which  flows  out  of  England  into  Wales.  It  rises  near  Bishop's 
Castle  and  falls  into  the  Severn.  There  is  a  river  Cam  in 
Yorkshire,  and  the  county  and  town  of  Cambridge  take  their 
name  from  another. 

CAMP  (Llandyssil),  so  named  from  the  remains  of  an  old 
camp  still  remaining  there. 

CASTELL-Y-GWYNT  (Llandyssil),  (( windy  castle",  so  named 
from  its  bleak  situation. 


PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY.       225 

CASTLE  HILL  (Montgomery},  the  hill  upon  which  stands  the 
ruins  of  the  well-known  Norman  castle,  the  history  of  which  is 
so  closely  identified  with  that  of  the  town. 

CASTLE  STREET  (Montgomery),  the  street  leading  out  of 
Montgomery  towards  Bishop's  Castle,  hence  its  name. 

CEFN  HAFEN  (hefin  ?)  (Llandyssil),  "  the  summer  ridge." 

CEFN  LLAN  (Llandyssil),  "  back  of  the  church."  A  farm- 
house. 

CEFN-Y-COED  (Llandyssil),  "  back  of  the  wood."     A  hamlet. 

CEFN-Y- GARTH  MYL  (Berriew),  "  back  of  the  hill." 

CHIKBURY  or  CHERBURY,  "  the  fortified  place  on  the  stream." 
Among  the  fortresses  built  by  Elfleda,  the  wife  of  Ethelred,  in 
916,  was  Cerburih,  which  may  be  identified  with  the  modern 
Chirbury.  Subsequently  it  became  a  place  of  considerable 
ecclesiastical  importance.  Some,  however,  derive  the  name 
from  the  Welsh  Caer-bre,  "the  hill  fort." 

CLAWDD-Y-DRE  (Montgomery'),  "  the  town  wall,  or  ditch." 
The  residence  of  the  Town  Clerk  (Mr.  C.  S.  Pryce),  which 
bears  the  date  1726,  bears  this  name,  which  it  derives  from, 
having  been  built  upon  the  site  of  the  town  wall. 

CLIFF,  CLIFT,  or  CLWT  (Montgomery).  The  latter  is  the  proper 
name  of  this  place,  and  is  used  by  the  older  people.  It 
means  "  a  patch",  and  the  two  cottages  now  standing  there 
were  built  on  a  patch  of  waste  land. 

CLODDIA  (Llandyssil),  "  the  ditches." 

CLOS-TAN-Y-MUR  (Montgomery},  "  the  close  under  the  wall." 
The  name  given  to  a  field  just  outside  the  town  wall. 

COCKSHUTT  (Churchstoke).  A  long  correspondence  took 
place  in  Byegones  some  time  ago  as  to  the  origin  of  this  word. 
Several  different  meanings  were  given  to  it,  from  which  the 
following  are  extracted  :  Cock,  a  diminutive,  sholt,  shot,  or  shut, 
Old  Eng.  for  "  a  wood,  copse,  or  covert",  hence  Cockshutt 
would  mean  "a  little  wood".  Another  correspondent  quoted 
from  Shakespeare  (Richard  III},  where  the  words  "  Cockshut 
time"  are  used  to  denote  the  close  of  the  day,  roosting  time, 
or  twilight.  The  Cockshutt  was  a  large  net  stretched  across 
a  glade,  suspended  upon  poles,  and  used  to  catch  woodcocks. 
There  is  another  name,  Hawkeshutt  or  hawk's  holt,  i.e.,  "hawk's 
wood",  corresponding  with  Cockshutt,  or  cock's  wood.  Still 
another  meaning  was  suggested — CocTi  (Welsh),  "red",  and 
sudd,  "juice",  having  reference  to  the  red  liquid  oozing  from 
the  ditches  on  the  side  of  the  road. 

COED-Y-CYMRY  (Llandyssil  and  Montgomery},  "  the  Welsh- 
men's wood." 

COED-Y-WIG  (Llandyssil),  (( the  forest."     This  term  is  some- 


226       PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

what  tautological,  inasmuch  as  coed  and  wig  both  signfy  "  a 
wood". 

CONQUER  HALL  (Montgomery').  This  peculiar  name  is  given 
to  a  row  of  three  small  cottages,  situate  about  a  mile  from  the 
town.  The  land  on  which  they  are  built  was  enclosed  by  a 
man  named  Hurdley,  and  an  action  against  him  to  recover 
possession  having  resulted  in  his  favour,  the  place  was  given 
the  odd  title  it  now  bears. 

COUNTY  BEIDGE,  crossing  a  stream  which  is  the  outlet  of 
Lymore  Pool  and  runs  into  the  Camlad.  This  forms  the 
boundary  between  the  counties  of  Montgomery  and  Salop  for 
the  greater  part  of  its  course.  Between  this  spot  and  Offa's 
Dyke  the  battle  of  Montgomery  was  fought. 

COUET  CALMORE  (Montgomery),  a  large  farm  near  the 
Eailway  Station. 

CRANKWELL  (CMrbwnf),  a  draw-well  in  which  a  crank  was 
used  to  raise  the  water. 

CROGBREN  (Montgomery},  "  the  Gallows  tree/'  The  name 
now  given  to  the  houses  built  under  the  brow  of  the  Town 
Hill,  said  to  have  been  the  place  of  execution  in  olden  time, 
when  the  lord  of  Montgomery  Castle  for  the  time  being  had 
sovereign  power  within  his  jurisdiction. 

CWM-BERLLAN  (Kerry),  "  the  orchard  dingle." 

CWM  BROMLEY  (Kerry}.  "  Bromley's  dingle" — for  many 
years  known  as  The  Farm;  but  the  owner,  Mr.  Fairies 
Humphreys,  a  few  years  ago  restored  to  it  what  appears  to 
have  been  the  original  name. 

CWMGWERN  (  ),  "  the  dingle  swamp." 

CWM-HINKIN  (Montgomery),  qy.  "  Inigo,  or  Inco's  dingle." 

CWM  HOUSE  (For den  and  Ohurchstoke),  "  the  dingle  house." 

CWM-LIKEY  (LlandyssiF).  "  Lleucu,  or  Lucy's  dingle." 
Others  derive  the  name  from  Cwm-llechu,  "  the  dingle  for 
sheltering  or  hiding/' 

CWM-LLADRON  (OastlewrigM),  "  the  thieves'  dingle." 

CWM  PADARN  (Llandyssil),  "  Padarn's  dingle/' 

DEVIL'S  HOLE  (Ghirbury).  See  CAE  MWGAL,  ante. 

DITCHES  (Brompton  and  Rhistori),  a  farmhouse  so  called  from 
its  having  been  built  on  Offa's  Dyke  or  Ditch. 

DOLLAS  (Berriew),  "  the  green  meadow." 

DRAINLLWYNELEN  (Llandyssil),  "  Elen's  thorn-bush";  or 
DRAINLLWYNELAIN,  "the  hind's  thorn-bush";  or  DR^INLLWYN- 
MELYN,  "  the  yellow  thorn-bush,"  i.e.,  the  gorse-bush. 

DUCK  LANE  (Montgomery),  the  name  by  which  Princes  Street 
was  formerly  known. 

DUDSTON  (Chirbury),  qy.     "  David's  town". 


PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY.       227 

DYFFRYN  (  ),  "  the  valley." 

EDDERTON  (Forden),  "  Edward's  town"  (?). 

EITHIN-Y-GATH  (Gastlewright), "  the  cat's  gorse." 

FFORDD-LAN  (Montgomery],  "  the  road  to  the  Church."  See 
VERLON,  post. 

FFRIDD  FALDWYN  (Montgomery).  Ffridd  is  the  Welsh  term 
for  a  rough  sideland  pasture,  such  as  the  place  now  bearing 
this  name  must  have  been  before  it  was  planted  with  trees  a 
few  decades  ago.  It  bears  traces  of  old  fortifications,  and 
must  at  one  time  have  formed  an  important  military  position. 
Its  contiguity  to  Baldwin's  Castle  will  account  for  the  other 
part  of  the  name. 

FFYNON-Y-BI  (Brompton  and  Rhiston),  "  the  magpie's  well." 
The  children  of  the  neighbourhood  repeat  an  old  rhyme  : — 

"  Fynnon-y-bi 
Well  in  a  tree," 

referring  to  the  peculiar  position  of  the  well  in  the  root  of  a 
tree.  It  is  sometimes  called  Ffynnon-y-pren. 

FLOS  (Montgomery),  sometimes  spelt  inold  record sFloace.  Low- 
lying  meadows  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Camlad,  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  railway  between  Montgomery  and  Forden,  subject 
to  frequent  floods.  This,  perhaps,  may  suggest  that  the  name 
is  derived  from  flash,  a  term  applied  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Welshpool  to  an  overflow.  It  is  a  common  term  in  old  authors 
for  a  pool.  These  lands  are  said  to  have  been  conveyed  by 
a  former  lord  of  the  manor  to  the  freemen  of  Montgomery  in 
exchange  for  their  rights  of  common  over  the  waste  lands. 

FFORDEN— ; -ffordd-htin,  "  the  old  road,"  so  called  from  the  old 
Roman  road  to  Caersws,  passing  through  the  entire  length  of 
this  parish.  It  has  been  ingenuously  suggested  that  the  word 
was  originally  ffordd-daen,  "  the  spread  road/'  referring  to  the 
scattered  paths  which  must  have  existed  on  Forden  Heath 
before  its  enclosure. 

FRON  (LlandyssiF),  "the  breast"  or  bank;  see  BRON.  A 
farmhouse  on  the  side  or  breast  of  a  hill. 

FRONGOCH  (Berriew),  "  the  red  slope." 

FRONFRAITH  (Llandyssil),  "  the  speckled  breast,"  or  bank. 

FRONFELEN  (  ),  "  the  yellow  bank."  so  called  from 

the  yellow  gorse  growing  there. 

GAER  (Forden),  "a  camp,  or  fortified  post."  Flos  is  often 
given  as  the  cognomen  of  Gaer,  but  this  is  an  error  arising 
from  the  two  names  being  engraved  close  to  each  other  on  the 
Ordnance  Map,  thus  CAER  Flos. 

GARTHMYL  (Berrieiv),  has  been  variously  interpreted  as  "the 


228       PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

violet  ridge",  "  the  sultry  ridge",  and  "  near  the  ridge".  Mael 
means  "  traffic",  so  Gartli-myl  (mael)  may  signify  a  district,  of 
which  there  are  several  called  Maelor  (according  to  Dr.  Owen 
Pughe)  which  were  neutral  ground,  where  trade  was  carried  on. 
GIPSIES'  LANE  (Montgomery},  a  byway  leading  to  some  fields, 
which  obtained  this  name  from  being  a  favourite  camping 
place  for  these  wanderers  in  days  when  they  were  more 
numerous  than  at  present. 

GLANHAFREN  (Montgomery,  also  Bettws\\   Q  i      -, 

GLANSEVERN  (Berriew).  J   ' 

GOOSEBERRY  HALL  (Brompton  and  Rhiston).  A  cottage  on 
the  roadside  near  Brompton.  Its  name  is  suggestive  of  horti- 
cultural fertility. 

GORONDU,  Coryn  du  (Llandyssil),  "  the  black  top/'  so  called 
from  its  dark  appearance,  caused  by  its  being  covered  with 
trees  or  gorse. 

GULLET  (Montgomery),  a  public-house  reached,  as  its  name 
implies,  through  a  passage. 

GWARTHLOW  (Brompton  audlthiston).  Gwarth-le,  "the  place 
of  disgrace,  or  reproach/'  The  two  farms  bearing  this  name, 
as  well  as  the  adjoining  farms  of  Whitley  and  Rockleij  (see 
post),  were  the  scenes  of  severe  fighting  between  the  Welsh 
and  English,  and  this  name  doubtless  alludes  to  the  discomfi- 
ture of  one  of  the  contending  parties;  though  some  attribute  to 
it  a  Saxon  origin,  meaning  "  the  fortified  enclosure". 

GWERNLIKEY  (Brompton  and   Rhistcn),    "Lucy's  swamp    or 
alder  grove,"  or  "  the  swamp  of  hiding".     See  CWMLIKEY,  ante. 
GWERNYBEDIN,  Gwern-y-leddau,  "  the  swamp  or  alder  grove 
of  the  graves." 

GWERNYBUARTH  (Llandyssil),  "  the  swamp  or  alder  grove  of 
the  fold." 

GWERNYRYCHAIN  (Llandyssil),  "the  swamp  or  alder  grove  of 
the  oxen." 

GWESTUN  or  WESTON  (ChurcJistolce).  Gwestydd  =  "  places  of 
entertainment."  Weston  is  a  common  place-name  in  England, 
and  where  it  occurs  there  is  generally  an  Aston  or  Easton 
somewhere  near,  and  so  there  is  in  this  instance. 

HAFREN  or  HABREN,  the  Welsh  original  name  of  the  river 
Severn.  It  was  the  name  of  a  daughter  of  Locrinus,  King  of 
Britain,  by  Essyllt,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  the  King  of  Ger- 
many. Gwenddolen,  the  queen,  having  caused  Essyllt  and 
Hafren  to  be  drowned,  the  name  of  the  latter  was  given  to  the 
river  to  commemorate  her  fate. 

HEM  (Forden).  There  are  three  farmhouses  a  few  yards  only 
apart  from  each  other,  bearing  this  name.  The  word  signifies 


PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY.       229 

"  an  edge,  or  border",  and  was  given  to  these  places,  it  may  be 
safely  assumed,  because  of  their  proximity  to  the  border,  i.e., 
Offa's  Dyke. 

HENDOMEN  (Montgomery),  "  the  old  mound."  A  hamlet 
deriving  its  name  from  the  moated  mound  close  by,  formerly 
used  as  a  place  of  observation  and  possibly  of  defence. 

HENFRON  (LlandyssiT),  "  the  old  breast  or  bank." 

HILL  COTTAGE  (Montgomery),  so  called  from  its  situation,  near 
the  summit  of  the  Town  Hill. 

JAMESFORD  (Montgomery).  It  appears  from  an  old  rent-roll 
that  this  farm  was  originally  called  James  Ford's  tenement,  after 
the  name  of  a  former  occupier. 

KERRY  STREET  (Montgomery),  the  street  which  in  olden  times 
led  "  to  the  Chyrburie  and  Ceri  Gates". 

LACK  (  ),  "  the  clear  brook." 

LLANYHIKID  (Churchstoke),  Glan-yr-hir-ryd,  "  the  edge  of  the 
long  ford." 

LEASTY  (  ),  lluesty,  "  a  shepherd's  hut ;  an  encamp- 

ment." 

LIONS,  THE  (Montgomery),  the  old  name  of  the  present 
Rectory,  which  has  the  figure  of  a  lion  carved  in  stone  on 
either  side  of  the  steps  leading  to  the  front  door. 

LLANDYSSIL.     "  St.  Tyssul's  Church." 

LLANFFYNNONWEN,  "the  church  of  the  white  well/'  the  old 
Welsh  name  of  Chirbury. 

LLEGODIG  (Llandyssil),  "the  wooded  place/' 

LLETTYGYNFARCH  (Forden),  "  Cynfarch's  lodging." 

LLWYNOBIN  (Montgomery),  {( Hobin's  grove."  Cf.,  Pentre- 
hobin,  Denbighshire,  or  perhaps  Llwyn  ubain,  "  the  grove  of 
moaning." 

LLWYN-MADOC  (Llandyssil),  "  Madoc's  grove." 

LLWYNREDITH  (  ),  Llwyn  Meredith,  "  Meredith's 

grove,"  or  Llwyn  yr  hedydd,  "  the  lark's  grove." 

LLWYNCRWTH  (Berriew),  "  the  Fiddle  grove." 

LLWYN-Y-GARREG  (Castlewright),  tf  the  grove  of  the  stone." 

LYMORE  (Montgomery),  Lie  mawr  "  the  big  place,"  or  more 
probably  Llyn  mawr,  "  the  big  pool." 

MAEN  BEUNO  (Berriew),  "  St.  Beuno's  stone." 

MELIN-Y-WERN  (Churchstoke),  "  the  mill  in  the  alder  meadow, 
or  swamp." 

MELLINGTON  (Churchstoke) ,  "  Melting's  town." 

MILLPOOL  COTTAGE  (Montgomery).    See  STALLOB,  post. 

MOAT  (Chirbury),  a  farmhouse  formerly  surrounded  by  a 
moat  or  ditch,  traces  of  which  still  remain. 

MONTGOMERY,  so  named  after  Roger  de  Montgomery,  Earl  of 
Shrewsbury,  who  in  1092,  with  his  Norman  followers,  seized 

VOL.  XXV.  R 


230       PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

the  present  border  lands  of  Shropshire  and  Montgomery,  and 
took  the  town  of  Baldwyn  (Trefaldwyn),  giving  his  own  name 
to  it. 

MOUNT  (Montgomery),  a  farmhouse  so  called,  from  its  elevated 
position  near  the  Town  Hill. 

MUFFIN'S  LANE  (Montgomery),  a  steep  bank  leading  from  the 
Chirbury  Road  to  the  National  Schools.  This  name  it  owed  to 
the  proficiency  in  muffin-making  of  a  Mrs.  Bishop,  who  once 
lived  there.  It  is  now  generally  known  as  School  Lane. 

MUNLTN  (Forden).  Min-llyn,  "  the  edge  of  the  pool,"  pro- 
bably referring  to  a  deep  part  of  the  river  Severn,  which  runs 
near.  Some  derive  the  name  from  Myn-llyn,  "  the  kid's  pool." 

NAG'S  HEAD  (Berriew).  An  inn,  whose  sign  bears  the  arms 
of  Brochwel  Ysgythrog,  Prince  of  Powys. 

NANTCRIBBA  (Forden),  "the  ridges'  brook."  There  are  a 
tumulus  and  extensive  remains  of  a  British  encampment  at 
this  place.  There  is  a  tradition  that  a  Danish  chief  named 
Cribba  was  slain  and  buried  here. 

NANTYKENNEL  (Montgomery*),  "the  brook  of  the  kennel." 
This  is  the  name  given  to  the  outlet  of  a  prill  of  water  into  a 
stone  cistern  at  the  lower  end  of  Castle  Street. 

OFFA'S  DYKE  (ChurchstoJce,  Brompton  and  Ehiston).  This  cele- 
brated earthwork  is  so  well  known  that  a  description  of  it  here 
is  unnecessary. 

PANT-Y-MAEN  (Montgomery),  "  the  hollow  of  the  stone."  The 
hollow  is  very  much  en  Evidence,  but  the  stone  non  est.  Probably 
there  was  at  one  time  some  stone  of  special  interest  here. 

PENLLWYN  (  ),  "  the  grove's  end." 

PENSON'S  TWIST  (Montgomery).  A  very  awkward  curve  that 
formerly  existed  in  the  road  at  a  point  about  midway  between 
Montgomery  town  and  the  station.  It  took  its  name  from  the 
surveyor  (Thomas  Penson,  Esq.)  under  whose  supervision  it 
was  made.  Many  accidents  having  occurred  at  this  place,  the 
Road  Trustees  at  last  carried  the  road  straight  across  the 
hollow  or  dingle  on  a  high  embankment,  thus  doing  away  with 
"  Penson's  Twist". 

PENTRE  (Llandyssil),  "  the  hamlet." 

PENTRECWN  (Churchstoke),  "  the  dogs'  village/' 

PENTRE-HEYLYN  (Brompton  andRhistori),  "Heylyn's  township." 

PEISTRE  WILLEY,  qy.  PENTRE  WYLO  (Castlewriglit),  the  hamlet 
of  weeping." 

PENTRE-YN-LLAN  (Llandyssil),  "  the  Pentre  in  the  village,"  so 
called  to  distinguish  it  from  the  other  Pentre  in  the  same 
parish. 

PENTRE-NANT  (Churchstoke'),  "  the  hamlet  by  the  brook." 


PLACE-NAMES  IX  AND  ABOUND  MONTGOMERY.      231 

PENYBRYN  (Churchstoke),  "  the  top  of  the  hill." 

PEN-Y-DRE  (  ),  "  the  top  of  the  town." 

PEN-Y-LLAN  (Forden),  "  the  church  bank." 

PEN-Y-GERDDI  (Llandyssil),  "  the  top  of  the  gardens." 

PEN-Y-LLWYN  (Berriew),  "  the  grove  end." 

PERTH-Y-BI  (Kerry],  "  the  magpie's  grove." 

PIGGIN  TAVERN  (Montgomery),  a  house  formerly  used  as  an 
inn.  Piggin  is  a  small  wooden  vessel. 

PINION  (Llandyssil).  This  word  means  the  point  of  a  wing, 
to  which  the  position  of  the  place  bears  some  resemblance. 
Or  possibly  the  word  may  be  a  corrupt  form  of  Penwyn,  (<  the 
white  summit"  or  beacon. 

PLAS  ROBIN  (Llandyssil),  ((  Robin's  mansion/' 

PLAS  MEREDITH  (Berriew),  "Meredith's  mansion." 

PLAS  OFFA  (Montgomery),  "  Offa's  mansion."  A  very  modern 
residence. 

PLAS  TREFALDWYN  (Montgomery),  "  Montgomery  Hall/' 
formerly  and  still  sometimes  called  Plas-yn-dre,  "  the  mansion 
in  the  town." 

PLASSAU  (Churchstoke),  "  the  mansions." 

POOL  ROAD  (Montgomery),  the  road  leading  out  of  Mont- 
gomery towards  Welshpool. 

POUND  (Montgomery).  A  walled  enclosure  between  the 
Chirbury.and  Pool  Roads,  formerly  used  as  a  pinfold  or  pound 
where  animals  found  straying  on  the  highway  or  trespassing 
were  confined. 

PRINCE'S  STREET  (Montgomery),  formerly  called  DUCK  LANE. 
It  probably  owes  its  present  name  to  the  late  Mr.  W.  R.  Brown, 
who  owned  some  property  in  it,  and  who  evidently  was  a 
great  admirer  of  royalty.  He  gave  to  other  property  of  his 
the  names  of  Victoria  Buildings  and  Alexandra  Terrace. 

PWLL  (Montgomery),  "  a  pool,"  or  "  puddle." 

PvfLL-BUVR  (Churchstoke),  "  the  filthy  puddle/' 

RHANDIR  (Llandyssil),  "  allotment  land." 

RHISTON  (Churclistoke),  "  Rees's  town."     A  township. 

.RHIWGOCH  (Montgomery).     "  Red  bank." 

RHYDWHIMAN  (Montgomery),  "  the  rapid  ford."  A  ford  upon 
the  Severn,  within  about  two  hundred  yards  of  the  Mont- 
gomery railway  station. 

RHYD-Y-GROES  (Montgomery),  "  the  ford  of  the  Cross"  ;  a 
place  of  considerable  historical  interest,  being  a  ford  near  the 
confluence  of  the  Rhiw  and  Severn,  but  no  longer  so  called, 
the  name  being  now  preserved  in  that  of  a  farm  about  two 
miles  and  a  half  distant  in  the  parish  of  Forden.  There  is  an 
interesting  allusion  to  it  in  the  Mabinogi  of  "  The  Dream  of 

II  2 


232      PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

Rhonabwy".  It  was  the  scene  of  several  conflicts  between  the 
Welsh  and  the  Saxons  ;  and  was  the  place  of  meeting  between 
Prince  Llewelyn  and  the  Commissioners  of  the  English  king, 
Edward  I. 

RHYD-Y-WAEE  (Montgomery),  "  the  weir  ford,"  or  perhaps  "  the 
quiet  or  calm  ford." 

BOBBER'S  GRAVE  (Montgomery}.  This  name  is  given  to  a 
sterile  spot  in  the  churchyard,  where  rest  the  bones  of  a  man  who 
was  hanged  for  highway  robbery.  On  the  scaffold  he  protested 
his  innocence,  and  declared  that  as  a  proof  of  it  grass  would 
not  grow  on  his  grave  for  one  generation. 

ROCKLEY  (Brompton  and  Bhistori).  Bhoch-le—(  the  place  of 
noise  or  clamour/'  referring  doubtless  to  some  of  the  severe 
conflicts  that  took  place  in  this  neighbourhood. 

ROWNAL  (Chirbury),  a  corruption  of  the  words  "  Round  hill". 
ROWE'S  BUILDINGS  (Montgomery),   so  called  after   a   former 
owner,  Mr.  Samuel  Rowe. 

SALT  BRIDGE  (Montgomery  and  Forderi).  Is  allt="  under  the 
ascent  or  steep  hill."  The  river  Camlad,  over  which  this  bridge 
is  built,  here  meets  the  brow  of  the  hill  over  which  the  road 
runs  from  Montgomery  to  Welshpool. 

SARKLEY  (Montgomery).  Sarn-y-clai="  the  stepping-stones 
of  the  clay."  The  old  road  from  Montgomery  to  Berriew 
crossed  a  small  brook  near  this  place,  which  wrould  necessitate 
the  use  of  stepping-stones  by  foot  passengers. 

SIDNAL  (Chirbury).  The  old  form  of  this  word  is  Sydenhale. 
Some  of  the  retainers  of  the  Black  Prince,  when  he  in  1343 
received  the  allegiance  of  the  Crown  tenants  of  the  lordship  of 
Montgomery,  bore  this  name. 

SIGLEN  (Montgomery},  "  a  bog,"  or  "  quagmire." 
ST.  NICHOLAS,  the  parish  church  of  Montgomery. 
STALLOE  (Montgomery).  It  was  suggested  in  Byegones  some 
time  ago  that  this  name  came  from  Stanlaw,  quoting  from  an 
old  deed,  wherein  permission  was  given  to  make  a  millstream, 
"  Stanlaw  eo  scinlin  sic  vocat."  The  writer  says  that  "  scinlin" 
would  refer  to  Siglen,  which  is  near.  A  dwelling-house 
between  the  two  places  is  called  Mill  Pool  Cottage,  so  that 
doubtless  there  has  been  such  a  place  in  the  neighbourhood. 
Some  derive  the  name  from  the  Welsh  Ystal-wy,  "  above  the 
river,"  with  which  the  situation  of  the  house,  overlooking  a 
long  reach  of  the  Carnlad's  course,  corresponds  well.  Others 
derive  it  from  Ystalu,  "  to  form  a  stack." 

SUTTON  (Montgomery),  i.e.,  Sub-ton="  below  the  town."  The 
latter  is  the  form  used  in  old  deeds. 

TIMBEETH  (CliMury),  Tyn-y -berth,"  the  house  in  the  grove." 


PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY.       233 

Old  people  can  remember  this  house  surrounded  by  fine  oak 
trees,  which,  however,  were  cut  down  many  years  ago. 

THOENBUEY  (Forden),  "  thorny  town." 

TOWN  DITCH  COTTAGES  (Montgomery).  The  traces  of  the  old 
wall  and  ditch  of  the  town  are  very  distinct,  though  but  little 
of  the  wall  itself  remains.  There  is  only  just  a  corner  of  it  to 
be  seen  near  the  Cottage  Inn,  but  the  embankment  on  which 
it  was  built  may  be  easily  discerned.  The  above  cottages  are 
built,  some  in  and  others  near  the  hollow  which  marks  the 
ditch  which  existed  outside  the  wall.  By  building  and  other 
means  some  of  this  hollow  has  been  filled  up,  but  in  several 
places  it  may  be  traced  for  long  distances. 

TOWN  GATES  (Montgomery}.  There  were  four  entrances  or 
gates  to  Montgomery  in  the  days  when  it  was  a  walled  town, 
namely,  Arthurs  Gate,  Chirbury  Gate,  Kerry  Gate,  and  Cedewain 
Gate.  The  site  of  the  latter  is  near  the  present  Old  Castle 
Farm,  and  took  its  name  from  the  district  of  Cedewain,  to 
which  it  led. 

TOWN  HILL  (Montgomery).  The  proximity  of  this  eminence 
to  the  town  may  have  given  rise  to  its  name,  or  it  may  have 
been  so  called  from  the  fact  of  its  once  having  been  the  pro- 
perty of  the  freemen  of  the  town. 

TEEFALDWYN,  "  Baldwin's  town,"  the  Welsh  and  former  name 
of  Montgomery.  Baldwin  was  a  Norman  adventurer,  who  built 
a  castle  here  in  the  eleventh  century.  This,  after  being  cap- 
tured by  the  Welsh,  was  retaken  by  Eoger  de  Montgomery, 
who  fortified  the  place  and  named  it  after  himself  in  1092. 

TEWST-LLEWELYN  (Berriew),  "  Llewelyn's  tumult/'  The  war- 
fare which  the  camps  and  earthworks  in  this  neighbourhood 
indicate  to  have  taken  place,  doubtless  accounts  for  this  name. 
We  read  that  in  1231,  on  account  of  a  quarrel  between 
Prince  Llewelyn  ab  lorwerth  and  the  English  King,  Llewelyn 
brought  an  army  against  Montgomery  Castle,  seized  it,  and 
burned  it.  Possibly,  the  shouting  and  noise  which  heralded 
his  approach  on  this  occasion  may  have  given  its  name  to  this 
place. 

YEELON  (Montgomery).  This  name~is  variously  pronounced 
and  spelt,  one  way  of  spelling  it  being  Fforddlon.  It  is 
applied  to  a  house  which  would  be  the  first  reached  on 
approaching  the  town  from  the  Forden  side,  and  is  most 
likely  an  altered  form  of  the  words  Ffordd-y-llan—"  the  road 
to  the  church." 

WEENDU  (Churchstoke),  "  the  black  alder  meadow." 

WEENLLWYD  (Churchstoke),  "  the  grey  alder  meadow/' 

WESTON  (Churchstoke).     See  GWESTUN,  supra. 


234      PLACE-NAMES  IN  AND  AROUND  MONTGOMERY. 

WHITLEY  (Brompton  and  RMston),  probably  derived  from  the 
Welsh  Gwaed-le,  "  the  place  of  blood,"  alluding  to  the  severe 
fighting  of  which  this  was  the  scene  in  olden  time. 

WINDY  OAKS  (Montgomery*).  A  wooded  part  of  the  Earl  of 
Powis's  home  farm  at  Lyinore.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  "i" 
in  "windy"  is  invariably  pronounced  as  a  diphthong,  hence 
some  other  derivation  must  be  sought  for  the  name  besides 
the  windy  or  exposed  situation  of  the  trees.  Perhaps  it  may 
be  found  in  the  Welsh  givaun-dir,  "  the  upland." 

WINSBURY  (Cliirbiinj}.  Win  is  perhaps  a  form  of  Whin, 
another  name  for  gorse;  bury  being  a  fortified  eminence,  a 
term  which  would  be  very  applicable  to  the  commanding 
position  of  this  place. 

WYNNSTAY  HOUSE  (Montgomery},  formerly  an  hotel,  but  now 
a  private  house.  In  the  severe  struggle  which  took  place  in 
1774  between  the  rival  houses  of  Powis  Castle  and  Wynnstay 
for  the  Parliamentary  representation  of  Montgomeryshire  in 
the  persons  of  William  Owen  of  Bryngwyn  and  Watkin 
Williams,  the  latter  was  placed  under  a  great  disadvantage,  as 
all  the  inns  in  Montgomery, .  and  practically  the  whole  town, 
belonged  to  the  Herberts,  so  that  his  supporters  had  nowhere 
to  go  for  refreshment.  To  remedy  this,  Sir  Watkin  Williams 
Wynn  purchased  a  small  plot  of  ground  near  the  Town  Hall, 
on  which  he  built  an  inn  called  the  "Wynnstay  Arms",  and 
which  was  the  only  property  Sir  Watkin  owned  in  Montgomery 
or  within  about  ten  miles  of  it. 


235 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE  SAINTS. 

BY   THE   REV.    JOHN   FISHER,    B.D.,    CURATE    OF 
LLANLLWCHAIARN. 


II. 

S.  CURIG  (continued). — He  also  invokes  him,  among 
other  saints,  to  bless  his  hero  (p.  340)  ;  and  more  than 
once  he  uses  the  expression  myn  Haw  Curigl  "by  Curig's 
hand !"  In  the  latter  part  of  an  elegy  (pp.  280-1)  he 
is  very  satirical  on  the  Mendicant  Friars,  who  in  his 
time  used  to  go  about  hawking  images  of  saints,  made 
of  glass  or  alder-wood,  which  they  sold  to  the  peasantry, 
receiving  as  payment  in  kind  cheese,  flour,  wool,  etc. 
Among  other  images  they  hawked  about  S.  Curigs — 

"  tin  a  arwain,  yn  oriog, 
Gurig  Iwyd  dan  gwr  ei  glog  ; 
Gwas  arall  a  ddwg  Seiriol, 
A  naw  o  gaws  yn  ei  gol." 

"  One  bears,  fitfully, 

Blessed  Curig  under  the  corner  of  his  cloak  ; 
Another  youth  carries  Seiriol, 
And  nine  cheeses  in  his  bosom." 

We  learn  from  the  Itinerarium  Cambrics  of  Giraldus 
Cambrensis  that  when  he  made  his  celebrated  tour- 
through  Wales  with  Archbishop  Baldwin  in  1187,  S. 
Curig's  crozier,  or  pastoral  staff,  was  preserved  in  S. 
Harmon's  Church,  a  few  miles  south-east  of  Llangurig. 
He  thus  speaks  of  it  and  its  miraculous  powers  : 

"  In  the  Church  of  St.  Germanus  there  is  a  staff  of  St.  Cyric, 
covered  on  all  sides  with  gold  and  silver,  and  resembling  in  its  upper 
part  the  form  of  a  cross  ;  its  efficacy  has  been  proved  in  many  cases, 
but  particularly  in  the  removal  of  glandular  and  strumous  swellings; 
insomuch  that  all  persons  afflicted  with  these  complaints,  on  a  devout 


236  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

application  to  the  staff,  with  the  oblation  of  one  penny,  are  restored 
to  health.  But  it  happened  in  these  our  days  that  a  strumous 
patient,  on  presenting  one  halfpenny  to  the  staff,  the  humour  sub- 
sided only  in  the  middle ;  but  when  the  oblation  was  completed  by 
the  other  halfpenny,  an  entire  cure  was  accomplished.  Another 
person  also  coming  to  the  staff  with  the  promise  of  a  penny,  was 
cured ;  but  not  fulfilling  his  engagement  on  the  day  appointed,  he 
relapsed  into  his  former  disorder ;  in  order,  however,  to  obtain 
pardon  for  his  offence,  he  tripled  the  offering  by  presenting  three- 
pence, and  thus  obtained  a  complete  cure."  (Bohn's  Giraldus  Cam- 
brensis,  335-6.) 

The  pastoral  staff  being  an  emblem  of  spiritual  juris- 
diction  and  authority,  it  may  be  presumed  that  S. 
Curig  was  either  a  bishop  or  an  abbot.     His  feast — 
Gwyl  Gurig — is    June    16    (lolo  MSS.    152),   and  is 
referred   to    often   from    the  Laws   on.       There    was 
another  S.   Curig  (spelt,   generally,   Cyric ;  in   Latin, 
Cyricus  or  Quiricus),  a  saint  of  Tarsus  in  Cilicia,  who 
was  martyred  in  his  infancy,  together  with  his  mother 
Julitta,  or  Juliet,  called  in  Welsh  Hid.     Their  cultus 
was  introduced  into  this  country  probably  by  the  Nor- 
mans.    They  are  commemorated  in  the  Roman  Mar- 
tyrology  also  on  June  16.     The  two  S.  Curigs  seem  to 
have  been  quite  confused  by  the  Welsh ;  and  they  are 
so  represented  in  modern  coloured  glass  in  Llangurig 
Church.     The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  all  the 
churches  in  Wales  dedicated  to  the  Welsh  S.  Curig,  as 
well  as  the  two  foreign  saints  (who  are  patrons  of  a 
great  number  on  the  Continent).     Llangurig,  in  Mont- 
gomeryshire ;    Porthkerry   (  =  Forth  Curig),  in  Gla- 
morganshire, of  which  we  learn  from  the  lolo  MSS. 
220  (the  only  authority  for  the  statement,  as  far  as  I 
know),  that  S.  Curig  founded  it  "  for  the  benefit  of 
sailors'  souls,  and  a  port  for  them";1  and  also,  perhaps, 
Eglwys  Fair  a    Churig,  in   Carmarthenshire — to    the 

1  The  parish  is  called  Forth  Ceri  in  the  text  of  the  Henwau 
Plwyvau  Cymru  MS.  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  748  ;  but  at  the  foot  we 
have  the  reading  Curie  given.  In  the  Truman  MS.  Gwehelyih  lestyn 
ab  Gwrgan  we  are  told  (lolo  MSS.  7,  345-6)  that  Forth  Ceri  is  so 
called  after  Ceri  ab  Caid.  One  statement  is  perhaps  as  credible  as 
the  other. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  237 

Welsh  S.  Curig.  Capel  Curig,  in  Carnarvonshire,  to 
SS.  Cyricus  and  Julitta — called  Capel  Curig  a'i  fam 
lulita  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  422;  Llanilid,  in  Glamor- 
ganshire, to  SS.  Julitta  and  Cyricus — called  Llan  (and 
Eglwys)  Hid  a  Churig  in  the  Myv.  Arch..  422,  748  ; 
and  Llanilid,  called  also  Cray  S.  Hid,  in  Brecknock- 
shire, to  S.  Julitta  alone  (Welsh  Saints,  307,  325). 
There  are  dedications  also  to  them  in  several  parts  of 
the  west  of  England.  In  the  Cambro- British  Saints, 
276-7,  is  given  the  text  of  Emyneu  Curig  Ferthyr,  the 
Hymns  of  Curig  the  Martyr,  written,  as  regards  their 
present  form,  in  comparatively  modern  Welsh.  The 
devotions  are  also  found,  but  differing  to  some  extent 
from  the  printed  text,  in  a  MS.  in  the  Earl  of  Maccles- 
field's  collection  at  Shirburn  Castle.  The  MS.  was 
written  the  middle  of  the  16th  century,  and  forms  a 
large  collection  of  miscellanea.  The  so-called  Hymns 
in  the  printed  text  are  six  in  number,  and  are  all,  with 
the  exception  of  the  third,  really  collects  or  short 
prayers,  in  prose,  addressed  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
"  in  the  name  of  holy  Curig  the  Martyr  and  his  mother 
Julitta  [written  a  Ddivlitta  ei  fam  ef]  and  all  the  male 
and  female  saints  of  Heaven".  The  martyr  is  repre- 
sented in  them  as  an  infant  and  an  adult.  They  are 
no  doubt  translations  of  Latin  originals.  GrufFydd  ab 
Meredydd  ab  Dafydd  (1290-1340)  seems  to  be  alluding 
to  them  in  an  ode,  "  To  God,"  when  he  says  that  there 
should  be  praise  to  Him  for  our  Lord's  Incarnation. 

"  .  .  .  .  mal  molyant  sein  Syric"  (sic) — Myv.  Arch., 
315.  Dafydd  y  Coed  (1300-1350)  also  thought  it  high 
praise  when  he  said  of  his  hero  in  a  poem — 

"  Emyn  Cirig  beirdd  yw  myn  Carawn"  (ib.,  330).1 

1  Since  writing  the  above,  Mr.  Howel  W.  Lloyd,  M.  A.,  has  kindly 
drawn  my  attention  to  a  paper  of  his  on  "  The  Legend  of  St.  Curig", 
which  appeared  in  the  Archceologia  Cambrensis  some  years  ago,  and 
had  escaped  my  notice.  The  Legend  is  there  treated  very  fully — its 
origin,  development,  and  the  migration,  so  to  speak,  of  the  cultus  of 
the  two  saints  from  the  Eastern  to  the  Western  Church.  He  iden- 
tifies the  Welsh  S.  Curig  (as  I  have  called  him)  with  a  Gaul,  who, 


238  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

S.  CYNFELYN  lived  about  the  middle  of  the  6th  cen- 
tury, and  was  the  son  of  Bleiddud  ab  Meirion  ab 
Tybiawn  ab  Cunedda  Wledig.  Cynfelyn  used  to  be  a 
fairly  common  Welsh  name,  and  appears  earliest  in  the 
form  Cunobelinos,  then  Cinbelin  or  Conbelin,  and 
Shakespeare's  Cymbeline.1  He  was  a  brother  to  S. 
Cynydyn,  a  periglawr,  or  chaplain,  in  Cor  Padarn 
(70/0  MSS.  125  ;  Myv.  Arch.,  422).  There  is  no  reason 
for  concluding  as  R-ees  (Welsh  Saints,  261)  has,  that 
the  founder  of  the  religious  house  at  Welshpool,  Lle- 
welyn Sant  ab  Bleiddud  ab  Tegonwy  ab  Teon  ab 
Gwineu  da  ei  [or  deu]  Freuddwyd,  was  a  brother  of 
his,  and  that  his  pedigree  should  run  Bleiddud  ab 
Meirion,  etc.,  though  it  is  not  easy  to  account  for  the 
insertion  of  Bleiddud  in  some  of  the  Catalogues  that 
give  Llewelyn's  pedigree  (Myv.  Arch.,  427.;  Cambro- 
British  Saints,  271).  The  most  reliable  MSS.  give 
simply  "  Llywelyn  Sant  o'r  Trail wng  ab  Tegonwy  ab 
Teon",  etc.  S.  Cynfelyn  was  a  saint  of  Bangor  Deiniol 
(lolo  MSS.  102)  ;  and  the  founder  of  a  church  at 
Trallwng,  or  Welshpool,  afterwards  dedicated  to  S. 
Mary ;  Llangynfelyn,  in  Cardiganshire  ;  and,  maybe, 
of  Dolgynfelyn,  which  Rees  (Welsh  Saints,  346)  gives 
as  an  extinct  chapel  under  Manafon.  The  township  of 
Dwyrhiew  and  Dolgynfelyn  is  separated  from  Manafon 
by  a  portion  of  Llanwyddelan. 

S.  CYNOG,  called  in  Welsh  literature  Cynog  Sant  and 
Cynog  Ferthyr,  lived  in  the  5th  century,  and,  according 
to  all  the  Catalogues,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Brychan, 
the  well-known  half- Irish  prince  of  Brycheiniog,  by 
Banhadlwedd  'ch  Banhadle  o  Fanhadla  ym  Mhowys 

maybe  bearing  the  saint's  name,  crossed  into  Wales  about  the  7th 
century,  where  he  disseminated  the  Acts  of  the  martyrs,  and  in  course 
of  time  got  himself  confused  with  the  original  S.  Cyricus.  He  also 
gives  the  fragmentary  texts  of  poems  on  S.  Curig  by  Huw  Cae  Llwyd, 
JSion  Ceri,  and  Huw  Arwystli,  from  the  Ceniarth  MS. 

1  The  first  element  cuno-  possibly  means  a  dog,  whilst  the  other 
seems  to  be  the  name  of  the  Gaulish  divinity  Belinos,  which  enters 
also  probably  into  the  favourite  Welsh  name  Llywelyn,  evolved  from 
some  form  like  Lugubelinos. 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  239 

(Myv.  Arch.,  419,  421).  There  are  three  townships  in 
the  parish  of  Llanrhaiadr  yn  Mochnant  which  bear  the 
names  Banhadla  Hamlet,  Banhadla  Ucha,  and  Banhadla 
Isa.  These  furnish  us  with  the  name  of  the  district 
referred  to.  Brychan  had  three  wives,  by  whom  he 
had  a  great  number  of  children — who  became  one  of 
the  great  Holy  Gwelygorddau,  or  Clans,  of  Britain — but 
Banhadlwedd  (=  "  Broom-aspect"  ;  cf.  Kiwallawn  Wallt 
Banhadlen,  of  the  Triads)  is  never  mentioned  as  one  of 
the  three.  Several  of  Brychan's  children  were  illegi- 
timate. The  MIS.  generally  called  Cognatio  de  Brachan 
Brecheiniauc,  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  (Cott., 
Vesp.  A.  xiv),  and  printed  in  the  Cambro- British 
Saints,  272-5,  gives  us  the  following  particulars  re- 
specting his  birth.  The  passage  is  thus  translated  (ib., 
603-4)  :— 

"  Aulach  gave  his  son  Brychan  a  hostage  to  the  King  of  Powys, 
and  in  process  of  time  Brychan  violated  the  daughter  of  Banadell 
[Beuadel  in  the  text],  and  she  becoming  pregnant  brought  forth  a 
son,  named  Cynog,  who  being  carried  to  the  camp  was  baptized  [by 
S.  Gastayn,  afterwards  his  spiritual  instructor,  and  founder  of  Llan- 
gasty  Talyllyn,  in  Brecknockshire]  ;  which  being  done,  Brychan  took 
a  bracelet  [armilla]  from  his  arm,  and  gave  it  to  his  son  Cynog. 
This  Saint  Cynog  is  very  celebrated  in  his  country  of  Brycheiniog ; 
and  the  bracelet  is  preserved  in  the  district,  among  its  precious  relics, 
to  the  present  day." 

The  MS.,  it  is  said,  was  written  aboub  A.D.  900.  The 
celebrated  torques  or  collar  of  S.  Cynog  was  preserved 
at  Brecon  in  Giraldus  Cambrensis'  time  (1187),  who 
thus  speaks  of  it  in  his  Itinerarium  Canibrice  : — 

"  Moreover,  I  must  not  be  silent  concerning  the  collar  (torques) 
which  they  call  St.  Canauc's ;  for  it  is  most  like  to  gold  hi  weight 
nature,  and  colour ;  it  is  in  four  pieces  wrought  round,  joined  to- 
gether artificially,  and  clefted  as  it  were  in  the  middle,  with  a  dog's 
head,  the  teeth  standing  outward  ;  it  is  esteemed  by  the  inhabitants 
so  powerful  a  relic,  that  no  man  dares  swear  falsely  when  it  is  laid 
before  him  ;  it  bears  the  marks  of  some  severe  blows,  as  if  made  with 
an  iron  hammer ;  for  a  certain  man,  as  it  is  said,  endeavouring  to 
break  the  collar  for  the  sake  of  the  gold,  experienced  the  divine  ven- 
geance, was  deprived  of  his  eyesight,  and  lingered  the  remainder  of 
his  days  in  darkness."  (Bonn's  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  343.) 


240  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  killed  by  y  Paganiaid  Saeson, 
the  Pagan  Saxons  (lolo  MSS.  119;  but  did  he  not  live 
at  a  period  much  too  early  for  one  to  expect  to  hear  ot 
Saxons  in  Brecknockshire  ?),  on  the  summit  of  a  hill 
called  Y  Fan  Oleu.  The  church  of  Merthyr  Cynog 
was  afterwards  erected,  over  his  grave,  as  a  martyrium 
in  memory  of  his  martyrdom.  The  erection  of  churches 
in  honour  of  martyrs  is  referred  to  by  Gildas,  and  was 
not  at  all  an  unusual  dedication  (limited,  of  course,  to 
one  in  each  case),  as  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  there 
are  no  less  than  thirteen  Merthyr  s  indexed  in  the 
Liber  Landavensis,  most  of  the  names  of  which  are  no 
longer  in  use,  though  there  are  two  or  three  still,  such 
as  Merthyr  Tydfil,  Merthyr  Cynog,  Merthyr  Dovan 
(=  Dyfan).  Merthyr  prefixed,  as  in  these  instances, 
it  should  be  observed,  stands  for  martyrium,  and  not 
for  martyr,  which  as  a  rule  would  be  affixed.  Several 
saints  of  Brychan's  family  were  honoured  with  martyria. 
The  following  is  a  full  list  of  the  churches  supposed  to 
be  founded  by,  or  dedicated  to,  him  : — Llangynog  (the 
name  of  a  township  in  the  parish  as  well),  in  Mont- 
gomeryshire ;  Merthyr  Cynog,  Defynog  (originally 
founded  by  S.  Cynog,  but  afterwards  re-dedicated,  as 
it  is  supposed,  in  the  name  of  S.  Dyfnog  ab  Medrod 
ab  Cawrdaf  ab  Caradog  Freichfras,  a  7th  century 
saint — Welsh  Saints,  295),  Ystradgynlais,  Penderin, 
Battle,  and  Llangynog,  in  Brecknockshire  ;  Boughrood, 
in  Radnorshire  ;  Llangynog  (generally  spelt  Llangun- 
nock,  but  called  Llangynog  yn  Derllysg  in  the  Myv. 
Arch.,  421),  in  Carmarthenshire,  though  Rees  (Welsh 
Saints,  139-40)  says  there  are  reasons  for  supposing 
that  it  is  dedicated  to  S.  Cynog,  second  Bishop  of  Llan- 
badarn.  The  ruined  church  of  Llangunnock,  or  Llan- 
gynog, near  Llansoy,  in  Monmouthshire,  is  also  dedi- 
cated to  S.  Cynog  ab  Brychan  according  to  Rees  (ib., 
343),  but  in  a  note  in  the  Cambro-British  Saints,  606-7, 
it  is  conjectured  that  it  is  dedicated  to  a  S.  Cynog  ab 
Cynwyl  ab  Gwyngenau.  There  is  a  Llangynog  in 
Herefordshire,  where  at  one  time  there  was  probably  a 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  2<1  L 

church  dedicated  to  him  (Welsh  Saints,  341).  Most  of 
these  churches,  it  will  be  observed,  are  situated  in 
Brecknockshire,  of  which  his  father  was  regulus.  That, 
and  the  fact  of  his  own  popularity  there  as  a  saint, 
account  for  their  grouping  together  principally  in  this 
district.  The  Montgomeryshire  Llangynog  adjoins  the 
parish  of  Llanrhaiadr  yn  Mochnant,  which  claims  his 
half-brother  S.  Dogfan  as  the  founder  of  its  church. 
It  is  also  in  the  neighbourhood  of  "  Banhadla  in 
Powys",  his  birth-place,  as  it  would  appear.  A  saying 
of  S.  Cy nog's  is  preserved  in  Chwedlau  'r  Doethion,  the 
Sayings  of  the  Wise  (lolo  MSS.  252)— 

"  A  gly waist  ti  chwedl  Cynog, 
Sant  Penrhaith  gwlad  Brycheiniog, 
Deuparth  addysg  ym  mhenglog." 

"  Hast  thou  heard  the  saying  of  S.  Cynog, 
Supreme  governor  of  the  land  of  Brecknock  1 
'  Two-thirds  of  one's  education  is  already  in  the  head.'  " 

A  poem,  Cywydd  Kynog  Sant,  is  printed  in  the  lolo 
MSS.  302-4.  It  is  by  the  bard  and  historian  Hywel 
ab  Dafydd  ab  lefan  ab  Rhys,  whose  floruit  is  given  as 
1450-80,  and  who  was  evidently  connected  with  Breck- 
nockshire. In  the  course  of  it  he  says  the  saint,  as 
Brychan's  heir,  was  left  the  supreme  governor  (pen 
raith)  of  Brecknock.  He  had,  in  earlier  life,  relin- 
quished an  Irish  crown — "  a  prosperous,  brilliant 
crown" — choosing  instead  the  life  of  a  hermit.  He 
tells  us  how  he  encountered  a  fiendish  giant  of  un- 
bounded cannibalism  that  infested  Brecknock ;  the 
"  game"  he  made  of  him,  and  how  he  finally  slew  him. 
He  then  describes  his  wonderfnl  torques  (torch  o  nef)  ; 
and  says  that  after  his  head  had  been  cut  off  (he  does 
not  even  mention  "  the  Pagan  Saxons")  he  still,  mira- 
culously, walked — 

"  kerddaist  ath  ben  wrth  dennyn 
wrth  dy  gorff  o  wyrth  duw  gwyn" — 

and  the  "world"  only  stopped  his  walking  when  his 
crair,  i.e.,  his  torques,  was  taken  off  his  person.      The 


242  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

bard  concludes  by  invoking  the  saint's  good  offices  on 
behalf  of  Brecknock — his  father's  land,  of  which  he  is 
"  head  and  protector";  that  he  would  protect  it  with 
his  prayers,  and  preserve  peace  within  its  borders.  S. 
Cynog's  festival,  according  to  the  lolo  MSS.  Calendar, 
is  October  9.  but  Cressy,  in  his  Church  History  of 
Brittany,  as  quoted  by  Rees  (Welsh  Saints,  138,  318), 
gives  February  11  as  his  festival  in  the  English  Mar- 
tyrology.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  former  is 
the  correct  one. 

S.  CYNON  was  a  6th  century  saint  who  was  one  of 
the  large  band  of  missionaries  that  came  over  here 
with  S.  Cadfan  from  Armorica.  His  name  is  some- 
times found  written  Kynan  and  Kenon  (Myv.  Arch., 
421  ;  lolo  MSS.  103  -,'Cambro- British  Saints,  266), 
and  there  are  several  persons  in  Welsh  literature 
bearing  the  name.  His  parents'  names  are  not  given, 
but  we  are  told  that  he  was  of  the  Gwelygordd,  or 
Clan,  of  Emyr  Llydaw,  and  therefore  related  to  S. 
Cadfan  (lolo  MSS.  111-2).  Like  S.  Cadfan  and  the 
rest  of  his  companions,  he  was  at  one  time  a  saint  of 
Bangor  Illtyd  and  Bangor  Catwg,  and  when  S.  Cadfan 
went  to  Bardsey  and  founded  a  Bangor  of  his  own,  he 
accompanied  him,  as  did  nearly  all  his  other  "  saints 
and  learned  men"  (ib.,  103).  Here  he  became  S.  Cad- 
fan's  cynghellawr,  or  chancellor  (ib.,  112,  133) — what- 
ever the  compilers  of  the  Achau  exactly  meant  by  the 
term.  He  is  said  to  be  the  patron  of  the  church  of 
Tregynoii  (called  in  the  Henwau  Plwyvau  Cymru  MS. 
in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  743,  Llandie  Gynon,  evidently  a 
misscript  for  Llandre  Gynon),  in  Montgomeryshire  ; 
and  Capel  Cynon,  in  Cardiganshire  (  Welsh  Saints,  215). 
It  is  but  right  to  say  that  all  this  is  supposition,  for 
no  churches  are  attached  to  his  name  in  the  alpha- 
betical Bonedd  y  Saint  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  421-2. 
There  is  another  saint  also  of  the  name — S.  Cynon  ab 
Biychan,  but  mentioned  onl}7,  it  appears,  in  the  Cognatio 
de  Brachan  (Cambro- British  Saints,  274).  A  saying 
of  S.  Cynon's  is  preserved  in  the  anonymous  Englynyon 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  243 

y  Klyweit,  the  Epigrams  of  the  Hearing,  in  the  Myv. 
Arch.,  129— 

"  A  gly  weisti  a  gant  Kynon 

Yn  ymoglut  rac  meduon 

Curw  yw  alluyd  Galon." 

"  Hast  thou  heard  what  Cynon  sang 

When  avoiding  drunkards  1 
1  Ale  is  the  key  of  the  heart.'  " 

In  the  later  Chwedlau  'r  Doethion,  the  Sayings  of  the 
Wise,  in  the  lolo  MSS.  253,  it  differs  slightly- 

."  A  gly  waist  ti  chwedl  Cynon 
Yn  ymochel  rhag  meddwon  ? 
Cwrw  da  yw  allwedd  calon." 

"  Hast  thou  heard  the  saying  of  Cynon 
When  avoiding  drunkards  1 
*  Good  ale  is  the  key  of  the  heart.'  ' 

Like  nearly  all  of  these  "sayings",  it  passed  into  a  pro- 
verb, but  in  the  form  one  usually  hears  and  meets  with 
its  order  is  inverted.  In  the  collection  of  proverbs 
printed  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  839,  it  runs — "Allwedd 
calon  cwrwv1  da,"  "  The  key  of  the  heart  is  good  ale." 
S.  CYNYW  lived  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  6th  cen- 
tury, and  was  a  son  of  S.  Gwynllyw  Filwr  (his  Life, 
Vita  S.  Gundleii,  is  printed  in  the  Cambro-British 
Saints,  145-157),  lord  of  Gwynllwg,  or  Wentloog,  in 
Monmouthshire,  by  S.  Gwladys,  daughter,  or,  more 
probably,  grand-daughter  of  Brychan  Brycheiniog. 
He  had  as  brothers  SS.  Catwg  Ddoeth,  Cam  march, 
Hywgi  (or  Bugi,  S.  Beuno's  father),  Glywvs  Cernyw, 
Gwyddlew  (or  Gwyddly  w),  Cyflewyr ;  and  one  sister, 
Maches  Santes  (lolo  'MSS.  130-1).  Kees  (Welsh 
Saints,  233)  adds  another  brother,  Cammab,  on  the 
authority  of  Myv.  Arch.,  423,  it  appears.  Our  saint's 
name  presents  a  rather  perplexing  variety  of  forms  in 

1  Cwrw  is  written  in  earlier  Welsh  cwrwf  and  cwryf  (cf.  the 
derivatives  cyrf-dy  and  cyrf-ydd],  and  is  the  Welsh  equivalent,  in 
form  and  meaning,  to  the  classical  cerevisia  or  cervisia  (Zeuss,  Gram- 
matica  Celtica,  1066,  2nd  ed.).  Final /is  apocopated,  and  especially 
in  colloquial  Welsh,  oftener  than  any  other  letter. 


244  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

the  MSS.,  gran  ting,  of  course,  that  they  all  represent  one 
and  the  same  person.  It  is  spelt,  among  other  forms, 
Kynvyw,  Cynyw,  Kyniw,  Kyvyw,  and  Kiviw  (Myv. 
Arch.,  422-3;  lolo  MSS.  109,  130).  The  forms,  as 
they  stand,  seem  to  suggest  at  least  two  different 
persons,  but  who  would  be  brothers  in  any  caes. 
Assuming  that  only  one  person  is  meant  (which 
admits  of  but  little  doubt  really,  the  original  form 
being  Cynfyw),  we  gather  that  he  was  a  saint  of  the 
celebrated  Bangor  Catwg  or  Llaricarfan,  where  he 
acted  as  his  brother  Catwg's  cofedydd,  recorder  or 
registrar  (lolo  MSS.,  ut  supra).  He  is  the  patron 
saint  of  Llangyny  w  (spelt  also  Llangyniew),  in  Mont- 
gomeryshire ;  and  Llange view  (given  in  the  Myv.  Arch., 
423,  as  Llangyviw  or  Llangiviw),  near  Usk,  in  Mon- 
mouthshire. The  Montgomeryshire  Llangyny  w  is  said 
by  Rees  (Welsh  Saints,  71)  to  be  dedicated  to  S. 
Cynyw  and  All  Saints,  and  the  Monmouthshire  Llan- 
gyniow  (as  he  spells  it  there)  to  SS.  Cynyw  and 
David. 

S.  DYFNIG  is  a  saint  of  whom  we  know  but  next  to 
nothing.  All  the  Catalogues  are  silent  about  him,  as 
far  as  I  have  seen,  with  the  exception  of  one — one  of 
the  two  MSS.  (written  1578-1609)  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Williams,  of  Trefriw,  incorporated  in  the  alphabetical 
Boned d  y  Saint  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  431,  where  we 
have  this  notice — "  Ust  and  Dyfnig,  the  saints  in  Llan- 
wrin  in  Cyfeiliog,  who  came  to  this  Island  with  Cad- 
fan."  This  makes  him  a  saint  of  the  earlier  part  of  the 
6th  century,  and  joint-founder,  with  S.  Ust,  of  Llan- 
wrin,  in  Montgomeryshire,  which  was  afterwards  re- 
dedicated  in  S.  Gwrin's  name,  a  7th  century  saint.  In 
an  ode  to  King  Henry  VII,  printed  in  the  lolo  MSS. 
313-5,  the  bard  commits  the  king  to  the  guardianship 
of  the  saints,  and  among  them  he  mentions  S.  Dyfnig. 
S.  Ust  is  S.  Justus,  who  has  a  few  churches  dedicated 
to  him.  Dyfnig  is  the  rule-right  form  in  Welsh  of 
Dominions . 

S.  ERFYL  was  a  female  saint  who  is  classed  by  Rees 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  245 

(Welsh  Saints,  307)  among  the  saints  of  "uncertain 
date".  As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  discover,  her  name 
does  not  occur  in  any  one  of  the  published  Catalogues 
of  the  Welsh  Saints.  The  Ven.  Archdeacon  Thomas, 
in  his  St.  Asap/i,  748,  says  she  was  "  cousin-german  to 
S.  Cadfan";  whilst  Mr.  E.  Williams,  F.R.H.S.,  in  his 
Montgomeryshire  Worthies,  s.v.,  says  she  was  "  a  daugh- 
ter of  S.  Padarn".  It  would  be  impossible  to  har- 
monise these  two  statements,  for  SS.  Cadfan  and 
Padarn  were  themselves  cousins-german.  Upon  what 
authority  either  are  based  I  cannot  say,  but  it  seems 
as  if  the  latter  owes  its  origin  to  a  tradition  that  S. 
Erfyi  was  buried,  in  Llanerfyl  churchyard,  where  a  rude 
headstone  stands,  locally  supposed  to  commemorate 
her,  bearing  an  inscription  which  Prof.  Rhys  (Lectures 
on  Welsh  Philology2,  373-4)  reads  thus — Hie  [In] 
Tumulo  Jacit  R::stece  Filia  Paternini  Ani  XIII  In 
Pa.  He  adds — "  The  inscription  is  not  altogether 
legible,  and  it  is  impossible  to  guess  with  certainty  the 
second  letter  of  the  first  name  ;  but  it  must  have  been 
a  vowel,  and  the  name  was  perhaps  Rustece"  But 
it  would  be  quite  impossible  to  equate  Paterninus 
(—  Padernin)  with  Padarn  (=  Paternus),  much  more 
R\\stece  with  any  form  of  the  name  Erfyl.  Her  name 
is  variously  spelt  Erfyl,  Erful,  Eurfyl,  Eurful,  Urful, 
and  Yrfyl.  She  is  referred  to  twice  by  Lewis  Glyn 
Cothi— 

"  Urvul  a  Gwenvul  a  ganvu ;  Enog 
A  Dewi  oesog;  a  Duw  lesu." — (Gwaitk,  261.) 

"  Tair  santes  oedd  i  lesu 
A  rhan  i  Vair  o'r  rhai  'n  vu  ; 
Gwenvul  o  ymyl  Gwynva, 
Urvul  ddoeth  a  Gwervyl  dda."— (76.,  381.) 

By  "  Gwervyl  dda"  he  means  Gwerfyl  Hael,  the  sub- 
ject of  his  elegy,  whose  name  is  here  also  written 
several  times  Gweuryl.  A  note  tells  us  Urvul  = 
Urddvul=TJrvul  Santes.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
the  name  Erfyl  is  the  same  as  Gwerfyl,  which  used  to 
be  a  fairly  common  name  once  among  the  Welsh.  As 
VOL.  xxv.  s 


246  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

the  name  of  the  daughter  of  King  Efrawg — who  lived 
when  "  David  the  prophet  was  king  in  Jerusalem" — it 
is  spelt  Gweiruil  in  the  14th  century  Ystorya  Bren- 
hined  y  Brytanyeit  (Rhys  and  Evans's  Bruts,  63). 
Archdeacon  Thomas  (St.  Asaph,  684)  says  that  the 
church  of  Bettws  Gwerfyl  Goch,  in  Merionethshire — 
now  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  (Feast  of  the  Assumption) 
— was  probably  dedicated  at  first  to  a  S.  Gwerfyl.  a 
saint  about  whom  Welsh  hagiology,  however,  seems  to 
be  quite  silent.  The  G  of  Gwerfyl  disappears  in  com- 
position ;  and  it  is  just  possible  the  name  may  have 
ultimately  undergone  the  same  fate  as  Cynyr,  S. 
David's  grandfather,  which  people  have  all  along  per- 
sisted in  writing  Gynyr  and  Ynyr.  The  only  church 
said  to  be  dedicated  to  S.  Erfyl,  as  such,  is  Llanerfyl, 
in  Montgomeryshire.  A  "  holy  well"  of  hers  formerly 
existed  about  400  yards  from  the  church,  from  which 
the  water  long  continued  to  be  taken  for  all  baptisms 
(Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  749).  Her  festival,  or  wake,  is 
said  to  fall  on  the  Sunday  next  following  July  6 
(Gwaith  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  381)  ;  and  perhaps  the 
unknown  S.  Cofyl  given  under  that  day  in  the  lolo 
MSS.  Calendar  is  a  misscripb  for  Erfyl.  In  the 
Calendar  of  the  Hengwrt  MS.  45,  however,  G  .Yrvyl 
Sanies  is  given  under  July  7. 

S.  FFRAID.  The  name  of  the  celebrated  Irish  virgin- 
saint  called  Brigida,  Bridget,  and  Bride,1  assumes 
generally  in  Welsh  the  form  Ffraid,  but  almost  in- 
variably with  her  title  Sant  (apocopated,  San  or 

1  There  was  a  Brigit,  the  daughter  of  the  Irish  god  Dagda  the 
Great,  who  was  worshipped  by  the  poets  of  ancient  Erinn  as  the 
goddess  of  poetry ;  in  fact,  she  was  the  Minerva  of  the  Celtic  pan- 
theon. How  much  her  namesake,  S.  Bridget,  owes  to  her  prestige 
it  is  difficult  to  say  (Rhys's  Hibbert  Lectures,  74:7).  The  name  is 
formed  from  the  word  (reduced  in  Welsh  to)  bri,  "  renown,"  or 
"high  estimation."  The  mutation  of  the  sonant  mute  &,  initial  or 
otherwise,  into  the  surd  spirant^"  (or  ph),  is  not  general  in  Welsh  ; 
cf.  however,  the  cognate  forms  brock— -frock,  rage  ;  brysio—ffrysio,  to 
hurry  ;  and  broga — called  in  some  parts  of  S.  Wales  ffroga — cognate 
with  the  Eng.  frog  (Old-Eng.  froga). 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  247 

Sain)  prefixed,  with  the  accent  on  the  ultima — e.g., 
Sanffraid' .l  The  epithet  Lleian,  "  Nun,"  is  often 
added  to  her  name ;  and  she  is  variously  called  in  the 

1  The  title  Sant  is  dropped  as  a  rule  when  a  saint's  name  enters 
into  the  composition  of  place-names.  The  principal  exception  is  in 
the  case  of  S.  Ffraid — Llansant/raid.  The  other  exceptions  one 
meets  with  are  few  — Llansantsior,  for  S.  George's,  near  S.  Asaph  ; 
Llansantffagan  (Myv.  Arch  ,  748  ;  lolo  MSS.,  passim),  for  S.  Fagan's  ; 
and  Lann  sant  guainerth  (Liber  Landavensis,  263-4),  now  called  S. 
Weonard's.  Llandyfeisant  (=  S.  Tyfei's),  under  Llandeilo  Fawr, 
seems  to  be  the  only  instance  of  its  kind.  When  coupled  with  a 
saint's  name,  it  is  generally  placed  before  it,  as  in  English,  but  usage 
in  some  cases  favours  after  it,  e.g.,  Dewi  Sant.  It  may  be  said  that 
the  Latin  sanctus  (whence,  through  the  French,  the  Eng.  saint) 
usually  assumes  in  Welsh  the  forms  sanct  and  sant,  of  which  the 
latter  is  the  more  assimilated  and  naturalised  form.  Sant,  in  all 
periods,  has  been  the  favourite  form  for  "saint",  but  in  Modern- 
Welsh  the  form  sanct  is  used  where  Middle- Welsh  preferred  generally 
sant.  In  the  Welsh  Bible  sanct  occurs  in  the  Ter  Sanctus,  arid  the 
title  "the  Holy  One",  with  a  few  other  instances;  whilst  sant  never 
occurs  (in  the  text)— at  any  rate,  not  in  the  Queen's  Printers'  Bible. 
This  is  not  the  only  instance,  by  a  good  many,  wherein  the  "  Re- 
naissance" in  Welsh  letters  succeeded  in  stamping  out,  in  the  case  of 
loan-words,  older  and  more  rule-right  forms — e.g.,  sacrament  for  the 
older  sacrafen  or  segrafen,  and  apostol  for  abostol  or  ebostol.  Like 
sanctus,  both  sanct  and  sant  mean  "  holy";  e.g.,  Dy  Sanct  Fab  lesu 
("Thy  Holy  Child  Jesus" — Actsiv,  27,  A.V.)  ;  and  there  are  plenty 
of  instances  where  sant  is  similarly  used  ;  e.g.,  the  translation  of  the 
Officium  Parvum  B.  Marice  V.  (Myv.  Arch.,  367-378)  by  Dafydd  Ddu 
o  Hiraddug  (flor.  c.  1340),  Canon  of  S.  Asaph,  where  the  Gloria  to 
the  Hymn  Memento,  rerum  Conditor  (Coffa  DofyddDuw  tragywydd) 
is  rendered  thus — 


"  Mawl  ogoniant  miloedd  foliant 
A'r  [=  I'r]  tad  a'r  plant  a'r  Si 


sant  yspryd.     Amen."  (373.) 

He  also  calls,  passim,  the  Three  Persons  (Tair  Person)  in  the  Trinity 
Tad  Sant,  Mab  or  Plant  (—  Son,  from  Latin  planta)  Sant,  and 
Yspryd  Sant.  Compare  the  names  "  Church  of  S.  Saviour,"  "San 
Salvador,"  "Church  of  S.  Sepulchre,"  and  "Church  of  S.  Cross." 
Sant  (in  Latin  Sanctus)  occurs  as  the  name  of  S.  David's  father, 
though  some  writers  like  (but  incorrectly)  to  write  it  Sandde  and 
Xanthus.  Sometimes  the  word  undergoes  eclipsis,  and  we  have  the 
form  saith,  which  occurs  in  the  Book  of  Taliessin  (Skene,  ii,  120)— 
"  Seith  pedyr  ae  dywawt,"  "  Saint  Peter  said  it."  In  the  Liber 
Landavensis,  200,  Saith  occurs  as  a  man's  name ;  and  we  have  Lann 
idoudec  seitk,  "  the  church  of  the  twelve  saints,"  as  the  name  of  a 
church — called  also  Lannitoudec  sent  (ib.,  244,  264). 

s  2 


248  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

MSS.,  Santffraid,  Saintffraed,  Sanffread,  Sanffred  Leian, 
Saint  y  Brid,  y  Brid,  etc.  She  was  born  at  Fochart, 
co.  Louth,  and  lived  during  parts  of  the  5th  and  6th 
centuries.  In  the  lolo  MSS.  106,  her  father's  name  is 
given  as  Dwpdagws,  but  in  the  Aclmu  of  the  Cambro- 
British  Saints,  270,  as  Duthach  Wyddel.  The  MSS. 
forming  the  Bonedd  in  the  Myv.  Arch.,  429,  give  it  as 
Dwyppws  ap  Cefyth,  and  Cadwrthai  [al.  Cadwthlac] 
Wyddel,  adding  after  the  former  that  she  was  o  rieni 
Yscotiaid,  of  Scoto-Irish  parentage.  Her  Latin  Lives 
state  that  she  was  the  illegitimate  daughter  of  an  Irish 
chieftain  named  Dubtachus,  which  agrees,  in  particular, 
with  the  lolo  MSS.  form.  He  is  thus  mentioned  by 
lorwerth  Fynglwyd  in  his  cywydd  to  her  (referred  to 
further  on) — 

"  Merch  i'r  gwr  mowrwych  a  gaid, 
Dip  dacws  o  dop  duciaid." 

She  refused  to  be  married,  and,  vowing  perpetual 
virginity,  took  the  veil,  which  she  received  from  the 
hands  of  S.  Mel  ( Mael,  or  Moel),  a  disciple  and  nephew 
of  S.  Patrick.  She  afterwards  founded  a  nunnery  at 
Kildare ;  but  the  number  of  those  who,  attracted  by 
her  sanctity  and  good  works,  joined  her  increased  to 
such  an  extent  that  she  was  obliged  to  found  nunneries 
in  many  parts  of  Ireland.  Legend,  as  usual,  attributes 
a  good  many  miracles  to  her  ;  and  among  the  mar- 
vellous things  she  did  we  are  told  that  she  sailed  all 
the  way  from  Ireland  to  Wales  on  a  green  turf,  landing 
near  Holyhead.  The  sod  afterwards  became  a  green 
hillock,  whereon  she  caused  a  chapel  to  be  erected, 
which  was  called  after  her  Capel  Santffraid.  Whether 
she  really  ever  visited  Wales  (which  she  did  in  488, 
according  to  Cressey)  it  is  hard  to  say  ;.  but  it  is  not 
at  all  improbable,  when  we  remember  the  close  inter- 
course that  existed  at  the  time  between  the  Churches 
of  Wales  and  Ireland.  The  presence  of  churches  in 
Wales  dedicated  to  other  Irish  saints  besides  her 
points  to  the  same  friendly  communications.  On  the 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  249 

other  hand,  the  great  veneration  in  which  her  memory 
was  held  all  over  the  British  Isles  would  alone  be 
sufficient  to  account  for  the  dedication  of  so  many 
churches  and  chapels  in  her  name  in  Wales  ;  and  no- 
where are  there  more,  in  proportion,  dedicated  than 
here.  The  following  is  as  near  as  possible  a  complete 
list  of  them — Llansantffraid  yn  Mechain,  in  Mont- 
gomeryshire ;  Dyserth  (called  also  formerly  Llansant- 
ffraid), in  Flintshire  ;  Llansantffraid  Glan  Conwy,  and 
Llansantffraid  Glyn  Ceiriog,  in  Denbighshire ;  Llan- 
santffraid Glyn  Dyfrdwy,  in  Merionethshire  ;  Llansant- 
ffraid or  S.  Bride's  (hence  S.  Bride's  Bay  and  Haven), 
in  Pembrokeshire  ;  Llansantffraid,  in  Cardiganshire  ; 
Llansantffraid  Cwrnmwd  Deuddwr  (called  also  simply 
Cwmtoyddwr),  and  Llansantffraid  yn  Elfael  (or  Elwel), 
in  Radnorshire  ;  Llansantffraid-juxta-Usk,  in  Breck- 
nockshire ;  S.  Bride's  Major,  S.  Bride's  Minor,  and  S. 
Bride's-super-Ely,  in  Glamorganshire  ;  Llansantffraid, 
or  S.  Bride's,  Skenfrith  or  Ysgynfraith,  S.  Bride's 
Netherwent,  S.  Bride's  Wentloog,  in  Monmouthshire  ; 
Bridstow,  in  Herefordshire  ;  and  the  following  chapels, 
now  either  in  ruins  or  extinct — Capel  Santffraid,  under 
Holy  head,  Anglesey  ;  Capel  Santffraid,  under  Llan- 
drillo  yn  Rhos  (Welsh  Saints,  333),  and  Capel  Sant- 
ffraid,  under  Llansantffraid  Glan  Coriwy,  Denbighshire 
(Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  571);  and  Capel  Ffraid,  under 
Llandyssul,  Cardiganshire  (Welsh  Saints,  209,  328). 
Kinnerley  church,  Salop,  now  dedicated  to  S.  Mary, 
seems  to  have  had  an  earlier  dedication  to  S.  Ffraid 
(Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  630).  lorwerth  Fynglwyd 
attributes  to  her  daunaw  eglwys,  eighteen  churches. 
E.  Lhuyd  mentions  a  "  Ffynnon  Sanffraid"  about  a 
quarter-of-a-mile  from  the  church  of  Llansantffraid 
Glyn  Dyfrdwy.  Her  memory,  however,  was  nowhere 
so  fondly  cherished  as  at  Kildare,  which  she  specially 
favoured  ;  and  it  was  in  her  church  here  that  her  body 
was  laid  to  its  rest.  Here  a  sacred  fire,  kindled  by  her 
own  hands,  was  kept  up  by  "  the  nuns  and  holy 
women",  Vestal-like,  perpetually  burning.  Giraldus 


250  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

Cambrensis,  in  his  Topographia  Hibernica,  te]Is  us 
how  he  found  it,  still  burning,  when  he  visited  Ireland 
in  1185.  Her  sacred  and  "eternal"  fire  was,  however, 
put  out  in  1220,  to  be  rekindled  again,  but  finally 
extinguished  at  the  Suppression  of  the  Monasteries. 
S.  Bridget  forms  with  SS.  Patrick  and  Columba  the 
"  Irish  Trinity";  but  her  name  must  not  be  confused 
with  that  of  S.  Bridget,  the  Northern  Prophetess, 
whose  name,  coupled  with  that  of  our  Lady,  occurs  as 
the  patron  saint  of  Sweden,  and  who  lived  many  cen- 
turies after  her  namesake.  S.  Ffraid  died,  it  is  said, 
in  523,  on  the  1st  of  February,  which  has  been  ever 
since  regarded  as  Gwyl  Santjfraid  Leian  (lolo  MSS. 
152).  lorwerth  Fyngiwyd  thus  alludes  to  it — 

"  A'th  wyl  a  'sodes  lesu, 
Noswyl  Fair  fal  duw  sul  fu" — 

from  its  falling  on  the  Vigil  of  the  Purification  of  the 
B.V.M.  At  LlansantfFraid  yn  Mechain  her  festival 
used  to  be  held  Feb.  12  (Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  771),  i.e., 
plus  the  eleven  days'  discrepancy  between  the  Old  and 
New  Styles.  Her  festival  is  often  mentioned  in  Welsh 
literature,  from  the  Laws  down.  One  frequently  comes 
across  her  name  too.  In  an  anonymous  poem  in  the 
12th  century  MS.,  the  Black  Book  of  Carmarthen 
(Skene's  Four  Ancient  Books,  ii,  44),  she  is  thus  in- 
voked— 

"  Sanffreid  suynade  in  imdeith." 

"  S.  Ffraid,  bless  ^  us  on  our  journey."1  . 

1  I  so  translate  it  because  the  substantive  swjrn  is  simply  the  Latin 
signum  (sygn9  a  zodiacal  sign,  is  the  later  form  of  the  doublet),  and 
meant  at  first  the  sign  of  the  cross.  Dwfr  swyn  means  the  water  for 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  i.e.,  holy  water.  Dafydd  ab  Gwilym,  in 
one  of  his  poems  (Barddoniaeth,  343),  says  — 

"  A  chroesi,  rhag  echryshaint, 
Y  corph  mau  a  swynau  saint." 

"  And  cross,  for  fear  of  a  malignant  distemper, 
My  body  with  the  signs  of  the  saints  (or  holy  signs)." 

Sivyn  now  means  generally  a  charm  or  magic.  The  verb  swyno,  now 
meaning  to  charm  or  bewitch,  meant  at  first  to  cross — thence,  to 


MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS.  251 

Cynddelw  (1150-1200),  in  his  "Elegy  on  the  family 
of  Ovvain  Gwynedd"  (Myv.  Arch.,  164),  calls  one  of 
them  gwas  sanfreyd,  i.e.,  S.  Ffraid's  servant  ;  cf.  Gtvas- 
sanfreit,  Gwas  Duy  (=Gwas  Dwyw,  servus  Dei),  and 
Givasmyhangel,  in  the  Record  of  Carnarvon,  and  also 
the  men's  names  Gwas  Crist,  and  Givas  Teilo.  On  one 
of  the  Eune-inscribed  crosses  of  the  Isle  of  Man  occurs 
the  Celtic  name  Malbrigd,  i.e.,  the  tonsured  slave  of 
S.  Bridget.  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi  uses  the  expression 
myn  Eglwys  Sain  Fraid  /by  S.  Ffraid's  church  ! 
(Gwaith.  484);  also  myn  bedd  Sain  Fraid!  by  S. 
Ffraid's  grave  (or  shrine) !  (ib.,  238)  ;  and  refers  to 
her  bedd  on  p.  90.  The  betony  is  very  often  called  in 
Welsh  cribau  Santffraid,  lit.  S.  Ffraid's  combs  (cf. 
cribau  Mair,  the  milk  thistle)  ;  and  its  other  name, 
y  llysiau  dwyfog,  lit.  the  divine  herbs,  also  points  to 
the  veneration  in  which  it  was  held  in  the  Middle 
Ages.  As  might  have  been  expected,  a  great  many 
Lives  of  S.  Bridget  have  been  written  ;  but  none  in 
Welsh,  as  far  as  I  know.  lorwerth  Fynglwyd,  a  pro- 
minent bard  of  the  latter  half  of  the  15th  century,  has 
written  a  Cowydd  i  Sant  Ffraid,  in  which  he  gives  a 
poetical  version  of  her  legendary  Life,  and  enumerates 
the  various  miracles  attributed  to  her.  It  is  printed 
in  Williams's  History  and  Antiquities  of  the  Town  of 
Abercomvy,  198-200  (Denbigh  :  1835).  Warren,  in 
his  Liturgy  and  Ritual  of  the  Celtic  Church,  270,  gives 
the  proper  collects  in  the  Missce  for  S.  Bridget's  from 
the  Corpus  and  Rosslyn  Missals.  The  Sarum  Missal 
also  contains  a  proper  Missa  for  S.  Bridget's. 

S.  GWRHEI  or  GWREI  lived  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
sixth  century,  and  was  one  of  the  many  sons  of  Caw  o 
B-ydein  (=  Prydyn,  "  Pictland").  Caw — called  also 
Kado  (Kulhwch  ac  Olwen — Rhys  and  Evans's  Mabin- 
ogion,  etc.,  123),  and  Kadu  (Myv.  Arch.,  416  ;  Cambro- 
Brit.  Saints,  268  ;  and  see  Y  Cymmrodor,  xi,  75,  90-1, 

bless.  In  like  manner  the  middle  verb  ymsivyno  (like  its  synonym 
ymgroesi),  which  now  means  to  beware,  meant  at  first  to  make  the 
sign  of  the  cross  over  one's  self  as  a  preservative  against  danger  or  evil. 


252  MONTGOMERYSHIRE    SAINTS. 

for  other  forms) — was  lord  of  Cwm  Cawlwyd,  whose 
territory,  as  Dr.  Skene  thinks  (Four  Ancient  Books,  i, 
1 73),  is  covered  by  the  modern  Renfrewshire.  Owing 
to  the  incursions  of  the  Gwyddyl  Ffichti,  or  Pictish 
Goidels,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  territory  ;  and  he 
came,  with  his  large  family,  to  Anglesey,  and  settled 
down  at  Twr  Celyn,  on  lands  given  him  by  Maelgwn 
Gwynedd.  A  good  many  of  his  family  embraced  the 
religious  life,  and  are  reckoned  as  one  of  the  Holy 
Clans  of  Britain.  Several  of  them  figure  in  the 
Welsh  Tales  and  Romances.  Our  saint's  name  occurs 
in  the  published  MSS.  in  the  following  forms : — 
Gurhei  and  Gwrhei  (Myv.  Arch.,  416,  425),  Gurhel 
(Cambro-Brit.  Saints,  268 — a  misscript),  Gwrie  (ib., 
269),  Gwrai  (lolo  MSS.,  102),  and  Gwr  (Myv.  Arch., 
416).  He  is  said,  ad  loc.,  to  be  o  Penystryvc.it,  o  penn 
ysteryueit,  o  ben  ystrywyeyt,  o  Benystrywed,  o  Benstrued 
—yn  aruistli.  His  name  appears  only  in  one  of  the 
lists  of  Caw's  children  given  in  the  lolo  MSS.,  136, 
where  it  is  spelt  Garhai — assuming,  of  course,  that  it 
is  a  scribe's  error  for  the  more  correct  form  Gwrhei.  I 
ought  to  say  that  there  is  a  Garai  mentioned  (ib.,  146) 
as  one  of  the  "  saints  in  Morganwg  and  Gwent",  who  is 
no  doubt  the  Garai  Sant  of  Cor  Banger  mentioned 
(ib.,  222)  as  the  founder  of  Llanarai,  now  written 
Llanharry,  in  Glamorgan  ;  but  we  are  told  (ib.,  107) 
that  he  was  a  son  of  S.  Cewydd  ab  Caw.  S.  Gwrhei 
is  said  to  have  been  a  saint  of  Bangor  Deiniol  in 
Gwynedd  (ib.,  102)  ;  and  the  only  church,  as  far  as 
I  know,  that  is  connected  with  his  name  is  that  of 
Penstrowed,  in  Montgomeryshire.  The  Bangor  Dio- 
cesan Calendar  is  certainly  wrong  in  giving  it  as 
dedicated  to  S.  Gwrgi  or  Gwrci,  who,  it  should  be 
observed,  was  a  totally  different  saint.  There  is  a  Gwrei 
(elsewhere  written  Gwrhyr  and  Gwryr)  Gwalstawt 
leithoed  mentioned  in  the  Romance  of  Gereint  ac 
Enid  (Rhys  and  Evans's  Mabinogion,  etc.,  265),  of 
whom  it  is  said  "  yr  holl  ieithoed  a  wydyat". 

(To  be  continued.) 


253 


ABSTRACT  OF  ANCIENT  DEEDS   RELATING 
TO   MEIFOD   AND   ELSEWHERE. 

BY  H.  W.  LLOYD,  M.A. 
(Continued  from  p.  104.) 


THE  publication  of  the  miscellaneous  collection  of  docu- 
ments relating  not  wholly  to  Montgomeryshire,  but  to 
persons  dwelling  in  several  counties  of  North  Wales, 
may  seem  to  require  some  apology,  or  explanation  at 
least,  to  the  readers  of  Montgomeryshire  Collections. 
The  explanation  is  simple.  They  are  all  taken  from 
the  same  family  archives,  and  all  relate,  with  an 
exception  or  two  perhaps,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  the 
same  families.  In  regard  to  one  Montgomeryshire 
family,  that  of  Williarnes,  first  written  Williams,  of 
Ystymcolwyn,  in  the  parish  of  Meifod,  they  would 
seem  calculated  to  throw  a  flood  of  light  upon  much 
that  was  previously  obscure.  This  may  readily  be 
verified  by  reference  to  former  volumes1  of  Mont.  Col- 
lections, where  the  obscurity  has  been  admitted,  and 
errors,  not  always  successfully,  attempted  to  be  recti- 
fied. For  example,  in  the  will  of  Lumley  Williams, 
living  at  Kyffin  in  1703,  mention  is  made  of  "my 
grandchild  Lumley  Williams,  son  to  my  second  son, 
Rees  Williams  of  Rhyd  y  Gro,"  to  whom  no  issue  is 
assigned  by  that  most  careful  and  accurate  of  genea- 
logists, the  late  W.  W.  E.  Wynne,  Esq.,  of  Peniarth, 
although  he  certainly  must  have  had  access  to  this 
will,  of  which  a  partial  abstract  is  given  in  the  ninth 
volume.  Other  statements,  again,  in  the  pedigrees 
receive  ample  confirmation  from  the  deeds,  with  the 
addition  of  important  dates.  In  vol.  v,  a  doubt 

1  Vols.  v,  417 ;   ix,  346  et  seq. ;  xi,  387-8.    - 


254         ANCIENT  DEEDS  RELATING  TO 

thrown  upon  the  identity  of  "  Cowhitlands"  with  Coch- 
willan  is  removed  by  the  occurrence  of  the  word 
similarly  spelt  in  a  deed  in  the  Cochwillan  archives, 
to  which  Henry  Williams  of  that  place  is  a  party. 
The  family,  therefore,  must  have  been  connected 
with  the  county  in  the  time  of  William  Williams, 
High  Sheriff  in  1589  and  1596  (this  may  well  have 
been,  since  he  had  property  in  the  adjacent  county 
of  Salop),  and  before  the  marriage  of  Lumley  Williams 
with  Dorothy,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas  ab 
Rhys  ab  David  ab  Ithel  of  Ystymcolwyn.  In  Hengwrt 
MS.  96,  by  Robert  Vaughan,  the  antiquary,  Barbara, 
d.  of  George  Lumley,  is  called  the  second  wife  of 
William  Williams  of  Cochwillan.  A  deed  of  convey- 
ance of  land  in  1585,  by  Hugh  Thomas  Wynne  of 
Garth  and  GrufFydd  Lloyd  of  Maes  Mawr,  arm.,  to 
William  Williams  of  Cochwillan,  arm.,  seems  to  estab- 
lish a  probability  that  his  first  wife  may  have  sprung 
from  one  of  those  families.  Again,  his  daughter  Mary 
was  wife  of  Richard  Herbert  of  Parke,  Esq.,  High 
Sheriff  in  1557.  The  commonly  received  statement 
that  his  first  wife  was  Agnes,  d.  of  John  ab  Mere- 
dith of  Gwydir,  seems  so  improbable  as  to  require 
more  substantial  proof  than  is  found  in  the  pedi- 
gree before  it  can  be  quite  accepted  as  indisput- 
able fact ;  that  is  to  say,  on  the  assumption  that 
this  Thomas,  on  a  grand  jury  list  in  1601,  was 
really  the  father  of  the  heiress.  In  a  note,  reference 
is  candidly  made  to  Burke's  Baronetage,  who,  it  is 
said,  "  inaccurately  styles  him  Rhys  Thomas  of  Ystym- 
colwyn." The  fact,  however,  that  Thomas  ab  Rhys 
was  on  a  grand  jury  in  1601  is  no  proof  by  itself  that 
he  was  her  father ;  and  Rhys  ab  Thomas,  whoever  he 
was,  if  only  Burke's  authority  could  be  come  at,  might 
prove  to  have  as  good  a  claim  to  be  so  as  his  com- 
petitor of  the  inverted  name.  From  the  deeds,  how- 
ever, we  discover  that  Rhys  ab  David  ab  Ithel  had 
a  son  Thomas  ab  Rhys,  also  of  Ystymcolwyn.  The 
former  executed  a  deed  singly  in  1574,  and  jointly 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  255 

with  his  son  Thomas  in  1585.  Again,  Khys  ab  David 
ab  Ithel  ab  leuan  ab  Meredydd  was  living  so  early  as 
1536,  for  in  that  year,  27  Hen.  VIII,  he  is  party  to 
a  deed  with  Reinallt  ab  John  Wyn  ab  John  ab  leuan 
Vychan.  That  he  had  another  son,  David,  appears 
probable  from  another  deed. 

So  far  back,  then,  as  1536  does  the  pedigree  ascend, 
and  we  learn  also  the  interesting  fact  that  Rhys  ab 
David's  wife  was  Marred,  daughter  of  David  ab  leuan 
Bach.1  But  now  comes  the  question,  to  what  primary 
ancestor  the  line  of  descent  can  be  traced  ?  In  vol.  ix, 
346,  of  the  Montgomeryshire  Collections,  it  is  stated, 
but  without  reference  to  any  authority,  that  the  Ystym- 
colwyn  estate  belonged  to  "  an  ancient  family  descended 
from  Ednerth,  Lord  of  Englefield,  head  of  one  of  the 
tribes  of  North  Wales,  who  bore  arg.,  a  cross  fiory  en- 
grailedsaWe,  int.  four  Cornish  choughs  ppr.,  in  chief  azure 
a  boar's  head  couped  argent,  tusked  or,  and  langued 
gules."  The  authority  for  the  statement  is  not  given  ; 
but  from  the  fact  that  Idnerth  is  styled  Lord  of 
Englefield,  and  his  name  spelt  Ednerth,  which  it  never 
is  by  any  Welsh  genealogist,  presumably  it  originated 
with  some  one  imperfectly  acquainted  with  Welsh 
history,  and  an  Englishman.  The  Welsh  herald-bards 
style  him  Idnerth  Benvras  (—  Greathead),  Lord  of 
Maesbrock,  or  Maesbrock,  and  son  of  Uchtryd  ab 
Edwin  ab  Goronwy,  Prince  of  Tegeingl  (Anglice,  Engle- 
field). That  some  uncertainty,  however,  existed  about 
this  descent  appears  from  the  variation  of  the  account 
given  by  Davies  of  Llansilin  in  Add.  MSS.  9,864, 
f.  118.  He  says  :  "  Goronwy,  who  married  Jane,  daugh. 
of  Edwyn,  Prince  of  Normandy,  and  has  issu  Edwyn 
caled  (sic)  King  of  Tegengell,  one  of  the  15  Tribs  of 
Gwynedd,  who  married  Werydd,  daugh.  of  Convyn, 
Prince  of  Powys,  and  had  issu  Owen  who  married 
Morfydd  daugh.  of  Gronwy  ap  Ednowen  lord  of  Tegeingl, 

1  See   L.   Dwnn's  Mont.   Peds.,  pp.   11   and    24-28  of  vol.    xvii. 
"  Robert  ab  John  ap  David  ab  Rees  ab  Evan  Bach,  of  Knockin." 


256  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

and  had  issu  Gronwy,  who  m.  Genilles,  v'ch  Hoedliw 
ap  Tthel  of  Uwch  Aled,  Baron,1  and  had  issu  Idnerth, 
lord  of  Maesbroc,  who  married  Eva,  daugh.  and  heir 
of  Cadwgan  Vychan,  lord  of  Maesbroc,  and  had  issu," 
etc.  Into  the  vexed  questions  which  have  recently 
been  raised  regarding  the  history  and  genealogy  of 
this  family  it  would  be  out  of  place  to  enter  as  fully 
here  as  their  importance  would  demand.  Reasonable 
doubt  has  been  thrown  upon  the  very  existence  of 
Goronwy,  the  reputed  father,  by  his  wife  Edelfleda, 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Mercia,  of  Edwin,  Prince,  or, 
as  he  has  been  more  commonly  entitled,  King,  of 
Tegeingl.  He  may  have  been  a  son  of  one,  and 
brother  of  another,  Earl  of  Mercia,  and  the  same 
Edwin  who  is  said  to  have  been  slain  by  the  Welsh, 
perhaps  because  put  in  possession  of  Tegeingl,  after 
Harold  had  overrun  part  of  North  Wales,  as  English 
historians  say,  as  far  as  Snowdon.  A  Welsh  putative 
father  may  have  been  found  for  him  in  the  person  of 
a  fictitious  Goronwy,  a  direct  descendant  of  Howel 
Dda,  married  to  Edelfleda,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of 
Mercia,  and  relict  of  Edmund  Ironside,2  in  order  to 
cover  the  disgrace  attaching  to  such  an  origin  in  the 
eyes  of  his  countrymen.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that 
IJchtryd  has  been  styled  Lord  of  Tegeingl  by  an 
authority  so  important  as  leuan  Brechva  in  the  fif- 
teenth century,  and  that  some  families  in  that  district 
claimed  him  for  their  ancestor.  On  the  other  hand, 
that  title  is  certainly  ascribed  to  Ednowain  Bendew, 
whose  daughter  is  said  to  have  been  married  to  Owen, 
the  elder  brother  of  Uchtryd,  and  to  whom  the  prince- 
dom over  Tegeingl  would,  as  such,  have  legitimately 
descended  in  the  normal  course  of  succession.  Uchtryd 
would  thus  have  been  excluded  from  Tegeingl, 

1  The  style  of  Paron  is  evidence  that  he  held  his  lands  by  feudal 
and  English  tenure  and  of  an  English,  or  now  rather  Norman,  over- 
lord.    Hoedliw  ab  Ithel  was,  be  it  observed,  of  the  line  of  Welsh 
descent  from  Marchudd,  whose  father  was  also  named  Idnerth. 

2  Hist.  Powys  Vad.,  iii,  105. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  257 

and  accordingly  we  have  him  designated  usually  as 
Lord  of  Cyveiliog,  and  in  that  capacity  he  is  known 
to  history  as  concerned  in  certain  military  expeditions, 
in  which  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  Idnerth  would 
have  aided  his  father,  and  that  he  was  one  of  "  the 
sons  of  Uchtryd"  referred  to  as  thus  engaged  in  the 
Chronicle  of  the  Princes,  in  the  year  1113.1 

It  is  remarkable  that  Idnerth  is  nowhere  stated  to 
have  obtained  Maesbroc,  either  by  gift  from  his  father, 
or  by  inheritance,  but  by  marriage  with  the  heiress, 
Eva,  daughter  of  Cadwgan  Vychan,  who  bore  Az.,  a 
boar's  head  couped  cm/.,  tusked  or,  langued  gu.2  To 
what  tribe  this  Cadwgan  belonged,  or  whence  he 
came,  there  seems  to  be  no  record  extant.  In  the 
pedigree  of  Price  of  Newtown,3  Maesbroc  is  named 
among  the  possessions  of  Ynyr  ab  Cadvarch,  to  whom, 
by  the  Welsh  genealogists,  is  ascribed  the  paternity  of 
that  somewhat  mythological  personage,  Tudor  Trevor. 
Hence  it  might  be  guessed  that  Cadwgan  Vychan  was 
one  of  the  Tribe  of  the  Marches,  were  it  not  that  the 
boar's  head  in  his  coat  would  seem  to  be  at  variance 
with  the  hypothesis.  We  have  it  stated,  however,  in 
the  History  of  Llangurig  (p.  46),  that  Annest,  a 
daughter  of  Idnerth,  was  wife  of  Cynwric  ab  Rhiwall- 
awn  ab  Dingad  ab  Tudor  Trevor ;  and  as  some  of  his 
descendants  were  distinguished  by  a  similar  cognizance, 
the  earlier  connection  becomes  not  altogether  improb- 
able ;  the  more  so,  as  in  Wales  other  instances  have 
occurred  of  the  coat  of  an  heiress  being  borne  by  her 
husband,  or  his  descendants,  in  chief,  in  preference  to 
quartering. 

The  next  question  to  be  considered  is  whether,  after 
all,  Thomas  ab  Rhys  of  Ystym  Colwyn  was  really 
descended  from  Idnerth.  We  have  seen  that  in  vol.  ix, 
it  has  been  stated  on  anonymous  authority,  that 

1  Rolls  ed.,  p.  141. 

2  Hist.  Pow.  Vad.,  i,  90  ;  ii,  326. 

3  Mont.  Coll.,  xxi,  114. 


258  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

Thomas  ab  Rhys  was  fifteenth  in  descent  from  Idnerth. 
If  Idnerth  was  living  in  A.D.  1100,  and  Thomas  in 
A.D.  1600,  the  interval  to  be  accounted  for  falls  not  far 
short  of  five  hundred  years.  Of  these,  the  six  genera- 
tions given  in  the  deeds,  viz.,  Maredydd,  leuan,  Ithel, 
David,  Rhys,  and  Thomas,  account  for  the  period  back 
to  1485,  the  year  in  which  John  Gray,  Lord  Powys, 
made  to  Owen  ap  Madoc  ap  leuan  ap  Maredydd,  the 
tenant  of  "  dominium  de  Meghen  Uchcoit",  the  grant 
in  vol.  xxiii,  p.  392.  Assuming  that  "  leuan  ap  Mar- 
edydd"1 is  identical  with  the  ancestor  of  Thomas  ap 
Rhys,  also  so  called,  nine  generations  are  left  still  to  be 
accounted  for.  The  gap  is  satisfactorily  filled  up  if 
the  following  statement  be  correct  in  a  footnote  to 
p.  217  of  vol.  ii  of  The  History  of  Powys  Vadog : — 
"  Jenkyn  Goch  of  Clochvaen  married  a  lady  named 
Catharine,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Maurice  Vychan, 
fourth  in  descent  from  Howel  of  Ceri  and  Mochdrev, 
second  son  of  Tudor  ab  Einion  Vychan  ab  Einion,  lord 
of  Cevn  y  Llys.  Catharine's  mother  was  Janet, 
daughter  of  leuan  of  Bryngwyn  in  Llanvechen,  ab 
Howel  ab  leuan  ab  Maredydd  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Tudor 
ab  Madoc  ab  Einion  ap  Madoc  ap  Gwylawg  ap  Eginir 
ab  Llewelyn  ab  Idnerth  Benvras,  lord  of  Maesbrwg." 
Here,  again,  the  authority  for  this  genealogical  suc- 
cession of  names  is  not  forthcoming.  But  the  author 
could  not  have  obtained  them  fortuitously ;  and  as  he 
quoted  them  for  a  wholly  different  purpose,  another 
quotation  is  applicable  here  : — "  Cur  in  med  re  menti- 
retur  niliil  erat  causce"  Turn  to  the  pedigrees  of  the 
families  of  Lloyd  of  Bryngwyn  and  Griffith  of  Bron- 
gain,  in  Mont.  Coll.,  v,  255  and  259,  and  they  are 
found  to  be  descended  from  Howel  ab  leuan2  ab  Mar- 

1  Owen  ab   Madoc  ab  leuan  ab  Meredydd   was  of  Main,  which 
appears  to  have  been  the  name  of  both  a  residence  and  a  township 
in  Meivod,  and  to  have  been  the   possession  ("  LI.  Silin",  in  Arch. 
Camb.,  iv,  219,  5th  Ser.)  of  descendants  of  Maredydd  ab  Bleddyn  ab 
Cynvyn.     See  Hist.  Powys  Vad.,  i,  110. 

2  Hist.  P.  V.,  ii,  217  ;  Arch.  Camb.,  iv,  69,  5th  Ser. 


MKIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE. 


259 


edydd,  from  whom  the  ascent  to  Idnerth  corresponds 
exactly  with  that  above  given,  for  which  Add.  MSS. 
9,865  is  quoted  as  the  authority.  In  some  pedigrees 
Howe!  ab  Maredydd  is  given,  omitting  leuan  ;  but  in 
that  of  "  Estyncolwyn"  in  Llyvr  Silin,  by  the  same 
author  (Arch.  Camb.,  iv,  221,  5th  Ser.),  we  have  the 
series  given  in  full,  with  this  remarkable  difference, 
that  it  commences  with  Hys  ap  Thomas  ap  Rys  ap 
Davydd  ap  leuan  ap  Maredydd,  not  the  Thomas  ap 
Rys  stated  in  vol.  v,  p.  417,  to  have  been  his  father- 
in-law.  The  pedigree,  therefore,  as  amended,  will  now 
stand  as  follows  : — 

leuan  ab  Maredydd  of  Llanvechen  Iscoed,  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Tudor  ab  Madoc=f= 
ab  Einion  ab  Madoc  ab  Gwylawg  (or  Gwallawc,  as  LI.  Silin)  ab  Eginir 
(Eynnir,  LI.  Silin)  ab  Lies  (probably  a  corrupt  abbreviation  of  Llewel- 
yn) ab  Idnerth  Benvras,  Lord  of  Maesbroc,  or  Maesbrwc  (A.D.  1110)  ab 
Uchtryd  ab  Edwin  (slain  by  the  Welsh  in  1039),  son  of  Alfgar,  and 
brother  of  Leofric,  Earl  of  Mercia,  and  of  Eddiva  or  Edith,  ux.  of,  1st, 
Gruffydd  ab  Llewelyn  ab  Seisyllt,  and  2ndly  of  Harold,  son  of  Earl 
Godwin,  and  last  Saxon  King  of  England.  (See  Saxon  Chronicle,  and 
Holinshed,  sub  anno.)  But  the  last  marriage  must  surely  be  regarded 
as  apocryphal ! 


|  1  |  2 

Howel  ab  leuan  ab=j=  Ithel 

Maredydd. 


I 
leuan  Vychan  of  Bryn-=p Anghar- 


gwyn. 


ad,  d.  of 
Davydd. 


.=Mali,  d.  of  Madoc  ab  leuan    Madoc  ?  =p 
ab  Maredydd  of  Main,  ab 
Llewelyn     ab     Gruffydd 
Llwyd  ab  Llewelyn  Voel- 
grwn. 


Owen. 


John  of  =f -Margaret, 


1st  wife.  2nd  wife. 

Davydd  =f=Catharine,  d.=pLowry,  d.  of  John  Gray  (of 


Bryn- 
gwyn. 

d.  of 
Davydd 
Vyohan 
ab  Davydd 
ab  Madoc 
ab  Cyffin. 

ab  Ithel 
ofYstym 
Colwyn. 

of  Owen  ab 
leuan  Teg 
ab  Davydd 
ab   Llewelyn 
ab  Einion  ab 
Celynin  of 
Llwydiarth. 

|           Buildwas  ?). 
Alice.=pOwen  of  Main. 
Thomas  of  Main.=f= 

1 
Cadwaladr.=j= 

Owen  ab  Cadwaladr. 

Howel  of=T=Gwen,  d.  of  Hugh  ab  leuan 


Bryn- 
gwyn. 


Davydd,  from  whom 

Griffiths  of  Bron- 

gain  in  Llanvechen. 


of  Bodvach,  ab  Llewelyn 
ab  Einion  ab  Celynin  of 

Llwydiarth  (cousin  of 
Catb.,  ux.  Dd.  ab  Ithel  of 

Ystym  Colwyn.)     (Mont.  Coll,  v,  260.) 


TEhys  ab=f= 
Davydd. 

V 


260  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 


David  Lloyd=rJanet,  d.  of  leuan  ab     Thomas  ab^Alice,   dau.   of  Jeffrey 


of  |         David  Lloyd  of  Rhys. 


Bryngwyn. 


Abertanat. 


Tanat  of  Aber  Tanat 
—  to  Madoc  Cyffin. 


|  1  j  2  |  3  |  4 

Robert   Lloyd=f=Margaret,  d.  of  Reinallt  Thomas.     Jeffrey.       Ellis  of 
of  Bryngwyn.  I      ab  Davydd  of  Carreg  Crewe. 

Hwva. 


Rhys  ab  Thomas.=pGaynor,  d.  of  John  ab  Owen  Vaughan 
|  of  Llwydiartb. 

John  Lloyd=f=Ermine,  d.  of  Randle        Dorothy,  heiress=j=Lumley  Williams 

of  j     Hanmer,  son  of  Sir  of  Ystyni  Col-    V     of  Ystym  Col- 

Bryngwyn.  V      Thomas  Hanmer.  wyn.  wyn. 

It  might  readily  be  supposed,  and  may  possibly  be 
the  fact,  that  Madoc  ab  leuan  ab  Maredydd  was  a 
brother  of  Howel  of  Bryngwyn,  and  of  Ithel  of  Ystym 
Col  wyn,  also  sons  of  leuan  ab  Maredydd,  and  that 
Owen  ab  Madoc  was  the  person  in  whose  favour  the 
grant  of  Mechen  Uchcoed  by  John  Gray,  Lord  Powys, 
was  made  in  1485,  on  condition  of  the  annual  payment 
of  a  red  rose,  if  required  ;  but  this  is  by  no  means 
likely.  The  same  succession  of  names,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  Owen,  occurs  in  the  pedigree  of  Griffiths  of  The 
Golva  in  Llansilin  and  of  Meivod  in  Main,  who  came 
from  Bleddyn  ab  Cynvyn  ("  LI.  Silin",  Arch.  Camb., 
iv,  218,  5th  Ser.)  ;  and  Mali,  the  daughter  of  this 
Madoc,  was  married  to  Ithel  of  Ystyni  Col  wyn, 
whose  property,  as  well  as  that  of  the  families 
of  Bryngwyn  and  Brongain,  lay  in  Mechen  Iscoed, 
not  in  Mechen  Uchcoed.  On  the  other  hand,  we 
find  Lumley  Williams,  son  of  the  heiress  Dorothy,  liv- 
ing at  Kyffin  in  Llangadvan  in  Mechen  Uchcoed,  as 
late  as  in  1703.  From  this  it  might,  perhaps,  be 
inferred  that  Kyffin  was  part  of  the  original  property 
derived  from  the  grant.  Nor  does  it  appear  in  what 
manner  the  lands  in  Llanvechen  Tscoed  became  the 
property  of  descendants  of  Idnerth.  The  point  has 
its  interest,  to  be  solved  perhaps  by  further  discoveries. 


ME1FOD    AND    ELSEWHERE,  261 

The  conclusions  above  suggested  as  resulting  from 
the  Saxon  conquest  of  the  territories  of  Tegeingl, 
Maesbrock,  and  Cyveiliog,  derive  confirmation  from  an 
unexpected  quarter,  in  the  connection  between  the 
great  houses  of  Lumley  and  Cochwillan.  At  first  sight 
this  would  appear  to  commence  from  a  date  as  recent 
as  the  match  between  William  Williams  of  Cochwillan 
and  Barbara,  daughter  of  George,  and  grand-daughter 
of  John  Lord  Lumley  of  Lumley  Castle,  in  the  parish 
of  Chester-le- Street,  Co.  Durham,  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII.  But  the  previous  history  of  the  latter 
family  would  suggest  a  considerable  probability  that 
members  of  it  had  been  interested  in  political  events 
in  North  Wales  at  a  much  earlier  period,  and  even  so 
far  back  as  the  era  of  the  Norman  conquest  of  England. 
Ralph  de  Lumley  joined  in  the  attempt  of  Thomas  rle 
Holland,  Earl  of  Kent,  to  restore  King  Richard  II,  for 
which  he  was  attainted  and  deprived  of  his  lands,  but 
was  slain  in  a  skirmish  at  Cirencester.  The  Hollands  of 
Berw,  in  Anglesey,  were  said  to  have  been  descended 
from  one  of  the  name  who  secretly  left  England  in  that 
century,  owing  to  some  political  trouble.  The  rising 
seems  to  have  been  simultaneous  with  that  of  Owen 
Glyndwr,  and  if  so,  doubtless  in  sympathy  with  it. 

The  surname  of  the  family  was  assumed  from  a  place 
named  " Lumley  on  the  Weare",  and  its  lineage  is 
deduced  from  Liulph,  who  married  Algitha,  daughter  of 
Aldred,Eaii  of  Northumberland  (also  called  Uchtred  the 
Bold),  by  his  wife  Algetha  or  Aelgitha,  daughter  of  the 
English  king,  Ethelred  II.  The  wife  ascribed  to 
Goronwy,  father  of  Edwin,  King  of  Tegeingl,  by  some  of 
the  Welsh  herald-bards  is  said  to  have  been  a  daughter  of 
the  Saxon  king,  Ethelred  the  Unready.  Can  it  be  the 
fact  that  Alfgar  or  Aldred  has  been  disguised  by  them 
under  the  pseudonym  of  Goronwy,  a  factitious  de- 
scendant of  Howel  Dda  ?  And  here  one  cannot  but  be 
struck  with  the  general  similarity  of  the  names  to  those 
transmitted  by  these  herald -bards  in  the  princely 
genealogies  of  the  period.  First  we  have  Uchtred, 

VOL.  xxv.  T 


262         ANCIENT  DEEDS  RELATING  TO 

here    a  Saxon  nobleman,    there    the    Welsh    Lord   of 
Cyveiliog,  but  mentioned  also  more  than  once  in  leuan 
Brechva's  Book  of  Pedigrees  by  the  style  of  "King  of 
Tegeingl",  though  that  title  is  attributed  by  them  more 
commonly  to  Edwin,  who  passes  for  Uchtred's  father, 
and  godson  to  Edward  the  Confessor,  from  whose  coat  of 
arms,  moreover,  that  of  Edwin  is  merely  differentiated 
heraldically.  According  to  others,  Goronwy  (Edwin's  so- 
called  father,  but  whose  name  occurs  here  for  the  first 
time  in  Welsh  history,  and  cannot  be  identified  as  the 
son,  as  they  term  him,  of  Owen  ap  Howel  Dda)  married 
Ethelneda,  daughter  of  an  Edwin,  Earl  of  Mercia,  and 
relict  of  Edmund  Ironside.     Under  the  year  1039,  we 
find  in  the  Saxon  Chronicle  that  "  the   Welsh  killed 
Edwin,  brother  of  Leofric,  Earl  of  Mercia,  and  Thukell", 
etc.     Again,  a  lady,  named  Editha,  sister  of  Edwin  and 
Morcar,  sons  of  Leofric  and  brothers  of  Alfgar,  is  wife  of 
Gruffydd  ab  Seisyllt,  and  afterwards  of  Harold,  King  of 
England ;  while  Edwin  is  himself  stated  to  have  married 
Gwerydd,  Ewerydd,  or  Werydd,  a  daughter  of  Convyn, 
Prince  of  Powys,  and  sister  of  Bleddyn  ab  Convyn.    But 
the  strangest  statement  of  all,  perhaps,  is  that  introduced 
into  the  genealogies,  though  bearing  no  direct  relation 
to  any  of  them,  in  reference  to  a  person  named  "Aldud". 
The  name  is  remarkable  in  two  ways.      1.   Its  meaning 
as  a  Welsh  word  is  an  alien  and   an  exile.     2.  Take 
out  one  letter — the  liquid  r — and  it  is  the  very  name  of 
AldredEarl  of  Northumberland,  the  husband  of  Liulph's 
daughter,  Algitha!     "Aldud"  (say  the  Welsh  Genealo- 
gies) "  maintained  the  whole  of  Tegaingl  with  his  spear 
and  his  sword,  in  despite  of  country  and  Lord,  and 
against  the  King  ;  and  the  third  year  he  delivered  up 
his  territory  at  the  King's  entreaty,  and  himself  ob- 
tained pardon  of  the  King,"  etc.     There  can  be  little 
doubt  that  this  fragment  has  been  thus  preserved  from 
some  early  Welsh  History,  nowjost.     That  it  obscurely 
represents  a  genuine  historical  tradition,  seems  clear 
from  the  following  somewhat  inaccurate  summary  in 
Holinshed's  Chronicle  of  such  information  as  he  could 


MEJFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  263 

gain  from  his  authorities,  Matthew  Paris  and  Simeon 
of  Durham  : — • 

"  Algar  III,  Earl  of  Mercia  and  of  Chester,  who  died  in  1059, 
when  banished  by  Edward  the  Confessor,  went  to  Ireland, 
whence  coming  to  Wales  with  twenty-eight  ships,  he  joined 
Prince  Gruffydd  ap  Seisyllt.  Uniting  their  forces,  they  defeated 
Raulfe,  the  Earl,1  in  a  battle  about  two  miles  from  Hereford, 
and  took  and  burnt  the  city.  Harold  afterwards  pursued  them 
into  North  Wales,  by  way  of '  Stradluid'  (the  Vale  of  Clwyd  ?), 
occupied  Snowdon  for  two  years,  returned  to  Hereford,  retook 
it,  and  then  made  peace  with  Griffith  and  Algar  at  a  place 
called  '  Biligelhage'.  Algar  then  sailed  to  Chester,  where  he 
left  his  ships,  and  went  and  besought  pardon  of  the  King, 
who  restored  to  him  his  Earldom,  A.D.  1057.  Rebelling  a 
second  time,  aided  by  a  fleet  from  Norway,  his  kingdom  was 
invaded  by  Harold,  who  burnt  his  palace  at  Rhuddlan,  and 
also  his  ships.  Harold  afterwards  sailed  to  Bristol,  and  round 
the  coast  of  Wales.  Joined  by  his  brother  Tostig,  he  subdued 
the  Welsh,  who  paid  tribute,  and  brought  him  Gruffydd's  head, 
and  that  of  his  brother  Rhys." 

We  are  then  told  that  "  all  the  savage  people  of 
Wales  were  reduced  into  the  form  of  good  order  under 
the  subjection  of  Edward",  and  that  he  "  afterwards 
granted  Wales  to  Bleagent  or  Blethgent,  and  two 
brothers  Griffin,  who  did  him  homage  for  Wales". 

There  is  error,  as  well  as  exaggeration,  in  this ;  for 
Matthew  of  Westminster  says  nothing  of  the  burning  of 
Rhuddlan,  but  only  that,  failing  to  meet  with  GrufFydd 
and  Alfgar,  he  wasted  the  country,  and  returned  to, 
and  fortified  Hereford.  Bleddyn  ab  C}rnvyn,  we  know, 
became  only  Prince  of  Powys,  and  subsequently  occu- 
pied Gwynedd,  or  part  of  it,  in  conjunction  with  his 
brother  Rhiwallawn,  after  whose  death  he  became  for 
a  short  time  the  sole  monarch  of  both  Powys  and 
Gwynedd.  GrufFydd  had  no  brother. 

Who  can  the  Aldud  of  the  Welsh  herald-bards  be, 
if  not  the  Algar  (also  called  Aldred)  of  the  Saxon 
writers,  Earl  of  Mercia,  Chester,  and  Northumberland, 
having  a  palace  at  Rhuddlan,  and  maintaining  his 

1  -Nephew  of  King  Edward  the  Confessor. 

T  2 


2G4         ANCIENT  DEEDS  RELATING  TO 

power  for  three  years  against  country,  nobles,  and  king  ? 
After  the  death  of  Gruflydd  ap  Llewelyn  Harold  had 
the  greater  part  of  Wales  at  his  feet.  If  Bleddyn  ap 
Cynvyn  and  his  brother  Rhi walla wn  now  sat  on  the 
throne  of  Powys,  it  was  by  favour  of  Harold.  By  his 
gift  also  the  crown  of  South  Wales  fell  to  Maredydd 
ab  Owen  ab  Edwyn  ab  Einion  ab  Owain  ab  Howel  Dda, 
its  rightful  claimant.  We  do  not  read,  however,  of 
his  making  any  such  disposition  of  the  kingdom  of 
Gwynedd,  although  part  of  the  cantref  Meirionydd 
is  afterwards  found  in  possession  of  Bleddyn  and 
his  sons.  Strangely  enough,  we  find  this  territory, 
together  with  Cyv  eiliawg,  Mawddwy,  and  Penllyn,  not 
long  after,  in  possession  of  Uchtryd,  which  is  thus 
explained  by  the  genealogists.  They  say  that  these 
were  given  up  to  him  by  Bleddyn's  son  Cadwgan,  in 
consequence  of  the  marriage  of  his  mother  Iwerydd, 
Bleddyn's  sister,  with  his  father  Edwin,  "  King  of 
Tegeingl",  and  perhaps  also  of  his  own  marriage  with 
Gwenllian,  Edwin's  daughter,  his  third  wife.1  Uchtryd 
was  despoiled  of  these  territories,  and  Cymmer  Castle, 
on  the  Mawddach,  which  he  had  built,  was  taken  and 
burnt2  by  Einiori  and  Maredydd,  sons  of  Cadwgan  and 
Bleddyn  respectively,  because  they  were  disappointed 
of  their  expectation  that  Uchtryd  would  have  been 
their  faithful  friend  and  ally  against  their  enemies,  who, 
however,  are  not  specified.  The  last  we  hear  of  Uchtryd 
is  in  1115,  when  a  pitched  battle  was  fought  in  the  Vale 
of  Clwyd  between  him  and  his  nephews,  sons  of  Owain, 
and  Maredydd,  Bleddyn's  son,  with  his  nephews,  Howel 
lord  of  Rhos,  and  Madoc  and  Einion.  This,  probably, 
was  a  last  and  desperate  stand  made  by  Edwin  and 

1  See  Hist.  Powys  Vadog,  i,  93,  94.     According  to  Harl.  2299,  and 
--ft  pedigree  in  Mont.  Coll.,  xi,  379-80,  Uchtryd  m.  Arddyn,  daughter 

of  Ehys  Sais  ab  Ednyved,  Lord  of  Bromfield,  ab  Llowarch  Gam  ab 
Lludoccav  ab  Tudor  Trevor ;  and  Idnerth  Benvras  was  his  grandson 
by  his  son  Maredydd,  who  m.  Elin,  d.  of  Tewdwr  Mawr,  Prince  of 
South  Wales. 

2  Some  remains  of  what  was  probably  this  fort  are  still  visible  in  a 
field  above  the  old  Dolgelly  road  from  Llanelltyd  and  Cymmer  Abbey. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  265 

Uchtryd's  family  for  supremacy  in  North  Wales  ;  it 
failed,  however.  The  sons  of  Owain  ab  Edwin  and 
their  friends,  after  much  slaughter,  were  defeated, 
and  took  to  flight.  The  opposite  party  gained  but  an 
empty  triumph,  because  the  Normans,  whom  the  other 
side  had  called  in  to  assist  them,  were  strong  enough  to 
keep  the  country  in  their  own  hands.  What  became 
of  Uchtryd  and  his  family  is  left  to  conjecture.  We 
hear  no  more  of  him.  His  brother  Owen  had  died  of 
a  lingering  disease  in  1103,  stigmatised  by  his  coun- 
trymen as  a  traitor.  In  the  Life  of  Gruffydd  ab  Cynan 
he  appears  as  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  the  Normans  and 
English,  who  set  him  up  as  "fictitious  King  of  Gwynedd 
and  Mona"  in  opposition  to  Gruffydd,  notwithstanding 
that  he  had  married  his  daughter.  It  was  at  his  insti- 
gation, says  the  Brut,  that  the  Normans  first  came  into 
Mona.  In  1122  we  read  that  three  of  Owain's  sons, 
Goronwy,  Rhirid,  and  Meilyr,  were  blinded,  dismem- 
bered, and'  put  to  death  by  their  nephew,  Cadwallawn 
ab  Gruffydd  ab  Cynan — a  cruel  revenge  indeed — for 
their  father's  baseness. 

Who,  then,  were  Edwin  and  Uchtryd,  styled  in 
turn  by  the  genealogists — kings  and  princes  of  Tegeingl  ? 
Was  Edwin,  as  they  tell  us,  son  of  Goronwy,  a  de- 
scendant of  Howel  Dda,  by  his  wife  Edelfleda  (or 
rather  Elgiva),  the  relict  of  Edmund  Ironside  ?  It 
may  be  so,  but  is  improbable,  for  historical  and  genea- 
logical reasons.  There  is  no  improbability,  however,  in 
the  supposition  that  they  were  of  Saxon  or  English 
origin,  who  owed  their  authority,  whatever  its  extent, 
to  English  power  and  English  policy.  A  clue  may  be 
found  perhaps  in  the  identification  of  the  Welsh  Aldud1 

1  The  following  strange  pedigree  is  in  Plengwrt  MSS.  113,  114, 
fol.  20,  a  portion  of  which  is  the  "  Llyvr  leuan  Brechva",  a  late 
fifteenth  century  MS. 

"  TEGEINGL. 

"  Belllwyt  ap  dd  llwyt  ap  dd  ap  Ken  ap  len'nap  gruff  ap  Mad  ddu 
ap  Ryrit  ap  ll'e  ap  Owain  ap  alfobt  vch  ywain  ap  edvvyn  ap  .  .  .  i  ." 
[ends  thus]. 


2G6  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

with  Alfgar,  the  great  rival  of  Earl  Godwin,  Earl  of 
Mercia,  Chester,  and  Northumberland.      His  daughter, 
Algitha,   was  the  wife  of  the  Welsh  prince,  his  ally, 
Gruffydd  ab  Llewelyn.     What  more  natural,  then,  that 
after    the  murder  of   Gruffydd,    the   Earl    of  Chester 
should  have  maintained  his  power  for  a  time  between 
Dee  and  Clwyd,  and  even  set   up    a  petty  kingdom, 
named  after  the  portion  which  would  form   naturally 
its  nucleus,  the  Caritred  of  Tegeingl,  or  that  he  should 
be  succeeded  in  it  for  a  time  by  near  relatives  of  his 
own — Edwin,  perhaps  his  brother,  Uchtryd  his  nephew, 
or  brother-in-law  ?     When  Uchtryd  quits  Tegeingl  for 
Cyveiliog  and  the  west  of  North  Wales,  his  brother, 
Owen,  comes  on  the  scene  in  the  north-east — not  as 
prince  now,  but  as  Lord  of  Tegeingl ;  and  after  him  a 
mysterious  personage — most  likely  a  brother  of  Gruffydd 
ap  Cynan — Edriowain  Bendew,  the  acknowledged  chief 
of  one  Noble  Tribe  of  Gwynedd,  as  Edwin  himself  is  of 
another.     And,  here,  occupying  the  intermediate  ter- 
ritory of  Maesbrook,  once  beyond  a  doubt  a  possession 
of  the  Tribe   of  the   Marches,  is   interposed  Idnerth, 
bearing  on  his  shield  the  united  coats  of  Edwin  and 
Ednowain,  and  variously  described  as  a  son,  or  grand- 
son, of  Uchtryd  or  of  Owen,  therefore  of  the  same  great 
Saxon  family.     What  other  conclusion  is  possible  than 
that  the  dominion  over  this  great  territory,  first  acquired 
from  the  Welsh  by  conquest,  was  consolidated  during 
the  troublesome    period    of  the   Norman    conquest  of 
England  by  matrimonial  alliances  with  the  families  of 
the  dispossessed  Cymric  princes  ?     And  that  the  mixed 
race   engendered  of  these,   and    subsequently  also   of 
Norman  alliances,  left  behind  them  descendants  who 
followed  their  customs,  and  continued,  for  some  cen- 
turies at  least,  to  be  respected  by  their  compatriots  as 
even  Cambris  ipsis  Cambriores  ? 

The  Norman  survey  of  Domesday,  1086,  positively 
proves  that  the  sovereignty,  princedom,  and  even  lord- 
ship of  Tegeingl  had  departed  from  Owain  ab  Edwin. 
Not  even  its  name  was  suffered  to  continue.  In  its 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  267 

stead  is  the  "  Hundred  of  Atiscross",1  of  which  Engle- 
field  is  a  small  part,  described  as  a  manor,  together 
with  "Roedent"  (Khuddlan),  held  by  Earl  Hugh 
(Lupus)  of  the  King  of  England.  As  to  the  precise 
manner  in  which  Owen  was  dispossessed  of  his  petty 
princedom  history  is  silent.  It  may,  however,  be 
presumed  that,  on  finding  himself  unable  to  withstand 
the  Norman  invasion,  he  hastened  to  effect  a  com- 
promise with  the  foreigner  on  the  best  terms  he  could 
obtain,  by  ceding  to  them  his  stronghold  of  Rhuddlan 
with  all  its  adjacent  territory,  and  accepting  the  empty 
title  of  King  of  Gwynedd,  in  which  Anglesey  of  course 
was  included — the  shadow  for  the  substance.  His 
new  kingdom  would  doubtless  be  held  by  him  in  capite 
of  the  King  of  England,  but  only  when  wrested  by 
the  Norman  arms,  aided  by  recreant  Welshmen,  from 
his  son-in-law,  Gruffydd  ab  Cynan,  its  rightful  sove- 
reign. The  Norman  invasion  of  Anglesey,  at  O  wain's 
instigation,  and  fatal  issue  of  the  enterprise,  we  learn 
from  the  Brut  and  the  Life  of  Gruffydd.  These  tell 
also  of  his  name  held  in  abhorrence  as  a  traitor  to  his 
country,  and  the  ultimate  assassination  of  his  sons, 
regarded  doubtless  as  a  judicial  execution,  by  princes, 
his  near  relatives,  of  the  royal  house  of  Powys. 

John,  Lord  Lurnley,  was  the  fifth  baron  of  his 
lineage  summoned  by  writ  to  the  House  of  Peers  ;  this 
was  in  1515.  In  1531  his  name  appears  in  a  list  of 
signatures  to  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Pope  by  fifteen 
noblemen  at  the  instance  of  King  Henry  VIII,  urging 
him  to  decree  the  divorce  of  the  latter  from  his  wife, 
on  the  ground  that  the  Papal  Supremacy  might  be 
imperilled  by  refusal.  In  1537  he  is  conspicuous 
among  the  leaders  of  the  Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  when 
the  most  part  of  the  population  of  the  north  of  England 

1  Atiscross,  called  in  Pennant's  time  "  Croes  Ati"  by  the  Welsh, 
was  the  site  of  a  cross  of  great  antiquity,  of  which  he  saw  only  the 
pedestal,  at  Pentre,  once  a  Roman  smelting  station,  now  but  a 
modern  village,  at  a  mile's  distance  from  Flint.  The  land  still  bears 
that  name,  but  the  hundred  is  called  Coleshill.  (Taylor's  Historic 
Notices  of  Flint,  p.  7.) 


268  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

rose  in  insurrection  in  protest  against  the  change  of 
religion,  chiefly  as  exhibited  in  the  suppression  of 
monasteries,  and  the  expulsion  of  their  inmates  "by 
reason  the  same  would  be  the  destruction  of  the  whole 
religion  in  England".1  So  numerous  were  they,  that 
for  a  time  the  king's  forces,  under  the  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
would  not  venture  to  cope  with  them.  Recourse  was 
had  to  temporising,  and  Lord  Lumley,  who  was  the 
d  uke's  brother-in-law,  each  being  married  to  a  daughter 
of  Henry  Lord  Scrope,  of  Bolton,  conducted  the 
negotiations  on  the  part  of  the  Pilgrimage.  The 
people  returned  to  their  homes,  deceived  by  the  king's 
promise  of  a  free  pardon,  and  a  Parliament  to  be 
speedily  assembled  at  York,  the  non-performance  of 
which,  and  the  execution  of  four  monks  and  eight 
yeomen,  terrified  the  people,  and  occasioned  a  second 
rising,  wherein,  however,  the  name  of  Lord  Lumley  is 
conspicuous  by  its  absence.  Now  its  place  is  occupied 
by  that  of  his  son  George,  who  is  stated  to  have 
been  apprehended  and  taken  to  London.  Lord  Darcy 
was  executed  on  Tower  Hill.  George  Lumley,  the 
Abbots  of  Jervaulx  and  Fountains,  two  priors  and 
a  friar,  with  five  others,  were  hanged  and  quartered  at 
Tyburn  by  a  species  of  judicial  murder,  effected  by  the 
violation  of  a  king's  word,  and  for  the  crime  of  asserting 
rights,  spiritual  and  temporal,  of  which  the  victims 
had  been  wrongfully  and  ruthlessly  deprived. 

The  peerage  of  Lumley  of  the  first  creation  became 
extinct  by  his  attainder,  his  father,  who  survived  him, 
having  no  other  issue.  George  had  been  married  to 
Jane,  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Richard  Knightley  of 
Fausley,  co.  Northampton,  and  by  her  had  a  son  John, 
who  became  Lord  Lumley  by  a  new  creation  of 
Edward  VI,  with  limitation  in  tail  male,  and  who  died 
s.p.,  and  two  daughters  :  Jane,  the  wife  of  Geoffry 
Markham,  s.p.,  and  Barbara,  married  first  to  Humphrey 

1  Henry  VIII  and  the  English  Monasteries,  by  F.  A.  Gasquet,  O.S.B. 
Hodges,  1889;  Collier's  Ecc.  Hist.,  ii,  132  seg. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  269 

Lloyd,1  the  antiquary,  of  the  family  of  Foxhall,  near 
Denbigh,  and  author  of  the  History  of  Wales,  com- 
monly ascribed  to  Dr.  Powell,  by  whom  she  had  two 
sons,  Splanidian,  o.s.p.,  and  Henry  Lloyd  of  Cheam  in 
Surrey,  third  in  descent  from  whom  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Lloyd  of  Cheam  petitioned  unsuccessfully,  in  1723,  for 
the  revival  in  his  own  person  of  the  peerage  in  right  of 
his  descent  from  Ralph,  Lord  Lumley.  The  claim  was 
rejected  on  the  ground  that,  the  attainder  of  George 
being  still  unreversed,  the  restoration  of  John  Lord 
Lumley,  in  blood  only,  could  not  revive  the  ancient 
barony.  This  John  married  (1)  Joanna,  eldest  of  the 
two  daughters  and  coheirs  of  Henry  Fitzalan,  Earl  of 
Arundel,  K.G.,  by  his  wife,  Lady  Grey,  daughter  of 
Thomas,  Marquis  of  Dorset,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons, 
Charles  and  Thomas,  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  all 
died  in  infancy  ;  and  (2)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John, 
Lord  Darcy  of  Chiche,  who  survived  him.  His  barony, 
therefore,  died  with  him.  He  bequeathed  the  ancient 
castle  and  estates  to  Richard,  son  of  Roger,  and 
grandson  of  Anthony,  brother  of  the  fifth  Lord 
Lumley,  the  ancestor  of  the  present  Earl  of  Scar- 
borough. He  was  himself  buried  at  Cheam,  where 
probably  he  died,  and  where  is  a  noble  monument  to 
his  memory,  having  sumptuously  repaired  the  monu- 
ments of  his  Catholic  ancestors  in  the  parish  church  of 
Chester-le-Street.  He  was  not  himself  a  Catholic, 
doubtless  from  the  fact  of  his  education,  and  that  of  his 
sisters,  having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Protestant 
Government,  on  the  death  of  their  natural  guardian 
and  protector,  whose  rights  were  thus  cruelly  usurped. 
Another  interesting  fact  relating  to  this  ancient  and 
noble  family  is  that,  but  for  his  death  in  1609  without 
surviving  issue,  the  earldom  of  Arundel,  with  the 
Barony  of  Oswestry  and  Chin,  would  have  fallen  to  his 

1  Supra,  p.  6,  where  Humphrey  Lloyd  is  said  to  have  farmed  the 
three  rectories  of  Guilsfield,  Meivod,  and  Welshpool,  of  the  Dean 
and  Chapter  of  Christchurch,  Oxford,  for  £65  3s.  8d.,  on  lease  for  sixty 
years. 


270 


ANCIENT  DEEDS  RELATING  TO 


family,  as  issue  of  the  elder  coheir.  These  Mary,  the 
second  daughter  and  coheir,  carried  by  her  marriage  to 
Thomas  Howard,  the  fourth  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  their 
issue,  Philip  Howard,  the  persecuted  victim  of  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  for  his  faith  in  the  Tower.1 


FITZALAN,  LUMLEY,  AND   LLOYD. 

Henry  Fitzalan,  Earl  of  Arundel,=j=Lady   Catharine   Grey,  d.   of  Thomas, 
K.  G.  Marquis  of  Dorset. 


Joanna   (Jane),    1st    d.=j=John  Lord  Lumley,  restored  in      Thomas=f=Mary, 


and  co-heir. 


I  I  I 

Charles.  Thomas.  Mary. 

Ob.  infantes. 


blood  and  created  Baron  (1st  Howard, 

Edw.    VI);     ob.    1609,    s.    p.  4th 

superst.;  son  of  George  Lura-  Duke  of 

ley,  occ.  v.  p.,  1538.     He  mar-  Norfolk, 
ried  (2)  Elizabeth,  d.  of  Lord 
Darcy  of  Chiche,  co.  Durham. 


2nd  d. 
and 
co- 
heir. 


Jane  Lum- 
ley, d.  of 
Hon. 
George 
Lumley, 
ux.  George 
Markham, 
Esq.,  s.  p. 

Humphrey  Llwyd,q 
the  historian,  of 
the  family  of 
Foxhall,  co.  Den- 
bigh. 

=  (l)Bar-  = 
bar  a 
Lumley, 
2nd  d.  of 
Hon. 
George 
Lumley. 

j=  (2)  William          Philip  Howard, 
Williams  of         Earl  of  Arundel 
Cochwillan.             and  Surrey. 

\ 
Splanidian 
Lloyd, 
ob.  s.  p. 

Henry  Lloyd=j 
of  Cheani. 

=Mary,  d.  of 
Robert 
Brome  of 
Bromfield, 

Essex. 

1              15 
Henry  Wil-=j 
liams  of 
Cochwillan  ; 
most  of 
which  he 
sold. 

98. 
-Jane,  d.  and  heir  of 
Thomas  Salisbury 
of  Denbigh,  Esq., 
3rd  son  of  Sir  John 
Salisbury  of 
Lleweny,  Kt.,  who 
ob.  1578. 

Henry  Lloyds-Isabella,  d.  of  Sir  Itham 
|  Parkyns,  Bart. 

Henry  Lloyd,=fElizabeth,  d.  of  Benja- 
ob.  1704.        I  niin  Goodwin  of 

Stretham,  Esq. 

I  


Lumley  Williams,  =pDorothy,  sole 

jure  ux.  of  d.  and 

Ystyni  Colwyn,  heiress  of 

Esq. ;  ob.  20th     V        Ystym 
June  1638.  Colwyn. 


Eev.  Dr.  Robert  Lloyd,  unsuccessfully 
claimed  the  Barony  in  1723. 


Elizabeth.       Susan.      Catharine. 
(Banks,  Dormant  Baronage.) 


1  For  this  information,  as  for  other  valuable  assistance  in  the 
investigation  of  materials  for  this  paper,  I  am  indebted  to  the  kind- 
ness of  C.  A.  Buckler,  Esq.,  Surrey  Herald  Extraordinary,  and  also 
to  that  of  H.  F.  J.  Vaughau,  Esq. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  271 

(41.)  The  following  deed  (A.D.  1489),  in  Latin,  is  in  exceed- 
ingly faded  ink,  but  is  sufficiently  clear  to  show  that  it  is  a 
grant  by  Lleucu,  dau.  of  Meredydd  Vychan  ab  Hoell,  a  free- 
holder under  King  Edward  [IV  ?]  of  "  Eudloyd"  and  "  Koyge- 
lothy,"  infra  comota  de  Lytyarth  in  Com.  Caern.,  to  William  ap 
Gruff  ap  Robyn1  and  his  heirs  for  ever,  heretofore  the  property 
of  Tudyr  [or  larddur  ?]  Dwn,  in  the  vills  of  Bodwy  and 
Doygelovlothy  [Dwygyvylchi  ?].  The  deed  concludes  with 
the  following  sentence  : — "  In  cuj.  rei  testimoniu'  hu'  p'senti 
scripto  meo  sigillu'  meu'  apposui  dat'  apud  Bodwyd  (or  Bod- 
wye,  perhaps  for  the  Bodvayc  of  other  deeds  relating  to  the 
same  family)  die  huic  (?)  xx  post  festu'  s'c'i  Mathei  ap'li  anno 
regni  Regis  Henrici  septimi  post  conquestu'  Anglise  quarto." 

(42.)  Lease  by  John  Owen  Vaughan2  of  Llwydiarth,  26th 
Eliz.  (1584),  of  a  farm  in  fee,  called  Ty  Newydd  yng  Ngyffin 
(in  Cyffin)  for  an  annual  payment  of  40s.  Copy  certified  by 
Thomas  ab  Owen  of  Brainiarth  [Broniarth  ?].  Witnessed  by 
Thomas  Ey.  Williams,  Humphrey  Bowen,in  presence  of  Thomas 
Tannatt,3  Cadwaladr  ab  Evan  Vychan,  David  Goch  ap  Evan 

r  William  ab  Gruifydd  ab  Robyn  "  led  a  troop  of  horse  for  his 
own  retinue  to  Bosvvorth  Field,  22nd  Aug.  1485,  to  assist  Henry, 
Earl  of  Richmond,  against  Richard  III,  after  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed (in  1508),  by  patent,  Sheriff  of  Caernarvonshire  for  life" 
(Hist.  P.  V.,  vi,  428).  This  deed  should  be  read  in  connection  with 
those  on  p.  86,  No.  1 ;  p.  94,  No.  29 ;  and  p.  95,  No.  30.  Bodvai 
and  Dwygyvylchi  were  acquired  by  grant  from  the  Crown  (Hen.  VI) 
in  1439  by  Robyn's  father,  Gruffydd  ab  Gwilym.  "  Koygelothi" 
may  be  meant  for  Coed  Gyfylchi,  i.e.,  a  wood  where  two  defiles  meet. 
The  spot  is  celebrated  as  the  site  of  a  very  perfect  ancient  circle  of 
stones,  and  as  the  scene  of  the  beautiful  poem  by  Prince  How  el 
Gwynedd  in  the  Myvyrian  Archaiology.  "  Lytyarth"  may  be  "Llech- 
wedd",  as  there  is  no  such  name  for  a  Comot  in  the  ancient  lists. 

2  John  Owen  Vaughan  was  High  Sheriff  of  Montgomeryshire  in 
1583.     His  wife,  Dorothy,  was  dau.  of  Howel  Vaughan  of  Glanllyn, 
co.  Merioneth,  descended  from  Rhirid  Flaidd,  and  her  brother  John's 
great-grandson,  Edward  Vaughan,  by  his  marriage   with  the  eldest 
dau.  and  coheiress   of  John  Purcell  of  Nantcribba,  by  Eleanor,  dau. 
of  Sir  John  Vaughan   of  Llwydiarth,  Knt,  became  possessed  of  the 
Llwydiarth  and  Llangedwin  estates,  in  addition  to  his  own  hereditary 
property  of  Glan   Llyn   Tegid,  whence  they  passed  to   Sir  Watkin 
Williams    Wymi,   the  third    baronet,  by  his    marriage    with    Anna 
Josephina,  one  of  their  daughters  and  coheirs.     (See  Mont.  Coll.,  v, 
pp.  403  seq.,  for  a  fuller  account  of  the  Llwydiarth  family.) 

3  Probably     Thomas    Tanat    of    Llanervyl   (27     Eliz.),    younger 
brother  of  Rees,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Tanat  of  Abertanat,  High 
Sheriff  in  1570  (Mont.  Coll.,  iv,  pp.   368-9).     The  other  witnesses 
I  have  failed  to  identify  from  the  reprinted  pedigrees. 


272  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

ap  William  ap  David,  James  Rees  ap  Mathew,  Thomas  David 
ap  John  Mathew  Goch,  David  dinse  (?),  and  others. 

(43.)  Bond,  dated  37  Eliz.  (1593),  for  £14,  of  Oliver  Lloyd 
Vaughan1  de  Pola,  in  Com.  Mountgomery,  et  Morici  ap  John 
Sadler  to  William  Williames,  "  Armigero".2  S'd  p'  me  Oliver 
Lloyd  Vychan,  MI.  Witnessed  by  Tho.  ap  Ra.  John 
Brassier,  Ed.  sz  mk.  (sic\  Hugh  ap  M.  Lloyd,  Tho.  Lloyd. 
Two  seals:  on  1.  a  cock  or  eagle,  with  wings  displayed;  2. 
an  eagle  or  falcon,  with  the  neck  over  the  head,  not  visible,  of 
a  deer  statant  youtte  in  front. 

(44.)  Deed  of  Release  in  Latin,  dated  in  1595,  of  Ricseus 
[Rhys]  ap  David  ap  Ithell  de  Ystymcolwyn  in  com.  Mount- 
gomery, generosus,  et  Thoma3  ap  Rees  ap  David  ap  Ithell, 
filius  p'dicti  Ricaei  ap  D'd,  Ahurell  [qu.  for  Angharad],  verch 
david  ap  leuan  Bach4  de  eodem  vill  et  david  p'dict'  gen'osus. 
Releases  to  George  Griffith5  of  Llanvathen,  Co.Montg'y,  certain 

1  Oliver    Lloyd   Vaughan    was     eldest    son    of    Oliver    Lloyd    of 
Leighton,  J.P.,  Bailiff  of  Pool  with  "John  ap  Dd.  Sadler  (17  Eliz.), 
1575,  and  brother  of  Charles  Lloyd  of  Leighton,  Sheriff  in  1601,  to 
whom    he    was    Deputy   Sheriff''  (Mont.    Coll.,    v,    464   seq.)       The 
Morrice  of  the  deed  was  son  of  John  ab  Davydd  Sadler  of  Welsh- 
pool.     (See  reprint  of  Mont.  Peds.,  p.  13.) 

2  This  was  the  William  Williams  of  Cochwillan  who   was  Sheriff 
in  1589  and   1596,  father  of  Henry  Williams,  who  sold  that  place, 
and  of  Arthur  Williams,  the  first  of  that  name  of  Meillionydd,    by 
Barbara,  his  second  wife,  dau.  of  George,  son  of  John,  Lord  Lurnley, 
by  his  wife  Joan,  dau.  of  Henry,  Lord  Scrope,  of  Bolton,  sister  of 
the  Duchess  of  Norfolk,  whose  husband  was  the  agent  and  counsellor 
of  Henry    VIII   in  the   massacres  perpetrated   in   violation   of  the 
royal  promises,  and  following  upon  the  rising  of  the  people  for  their 
religion  known  as  the  Pilgrimage  of  Grace. 

3  Thomas  ab  Rees  (not  Rees  Thomas,  as  stated  in  Mont.  Coll.,  xi, 
387)  is  shown  by  this  deed  to  have  been  the  father  of  Dorothy,  the 
heiress  of  Ystym  Colwyn,  who   married   and   carried  the   estate  to 
Lumley  Williams,  son  of  Henry  Williams  of  Cochwillan. 

4  A  line  of  descent  under  Llauvechain  from  Evan  Bach  of  Knockin 
is  given  in  reprint  of  Mont.  Peds.,  p.  2i,  but  through  his  son  Rees, 
not  his  son  David,  whether  by  confusion  of  the  son  with  the  grandson 
does  not  appear. 

*  George  Griffith  of  Brongain,  in  Llanvechen,  'son  of  Richard 
Griffith,  on  Jury  List  at  Pool,  14  Eliz.,  by  his  wife  Catharine,  dau. 
of  Humphrey  Chambers  of  Petton,  another  branch  of  the  family  of 
Chambres  of  Plas  Chambres  and  Llys  Meirchion,  co.  Denbigh  (for 
an  account  of  this  family,  see  Hist.  Pow.  Vad.,  v,  385).  For  a 
description  of  a  quadrangular  entrenchment  on  Bryn  Cynvelyn  Hill, 
see  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  v,  pp.  244-5. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  273 

parcells  of  arable  land  (terras  arabilis)  per  estimacionem  [?] 
named  Bryn  Cynvelin,  Co.  Montg.,  Scitulit  (qu.  scilicet  ?) 
terr'  in  Llanvechen. 

(45.)  A  Commission  to  Sir  Edmund  Anderson,  Justice,  etc., 
in  41  Eliz.  (1599),  for  the  apprehension1  of  William  Williams 

of  Cochwillan,  Co.  Caern.,and  of in  villa  de  Salop.     It  is 

in  parchment,  under  the  Great  Seal,  now  broken  off  all  but 
a  small  piece  at  the  top. 

The  following  deed  has  already  been  referred  to  as 
No.  5,  on  p.  88,  but  so  imperfectly,  that,  being  one  of 
no  little  curiosity  and  importance,  it  is  here  printed 
nearly  in  full. 

(46.)  A.D.  1600.— Indenture  made  30  October,  A'o  42  Eliz., 
between  Peter  Semyne  -of  London,  Marchaunt  Framiger,  and 
Henrye  Williams2  of  Cowhitlande  [Cochwillan],  Co.  Caernarvon, 
Gent.,  and  Edwarde  Gray3  of  Buyldwas,Co.  Salopp,Esquier,Wit- 
nesseth  that  whereas  Henry  Williams  and  Edw.  Gray,  by  one 
Statute  or  Recognizance  of  the  nature  of  a  Statute  Staple, 

1  The   Commission,   in    difficult  but  beautiful   writing,   does   not 
specify  the  cause  for  the  arrest.     Perhaps  it  was  for  debt. 

2  See  the  pedigree  in  Mont,  Coll..,  xi,  387. 

3  Edward  Grey  lived  at  Build  was  Abbey,    conferred  by  Hen.  VI 11 
on  his  father,  Edward  Grey,  the  last  Lord  Powys,  who  died  in  1552, 
son  of  John  Grey,  Lord  Powys,  who  died  1594,  aged  only  nineteen,  son 
of  the  John  Grey,  Lord  Powys,  who,  in  1486,  conferred  the  charter  on 
Owen  ap  Madoc  ap  leuan  ab  Maredydd,  published  in  M.  C.,  vol.  xxiii, 
p.  392.     (This  Owen  would  seem  to  have  been  descended  from  Madoc 
ab    Meredydd  ab  Bleddyn  ab  Cynvyn,  Princes  of  Powys,  and  his 
grandfather  therefore  is   not   to  be  confounded  with  the    leuan  ap 
Meredydd  of  the  Ystym  Colwyn  pedigree.)     In  default  of  legitimate 
issue,   Edward  Grey  of  Build  was,  the  eldest  of  six  natural  sons,  by 
Jane,  daughter  of  Sir  Lewis  Orwell,  Knt.,  succeeded  by  his  father's 
will   to  the   Barony  and  Lordship  of  Powys,   with  the   Castle   and 
Manor  of  Poole,  which,  in  1587,  he  sold  to  Sir  Edward  Herbert,  second 
son  of  William,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  son  of  Richard   Ddu,  a  natural 
son  of  Sir  William  Thomas  of  Raglan.     Both  he  and  his  mother  Jane, 
who  married  secondly  John,  son  of  Sir  Richard  Herbert  of  Coldbrooke, 
assumed,  or  enjoyed  by  courtesy,  the  style  of  Lord  and  Lady  Powys. 
Edward  Grey  was  of  age  in  1568,  and  was  living  in  1597,  having 
married  Cresagon,  dau.  of  John  Gifford  of  Weston-under-Edge,  co. 
Gloucester,   by  Elizabeth,   dau.   of  Sir   George   Throgmorton,   Knt. 
("Feudal  Barons  of  Powys",  Mont.   Coll.,  i,  344  seq.9   and   ex  inf. 
H.  F.  J.  Vaughan,  Esq.     See  also  Transactions  of  Shropshire  Arch. 
8oc.,  vi,  54.) 


274  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

provided  for  the  most  speedy  recovery  of  debt,  dated  25th 
Oct.,  taken  before  the  Rt.  Hon.  SV  Edmonde  Anderson,  Kt., 
I/d  Cheif  Justice  of  the  Co'en  Pleas  at  Westm'r,  stand 
jointly  bound  to  Peter  Semyne  in  £1,200,  said  Peter  Semyne 
is  contented  to  grant  that  if  Henry  Williams  &  Edward  Gray 
paye  to  Peter  Semyne,  at  the  house  of  John  Fearne  of 
London,  Marchaunt,  in  Mark  Lane,  £500,  within  one  month 
after  the  first  arrival  of  Thomas  Morris  of  London,  Gent., 
from  the  Cittie  of  Constantinople,  in  Grecia,  under  the  dominion 
of  the  great  Turk,  into  England,  and  notice  given  of  his 
retorne.  Att  or  w'th'n  the  now  Shoppe  of  Walter  Lewes 
Stevens,  in  Tower  Strete,  Thomas  Morris  bringing  a  Certifi- 
cate of  his  being  there,  that  then  the  recognizance  or  Statute 
Staple  be  void,  but  otherwise  to  hold  good.  Witnessed  by 
the  parties.  Signed,  with  his  original  signature  in  the  margin, 
by  Henry  Williams.1 

(47.)  A.D.  1603. — Settlement  of  £300,  prior  to  a  marriage 
between  Symon  Williams,  son  of  Arthur  Williams,  M.A.,  of 
Meillionydd,  Rector  of  the  parish  church  of  Llaneingian,  and 
Mary  Rowland,  daughter  of  Hugh  Rowland  of  Mellteyrn, 
gentleman.  Parties,  Robert  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid,2  and  Owen 
Wynne  of  Bodgadley.  Dated  20  July,  1st  James  I. 

(48.)  Indenture,  dated  7th  Feb.  [year  not  given],  between 
Arthur  Williams  of  Meillionydd,  Esq.,  and  Robert  Owen  of 
Ystym  Cegid,  and  Owen  Wynne  of  Bodgadley,  gent.,  in  reign 
of  James  XI  (sic)  and  Mary  William  (sic),  widow,  late  wife  of 
Simond  (sic)  Williams  of  Meillionydd,  deceased,  recites  deed 
of  20  January  last,  and  names  lands  in  Beddgelert,  Tydweiliog, 
Cwmdyliwr,  Bodrydd,  Aberdaron,  Morva,  and  Tre'r  Rhiwe 
[or  desauhyre  ?]. 

Mary  was  sole  child  and  heiress  of  Hugh  Rowlands 
of  Mellteyrn,  and  carried  the  hereditary  property  to 
her  husband,  Symon,  son  of  Arthur  Williams  of  Meill- 
ionydd, fourth  son  (by  his  second  wife,  Barbara  Lumley) 

1  This  is  the  same  as  No.  5,  p.  88,  which,  for  its  curiosity,  is  here 
given  more  fully.     Henry  Williams  must  be  the  son  of  William,  and 
father  of  Lumley  Williams.     It  would  be  interesting  to  know  who 
was  Thomas  Morris,  arid  why  ,£700  of  debt  should  have  been  forgiven 
to  the  debtors  contingently  on   his  arrival  from  "  the  dominion  of 
the  Great  Turk",  or  what  means  they  may  have  had  whereby  to  pro- 
mote or  accelerate  the  recovery  of  so  valuable  a  life. 

2  Originally  called  Cevn  y  Van.     See  Hist.  Gwydir  Fam.,  pp.36, 
78,  ed.  1874. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  275 

of  William  Wy nn  ab  William  of  Cochwillan,  ab  Gruffydd 
ab  Robyn,  by  his  wife  Dorothy,  dau.  of  Sir  William 
Griffith  of  Penrhyn,  Chamberlain  of  Gwynedd.  Symon 
had  a  son,  Arthur  Williams  of  Meillionydd,  who  married 
Ann,  dau.  and  co-heir  of  Robert  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid, 
by  his  wife  Lowry,  dau.  of  William  Glynne  of  Plas 
Newydd  in  Llandwrog  parish.  Arthur's  second  son, 
Edward  Williams  of  Meillionydd,  succeeded  his  brother 
John,  o.s.p.,&nd  married  Susannah,  dau.  of  Thomas  Wynn 
of  Boduon,  Esq.  (ancestor  of  Lord  Newborough),  by  his 
wife  Susannah,  dau.  of  Sir  Thomas  Dayrell,  son  of 
Francis  Dayrell  of  Shudy  Carnp  Park,  co.  Cambridge, 
second  son  of  Paul  Dayrell  of  Lillington  Dayrell,  co. 
Bucks,  by  his  wife  Barbara,  dau.  of  Anthony  Powell, 
Esq.,  of  the  co.  of  Gloucester.1  By  this  lady  Edward 
Williams  had  a  son,  Arthur  Williams,  who  married,  in 
1703-4,  Meriel,  dau.  and  heir  of  Lumley  Williams  of 
Ystym  Colwyn,  Esq.,  b.  1684,  d.  1725.  They  had  issue 
a  dau.,  Meriel,  wife  of  Robert  Williams  of  Erbistock, 
M.P.  for  Montgomeryshire,  brother  to  Sir  Watkin  W. 
Wynn  of  Wynnstay,  the  first  Baronet,  and  son  of  Sir 
William  Williams  of  Llanvorda  (see  Hist.  Gwydir 
Family,  Table  IV,  p.  104,  2nd  ed.),  two  sons  named 
Lumley,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  a  third  son,  Edward 
Williames,  as  the  name  was  now  spelt,  who  married, 
first,  Anne,  dau.  of  Roderick  Lloyd  of  Penmachno  and 
Lincoln's  Inn,  Barrister-at-law.  She  died  soon  after 
the  birth  of  her  only  child,  Anne,  who  died  March  4th, 
1791,  having  married  Sir  Robert  Howel  Vaughan, 
Bart.,  of  Hengwrt  and  Nannau,  to  whom  she  carried 
the  estate.  Sir  Robert  died  in  1792,  aged  69.  (See 
also  Mont.  Coll.,  xi,  308-9.)  This  account  will  serve 
to  explain  the  curious  fragment  (No.  48,  p.  278)  found 
in  an  old  MS.  volume  containing  a  rent-roll  of  Ystym 
Colwyn  estates  in  Salop  and  Montgomery.  It  has  been 
of  material  assistance  in  the  construction  of  the  fol- 
lowing pedigree, 

1  Burke* 8  Peerage  and  Commoners,  ed.  1865. 


276 


ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 


PEDIGREE   OF   ARTHUR   WILLIAMS    OF    MEILLIONYDD. 


William  Wyn  ab  William  ab  Gruffydd 
ab  Robyn  of  Cvvchwillan,  ab  Gruff- 
ydd ab  Gwilym  ab  Gruffydd  ab 
Heilyn  ab  Sir  Tudor  ab  Ednyved 
Vychan. 


=Dorothy,  d.  of  Sir  William  Griffith, 
Kt.,  Chamberlain  of  North  Wales, 
by  his  wife  Alice,  d.  of  Sir  William 
Troutbeek,  Kt. 


1        1                                     i 

William  =  Agnes,  dau.  of  John  Wynn  ab=j 
Williams         Meredydd  of  Gwydir.    (So  the 
of  Coch-         genealogists  ;   but  the   state- 
willan.          nient  seems  to  require  confir- 
mation.) 

2 
^Barbara,  d.  of  George,  son 
of    John,    Lord    Lumley, 
executed  by  Henry  VIII 
for  his  share  in  the  "  Pil- 
grimage of  Grace". 

Henry  Williams  of  Cochwillan,  Esq.,=j=Jane,  d.  and  heir  of  Thomas  Salis- 
sold  most  of  his  estate.                            bury  of  Denbigh,  Esq. 

Lumley  Williams  of  Ystym= 
Colwyn,    Esq.;    ob.    20th 
June  1638. 

rDorothy,  d.  and  heir  of  Rhys  ab  Thomas  ab 
Davydd  ab  Ithel   of  Ystyni    Colwyn  —  to 
Idnerth  Benvras. 

|  1                                                2                      |  3 
John  Wil-  =  Meriel,  d.  of    Rees  Wil-      Lumley  = 
liams,              Richard            Hams,        Williams 
ob.  s.  p.,          Powell  of         06.  s.  p.      of  Cyffin. 
1706.            Worthen, 
Esq. 

f=  Ann,  d.  and      1  .  Jane, 
co-heir  of  T.      2.  Bar- 
Owen  of               bara. 
Bodtalog.        3.  Eliza- 
beth. 
4.   Doro- 
thy. 

|  1                                                 |  2 
Lumley  ^Elizabeth,  d.       Rees  of- 
Williains.         of  Edw.            Rhyd  y 
Bradeley.             Gro. 

3                        |4 
P          John=....          Matthew.=.... 

Meriel,  =  Arthur  Williams  of 
d.  and        Meillionydd,  Esq. 
heir. 


I 

Lumley  Williams,  named  in  will  of  his 
grandfather  as  his  "grandchild,  son  to 
my  2nd  son,  Rees  Williams  of  Rhyd  y 
Gro  in  par.  of  Llanfaire,  co.  Montg'y." 


Arthur  William s=j= Ann,  d.  of  John  Lewis  of  Y  Chwaen  Wen,  co.  Anglesey, 
of  Meillionydd.    I    and  relict  of  Owen  ab  John  Wyn  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid. 


Simon=j=Mary,  d.  and  heir  of  Hugh  Rowlands 

Wil-  (Bach)  of  Mellteyrn,  Esq.,  ab  Edward 

liams         ab  Rowland  ab  Robert  ab  Rhys  ab 

of  Howel  ab  leuan  Vychan,  by  his  wife 

Meilli-         Margaret,  heiress  of  Mellteyrn  (Aber- 

onycld.         dunant  MS. ),  d.  and  heir  of  Mr.  Hugh 

Trygarn. 


|  1 
Ellen. 


I  2 
Blanche. 


Mary. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHEKE. 


277 


Arthur  Williams: 
of  Meillionydd. 


Ann,  d.  of  Robert  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid  ab  Owen  ab 
John-  Wyn  ab  Owen  ab  John  ab  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid, 
second  son  of  John  ab  Maredydd  of  Ystym  Cegid  and 
Rhiwaedog,  by  his  wife  Lowry,  d.  of  William  Glynne 
of  Plus  Newydd.  (H.  P.  V.,  vi,  228.) 


E  iward  Williams  of  Meillionydd,=f=Susannah,  d.  of  Thomas  Wynn  of  Bod- 


succeeded  his  elder  brother  John, 
High  Sheriff  in  1660  and  1661. 
Other  issue,  Arthur,  Robert, 
Owen  and  William  (twins),  all 
s.  p. 


vean  (H.  P.  V.,  vi,  35),  by  his  wife 
Susannah,  d.  of  Sir  Francis  Dayrell, 
Kt.,  ab  John  Wynn,  by  his  wife 
Eleanor,  d.  of  Edward  Rowlands  of 
Mellteyrn.  (Pedigree,  p.  279.) 


Arthur  Williams,  06. -1723  =j=Meriel,d.  and  heir  of  Lumley  Williams  of  Ystym 

Colwyn,  06.  1725.    (Mont.  Coll.,xi,  387  et  seq  ) 


1 

| 

Luraley, 

Lumley, 

Meriel,   ux.  Robert   Williams,   Esq.,    of  Erbistock, 

b.  1704  ; 

b.  1707, 

M.P.  for  Montgomeryshire,  brother  to  Sir  W.  W. 

ob. 

ob.  s.  p. 

Wynn  of  Wynnstay,  Bart.,  second  son  of  Sir  Wil- 

infans. 

liam  Williams  of  Llanvorda,  s.  p. 

Edward    Williames=f  1  Anne,  d.  of  Roderick  Lloyd  =  2  The  Lady  Charlotte  Her- 


of  Ystym  Colwyn, 
Esq.,  b.  3rd  Oct. 
1708,  married  at 

Westminster 

Abbey  14th  May 

1730. 


of  Lincoln's  Inn,  Esq. 
Barrister  -  at  -  Law,  etc. 
She  died  shortly  after 
the  death  of  her  only 
child. 


bert,  d.  of  William,  1st 
Duke  of  Powis,  and  re- 
lict of  Edward  Maurice 
of  Lloran,  co.  Denbigh, 
Esq.,  married  to  Edward 
Williames  2nd  Novem- 
ber 1732. 


Anne,1  only  child ; 
March  1791 


06.  4th^j=Sir  Robert  Howel  Vaughan  of  Hengwrt  and 
Nannau,  Bart. ;  06.  13th  October  1792,  aged 
68. 


1  1 

Sir   Robert   Wil-= 
liames  Vaughan 
of  Nannau  and 
Ystym  Colwyn, 
Bart.  ;  b.  17(58, 
ob.  1843. 

pAnna  Maria,  d.  of 
Sir  Roger  Mostyn 
of  Mostyn,  Bart.; 
06.  1858. 

1  2 
Edw.  Williames 
Vaughan  Sales- 
bury  of  Rug  ; 
06.  ccelebs,  1807. 

1  3 
Griffith  Howel 
Vaughan  of 
Hengwrt  and 
Rug,  Esq.  ; 
ob.  ccelebs,  19th 
January  1848. 

Sir  Robert  Williames  Vaughan  of  Nannau,  =  Frances  Margaret,  eldest  d.  of 
Rug,  etc. ;  b.  1803.  Sold  Ystym  Colwyn  Edward  Lloyd  of  Berth  and 
to  James  France  France,  Esq.;  ob.  s.  p.,  Rhagatt,  Esq.;  ob.  16th  Sept. 
29th  April  1859.  1858. 

1  The  date  of  the  marriage  of  Anne  Williames  to  Robert  Howel 
Vaughan,  Esq.,  created  a  baronet  in  1791,  is  not  stated  in  the 
pedigree  above  quoted,  but  from  this  deed  it  appears  that  it  took 
place  at  some  date  between  2 1st  April  1764,  and  30th  Nov.  1768, 
and  that  she  then  resided  at  Erbistock. 

VOL.  XXV.  TJ 


278  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

48.  Do  [qu.  Arthur,  son  of  Edward  Williams,  here  referred 
to  as  already  mentioned  above  in  part  of  MS.  now  lost]  four 
[great?]  grandmothers  were: — Edward  Williams,  son  of  Ann 
Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid,  whose  mother  was  Lowry  Glynne  of 
Plas  Newydd  ;  Edward,  son  of  W.  (sic),  whose  mother  was 
Mary,  sole  dau.  and  heiress  of  Hugh  Rowland  of  Mellteyrn, 
Susannah  Williams,  dau.  of  Thomas  Wynn  of  Bodvean,  whose 
mother  was  Ellen  Edward  [i.e.,  dau.  of  Edward  Rowlands]  of 
Mellteyrn.  His  lady  was  dau.  of  Sir  Thomas  Dorrell  [Dayrell, 
pronounced  Dorrell],  Bart.,  whose  mother  was  ye  Lady 
Dorrell,  afterwards  Lady  Hind.  [The  last  fact  is  omitted  by 
Burke.] 

So  that  the  said  Arthur  Williams,  son  of  the  said  Edward's 
four  Great  Grandmothers  were,  By  his  said  Father,  Lowry 
Glynne  and  Mary  Rowland;  By  his  said  Mother,  the  Lady 
Hind  and  Elin  Edwards  (i.e.,  dau.  of  Edward  Rowlands). 

Robert  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid  had,  by  his  wife 
Lowry,  daughter  of  Richard  Glynne,  Esq.,  of  Plas 
Newydd,  in  the  parish  of  Llandwrog,  in  Nantle,  three 
daughters,  coheiresses.  1.  Catharine,  the  eldest,  by 
her  marriage  with  .Robert  Wynne  of  Glyn  and  Sylvaen, 
in  1625,  carried  Ystym  Cegid  to  the  Wynnes  of  Glyn1 ; 
she  died  in  1675.  2.  Anne,  married  in  1644  to 
Arthur  Williams  of  Meillionydd,  Esq.,  son  of  Simon 
Williams,  by  his  wife  Mary,  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Hugh  Rowlands  of  Mellteyrn,  Esq.,  descended,  through 
Sir  Hugh  Trygarn,2  a  younger  brother  of  Richard 
Trygarn  Hem,  ancestor  of  the  Try  gar  ns  of  Trygarn  in 
Lleyn,  from  Llywarch  Holbwrch,g  and,  through  the 
marriage  of  Sir  Hugh's  daughter  and  heiress,  Margaret 
Trygarn,  with  Rhys  ab  Howel  ab  leuan  Vychan  ab 
leuan  ab  Gruffydd  of  Llanuwehllyn,  ab  Madoc  ab 
lorwerth,  also  from  Rhirid  Ylaidd.4  The  Trygarn 
estate  passed,  by  the  marriage  of  Mary,  the  heiress,  to 
the  family  of  Holland  of  Berw,  and  by  that  of  her 
daughter  by  the  last  male  representative  of  that  ancient 
house,  to  the  family  of  Trygarn  Griffith  of  Carreglwyd, 
also  in  Anglesey. 

1  H.  P.  V.,  vi,  159.  2  Harl.  1969. 

3  Tai  Croesion  MS.  4  //.  P.  V.,  vi,  122. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE. 


279 


EOWLANDS   OF   MELLTEYEN. 
(Harl  2288.) 

Howel  ab  leuan  Vychan  ab  Gruffydd  ab  leuan  ab  Gruffydd  ab  leuan  ab=p 
Madoc  ab  Ehirid  Vlaidd.  I 


Ehys  ab=j=  Margaret,  d.  of  Sir  Hugh  Trygarn,  descended  from   Llowarch 
Howel.    I  Holbwrch. 


Eobert  ab=f=Elen,  d.  of  Robert  Griffith  of  Plas  Newydd  in  Porthaml,  Angle- 
Ehys.      I      sey,  son  of  William  Vychan  of  Penrhyn,  co.  Caern.,  Chamber- 
lain of  Gwynedd. 

Eowland  ab^Elizabeth,  d.  of  Gruffydd  ab  Robert  Vychan  (of  Cochwillan  ?). 
Robert. 


1  1 

Henry  Eowland, 
Protestant 
Bishop  of 
Bangor;  ob.  6th 
July  1616. 

1  2 
Edward  =5 
Eowland. 

-Margaret,  d. 
of  John 
Griffith  of 
Cevn 
Amwlch, 
Esq. 

1  1 
Marsli,  ux.  Dav- 
ydd  ab  Ehys  of 
Neugwl  in 
Lleyn. 

12 
...,adau.,ux. 
Morris  ab 
Gruffydd  ab 
leuan. 

Hugh=f=Annes,  d.  of     Harry=|=...,  d.  to 


Eow- 
land. 


Thomas 
Madryn  of 

Madryn 
Uchaf.  He 

lived  at 
Melldeyrn. 


Eow- 
land. 


an 

English- 
woman. 


Ellen  Eowland,  ux.  Thomas  Wynn 
of  Bodeon,  and  mother  of  Su- 
sannah, ux.  Edward  Williams  of 
Meillionydd,  son  of  Arthur  Wil- 
liams and  Anne  Owen,  d.  and 
co-heir  of  Eobert  Owen  of  Ystym 
Cegid,  by  his  wife  Lowry,  d.  of 
William  Glynne  of  Plas  Newydd. 


Mary  Eow-=f  Simon  Williams  of     Harry  Eow- 
land, d.     I    Meillionydd,  son  land. 

and         I          of  Arthur 
heiress.    V         Williams. 


=  Jane,  d.  of  Edmund  Griffith, 

Protestant  Bishop  of 

Bangor. 


Cynwric  (or  Cadwgan,  as  Harl.  1969)  Trygarn  ab  Ithel  Llwyd  ab  Llywarch= 
Vychan  ab  Llywarch  Goch  ab  Llywarch  Holbwrch. 


Cynwric  Vychan  .=f= 


1 

Llywelyn  ab=p 
Cynwric      j 
Vychan.     V 

1 
Richard  Trygarn  Hen,  ancestor=p 
of  the  Trygarns  of  Trygarn,  | 
co.  Caern.,  and  of  Griffith  ofV 
Carreg  Lwyd  in  Anglesey. 

Sir  Hugh  Trygarn, 
Parson  of...  (?). 

.u  2 


280 


ANCIENT  DEEDS  RELATING  TO 


a| 


Margaret,  d.  and  heir=pRhys  ab  Howel  ab  leuan  Vychan  ab  Gruffydd  ab 
of  Sir  Hugh  Trygarn.  leuan  ab  Madoc  ab  Jorwerth  ab  Ririd  Vlaidd. 

(Harl.  1969,  p.  577.) 


Rob 


ert.=f  Ellen,  d.  of  Robert  Griffith  of  Plas  Newydd  in  Porthatnl  in  Angle- 
sey, son  of  Sir  William  Griffith  of  Penrhyn.  (Hist.  Pow.  Fad., 
vi,  208.) 


Rowland.  =f  Elizabeth,  d.  of  Gruffydd  ab  Robert  Vychan. 


.    |2  j  1 
Edward.  =pMargaret,  d.  of  John  Henry  Row- 
Griffith  of  Cevn  lands,  Bp.  of 
Ainwlch.  Bangor. 


3  dans.,  all  married,  one  of 

whom,  Ellen,  was  ux. 

Richard  Trygarn  (06.  1604) 

of  Trygarn  ab  Thomas. 


Hugh  Rowlands.=j=Annes,  d.  of  Thomas  Madryn  of 
Madryn  Uchaf. 


Two  other  sons. 


Mary,=j=Symon  Williams  of  Meillionydd,  son  of  Arthur  Williams,  fourth  son 
d.  and  of  William  Wynn  ab  William  of  Cochwillan,  ab  William  ab  Gruff- 
heir,  ydd  ab  Robyn,  by  his  wife  Dorothy,  d.  of  Sir  William  Griffith, 

Knt.,  of  Penrhyn,  son  of  William  Vychan,  both  Chamberlains  of 

North  Wales, 

Arthur  Williams=j=Ann,  d.  of  Robert  Owen  of  Ystym  Cegid  (see  Hist.  Pow. 


of  Meillionydd. 


Fad.,  vi,  pp.  228,  229),  by  his  wife  Lowry,  d.  of  William 
Glynne  of  Plas  Newydd  in  Nantlle. 


John  Williams,  =  Ellen,  d.  of      Arthur  Wil- 
Esq.,  Sheriff,          Edward         liams,  M.A., 
co.  Caern.,  1660       Williams  s.  p. 

and  1661 ;  of  Wig, 

06.  s.  p.  Esq. 


Robert  Williams,  s.  p. 
Owen  Williams       )  twins, 
William  Williams  j    s.  p. 


Edward  Williams  of=pSusannah,  d.  of  Thomas  WTynne  of  Boduon,1  Esq. 
Meillionydd.        V 


1  The  name  of  this  place  is  variously  spelt  Bodeon,  Boduon,  and 
Bodvean. 


MEIFOD    AND   ELSEWHERE. 


281 


GLYNNES  OF  GLYNN  LL1VON,  LLEIAR,  AND    PLAS 
NEWYDD. 

(Tai  Croesion  MS.,  and  Lewis  Dwnn,  ii,  149.    See  also  Hist.  Poiv.  Vad.,  v,  485, 
and  Williauis's  Eminent  Welshmen. ) 

Tudor  Goch  ab  Goronwy  ab  Einion  ab  leuan  ab  lorwerth  Goch  ab: 
Ystrwyth  ab  Ednowain  ab  Gwrydr  ab  Dyvnant  ab  Iddon  ab  Iddig  ab 
Llywarch  ab  Lleon  ab  Cilmin  Droed  Du,  Chief  of  one  of  the  15  Noble 
Tribes  of  Gwynedd. 


Hwlkin  Llwyd=j=Nest,  dau.  of  Cynan   (or   Cynwric)  ab  Meredydd   Du  of 


of  Glynllivon, 

Esq. 


Porthaml,   ab  "Gronow    ab    Maredydd   ab    lorwerth   ab 
Llowarch  ab  Bran,  Chief  of  one  of  the  15  Tribes. 


Maredydd,=j=Gwenhwyvar,  dau.  of  Llewelyn  ab  Gruffydd  ab  Ednyved  ab 
LL.D.       |  Gruffydd. 


Ellen,  d.  of  Wil-=pl  Robert=p2  Jane,d.  of  Sir  John  Pulestpn=p2  Sir  William 


liam  Bulkeley 

ab  Mar- 

Hen (H.  P.   V.,  ii,  138 

;  iv, 

Griffith  of 

of  Beaumaris. 

edydd. 

" 

342). 

Penrhyn. 

iam   Glynne, 

1.  Edmund  Llwyd,  ancestor  of=f=Annes,  d.  of  William 

Will 

Glynnes  of  Glynllivon  and 
Hawarden  Castle,  and 

I     ab  Grutfydd  ab  Robyn 
of  Cochwillan. 

Sergeant-at- 
Arms  to  Hen. 

Wynns  of  Bodeon. 

V 

VIII.  ancestor 

2.  Morris  Glynne, 

LL.D. 

of  Glynnes  of 
Lleiar  in  Clynog, 

3.  William  Glynne,  =  Grace,  d.  of  Thomas  ab  Richard 

co.  Caern. 

LL.D. 

abHowelofMostyn.  (H.P.  V., 

iv,  150.) 

4.  Richard  Glynne  of  Plas  Newydd,  co.  Caern. 

page.) 

5.  John  Glynne. 


(Next 


Sir  Rhys  Griffith=f=Catharine,  d.  of    William   Gruffydd  of=j=Margaret,  d.   of 


of  Penrhyn. 


Pyers  Mostyn 
of  Talacre. 


Caernarvon,  Esq. ;  ob. 

Nov.  30,  1587,  whose 

altar-tomb,  of  white 

marble,  is  in  Llan- 

beblig  Church. 


John  Wynn  ab 

Maredydd  of 

Gwydir. 


Pyers  Griffith  of  Peurhyn,  sold  the  estate.  =        John  Griffith  of  Caernarvon. 


282 


ANCIENT   DEEDS    RELATING    TO 


GLYNNES  OF  PLAS  NEWYDD  IN  LLANDWEOG. 

Richard  Glynne  of  Plas  Newydd,==f=Catharine,  d.  of  William  ab  Jenkin  ab 
co.  Caernarvon;  b.  24th  June  I  lorwerth  ab  Einion  ab  Llewelyn  ab 
1520.  Party  to  a  bond  24th  May  |  Cynwric  ab  Osborn  Wyddel  (Fitz- 
1581.  gerald)  of  Cors  y  Gedol. 


[  i                                 |  2 
William  Glynne,     Thorn  as  =  Jane,  d.  of  John  Griffith  of  Cevn  Amwlch, 
06.  s.p.              Glynne.         Esq.,  by  his  wife  Jane,  d.  of  Owen  ab 
Robert    Owen    of    Bodavon,   Esq.,    and 
relict   of    Richard  ab    Owen    Tudor    of 
Penmynydd,  co.  Anglesey,  Esq.  ("Cevn 
Amwlch  Pedigree"  in  Tai  Croesion  MS.) 

13 

Richard  Glynne= 
of  Bryn  y  Gwyd- 
ion,  co.  Caern. 
Will  proved 
1642. 

|4 
=    Simon. 

|5                |  1                                              |  2 
Harri.         Lowry,  ux.  Robert  Owen     Jane,  ux. 
of  Ystym  Cegid,  Esq.  j       Rhys  ab 
06.  1626.     Living  a        Robert  ab 
widow  in  1643;  06.        Rhys  Wyn 
1655,  leaving  three               of 
daus.,  co-heiresses.         Graianog. 
(Supra,  pp.  275-6.) 

William  Glynne,  Sheriff  in  1634.=Mary,  d.  and  heir  of  Evan  ...  of  Eleirnion, 

co.  Caernarvon. 

(49.)  Conveyance,  dated  29  May,  4  James  I  (1607)  in  Eng- 
land, and  39  in  Scotland,  in  Latin,  by  Edward  Hanmer  of 
Kyffin,  Co.  Montg'y,  and  his  son  and  heir  apparent,  Thomas 
Hanmer,  to  Edward  Thornes  of  Melverley,  and  Eanulph 
Hanmer  of  Maysbroock,  to  use  of  Edward  Hanmer  and  Ellen 
his  wife,  then  to  use  of  Thomas  Hanmer  and  his  heirs,  and 
Gwenn  his  wife.  Signed  by  David  and  Thomas  Hanmer.1 
Witnessed  by  Thomas  Hunt,  Edward  Tanat,  Robert  Lloyd 
Edward  Tanat,  John  Davies,  and  others.  On  seal  a  fleur-de-lys. 

(50.)  A.D.  1655.— Will  of  Owen  Griffith  of  Aberdaron,2  within 

1  David,   Edward,  and  Thomas  Hanmer  were  the  three  sons  of 
Eandolph  Hanmer  of  Penley,  in  Flintshire  ;  descended,   as  well  as 
the  Hanmers  of  Hanmer,  Halghton,  Bettisfield,  and  Fenns,  from  Sir 
John  de  Hanmer,  Knt.,  who  assumed  this  name  as  a  surname  temp. 
Edward  I.     The  Welsh  Genealogies  mention  Hanmers  "o'r  Owredd", 
the  meaning  of  which   I   am   at  a  loss  to   explain.      For  a  short 
summary  of  their  history  see  Mont.  Coll.,  iii,  p.  379  'seq.,  and  "  Llyfr 
Silin"  in  Arch.  Camb.,  vi,  149  seq.,  5th  Ser. 

2  This  family  was  a  branch  from  that  of  Griffith  of  Cevn  Amwlch, 
from  Trahaiarn  Goch  of  Lleyn,  perhaps  identical  with  that  usually 
described  as  of  Penllech.     There  is  at  Aberdaron  a  very  ancient 
mansion,  perhaps  originally  occupied  by  the  secular  canons,  parties 
to  a  composition  with  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Enlli  (Bardsey)  in 
1252.     (tiecord  of  Caernarvon,  fol.  157b.) 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  283 

C.omote  of  Cytnytmaen.  Bequeaths  sundry  legacies  to  different 
persons,  and  to  his  nephew,  Richard  ap  William  Griffith,  his 
heir  apparent,  Tythin  Rhydynfry,  and  Tythin  Griffith  ap 
David.  And  residue  to  his  other  nephews,  Rowland  Thomas, 
and  William  ap  Richard  Griffith,  his  joint  executors.  Probate 
attached,  signed  by  Geo.  Potts  for  R.  Stanley.  It  begins : 
"  Oliver,  Lord  Protector  of  ye  Comonwealth  of  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland,  and  ye  dominions  thereunto  belonging." 
(51.)  Bond,  dated  in  1662,  for  £180,  by  Moricen  David  of 
Ystym  Colwyn,  Co.  Montg'y,  to  John  Williams  of  Coed 
Cowryd,  Esq.  Witnessed  by  Ruhun  [qu.  Rhun]  Williames, 
Robert  Parry,  —  ~  pline,  [qu.  Catherine]  Lloyd,  David 

Pryce,  John  Davies.1 

(52.)  A.D.  1667.— A  Deed  of  Obligation  by  John  David  John 
of  Cevn  Llyffno,2  Co.  Montg'y,  and  Walter  ap  John,  his  son  and 
heir. 

(53.)  The  Will  of  Lumley  Williams,  dated  llth  February, 
1700,  the  Elder,  of  Kyffin,  in  the  parish  of  Llangadfan  and 
County  of  Montgomery,  Esq.,  names  lands,  or  farms,  called 
Mayne,  in  the  township  of  Mayne,  and  parish  of  Myvod,  "  to 
my  Eldest  son  Lumley  Williams  of  Ystym  Colwyn,  and  his 
heirs  male.  Bequeaths  an  Annuity  of  £20  to  his  grandchild 
Lumley  Williams,  "  son  to  my  second  son  Rees  Williams  of 
Rhyd  y  Gro,  in  the  parish  of  Llaufaire,  Co.  Montg'y,  and 
his  heirs,  and  in  default  to  my  third  son,  John  Williams/' 
then  in  default  to  his  fourth  son,  Matthew  Williams,  and  in 
default  to  his  eldest  son,  Lumley,  and  in  default  of  ail  £500 
to  his  said  grandchild  Lumley.  Mentions  an  estate  in  or 
about  the  town  of  Denbigh.  Again,  in  default,  the  farm  of 
Mayne3  to  go  to  Rees  Williams  of  Cyffin,  to  his  wife,  subject 
to  the  payment  of  £60  to  his  third  son,  John  Williams,  and 

1  I    have   failed   to    identify   any  of  these   names,   unless   John 
Williams  be  the  John  Williams  of  Ystym  Colwyn,  son  of  Lumley 
Williams,  and  married  to  Meriel,  dau.  of  Richard  Powell  of  Worthen. 
Robert  Parry  may  have  been  of   "  Mayne"  (Mont.    Coll.,  xi,  387). 
Possibly  the  name  of  Cowryd  ab  Cadvan,  chief  of  one  of  the  Fifteen 
Tribes,  descended  from  the  Princes  of  Powys,  may  be  preserved  in 
"  Coed  Cowryd",  if  still  in  existence. 

2  This  place  occurs  as  No.  5  in  the  "Distribution  of  Seats".     The 
right   name  appears   to  be  Cefn   Llyfnog.     (See  "Notes   by  Arch- 
deacon Thomas",  infra.) 

J  The  farm  of  Main,  then,  was  at  this  time  a  part  of  the  Ystym 
Colwyn  estate,  and  must,  therefore,  have  been  previously  alienated 
from  its  original  owners,  descended  from  Llewelyn  Voelgrwn.  (See 
"Notes  on  Distribution  of  Seats",  No.  17,  infra.) 


284         ANCIENT  DEEDS  RELATING  TO 

Cyffin  to  his  fourth  son,  Matthew,  after  her  decease,  subject 
to  a  legacy  to  his  third  son,  John.  Proved  5th  Jan.  1751,  by 
Dr.  Robert  Wynne,  D.D.  (of  Garthewin,  Chancellor  of  St. 
Asaph),  for  Edward,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph.  Signed  by  Thomas 
Lloyd,  Reg'r  [of  Cevn],  Esq.,  John  Edwards,  Surrogate. 

(54.)  Deed  of  Release,  1701,  by  Arthur  Williams  of  Meilli- 
onydd,  Co.  Caern.,  Esq.,  and  John  Vaughan  of  Aberkin,1  gent., 
in  same  co.,  in  which  are  mentioned  these  places:  Clogwrn  y 
Gwin  in  Beddgelert,  Aberdaron,  Nant  y  None,  Llanvachrys 
(Llanvachreth  ?),  Penrhyn,  Slevin  (qu.  Nevin),  Methlan,  Rhiw 
Dau  Glawdd,  Gweetbrian ;  and  these  persons  :  Catharine 
Bodwrda,  Jane  Parry,  widow,  Maurice  Trygarn,  Sir  Griffith 
Jenkin,  Susanna  Williams.  Seal,  in  pale  six  fleurs-de-lys,  3 
and  3.  Witnesses,  Thomas  Wynne,  Griffith  Williams.  Signed 
by  John  Vaughan  in  a  curious  hand. 

(55.)  Account  of  money  paid  by  Mrs.  Vaughan,  widow  of 
Griffith  Vaughan,  Esq.,  4th  son  of  Robert  Vaughan,  the 
antiquary,  and  Inventory  of  his  goods  enclosed  therein,  by 
direction  of  his  Trustees.  Her  name  was  Catharine,  d.  of 
John  ab  John  ab  Robert  of  Glyn  Maiden  (or  Maelda).  She 
lived  at  Dol  y  Melynllyn,  Co.  Mer'th,  after  the  death  of  her 
husband.  It  contains  an  item  for  3  wild  goats  at  3s.  od. 
apiece,  106'.  6d.,  and  is  addressed  to  Mr.  Vaughan  of  Erbistock. 
Griffith  Vaughan  was  a  son  of  the  Antiquary  of  Hengwrfc, 
Robert  Vaughan,  and  was  believed  by  the  late  W.  W.  E. 

1  The  Vaughans  of  Abercyn  were  descended  from  Rhys  of 
Chwilog  and  Abercyn,  son  of  Rhys  ab  leuan  ab  Einion  ab  Gruffydd  of 
Bron  y  Voel  in  Ystymllyn  and  Chwilog,  ab  GrufFydd  ab  Maredydd  ab 
Kinion  ab  Gwgan  ab  Merwydd  Goch  ab  Collwyn  ab  Tangno,  Lord  of 
Eivionydd,  Ardudwy,  and  part  of  Lleyn,  by  his  wife  Madlen 
Benlydan,  dau.  of  Cynan,  father  of  Gruffydd  ab  Cynan,  and  sister  of 
Ednowain  Bendew.  Collwyn  was  chief  of  one  of  the  Fifteen  Noble 
Tribes  of  Gwynedd.  Sa.,  a  chev.  int.  3  fleurs-de-lys  arg.  Gruffydd  ab 
Howel  was  father  of  Sir  Howel  y  Vwyall  (of  the  Battle-axe).  From  the 
same  stock  sprang  the  Griffiths  of  Plas  Tan  y  Bwlch,  the  Bodvils  of 
Bodvil,  the  Wynnes  of  Boduon,  ancestors  of  Lord  Newborough,  the 
IVladryns  and  Jones-Parrys  of  Madryn,  and  the  Prydderchs  and 
Lloyds  of  Tregayan.  Maternally  they  derived  from  many  other 
great  families,  as  the  Pulestons  and  Salisburys,  from  Osborn  Wyddel, 
Trahaiarn  Goch  of  Lleyn,  and  Marchudd,  through  Eduyved  Vychan; 
and  by  the  marriage  of  his  descendant,  Rhys  ab  Sir  Tudor,  exe- 
cuted at  Chester  in  1412  for  his  armed  support  of  Owain  Glyndwr, 
with  Eva,  dau.  of  Griffith  Goch  of  Keri  (see  Mont.  Coll.  for  1889), 
they  descended  from  Elystan  Glodrydd,  Brochwel  Ysgythrog,  and 
Princes  of  South  Wales. 


MEIFOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  285 

Wynne,  Esq.,  of  Peniarth,  to  have  been  the  author  of  the 
very  large  folio  MS.  volume  of  pedigrees  in  continuation  of 
the  famous  volume  of  pedigrees  by  his  father  (Hengwrt  MS. 
96),  both  now  in  the  possession  of  W.  R.  M.  Wynne,  Esq., 
of  Peniarth. 

(56.)  A.D.  1719. — Draft  of  Settlement  prior  to  marriage. 
Indenture  quinpartite  between — 1.  Robert  Vaughan  of  Hen- 
gwrt,1 Co.  Merioneth;  2.  Jonet  Nanney,  Spinster,  3rd  daughter2 
of  Catharine3  Nanney  of  Nanney,  widdow,  by  Hugh  Nanney, 
late  of  Nanney,  Esq.,  deceased,  Anne  Nanney  of  Nanney, 
spinster,  eldest  daughter  of  ye  said  Catharine  by  ye  said  Hugh 
Nanney ;  3.  Richard  Vaughan  of  Cors  y  Gedol,  Thos.  Wynne, 
of  Glynllivon,4  Esq.,  and  William  Wynne,  Esq.,  Standard  Bearer 
to  H.M.  Band  of  Gentlemen  Pensioners  ;  4.  Lewis  Price,  of 
Aberllefen}7,  Co.  Mer'th,  Esq.,  John  Lloyd  of  [blank],  Co. 
Denbigh,  Esq.,  Athelstan  Owen,  of  Rhiw  Saeson,  Co.  Moritg'y, 
Esq.,  Thos.  Price,  Ystrewethan,  Co.  Merioneth,  Esq. ;  5.  Sidney 
Vaughan  of  llengwrt,  widdow,  mother  of  said  Robert  Vaughan, 
her  eldest  son,  John  Vaughan,  also  of  Hengwrt,  Gent.,  her 
2nd  son.  Portion,  £2,500.  Places  named,  Hengwrt,  includ- 
ing lands,  etc.,  described  in  his  Common  Recovery  Deed  to 
Mrs.  Sidney  Vaughan,  in  lieu  of  her  annuity.  Provision  for 
younger  sons  and  daughters,  and  for  purchase  of  lands. 

(57.)  A.D.  1730.— Settlement,  dated  13th  May,  of  Ystym 
Colwyn  on  Anne  Lloyd,  daughter  of  Roderick  Lloyd  of  Lin- 

1  Son  of  Howel  Vaughan,  High  Sheriff  1697,  by  his  wife   Sidney, 
dan.  and   coh.   of  John  Price,  o.a.p.,  by  his  wife,  Margaret,  dau.  of 
Lewis  Lloyd  of  Rhiwaedog,  eldest  son   of  Colonel  William  Price  of 
Rhiwlas,  oo.  Merioneth.     He  m.  Janet,  third  dau.  and  coh.  of  Hugh 
Nannau,  Esq.     By  this   marriage   JSTannau  passed  to  the   owner  of 
Hengwrt. 

2  Eldest  dau.  of  Hugh  and  Catharine  Nannau,  o.s.p.  innupt.  1729, 
cet.  37. 

3  Dau.  of  William  and  sister  of  Richard  Vaughan  of  Cors  y  Gedol, 
by  the  marriage  of  whose  dau.  Catharine  that  place  passed  to  the 
Rev.  Hugh  Wynn,  D.D.,  of  Bodyscallen  and  Berthddu,  and,  by  that 
of  her  dau.  Margaret,  to  Sir  Roger  Mostyn  of  Mostyn,  Bart.     (H.  P.  V., 
vi,  165.) 

4  Probably  the  husband  of  Frances,  second  dau.  and  eventual  heiress 
of  John  Glynne  of  Glynllivon,  Esq.,  descended  from  Cilmin  Droed 
Du,  Chief  of  one  of  the  Fifteen  Tribes.     Thomas  was  created  a  baronet 
in  1742,  and   was  grandfather  of  the  first  Lord  Newborough.     (See 
"  Melai",   H.  P.  V.,  vol.    v.)     William  may  have  been   his  brother. 
Athelstan  Owen  of  Rhiw  Saeson  m.  Elizabeth,  d.  of  William  Vaughan 
of  Cors  y  Gedol.     (//.  P.  V.,  v,  115.) 


286  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 

coin's  Inn,  on  her  marriage  [with  Edward  Williames  of  Ystym- 
colwyn  ?],  in  consideration  of  her  marriage  portion  of  £5,000, 
of  Nant  y  Meichied,  Trefnaney,  Street  y  Wern,  Peniarth, 
Broniarth,  Cefn  Llyfnos  (or  Llyfnog  ?),  in  Llanvechen,  Ystym 
Gadach,  Colfrith,  Bodrith  M.  B.,  Aberbechan,  named  as  then 
forming  part  of  the  Ystymcolwyn  property.  Parties:  1.  Edward 
Williams  of  Ystymcolwyu ;  2.  The  Hon.  Robert  Price,  one  of 
the  Justices  of  H.M.  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  Sir  William 
Williams  of  Llanvorda,  Co.  Salop,  Bart. ;  3.  The  Right  Rev. 
John  Wynne,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  and  Watkin  Williams 
Wynne  (sic)  of  Wynnstay,  Esq. ;  4.  John  Pughe1  of  Mathavarn, 
Co.  Montg'y,  Esq.,  and  Robert  Meyrick2  of  Ucheldre,  Co. 
Merioneth,  Esq. ;  5.  Roderick  Lloyd,  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  Co. 
Middlesex,  Esq.,  and  Anne  Lloyd,  spinster,  only  daughter  of 
said  Roderick  Lloyd,  in  consideration  of  £4,000  then  paid  in 
part,  and  £1,000  more  to  be  paid  on  the  value  thereof  con- 
veyed in  full.  Taken  from  ye  original  at  Erbistock,  in  the 
Custody  of  Miss  Williames,  28  Febr  1764.  Lands  in  Co. 
Caernarvon,  Capital  Messuage  House  called  Meillionydd,  Bod- 
rith, Cwmdilie,  Llanvailys,  tenements  in  Aberdaron,  Bodverin, 
Lhingwnodl,  Bryn  Croes,  Rhiw  Mellteyrn,  Tydweiliog,  Deneio, 
alias  Denio,  Pwllheli,  Beddgelert,  all  in  Co.  Caernarvon. 

(58.)  A.D.  1735.— Will  of  Sir  William  Williams  of  Llan- 
vorda, dated  15th  August.  Mentions  the  marriage  of  his 
second  son,  Robert  Williams,  and  the  first  marriage  of  his 
third  son,  Richard  Williams,  on  or  about  the  3rd  May,  1722, 
and  his  last  marriage  with  Charlotte,  his  now  wife,  only 
daughter  of  Richard  Mostyn,  Esquire  (of  Penbedw).3 

(59.)  Will  of  Roderick  Lloyd4  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  wherein  he 
bequeaths  Tithes  and  other  property  in  Penmachno  and  Nevin 

1  (See  Mont.  Coll.,  xi,  388.)     John  Pugh,  son  of  William,  by  his 
wife  Margaret,  dau.  of  John  Lloyd  of  Ceiswyn,  Esq.,  died  s./?.,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Rowland,  who  by  his  wife  Elizabeth, 
dau.  of  Roger  Salisbury  of  Rug,    Esq.,   had  a  son,  William  Pugh 
Salisbury,   o.s.p.,  and   two   daus.,    one    of  whom,  Maria   Charlotte, 
was  heiress  of  Rug  and  Mathavarn.     (See  H.  P.  V.,  vi,  31  and  40.) 

2  The  Meyricks  of  Ucheldref,  a  very  old  house  near  Corwen,  were  a 
branch  from  Bodorgan ;  Robert  was  son-in-law  of  the  above  famous 
Sir  Robert  Price  of  Giler.     (See  H.  P.  F.,  vi,  9,  and  v,  276,  371.) 
By  his  will,  dated  22  Oct.  1747,  he  left  Ucheldre  to  John  Kyffin, 
who  left  it  to  his  brother,  Sir  Thomas  Kyffin  of  Maenan. 

3  See  Hist.  Gwydir  Fam.,  Table  IV,  p.  104. 

4  That  Roderick  Lloyd  was  of  Penmachno  seems  probable  from 
this  will,  the  copy  of  which  seems  to  be  undated,  but  of  what  family 
I  have  at  present  no  information. 


ME1FOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  287 

for  the  foundation  of  a  school  and  almshouses,  etc.,  in  Trust, 
to  the  Church  of  Penmachno,  and  to  his  nephew  Lewis  Lloyd, 
and  his  sisters  Margaret  Lloyd,  and  Catharine  Lloyd,  wife  of 
John  Williams,  separated  from  her  husband,  his  nieces  Barbara 
and  Margaret  Ffoulkes,  etc. 

(60.)  A.D.  1768. — Assignment  of  Mortgage,  dated  30  Nov..  on 
Mrs.  Vaughan's  Estate  of  Bryn  Cynvelin  and  Pen  y  Bryn,  in 
parishes  of  Llanvechen  and  Llan  St.  Ffraid,  Co.  Montgorn'y, 
between  Conway  Longueville,  late  of  Bersham,  Co.  Denbigh, 
but  now  of  Hope,  Co.  Flint,  spinster,  Rev.  Thos.  Edward, 
Vicar  of  Wrexharn,  and  Thos.  Hayman,  gent.,  of  the  1st  part, 
and  Anne  his  wife,  late  Anne  Williams,  spinster,  of  the  2nd 
part,  and  Alice  Price  of  Overton  [qu.  Bryn  y  Pys  ?],  Co. 
Flint,  widow,  of  the  3rd  part,  recites  Deed  of  Mortgage  dated 
21  April  1764,  between  Anne  Vaughan,  then  Anne  Williams 
of  Erbistock,  now  assigned  to  Alice  Price  for  £400. 


ERRATA. 
Vol.  xxiii,  392,  Deed  of  John  Gray,  Lord  of  Powys. 

Line    2.  For  etc.,  read  Cu'  (for  Cum). 

„      3.  „    n'ro    „    n'ri  (for  nostri). 

„      5.  „    pud     „    p'us  (for  prius). 

„    12.  „    p'ing   „    Ring'  (for  Ringildi). 

„     20.  „    Thonus,  read  Thornes. 

„    21.  „    E'd  Shipnor,  read  Rhrd  Thornes. 

„    23.  ,,    Thorne,  Junior,  read  Thornes,  Junior. 

Vol.  xxv,  1,  p.     85,  line  14.     For  Llandgai,  read  Llandegai. 
„       ,,         „     97,    „     10.     Dele  drowned  in  1381. 
„       „         „       „      „     11.     For  Vechan,  read  Vychan. 
„       „         „   100,  note  1.        „    Cwny  Van,  read  Cevn  y  Van. 
„       „         „       „     „  „    Glynnes,  read  Wynnes  of  Glyn. 

„       „         „   101,  line  20.        „    autography  read  autograph. 
„       „         „  259,    „    17.       „    Alfgar  read  Leolfwine. 


288  ANCIENT    DEEDS    RELATING    TO 


THE  NEW  1LE,  1636,  IN  MYVOD  CHURCH. 

(NOTES  BY  ARCHDEACON  THOMAS.) 
Vide  supra,  p.  102. 

This  must  have  been  the  lean-to  on  the  north  side  of  the  nave, 
which  so  continued  until  1837.  In  that  year,  through  the  instru- 
mentality, and  largely,  I  believe,  at  the  expense  of  my  predecessor, 
the  Rev.  Hugh  Wynne  Jones,  the  then  Vicar,  this  lean-to  was 
removed,  and  the  present  north  aisle  substituted  for  it ;  but  the 
timber  pillars,  by  which  the  arcade  was  supported,  were  only  re- 
placed by  stone  ones  at  the  recent  restoration,  in  the  time  of  Canon 
Wynne  Edwards,  1871-2. 

The  list  is  given  in  part  at  the  end  of  the  Register,  1649  to  1674, 
where  it  is  stated  that  "  the  seates  in  the  new  He  are  thus  disposed 
of  by  the  Comissioners,  beginning  in  the  west  end  of  the  He,  and  so 
upwards  to  the  east,  as  folio  weth  : 

"  The  vacant  place  over  agt  the  first  seate  for  Olivir  Moris  and 
Evan  ap  John  ap  Williams  wife. 

"  The  first  forme  for  William  David  ap  Caddr  .  .  .  ."  and  so  on  to 
"  the  8th  forme  for  Caddr",  where  it  suddenly  breaks  off. 

In  the  2nd  forme  the  fourth  name  is  given  as  "  David  ap  Evan  ap 
HowM*. 

In  the  3rd       „      the  second  name  as  "  Thomas  ap  Evan". 

In  the  5th      „      the  second  name  as  "  Richard  David  ap  Lewis". 

In  the  6th      „      the  first  name  is  "  Lewis  ap  Richard's  wife". 

In  the  first  thirteen  "formes"  the  names  are,  with  a  very  few 
exceptions,  undistinctive ;  for,  though  they  may  be  found  in  the 
Register,  yet  as  no  place,  not  even  the  township,  is  given  with  them, 
it  is  not  possible  to  identify  them  with  certainty.  The  exceptions 
are  (in  11)  Calcot  of  Coedoerle  in  Nantymeichied,  (8)  Cadwaladr  ap 
Hugh  («de  Diffryn,  Gen.",  Gd.  Jury,  2  Chas.  I),  and  Prynalt  of 
Trefnanney,  the  same  which  occurs  in  the  Grand  Jury  List  for  the 
County  in  1653  as  "  William  Prinalt,  late  of  Trefnanney,  Gent." 
(Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  ix,  p.  41),  and  to  this  family  we  may  probably 
assign  (9)  "John  ap  John  ap  Reynald". 

From  14  onwards  they  represent  the  more  important  families,  and 
are  easily  identified,  e.g. : 

14.  "Mr.   John  Humphreys"  was   of  Cwm,    in    Nantymeichied, 
which,  together    with    FrOnlas   and    Fronfriallau,    belonged    to   the 
Humphreys  family  till  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  when  it 
passed  by  purchase  to  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Henry  W.  Williams  Wyun. 

15.  "Mr.  Roger  Vaughan"  was  of  Glasgoed,  and  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Richard  David  ap  Humphrey  of  Cynhinfa.     The  property 
remained  in  the  family  till  1749,  when   Mary,  the  heiress  of  Owen 
Vaughan,  married  John  Rocke  of  Trefnanney.     It  was  subsequently 
sold  to  Mr.  Jeffrey  Hopkins,  and  by  his  representatives  to  the  late 
Mr.  Peate  of  Oswestry. 

16.  "Lumley   Williams,    Esq.",    was    the    grandson    of   William 


ME1FOD    AND    ELSEWHERE.  289 

Williams,  Esq.,  of  Cochwillan,  in  Carnarvonshire,  by  Barbara,  daughter 
of  George,  son  of  John,  Lord  Lumley  (the  widow  of  Humphrey  Lloyd 
of  Foxhall,  the  historian),  and  he  married  Dorothy,  the  daughter 
and  heiress  of  Rees  ap  Thomas  ap  Rees  ap  David  of  Ystum  Colwyn, 
which  property  remained  in  his  descendants  until  it  was  sold  by 
Sir  Robert  Williames-Vaughan  to  Mr.  France  about  the  year  1850. 

17.  "  Mr.  Ellis  ap  Ellis"  was  of  the  Main,  and 

"  Mr.  John  Bowdler"  of  Teirtre  Township,  but  of  what  house 
I  cannot  say. 

18.  "Mr.  Edward  Harries"  was  of  Tan  House,  in  Trefnanney  ;  an 
old  picturesque  timber  house,  which  he  or  his  son  appears  to  have 
built,  as  it  bears  the  initials  "E.  H.,  1690". 

19.  "Mr.  Andrew  Parry"  was  of  the  Main,  hodie  the  Ceunant,  was 
great-grandson  of  "John  ap  Harri  of  Meifod",  mentioned  by  Lewis 
Dwnn  as  an  able  genealogist.     He  married  Margaret,  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  Tanat   ap  Res  Tanat  of  Abertanat.      The  last   of  the 
family  was  Margaret  Parry  of  Glanyrafon,   who  died  in  1827,  and 
left  her  property  to  the  Hamers.     Ceunant  now  belongs  to  Mr.  C.  W. 
Williams  Wynn. 

20.  "Mr.   Griffith  Bynner,  and  his  son,   John    Bynner",  were  of 
Nantymeichiaid.     "  Griffinus  Bynner  de  Nantymeichiaid,  Gen."    Gd. 
Jury,   1616.     "  Johes  Bynner  et  Thomas  Griffiths,  gen.,  Ballivi  de 
Llanvillinge."    "John  Bynner,  of  Nantymeichiaid,  Gent."    Grand  Jury 
List,  1654. 

21.  "  Mr.  Edward  Vaughan"  was  probably  of  Llwydiarth. 

22.  "Andrew  Lawton"  was  of  Plas  isa'r  plwyf,  hodie  the  Fferm. 
**  Andreas  Lawton  de  Kefnllyfno,  Gen."     Gt.  Sessions  List. 

"  Andrew  Lawton  of  Meifod",  son  of  George  Lawton,  parson  of 
Banbury,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Edward  Tannatt  of  Trewylan. 
He  was  High  Constable  of  the  Hundred  of  Pool,  1654-5.  (Mont. 
Coll.,  xx,  31.) 

The  Fferm  passed  by  marriage  from  the  Lawtons  to  the  Parrys  of 
Main ;  from  them,  by  purchase,  to  General  Dallas,  Governor  of  St. 
Helena ;  thence,  by  marriage,  to  Admiral  Harding,  whose  son  sold  it 
to  Mr.  Charles  Brown  of  the  Goitre ;  and  his  nephew  to  Mr.  Edward 
Jones,  the  present  owner. 

"  William  Jones,  Cwm",  son  of  Humphrey  Jones,  baptised  31  May 
1607. 

"Mr.  Humphrey  ap  John  ap  William"  was  of  Penyfoel,  and 
descended  from  Evan  Teg ;  his  grandson  William  bought  Ehosfawr, 
and  was  styled  of  Rhosfawr  and  Ffinnant. 

23.  "James    Mytton,    Esq.",    of   Pontyscowryd,   son    of  Richard 
Mytton,  was  baptised  at  Meifod,  18  Jan/ 1600,  and  buried  1  April 
1658.     This  fine  old  timbered  house  was  built  in  1593,  as  appears 
from  the  inscription  in  the  wainscotted  parlour  : — "  1593  :  I.N.R.  I. 
I.M.A.M."     The  sacred  monogram   implies  the   solemn   dedication 
of  the    house,  and   is  commonly  found    in    Brittany.     The    initials 
point  to  John  Mytton  (4th  son   of  Richard  Mytton  of  Halston),  and 
Anna  Mytton  his  wife,  probably  the  heiress  of  the  place.     He  was 


290  ANCIENT   DEEDS   KELATING   TO    MEIFOD. 

buried  Dec.  5,  1605;  she  Feb.  5,  1606  By  the  marriage  of 
Richard  Mytton  in  1718  with  Dorothy  Wynne  of  Garth,  the  latter 
became  the  residence  of  the  family. 

Pontyscowryd  was  formerly  in  "  Street  y  Fyrnwy"  Township,  but 
for  parochial  convenience  it  was  attached  to  Cefnllyfnog.  "  Ricus 
Myttou  de  Street  y  fyrnwy,  Ar."  (Mont.  Coll,  vol.  xxiv,  211.)  The 
old  Pigeon  House  is  a  fine  specimen  of  its  kind. 

"  Mr.  William  Herbert"  was  of  Dyffryn.  His  father  was  Richard 
Herbert,  High  Sheriff  1657,  and  proposed  to  be  made  a  Knight  of 
the  Royal  Oak.  His  grandfather,  Richard  Herbert  of  Park,  Sheriff 
1576,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  coheir  of  Humphrey  Wynn  of 
Dyffryn. 

"John  Lloyd,  Esq.",  of  Dolobran,  married  Catherine,  the  other 
daughter  and  coh.  of  Humphrey  Wynne  of  Dyffryn.  Their  eldest 
son  was  Charles  Lloyd,  the  Quaker;  the  second,  John,  gave  the 
silver-gilt  flagon  and  paten  to  the  Parish  Church  ;  and  the  third, 
Thomas,  joined  William  Penn  in  founding  Pennsylvania. 

"  Mr.  John  Matthews"  was  of  Trefnanney.  On  the  Grand  Jury 
1632.  Descended  from  Llewelyn  Foelgrwn  of  the  Main.  The 
property  passed,  by  marriage,  to  the  Rockes,  and  by  them  was  sold  to 
the  Rev.  Richard  Mytton.  They  are  now  represented  by  the 
Rockes  of  Clungunford. 

"  Mr.  John  Vaughan"  and  "  Herbert  Vaughan,  Esq.",  were  pro- 
bably the  brothers  of  Roger  Vaughan  of  Glasgoed"  (suprct,  15),  being 
the  sons  of  John  Vaughan  and  Bridget  Herbert. 

"  Thomas  Maurice,  Esq."  of  Trefedryd,  descended  from  leuan 
Gethin  ap  Madoc  Kyffin.  ("Llyfr  Silin",  Arch.  Camb.,  1887, 
p.  219.)  By  the  marriage  of  an  heiress,  Margaret,  with  Edward 
Maurice  of  Henfachan,  the  property  passed  to  the  Rev.  William 
Roberts,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Whittington  and  Selattyn,  d.  1784,  and 
was  ultimately  sold  by  his  representative,  Sir  Roger  Palmer,  Bart., 
in  1877,  to  Messrs.  Dewhurst  and  Sagur. 

"Mr.  Robert  Ffoulkes,  viccar  of  Myvod",  1628-1647,  had  been 
Rector  of  Aberhafesp  1623-27;  and  was  Rector  of  Llanvmynech 
1627-33  ;  and  Rector  of  Llanfechain  1633-34. 


291 


A  GENEALOGICAL  "  CRUX"  AND  SOLUTION. 


MANY  hitherto  leading  families  in  Montgomeryshire 
derive  their  descent  from  "  Beli  of  the  Garth",1  in  the 
parish  of  Guilsfield,  who  is  said  to  have  been  the  son 
of  Brochwel  ap  Aeddan,  de  jure  Prince  of  Powys.2 
This  parentage,  it  will  be  seen,  is  at  variance  with 
chronological  data  and  requirements.  It  is  almost 
needless  to  remark  that  the  structure  of  genealogies,  no 
less  than  of  histories,  becomes  either  an  idle  farce  or  a 
careless  falsehood  unless  founded  upon  a  consistent 
chronological  basis. 

It  seems  almost  a  presumption  on  the  part  of  a  modern 
inquirer  to  criticise  or  question  the  accuracy  of  a  line 
of  descent  which  has  been  generally  accepted  on  the 
authority  of  ancient  and  reputedly  accurate  genea- 
logists ;  but  the  writer,  having  noticed  what  appeared 
to  him  as  a  serious  anachronism,  has  made  a  study  of 
this  genealogical  difficulty,  and,  in  the  interest  of  truth 
and  accuracy,  has  given  it  prominence  with  the  view, 
principally,  of  eliciting  the  more  competent  criticism  of 
others. 

Brochwel  Ysgythrog,  Prince  of  Powys,  living  at  the 
commencement  of  the  seventh  century,  was  in  the  tenth 
ascending  generation  from  Brochwel  ap  Aeddan,  who 
in  some  pedigrees  is  given  as  the  father  of  Beli  of  the 
Garth.  By  allowing  thirty-two  years  to  a  generation, 
and  computing  downwards  from  Brochwel  Ysgythrog 
to  Brochwel  ap  Aeddan,  the  era  of  the  latter  would  be 
about  the  middle  of  the  tenth  century.  Working 
upwards  from  1496  on  the  same  plan,  the  era  of  Beli  of 
the  Garth  will  be  the  close  of  the  twelfth  century. 

1  Ilarl.  MSS.  1982,  1977.  2  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  vi;  pp.  77-8. 


292         A    GENEALOGICAL  "  CRUX     AND    SOLUTION. 

We  are  here  confronted  with  an  impossibility,  an  in- 
terval of  over  two  centuries  between  father  and  son. 

The  solution  of  this  "  crux"  or  apparent  difficulty  is 
that  some  early  copyist  has  in  transcription  placed 
"  ap"  for  **  ag"  after  the  name  of  Beli  of  the  Garth, 
thereby  making  him  uson  of"  instead  of  "descended 
from"  Brochwel  ap  Aeddan,  ninth  in  descent  from 
Brochwel  Ysgythrog. 

The  geneaiogy  of  the  ancestry  and  descendants  of 
Beli  of  the  Garth  has  reached  us  principally  through 
the  medium  of  such  transcribers  as  the  compilers  of 
the  Cedwyn  MS.  and  John  Rhydderch.  The  latter's 
transcription  of,  arid  scarcely  pardonable  selection  from, 
the  now  lost  Visitation  of  Montgomeryshire  by  the 
herald,  Lewys  Dwnn,  have  been  given  to  us  in  the 
work  of  Sir  Samuel  Meyrick.  This  portion  of  the 
Heraldic  Visitation  of  Wales  makes  no  pretension 
either  to  originality  or  heraldic  authority.  But  that 
portion  of  the  work  entitled  the  "  Heraldic  Visitation 
of  the  Counties  of  Carmarthen,  Pembroke,  and  Cardi- 
gan" is  derived  from  the  very  valuable  original  MS.  in 
Lewys  Dwnn's  own  handwriting,  and  in  which  the 
signatures  are  annexed  to  each  pedigree  by  the  then 
representatives  of  the  family.  Here  we  have  the 
autograph  of  a  legally  appointed  herald  to  guide  us  in 
our  interpretation  of  the  ancestry  of  "  Beli  of  the 
Garth".  In  1613  "  Eees  Griffith"  here  signs  Lewys 
Dwnn's  record  of  his  family  descent  from  this  Beli,  who 
is  there  described  as  "Beli  o'r  Garth  ag  \  Frochwel", 
and  whose  descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  is 
there  styled  "  Syr  Gruffydd  Vychan  o'r  Garth  ar 
Drelydan  Kt."1 

The  herald  in  1613  merely  vouched  for  the  fact  of 
Beli's  descent  from  Brochwel,  which  lineage  Lewys 
Glyn  Cothi  in  his  ode  claimed  some  500  years  ago  for 
u  Gruffyth  ap  leuan  ap  Madog  ap  Gwenwys  o 
Gawres",2  the  father  of  Sir  Griffith  Vaughan. 

1  Lewys  Dwnn's  Visitations,  vol.  i,  p.  242. 

2  Gwaith  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  Oxford,  1837,  i.e.,  of  Cawres,  or  Caus. 
See  Notes,  loc.  cit.     Y  Dosparth,  vi,  11,  p.  423. 


AND    SOLUTION.  293 

"  Gryfith  !  of  BrochweUs  lineage,  pure,  strong  of  arm." 

This  poet-historian  of  a  remote  era  arranges  his  odes 
or  elegies  under  tribal  headings,  and  confirms  this  tes- 
timony by  ascribing  the  first  and  second  poems  of  the 
"Llwyth  Brochwel  Ysgythrog"  to  "  Syr  Grufydd 
Vychan  o  Bowys"  and  his  father,  presumably  then 
considered  by  him  as  chief  of  the  tribe. 

With  the  view  of  clearly  showing  our  difficulty,  and 
at  the  same  time  aiding  its  solution,  the  pedigrees  of 
two  cognate  families,  as  they  appear  in  Sir  Samuel 
Meyrick's  work,  have  been  arranged  in  parallel  genera- 
tions. The  generation  of  "  Selyf",  son  of  Brochwel  ap 
Aeddan,  although  omitted  in  both  the  above,  is  given 
by  Lewys  Dwnn1  and  others  elsewhere.  Being  found 
to  satisfy  chronological  requirements,  it  has  been  intro- 
duced in  the  following  form  of  descent. 

Starting  from  a  well-accredited  chronological  basis, 
7  Henry  IV,  1406,  when  the  contemporaries  "Evan 
Blayney  of  Tregynon  (Gregynog)"  and  "  Sr  Gryfith 
Vaughan  of  (?  ag)  Gwenwys,  Knt.",  appear  on  the 
Welshpool  burgess-roll,  we  can,  by  using  the  ordinary 
computation,  where  many  generations  are  in  question, 
of  thirty-two  years,  ascertain  the  approximate  year  in 
which  their  respective  ancestors  flourished.  The  Blayney 
line  is  taken  from  the  reprint  of  Dwnn's  Montgomery- 
shire Visitations,  page  79,  and  the  "Havodwen",  or 
Harrington  line,  from  page  126  of  the  same  Mont. 
Coll.  reprint. 

Brochwel  ap  Aeddan. 

Selyf. 

Gwaeddan. 

Rhodri. 

Owen. 
tt| 


1  Lewys  Dwnn's  Vis.,  vol.  ii,  p.  15. 
VOL.  XXV. 


294 


A   GENEALOGICAL  "CRUX"  AND    SOLUTION. 


a\ 
lorwerth. 

1 

Johannis,  1170.=f= 

Griffith. 

1 

1                   1                1 
Goroun     Morauc,     Eva.1 
I               1202. 
Joab. 

Idnerth. 

Meilyr  Gryg,  A.D.  1214. 
Llewelyn,  1246. 
Einion,  1278. 
Llewelyn,  13LO. 

1 
Beli  of  the  Garth. 
1 
Griffith. 

1 
Gwenwys. 

1 
Madoc. 

1 

Llewelyn  Vaughan,  1342.     leuan. 
Griffith,  1374.  Griffith. 

Evan  Blayney  of  Tregy-      Sir  Griffith  Vaughan 
non,  1406.  of  Garth. 

Existing  records  confirm  the  above  estimate  of  the 
era  of  Meilyr  Grug,  and  therefore  of  Beli  of  Garth. 
Moreover,  Salisbury  of  Erbistocke,  in  his  pedigree  of 
the  Wynnes2  of  Garth  (now  Mytton)  descended  from 
Beli  of  the  Garth,  makes  Beli  and  Meilyr  brothers. 

It  is  on  record  that  "  Johannis  films  Gwardwoit" 
(?  Edward  or  lorwerth),  the  father  of  Eva,  and  appa- 
rently the  uncle  of  Meilyr  Grug,  was  fifth  clerical 
witness  to  Prince  Owen  Cyfeiliog's  foundation  charter 
of  Strata  Marcella  Abbey,  in  the  year  1170.  Goroun, 
Joab,  and  Idnerth,  his  sons,  with  "  Meilir  nepos  illorum", 
united  in  a  deed  of  sale  of  Stredalvedan,  in  the  parish 
of  Pool,  to  the  monks  of  the  same  abbey.  The  notice 
of  this  sale  is  without  date;  but  "Morawk  filio  Johannis", 
presumably  another  son  of  John  ap*  lorwerth  above, 
was  fifth  witness  to  Prince  Gwenwynwyn's  confirma- 
tion charter  to  the  monks  in  1202.  "  Meilir  de  T.';3 

1  This   Eva    is    styled   by  some    authorities   as  the   daughter  of 
"John  ap  lorwerth  ap  Owen  ap  Rodri,  descended  from  Brochwel", 
and  the  wife  of  Henwyn  ap  Ithel  Aur  Gledde,  ancestor  of  the  Owens 
of  Rhiwsaeson.     (Lewys  Dwnn's  Vis.,  vol.  i,  p.  297,  n.  6.) 

2  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xii,  p.  256. 

3  Meilyr  Grug  is    variously  styled  "Lord   of  Wyton   (Whitton) 
Westbury",  of  "  Llvvyn  Melyn",  and  "  Baron  of  Tregynon". 


AND    SOLUTION.  295 

(?  Tregynon)  appears  as  a  witness,  in  1226,  to  Prince 
Llewelyn's  charter  to  the  same  monks.  From  the 
above  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  Meilyr  Grug,  and 
therefore  Beli,  were  in  the  flesh  in  the  reigns  of  King 
John  and  Henry  I,  or  in  the  years  1214  to  1226. 

The  solution  of  our  genealogical  "  crux"  is  this  : 
Since  Meilyr  and  Beli  were  contemporaries,  and  prob- 
ably brothers,  the  five  or  six  progenitors  of  Meilyr 
were  common  also  to  Beli,  and  their  omission,  in  most 
of  the  pedigrees  we  meet  with  of  Beli's  line,  must  be 
due  to  the  careless  transcription  of  some  early  scribe, 
who,  for  Lewys  Dwnn's  authoritative  "ag  i  Frochwel", 
substituted  "  ap"  Brochwel  ;  an  error  which  has  been 
perpetuated  by  subsequent  copyists,  and  has  served 
to  discredit  the  authenticity  of  one  of  our  best 
accredited  genealogies. 

W.  V.  LL. 


Corrigendum.— Supra,  p.  291,  line  30.     For  "1496"  read  "1406". 


X  2 


296 


VAVASOR  POWELL'S  WELSH  ^IBLE. 


A  COPY  of  the  small  Welsh  Bible  of  1630,  which 
tradition  says  is  the  one  carried  about  and  used  in 
his  travels  by  the  renowned  Nonconformist  preacher, 
Vavasor  Powell,  came  into  my  possession  in  September 
1883.  It  contains  a  large  number  of  marginal  notes 
and  references,  Welsh  and  English,  in  manuscript, 
some  of  them  unintelligible  to  anyone  but  the  writer 
himself,  and  being  just  such  notes  as  a  preacher  would 
be  likely  to  make.  It  seems  to  have  been  rebound 
about  150  years  ago,  when  unfortunately  the  edges 
were  cut  very  closely,  the  Apocrypha  was  taken  out, 
and  part  of  A  Briefe  Concordance,  etc.,  "carefully 
perused  and  enlarged  by  Mr.  John  Downame,  B.  in 
Divinitie,"  (1642)  was  bound  up  with  it.  This  in- 
teresting relic  of  the  celebrated  Puritan  with  his 
Latin  Bible  and  other  works  were  obtained  by 
Mr.  John  Jones  of  Llettyderyn,  Mochdre,  some 
seventy  or  eighty  years  ago,  from  a  member  of  the 
Powell  family  who  then  lived  at  Gartheilyn,  Kerry. 
The  Latin  Bible  and  other  books  were  given  by  him 
to  a  Baptist  minister,  who  subsequently  left  the  neigh- 
bourhood. Mr.  Jones  died  about  forty  years  ago,  and 
this  Bible,  with  other  books  and  papers,  came  into  the 
hands  of  his  nephew,  Mr.  John  Williams  of  Sunny- 
bank,  Mochdre,  from  whom  I  purchased  it.  Mr.  Jones 
had  a  great  veneration  for  Powell,  and  commenced  the 
publication,  in  parts,  of  a  Welsh  translation  of  his  Auto- 
biography; but  this  project,  I  believe,  he  was  forced  to 
abandon  for  want  of  support  after  one  or  two  parts  had 
come  out  of  the  press.  This  was  about  the  year  1826. 

R.  WILLIAMS. 


297 


PEDIGREE   OF  JONES  OF  GARTHMILL. 


THE  following  is  a  verbatim  extract  relating 
family  from  a  "  Visitation   of  Mountgomeryshi 


to  this 
lire  and 

Powis"  made  by  Handle  Holme  of  Chester ;  the  date 
on  it  is  1630. 


(Harl.  MS.  1973,  folio  49 ;  pencil  number,  folio  59.) 

Cadwallon  ap  Madd  ap  Cadwgan.=f= 

I 

Dolphin.=j= 


Kynvelyn.  =j= 


I 
Eigneon.=f= 

r~ 

Madock.=f= 


I  | 

Griffiths  Howel. 

I 


Griffith  Vychan. 


I 
Meredeth.=j= 

I 

Gruffith  Lloyd.=p 


T 


Howell  ap  Gruff.  Lloid.=f  Jane,  dau.  to  D'd  ap  Philip  Goz  ap  Hoel  ap  ll'n  ap 
j  Meiler  Gryge. 

John  ap  Howell.=j=Marg't,  d.  and  h.  to  leun  undeg,  etc.,  ll'n  archdourchog. 
•I 


298 


PEDIGREE   OF    JONES    OF   GARTHMILL. 


a| 

leu  n  Lloyd  ap  John.=f=Marg't,  da.  to  D'd  glynn  ap  leuan  ap  11' n  Dolgar. 


Edward  ap  Ieun=j=Marg't,  da.  to  D'd 
Lloyd.  ap  Holl  ap  leun 

blane. 


! 


Meredd.  ap  Ieun=pAnne,  da.  and  co-h. 
Lloyd.  to  John  Bour- 

cher  ap  Hugh. 


|  1        |2 
David.  Rees 
ap 
Ed- 
ward. 

Richard= 
ap  Ed- 
ward. 

^Margaret,  da.  to 
Gruff,  ap  D'd 
Lloyd  ap  Cad- 
der  ap  S'r  Gruff. 
Vychan,  Kt. 

)hn  ap=p 


Rees  ap  =j=Katharen,   da.  to  John   ap 
Richard.         Gruff,  ap  Owen  ap  Gruff, 
goz  of  Penryn. 


John  ap=pLowrey,  da.  to     Others. 
Meredd.         Owen  ap 

leun  ap  Holl 

of  the  Welshe- 
poole. 


!  i  I 

Rees  ap  =  Joyce,  da.  Hum- 

John.         to  Roger  phrey. 
Jonnes. 


1  2 

1  3 

| 

| 

1 

.  | 

| 

John. 

Mor- 

Ric- 

= Elizabeth,    Lowry. 

Ellen. 

=  Rich.  ap 

Mary. 

Eliza- 

ris. 

hard 

da.  to 

Ed.1  of 

beth. 

ap 

Rob't 

Keuen.1 

Rees. 

Whetgers 

ap  Rees 

ap  Rich. 

i.  IEUAN  LLOYD   ap  John  ap  Howell  of  Garthrnill 
had  two  sons — 


Edward  ap  leuan  Lloyd. 
Meredith  ap  leuan  Lloyd  (n). 

Ti/r_-  T 


ii.  MEREDITH  AP  IEUAN  married  Anne,  daughter 
and  co-heir  to  John  Bourcher  ap  Hugh,  and  died 
intestate.  Administration  granted  to  his  son  leuan 
3rd  June  1588.  He  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter — 

1.  leuan,  administrator  to  his  father,  living  1599,  and  men- 

tioned in  the  will  of  John  Lloyd  (Mont.  Goll.,  vol.  xxi, 
p.  160). 

2.  John  Lloyd  (in). 

3.  Jane,  mentioned  in  her  brother  John's  will. 

in.  JOHN  LLOYD,  a  Grand  Juror  27  Eliz.,  as  "John 
ap  Me'dd  ap  leuan  Lloyd  de  Bery we  generosus''  (Mont. 
Coll.,  vol.  iii,  p.  317);  as  "  Joh'es  ap  M'dd  ap  leuan 


1  Both  these  words  are  so  smeared  as  to  be  almost  illegible.     The 
superintendent  of  the  MSS.  room  agrees  with  our  conjectural  reading. 


PEDIGREE    OF    JONES    OF    GARTHM1LL.  299 

Lloyd  de  Garthmil,  gen.",  34  Eliz.  (ib.,  vol.  iv,  p.  256), 
one  of  the  contributories  on  Lay  Subsidy,  §f  f ,  Record 
Office,  1571.  He  married  "Lowrey,  daughter  to  Owen 
ap  Jenn.  ap  Holl  of  the  Welshepoole."  His  will  is 
dated  13th  July  1598,  and  was  proved  26th  October 
1599.  (76.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  160.)  He  had  six  children, 
live  of  whom  are  mentioned  in  his  will— 

1 .  Rees  Jones1  (iv). 

2.  Humphrey  Jones  (v). 

3.  Mary,  married  Thomas  (?)  Jones, mentioned  in  Rees  Jones's 

will  (ib.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  161),  and  had  three  children — 

i.  Thomas    Jones,   legatee   under    Rees   Jones's    will    and 

Humphrey  Jones's  will. 

ii.  Elizabeth,  mentioned  in  Rees  Jones's  will, 
iii.  Ann,  mentioned  in  Humphrey  Jones's  will;  also  called 

niece  in  Rees  Jones's  will.     (76. ,  vol.  xxi,  p.  161.) 

4.  Margaret,  mentioned  in  her  father's  will,  married  Richard 

Edwards  of  Llifior,  and  had  one  son  and  a  daughter — 

i.  Richard  Edwards  of  Llifior,  nephew,  mentioned  in  Rees 

Jones's  will.     (/6.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  161.) 

ii.  Bridgett,  who   is   mentioned  in  Richard  ap  Richard  ap 
Reynold's  will.     (Ib.,  vol.  xxiii,  p.  19.) 

5.  Elizabeth,  married  Richard   ap    Richard  ap    Reynold    of 

Forden,  whose  will  is  dated  29th  May  1622,  and  proved 
8th  August  1629.  (Ib.,  vol.  xxiii,  p.  18.)  They  had 
nine  children — 

i.  David  ap  Richard,  mentioned  in  Rees  Jones's  will,  died 
intestate.      Administration    granted    to    his    mother, 
Elizabeth,  4th  March  1637-8.     (Ib.,  vol.  xxii,  p.  251.) 
ii.  Edward  ap  Richard,  deceased  before  1637.    (Rees  Jones's 

will,  ib.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  161.) 

iii.  John  Reynolds  (vi),  devisee  of  Humphrey  Jones. 
iv.  Richard  \ 

v.  Roger     V  mentioned  in  Humphrey  Jones's  will, 
vi.  Rees       J 

vii.  Francis  of  Llandyssil,  witness  to  Humphrey  Jones's  will, 
viii.-ix.  Rose  and  Anne. 

iv.  REES  JONES,  eldest  son  of  John  Lloyd  (in), 
styled  in  his  will  "of  Garthrnill,  gentleman";  on 
grand  jury  at  Assizes,  44  Eliz.,  and  16  James  I,  as 

1  Lay  Subsidy,  3  James  I,  for  lands  in  Berriew  parish. 


300  PEDIGREE    OF    JONES    OF    GARTHMILL. 

Lloid  de  Berewe",  29  Eliz.  ({&.,  vol.  iii,  p.  324),  and 
"  Riceus  Jones  de  Garth myle,  gen."  (Mont.  Coll.,  vol. 
iv,  p.  286,  and  vol.  vi,  p.  269.)  Will  dated  20th  Oct. 
1636,  and  proved  13th  Feb.  1636-7.  (Ib.9  vol.  xxi, 
p.  161.)  He  devises  his  land  and  messuages  in 
Garthmyl,  Trustllewelyn,  and  Forden  to  his  brother 
Humphrey  Jones.  He  married  Joyce,  daughter  to 
Roger  Jones.  Gilbert  Jones -of  Pool,  barrister-at-law, 
in  his  will  (ib.y  vol.  xxi,  p.  170)  calls  Rees  Jones 
his  brother-in-law.  No  issue  being  named  in  his 
will,  Rees  Jones  is  presumed  to  have  died  without 
issue. 

v.  HUMPHREY  JONES,  second  son  of  John  Lloyd  (in), 
and  brother  of  Rees  Jones  (iv).  By  his  will,  dated  26th 
February  1652-3,  proved  28th  May  1653,  he  devised 
all  his  land,  etc.,  in  Garthmill,  Trustllewelyn,  and 
Forden  to  his  nephew,  John  ap  Richard  ap  Richard 
ap  Reignold,  in  tail  general,  with  remainder  to  his 
nephews,  Richard  ap  Richard  ap  Richard  ap  Reig- 
nold, Roger  ap  Richard  ap  Richard  ap  Reignold,  and 
Rees  ap  Richard  ap  Richard  ap  Reignold,  succes- 
sively in  like  tail,  with  ultimate  remainder  to  his 
right  heirs  for  ever  in  fee.  He  also  recited  that  there 
was  an  intention  of  a  marriage  between  the  said  John 
ap  Richard  ap  Richard  ap  Reignold,  by  the  name  of 
John  Reynolds,  of  the  one  part,  with  Elizabeth,  the 
daughter  of  James  Price  of  Pilleth,  co.  Radnor,  Esq. 
As  in  the  will  of  John  Reynolds  Mary  is  the  name  of 
his  wife,  appointed  sole  executrix,  the  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Price  probably  did  not  take  place.  Humphrey 
Jones  was  the  founder  of  Berriew  School,  and  endowed 
it.  (See  epitome  of  his  will  in  Appendix  A,infra,  p.  308.) 

vi.  JOHN,  third  son  of  Richard  ap  Richard-  ap  Rey- 
nold, by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  sister  of  Humphrey  Jones 
(v),  and  described  in  his  will  as  "  John  Reynolds  of 
Garthmill,  gentleman".  He  married  Mary,  eldest 
daughter  of  John  Pryce,  Esq.,  of  Park,  by  his  wife 
Mary,  daughter  of  William  Reed,  Esq.,  of  Castle 
Bromshill,  Herefordshire.  She  was  appointed  his 


SHIELD  OF  ARMS,  CARVED  IN  OAK  ;  OVER  THE  FRONT  DOOR  OF 
OLD  GARTHMILL  HALL. 

(Actual  dimensions,  2  ft.  1  in.  by  1  ft.  2  m.) 


PEDIGREE    OF    JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  301 

sole  executrix.1  In  his  will,  dated  19th  December 
1670,  and  proved  10th  July  1672  (see  epitome  in  Ap- 
pendix B,  w/ra,p.  311),  he  mentions  "his  son  Humphrey 
Jones"  (who,  it  is  presumed,  took  his  grandmother's 
maiden  surname,  she  being  an  heiress),  "  his  son  Valen- 
tine Reignolds,"  and  his  "  youngest  son  Matthew 
Reignolds".  He  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
who  are  mentioned  in  his  will,  viz. — 

1.  Humphrey  Jones,  eldest  son  (vil). 

2.  Valentine  Keignolds,  Rector  of  Llangower  1685-88;  seemed 

to  have  died  there,  or  went  to  some  other  diocese. 

3.  Matthew   Reignolds,   legatee  under   his  father's    will    of 

£40,  and  executor  of  his  mother's  will. 

4.  Mary. 

5.  Elizabeth. 

6.  Bridgett. 

Over  the  door  of  the  ancient  black  and  white  house 
at  Garthmill,  called  Garthmill  Hall,  was  a  shield, 
carved  in  oak,  bearing  '*'  The  three  nags'  heads",  with 
the  date  1666,  which  probably  indicates  the  date  of 
the  erection  of  the  house.  If  so,  it  must  have  been 
built  by  John  Reynolds,  who  succeeded  to  the  estate 
in  1653,  and  died  in  or  about  1672.  The  shield  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Morgan  Edwards 
Jones  (xm),  at  his  residence,  80,  Wimbledon  Hill. 
(See  Illustrations.) 

vn.  HUMPHREY  JONES,  eldest  son  of  John  Reynolds 
(vi),  in  whose  will  he  is  called  "  my  son  Humphrey 
Jones",  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Stephen  Donne2  of 
Glascombe,  co.  Radnor.  The  post-nuptial  settlement 
is  dated  1st  March,  35  Car.  II,  1684.  For  copy  of 

1  Burke's    Extinct   Baronetage,   sub  nom.    "Pryce    of  Newtown". 
Another  sister  of  Mary  Pryce,  viz.,  Bridget,  married  John  Edwards 
of  Melyn   y  grug,    whose    daughter  and   heiress,  Bridget,    married 
Humphrey  Jones  (vin).    See  infra,  p.  302.    Another  sister,  Dorothy, 
married  Lodowick  Lewis,  Esq.,  of  Dolgwenith,  whose  only  daughter 
and  heiress,  Lydia,   married  Thomas  Pryce  of  Cyffronydd.     (Mont. 
Coll.,  vol.  xix,   p.  140.)     The  three  ladies  were  sisters  and  co-heirs 
of  their  only  brother  Matthew  Pryce,  M.P.  for  Montgomery  Boroughs 
from  1678-85. 

2  As  to  the  Donne  family,  see  Byegones,  1882,  p.  112. 


302  PEDIGREE    OF   JONES    OF   GARTHMILL. 

this  settlement,  see  Appendix   C,  infra,  p.  311.      He 
had  one  son — 

Humphrey  Jones  (viu). 

viii.  HUMPHREY  JONES  of  Garthmill,  married  Bridget, 
daughter  and  (on  the  death  of  her  brother,  Morgan 
Edwards)  eventual  heiress  of  Morgan  Edwards  of 
Melyn  y  grug,  parish  of  Llanfair  Caereinion  (see  his 
pedigree  in  Appendix  D,  infra,  p.  315),  Sheriff  Mont- 
gomeryshire, 1738.  They  left  issue  five  children  — 

1.  Humphrey  Jones  (ix). 

2.  Susan  Jones,  ob.  s.p. 

3.  A  daughter  married Baker. 

4.  A  daughter  married  Captain  Erlam,  and  died  leaving  one 

child,  Mary  Erlam. 

5.  A  daughter  married Jones,  and  had  one  son  .  .  . 

Jones,  Captain  in  the  Army. 

ix.  HUMPHREY  JONES  of  Garthmill  and  of  Melyn  y 
grug,  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  David  Ellis  of 
Llwydiarth  Hall  (see  Appendix  E,  infra,  p.  316,  for 
copy  of  his  Kent-roll,  dated  1 748).  They  had1  twenty- 
two  children,  of  whom  we  have  particulars  of  only 
ten — 

1.  Humphrey  Jones  (x). 

2.  David  Jones,  married   Anne,  daughter  of Baines, 

and  had  six  children — 

i.  David  Jones  of  Trw stile welyn  and  Llwydiarth,  agent  to 
Sir  W.  W.  Wynn,  Bart,,  born  14th  March  1789,  married 
30th  June  1820,  at  Meifod,  his  cousin  Mary,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Jones  of  Dolobran  (see  infra,  p.  304),  (born 
28th  July  1793,  and  died  24th  July  1863) ;  he  died  at 
Llwydiarth  Park  8th  September  1857,  leaving  issue — 

1.  Joseph  Owen  Jones  of  Fron  y  gog,  Machynlleth,  born 
19th  September  1822  ;  married,  8th  May  1847,  his 
second  cousin  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Humphrey  Row- 

1  An  old  man,  Mr.  Jones,  currier,  of  Llanfair  Caereinion,  aged  82, 
some  forty  years  ago  informed  Mr.  John  Morgan  Edwards  Jones (xin) — 
the  great-grandson  of  Humphrey  Jones  (ix) — that  be  once  saw 
Humphrey  Jones,  last  named,  walking  to  Berriew  Church  with  thirteen 
of  his  sons,  and  the  shortest  was  6ft.  3in.  and  the  tallest  was 
6ft.  9 in.  The  old  man  added,  "  It  was  a  grand  sight ;  and  they 
were  not  all." 


PEDIGREE  -OF   JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  303 

lands  Jones,  see  infra,  p.  307  (born  6th  March  1820,  and 
died  8th   May   1886)  ;    he  died  at  Fron   y   g6g  10th 
February  1876,  leaving  seven  children — 
i.  Charlotte  Jones,  born  at  Llwydiarth  29th  October  1848, 

and  died  3rd  March  1882,  unmarried. 

ii.  Frances  Anne  Jones,  born  at  Llwydiarth  10th  February 
]  850;  married,  at  Machynlleth,  John  Buckley  Williames 
of   Pennant  (see  infra,  p.  305),  4th  February  1880; 
died  at  Pennant  7th  July  1882,  leaving  no  issue, 
iii  Mary  Jane  Jones,  born  at  Llwydiarth  31st  March  1851. 
iv.  Humphrey  Watkin  Jones,  born  at  Llwydiarth  1st  July 
1854  ;  died  at  Dolcorsllwyn  26th  June  1861,  and  buried 
at  Darowen. 

v.  Joseph  Jones,  born  at  Llwydiarth  Park  27th  February 
1856  ;  assumed  the  additional  surname  of  Evans  in 
pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  the  will  of  Humphrey 
Jones  Evans  of  Fron  y  gog.  Machynlleth,  27th  February 
1877  (see  infra,  p.  306)  ;  married  at  Machynlleth, 
18th  August  1880,  Mary  Elizabeth  daughter  of 
Richard  Gillart,  Llynlloedd,  Machynlleth.  Mr. 
Joseph  Jones-Evans  is  J.P.  and  County  Councillor  of 
Montgomeryshire,  and  has  issue — 

1.  Humphrey  Jones-Evans,  born  at  Fron  y  gog  19th 

February  1883. 

2.  Joseph   Jones-Evans,  born  12th  May  1884,  and 

died  same  day. 

3.  Elizabeth  Nesta  Jones -Evans. 

vi.  Laura  David   Jones,  born  at  Dolcorsllwyu    4th  August 

1858,  died  at  Aberystwith  in  December  1889. 
vii.  Elizabeth  Ann  Jones,  born  at  Dolcorsllwyn  8th  April  1861, 
and  died  at  Fron  y  gog  18th  July  1872,  and  buried  at 
Darowen. 

ii.  Humphrey  Jones  of  Sutton,  died  s.  p. 
iii.  John  Jones,  married  Anne  granddaughter  and  heiress  of 
.  .  .   Oliver,    of    Hendomen,    and    died    leaving    four 
daughters  — 

Anne  Mary  Jones,  born  2nd  February  1827,  and  three 

others.     All  died  unmarried. 

iv.  Edward  Jones,  married  Mary  Anne  Pryce  of  Llandinam 
(she    was    born     ]2th    October    1795,     and    died    in 
Welshpooll85...). 
v.  Martha  Jones,  married  her  cousin,  Joseph    Jones   (see 

infra,  p.  304). 
vi.  Mary. 

3.  John  Jones,  in  holy  orders,  Rector  of  Bosherton,  co. 
Pembroke,  married  .  .  .  daughter  of  General  Parslow, 
and  died  in  1831,  leaving  four  children — 

i.  Thomas  Jones,  died  s.  p. 

ii.  John  Jones,  married  and  left  one  son,  John  Parslovv 
Jones.  He  was  in  the  Royal  Marines,  and  was  so 
tall  that  Bernadotte  is  said  to  have  offered  him  a 
Colonelcy  in  his  regiment  of  Guards. 

iii.  Charlotte  Jones,  died  1851,  unmarried. 


304  PEDIGREE    OF    JONES    OF    GAUTHM1LL. 

iv.  Anne  Jones,  married   her   cousin    Humphrey  Rowlands 

Jones  of  Garthmill  (see  infra,  p.  307). 

4.  Joseph  Jones  of  Liverpool,  afterwards  of  Dolobran,  born 
1762,  married   Mary,  daughter  and   heiress   of  Edward 
Pryce   of  Burgeding,  Guilsfield,  and  died  17th  March 
1 806,  having  had  issue  two  sons  and  one  daughter — 
i.  Joseph   Jones,  born    9th    March    1799;    married,  22nd 
March  1822,  his   cousin    Martha,    daughter   of  David 
Jones,  (see  supra,  p.  303)  ;  of  Dolobran,  Clerk  of  the 
Peace  co.  Montgomery,  he  died  19th  April  1848,  having 
had  issue — 

1.  Joseph    Jones,  born   at   Maengwyn,  Machynlleth,  9th 

February  1823,  and  died  14th  May  1824. 

2.  Charles -Jones,  born  8th  March  1824.  and  died  30th  June 

1824. 

3.  Martha   Anne    Jones,  coheiress,  born  29th  May  1825; 

married  John  Buckley  Williames  of  Glyncogen  (see 
infra,  p.  305),  (who  had  been  previously  married), 
and  died  s.  p.  ;  buried  at  Bettws. 

4.  Mary  Jones,  coheiress,  born  13th  August  1826,  married 

Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Llanwrin  (who 
died    20th   April    1872),    and    died   at  Torquay    7th 
December  1889,  leaving  one  son — 
i.  Charles    Joseph   Davies,   born   16th   October   1864,   of 
The  Queen's  College,  Oxford,  and  of  the  Inner  Temple, 
now  (1891)  the  representative  of  this  Branch  of  the 
family. 

5.  Eliza  Jones,   coheiress,  born    19th    January  1828,  and 

died  3rd  July  1866,  unmarried. 

6.  Jane  Jones,  coheiress,  born  12th  October  1829  ;  married, 

28th  November  1849,  David  Tannatt  Pryce  of  Batavia, 
afterwards   of  Bronwylfa   Llandderfel,   co.   Merioneth 
(born  20th  October  1815),  and  had  one  son — 
i.  Edward  Montgomery  Tannatt  Pryce,  born  29th  August 
1850  ;  died  at  Batavia  2nd  May  1881,  unmarried. 

ii.  Mary  Jones,  born  28th  July  1793,  died  24th  July  1863, 
having  married  her  cousin,  David  Jones  of  Trustllewelyn 
and  afterwards  of  Llwydiarth  Park  (see  supra,  p.  302). 

iii.  Humphrey  Pryce  Jones,  died  8th  June  1829,  having 
married  and  left  one  daughter,  since  dead. 

5.  Charles    Jones,    Clerk    of  the    Peace,    co.   Montgomery, 

married  .  .  .  widow  of  ...  Bowen  and  dau.  and  h.  of 
.  .  .  Hughes  of  Aberllolwyn,  died  s.  p. 

6.  James  Jones. 

7.  Jane  Jones,  married  Rev.  William  Parslow,  son  of  General 

Parslow,  and  died  s.  p. 

8.  Rhys  Jones,  died  s.  p. 

9.  Catherine  Jones,  married  Rice  Pryce1  of  Manafon,  D.L., 

and  died,  leaving  two  daughters  and  coheiresses — 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  ix,  p.  352. 


PEDIGREE    OF    JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  305 

i.  Catherine  Pryce,  married,  6  March  1800,  John  Williames 
Buckley- Williames1  of  Pennant,  Major  in  the  Mont- 
gomeryshire Yeomanry  Cavalry,  J.P.  and  D.L.  co.  Mont- 
gomery, Sheriff  1820 ;  he  died  4  January  1866,  aged  90, 
leaving  four  children — 

1.  Rice  Pryce  Buckley-Williames.  of  Pennant ;  married  in 

1854  Ann  Frances  Pars^w  Jones,  daughter  of  Hum- 
phrey Rowlands  Jones  (see   infra,  p.  307),  (she   died 
1883);  marriage  settlement  dated  12th  July  1854.     He 
was  the  Editor  of  the   Cambrian  Quarterly  Magazine, 
Major  in  the  Montgomery  shire  Yeomanry  Cavalry,  J.P. 
co.  Montgomery;  in  Board  of  Control  Office.     He  died 
24th  March  1871,  having  had  one  child — 
i.  Catherine,  born  20th   May  1855  ;    died   27th  October 
1862. 

2.  John  Buckley-Williames  of  Glyncogen,  J.P.,  born  llth 

June  1808,  and  died  27th  June,  1881,  having  been 
married  twice  :  1st,  to  Mary  Anne,  daughter  of  Richard 
Ford  Whitmore  of  Birmingham  (she  died  24th  December 
1867) ;  2nd,  to  Martha  Anne,  eldest  daughter  and  co.  h. 
of  Joseph  Jones  of  Dolobran,  Clerk  of  the  Peace  (see 
supra,  p.  304),  and  by  his  second  marriage  had  no  issue. 
By  his  first  marriage  he  had  four  sons  and  three 
daughters — 

i.  Laimley  Buckley-Williames,  born  25th  July  1844  ;  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  Montgomeryshire  Yeomanry  Cavalry  ; 
and  died  22nd  September  1873,  unmarried.2 
ii.  Catharine  Buckley-Williames,  married,  at  Llandyssil,  4th 
Sept.  1862,  Richard  Edward  Jones  of  Cefn  Bryntalch, 
J.P.  and  County  Councillor  co.  Montgomery,  High 
Sheriff  1875  ;  and  has  issue  three  sons  and  four 
daughters — 

1.  Walter  Buckley  Jones,  born  16th  August  1864 ;  of 

Christ's  College,  Cambridge,  and  Lincoln's  Inn. 

2.  EdwardWhitmore  Jones,  born  10th  January  1869; 

2nd   Lieutenant   2nd   Battalion   South  Wales 
Borderers,  now  in  India, 

3.  Lumley  Owen  Williames  Jones,  born  1st  Decem- 

ber 1876  ;  at  Winchester  School. 

4.  Alice  Morgan. 

5.  Cicely  Katharine. 

6.  Mabel  Eliza. 

7.  Gladys  Meryal. 

iii.  John  Buckley-Williames,  of  Pennant,  born  12th 
November  1845  ;  married  Frances  Anne  Jones, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Owen  Jones  of  Fron  y  gog  (see 
supra,  p.  303);  she  died  7th  July  1882,  and  he  died 
at  Pennant,  14  September  1883,  s.  p. 

iv.  Pryce  Buckley-Williames,  died  13th  June  1849,  s.  p. 

v.  Elizabeth  Mary  Buckley-Williames,  married,  3rd  Febru- 
ary 1874,  to  Robert  Lewis  Andrew  of  Rockferry, 
Cheshire,  and  has  no  issue.  She  is  now  of  Pennant 
and  Glanhafren  (1891). 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  ix,  p.  347,  and  vol.  xi,  p.  387. 

2  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  iv,  p.  157. 


306  PEDIGREE   OF   JONES   OF   GARTHMILL. 

vi.  Alice  Buckley  Buckley- Williames,  married,  9th  June 
1880,  at  the  parish  church  of  Manafon,  John  Arthur 
Talbot  of  Newtown,  solicitor,  and.  has  had  three 
children — 

1.  John  Lumley  Williames  Talbot,  born  17th  May 

1881  ;  died  3rd  February  1891. 

2.  Eric  Lawrence  Talbot,  born  15th  December  1883. 

3.  Alys  Merial  Talbot. 

vii.  Rhys  Buckley- Williames,  of  Pennant,  J.P.,  married,  in 
1884,  to  Gertrude  Susannah,  daughter  of  the  late 
Charles  Jones  Humphreys,  Esq.,  and  died  21st 
November  1887,  s.  p. 

3.  Catherine  Buckley  Williames. 

4.  Mary  Buckley  Williames. 

ii.  Jane  Pryce,  born  1785;  married,  in  1814,  Rev.  John 
Davies,  M.A.,  of  Maesmawr  and  Fronfelyn,  J.P.  co. 
Montgomery  (who  was  born  1770,  and  died  1853);  she 
died  in  1857,  leaving  two  children — 

1.  John  Pryce  Davies  of  Maesmawr  and  Fronfelyn,  J.P. ; 

High  Sheriff,  1869  ;  living,  1891. 

2.  Jane  Anne  Davies,  married,  in  July  1847,  John  Devereux 

Pryce1  of  Dolforwyn  Hall  (who  was  born  5th  Feb. 
1819,  and  died  Feb.  1848,  s.  p.),  and  is  now  of  Maes- 
mawr Hall,  Montgomeryshire  (1891). 

10.  Anne  Jones. 

11.  Mary  Jones. 

12.  Elizabeth  Jones,  married  Thomas  Owen  of  Dyffryn  Meifod, 

and  died  s.  p. 

There  were  ten  more  children  of  this  marriage. 

x.  HUMPHREY  JONES  of  Garthmill  and  Melyn  ygrug 
married  Jane,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Edward  Row- 
lands of  Rhiewfelen  (Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xvii,  p.  55),  and 
died  in  1808,  leaving  three  children — 

1.  Humphrey  Rowlands  Jones  (XT). 

2.  Catherine   Jones,  married,  in   1809,  David   Gwynne,  third 

son  of  Sackville  Gwynne  of  Glanbrane,  co.  Carmarthen^ 
and  died  s.  p. 

3.  Jane  Jones,  married  Henry  Evans   of  Penrallt,  Machyn- 

lleth,  and  died,  leaving  one  son — 

i.  Humphrey  Jones  Evans,  D.L.  Co.  Montgomery,  born 
14th  Feb.  1806,  and  died  21st  Nov.  1862,  having  left 
his  property,  Fron  y  g6g,  to  Joseph  Jones  Evans, 
upon  condition  of  his  taking  the  additional  surname 
of  Evans.  See  supra,  p.  303. 

xi.  HUMPHREY  ROWLANDS  JONES  of  Garthmill  and 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xix,  p.  154. 

2  See  Burke's  Landed  Gentry  (edit.  1846),  p.  520. 


PEDIGREE    OF   JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  307 

Melyn  y  grug,  Co.  Montgomery,  and  Ystymllyn,  Co. 
Carnarvon,  bom  6th  November  1777,  and  christened  at 
Machynlleth  17th  February  1778;  High  Sheriff  Co. 
Carnarvon  1810  ;  married  twice  :  1st,  in  1807,  Mary, 
only  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Thel- 
wall,  Rector  of  Llanbedr,  Co.  Denbigh,  and  niece  of 
Simon  Thelwall  of  Blaen  lal  in  the  same  county  (she 
died  28th  May  1808);  and  2nd,  in  1809,  his  cousin, 
Ann  Jones,  the  daughter  of  John  Jones  (supra,  p.  304), 
(who  died  in  1864).  By  his  first  marriage  he  left  one 
son — 

1.  Humphrey  Thelwall  Jones,  born  26th  March  1808  ;  Fellow 
Commoner  of  Trinity,  and  died  at  Cambridge  10th  May 
1827,  unmarried. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  had  nine  children — 

1.  John    Parslow    Jones,  born    24th    March    1810,   died    at 

Ystymllyn   15th   September    1810,   and   was   buried  at 
Criccieth,  co.  Carnarvon. 

2.  Charles  Jones  (xn). 

3.  A  son,  still-born,  16th  July  1813. 

4.  Thomas  Jones,  born  16th  June  1815  ;  died  23rd  December 

1839,  unmarried ;  buried  at  Berriew. 

5.  Ann  Frances  Parslow  Jones,  married,  1854,  her  second 

cousin,  Rice  Pryce  Buckley-Williames  (see  supra,  p.  305). 

6.  Rees  Jones,  born   24th  December  1818,  and  died  20th 

July  1872,  unmarried. 

7.  Charlotte  Jones,  born  6th  March  1820  ;  married,  8th  May 

1847,  her  second  cousin,  Joseph  Owen  Jones  (see  supra, 
p.  305).  She  died  8th  May  1886. 

8.  John  Morgan  Edwards  Jones  (xui). 

9.  Frances  Elizabeth  Jones,  born  20th  March  1822  ;  married, 

in  1850,  Samuel  Devonshire  Penrose  of  Farren  Lodge, 
Ireland,  and  died  20th  November  1865,  s.  p. ;  buried  at 
Berriew. 

xii.  CHARLES  JONES,  born    17th  July  1811;    edu- 
cated at  Trinity,  Oxford  ;  High  Sheriff  of  Montgomery- 
shire,   1851;    married    Ann    Rubbathan,    daughter   of 
John     Rubbathan    of    Wilmington     (she    died     21st 
January    1844,   aged    forty-three,   M.I,   Montgomery 
Church).      He    married,  secondly,  Jane  Valentine  of 
Ludlow.     He  died  in  November  1874,  s.  p.,  and  was 


308  PEDIGREE    OF    JONES    OF    GARTH  MILL. 

buried    at    Norwood.       His    relict,    Jane,    died    20th 
September  188.9. 

xni.  JOHN  MORGAN  EDWARDS  JONES,  late  of  No.  5, 
Gloucester  Road,  Regent's  Park,  London,  now  (1891)  of 
Loubcroy,  Wimbledon  Hill,  born  6th  March  1821,  and, 
on  the  death  of  his  elder  brother  Charles,  in  1874, 
succeeded  to  the  representation  of  the  family.  He 
married,  28th  June  1853,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Clay,  Bart.,  and  sister  of  the  present  Sir  Arthur 
Temple  Felix  Clay,  of  Burrows  Lea,  co.  Surrey,  Bart., 
and  has  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

1.  GEORGE  MOEGAN  EDWARDS  JONES  (xiv),born  16th  July  1858, 

of  11,  King's  Bench  Walk  and  Pembroke  College,  Cam- 
bridge, bracketed  4th  Wrangler  1881 ;  elected  Fellow 
of  his  College,  3rd  October  1882  ;  called  to  the  Bar  (Inner 
Temple),  Trinity  Term  1883,  and  joined  the  North  Wales 
Circuit. 

2.  Laura  Harriet  Edwards  Jones  )  r   . 

3.  Fanny  Mary  Penrose  Jones      J  llvmg 


APPENDIX  A   (see  page   300). 

AN  EPITOME  OF  TITE  WILL  OF  HUMPHREY  JONES  OF  GARTHMILL  ; 
made  26th  February  1652-3  ;  proved  28th  May  1653. 

Testator  directed  that  his  body  should  be  buried  in  the  church  of 
Berriew. 

He  devised  the  sum  of  £30  for  the  charges  of  his  funeral,  and  £10  "  to 
be  distributed  to  the  poorer  sort  of  people"  who  should  be  at  his  funeral. 

He  devised  to  Thomas  Lloyd  of  Berriew,  clerk-,  John  Kyffyn  of  Manafon, 
clerk ;  Thomas  Price  of  Dolforin  (Dolforwyn),  gentleman  ;  Howell  Jones 
of  Brithdir,  gentleman  ;  Richard  Edwards  of  Llifior,  gentleman  ;  Thomas 
Jones  of  Garthmill,  gentleman  ;  and  John  Reignolds  of  Garthmill,  "  my 
nephew,"  the  Rectory  of  Bettws  and  lands  in  Tregynon  parish  which 
testator  held  in  mortgage  from  John  Blayney  of  Gregynog,  Esq.,  for  .£400 
consideration — his  trustees  above  named  to  hold  the  same  in  trust  to- 
wards finding  arid  maintaining  a  free  school  in  the  parish  of  Berriew,  at 
the  discretion  of  his  trustees,  with  the  interest  of  the  £400  for  ever. 

If  John  Blayney  redeemed  the  mortgage  of  ,£400.  the  same  to  be  again 
put  on  mortgage  on  other  lands. 

He  also  devised  to  the  said  trustees  all  the  tithes  of  corn,  etc.,  of  the 
township  of  Garthmill,  which  testator  also  held  in  mortgage  from  John 
Blayney  for  £200  consideration,  the  trustees  to  hold  the  same  to  the  same 
uses. 

If  the  £200  mortgage  should  be  redeemed,  the  same  to  be  invested  on 


JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  309 

the  same  security  as  before.  Testator  devised  to  Richard  Jones  of  Trwst- 
llewelyn  £5,  to  Edward  Morgan  £5,  and  to  Joyce,  vcz  (verch  =  daughter) 
of  John  of  Trwstllewelyn  £5,  payable  one  year  after  testator's  decease. 

To  Morris,  Edward,  Eleanor,  and  Anne  Griffith  of  Trwstllewelyn  £5 
each,  payable  as  above.  To  Richard  Edwards  of  Llifior,  testator's  nephew, 
an  annuity  of  £20,  payable  out  of  all  testator's  lands,  tenements,  etc.,  in 
Garthmill.  To  Richard  Edwards,  testator  bequeathed  the  sum  of  £50. 

To  his  nephew,  Thomas  Jones  of  Garthmill,  testator  bequeathed  the 
sum  of  £100. 

To  William  Phellippe  of  Freeth,1  in  the  said  county,  and  Ann  his  wife, 
testator  bequeathed  £10. 

To  his  cousin,  Evan  ap  Rees  of  Keele,  and  cousin,  Meredith  Blayney  of 
Alltucha,2  he  bequeathed  the  sum  of  £5  each. 

To  Richard  Davies  of  Garthmill  testator  devised  the  sum  of  £20  12s., 
due  to  him  on  a  bond  upon  Richard  Pryce  and  John  Whittingham  of 
Hem,  gent. 

To  his  servants,  David  Alexander,  Isaac  and  John  Watkin,  to  Margaret 
Newton  and  Eleanor  Griffiths,  his  maids,  he  bequeathed  20s.  each.  To 
Anne  Jones,  his  niece  and  servant,  a  bay  mare,  and  a  black  cow,  and  house- 
room,  "  ooe  chamber  in  my  dwelling  house  at  Garthmill,  with  meat  and 
drink  at  the  charge  of  my  heir  for  her  life." 

To  Evan  Watkin  of  Trwstllewelyn  testator  bequeathed  the  sum  of  20s. 
a  year  for  life,  payable  on  the  24th  of  December  each  year. 

To  his  nephew,  Griffith  Owen,  £30 ;  to  Katherine,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth 
Owen,  £5  each. 

To  his  godson,  George  Robbins,  20s.  ;  to  his  niece,  Mary  Evans,  widow, 
£10  due  to  testator  on  a  bond  by  Randolph  Piers. 

To  his  niece,  Elizabeth  Broughton,  £10  due  by  Richard  Jones  of  Forden, 
gentleman,  and  the  interest  thereof. 

To  Rees  Morris  and  his  wife  Margaret,  one  day's  math  of  hay  laying 
in  Gwerglodd,  Garthmill,  lying  between  the  lands  of  Thomas  Jones  on 
the  one  side  and  a  brook  called  Llifior  on  the  other,  for  the  life  of  the 
said  Margaret. 

To  his  nephew,  Oliver  Owens,  20s.  ;  and  to  his  niece,  Mary  Colletts, 
spinster,  six  heifers  and  one  bullock,  two  years  old.  due  to  testator  from 
Richard  Daviea  and  Richard  Evans  for  tithe  for  Trwstllewelyn,  £25 — of 
which  sum  he  abated  them.  £8.  The  sum  of  £46,  due  to  testator  from 
other  townships  in  Berriew  parish  (named  in  the  will),  he  devised  to  his 
nephews,  Roger  ap  Richard  and  Rees  ap  Richard,  equally. 

To  Margaret,  wife  of  Rees  Morris,  he  bequeathed  two  yearling  calves  ; 
to  Blanch  Edwards,  widow,  20s. 

"  To  John  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald,  my  nephew,  I  devise  all  my  mes- 
suages and  lands  lying  in  Garthmill  and  Trwstllewelyn,  and  those  in 
Furden  parish,  to  hold  the  same  to  the  said  John  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald 
and  the  heirs  of  his  body  lawfully  issuing  for  ever. 

"In  default  to  Richard  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald  and  his  heirs,  in 
default  to  Roger  ap  Richard  and  his  heirs,  in  default  to  Rees  ap  Richard 
and  his  heirs,  in  default  to  my  right  heirs  for  ever." 

Testator  directed  his  executors  to  pay  George  Devereux  the  sum  of 
£11  towards  the  discharge  of  a  debt,  due  by  bond  upon  Mary3  Jones  of 
Brithdir,  widow,  and  Richard  Edwards  of  Llifior. 


1  A  township  in  Berriew  parish,  2  Ibid. 

3  Probably  testator's  sister. 

VOL.    XXV.  Y 


310  JONES   OF   GARTHM1LL. 

He  bequeathed  40s.  to  his  nephew,  Edward  Blaney,  and  to  William 
Newton  of  Penryn  twenty-nine  sheep. 

He  devised  to  his  nephew,  John  ap  Richard  ap  Reignalds,  all  his  lands 
in  Penryn,  which  he  held  in  mortgage  from  Owen  and  John  Penryn  for 
the  sum  of  £300,  subject  to  redemption.  This  money  John  ap  Richard 
ap  Reignalds  was  to  make  use  of  to  pay  the  legacies  with. 

He  bequeathed  to  Charles  Price  of  Trwstllewelyn  the  sum  of  £5. 

"  Whereas  there  was  an  intention  of  a  marriage  between  the  said  John 
ap  Richard  ap  Reignald,  by  the.  name  of  John  Reynolds,  of  the  one  party, 
and  Elizabeth  Price  of  Pilleth,  daughter  of  James  Price  of  Pilleth,  in  the 
county  of  Radnor,  Esquire,  deceased,  of  the  other  party ;  and  whereas 
there  was  a  draft  of  an  agreement  touching  the  said  marriage,  and  my 
will,  desire,  and  meaning  is  that  the  said  marriage  shall  take  effect 
accordingly  ;  and  if  the  said  marriage  shall  take  effect,  then  my  will  is 
that  £300,  part  of  the  portion  of  the  said  Elizabeth,  my  debts  and  legacies 
being  paid  and  £20  thereof  deducted.  I  devise  the  remainder  to  my 
executors  to  be  disposed  of  at  their  discretion  amongst  my  kindred." 

Testator  revoked  all  former  wills,  and  appointed  Thomas  Price  [?  of 
Dolforwyn],  Howell  Jones  [?  of  Brithdir],  John  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald, 
and  Richard  Morris  ap  Rees  of  Bettws,  his  executors. 

HUMPHREY  JONES. 

To  his  nephew,  John  Owen  of  Brithdir,  he  devised  £70,  £50  of  which 
was  to  be  paid  to  him  at  the  end  of  one  year  after  ttstator's  decease,  and 
£20  at  the  end  of  two  years. 

To  his  nephews,  Richard  Edwards  and  Roger  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald 
and  Rees  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald,  he  devised  the  residue  of  all  debts 
owing  to  him  to  the  extent  of  £1,000  on  an  unsatisfied  statute  due  to  him 
by  John  Blayney  of  Gregynog  Hall,  Esq. 

To  Samuel  Lloyd  the  younger,  John  Lloyd,  Richard  Lloyd  and  Anne 
Lloyd,  children  of  Samuel  Lloyd  of  Dudson,   in  the  county  of  Salop,  he 
bequeathed  the  sum  of  £5  each. 
Provided  always 

That  the  said  Richard  Edwards  and  John  Owens,  upon  receipt  of  their 
several  legacies,  and  enjoying  the  annuity  and  the  several  sums  bequeathed 
to  them  in  this  my  will  expressed,  and  to  them  severally  given  and  devised, 
shall  release  and  quit  claim  unto  my  said  nephew,  John  ap  Richard  ap 
Reignald,  and  his  heirs,  all  their  claim,  right,  and  interest  of  and  in  all  my 
messuages,  lands,  and  tenements  and  hereditaments  situate  in  Garthmill, 
Trwstllewelyn  and  Forden,  except  the  messuage  and  lands  in  the  possession 
of  William  Burley,1  and  if  they,  the  said  Richard  Edwards  and  John 
Owens,  do  implead  or  evict  the  said  John  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald  or  his 
heirs,  for  or  touching  any  of  the  said  lands,  etc.,  then  the  devise  and 
bequest  to  Richard  Edwards  and  John  Owens  shall  be  void,  and  the 
said  John  ap  Richard  ap  Reignald  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  annuity,  etc. 

Testator  devised  to  John  Thomas  of  Penryn  a  parcel  of  pasture, 
Comet  with  lying  in  Penryn,  for  two  years. 

To  George  Robins  of  Brithdir,  40s.  for  writing  this  will. 

He  charged  his  heir  to  pay  the  use  of  £42  yearly,  every  24th  of  Decem- 
ber, to  the  use  of  the  poor  of  Berriew  for  ever. 

To  Margaret,  wife  of  Piers  Ambrose  of  Brithdir,  £6  13s.  4c/.,  to  be  paid 
to  her  out  of  the  price  of  the  first  cattle  sold  by  his  executors. 

To  John  ap  Richard  ap  Keignald  all  his  cattle  and  sheep. 

1  See  Rees  Jones's  will  as  to  this.     (Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  161.) 


JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  311 

Witnesses. 

John  Blayney,    Andrew  Blayney,  Ar.  Jones,   Pryce   Owen,    Penryn  ; 
George  Robbins,  the  X  of  Ffrancis  Reynolds  of  Llandyssil. 


APPENDIX  B  (see  page  301). 

WILL  OF  JOHN  REIGNALDS,  GENTLEMAN,  OP  GARTHMILL  ;  made 
19th  December  1670;  proved  10th  July  1672. 

Testator  bequeathed  his  soul  to  God,  body  to  the  earth.  To  his 
youngest  son,  Matthew  Reighnalds,  testator  bequeathed  all  the  buildings, 
lands,  etc.,  which  he,  testator,  had  purchased  of  Richard  ap  John  of 
Trwstllewelyn,  to  hold  to  him,  Matthew,  and  his  heirs  for  ever,  yet 
nevertheless  notwithstanding  this  devise,  my  will  and  mind  is  that  "  my 
son  Humphrey  Jones  "  doe  well  and  truly  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  to  my 
son  Matthew,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  the  sum  of  £40  within  four  years  of 
my  death,  and  then  the  said  lands  are  to  go  to  my  son  Humphrey  and  to 
his  heirs  and  assigns. 

To  his  son  Valentine  Reignalds  I  devise  all  that  messuage  and  tenement 
in  Forden1  where  Thomas  Ffoulke  lives,  situate  in  Great  Hem,  and  a 
messuage  in  Little  Hem  occupied  by  Edward  Jones,  they  to  go  to  my  son 
Valentine,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  for  ever. 

To  his  three  daughters,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  Bridgett,  he  devised  all 
the  lauds  he  held  in  mortgage  from  Edward  Davies  and  Edward  Jones, 
lying  in  Garthmill,  to  hold  to  them  and  their  heirs.  If  the  mortgage  of 
£200  was  paid,  then  the  money  to  go  in  equal  parts  between  the  three 
daughters.  He  also  devised  the  land  he  held  in  mortgage  from  Richard 
Davies,  lying  in  Garthmill,  or  the  money,  share  and  share  alike  (amount 
not  mentioned).  To  son  Valentine  a  bequest  of  £40.  Beloved  wife  Mary, 
sole  executrix.  Witnessed  by  Arthur  Pryce  [Vaynor],  the  X  of  Anne 
Lloyd,  and  Thomas  Pryce  [probably  Dolforwynj. 


APPENDIX  C  (see  page  302). 

1  March  1684.      Marriage  Settlement  made  subsequent  to  the 
marriage  of  Humphrey  Jones,  Esq.,  with  Miss  Mary  Donne. 

THIS  INDENTURE  made  the  first  day  of  March  in  the  35th  year  of  the 
reigne  of  Charles  the  Second  [1684]  Between  Humphrey  Jones  of  Garthmill 
in  the  County  of  Montgomery  Gent.  Valentine  Reynolds  of  Llivior  in  the  said 
County  of  Montgomery  Cler.2  and  Mary  Reynolds  of  Llivior  aforesaid  in 
the  said  County  Widd.  Mother  of  the  said  Humphrey  and  Valentine  of  the 
first  part  Matthew  Price  of  Park  penpryce  in  the  said  County  Esquire 
Stephen  Donne  of  Glase  combe  in  the  County  of  Radnor  Gentleman  of  the 
second  part  and  James  Donne  of  St.  Martin-in-the-fields  in  the  County  of 
Middlesex  Esq  and  William  Probert  of  Llandewy  ystradenny  in  the  said 

1  As  to  this  see  Rees  Jones's  and  Humphrey  Jones's  wills. 

2  Rector  of  Llangower,  1685. 

Y  2 


312  JONES   OF   GARTHMILL. 

County  of  Radnor  Esq  of  the  third  part  WITNESSETH  that  the  said 
Humphrey  Jones  Valentine  Reynolds  and  Mary  Reynolds  in  consideration 
of  a  marriage  already  had  arid  solemnized  bet'n  the  said  Humphrey  Jones 
and  Mary  his  now  wife  sister  of  the  said  James  Donne  and  of  the  sum  of 
£600  paid  by  the  said  James  Donne  for  the  marriage  portion  and  pre- 
ferment of  her  the  said  Mary  and  for  the  settling  the  messuages,  etc.,  herein- 
after ment'd  To  the  uses  hereinafter  mentioned  It  is  agreed  betweene  the 
said  parties  to  these  presents  that  the  said  Humphrey  Jones  Valentine 
Reynolds  and  Mary  Reynolds  shall  att  the  next  Great  Sessions  to  be  held 
in  the  said  county  of  Montgomery  acknowledge  and  leavy  unto  the  said 
Matthew  Pryce  and  Stephen  Donne  one  fine  sur  cognizance  de  droit  come 
ceo,  etc.,  according  to  the  Statute  in  that  case  provided  of  All  that  Capital 
Messuage  tenement  and  lands  in  Garthmill  aforesaid  and  Trustelewelin  in 
the  said  County  of  Montgomery  wherein  the  said  Humphrey  Jones  doth 
now  dwell  with  all  the  demeasne  lands  thereunto  belonging  or  therewith  at 
any  time  heretofore  used  And  of  all  that  Messuage  in  Trustewelin  afore- 
said sometime  in  the  tenure  of  Mary  Moris  widow  and  now  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  Moris  Arthur  Edward  Broughton  and  the  said  Humphrey  Jones 
And  of  all  those  Messuages  and  lands  in  Trustewelin  aforesaid  heretofore  in 
the  po;-session  of  Thomas  ap  Evan  and  now  in  the  possession  of  Thomas 
Moris  Thomas  ap  Pro  bert  and  Matthew  Jones  their  undert'ts  or  ass's  And  of 
all  ye  Messuage  and  lands  in  Trustewelin  af's'd  late  in  the  possession  of  Evan 
Watkin  and  now  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  his  undert'ts  or  ass's  All 
which  messuages,  etc.,  were  heretofore  in  the  possession  of  John 
Reynolds  and  Richard  Reynolds  or  either  of  them  their  undertenants  and 
assigns  and  are  now  in  the  tenure  poss'n  or  occup'n  of  the  sev'l  persons  here- 
after named  and  called  or  known  by  the  sev'l  names  hereafter  ineiit'd  (viz.)1 
Cae  dwr  Cae  grino,  Cae  werne,  Cae  Llwyd  and  y  patch  glase,  Cae  helig 
wyn,  Cae  Llivior,  Cae  r  hen  du  gweir,  Llivior,  fron  goch  ucha,  fron  goch 
issa,  fron  goch  ganol,  Cud  is  pistodlyn  bryn  y  maen,in  the  possession  of  the 
s'd  Humph'y  Jones — gweir  glodd  ar  hen  du  and  the  dogt  in  the  poss'n  of 
Matthew  Jones  hia  uud'ts  or  ass's  Cefn  garth  mill  in  the  poss'n  of  Griffith 
Robinson  Gent,  gweir  glodd  Garth  mill  in  the  poss'n  of  Robert  Jones  Gent. 
Cwm  gwydd  ucha  and  Cwm  gwydd  issa  als  Cwm  y  gwydd  Llwyn  y  berth 
byarth  y  Daile  the  upper  Cae  John  ap  Prichard  and  part  of  the  middle 
Cae  John  ap  Prichard  in  the  poss'n  of  Edw'd  Davies  gent.  Bella  wen  the 
rest  of  the  midle  Cae  John  ap  Richard  the  lower  Cae  John  ap  Prichard 
Close  y  garnedd  and  Cae  goch  in  the  poss'n  of  the  said  Humphrey  Jones 
and  by  him  lately  demised  to  William  Jennings  Salt  Currier  All  that 
Messuage  called  Pen  y  bryn  formerly  in  the  poss'n  of  the  said  Mary 
Moris  in  Trustewelyn  af's'd  viz.  Cae  tan  y  Strybor  Cae  tan  y  berllan  Peny 
bryn  those  sev'l  parcels  of  land  lieing  in  the  sev'l  fields  called  the  upper 
maes  ur  gweir  glodd  rnaes  o  ddiar  y  bont  Close  bach.  All  that  parcell  of 
land  lying  in  a  field  called  Erw  goch  Two  thirds  of  one  part  of  a  meadow 
lying  in  Gweir  glodd  r  helyg  Two  other  third  parts  of  a  meadow  lying  in 
Gweir  glodd  bach  now  in  the  sev'l  poss'ns  or  occ'ns  of  the  said  Humphrey 
Jones  Morris  Arthur  Edward  Broughton  and  Hugh  ap  Pritchard  their 
undert'ts  or  ass's  All  that  Messuage  tenement  and  lands  'formerly  in  the 
poss'n  of  Thomas  ap  Evan  (viz.)  The  messuage  and  tent't  with  one  parcel  of 
land  adjoining  to  it  now  in  the  poss'n  of  Thomas  Moris  One  meadow 
called  Gweir  glodd  pwll  y  boding  in  the  poss'n  or  occu'n  of  Richard  Evans 


1  The  names  of  the  fields  are  curious  and   worthy  of  attention. 
Also  the  parcels  of  land  lying  within  common  fields. 


JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  313 

yeoman  One  parcel  of  land  lying  in  a  field  called  Maes  Llettu  Evan  called 
Erw  gron  in  the  poss'n  or  occ'n  of  Thomas  ap  Probert  Two  other  parcells 
lying  in  Maes  Llettu  Evan  af's'd  now  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Matthew  Jones 
The  sev'l  parcells  lying  in  a  common  field  called  lower  Maes  r  gweir  glodd 
in  the  sev'l  poss'ns  of    the  said  Humphrey  Jones  and  Robert  Jones  The 
sev'l  parcells  of  land  lying  in  two  sev'l  common  fields  called  Maes  y  bont 
ucha  and  Maes  y  bont  issa  now  in  the  tenure  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones 
Two  meadows  called  Gwerglodd  ddu  and  ddol  in  the  sev'l  tenures  of  the  s'd 
Humph'y  Jones  and  Moris  Arthur  And  All  the  other  part  of  a  meadow 
called  Gweir  glodd  Helig  tog'r  with  a  third  part  of  another  meadow  lying 
in  another  meadow  called  Gweirglodd  Vach  in  Trustewelyn  af's'd  lately 
purchased  by  the  said  Humph'y  Jones  of  George  Morgan  and  Elizabeth  his 
wife  now  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Humph'y  Jones  The  third  part   of  a 
messuage  and  ten't  lately  p'chased  by  the  s'd  Humph'y  Jones  from  Francis 
Jones  and  Joice  his  wife  now  in  the  possession  of  Matthew  Jones  his  undert't 
or  ass's  All  those  parcells  of  arable  and  meadow  ground  lately  purchased 
by  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  from  Cadw'r  DaviesEhz'th  his  wife  and  George 
Morgan  or  either  of  them  now  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Humph'y  JoLes 
And  all  that  Messuage  and  lands  lately  purchased  of  Edward  Davies  the 
Elder  Edw'd  Davies   the   y'r  and  Anne  Smyth  of   Walcott   by   the   s'd 
Humph'y  Jones  All  those  chiefe  or  fee  farm  rents1  arising  out   of   those 
sev'l  houses  in  the  Towne  of  Poole  in  the  sev'l  poss'ns  of  Mary  J'n  Tudder 
Elizabeth  Griffith  John    Corbett  Robert  Jones  and   Rees  Lloyd  And  of 
all  other  the  Messuages,  etc.,  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  his  undert'ts  or 
ass's  And  of  all  houses,  etc.,  All  which  s'd  mess's,  etc.,  are  sit'e  in  Garth  mill 
and  Trustywelyn  in  the  parish  of  Berriew  in  the  County  of  Montg'y  and 
all   comprized  in  the  said  fine   by  the  name  or  names  of  6   mess's  Seven 
Tofts  five  gardens  6  orchards  200  acres  of  land  110  acres  of  meadow  180 
acres  of  pasture  40  acres  of  Wood  and  500  acres  of  furrs  and  heath  in 
Garthmill  and  Trustewelyn  in  the  p'sh  of  Berriew  And  that  the  s'd  fine 
to  be  levyed  shall  be  enure  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Matthew  Pryce  and  Stephen 
Donne  and  their  heires  To  the  iut't  that  a  common  recovery  may  be  thereof 
had  against  them  att  the  s'd  next  Great  Sessions  on  the  tenants  of  the  free- 
hold thereof. 

And  that  the  s'd  Recovery  soe  to  be  levied  shall  enure  To  such  uses  etc. 
as  are  hereafter  decl'd  viz.  As  touching  13  acres  lying  in  the  lower  maes 
ir  weirglodd  now  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Robert  Jones  and  Humphrey 
Jones  to  the  use  of  the  s'd  Mary  Reignolds  for  the  term  of  3  years  from 
the  Annuntiation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  next  CL suing  And  after  the 
determination  thereof  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Humph'y  Jonts  for  the  term 
of  his  life  and  after  his  decease  Then  to  the  use  of  the  s'd  Mary  his  wife 
for  the  term  of  her  life  as  parte  of  her  jointure  out  of  the  Estate  of  the  s'd 
Humphrey  Jones  And  as  concerning  the  sev'l  parcells  of  land  called 
Gweir  glodd  'r  hen  du  and  the  croft  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Matthew 
Jones  Cefn  Garthmill  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Griffith  Robinson  Gweir 
glodd  Garthmill  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Robert  Jones  Cwni  gwydd 
ucha  als  Cwm  Gwydd  byarth  y  dail  the  upper  Cae  Jo'n  ap  Pritchard 
and  part  of  the  Middle  Cae  John  ap  Pritchard  in  the  poss'on  of  the  said 
Edward  Davies  the  rest  of  the  middle  Cae  John  ap  Pritchard  the  lower 
Cae  John  ap  Pritchard  Close  y  garnedd  and  Cae  Coch  now  in  the  poss'n 
of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  Ihose  sev'l  parcells  of  land  lying  in  the 
several  fields  called  the  upper  maes  y  gweirglodd  maes  oddiar  y  bont  and 

1  These  chief  rents  were  probably  acquired  by  Rees  Jones  (iv)  by 
his  marriage  with  Joyce,  daughter  of  Roger  Jones  of  Welsh  pool. 


314  JONES    OF    GA.RTHMILL. 

Close  bach  All  that  parcell  of  land  lying  in  a  field  called  Erw  goch  two 
thirds  of  one  parte  of  a  meadow  lying  in  gweir  glodd  helig  two  third  parts 
of  a  meadow  lying  in  gweir  glodd  vach  now  in  the  sev'l  poss'ns  of  the  said 
Humphrey  Jones  Edward  Broughton  and  Hugh  ap  Pritchard  All  that 
messuage   &c.  formerly  in   the  poss'on   of   Thomas  ap  Evan  (viz.)  the 
messuage  with  one  parcell  of  land  belonging  to  it  in  the  pos'n  of  the  s'd 
Thomas  Moris  one  meadow  called  Gweir  glodd  pwll  y  beding  in  the  poss'n 
of  the  s'd  R'd  Evans  One  parcell  of  lai.d  lying  in  a  field  called  Maes 
Hetty  Evan  called  Erw  grin  in  the  p'n  of  the  s'd  Thomas  ap  Probert 
Two   other   parcells  lying  in  Maes  Lletty  Evan  af's'd  now  in  poss'n  or 
occ'n  of  the  s'd  Matthew  Jones  The  sev'l  parcells  of  land  called  Maes 
Llettu  ir  Telaf  and  Cae  ir  finnon  now  called  Maes  Truslewelyn  and  Pen 
llwyn  y  Pi  in  the  pos'n  of  the  s'd  Matthew  Jones  Sev'l  parcells  of  land 
lying  in  two  common  fields  called  Maes  y  bont  ucha  and  Maes  y  bont 
issa  now  in  the  tenure  or  occ'n  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  All  the  third 
parte  of  a  meadow  called  Gweir  glodd  helig  tog'r  with  the  third  parte  of 
another  meadow  lying  and  being  in  a  meadow  called  Gweir  glodd  Vach  in 
Trustlewelyn   af's'd   lately  purchased   by  the  said  Humphrey  Jones  of 
George  Morgans  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  now  in  the  possession  of  the  s'd 
Humphrey  Jones  The  thirde  part  of  a  mess'e  and  ten't  lately  purchased  by 
the  said  Humphrey  Jones  of  Francis  Jones  and  Joice  his  wife  now  in  the 
poss'n  of  the  said  Matthew  Jones  his  undert'ts  and  six  obeds  in  Maes  tan 
y  bont  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Humph'y  Jones  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Mary 
Reign  olds  for  the  terme  of  her  life  in  full  satisfaction  of  her  dower  out  of 
the  Estate  of  the  said  John  Reignold  her  late  husband  dec'd  and  in  lieu 
of  a  rent  charge  h'tofore  granted  to  the  said  Mary  out  of  the  Estate  of 
her  s'd  husband  and  after  her  decease  to  the  use  of  the  s'd  Humphrey 
Jones  for  the  terme  of  his  life  And  after  his  decease  To  the  use  of  the  s'd 
Mary  his  wife  for  the  term  of  her  life  for  and  in  recompence  of  another 
parcell  of  the  jointure  and  dower  of  her  the  said  Mary  out  of  the  Est'e  of 
tiie  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  And  as  concerning  All  that  Mess'e  etc.  lately 
purch'd   of    Edw'd  Davies  the  Elder  Edward  Davies  the  y'r  and  Anne 
Smythe  of  Walcott  by  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  To  the  use  of  the  s'd 
Humphrey  Jones  for  the  term  of  his  life  And  from  his  decease  To  the  use 
of  the  s'd  Mary  his  wife  for  the  term  of  her  life  in  lieu  of  and  in  full 
redemption  of  her  dower  out  of  the  Estate  and  of  the  endowm't  of  the 
said  Humphrey  Jones  And  as  concerning  All  that  mess'e  called  Pen  y 
bryn  formerly  in  the  poss'n  of  the  s'd  Mary  Moris  (viz.)  Cae  tan  y  Sty b or 
Cae  tan  y  berllan  and  Pen  y  bryn  with  the  orchards  and  Closes  adj'g  now  in 
the  pos'n  of  the  s'd  Moris  Arthur  and  Fron  goch  issa  in  the  pos'n  of  the 
s'd  Humphrey  Jones  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  H.  Jones  for  the  term  of  his 
life  and  from  his  decease  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Mary  his  wife  for  the 
terme  of  her  life  if  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones   die   with't   issue   of   her 
body  by  him   begotten   or   that   shall   not   be   of   her   body  born   alive 
after  his  death  And  as  concerning  All  that  Cap'l  Mess'e  ten't  and  lands  with 
the  app'ts  in  Garth  mill  af's'd  in  the  s'd  Co.  of  Montg'y  wherein  the  said 
Humphrey  Jones  doth  now  dwell  and  all  the  demesne  lands  thereto  bel'g 
or  therewith  now  or  heretofore  at  any  time  used  And  of  all  those  sev'l 
pieces  of  land  called  Cae  dwr  Cae  gronow  Caen  waen  Cae  Lloyd  and  y 
Patch  glase  Cae  ir  helygwyn  Cae  Llivior  Gweir  glodd  llivior  Fron  goch 
ucha  Fron  goch  ganol  Cae  ir  pistodlyn  and  Bryn  y  maen  in  the  poss'n  of 
the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Humph'y  Jones  for  the 
term  of  his  life  and  from  his  decease  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Mary  his  wife  for 
the  term  of  60  years  next  ensuing  if  the  s'd  Mary  Reiguolds  mother  of 
the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  sh'd  so  long  live  and  not  otherwise  And  as  touch- 
ing All  those  sev'  pieces  of  land  called  Cae  ir  hen  du  in  the  s'd  pos'n  of 


JONES    OF    GARTH  MILL. 


315 


the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  Sev'l  pieces  of  land  being  in  a  common  field 
called  lower  maes  r  weir  glodd  in  the  sev'l  pos'ns  of  the  s'd  Humphrey 
Jones  and  Robert  Jones  Two  meadows  called  Gweir  glodd  ddu  and  y  Ddol  in 
the  sev'l  ten's  or  occ'ns  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  and  Moris  Arthur  And 
all  those  chief  or  fee  farm  rents  arising  or  growing  out  of  all  those  sev'l 
houses  in  Towne  of  Poole  And  all  o'r  the  Mess'es  etc.  of  the  s'd  Hurnpb.  Jones 
and  All  and  sing'r  all  houses  etc.  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  for 
the  term  of  his  life  and  from  his  decease  To  the  use  of  the  s'd  Mary  his  wife 
for  the  term  of  the  life  if  the  s'd  H.  Jones  die  with't  issue  of  her  body  by 
him  begotten  or  that  shall  not  be  of  her  body  borne  alive  after  his  death 
And  as  touching  All  the  reversion  and  rem'r  of  all  and  sing'r  the  premises 
after  the  sev'l  Est's  lim'd  as  af's'd  And  as  the  same  shall  resp'ly  deter- 
mine To  the  use  of  William  Donne  and  W.  Probert  and  their  heirs  during  life 
of  H.  Jones  In  trust  to  preserve  contingent  rem'r  To  the  use  of  the  1st 
son  of  the  marriage  in  tail  gen'  with  rem'r  to  the  23456  and  7  and  o'r  sons 
in  like  tail  with  rem'r  To  the  1  and  other  daughters  in  like  tail  with  rem'r 
To  the  use  of  Rees  Reignolds  of  Llivior  Gent,  in  tail  gen'l  rem'r 
To  the  use  of  Matthew  Reynolds  of  Llivior  Gent,  in  tail  gen'l  rem'r 
To  the  use  of  Elizabeth  Reynolds  of  Llivior  af's'd  Spinster  in  tail 

rem'r 

Tc  the  use  of  Bridgett  Reynolds  of  Garthmill  af's'd  Spinster  rem'r 

To  the  use  of  the  right  heirs  of  the  s'd  Humphrey  Jones  for  ever. 
Proviso  if  Mary  die  without  issue  within  3  years  £300  to  be  returned 
to  S.  Donne. 

Power  to  H.  Jones  to  will  a  deed  to  charge  portion  for  younger  children 
not  ex'g  £300. 


APPENDIX   D   (see  page  302). 
MELIN  Y  GEUG  :  YR  HIE  lios  IN  LLANLODDIAN. 

John  ap  Evan  ap  David  ap  Tudur=f  Mali,  v'rch    David  Lloyd.  =  Griffith   ap 
Vaughan  ap  Ednyved  Gocb,  ap  Meredith. 

Griffith. 


I 

Howell.=rElen,  verch  Evan  ap  John  ap  Ednyved  of  the 
Wayn,  in  Martin. 


OJU.-T-J 


("  David  ap  Huwell  ap 
leuan,     gent.",     on 
county    Grand    Juries, 
33-4  Henry  VIII.) 


Daviii.=pMawd,  verch  David  ap  Meredith  ap  Howell  ap 
Dai  ap  Madoc  Lloyd  ap  David  Vain. 


("  Evanus  ap  David  ap 
Howell  de  Llan- 
vayre", and  "Evanus 
David  ap  Howell  ap 
John",  on  county  G. 
Juries  from  41  Eliz. 
to  7  James  I.) 


1 

van.^ 
P 

s 
? 

-Catherine,  verch  Evan      Owen     Marg't,  mar. 
ap  David  ap  Griffith         ap            Evan  ap 
ap  Dai.    Her  mother     David.       David  ap 
was  G  \venllian,  verch                       David  ap 
Kees    ap    David    ap                        Meyrick 
Bedo     ap     Meyrick                         Lloyd. 
Kwch. 

Gwen,      Jane,  mar.  Cadwaladr  ap  Owei 
married.           ap  Evan  David  ap  Gwilyru. 

!  " 


316 


JONES    OF    GARTHMILL. 


Edward.= 
("Edrusapleun,gen.", 
and   "Edrus  Evans 

=Lowry  ,  verch    David.  =  Seina,  verch 
Morgan                             James 
David  ap                            David 

!   1   1 

Jane. 
Eleanor. 

de  Pentirch,    gen.", 

Llewelyn  ap                      Lloyd  of 

Seina. 

on    G.    Juries    from 
8    James    I    to    17 

David  Lloyd.                       Llanvair. 
(On  G.  J. 

All  mar 

James  I.) 

from  27-37 

ried. 

Eliz.) 

[fg|r  Morgan  Edward.: 

("  Morganus  Edwards  de  Pentirch,  gen,"  Hund. 
of  Mathraval,  on  G.  Juries,  3  Ch.  I  to  6  Ch. 
II.) 


Ales,  verch  Cadwaladr  ap 
Owen. 


John  Edwards  of  Melyn^Mary,  dan.  of  John  Pryce  of  Park,  sister  and  co- 
ygrug.  heir  of  Math.    Pryce,  M.  P.    for   Montgomery 


Boroughs  from  1678-85. 


Morgan  Ed  wards  of  Melyn= 
y  grug,  Sheriff  in  1738. 


=pSusanna,  second  of  the  nine  daughters  and  co- 
heirs of  Ehys  Wynn  of  Eunant,  by  Anne  his 
•wife,  daughter  of  Eobert  John  Wynne  of  Glyn, 
High  Sheriff  of  Merioneth  in  1657  and  1659. 
Lewys  Dwnn,  vol.  i,  p.  321,  under  "  Eunant", 
has  "  Eobert  Wynu  of  Glynn". 


1 

Morgan= 
Edwards 

=...,  daughter 
and  heiress 

Bridget,  only= 
daughter 

-Humphrey  Jones  of  Garthmill,  by 
whom     she     had     with      other 

of  Melyn 

of  ...  Owen 

and  heiress. 

children    Humphrey     Jones    of 

y  grug. 

of    Ehyd.y- 

Garthmill  and  Meylyn  y  grug, 

gro: 

A  Son,  o.  s.  p. 


From  "  Morgan  Edward"  upwards,  with  the  exception  of  the  corrobo- 
rative evidence  between  brackets,  is  derived  from  Lewis  Dwnn's 
Visitations,  vol.  i,  p.  286.  The  notes  and  succeeding  generations  are 
on  sufficiently  good  authority.— W.  V.  LL. 


APPENDIX  E  (see  page  302). 

A  RENTAL  OF  ME.  HUMPHREY  JONES'S,  OF  GARTHMILL,  ESTATE, 

LYING  IN  THE  PARISH  OF  BERRIEW  AND  COUNTY  OF 

MONTGOMERY.     [1748.] 


The  Capital  Messuage  called  Upper  Garthmill,  together 
with  part  of  the  ffarme  and  Lands  thereunto  belong- 
ing on  the  same,  now  is  lett  (subject  to  Land  tax  and 
chief  rent  only)  unto  William  Rubbathan  at  the  yearly 
rent  of 


d. 


67     00     00 


JONES    OF    GARTHMILL.  317 


Another  part  of  the  lands  usually  lett  with  the  said  Capital     £      s.       d. 
Messuage,  but    now    lett    to   Mr.  Edward   Turner  of 
Kilgorgan,  clear  of  taxes  and  deductions,  at  the  yearly 
rent  of  M         20     00     00 

Another  part  of  the  same  lands,  but  now  in  Mr.  Jones's 
own  holding,  called  by  the  name  of  Llivior  meadows,  and 
lett  to  ....  the  last  occupier  thereof  ...  ...  12  00  00 

Another  parcell  of  the  same  lands,  but  now  lett  to  Samuel 
Parry  of  Truttewelin,  clear  of  all  abatements,  at  the 
yearly  rent  of  02  00  00 

Another  part  of  the  same  lands,  but  now  lett  to  Vaughan 

Price  of  Llivior,  clear  of  all  taxes,  at  the  yearly  rent  of      02     17     06 

Another  parcel  of  the  same  lands,  formerly  let  with  the 
Capitall  Messuage,  but  now  lett  to  Francis  Edwards 
of  Trustewelin,  together  with  (but  exclusive  of  the 
rent  of)  another  messuage  and  ffarme  of  the  said  Mr. 
Jones's,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  05  00  00 

The  said  messuage  and  ffarme  called  the  Whitehouse,  lying 
in  Trustewelin  in  the  said  parish  of  Berriew,  lett  to  the 
said  Francis  Edwards,  subject  to  land  tax  and  chief 
rent,  at  the  yearly  rent  of 19  00  00 

Another  Messuage  called  Pen-y-Bryn,  lying  in  Trustewelin 
aforesaid,  lett  to  the  said  Samuel  Parry  (subject  to  land 
tax  and  chief  rent)  at  the  yearly  rent  of 09  00  00 

Another  messuage  and  lands  lying  in  the  Township  of  Garth- 
mill,  lett  to  John  Broughton  (subject  to  land  tax  and 
chief  rent) ,  at  the  yearly  rent  of 04  08  DO 

Another  messuage  and  land  called  Tu  ton  y  ffron,  lying  in 
the  Township  of  Trustewelin,  lett  to  Thomas  Evans 
(subject  to  land  tax  and  chief  rent)  at  the  yearly  rent 
of  03  00  00 

A  small  messuage  and  garden  lying  in  Garthinill,  called 
Cwm  gwydd,  lett  to  Thomas  Kynerley,  free  of  all  taxes 
and  deductions,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  01  10  00 

Several  parcells  of  lands  called  the  Cwm  gwydd's,  lying  in 
Garthmill,  lett  to  Humphrey  Turner,  clear  of  all  taxes, 
at  the  yearly  rent  of  ' 08  00  00 

Three  several  parcells  of  land  in  Garthmill,  now  in  Mr. 
Jones's  hands,  but  lett  to  the  last  occupier  (clear  of 
all  taxes)  at  the  yearly  rent  of  05  00  00 

That  part  of  the  Capitall  Messuage  with  the  orchard,  and 

one  parcell  of  land  in  Mr.  Jones's  hands 03     00     00 


£161     15     06 


The  outgoings  are  only  a  charge  of           ...     £15     00     00 
per  annum  towards  the  free  Schools  of 
Berriew,  and  to  the  Poor  02     00     00 

To  Mrs.  Bridgett  Jones,  mother  of  Mr.  Jones, 

for  life,  instead  of  Dower  25     00    00 

42     00     00 


£119     15     06 


318  JONES    OF    GARTHMILL. 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  ALL  MR.  HUMPHREY  JONES'S  DEBTS  DUE  FROM 

HTM    TO  ANY  PERSON  OR  PERSONS  WHOMSOEVER. 

To  Mrs.  Anne  Howells  of  Garthmill,  by  Mr.  Jones's  single     £       s. 
bond,  dated  on  or  about  the  25th  day  of  March  1747  ...     80     00 

To  Mr.  Humphrey  Jones  of  Clethie,  in  the  parish  of 
Llanllochaiarne,  by  Mr.  Jones's  single  bond,  dated  on 
or  about  the  30th  day  of  April  1747  80  00  00. 


£160    00     00 

N.B. — Mr.  Jones's  arrears  of  rent  due  to  him  from  his 
Tennants  at  Lady  diy  last,  his  Household  furniture, 
corn  now  cutt  and  divided  with  the  present  tenants  at 
Garthmill,  the  remainder  of  his  stock  of  cattle,  unsold 
Horses  and  implements  of  husbandry,  will  nearly  balance 
the  above  debt  160  00  00 

The  rental  on  the  other  side,  with  the  outgoings  therein  mentioned, 
and  the  above  amount  of  his  debts,  as  allsoe  the  value  of  Mr.  Jones' 
personall  estate,  I  know  to  be  strictly  just  and  true  in  all  respects  as  if  the 
same  were  given  in  upon  oath.  Witness  my  hand  this  17th  day  of  August 
in  the  year  of  Lord  1748, 

CHARLES  HUMPHREYS. 


319 


UNUSUAL  FORMS  OF  GROWTH  IN  PLANTS: 

WITH    LOCAL    EXAMPLES. 

BY  THE  EEV.  J.  E.  VIZE,  M.A.,  F.R.M.S.,  etc.,  Forden  Vicarage, 

Welshpool. 


THE  monstrosities  of  plants,  including  all  their  eccen- 
tricities, be  they  great  or  small — the  departures,  in 
fact,  from  the  standard  shape  or  growth  of  all  vege- 
tables— are  interesting.  The  subject  of  these  unusual 
changes  in  life  is  a  very  wide  one,  and,  without 
a  doubt,  may  affect  every  plant  that  grows.  The 
freaks,  however,  are  very  uncertain.  You  never  can 
rely  upon  them.  They  may  be  present  one  season 
upon  certain  plants,  and  not  necessarily  there  the 
next,  although,  as  a  rule,  they  are  permanent. 

Man  has  a  good  deal  of  influence  upon  plants.  He 
may  enrich  his  soil  so  that,  instead  of  producing  certain 
standards  of  the  usual  type,  he  may  cause  luxuriant 
growths  to  start  into  existence  which  would  not  other- 
wise be  there  ;  or  he  may  impoverish  the  land,  so  that 
poor,  puny,  depauperated  specimens  are  grown.  Man, 
however,  with  his  actions  for  good  or  bad,  is  not  the 
only  agent  accountable  for  these  things.  Some  seasons 
are  richer  than  others.  We  may  have  a  seasonable 
winter  with  a  good  amount  of  snow,  thus  manuring 
the  earth  with  chemical  compositions  it  would  not 
otherwise  have.  On  the  other  hand,  there  may  be 
a  warm  winter,  which  certainly  deprives  the  trees  and 
shrubs  of  the  frost  to  harden  the  timber,  and  so 
invigorate  them.  The  effect  of  these  variations  is 
felt  more  than  we  think.  They  exist  without  our 
appreciating  them,  but  are  none  the  less  real. 

Moisture,  such  as  rain  and  heavy  dews,  also  exerts 
its  influence.  This  can  easily  be  understood.  Let 


320     UNUSUAL  FORMS  OF  GROWTH  IX  PLANTS  I 

vegetation  be  for  a  time  without  rain,  how  stagnant 
it  becomes  :  growth  in  the  right  season  of  the  year 
for  growth  is  checked.  But  wait  for  the  genial  rain 
to  come,  and  the  old  remark  about  seeing  things 
grow  under  our  eyes  seems  to  be  verified. 

The  effects  of  these  changes  will  be  detected  in  all 
sorts  of  ways.  Moreover,  they  can  be  found  close  at 
home,  if  we  look  for  them.  It  will  be  safe  to  venture 
the  remark  that  scarcely  a  garden  of  any  kind  is  free 
from  these  freaks  of  nature. 

In  flowering  plants  an  interesting  variation  from  the 
usually  somewhat  round  stem  sometimes  takes  place. 
The  stem  may  become  flattened  by  the  branches  con- 
glomerating together,  and  retaining  no  longer  the 
round,  but  a  very  flat,  appearance.  It  is  not  like 
a  ribbon  exactly,  because  a  ribbon  is  thin ;  but  if  we 
could  imagine  a  ribbon  with  the  thin  side  thickened 
to  less  than  a  quarter  of  its  width,  we  might  get 
a  fair  idea  of  the  reality  of  the  bundling  together  of 
the  head  and  stem  of  the  plant.  The  term  given  to 
this  process  is  fasciation.  When  the  flowers  are  borne 
at  the  tips  of  the  branches  in  a  healthy  state,  they 
would  be  on  separate  stalks,  but  they  are  very  apt  to 
become  fused  together  in  fasciation.  It  is  interesting 
to  see  these  eccentricities. 

But  without  fasciation  the  stems  of  plants  may  be 
eccentric  :  they  sometimes  twist  spirally  in  the  fashion 
of  a  corkscrew",  instead  of  being  straight.  This  occurs 
frequently  on  plantains,  and  it  is  to  be  noticed  that 
this  spiral  shape  makes  the  head  of  it  forked  or 
branched.  The  cause  of  this  may  be  that  the  spiral 
vessels  and  the  other  parts  of  the  plant  are  so  much 
out  of  their  ordinary  course  that  the  fluids,  etc.,  are 
diverted  from  the  usual  plan,  and  hence  become  queerly 
shaped. 

Leaves  are  also  not  confined  as  to  normal  shape  and 
number.  The  scarlet  runner  bean  gives  a  fusion  of 
two  leaves  into  one,  thus  making  what  should  be 
three  leaves  only  two.  Again,  you  may  find  the 


WITH  LOCAL  EXAMPLES.  321 

uppermost  leaf  divided  into  two,  by  which  means  four 
leaves  are  formed  in  the  place  of  the  three.  And  you 
may  get  each  separate  leaf  formed  into  two,  so  that, 
instead  of  three,  there  are  six  leaves  on  one  stalk. 

Then,  again,  the  very  queer  way  in  which  many  of 
the  umbelliferous  plants  start  a  new  side  branch  of 
flowers  from  their  head  blossoms  is  remarkable.  It 
has  been  said  that  the  cause  of  this  arises  from  the 
blossoms  having  been  formed,  and  then  some  luxuriant 
and  sudden  vigour  is  given  to  the  plant,  such  as  rain, 
or  the  rootlets  finding  unusual  richness  in  the  soil. 
But  this  version  of  the  matter  will  scarcely  be  thought 
satisfactory,  because  more  than  one  branch  should 
grow — indeed,  several  more  should — whereas  they  do 
not.  One  effort  is  all  that  is  obtained.  Several  other 
plants  besides  the  umbelliferous  ones  are  liable  to  this 
freak.  Cultivated  geraniums,  scabious,  etc.,  will  supply 
instances. 

Instead  of  a  side  shoot,  it  is  possible  to  meet  with 
a  shoot  from  the  very  centre.  This  form  is  much 
more  difficult  to  find  than  the  other. 

Seeds  and  seed-cases  furnish  many  peculiar  forms  of 
eccentric  shape.  The  common  hazel  nut  is  frequently 
found  with  two  or  three  nuts  where  only  one  is 
generally.  In  some  parts  of  the  country  there  is 
a  superstition  about  these  double  nuts.  People  think 
it  very  unlucky  to  crack  them.  They  also  consider  it 
to  be  lucky  to  keep  them  in  their  pockets.  Super- 
stition must  have  a  vast  hold  on  a  boy's  temper  when 
it  will  let  him  forego  the  pleasure  of  eating  a  nut,  so 
that  in  preference  he  will  keep  it  as  a  charm.  Nuts 
of  all  kinds,  the  stones  of  peaches,  nectarines,  plums, 
apples,  etc.,  give  instances  of  double  or  even  treble 
fructification. 

Mosses  vary  their  external  form  sometimes.  It  is 
not  easy  to  detect  this,  because  their  size  is  so  small. 
Records,  however,  exist  in  which  some  of  them  have 
grown  all  well  at  first,  but  the  stalk  bearing  the 
fruit-vessels  has  divided  in  its  growth  upwards,  and  so 


322  UNUSUAL  FORMS  OF  GROWTH  IN  PLANTS  I 

two  heads  of  fruit  instead  of  one  have  been  produced. 
Again,  other  examples  are  given  in  which  they  have 
had  one  single  stalk,  but  at  the  top  of  the  stalk  there 
have  been  two  ovaries,  and  the  result  has  been  that 
two  capsules  of  fruit  have  been  formed,  closely  con- 
nected together,  and  firmly  attached  to  each  other. 

Should  any  one  think  that  the  subject  here  treated 
of  is  of  no  importance,  the  reply  in  part  would  be, 
that  as  a  necessity  the  active  minds  of  some  people 
must  have  an  occupation  over  and  above  the  ordinary 
business  of  life  ;  and  why  these  queer  forms  of  life 
should  not  take  their  place  amongst  the  various  extra 
studies  for  the  improvement  of  the  mind,  no  one  can 
tell.  If  people  like  to  study  these  freaks  of  nature 
and  kindred  subjects  as  a  study,  there  is  a  vast  and 
unexplored  field  of  labour  ahead.  If  they  take  it  up  as 
an  amusement,  they  may  become  pleased  and  delighted 
with  it.  It  will  make  them  spend  many  and  many  an 
hour  in  the  enchanting  book  of  nature. 

I  append  a  few  eccentric  forms  of  plants,  princi- 
pally obtained  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Welshpool, 
and  even  from  a  distance  if  well  worthy  of  record. 

On  the  16th  May  1891  I  was  supplied  with  some 
unusual  forms  of  geranium  from  Gunley.  One  of  them 
has  the  bunch,  of  what  are  generally  flowers  only, 
divided  about  equally  between  leaves  and  flowers. 
Two  others,  instead  of  being  floral  at  the  head,  have 
branched  themselves  into  twro  floral  heads  opposite  to 
each  other,  and  are  both  of  them  full  of  buds  ;  the 
centre  between  the  two  has  several  leaves  the  size  of 
a  sixpenny-piece.  Another  shows  a  very  tall  stalk  of 
flowers,  arid,  strange  to  say,  there  issues,  five  inches 
down  the  stem,  another  bunch  of  flowers,  four  inches 
high,  with  a  flattened  instead  of  a  round  stalk.  A 
fourth  form  has  a  lateral  shoot  four  and  a  half  inches 
long,  one  blossom  of  which  is  very  elongated,  and 
another  very  twisted  and  thickened. 

In  my  garden  there  grew  some  very  queerly  shaped 
plums.  They  were  malformed,  possibly  from  an  imper- 


WITH    LOCAL    EXAMPLES.  323 

feet  development  of  the  stalk  on  which  they  were  pro- 
duced. The  result  was  that  instead  of  taking  the 
normal  shape,  one  side  of  the  plum  was  much  smaller 
than  the  other,  especially  at  the  lower  part  of  the 
stone.  By  making  two  marks  for  eyes,  and  one  slit 
for  a  mouth,  they  very  much  resembled  the  head  of  a 
monkey  on  a  small  scale.  I  have  seen  a  plate  of  a  sloe, 
the  fruit  of  which  assumed  a  somewhat  funny  shape, 
different  from  my  plums.  A  figure  of  it  is  given  in 
the  Berwickshire  Naturalists'  Club  Proceedings.  One 
of  the  fruits  appears  to  resemble  the  bottom  of  a  slipper  ; 
another  gives  the  idea  of  a  green  fig. 

The  ordinary  polyanthus  sported  exceedingly  in  the 
spring  of  1891,  at  Mr.  Mostyn  Pryce's  garden  at  Gun- 
ley.  One  plant  was  very  large  indeed,  and  had  only 
one  floral  head  proceeding  from  its  very  centre.  The 
stem,  when  growing,  showed  a  conglomeration  of  four 
stems  into  one,  and  the  flowers,  either  in  bud  or 
blossom,  numbered  fifty-nine,  from  the  fully  expanded 
ones  to  those  which  were  only  just  formed.  Contrasted 
with  the  normal  form  of  half  a  dozen  more  or  less,  the 
specimen  is  very  remarkable.  A  second  example  was 
found,  but  it  was  not  so  marked  as  the  above. 

A  potato  of  a  black  colour  throughout  was  grown 
in  Montgomery,  at  Mr.  Farmer's  garden,  in  the  year 
1890.  On  being  raised  from  the  ground,  it  was  found 
to  have  six  tubers  of  the  original  black  colour,  and  one 
perfectly  white.  This  albino  was  to  be  kept  for  plant- 
ing next  year,  but  a  protest  was  raised  to  its  being  so 
used,  for  fear  of  something  dreadful  in  the  way  of  ill- 
luck  being  sure  to  follow. 

A  parishioner  gave  me,  last  year,  an  unusually  large 
potato,  out  of  which  grew  five  smaller  potatoes,  all 
of  them  horizontally  in  the  earth. 

A  dahlia  has  been  grown,  from  its  roots  grew  four 
stems,  and  on  each  of  the  stems  different  coloured 
flowers  blossomed.  An  instance  of  this  kind  is  not 
often  recorded. 

Amongst  the  plants  bearing  thickened  stems  may  be 


324  UNUSUAL  FOUMS  OF  GROWTH  IN  PLANTS  I 

instanced  the  common  agrimony,  bearing  a  branched 
head  ;  the  dandelion,  two  specimens  of  which  I  have 
found  with  double  masses  of  flowers  on  one  stalk. 
This  is  a  form  frequently  found  in  the  Marguerite 
daisy.  The  artichoke  (helianthus)  produces  the  same 
form  as  far  as  the  spot  where  the  blossoms  would  de- 
velope  if  they  could,  but  which  they  only  occasionally 
do  in  our  country. 

The  primrose  varies  exceedingly  in  the  number,  size, 
and  beauty  of  its  sepals.  Very  little  credit  is  given  to 
the  Great  Creator  for  the  diversity  produced  in  this 
way  throughout  nature.  If  all  our  daisies,  buttercups, 
anemones,  geraniums,  were  one  uniform  standard  of 
tint  and  shape,  they  would  be  wearisome  to  us.  No 
two  exactly  resemble  each  other.  During  the  present 
spring  I  have  found  the  anemone  of  our  woods  with 
seven,  eight,  or  even  nine  sepals,  instead  of  the  usual 
number.  The  narcissus  has  supplied  my  herbarium 
with  six  flowers  on  one  stem,  instead  of  one  or  two. 
hi  one  instance  two  stems  formed  themselves  into  one, 
the  tubes  preserving  their  shape  throughout,  just  like 
two  gas-pipes  would  if  laid  side  by  side.  As  for  the 
plantains,  they  sport  immensely,  supplying  forked 
flowering  heads,  reversion  to  leaves,  etc.,  in  endless 
forms.  One  wants  to  see  them  to  believe  in  their 
diversity.  Last  year  I  discovered  one  plant  on  the 
railway  line  which  was  most  prolific  in  varieties,  but 
the  progress  of  civilisation  has  destroyed  it  and  all  my 
hopes.  This  year  the  spot  of  its  growth  has  had  to 
yield  to  potatoes. 

Reversion  to  leaves  in  the  place  of  flowers  is  of 
occasional  occurrence.  The  Rev.  Wolley  Dod  has  sent 
me  some  beautiful  instances  of  this  kind  from  Cheshire. 
If  he  were  living  in  this  county  my  list  would  be 
largely  increased.  In  Montgomeryshire  specially  may 
be  noticed  the  garden  scabious,  the  marigold,  and 
chrysanthemum. 

Sometimes  the  heads  of  plants  become  prolific,  and 
shoot  from  their  centre  and  sides  a  separate  branch. 


UNCJSUAL  FORMS  OF  GROWTH  IN  PLANTS.  325 

The  umbelliferous  plants  are  very  prone  to  this  sport ; 
the  garden  parsley,  the  hog-weed,  furnishing  examples. 

Leaves  are  queer  :  scarlet  runners,  as  found  in  the 
garden  of  Mr.  Hawks  worth  of  Park  Lane,  Welshpool, 
supplying  the  best  I  ever  saw.  They  numbered  four 
and  six,  instead  of  the  usual  quantity,  three.  Clover 
gives  four,  five,  and  even  six,  instead  of  the  standard 
three  amongst  trefoils. 

Surpassing  any  and  every  thing  I  have  ever  had 
submitted  to  rny  notice  is  a  part  of  a  plant  called 
Calystegium  sepium.  It  was  kindly  sent  to  me  by 
Mr.  Boulton  from  Leominster.  The  stem  is  excessively 
thickened  and  flattened,  and  was  distorted  about  four 
feet  in  height  by  assuming  a  very  spiral  twist.  It  was 
worth  photographing  alive. 

Before  ending  this  subject  it  is  only  due  to  say  how 
obliged  I  am  to  Mrs.  Naylor  of  Leighton  Hall,  and  also 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mostyn  Pryce  of  Gunley,  who  gave 
me  free  access  to  their  gardens  at  any  time  to  search 
for  any  eccentricities  that  could  be  discovered  ;  also  to 
the  willingness  of  other  friends,  who  have  been  ready 
to  assist  me  in  any  possible  way. 


THE  "JUBILEE  TWIG". 


IN  connection  with  this  subject  we  may  perhaps  men- 
tion a  donation  made  to  the  Powys-larid  Museum  in 
March  1887  by  T.  Eowley  Morris,  Esq.,  then  Mayor  of 
"Welshpool,  of  a  Natural  History  curiosity  which  has 
acquired  historic  interest.  It  is  thus  described1: — "  A 
hazel  branch  of  abnormal  growth  having  peculiar  flat 
twigs,  found  a,t  Rhos-y-Garreg  farm,  in  the  parish  of 
Machynlleth." 

1  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  xxiii. 
VOL.  XXV.  Z 


326  THE    "  JUBILEE    TWIG". 

In  forwarding  to  the  Mayor  a  formal  acknowledgment 
for  his  donation,  the  Secretary  of  the  Powys-land  Club 
sent  him  a  printed  copy  of  the  Trust  Deed  of  the  Powys- 
land  Museum  and  Library,  with  the  view  of  bringing 
officially  under  his  notice  clause  12  (Mont.  Coll., 
vol.  vii,  Appendix,  p.  viii).  By  virtue  of  that  clause 
the  trustees  were  enabled,  under  certain  conditions,  to 
transfer  the  Public  Museum,  Library,  and  School  pre- 
mises to  the  mayor,  aldermen,  and  burgesses  of  the 
borough  of  Welshpool  for  public  purposes.  The  Secre- 
tary added  the  observation,  u  Whether  the  Jubilee 
Year  be  a  fitting  time  for  such  an  operation  is  a 
question  not  unworthy  of  consideration." 

This  communication  led  to  a  correspondence  with  the 
Corporation  of  Welshpool,  which  resulted  in  the  trans- 
fer of  the  Museum  property  to  the  Corporation  of 
Welshpool,  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  clause  12, 
and,  as  a  consequence,  on  the  14th  October  1887  the 
Public  Libraries  Act  was  adopted  and  a  free  public 
library  for  the  borough  of  Welshpool  was  established.1 
All  this  was  done  as  a  Memorial  of  the  Queen's 
Jubilee  Year. 

Thus  the  presentation  of  this  "  hazel  branch"  led  to 
important  consequences,  and  justifies  it  being  termed 
"  The  Jubilee  Twig". 

M.  C.  J. 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxi,  p.  xii  et  seq. 


327 


CELTIC  BELL  FROM   LLANGYSTENYN. 


THERE  is  a  cast-bronze  bell  in  the  Powys-land  Museum 
to  which  considerable  interest  attaches,  as  it  pos- 
sesses all  the  typical  features  of  an  ancient  Celtic  bell. 


The  bell  is  represented  in  the  above  outline-sketch, 
quarter-size.  It  is  8  inches  high,  inclusive  of  the  stumps 
or  remains  of  the  handle,  which  is  broken  off,  and  which 
stumps  rise  about  half-an-inch  above  the  top  of  the  bell. 
The  body  of  the  bell  is  thus  7^  inches  in  height,  and 

z  2 


328  CELTIC    BELL    FROM    LLANGYSTENYN. 

51  inches  by  5f  inches  across  the  mouth,  tapering  to 
4  inches  by  2J  inches  across  the  top ;  the  thickness  of 
the  metal  is  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  but  at  the 
mouth  there  is  a  thickening  in  the  form  of  a  slight 
bevel  of  the  outer  edge.  The  stumps  or  remains  of 
the  handle  rise  almost  straight  from  the  two  narrow 
sides  of  the  bell. 

The  loop,  represented  in  the  sketch  by  dotted  lines, 
is  of  iron,  and  is  attached  to  the  bell  by  an  iron  rod, 
which  passes  through  the  bell,  and  to  which  is  hung 
an  iron  tongue.  This  and  the  iron  loop  are  evidently 
modern  additions. 

There  are  two  holes  pierced  through  the  top  of  the 
bell,  by  which,  probably,  the  original  clapper  was 
hung. 

There  is  a  crack  running  up  about  an  inch  and 
a  half  from  one  of  the  narrow  sides  of  the  bottom  of 
the  bell ;  in  other  respects  it  seems  in  perfect  condition. 
When  struck  by  the  tongue,  it  produces  a  deep  sound. 

On  the  27th  January  1891  this  bell  was  offered  for 
sale  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Powys-land  Club.  He 
replied  stating  what  he  was  prepared  to  give  on 
behalf  of  the  Powys-land  Museum.  On  the  14th 
March  his  offer  was  accepted.  The  purchase-money 
was  provided  by  a  small  subscription,  to  which  our 
late  much-lamented  President1  (the  Earl  of  Powis), 
Mr.  A.  C.  Humphreys  Owen,  Mr.  Richard  Williams, 
Mr.  Murray  Brown,  and  Mr.  M.  C.  Jones  contributed. 

The  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  Elias  Owen 
gives  an  account  of  the  finding  of  the  bell  : 

"Efenechtyd  Rectory,  Ruthin,  27th  June  1891. 
"  MY  DEAR  SIR, — You  ask  me  to  give  you  an  account  of  the 
finding  of  Llangystenyn  Bell.     I  have  not  much  to  say  on  the 
matter.     On  my  first  visit  to  the  parish  school, -which  is  a  new 

1  The  cheque  was  received  from  the  Earl  of  Powis  on  the  1 6th  April, 
and  on  the  same  day  was  verbally  acknowledged  by  the  Secretary  to 
his  lordship  whilst  in  the  train  in  Shrewsbury  Station,  just  twenty- 
two  days  before  his  lamented  death  on  the  8th  May. 


CELTIC  BELL  FEOM  LLANGYSTENYN.       329 

building,  I  was  struck  by  the  bell,  which  was  suspended  half- 
way up  the  gable  end  of  the  school ;  and,  from  its  appear- 
ance, I  knew  that  its  date  was  from  the  earliest  times  of 
Christianity. 

"  Upon  inquiry,  the  Eev.  Eees  Jones,  then  curate  of  that 
parish,  but  at  present  vicar  of  Llansantffraid,  near  Corwen, 
informed  me  that  the  bell  at  one  time  belonged  to  the  old  parish 
church,  which  has  been  supplanted  by  another  building,  and 
that,  on  the  erection  of  the  school,  the  old  unused  bell  was 
placed  where  I  saw  it,  not  for  protection,  but  to  avoid  the 
expense  of  a  new  bell  to  call  the  children  to  school.  The 
rope,  however,  broke,  or  otherwise  there  was  a  mishap,  and 
consequently  the  bell  was  used  only  for  a  short  time  in  its 
new  home,  and  to  this  fact  it  owes  its  preservation. 

"Knowing  the  value  of  this  relic  of  former  days,  I  there 
and  then  endeavoured  to  take  such  steps  as  would  lead  to  its 
safe  custody,  but  the  attempt  failed,  and  ever  since  the  erec- 
tion of  the  school,  some  twelve  years  ago,  the  bell  was  un- 
cared  for,  and  ran  great  risks  of  being  cracked,  if  not  broken, 
by  being  made  a  target  for  the  stones  of  the  school-children. 

"I  heartily  congratulate  you  on  at  last  finding,  in  the 
Powys-land  Museum  at  Welshpool,  a  fitting  resting-place  for 
this  church  bell,  which  carries  the  mind  back  upwards  of 
a  thousand  years. 

"I  am,  with  kind  regards, 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

"ELIAS  OWEN." 

The  Vicar  of  the  parish,  the  Eev.  William  Davies, 
wrote  that  he  was  not  able  to  give  much  information 
respecting  the  old  bell.  He  adds  : — 

"  Our  parish  Clerk  says  that  it  was  the  church  bell  up  to 
the  rebuilding  of  the  church  in  1843.  It  was  afterwards  kept 
at  the  Rectory  until  it  was  put  up  as  a  school  bell  when  the 
schoolroom  was  built  about  fourteen  years  ago.  If  I  can  find  any 
farther  facts  concerning  it  I  will  let  you  know.  It  is  hardly  likely 
that  it  was  originally  a  church  bell,  but  a  handbell  for  some 
special  purpose.  I  thank  you  for  the  cheque." 

The  Rev.  Rees  Jones,  in  reply  to  our  inquiries,  wrote 
the  following  letter,  which  gives  the  oral  tradition,  and, 
although  all  his  conclusions  may  not  be  concurred  in, 
will  afford  a  record,  not  without  value,  of  what  was  said 
fifty  years  ago. 


330  CELTIC    BELL    FROM    LLANGYSTENYN. 

''Rectory,  Carrog,  Corwen,  7  July,  1891. 

"  DEAR  SIR, 

"  I  heard,  when  I  was  Curate  of  Llangystenyn,  that  the 
old  church  was  the  smallest  and  oldest  in  North  Wales,  giving 
accommodation  to  about  forty.  That  was  pulled  down  in  1843, 
and  a  much  larger  church  built  on  the  same  foundation,  with 
a  new  bell ;  the  old  bell  was  taken  to  the  Rectory,  from  thence  it 
was  taken  by  me  and  hung  up  at  the  end  of  the  new  school- 
room. At  that  time  there  was  a  good  deal  of  talk  in  the 
neighbourhood  about  the  old  church  and  the  old  Bell ;  and  the 
church  and  the  bell,  I  was  informed,  were  coeval,  the  foundation 
stone  of  the  former  having  been  laid  by  a  Welsh  princess,  who 
married  one  of  the  Constan tines.  So  far  1  believe  that  oral 
tradition  in  this  case,  though  not  supported,  so  far  as  I  know, 
by  written  evidence ;  it  is  quite  reliable,  but  whether  this 
Constantine  was  the  son  of  the  great  first  Christian  Emperor, 
part  of  whose  dominion  was  Great  Britain  about  the  beginning 
of  the  fourth  century,  who  supported  his  pretensions  by  many 
victories  in  Great  Britain,  is  not  at  all  certain. 

"  The  general  belief  is  that  the  old  church  was  built  about 
338  A.D.  If  so,  then  the  foundation  stone  was  laid  by  the 
second  Christian  Emperor. 

"  The  bell  was  quite  sound  when  I  first  saw  it.  It  got 
cracked  by  ill-usage  at  the  school.  It  may  be  asked,  and  it 
ought  to  be  asked,  Why  did  a  great  Emperor  alight  on  an  out- 
landish locality  like  that  at  Llangystenyn  ?  It  is  so  now,  but 
not  so  then,  for  just  above  the  church  there  was  then  a  very 
large  monastery.  The  evidence  in  support  of  this  theory  or 
supposition  is,  I  think,  very  strong. 

"  i.  There  are  about  thirty  very  old  yew-trees  in  the  wood 
just  behind  the  church. 

"  ii.  A  few  hundred  yards  off  there  is  a  village  called  Mochdre 
(in  full,  Mynach-dre),  i.e.,  Monks'  Town.  It  is  also  said,  I  think 
on  good  ground,  that  just  above  Llangystenyn  Church  is  the 
warmest  little  nook  in  North  Wales  in  winter.  If  so,  the  monks 
would  be  there  without  fail,  and  the  Emperor  coming  from 
abroad  to  this  country  would  of  course  pay  them  a  visit,  which, 
in  my  opinion,  fully  accounts  for  the  fact  that  the  church  is 
called  after  his  name. 

"  The  bell  was  given  by  the  Princess,  not  by  the  Emperor, 
so  it  is  supposed. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  answer  any  further  questions. 
"  I  remain,  yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)         "REES  JONES. 

"  M.  C.  Jones,  Gungrog  Hall." 


CELTIC    BELL    FROM    LLANGYSTENYN.  331 

In  a  subsequent  letter  of  10th  July  1891,  the  Rev. 
Rees  Jones  further  states  :— 

"  I  believe  the  tradition  I  have  given  you  is  of  value,  for  I 
had  it  from  old  people  about  the  year  1874,  who  are  now  dead. 
....  I  would  sooner  accept  simple  oral  tradition  of  any 
locality  on  a  subject  like  this  as  truth,  than  any  written 
statement,  however  old,  for  it  would  probably  be  varnished 
with  a  colour  of  the  writer's  choice.  You  can  find  out  which 
of  the  Christian  Emperors  did  marry  a  Welsh  princess.  There 
is  the  ruin  of  a  military  camp  on  the  top  of  a  hill  (Dinas), 

within  half-a-mile  of  the  church The  old  monastery  on 

one  side  and  the  camp  on  the  other  are  living  monuments, 
bearing  testimony  to  the  truthfulness  of  the  tradition  that  one 
of  the  great  Constantines  was  there,  and  the  church  dedicated 
to  him  in  memory  of  his  visit." 

If  an  article  in  the  Antiquary  (vol.  ii,  p.  21)  on  "Our 
Early  Bells"  can  be  relied  upon,  it  appears  that  bells 
were  of  very  early  use. 

"  In  the  second  century,  when  Christianity  had  taken  rcot 
in  Britain,  King  Lucius,  having  been  instructed  in  the  faith  at 
Rome,  and  seeking  the  welfare  of  his  countrymen,  arranged 
with  his  teacher  for  some  native  converts  to  be  instructed  so 
as  to  be  employed  as  missionaries,  the  pagan  temples  became 
Christian  sanctuaries,  and  many  were  baptized.  This  caused 
the  persecution  of  Diocletian,  and  prevented  the  spread  of 
the  use  of  bells  in  Christian  assemblies.  The  native  Chris- 
tians of  Angleland  then  fled,  and  in  Mona  and  Wales  the 
sacred  assemblies  were  summoned  by  these  sounds.  But 
when  Constantine  ordered  that  the  temples  should  be  used  for 
Christian  worship  and  practices,  these  were  assimilated  to  the 
pagan  acts  and  rites,  so  that  there  was  but  little  difference 
between  the  pompous  and  splendid  ritual ;  gorgeous  robes, 
mitres,  tiaras,  croziers,  images,  fonts,  pictures,  and  bells  became 
general.  And  with  bells  the  significant  uses  and  purposes 
were  retained  in  identical  form  as  sanctus,  funeral,  and  wedding 
bells.  Although  the  Saxon  robbers  again  persecuted  the 
Christians,  demolishing  their  churches,  yet,  when  Augustine 
came  with  his  followers  to  reduce  the  pagan  temples  into 
Christian  churches,  the  hand-bells  were  again  in  the  hands 
of  the  priests  for  ecclesiastical,  funeral,  and  wedding  pur- 
poses. 

"In  614  we  are  told,  by  the  Venerable  Bede,  that  Begu  of 


332      CELTIC  BELL  FROM  LLANGYSTENYN. 

Whitby  Abbey  on  a  sudden  heard  the  sound  of  a  bell  in  the 
air,  which  used  to  awake  and  call  her  sister  to  prayers.  So 
it  is  found  that  the  prayer-bell  was  in  constant  use  in  Angle- 
land  at  this  period.  The  bishops  carried  their  bells,  and  in  some 
cases  made  them  with  their  own  hands.  Dunstan,  who  was 
skilful  in  metal-work,  has  been  celebrated  as  a  bell-maker  about 
942,  these,  in  some  cases,  being  of  beaten  work  (rivetted),  in 
iron  and  in  bronze,  and  in  others  cast  in  metal  to  particular 
forms. 

"  Benedict  went  over  to  Gaul  and  brought  to  England  all 
things  necessary  for  the  church  and  altar,  including  sanctus 
bells  of  Christian  worship. 

"  Many  of  these  early  bells  received  the  names  of  saints,  who 
were  supposed  to  call  by  their  sounds,  and  were  supposed  to 
be  possessed  of  miraculous  powers.  All  the  early  mission- 
aries were  thus  provided,  St.  Patrick,  St.  Columba,  and  others, 
as  St.  Francis  Xavier  in  more  modern  times.  Before  the  more 
general  introduction  of  the  larger  bells,  and,  indeed,  in  Saxon 
and  Norman  times,  the  office  of  bellringer  was  not  deputed  to 
an  unqualified  person  or  a  mere  youth.  Egbert  made  a  law 
'  that  every  priest,  at  the  proper  hour,  was  to  ring  the  bells 
of  his  own  church'." 

Small  ancient  quadrangular  portable  hand-bells  of 
iron  and  bronze,  not  the  least  interesting  of  the  objects 
of  the  early  Christian  period,  have  been  for  many  ages 
regarded  with  the  highest  reverence  by  the  early 
Christians  of  the  British  and  Irish  Churches.  The 
bells  so  reverenced  by  the  British  and  Irish  Christians 
were  relics  of  some  one  or  other  of  the  early  founders 
of  Christianity  in  these  islands,  to  whom  they  had 
belonged,  and  which  had  been  preserved  ever  since 
the  time  of  the  saint  in  the  religious  establishments 
founded  by  the  saints  themselves.1 

Judging  from  the  analogy  with  other  early  Celtic 
cast-bronze  bells,  there  seems  no  reason  to  doubt  that 
this  bell  was  a  relic  of  the  early  foundation  of  the 
church  of  Llangystenyn,  to  which  at  one  time  it 
belonged.  If  so,  it  is  of  very  great  antiquity.  It  is 
not  certain  to  whom  the  church  of  LlangYstenyn  was 

o  i/  t/ 

dedicated.     One    work,   to    which    the    Rev.    Walter 
1  Arch.  Camb.,  1st  Series,  vol.  iii,  p.  232. 


CELTIC  BELL  FROM  LLANGYSTENYN.      333 

Davies1  is  said  to  have  largely  contributed,  and  which 
on  that  ground  has  a  certain  amount  of  authority  (viz., 
Lewis's  Topographical  Dictionary  of  Wales  (1834), 
under  "  Liang wstenyn"),  states  : 

"  The  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Constantino,  is  a  small  plain 
structure,  situate  in  a  pleasing  valley  close  to  the  boundary- 
line  between  the  counties  of  Carnarvon  and  Denbigh,  and 
said  to  be  the  first  Christian  church  erected  in  Wales  :  it  is  con- 
jectured to  have  been  founded  by  Constantine  the  Great,  who 
died  in  the  year  330." 

We  have  not  found  any  other  authority  for  the 
statement  that  this  was  the  first  Christian  church 
erected  in  Wales.  The  Rev.  Bice  Rees,  in  his  Essay 
on  Welsh  Saints,2  says  : 

"A  church  in  Carnarvonshire, called  Llangystennyn,is  perhaps 
dedicated  to  Constautine  the  Great3 ;  but  this  must  be  un- 
certain, as,  soon  after  the  departure  of  the  Romans,  there  was 
a  sainted  king  in  Britain,  called  Cystennyn  Fendigaid,  or 
Constantine  the  Blessed." 

The   Rev.    Robert    Williams,  in    his  Dictionary  of 
Eminent    Welshmen  (1852),  pp.   98-99,  follows  Rees, 

1  The  following  paragraph,  in  the  Preface  to  the  work,  refers,  it  is 
believed,  to  him.     "  In  this  department  of  their  labours  they  have 
been  aided  by  a  gentleman,  a  native  and  resident  of  the  Principality, 
whose  researches  into  Welsh  literature  have  procured  for  him  deserved 
celebrity,  and  who  with  much  care  and  attention  has  perused  every 
page  of  the  work." 

2  An  Essay   on    the    Welsh   Saints,   or   the    Primitive    Christians 
usually  considered  to  have  been  the  Founders  of  Churches  in  Wales, 
1836,  p.  99. 

3  A  belief,  though  founded  on  insufficient  grounds,  is  known  to 
have  existed  so  early  as  the  time  of  Nennius  (see  Stevenson's  or  San 
Marte's  editions,  §  25),  that  "  Constantius,  Constantini  magni  films", 
by  which  he  may  mean  the  Emperor,  or  his  grandson  of  the  same 
name,  was  buried  at  Caernarvon ;  and,  in  proof,  it  was  alleged  that  a 
stone  with  a  certain  inscription  pointed  out  the  place  of  his  grave. 
This,  however,  is  contradictory  to  the  testimony  of  classical  writers, 
who  state  that  the  first  Constantine  was  buried  at  York,  and  the 
second  in  Cilicia ;  but  the  words  of  the  inscription  have  not  been 
preserved,  and,  as  the  name  Constantine  can   be  proved  to  have  been 
common  in  Britain  for  some  time  after  the  retirement  of  the  Romans, 
the  stone  probably  commemorated  some  other  person,  who  was  after- 
wards mistaken  for  the  Emperor. 


334  CELTIC   BELL    FROM    LLANGYSTENYN. 

and  says  "  that  Llangystennyn  in  Carnarvonshire  is 
supposed  to  be  dedicated  to  him  (Cystennyn  Gorneu, 
often  styled  Cystennyn  Vendigaid  or  The  Blessed)", 
who  is  there  stated  to  have  been  living  in  A.D.  433. 

Archdeacon  Thomas,  in  his  History  of  the  Diocese  of 
St.  Asaph  (p.  558),  also  following  Rees,  says  under 
"  Llangystenyn"  : 

"  The  church,  dedicated  to  Cystenyn  Fendigaid,  Pendragon  of 
the  Britons,  and  father  of  Digain,  the  founder  of  Llangernyw, 
was  rebuilt  in  1843  at  a  cost  of  £780." 

Mr.  Egerton  Phillimore  has  favoured  us  with  the 
following  observations  on  the  dedication  of  Llangy- 
stenyn Church  : 

"  Lewis,  in  his  Topographical  Dictionary  of  Wales  (sub  voce 
f  Llangwstenyn'),  says  that  the  church  is  '  said  to  be  the  first 
Christian  church  erected  in  Wales;  it  is  conjectured  to  have 
been  founded  by  Con stan tine  the  Great,  who  died  in  the  year 
330' ;  but  this  supposition  is  entirely  unfounded.  That  Hals 
also  had  a  similar  notion  with  regard  to  the  dedication  of  the 
church  of  Constantino  in  Cornwall,  may  be  seen  from  Davies 
Gilbert's  Parochial  History  of  Cornwall,  i,  236-7. 

"There  was  a  well-known  St.  Constantino,  said  to  have 
been  the  son  of  Paternus,  King  of  Cornwall,  to  have  abdicated 
his  throne  on  the  death  of  his  wife,  and  thenceforward  to  have 
pursued  a  religious  life,  first  in  Ireland,  and  subsequently  in 
Scotland,  under  SS.  Columba  and  Kentigern  (by  the  latter  of 
whom  he  was  sent  to  evangelise  Galloway) ;  and  finally  to 
have  been  slain  in  Kintyre  (or  Can  tyre)  in  about  A.D.  576.  He 
was  commemorated  as  St.  Constantine,  King  and  Martyr,  on 
the  llth  of  March.  See  folio  Ixvii  of  the  Proprium  Sanctorum 
ad  usum  insignis  ecclesice  Cathedralis  Abirdonensis,  forming  the 
third  part  of  the  Breviarium  Aberdonense,  or  Breviary  of 
Aberdeen  (printed  for  the  Bannatyne  Club,  1854)  ;  and  for 
further  information  about  this  St.  Constantine  see  Forbes' 
Calendars  of  Scottish  Saints  (Edinburgh,  1872),  pp.  311-4, 
whence  it  appears  that  he  was  abbot  of  Bahan  (Eathin 
Mochudd),  near  Tullamore  in  King's  County,  Ireland  ;  that  he 
was  confused  with  a  rather  later  St.  Constantine,  of  Pictish 
origin  ;  and  that  several  churches  in  Scotland  are  dedicated  to 
him,  e.g.,  Kilchousland  in  Campbeltown,  Can  tyre.  His  name  is 
also  corrupted  into  Chousland  in  Chousland  Chapel,  in  Cranston, 


CELTIC   BELL   FROM   LLANGYSTENYK  335 

near  Dalkeith,  and  elsewhere  in  Scotland  into  Cousland,  Cowslan, 
Cowstin,  and  even  Cutchew.  In  Ireland  a  St.  Constantino  was 
commemorated  on  March  llth  and  on  March  18th. 

"  This Constan tine  is  generally  identified  with  the  Constan tine, 
King  of  Damnonia  (which  included  Cornwall),  addressed  by 
Gildas  (Epistola,  Stevenson  and  San  Marte's  edition,  §§2,  3), 
which  king  must  have  been  living  previously  to  547,  the  date 
of  the  death  of  Maelgwn  Gwynedd,  another  of  the  British 
kings  addressed  in  Gildas'  Epistola  (§  7  et  seqq.  ;  cf.  the  tenth- 
century  Annales  Cambrice  in  Y  Cymmrodor,  ix,  155).  This 
Constantino  again  is  generally  identified  with  the  person 
mentioned  in  the  same  Annales  under  the  year  589,  where  we 
have  the  entry  'Conversio  Constantini  ad  Dominum'  (Y  0., 
ix,  156)  ;  this  does  not,  be  it  remarked,  tally  with  the  date 
given  for  his  death  in  the  Breviary  of  Aberdeen,  viz.,  576,  which 
Forbes,  however  (pp.  cit.,  p.  311),  silently  corrects  into  596. 

"  There  are  two  churches  in  Cornwall  dedicated  to  a  St. 
Constantine.  The  first  is  the  parish  church  of  Constantino, 
situate  in  the  Hundred  of  Kerrier,  and  between  the  towns 
of  Falmouth  and  Helston.  The  second  is  the  ruined  church 
of  St.  Constantine  in  the  parish  of  St.  Merryn  (Hundred  of 
Pyder),  situate  on  the  sea-coast  about  four  miles  W.  of  the  town 
of  Padstow,  which  has  left  its  name  to  Constantine  Bay. 
Hals  gives  the  local  pronunciation  of  the  first-named  Con- 
stantine (Gilbert's  Cornwall,  i,  236)  as  Custenton,  to  which  he 
assigns,  more  suo,  an  absurd  etymology.  This  Custenton  really 
represents  the  vernacular  Cornish  form  taken  by  the  name 
Constantinus ;  for  Cornish  (as  may  be  seen  from  the  Cornish 
and  Breton  kanter,  '  half,  in  Welsh  hanner,  now  spelt  haner, 
and  in  Old-Welsh,  circa  820,  written  hanther)  did  not  assimi- 
late nt  in  such  a  position  into  nn,  as  did  Welsh.  I  believe  that 
the  name  of  the  Cornish  parish  is  still  accented  by  the  natives 
in  the  true  Cornish  (and  Welsh)  fashion,  being  pronounced 
Constdntin  or  the  like.  As  for  the  Welsh  forms,  the  original 
one  must  have  been  Custentin  (as  consilium  made  cusul  or  cussul, 
and  monasterium  made  mustwyr — see  Lib.  Land.,  1981 — , 

1  As  well  as  iheMathenni  Mustuir  Mur  ("  Mathenny  of  the  Great 
Monastery",  now  Llandenny  in  Monmouthshire)  there  mentioned, 
there  was  a  "  villa  quse  dicitur  Mistuir"  (or  "  jfyttvyr"),  apparently 
in  Montgomeryshire,  a  "  moiety"  of  which  is  mentioned  in  the 
Ystrad  Marchell  charters  (see  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  1825,  v,  637). 
There  is  also  a  township  of  Mwstwr  (probably,  by  assimilation,  from 
Mustwr,  for  Mustwyr}  in  the  parish  of  Corwen,  now  forming  part  of 
the  ecclesiastical  district  of  Glyn  Dyfrdwy.  See  Archdeacon  Thomas's 
Hist,  of  the  Diocese  of  St.  Asapk,  685,  692  — E.  P. 


336       CELTIC  BELL  FROM  LLANGYSTENYN. 

and  in  Breton  moustoer — see  Loth's  Chrestomathie  bretonne, 
p.  2221),  and  the  modern  Welsh  form,  if  strict  regularity  had 
been  observed,  would  be  Oustennin.  The  forms  Llangwstenin 
and  Llangwystenin  are  not  correct ;  the  second  one  must  have 
been  formed  on  the  assumption  that  the  w  of  the  first  one  was 
a  colloquialism  for  wy.  That  the  form  Llangwystenin  is  by  no 
means  extinct  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  not  so  long  ago  a 
writer  in  a  local  newspaper  adduced  it  as  a  word  contain- 
ing the  element  gwy  '  water',  itself  a  word  which  does  not 
exist  in  Welsh,  and  is  the  mere  invention  of  antiquarian 
etymologists. 

"  In  the  ancient  Welsh  district  of  Erging  (now  narrowed  to 
the  Deanery  of  Archen-fie\d,  mostly  included  in  Herefordshire) 
there  was  a  church  of  '  Lann  Custenhin  Garthbenni',  other- 
wise known  as  '  Mainaur  Garthbenni'  (on  the  word  maenawr 
see  Y  Cymmrodor,  xi,  57-8),  'Lann  Garthbenni',  and  'Garth- 
benni', mentioned  in  the  Liber  Landavensis,  p.  69  (cf.  155-7), 
as  granted  to  St.  Dubricius  by  Peibio,  son  of  Yrb,  King  of 
Erging.  This  place  was  identified  by  the  late  Mr.  Wakeman 
in  his  Supplementary  Notes  to  the  Liber  Landavensis,  p.  7,2  with 
Preston  on  Wye,  about  eight  miles  W.N.W.  of  Hereford  ;  but 
as  a  church  at  '  Lanncusthennin  in  Garthbenni'  is  said  (Lib. 
Land.,  p.  264  ;  cf.  263)  to  have  been  consecrated  by  Herwald, 
Bishop  of  Llandaff,  in  the  reign  of  William  the  Conqueror,  it 
is  clear  that  neither  Preston  on  Wye  nor  any  place  near  it 
can  be  intended,  for  the  northern  part  of  Erging,  bounded  by 
the  river  Dore,  had  been  annexed  to  Mercia  at  least  as  early 
as  the  year  942  (see  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,  sub  anno),  and  is 
excluded  from  the  limits  of  the  Diocese  of  Llandaff  specified  in 
Lib.  Land.,pp.  41-2,126-7.  The  church  in  question  is  more  prob- 
ably identical  with  that  of  Welsh  Bicknor  (in  a  detached  portion 
of  Monmouthshire  on  the  Welsh  or  Herefordshire  bank  of  the 
Wye,  between  Ross  and  Monmouth),  which  is  called  in  a  Saint- 
Florent  charter  of  1144  (printed  in  vol.  xl,  p.  182,  of  the  Biblio- 
theque  de  I'Ecole  des  Chartes,  Paris,  1879)  'Ecclesia  Sancti  Custenin 
de  Biconovria'.  It  should  be  added  that  in  the  boundaries  of  the 
grant  of  Llangystennin  Garthbenni  occur  the  words 'inter  silvam, 
et  campum,  et  aquam,  etjaculum  Constantini  Regis  socerisui  trans 
Guy  amnem'.  Whatjaculum  means  ('  a  fishery',  fromjaculus,  '& 
casting  net7;  or  'a  boundary-stake'  ?)  is  obscure ;  but  sui  refers 
to  Peibio  King  of  Erging,  the  grantor,  who  is  almost  certainly 

1  It  cannot  be  derived  from  the  French  moustier  (now  moutier),  as 
there  suggested  by  Loth. — E.  P. 

2  Printed  as  a  supplement  to  the  Cambro- British  Saints  (1853). 


CELTIC   BELL   FROM    LLANGYSTENYN.  337 

to  be  placed  in  the  fifth  century,  so  that  he  cannot  well  have 
been  the  son-in-law  of  the  Cornish  king  (or  either  of  the  Cornish 
kings)  Constantine  who  is  (or  are)  mentioned  as  living  from  the 
middle  to  the  end  of  the  sixth  century.  But  it  would  appear 
likely  that  the  Erging  church  took  its  name  from  this  'King 
Constantino'  whose  property  bounded  its  own. 

"  The  old  Welsh  Bonedd  y  Saint  of  the  twelfth  or  thirteenth 
century  (of  which  a  text  is  printed  in  the  Myvyrian  Archaiology, 
ii,  23-5)  does  not  mention  any  Cystennin  as  a  saint.  It  mentions 
a  Cystennin  Gorneu  (Corneu  =  '  of  Cornwall'  or  '  the  Cornish- 
man'  =  Cornish  Cernow)  as  the  ancestor  of  St.  Cybi ;  but 
this  Constantine,  from  his  place  in  the  genealogy  (assuming 
the  latter  to  be  authentic),  must  be  earlier  than  the  sixth 
century.  Several  Cornish  saints  are  commemorated  in  Wales, 
especially  in  Gwynedd.1 

1  On  p.  334,  above,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  church  of  Llangernyw, 
situate,  like  Llangystennin,  in  Bhos  and  Rhufoniog,  was  so  called 
from  the  Cornish  nationality  of  its  patron  saint.  In  some  of  the 
MSS.  of  the  later  forms  of  Bonedd  y  Saint  (see,  e.g.,  the  Dinorben 
Fach  MS.,  p.  236  ;  and  cf.  Myv.  Arch.,  ii,  42,  56),  that  church  is  said  to 
be  dedicated  to  Digain  and  his  brother  Erbin,  both  sons  of  Cystennin 
Gorneu ;  the  second  presumably  identical  with  the  St.  Erbin  (see 
Palmer's  article  in  Archaeological  Review,  vol.  i,  p.  21),  to  whom 
Erbistock  (a  corruption  of  JZrbin-stock)  church  was  dedicated  before 
the  usurpation  of  St.  Hilary.  The  calendars  in  the  Hengwrt  MSS. 
22  and  45  (according  to  my  friend  Mr.  Howel  Lloyd's  transcripts) 
give  St.  Erbin's  day  as  May  28,  whilst  No.  45  also  gives  it  as 
January  13  (the  month  of  January  is  said  to  be  nearly  illegible  in 
No.  22,  and  thus  1  have  no  copy  of  that  month  from  that  MS.).  St. 
Digain's  day  is  given  by  Archdeacon  Thomas  (Hist,  of  the  Diocese  of 
St.  Asaph,  p.  389)  as  November  21,  under  which  day  Hengwrt  MS. 
22  has  "  gwyl  Migain",  no  doubt  a  mistake  for  Ddigain.  In  the 
rare  Llyfer  Plygain  (Llunden,  dros  Ed.  White,  1618)  the  same  days 
are  given  :  Jan.  13  and  May  28  (or  perhaps  May  29  is  meant)  for  St. 
Erbin,  and  Nov.  21  for  St.  Digain. 

There  was  another  Llangernyw  in  the  Golden  Valley,  Hereford- 
shire (see  Lib.  Land.,  69,  156-7  ;  182-3),  Latinised  into  Cornubium, 
and  there  is  a  church  and  parish  called  Coed  Cernyw  near  Newport 
in  Monmouthshire.  Not  very  far  from  this  Llangernyw,  in  Much 
Birch  in  Archeufield  (in  Welsh  Erging),  is  a  place  called  Stricksten- 
ning,  which  has  been  ingeniously  conjectured  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Bradney 
of  Tal  y  Coed,  Monmouth,  to  embody  the  name  Cystennin ;  if  so, 
the  first  part  of  this  Anglicised  place-name  would  perhaps  stand  for 
one  of  the  Welsh  words  ystre,  ystred,  or  ystrad.  Possibly  the  two 
Herefordshire  place-names  commemorate  the  St.  Constantine  of 
Welsh  Bicknor,  which  was  also  in  Erging. — E.  P. 


338  CELTIC    BELL    FROM.    LLANGYSTENYN. 

"  Probably  some  confusion  has  taken  place  between  Gildas' 
Constantino  and  the  Constantino  who  was  proclaimed  Roman 
Emperor  in  Britain  in  407,  whose  son  Constans,  who  had 
previously  been  a  monk  (which  would  give  him  some  claims 
to  saintship),  was  subsequently  created  Csesar  by  his  father; 
they  were  slain,  at  Aries  and  Vienne  respectively,  in  410.  All 
three  have  been  annexed  by  the  fabulist  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
(see  his  History,  vi,  4-8  ;  xi,  2-4 ;  he  makes  the  second  one 
father,  not  only  of  Constans,  but  also  of  Aurelius  Ambrosius 
and  Uther  Pendragon),  and  will  be  found  in  the  Welsh  transla- 
tions and  adaptations  of  that  work  generally  known  as  Brut 
Tyssilio,  Brut  y  Brerihinoedd,  and  Brut  Gruffudd  ab  Arthur. 
The  name  '  Cystennin  Fendigaid'  (see  above,  pp.  333-4)  is 
simply  that  by  which  the  Constantine  of  407-410  is  called  in 
those  translations,  as  may  be  seen  by  comparing  pp.  126-7  of 
Rhys  and  Evans'  Oxford  Bruts  with  the  Latin  original  in 
Geoffrey,  vi,  6.  He  is  also  called  '  Custennin  Vendigeif  in  the 
Bed  Book  Triad  No.  6 — see  the  Oxford  Mabinogion,  pp.  298-9,  Y 
Cymmrodor,  iii,  54,  or  Myv.  Arch.,  ii,  4-5,  where  his  son  Con- 
stans is  called  '  Custennin  Vychan'  (=  the  younger)  and 
Constantine  the  Great  'Custennin  vab  Elert \  but  the  passage 
is  mainly  taken  from  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth. 

"  There  is  no  certain  ground  for  identifying  the  Constantine 
of  407-410  with  Cystennin  Gorneu.  I  believe  myself  that  by 
the  latter  was  meant  Gildas'  Constantine,  King  of  Damnonia 
(for  whom  see  pp.  334-5,  above),  and  that  the  genealogy  of  St. 
Cybi  in  Bonedd  y  Saint  is  more  or  less  apocryphal.  That 

§enealogy  differs  entirely  from  the  one  given  in  the  Lives  of 
t.  Cybi  (see  Cambro- British  Saints,  p.  183)  ;  for  it  runs  : 
'  Cybi  ap  Selyf  ap  Geraint  ap  Erbin  ap  Cystennin  Gorneu', 
whilst  the  Lives  of  St.  Cybi  make  him  '  the  son  of  Solomon 
(=  the  Welsh  Selyf),  the  son  of  Erbin,  the  son  of  Geraint,  the 
son  of  Lludd.'  This  latter  genealogy  is  confirmed  by  Chrestien 
de  Troyes'  Erec  (the  original  of  the  Welsh  tale  of  Geraint), 
which  makes  (see  line  19)  Erec  (=  the  W.  Gerent  or  Gereint) 
'  the  son  of  I/ac',  presumably  a  mis-script  for  Lut,  =  Lud  or 
Lludd.  The  Breton  genealogy  quoted  in  Y  Cymmrodor,  xi,  90 
(note  5  on  p.  89  (2))  goes  up  to  another  son  of  Geraint, 
Cadwy  or  Cado,  who  from  more  than  one  source  (see  loc.  cit.)  is 
known  to  have  ruled  in  Damnonia  towards  the  beginning  of  the 
sixth  century;  but  the  line  is  not  carried  up  further  than  Geraint, 
who  is  there  called  Gerenton.  The  traditional  Welsh  '  Geraint 
ap  Erbin'  is  probably  a  mistake  for  '  Erbin  ap  Geraint';  for  in 
Old- Welsh  Erlin  map  Gereint  might  (at  least  in  poetical  lan- 
guage) equally  well  have  meant  '  Erbin  son  of  Geraint'  or 
'  Geraint  son  of  Erbin'." 


CELTIC    BELL    OF    LLANGWYNODL. 


339 


The  original  structure  of  the  church  was  taken 
down  in  1843,  and  a  new  church  built  in  its  place. 
We  have  endeavoured  to  get  a  plan  or  view  of  the 
church,  or  the  name  of  the  architect  that  erected  the 
new  church,  in  the  hope  that  some  particulars  may  be 
gleaned  respecting  the  old  church.  Our  inquiries  have 
hitherto  been  in  vain,  but  possibly  the  printing  of  this 
paper  may  lead  to  further  information  being  obtained. 

This  is  the  fourth  of  those  Celtic  cast-bronze  bells  now 
known  in  Wales.  The  others  are  : 

i. — THE  BELL  OF  LLANGWYNODL,  CARNARVONSHIRE. 


It  measures  5  inches  in  height  (exclusive  of  the 
handle),  and  at  its  mouth  it  is  6j  in  its  largest  and 
4  inches  in  its  shortest  width.  It  is  a  quadrangular  bell 
of  mixed  rnetal,  which  time  out  of  mind  had  been  kept 
in  the  Church  of  Llangwynodl.  It  now  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Sir  Love  Jones -Parry,  Bart.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  the  handles  had  the  head  of  an  animal  repeated. 
The  heads  of  the  animals  are,  in  Mr.  Westwood's  opinion, 
similar  to  those  represented  in  the  oldest  Irish  and 
Anglo-Saxon  illuminated  MSS. 


340        CELTIC  BELL  OF  LLANDDEUSANT. 

The  handle  of  St.  Fillan's  bell,  subsequently  de- 
scribed, may  be  compared  with  it,  as  each  end  of  the 
handle  is  ornamented  with  what  one  authority  takes 
to  be  the  heathen  emblem  of  the  Phallus  (see  infra, 
p.  343);  but  that  now  is  controverted. 


ii. — THE  BELL  OF  LLANDDEUSANT  IN  ANGLESEY. 


The  dimensions  are  not  given.  It  is  rather  of  an 
oval  shape,  and  composed  of  cast  bronze,  and  not  of  so 
pure  a  Celtic  type  as  the  other  Welsh  bells.  It  was 
formerly  kept  in  Llanddeusant  Church,  but  was  not  in 
it  during  the  visit  of  the  Cambrian  Archaeological 
Association  in  1870. 


in.  —  THE  BELL  OF  LLANRHYDDLAD  CHURCH.  T 

It  is  of  small  dimensions,  being  only  4  inches  high, 
and  2  J  by  2  inches  at  the  bottom,  and  is  of  cast  bronze. 
It  is  quadrangular  type,  and  has  evidently  been  sus- 
pended by  a  cord,  and  not  intended  for  the  hand.  A 


Arch.  Camb.,  1871,  p.  275,  and  1872,  p.  74. 


CELTIC    BELL    OF    ST.  FILLAN.  341 

small  rivet  denotes  some  repairs.      It  was  formerly  in 
the  Church  of  Llanrhyddlad,  Anglesey,  arid  was  after- 


wards discovered  by  Miss  Con  way   Griffith  in  an  old 
chest,  where  it  had  been  concealed  for  years. 


In  Scotland,  also,  there  are  only  four  of  these  Celtic 
bells  of  cast-bronze  known  :  — 

i. — THE  BELL  OF  ST.  FILLAN,  from  Strathfillan,  now 
in  the  National  Museum  of  Scotland. 

"This  Bell1  formerly  belonged  to  the  Chapel  of  St.  Fillan, 
and  was  in  high  reputation  among  the  votaries  of  that  saint 
in  old  times.  It  seems  to  be  of  some  mixed  metal.  It  is  about 
a  foot  high,  and  of  an  oblong  form.  It  usually  lay  on  a  grave- 
stone in  the  churchyard.  When  mad,  people  were  brought 
to  be  dipped  in  the  Saint's  Pool.  It  was  necessary  to  perform 
certain  ceremonies,  in  which  there  was  a  mixture  of  Druidism 
and  Popery.  After  remaining  all  night  in  the  chapel,  bound 

1  Proceedings  of  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,  vol.  viii,  p. 
267.  Notice  of  the  Ancient  Bell  of  St.  Fillan,  by  the  late  Dr.  Forbes, 
Bishop  of  Brechin. 

VOL.  XXV.  A  A 


342  CELTIC    BELL    OF    ST.    FILLAN. 

with  ropes,  the  bell  was  set  on  their  head  with  great  solemnity. 
It  was  the  popular  opinion  that,  if  stolen,  it  would  extricate 
itself  out  of  the  thief's  hands,  and  return  home  ringing  all  the 
way.  For  some  time  the  bell  has  been  locked  up  to  prevent 
its  being  used  to  superstitious  purposes "  (Old  Statis- 
tical Accounts,  vol.  xvii,  p.  377.) 

"  This  must  not  be  passed  over,  that  the  people  of  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  as  well  as  those  of  Wales,  held  in  great  honour 
the  saints'  bells,  hand-bells  (campana,  baj'ulas),  and  pastoral 
staves,  curved  at  the  upper  end,  and  formed  of  gold,  silver,  or 


The  Bell  of  St.  Fillan. 


brass,  so  that  they  fear  to  take  oath  on  these,  and  to  perjure 

themselves  more  than  they  do  upon  the  Gospels "  (G-iral- 

dus  Cambrensis.) 

"  The  bell  of  St.  Fillan  is  very  similar  to  the  Rennell  bell  at 
Birnie,  but  not  so  large.  It  is  12  inches  high,  four-sided,  like 
most  of  the  ancient  bells,  9  by  6  \  inches,  with  a  handle,  of 
which  more  hereafter.  It  has  been  cracked,  and  there  is  a 
hole  at  the  top,  which  greatly  impedes  the  sound.  The 
present  tongue  of  iron  is  of  recent  manufacture,  probably  since 
it  went  to  England.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  part  worn 
by  the  ancient  clapper  does  not  correspond  with  the  present 
tongue.  It  must  have  been  rung  by  being  beaten  by  some 


CELTIC    BELL    OF    ST.  EONAN.  343 

object  that  worked  on  a  pivot  outside  of  it.  The  weight  of  the 
bell  is  8  Ibs.  11  oz.,  and  its  composition  is  a  mixed  metal.  It  is 
not  rivetted  together,  but  cast  in  one  piece.  The  handle, 
however,  is  the  most  remarkable  part  of  the  bell,  for  there,  the 
Bishop  of  Brechin  says,  we  find  twice  repeated  the  well-known 
heathen  emblem  of  the  Phallus.  This  symbol  has,  it  was 
believed,  never  hitherto  been  found  in  any  of  the  Scoto-Irish 
metal-work,  although  the  cultus  of  the  men-hir,  which  is  the 
same  in  stone,  still  survives  among  the  cognate  race  in 
Brittany 

"  It  is,  therefore,  a  moot  question  whether  St.  Fillan's  bell  is 
Christian  or  Pre-Christian 

" '  The  symbol',  Lord  Crawfurd  says,  'carries  the  bell  back 
to  a  very  distant  period,  and  seems  to  me  to  link  it  with  pagan 
antiquity — not  that  I  think  it  pagan,  but  Christian." 

It  should,  however,  here  be  mentioned  that  Dr.  Anderson, 
the  eminent  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries 
of  Scotland,  in  his  recent  work1  takes  a  different  view  of  the 
handles  of  the  bell,  which  he  thus  describes:  "In  the  middle 
of  the  top  is  the  loop-like  handle,  terminating  where  it  joins 
the  bell  in  two  dragonesque  heads  with  open  mouths";  and  in 
a  foot-note  he  adds,  "  that  a  different  and,  as  he  conceives,  an 
altogether  untenable  explanation  of  this  ornamental  ending  of 
the  handle  of  St.  Fillan's  bell  has  been  given  by  the  late 
Bishop  of  Brechin,  attributing  to  it  a  connection  with  a  form 
of  pagan  worship  of  the  existence  of  which  among  the  Celtic 
tribes  in  Britain  there  is  no  evidence/' 

In  this  feature  of  its  handle  it  resembles  the  bell  of  St. 
Ruadhan  of  Lorrha  in  Tipperary,2  and  also,  as  we  have  before 
remarked,  the  bell  of  Llangwynodl  (supra,  p.  340),  which  also 
has  an  ornament  at  each  end  of  the  handle. 


ii. — The  BELL  of  ST.  EONAN  (Adamnan)  at  Insh  on 
the  Spey,  near  Kingussie. 

"The  bell3  which  is  preserved  at  the  old  church  of  Insh, 

1  Scotland  in  Early  Christian  Times  (1881)   p   186 

2  Ibid.,  p.  187. 

3  Proc.  ofSoc.  Ant.  Scot.,  vol.  xiv,  1879-80,  p.  107. 

A   A   2 


344  CELTIC    BELL    OF    ST.    EON  AN. 

near  Kingussie,  is  of  cast  bronze,  closely  resembling  in  form 
and  appearance  the  bell  of  St.  Fillan  of  Glendochart.  The 
bell  is  10  inches  high,  exclusive  of  the  handle,  and  8  inches 
by  5  inches  along  the  edges  of  the  rim  at  the  bottom.  The 
handle  is  3f  inches  wide,  and  1J  inch  high.  The  bell 
stands  on  the  sill  of  a  window  in  which  there  is  a  curious- 
shaped  hollow,  which  may  have  been  the  font  of  the  early 


The  Bell  of  Eonan  at  Insh. 


church.  The  slab  which  now  forms  the  window-sole  is  of 
granite,  and  the  basin-shaped  hollow  is  17  inches  wide  at 
the  mouth,  narrowing  somewhat  to  the  bottom,  and  4  inches 
deep." 

The  bell  is  still  carefully  preserved  in  the  church  of 
Insh,  and  Dr.  Anderson  relates  a  curious  tradition, 
from  which  he  concludes  that  the  church  of  Insh  was 
originally  dedicated  to  St.  Adamnan,  Abbot  of  lona  in 
679,  and  that  the  bell  is  either  the  one  that  he  had 


CELTIC    BELL    OF    ST.  FINAN.  345 

blessed,  or  one   that   was  subsequently  attributed  to 
him  as  the  founder  of  the  church.1 


in. — ST.  FINAN'S  BELL,  of  cast  bronze,  is  engraved  by 
the  Eev.  H.  T.  Ellacornbe  in  his  work,  Bells  of  the 
Church  (p.  138),  1872.  He  does  not  give  the  dimen- 
sions, but  states  he  was  "  indebted  to  the  kindness  of 
Miss  Jane  Macdonald  of  Lochiel  for  the  representa- 
tion of  this  very  ancient  relic/'  This  bell  now  lies  on 
a  stone  in  the  churchyard  on  Eilan  Fin  an,  in  Loch 
Shiel,  Arnamuchan.  St.  Finan  was  a  contemporary  of 
St.  Columba.2 


iv. — BRONZE  BELL  FROM  LITTLE  DUNKELD. 


The  ecclesiastical  foundation  of  Dunkeld  is  attributed 
by    the  Eegister  of  St.  Andrew  to  Constantine   Mac 

1  Scotland  in  Early  Christian  Times,  p.  197. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  198. 


346  CELTIC    BELL    FROM    LITTLE    DUNKELD. 

Fergus,  the  last  of  the  Pictish  kings,  in  whose  reign 
the  irruptions  of  the  pagan  Northmen  on  the  West 
Coast  had  threatened  the  security  of  Ion  a  as  the 
resting-place  of  the  relics  of  St.  Columba,  and  scattered 
its  monks.  In  849  the  church  of  Dunkeld  was  re- 
edified  by  Kenneth  McAlpin,  the  first  of  the  Scottish 
dynasty  who  had  united  the  Scottish  and  Pictish 
kingdoms.  For  his  new  church  he  collected  the  relics 
of  St.  Columba,  and  enshrined  them  there. 

"  This  bell1  is  of  cast  bronze,  is  8 J  inches  high,  inclusive  of 
the  handle,  which  rises  1^  inch  above  the  top  of  the  bell.  The 
body  of  the  bell  is  thus  7  inches  in  height,  and  7J  inches  by 
6J  inches  across  the  mouth,  tapering  to  3J  inches  by  2f  inches 
across  the  top,  the  thickness  of  the  metal  varying  from  j5g  in 
the  middle  to  §  of  an  inch  at  the  mouth,  where  there  is  a 
thickening  in  the  form  of  a  slight  bevel  of  the  outer  edge.  The 
handle,  which  rises  almost  straight  up  from  the  two  narrow 
sides  of  the  bell,  exhibits  a  flaw  in  the  casting,  which  has 

been  repaired  by  a  subsequent  pouring  of  the  metal 

There  was  no  parish  of  Dunkeld,  and  Little  Dunkeld  was  thus 
the  parish  church  of  the  district  around  the  cathedral.  If 
this  bell  was  a  relic  of  the  early  foundation,  as  from  its 
analogy  with  other  early  Celtic  bells  there  seems  no  reason  to 
doubt,  it  is  quite  in  accordance  with  the  history  of  other 
known  bells  of  its  kind  that  it  should  not  have  been  found 
associated  with  the  cathedral  [of  Dunkeld],  but  with  the 
parish  church,  which  retained  the  older  associations,  when 
the  new  cathedral  was  supplied  with  Augustinian  Canons, 
to  whom  the  veneration  of  the  Celtic  saints  was  little  better 
than  heresy. 

"  Nothing  was  known  of  the  history  of  the  bell.  It  was 
carelessly  thrown  aside,  and  afterwards  preserved  in  the  Manse, 
having  narrowly  escaped  being  rouped  at  the  sale  of  the 
effects  of  a  former  incumbent." 


We  have  thought  it  desirable  to  compile  the  fore- 
going short  account  of  the  other  similar  cast  bronze  bells 
found  in  Wales  and  Scotland,  of  which  there  are  only 

1  Proc.  of  Soc.  Ant  Scot.,  vol.  xxiii,  1888-9,  p.  120. 


CELTIC    BELL    FROM    LLANGYSTENYN.  347 

seven,  in  order  that  an  opportunity  may  be  afforded  for 
comparing  the  Llangystenyn  bell  with  them.  It  will 
be  observed  that  the  Llangystenyn  bell  nearly  resem- 
bles the  St.  Fillan  and  Little  Dunkeld  bells,  but  is 
most  like  the  latter. 

If  this  bell  be  coeval  with  the  foundation  of  the 
old  church  of  Llangystenyn,  which  seems  a  natural 
inference,  a  high  antiquity  may  be  claimed  for  it. 
The  traditions  connected  with  the  church  invest  it 
and  its  ancient  quadrangular  Celtic  bell  with  unique 
interest.  The  sees  of  St.  David  and  St.  Asaph  were 
traditionally  founded  in  the  latter  part  of  the  sixth 
century.  That  event  is  generally  conceded  to  be  the 
foundation  of  the  present  Episcopate  in  Wales.1 
Doubtless  Christianity  was  introduced  into  Britain  by 
the  Romans  before  the  end  of  the  fourth  century,  and 
possibly,  although  not  certainly,  in  an  episcopal  form. 
If  the  Constantino  (by  whom  Llangystenyn  was 
founded,  or  to  whom  it  is  traditionally  dedicated)  was 
prior  in  date  to,  or  early  in,  the  sixth  century,  as  it  ap- 
pears probable,  Llangystenyn  may  be  taken  to  have  been 
founded  in  the  time  of  the  ancient  Romano-British 
Church,  and  before  the  foundation  ,of  the  present 
Episcopate  of  Wales  and  the  formation  of  the  parochial 
system.  If  so,  this  ancient  bell  may  have  been  in 
existence  before  the  Romano-British  Church  passed 
over  to  the  native  British  population  and  became  a 
purely  British  Church.  The  date  of  the  latter  event 
Canon  Bevan2  thinks  there  is  no  evidence  to  show,  and 
"  that  the  transitional  period  is  shrouded  in  impene- 
trable gloom". 

It  is  well  that  this  relic,  an  object  "  actually  in  itself 
a  portion  of  the  history  of  art,  and  in  its  associations  a 
portion  of  the  history  of  the  ecclesiastical  and  social 
condition  of  the  country",  has  escaped  the  vicissitudes 

1  See  Bevan's  Dioc.  History  of  St.  David's,  p.  9. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  11. 


348  CELTIC    BELL    FROM    LLANGYSTENYN. 

to  which  it  has  been  subjected,  and  has  at  length  found 
a  safe  resting-place  in  the  Powys-land  Museum,  "  where 
it  will  (it  is  hoped)  be  preserved  for  all  time  coming". 

M.  C.  J. 


3-49 


BRONZE  BELL  FROM  JAVA. 


THIS  bell  was  presented  to  the  Powys-land  Museum,  in 
the  year  1878,  by  Mr.  Thomas  Pryce,  then  of  Batavia, 
but  now  of  Pentreheilin,  Montgomeryshire.  It  is 
formed  of  cast  bronze.  Its  height  is  1^  inch,  exclusive 
of  the  circular  handle,  which  is  |  inch  in  diameter. 
Across  the  top  it  is  1^  inch  by  1  inch.  The  mouth  of 
the  bell  is  of  elliptical  shape,  with  the  ends  not  round, 
but  angular,  and  it  measures  If  inch  by  1|  inch. 

It  is  something  similar  to  the  bronze  bell  figured  in 
the  History  of  Java,  by  Sir  T.  Stamford  Raffles  (2nd 
ed.,  1830).  Sir  T.  Stamford  Raffles  says  : 

"  The  casts  in  metal  which  have  been  discovered  in  the 
central  districts  of  Java  are  numerous.  These  casts  are 
generally  of  copper,  sometimes  of  brass,  and  rarely  of  silver. 
A  variety  of  bells,  tripods,  and  ornaments  of  various  descrip- 
tions occur  in  casts  of  metal.  These  are  of  small  size,  seldom 
exceeding  a  few  inches  in  length,  although  bells  sometimes 
occur  much  larger."  (Vol.  ii,  pp.  59  and  60.) 


350  BRONZK    BELL    FROM    JAVA. 

Mr.  T.  Pryce  states  that  this  bell — 

(f  Was  probably  found  among  some  of  the  ruins  of  the 
numerous  Buddhist  temples  in  Java.  It  was  bought  at  a  sale 
in  Batavia.  The  natives  use  these  bells  still,  attached  by 
cords  or  leather  thongs  to  the  necks  of  their  cattle.  Little  is 
known  of  the  history  of  Java  for  some  centuries  after  the 
Mahomedan  invasion,  A.D.  1400.  The  arts  of  sculpture,  metal 
casting,  architecture,  etc.,  in  which  the  natives  had  been  great 
proficients,  appear  to  have  been  entirely  lost  for  ages.  Metal 
casting  is,  however,  still  carried  on  principally  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  native  instruments  of  music." 

To  whatever  use  the  Javanese  may  apply  these  bronze 
bells,  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt  they  are  of  great  an- 
tiquity, and  were  at  one  time  used  in  religious  worship. 

There  are  some  small  bells,  made  of  sheet  iron  and 
bronzed,  now  sold  in  Switzerland  to  tourists,  not 
unlike  this  bell,  but  being  of  quadrangular  rather  than 
elliptical  shape. 

The  sheep-bells  in  use  in  some  parts  of  Wales  are  also 
of  quadrangular  shape  and  cast  of  bell  metal,  and  are 
not  improbably  a  survival  of  bells  of  ancient  character 
and  shape. 

In  Ellacornbe's  Bells  of  the  Church  (1872)  a  variety 
of  small  bells,  or  Tintinnabula,  such  as  these,  are  figured, 
viz.,  on  p.  108  four  small  bells  found  at  Nimroud, 
and  three  bells  found  at  Hyderabad,  in  Dekhun  ;  on 
pp.  109-10  two  bells  found  in  Egypt  of  the  Ptolemean 
period,  200  years  B.C.  ;  on  p.  Ill  six  small  bells  with 
Greek  inscriptions,  and  two  small  bells  in  Antwerp 
Museum — all  the  foregoing  are  circular;  but  on  p.  112 
two  bells  are  figured  more  resembling  this  in  not  being 
circular  but  elongated,  viz.,  a  bell  in  the  Public  Library 
at  Boulogne-sur-Mer,  and  another  bell,  apparently 
elongated,  reproduced  from  a  representation  in  Strutt's 
Manners  and  Customs. 

This  Java  bell  is  peculiar  in  being  elongated,  and 
each  end  terminating  in  an  acute  angle;  the  bell  before 
referred  to,  and  figured  in  RafHes's  History  of  Java, 
appears  to  be  quadrangular. 


351 


ENGRAVING  OF   THE   EISTEDDFOD  IN  1824, 
IN  THE   POWYS-LAND  MUSEUM. 


IN  a  political  periodical,  in  an  article  by  A.  C.  Hum- 
phreys-Owen, Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  County  Council  of 
Montgomeryshire,,  and  a  Member  of  the  Council  of  the 
Powys-land  Club  (with  the  political  purport  of  which 
we  have  nothing  to  do),  the  writer  expatiates  upon  the 
fact  that,  "  though  the  fire  of  patriotism  had  burned 
low  and  dim"  in  Wales,  "it  was  never  extinguished"; 
and,  in  illustration  of  his  argument,  makes  the  follow- 
ing rather  interesting  allusion  to  the  above  engraving: — 

"  There  is  an  interesting  engraving,  which  sums  up  the  whole 
story,  in  the  Powys-land  Museum  at  Welshpool.  It  represents 
an  Eisteddfod  held  in  that  town  little  more  than  sixty  years 
ago.  In  the  centre  of  the  picture  is  a  party  of  elderly  men, 
rudely  dressed,  their  whole  aspect  that  of  simple  peasants,  but 
engaged  in  a  manner  showing  tokens  of  culture,  in  strong  con- 
trast with  their  modest  garb.  Some  of  them  hold  harps,  others 
scrolls  of  music  or  books.  All  round  is  a  circle  of  fine  folks, 
looking  at  the  show  with  benevolent  curiosity.  This  humble 
group  was  a  link  between  the  patriotism  of  the  past  and  the 
promise  of  the  future.  It  typifies  a  national  self- consciousness 
and  self-respect,  which  never  wholly  died  out,  which  rapidly 
grew  with  the  vigour,  intelligence,  and  wealth  of  the  country, 
and  which  was  developed  into  fuller  life  by — [certain  means 
which  the  writer  specifies,  but  which  it  is  beyond  our  province 
here  to  enter  into  or  mention].  A  further  stage  was  reached 
[the  writer  adds]  when  the  Local  Government  Act  entrusted 
the  whole  of  the  administrative  business  of  the  counties  to  the 
ratepayers ;  and,  to-day,  the  descendants  of  those  rustic  poets 
and  musicians,  and  of  their  patronising  audience,  sit  side  by 
side  on  the  benches  of  the  County  Councils,  all  alike  owing 
their  position  to  the  mandate  of  the  electors,  and  working 
with  equal  zeal  for  the  common  good." 


352  ENGRAVING    OF    THE    EISTEDDFOD. 

It  may,  however,  with  truth  be  added  that  neither 
one  nor  the  other  now  appears  as  "rudely  dressed"  or 
as  "fine  folks",  or  distinguishable  one  from  the  other 
by  their  apparel,  or  in  any  way  "ear-marked";  but  per- 
haps some  of  them  may  be  considered  to  indicate  their 
descent  from  the  "  rustic  poets"  by  their  garrulity. 


353 


THE  OLD  QUAKER  BURIAL-GROUND  AT 
DOLCARADOG, 

IN  THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  UWCH-Y  GARREG,  PARISH  OF 
MACHYNLLETH. 


IT  is  probably  known  to  but  few  that  there  was  formerly 
a  small  Quaker  burial-ground,  the  traces  of  which  can 
be  distinctly  made  out  at  the  present  time,  on  the 
farm  called  Dolcaradog,  in  Uwch-y-garreg,  parish  of 
Machynlleth. 

This  ground  was  set  apart  for  the  purpose  by  one 
Humphrey  Thomas  Morris,  the  owner  of  the  farm,  in 
his  will,  dated  21st  December  1694. 

Some  notes  concerning  this  gentleman  and  his  family, 
and  respecting  the  ground  itself,  will,  I  hope,  prove 
interesting. 

In  1660,  Humphrey  Thomas  Morris,  described  as  a 
weaver,  of  Machynlleth,  was  presented  by  the  Grand 
Jury  at  the  Great  Sessions,  held  at  Pool  on  October 
6th,  for  absenting  himself  from  church  for  the  space  of 
three  months  (vide  "Montgomeryshire  Nonconformity", 
by  Richard  Williams,  F.R.Hist.S.,  vol.  xxiv,  p.  201). 
And  he  was  presented  several  times  after  this  date  as 
an  "obstinate  sectarian" and  " Quaker".  Besides  being 
a  weaver,  which  was  then,  at  least  in  Wales,  a  some- 
what important  calling,  he  was  a  person  of  some  means, 
for  I  find  him  tenant  in  1666,  under  Ed.  Pryce,  Esq., 
of  Esgairweddan,  of  some  land  called  Kay  glas,  in  the 
township  of  Is  y  garreg,  at  a  yearly  rent  of  £13  105. 
And  he  certainly  died  possessed  of  the  freehold  estate 
of  Dolcaradog,  and  some  other  property  in  its  neigh- 
bourhood— for  example,  Maes-y-pandy,  in  the  parish  of 
Penegoes. 


354       OLD  QUAKER  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  DOLCARADOG, 

My  friend  Mr.  Rowley- Morris,  whose  painstaking 
work  in  elucidating  the  past  history  of  Powysland  can 
never  be  too  highly  estimated,  has  kindly  made  out 
for  me,  from  the  copy  at  Somerset  House,  a  summary 
of  the  will  of  Humphrey  Thomas  Morris,  which  I  give 
before  proceeding  to  further  remarks  : 

WILL  OF  THOMAS  MORRIS. 

"  I  bequeath  my  soul  to  God  and  my  body  to  be  buried 
according  to  Christian  burial  in  the  bury  ing -place  upon  mine 
own  lands  hereinafter  mentioned.  As  to  Dolcaradog,  situate  in 
the  township  of  Uwch  y  garreg,  now  in  the  occupation  of 
Humphrey  Thomas  and  Harry  Pugh,  I  devise  the  afore- 
mentioned lands,  that  Mary,  my  daughter,  the  wife  of  Harry 
Pugh,  is  to  take  £3  yearly  for  life,  the  rest  of  the  inheritance  to 
Humphrey,  second  son  of  Harry  Pugh  ;  also  all  of  the  tenement, 
after  his  mother's  death,  to  him  and  his  heirs  lawfully  begotten. 
Failing  issue,  to  Harry  Pugh,  above  mentioned,  and  his  heirs 
begotten  upon  his  now  wife,  my  daughter  Mary,  saving  one 
garden  above  the  barn,  containing  about  eight  yards  in  length 
and  six  yards  in  breadth,  to  be  only  excepted  for  a  burying-place  of 
my  body  and  others  of  my  friends  that  have  a  desire  to  be  buried 
therein,  with  free  ingress,  egress,  and  regress  thereto. 

"  To  John  Pugh,  third  son  of  the  said  Harry  Pugh,  a  mes- 
suage called  Maes  y  pandy,  in  the  parish  of  Penegoes,  in  the 
occupation  of  Oliver  Morris  ;  and  £2  to  be  paid  by  John 
Pugh,  within  one  year  after  the  messuage  is  free  to  him,  to 
Gwen  John  (testator's  niece).  To  his  sons  Thomas  Humphrey 
(als.  Morris)  and  Richard  Humphrey,  and  daughters  Jane, Eliza- 
beth, and  Sarah,  one  shilling  each. 

"  Eesidue  to  loving  son-in-law,  Harry  Pugh,  with  provision 
for  funeral  expenses  and  for  hedging  or  fencing  the  above- 
mentioned  garden  for  the  only  proper  use  of  a  burying-place  as 
aforesaid,  and  to  lay  my  body  therein,  whom  (Harry  Pugh)  I 
do  appoint  my  sole  executor,  etc/' 

He  appoints  his  well-beloved  friends,,  William  Pugh 
of  Mathafarn  and  Humphrey  Owen  (of  the  well-known 
Quaker  family)  of  Llwyndu,  Merioneth,  to  be  the 
overseers  of  his  will.  The  will  was  proved  July  1st, 
1701. 

At  what  date  between  1694  arid  1701,  the  dates  of 


IN  THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  UWCH-Y-GAREEG.  355 

making  and  proving  the  will,  Humphrey  Thomas 
Morris  died,  it  is  impossible  to  discover,  because  the 
parish  register  could  not  bear  any  entry  of  his  burial. 

It  is  not  easy  to  determine  who  Humphrey  Thomas 
Morris  was,  or  from  what  family  derived.  By  the  kind 
permission  of  Owen  Slaney  Wynne,  Esq.,  1  have  searched 
carefully  the  Court  Rolls  of  the  Manor  of  Cyfeiliog  and 
the  Borough  of  Machynlleth,  for  the  years  1633,  1648, 
and  1655,  now  in  the  muniment-room  of  Wynnstay, 
and  I  cannot  find  any  Thomas  ap  Morris  whose  son 
Humphrey  might  have  been.  I  am  inclined  to  think, 
though  I  have  no  proof,  that  he  belonged  to  the  well- 
known  Quaker  family  of  Bryncowney  in  Llanwddyn, 
and  was  brother  to  the  John  Thomas  Morris  and 
Edward  Thomas  Morris,  sons  of  Thomas  ap  Morris  ap 
John  (vide  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxiv,  p.  229,  note),  who 
were  repeatedly  presented  at  the  various  sessions 
about  the  period  1660-1680  as  Quakers,  and  suffered 
much  at  the  hands  of  persecutors.  Thomas  ap  Morris 
ap  John  set  apart  a  portion  of  his  land  at  Bryncowney 
as  a  burial-ground. 

Humphrey  Thomas  Morris  was  the  father  of  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  John  Jones  of  Esgair  Evan  in  Llanbrynmair,  who 
died  in  1675  (vide  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxii,  p.  56).  Harry 
Pugh,  the  favoured  son-in-law  of  Humphrey  Thomas 
Morris,  was  son  of  Richard  Pugh  of  Vronwen,  in  the 
parish  of  Darowen,  probably  an  offshoot  of  the  great 
Mathafarn  stock,  but  of  which  branch  I  find  it  im- 
possible to  determine.  Besides  being  the  owner  of 
Vronwen,  Richard  Pugh  owned  Llwyn  y  gronfa, 
Hendre  yr  onn,  Tyddyn  llwyn  coch,  Gelli  bartra 
gwen,  and  a  portion  of  Esgair  galed  in  the  parish  of 
Penegoes. 

Harry  Pugh  was  probably  a  Quaker.  The  Machyn- 
lleth Registers  contain  no  entry  of  his  marriage  or  of 
his  burial;  he  was  probably  buried  at  Dolcaradog,  in 
the  burying-place  set  apart  by  his  father-in-law. 

He  made  his  will  in  August  1721,  and  it  was  proved 
at  St.  Asaph  in  1724. 


356       OLD  QUAKER  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  DOLC1RADOG, 

He  had  sons,  Richard,  Humphrey,  and  John,  and 
daughters,  Anne,  Lowry,  Bridget,  and  Elizabeth. 

Lowry  was  the  wife  of  ...  Vaughan,  and  Elizabeth 
was  married  to  my  ancestor,  John  David,  or  John  David 
Jones,  who  predeceased  his  father-in-law,  who  in  his 
will  speaks  of  "John  David,  late  husband  of  daughter 
Elizabeth". 

This  John  David  was  the  second  son  of  David  Jones, 
then  owner  of  Cleiria,  in  Uwch-y-garreg,  Machynlleth, 
who  was  on  the  Grand  Jury  at  Pool,  August  1684 
(Gaol  File),  and  was  buried  July  4th,  1689. 

John  David  Jones  was  presented  as  a  Quaker  at 
the  Sessions  held  at  Llanfyllin,  26th  March  1683  (Gaol 
File),  but  he  must  have  conformed  subsequently,  for 
all  his  children  (the  first  in  1692,  he  being  probably 
married  in  1690,  though  no  entry  can  be  found, 
registers  being  defective)  were  baptised  at  church. 
The  first  entry  of  baptism  of  a  child  is  made  in  a  very 
large  hand,  and  stands  out  prominently  on  the  page  of 
the  register,  as  if  the  clerk  wished  to  emphasise  the 
fact  of  his  return  to  orthodoxy.  Dolcaradog  became 
eventually  the  property  of  Humphrey  Pugh,  the  second 
son  of  Harry  Pugh,  who  settled  it  upon  his  wife, 
Margaret  How  el,  the  widow  of  David  Pritchard  of 
the  Ceniarth  family  (marriage  settlement  ex.  inf.  the 
late  Mrs.  Pritchard  of  Ceniarth). 

The  present  state  ot  the  burying-place  at  Dolcaradog 
naturally  claimed  attention,  and  I  wrote  to  County 
Alderman  Edward  Davies,  the  present  owner,  inquiring 
about  it.  I  received  from  him  a  very  full  reply,  of 
which  I  print  the  pertinent  points. 

Mr.  Davies  made  some  inquiries  of  a  person  in  the 
neighbourhood  who  had  mentioned  to  him  having  heard 
a  tradition  of  a  burial-garden  at  Dolcaradog,  and  in  his 
letter  says  : 

"  I  may  inform  you  that  the  tradition  itself  is  known  locally, 
but,  until  I  received  your  letter  of  inquiry,  I  must  confess  I 
always  treated  it  with  incredulity.  My  information  is  gleaned 
from  Mr.  Edward  Eoberts,  draper,  aged  about  70,  and  living 


IN  THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  UWCH-Y-GARREG.  357 

at  Aberhosan.  When  a  youth  he  resided  in  a  cottage  attached 
to  the  farm-house.  His  father,  David  Roberts,1  also  told  me  of 
the  tradition  years  ago.  His  recollection  would  go  back  more 
than  half-way  to  1701. 

"The  spot  referred  to  in  the  will  is  now  quite  distinguish- 
able, and  looks  like  an  old  piece  of  garden,  and  is  above 
the  barn.  In  Edward  Roberts's  youth  it  was  a  small  orchard 
having  apple-trees  producing  superior  fruit.  There  is  now  no 
apple-tree,  but  surrounding  it  a  few  plum-trees  and  two 
walnut-trees — I  suppose,  the  only  trees  of  that  kind  in  the 
parish.  One  part  of  the  space  has  evidently  been  especially 
levelled,  about  the  size,  eight  yards  by  six.  Ed.  Roberts  well 
remembers  Quakers,  from  a  place  called  Stay-little  (in 
Treveglwys),  coming  to  Dolcaradog  to  visit  the  then  owner, 
Humphrey  Roberts. 

"  Children  when  passing  this  place  at  night,  even  my  own 
when  young,  I  find,  used  to  shudder  just  as  they  would  do  in 
passing  an  ordinary  burying-place." 

This,  perhaps,  is  not  an  important  matter  to  record 
upon  our  pages,  but  it  appears  to  me  to  be  one  of 
those  almost  forgotten  bits  of  local  history  which, 
<fi  when  found",  should  be  made  "  a  note  of". 

It  might  not  be  amiss  here  to  call  the  attention 
of  members  of  our  -club  to  the  neglected  state  in 
which  these  old  burial-grounds,  for  the  most  part, 
are  to  be  found.  A  little  trouble  and  small  expense 
would  suffice  to  keep  them  from  desecration.  The 
quaker  burial-ground  at  Llwyngwril  offers  a  good 
example  of  what  might  be  done  with  the  others. 

D.  C.  LLOYD  OWEN. 

1  David  Robert  of  Dolcaradog,  doubtless  an  ancestor  of  theirs, 
occurs  on  a  Petit  Jury  at  Pool,  17th  March  1758  (Gaol  File). 


VOL.  XXV.  B  B 


358 


AN   ANCIENT   PAINTING   ON  LEATHER    IN 
THE   POWYS-LAND   MUSEUM. 


THE  Honorary  Secretary  has  lately  purchased  and  presented 
to  the  Museum  an  ancient  painting  on  leather.  Its  size  is. 
5  ft.  6  ins.  by  3  ft.  2  ins. ;  it  is  in  a  rather  dilapidated  con- 
dition. It  has  a  wide  margin,  which  is  covered  with  diaper- 
work  stamped  on  the  leather  and  coloured  brown  and  yellow ; 
in  the  centre  there  is  an  oil-painting  about  18  ins.  square, 
containing  three  figures  walking  hand  in  hand,  representing 
the  Virgin,  the  Child,  and  Joseph,  the  latter  carrying  a  lily. 
The  Rev.  Edward  Byrne,  priest  of  St.  Winefred's,  Welshpool, 
pronounced  it  to  be  an  Antependium,  or  altar  frontal.  The 
diaper  of  the  two  sides  retains  the  brightness  of  its  colours 
much  more  than  the  centre  part,  from  the  fact  of  the  over- 
hanging altar-cloth  protecting  these  parts. 

The  subject  of  the  painting  in  the  centre  is  "The  going  up 
to  the  Temple  previous  to  the  three  days'  loss".  On  ^one  side 
of  the  painting,  where  it  joins  the  diaper  work,  there  is  a  slit 
in  the  leather. 

The  Secretary  heard  of  this  painting  nine  years  ago,  and 
made  a  memorandum  of  the  conversation  he  had  on  3rd  May 
1882,  with  Mrs.  Mclntosh  (widow  of  the  Rector  of  Llanerfyl), 
who  stated 

"That  Mrs.  Lloyd  Jones  of  Garthllwyd  was  staying  at  Pool  Quay 
with  her  sister,  Miss  Beard,  at  the  time  they  were  removing  the 
remains  of  the  old  chapel  at  Buttington  Hall,  and  this  picture  was 
in  the  chapel  and  in  the  place  over  the  altar;  so  Mrs.  Alfred  Jenkins 
had  heard  from  her  mother,  Mrs.  Lloyd  Jones,  who  begged  it  and 
took  it  away  to  Garthllwyd." 

It  was  purchased  from  Mr.  Bromley  Jones,  one  of  Mrs.  Lloyd 
Jones'  sons.  On  the  back  a  comparatively  modern-looking 
printed  or  engraved  paper-label  is  pasted,  bearing  the  following 
inscription  :  "  Samuel  Williams,  At  the  Golden  Lyon  and  Ball 
in  St.  Paul's  Church  Yard  makes  and  sells  all  sorts  of  Guilt 
Leather  Screens,  Hanging  and  Japan  Skreens,  Carpets,  and 
Chairs";  whether  it  had  been  made  or  only  repaired  by  him  is 
a  question  we  cannot  answer. 

The  painting  is  worthy  of  attention.  We  are  not  able,  as 
yet,  to  make  out  its  probable  date,  or  by  whom  it  was  executed, 
but  hope  to  get  the  opinion  of  some  expert  upon  it. 


359 


ON  THE  STRATA  FORMING  THE    BASE   OF 

THE  SILURIAN  IN  NORTH-EAST 

MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 

BY  J.  BICKERTON  MOEGAN,  F.G.S. 


THE  question  of  the  relationship  which  the  basement 
beds  of  the  Silurian  system  bear  to  the  rocks  of  the 
underlying  Cambrian  has  long  been  a  most  interesting 
one  to  geologists,  and  much  has  been  done  of  late  years 
towards  a  proper  elucidation  of  the  problem. 

In  the  year  1855,  Professor  Sedgwick  declared  that 
his  Cambrian  System  was  distinctly  separated,  both 
physically  and  palaeontologically,  from  the  succeeding 
Silurian  by  the  intervention  of  the  May  Hill  Sand- 
stone. "  Commencing  with  the  May  Hill  Group/' 
he  says,  "  there  is  a  sudden  change  of  mineral  type 
and  an  obvious  physical  break,  sometimes  marked  by  a 
change  of  strike  and  clear  discordancy  of  position."1 
Referring  to  the  testimony  of  the  fossils  to  this  break, 
he  also  says  that  when  an  elimination  has  been  effected 
of  all  doubtful  species  and  of  those  which  have  been 
recorded  on  insufficient  authority,  and  such  as  range 
into  the  Devonian  and  Carboniferous  rocks,  "  the 
number  of  common  species  [i.e.,  common  to  Cambrian 
and  Silurian]  will  fall  considerably  below  ten  per 
cent."2 

Since  his  time  a  much  wider  extension  of  this  strati- 
graphical  break  has  been  observed,  for  geologists  have 
demonstrated  its  existence  not  only  in  Britain,  but  also 

1  Sedgwick  and  McCoy's  Palaeozoic  Rocks  and  Fossils,  1855. 
Introduction,  p.  xxvii.  2  Loc.  cit. 

B  B  2 


360        ON  THE  STRATA  FORMING  THE  BASE  OF  THE 

in  Bohemia,  Scandinavia,  and  North  America,1  so  that 
it  has  now  become  a  well-accepted  fact. 

It  seems  more  than  probable,  however,  that  a  great 
deal  of  the  opposition  which  this  theory  first  met  with 
in  this  country  was  due,  to  a  certain  extent,  to  the 
confusion  which  once  existed,  and  still  exists  in  a  less 
degree,  as  to  whether  certain  beds  were  of  Bala  age  or 
belonged  to  the  Llandovery  or  May  Hill  series. 

A  good  instance  of  this  confusion  has  happened  in 
mapping  some  of  the  rocks  of  our  own  district,  and 
this  I  now  intend  pointing  out  in  as  brief  a  manner  as 
possible. 

The  area2  in  which  the  rocks  referred  to  occur  is 
situate  between  the  towns  of  Welshpool  and  Llanfyllin, 
on  the  North  Wales  border.  These  basal  rocks  are  first 
seen  in  Powis  Castle  Park,  one  mile  to  the  south-west  of 
the  former  place,  where  they  come  to  the  surface  in  the 
form  of  a  small  faulted  anticlinal,  the  southern  limb  of 
which  furnishes  the  foundation  upon  which  stands  the 
ancient  and  picturesque  structure  of  Powis  Castle. 
From  this  point  they  take  a  north-easterly  direction,  as 
I  have  indicated  on  another  occasion,3  and,  passing 
through  the  upper,  or  western,  portion  of  the  town, 
are  abruptly  terminated  at  Hed  Bank  by  a  north-east 
and  south-west  fault.  To  the  westward  of  the  town 
they  crop  out  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Frochas,  and, 
striking  thence  through  the  folded  strata  in  a  north- 
easterly direction,  they  extend  for  several  miles  in  the 
direction  of  Llansaintffraid. 

The  character  of  these  basement  beds  is,  for  the 
most  part,  that  of  a  hard  quartzose  grit,  the  base  of 
which  in  places  takes  the  form  of  a  coarse  purple 
conglomerate.  This  conglomerate  is  exposed  near 

1  For  further  information  on  this  point  see  Marr's  Classification  of 
the  Cambrian  and  Silurian  Rocks,  1883,  pp.  18-19. 

2  The  following  remarks  are  the  substance  of  a  paper  read  by  the 
author  before  Section  C.  of  the  British  Association  at  Leeds.     See 
Brit.  Assoc.  Report,  1890,  p.  816. 

3  Montgomeryshire  Collections,  vol.  xviii,  p.  151. 


SILURIAN  IN  NORTH-EAST  MONTGOMERYSHIRE.       361 

Welshpool,  in  the  quarries  on  Cherry-tree  Bank.  At 
Gwreiddyn,  near  Guilsfield,  the  grit  includes,  amongst 
its  more  siliceous  constituents,  a  few  pebbles  which 
have  been  derived  from  the  underlying  rocks.  The 
beds  of  grit  are  generally  separated  by  thin  way- 
boards  of  red  shale,  in  which  occur  green  earthy  con- 
cretionary patches.  They  are  sometimes  sub-cal- 
careous, as  in  Powis  Castle  Park,  and  graduate 
upwards  into  fine-grained  sandstone  and  shale,  the 
whole  being  characterised  by  the  possession  of  a  deep 
red  colour. 

On  Sheet  60  N.  E.  of  the  Geological  Survey  Map 
these  grits  and  sandstones  are  represented  as  being  of 
Caradoc  or  Bala  age.  and  in  his  Silurian  System1  Sir 
Roderick  Murchison  identifies  them  as  belonging  to 
the  upper  portion  of  his  Caradoc  sandstone  ;  a  similar 
correlation  being  also  given  in  his  Siluria.2 

Although  the  fossils  contained  in  these  rocks  are  by 
no  means  abundant  or  generally  distributed,  I  have 
succeeded  in  obtaining  ample  palaBontological  evidence 
to  prove  the  above  correlation  to  be  erroneous.  The 
red  grits  beneath  Powis  Castle  bear  evidence  on  their 
surface  of  having  once  contained  a  fair  number  of  fossils, 
but  this  is  chiefly  in  the  form  of  cavities  from  which 
calcareous  actinozoa  have  either  partly  or  entirely 
weathered  out ;  but  at  Cherry-tree  Bank,  half-a-mile 
to  the  north  of  the  town,  one  of  the  small  quarries 
previously  mentioned  has  yielded  the  following  : 

Pentamerus  oblongus.    Sow.  Euomphalus,  sp. 

undatus.     Sow.  Petraia  bina.     Lonsd. 

Stricklandinia  lirata  (?).    Sow.  sp. 

Atrypa  marginalis.     Dalm.  Favosites,  several  species, 
Khynchonella,  sp. 

with  other  less  characteristic  forms.  It  is,  therefore, 
evident  that  these  red  sandstones,  grits,  and  con- 

1  The  Silurian  System,  1839,  p.  303  et  seq. 

2  See  /Siluria,  3rd  ed.,  1859,  p.  82,  footnote.     Also  accompanying 
map. 


362     ON  THE  STRATA  FORMING  THE  BASE,  ETC. 

glomerates  are  of  later  date  than  the  Caradoc  or 
Bala  beds,  with  which  they  have  hitherto  been 
classed,  and  that  they  belong  unquestionably  to  the 
May  Hill  series  above,  and,  therefore,  form  the  base 
of  the  Silurian  system  in  this  part  of  Montgomery- 
shire. 

As  these  strata  are  followed  from  point  to  point  in  the 
district  they  are  found  to  repose  transgressively  upon 
different  zones  of  the  underlying  Ordovician  rocks,  so 
that  in  this  area  also  there  is  a  distinct  prolongation  of 
the  regional  unconformity  between  the  Ordovician  and 
Silurian  systems,  an  unconformity  which  can  now  be 
followed  continuously  from  Llandeilo  to  Llanfylliri.1 

Above  these  red  Pentamerus  beds  comes  a  series  of 
shales,  mudstones,  and  sandstones,  with  occasional 
courses  of  more  calcareous  matter,  in  which  occur  fossils 
of  Lower  Werilock  age. 

The  discovery  of  the  May  Hill  age  of  these  rocks 
will,  therefore,  necessitate  a  re-mapping  of  the  district 
for  the  purpose  of  rectifying  the  boundary-line  at  the 
base  of  the  Silurian — a  task  I  hope  to  complete  in  my 
leisure  time. 

1  The  actual  junction  of  the  May  Hill  beds  with  the  Ordovician 
in  the  Breidden  area  was  not  observed  by  Mr.  Watts.  He  has, 
however,  given  his  reasons  for  inferring  a  marked  break  between  the 
Ordovician  and  Silurian  systems  in  that  locality.  See  his  paper  on 
"The  Breidden  Hills  and  their  Igneous  and  Associated  .Rocks", 
Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xxiv,  pp.  113,  118. 


363 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

BY  E,  ROWLEY-MORRIS.     . 
(Continued  from  Vol.  xxv,  p.  35. ) 


To  the  county  of  Montgomery,  one  of  the  four  counties 
created  out  of  the  Marches,  the  lordship  of  Kerry  was 
assigned,  and  from  that  date  the  Fee  of  the  lordship 
has  vested  in  the  Crown.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
period  immediately  following  the  creation  of  the  four 
new  counties,  the  Crown  appears  to  have  appointed 
officers  to  represent  it  in  the  various  departments,  from 
whom  an  account  was  sent  in  to  the  Exchequer,  exhibit- 
ing their  receipts  and  disbursements. 

The  sources  of  revenue  were  from  forests,  courts, 
chief  rents,  escheats,  wills,  heriots,  from  demesne  lands, 
houses,  cottages,  etc.  The  names  of  these  officers  are 
entered  on  the  Gaol  Files,  and  have  been  printed  in 
"Miscellanea  Historica",  in  vol.  iii  et  seq.  of  the  Mont- 
gomeryshire Collections. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  1507  the  Kerry  people 
obtained  their  Charter  of  Liberties.  The  following  year 
but  one,  the  King  (Henry  VIII)  granted  the  steward- 
ship of  the  manors  and  lordships  of  Montgomery, 
Kerry,  Kedewen,  and  the  members  of  the  same,  to  Sir 
Charles  Somerset,  Knight,  the  King's  Chamberlain,1  in 
1515  he  also  had  the  appointment,  amongst  other 
offices,  of  Chancellor  and  Chief  Forester,  with  the  ap- 
pointment of  officers,  in  the  lordships  of  Montgomery, 
Kerry,  Kedewen,  and  several  others  in  Wales.2 

William  Herbert,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  whose  daughter 
married  Sir  Charles  Somerset,  was  first  cousin  to  Sir 


Mont.  Sherifs,  p.  98.  2  /^.,  99. 


3G4  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

Richard  Herbert  of  Montgomery,  and  it  has  been  sug- 
gested that,  through  this  relationship,  Sir  Richard 
Herbert's  connection  with  the  county  commenced,  as 
"the  Booke  of  Payments"  indicates  clearly  that  Sir 
Richard  Herbert  there  represented  the  Earl  of  Wor- 
cester at  the  time  of  the  accession  of  Henry  VIII.1 
The  same  year  there  was  a  grant  of  the  reversion  of 
the  same,  to  his  son  by  Elizabeth  Herbert,  Henry 
Somerset,  Lord  Herbert.2  The  Accounts  during  this 
period  are  at  the  Record  Office.3  In  the  same  year, 
29th  August,  "  Griffith  Vachan  of  the  Guard"  was  ap- 
pointed to  be  Forester  of  the  Lordships  of  Kere  and 
Kidewen.4  In  1527  Richard  Powell  of  Edenhope, 
Serjeant- at- Arms  to  King  Henry  VIII,  was  appointed 
Chief  Forester  of  Kerry,  Llanllwchaiarn,  and  Tregynon 
for  life. 

On  page  15  of  the  "Sheriffs  of  Montgomeryshire" 
it  is  stated  that  one  Owen  Henstheman,  on  the  10th 
Jan.,  19  Henry  VIII  (L528),  was  appointed  Seneschal  of 
Montgomery  Castle,  and  he  was  to  receive  the  profits 
and  revenues  arising  from  the  lordships  of  Montgomery, 
Kerry,  and  Kedewen.  Subsequent  researches  have 
resulted  in  discovering  that  this  was  an  error.  The 
following  was  his  appointment : — "  In  the  19th  year  of 
Henry  VIII,  Patent,  pars  1,  m.  9-19,  10th  January, 
an  Annuity  of  £5  a  year  was  granted  to  Owen  Heri- 
thesman,  Clerk,  for  the  performance  of  Divine  Service 
in  Montgomery  Castle  (Marches  of  Wales),  payable 
out  of  the  issues  of  the  Lordships  of  Montgomery, 
Kerry,  and  Kydewen,  as  enjoyed  by  Ryce  Maelgwyn,5 
deceased." 

In  1540,  which  is  the  first  year  a  Sheriff  was  ap- 
pointed for  the  new  county  of  Montgomery,  Humphrey 

1  Mont.  Sheriffs,  p.  99.      2  State  Papers,  Domestic,  vol.  ii,  p.  1448. 

3  Ministers'  Accounts,  2-3  Hen.   VI11,  No.  105,  Nos.   17  and  3'2, 
Nos.  11  and  16,  and  Jf 8. 

4  7  Hen.  VIII,  Patent,  pars  2,  m.  9. 

5  Ryce  (or  Richard)  Maelgwyn  was  parson  of  Llandyssil.     (See  his 
will,  Mont.  Coll..  xxiv,  p,  30.) 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  365 

Lloyd  of  Leighton,  Esq.,  was  so  appointed.  He  also 
held  simultaneously  "  the  analogous  trust  of  Eirigild 
of  the  Crown  demesnes  of  Kerry  and  other  places — 
a  Eirigild  being  an  officer  who  collected  the  King's 
rents  of  assize,  if  necessary,  by  distraint."1  He  was 
succeeded,  apparently,  by  Hugo  ap  John  Lloyd.2  An 
Account  of  his  was  sent  in  to  the  Exchequer  in  36-7 
Henry  VIII.  (It  is  in  Exch.  Roll,  Ministers'  Accounts, 
for  that  year,  No.  78.) 

It  is  not  necessary,  for  the  purposes  of  this  sketch, 
to  follow  the  several  appointments  of  officers.  The 
above  will  illustrate  the  position  in  life  of  the  earlier 
ones.  The  following  are  mentioned  in  "Miscellanea 
Historica"  in  the  Journal  of  this  Society  : — 

Chief  Stewards. 

1553-1568.  William  Earl  of  Pembroke  (of  the  second 
creation). 

1570-1589.   Sir  James  Croft.3 
1592-1607.  Herbert  Croft,  Esq. 

Foresters. 

1528.  Richard  Powell  of  Edeuhope,  Esq.,  for  life. 

1560.  William  Deacon,  Esq.  (Dackyn). 

Ringilds. 

1540.  Hugo  ap  John  Lloyd. 

1540.  Humphrey  Lloyd  of  Leighton. 

1555.  John  Lloyd. 

Recorder. 

1561.  John  Gwynne. 

Herbert  Croft,  Esq.,  above,  appears  to  have  been 
the  last  Chief  Steward  appointed,  for  on  the  23rd  of 

1  Mont.  Sheriffs,  p.  7.  2  Ibid.,  p.  16. 

3  Sir  James  Croft,  Knight,  probably  of  Croft  Castle,  Herefordshire. 
(Mont.  Sheriffs^  p.  314,  n.  1.)  Richard  Herbert  of  Montgomery,  Esq., 
married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Croft,  Knt.,  of  Croft 
Castle  (Betham's7?arowe%re,  vol.  ii,  p.  417).  It  is  likely  that  it  was 
through  this  alliance  that  the  appointment  of  Sir  James  Croft  came 
about. 


366  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

August  1605  a  lease  of  Kerry  Manor  was  granted  to 
Lady  Mary  Herbert.1  She  was  only  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Stanley  of  Stan  den,  in  Hert- 
fordshire, Master  of  the  Mint  in  1570,  and  married  to 
Sir  Edward  Herbert  of  Powis  Castle,  who  was  second 
son  of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  of  the  second  creation.2 
The  following  year  she  had  a  "  grant  of  Crown  lands  in 
the  County  of  Montgomery  on  a  lease  of  21  years, 
at  a  rent  of  £197  25.  5d."3  In  1613  there  is  an  account 
of  Sir  William  Herbert,  His  Majesty's  Farmer  of  Mont- 
gomery, Kerry,  and  Kedewen,  parcel  of  the  possessions 
formerly  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  March/1 

According  to  a  manuscript  at  Powis  Castle,  King 
James  the  First,  in  1616,  granted  the  manors  of  Kerry 
and  Kedewen,  and  borough  and  Castle  of  Montgomery, 
to  the  above  Sir  William  Herbert.5  This  Sir  William 
was,  on  the  2nd  of  April  1629,  elevated  to  the  peerage 
by  Charles  I,  by  the  title  of  "  Baron  Powys  of  Powys". 
He  died  7th  March  1655,  and  is  buried  at  Hendon, 
co.  Middlesex.  He  held  Kerry,  etc.,  at  his  death. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  Piercy  Herbert, 
who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Craven. 
Sir  Piercy  succeeded  to  the  interest  in  Kerry  lordship, 
which  had  been  his  father's,  and  during  the  civil  war 
his  estates  were  seized  by  the  Parliamentary  Party. 
In  vol.  xviii  of  the  Montgomeryshire  Collections  the 
writer  has  made  some  references  to  their  proceedings. 
In  vol.  civ,  First  Series  Roy.  Comp.  Papers,  there  is 
a  letter,  dated  18th  August  1652,  written  at  Welsh- 
pool,  touching  the  purchase  of  the  lordships  of  Kerry 
and  Halcitor,  by  Richard  Price,  Esq.6;  and  in  vol.  xlix 
of  the  same  series  the  following  petition  may  be  found 
at  p.  559  : — 

1  Index  Warrant  Book,  p.  46.     State  Papers,  Domestic,  1605-10, 
p.  231.  2  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  v,  pp.  170-75. 

3  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  iv,  p.  290. 

4  Sheriffs  of  Montgomeryshire,  p.  204. 

5  Ex  inf.      Mr.  Morris  Charles  Jones,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer, 
dated  21st  May  1869.  6  Of  Gtmley. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  367 

"  To  the  Hono'ble  the  Com'rs  for  Managing  Estates  under 
Sequestration. 

"The  humble  petition  of  Richard  Pryce,  Esq. 

"  That  whereas  the  Lordships  of  Kerry,  Kedewin,  and  Hal- 
citor,  being  taken  in  Ffee  Ffarme  of  the  late  King  by  Sir  Piercy 
Herbert  a  papist,  paying  £144  16s.  9fc?.  yearly  for  ye  same  for 
ever,  and  the  interest  of  the  said  Sir  Percy  Herbert  beinge 
still  unsould  at  Drury  House,  and  soe  disposable  by  yo'r 
Honors. 

"  And  whereas  yo'r  petition'r  having  bought  the  said  Ffee 
Ffarme  rent  received  upon  the  said  Lordships,  and  the  same 
being  att  present  without  a  tenant  from  whom  yo'r  petition'r 
may  call  for  his  rent,  there  being  one  half  yeares  rent  payable 
to  yo'r  petitioner  the  next  25th  of  March. 

"  Humbly  prayeth  that  the  same  may  be  disposed  to  some 
responsible  hand,  and  to  that  end  humbly  recommends  the 
late  tenant. 

"  And  yo'r  petition'r  shall  pray/' 

Note  on  margin — "  23  *  March,  54,  the  Com'rs  to  let  ye  estate 
to  hym  who  will  give  most,  the  same  for  a  year." 

It  was  four  years  and  a  half  before  the  following 
decision  was  come  to,  p.  561,  10th  Dec.  1659  : — 

"  Order  directing  that  Capt.  Eich.  Price,  having,  on  the 
second  day  of  July  preceding,  contracted  for  the  fie  ffarme  of 
the  Manours  of  Montgomery,  Kerry,  and  Kedewen,  per  annum 
£144  16s.  8d.,  and  the  fie  ffarme  of  demesne  landes  called 
B eander  lands,  per  ann.  £13  19s.  9c?.,  and  having  paid  the  full 
purchase  money,  that  he  and  his  assigns  should  receive  the 
rents  which  were  due  29th  Sepr.  last,  and  all  future  rents." 

As  far  back  as  1650  a  petition  was  presented  by  one 
Elizabeth  Robe,  spinster,  showing  that  then  formerly 
petitioner  had  been  accustomed  to  receive  an  annuity  of 
£40  a  year,  which,  had  been  secured  on  the  lordship 
of  Kerry  and  other  places  to  Elizabeth  Robe  and  her 
brother,  John  Robe,  but  that  payment  had  been  sus- 
pended; the  matter  had  been  referred  to  the  Committee's 
counsel,  who  required  proof  from  petitioner.  She  stated 
that  her  proof  was  then  very  remote  in  Wales ;  that 
only  William  Lord  Powys  was  then  in  town,  and  that 
he  was  so  infirm  that  he  could  not  be  removed  from 
his  chamber.  Petitioner  therefore  prayed  that  his  tes- 


368  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

timony  might  be  taken  at  his  lodgings,  or  that  peti- 
tioner might  be  permitted  to  take  his  oath  before  a 
Master  iu  Chancery.  It  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Reading 
should  take  the  testimony  of  Lord  Powys,  and  report  it 
to  the  Committee,  dated  6th  Sept.  1650.  On  the  20th 
of  the  following  month,  Peter  Brereton,  who  had  taken 
Lord  Powys's  examination,  reported  in  favour  of  peti- 
tioner. Much  delay  was  experienced  in  the  case,  and 
it  was  found  later  on  that,  on  the  marriage  of  Sir  Piercy 
Herbert,  his  father's  property  had  been  placed  in  set- 
tlement, Sir  Piercy  to  pay  his  father  £800  a  year  for 
his  life,  the  latter  consenting  to  abate  £40  a  year  oil 
the  £800.  In  the  end,  Eliz.  Robe  obtained  an  Order 
upon  the  Commissioners  of  the  county  of  Montgomery 
for  them  to  pay  her  the  annuity,  unless  they  showed 
cause  within  a  month.  The  Commissioners  answered 
that  the  lordships  in  question  never  were  within  their 
management,  but  that  the  rents  had  been  paid  to  the 
Auditor, and  that,  since  the  proceedings  commenced,  the 
property  in  question  had  been  sold  by  the  Parliament. 
Failing  in  this,  it  was  then  suggested  that  she  should 
resort  to  the  property  in  Montgomeryshire  which  had 
been  given  as  security  for  the  £800  annuity.1 

On  the  death  of  Sir  Piercy,  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  William,  who  was  created  Earl  of  Powis  on  the 
4th  of  April  1674  ;  and  on  the  accession  of  James  II 
he  was  created  Viscount  Montgomery  and  Marquis  of 
Powis.  Attaching  himself  to  the  cause  of  James  II, 
he  withdrew  with  that  monarch  to  France,  and  was 
there  by  him  created  Marquis  of  Montgomery  and 
Duke  of  Powis.2  These  titles,  however,  were  never 
recognised  in  England.  "  He  was  outlawed  for  not 
returning  within  a  certain  period,  and  submitting  to 
the  new  Government.  All  his  estates  were  confiscated 
by  the  Crown,  and  granted  by  letters  patent  to  the 

1  The  writer  has  set  out  Sir  Percy  Herbert's  case  with  the  Seques- 
tration Commissioners,  at  length,  in  vol.  xix  of  these  Collections,  pp. 
257-306,  to  which  readers  are  referred  for  greater  details. 

2  See  "  Herbertiana",  in  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  v,  pp.  353-364. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  369 

Earl  of  Roch fort.  These  letters  are  dated  1st  April, 
8  William  III  (1696),  and  afford  much  interesting  in- 
formation." They  are  printed  at  length  in  Archceologia 
Cambrensis  (1859).  We  append  a  rough  translation 
of  the  description  of  his  possession  in  Kerry. 

"  He  was  seised  of  and  in  the  whole  of  the  manor  of  Kerry, 
lying  in  the  several  parishes  of  Kerry,  Mochtree,  Church- 
stoke,  and  Montgomery,  with  their  rights,  members,  and 
appurtenances  in  our  county  of  Montgomery  aforesaid,  and  of 
the  rents  and  services  of  all  the  men  and  inhabitants  within 
the  aforesaid  manor  of  Kerry,  and  to  the  same  manor  belong- 
ing and  pertaining,  and  of  the  Court  of  the  View  of  Frank 
Pledge,  to  the  aforesaid  manor  belonging,  and  all  waifs, 
estrays,  goods,  and  cattels  of  felons,  fugitives,  etc.,  in  the  said 
manor,  the  clear  annual  value  of  which,  beyond  outgoings,  is 
£27  14s.  3c7. ;  and  also  of  and  in  all  those  two  messuages, 
thirty  cottages,  and  ten  acres  of  land,  five  acres  of  meadow, 
and  twenty  acres  of  pasture,1  with  their  appurtenances,  lying 
and  being  within  the  aforesaid  parishes  of  Kerry,  Mochdre, 
Churchstoke,  and  Montgomery,  in  our  said  county  of  Mont- 
gomery, and  on  the  aforesaid  day  of  the  taking  of  this 
Inquisition,  or  then  lately  in  the  possession  of  Robert  Jones, 
Margarete  Jones,  widow,  Ed'ri  ap  Richard, -Thomas  Jones, 
John  Arthur,  John  Thomas,  John  Lewis,  Evan  Pryce,  Maurice 
Davies,  David  Evan,  Thomas  Richards,  Roger  Evans,  Richard 
Morris,  Richard  Phillips,  Elizabeth  Phillips,  Ed'ri  Lewis,  ... 
Fernol,  widow,  John  Jenkin,  Susanna  Evans,  John  Evans, 
Richard  Robert,  Marie  Jones,  widow,  ...  Mathews,  widow, 
Evan  Mathew,  Ed'ri  John,  Thomas  Matthew  Fisher,  David 
Jenkins,  Thomas  Rogers,  and  David  Powell,  and  of  the  clear 
annual  value  of  £60  5s.  beyond  reprisals/' 

His  Grace  died  at  St.  Germains,  2nd  June  1696. 
Before  ihe  end  of  that  year  his  son  and  successor, 
William,  second  Duke  of  Powis,  was  distrusted  and 
persecuted  by  the  Government,  when,  on  the  15th 
of  Dec.  1696,  he  surrendered  himself  to  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice,  who  committed  him  to  Newgate.  It  was  not 
until  1722  that  he  obtained  restitution  of  his  estates, 
subsequent  to  which  date  Kerry  manor,  with  all  its 

1  We  think  this  expression  is  not  intended  to  accurately  state 
quantities. 


370  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

rights  and  privileges,  remained  and  still  remains  in 
the  possession  of  his  descendants  and  successors. 

The  foregoing  narrative,  though  imperfect  in  many 
respects,  has  traced  the  devolution  of  the  lordship  from 
the  date  when  it  was  conceded  by  Edward  I  to  Eoger 
de  Mortimer,  to  the  possession  of  its  present  holder, 
citing  English  records  of  unimpeachable  authority  for 
each  step.  Readers  who  have  followed  the  story  will 
have  noticed  that  practically  the  lordship  has,  under 
the  Crown,  been  in  the  hands  of  two  noble  families,  and 
two  only — namely,  the  Mortimers  and  Herberts — 
during  the  long  period  which  has  intervened  between 
1278  and  1891. 

The  writer  has,  from  his  inability  to  obtain  access 
to  the  Court  Rolls,  Minute  and  other  Books  connected 
with  the  Court  Baron,  been  unable  to  illustrate  either 
the  tenures,  customs,  or  usages  which  obtained  in 
the  lordship,  and  hence  pictures  of  life  are  lacking. 
It  would  have  been  interesting  to  be  able  to  trace  the 
steps  by  which  land,  which,  at  the  period  when  Roger 
de  Mortimer  first  obtained  possession  of  the  lordship, 
was  held  in  common,  has  passed  through  till  it  became 
the  freehold  of  the  present  day. 

A  cursory  examination  of  "Historica  Miscellanea", 
which  at  the  cost  of  so  much  labour  has  been  un- 
earthed by  the  Rev.  W.  Valentine  Lloyd,  M.  A.,  one  of 
our  Hon.  Secretaries,  and  printed  in  these  Collections, 
would  show  any  reader  what  vast  quantities  of  land 
in  the  county  of  Montgomery,  usually  described  as 
"  parcels  of  the  possessions  of  the  Earl  of  March",  were 
in  the  hands  of  persons  who  could  show  no  title  to 
them ;  and  how,  from  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII  down 
to  a  recent  period,  persons  who  had  influence  obtained 
grants  of  these  parcels,  usually  on  leases,  which  ulti- 
mately, by  payment  of  the  capitalised  value  of  the  fee 
farm  rents,  became  freehold  with  a  Crown  title.  As 
an  illustration,  we  append  the  particulars  of  a  grant1 

1  For  the  information  of  readers,  it  may  be  said  there  are  excellent 
indices  at  the  Record  Office  relating  to  these  grants,  both  of  places 
and  persons,  separately. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  371 

made  to  John  Price  of  Newtown  Hall  in  the  J  2th  of 
Elizabeth,  dated  June  9th. 

"  Grant  of  the  following  concealed  lands  in  the  possession 
of  the  inhabitants  to  John  Price  for  21  years  :  Dolvor  Mill 
[this  should  be  VilT\t  a  parcel  of  meadow  of  an  acre ;  Keven 
and  Veowstre  vills ;  Mogtievill;  Garthelin  vill;  Kilwythe  vill; 
Machaithelan  vill  ;  Grange  vill ;  Delvor  vill ;  Keven  y  Beren 
vill ;  Bronllowarthe  vill ;  Kelliberisse,  Trevor,  Kerry,  and 
Vaestre,  Clothie,  Treyllan,  Tiry  manor,  all  and  singular  houses 
and  premisses  there ;  Trylan,  a  water-mill  there/'  (Land 
Rev.  JRolls,  N.  W.y  vol.  iv,  p.  22.)1 

In  addition  to  these  concealed  and  other  lands, 
there  were  at  one  time  nineteen  mills  in  Kerry  parish 
in  the  hands  of  the  Crown,  besides  the  possessions 
belonging  to  Cwmhir  Abbey,  and  the  rectorial  tithes  ; 
these  were  all  dealt  with  by  leases,  and  in  connection 
therewith  there  was  a  vast  amount  of  litigation.  The 
depositions  relating  to  these  suits  are  of  an  interesting 
nature,  and  illustrate  many  points  connected  with  the 
lordship  which,  in  their  absence,  would  not  have  been 
known ;  so,  instead  of  incorporating  the  information 
obtainable  from  an  examination  of  these  documents 
with  this  section,  we  propose  at  a  later  stage  to  deal 
with  them,  and  we  shall  be  much  disappointed  if  it 
will  not  be  found  that  their  contents  will  unfold  many 
things  not  dreamt  of  now,  and  be  the  most  interesting 
section  connected  with  this  paper  on  Kerry. 


ECCLESIASTICAL. 

The  actual  period  when  a  church  was  first  founded 
in  the  parish  of  Kerry  is  unknown.  There  are  several 
facts  with  which  we  are  acquainted  which  tend  to  show 
that  it  was  at  an  early  period.  We  may  mention 
three:  (1)  That  the  parish  is  coterminous  in  its  boun- 
dary with  the  ancient  Welsh  Cwmwd  of  Keri,  in  the 
Cantred  of  Malienydd;  (2)  that Mochdre,  which  has  been 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  iii,  p.  148. 


372  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

severed  from  it  in  the  Middle  Ages,  originally  was  part 
and  parcel  of  Kerry ;  (3)  that  churches  dedicated  to 
St.  Michael  are  of  an  early  date.  The  dedication  of 
churches  to  St.  Michael,  as  to  the  period,  is  referred  to 
in  Archdeacon  Bevan's  Diocesan  History  of  St.  David's 
in  the  following  terms :  "  As  regards  churches  dedicated 
to  St.  Michael,  the  Annales  contain  an  entry  under 
date  718  to  the  following  effect — *  Consecration  of  a 
church  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel' ;  which  accords 
exactly  with  the  entry  in  Bede's  Martyrologium  as  the 
title  of  the  festival  (September  29th),  and  not  as  indi- 
cating the  erection  of  any  church  in  England  ;  whence 
wTe  conclude  that  the  entry  in  the  Annales  implies  no 
more  than  the  introduction  of  the  festival  into  the 
calendar." 

The  incident  is  interesting,  as  an  indication  that  the 
isolation  of  the  Welsh  Church  was  not  so  complete  as 
to  shut  out  all  intelligence  of  what  was  passing  outside 
Wales. 

The  celebrity  of  St.  Michael  originated  in  Italy  in 
the  fifth  century,  in  connection  with  a  vision  seen  in 
Mount  Garganus,  to  which  reference  is  made  in  Codex 
B.  of  the  Annales,  "  S.  Michaelis  in  Monte  Gargano." 
Thence  it  traversed  Europe,  reaching  Wales  in  the 
beginning  of  the  eighth  century,  where  it  became  a 
very  favourite  dedication,  there  being  no  less  than  • 
forty-five  St.  Michael  churches  in  the  diocese  of  St. 
David.  To  what  cause  this  popularity  is  to  be  attri- 
buted we  are  riot  aware — whether  it  was  from  the 
association  of  St.  Michael  with  hills  (though  we  do  not 
see  this  illustrated  in  the  position  of  the  churches),  or 
whether  there  was  something  that  appealed  to  Welsh 
sentiment  in  the  significance  of  this  dedication  as 
symbolic1  of  the  Church's  victorious  progress. 

The  dedication  seems,  at  all  events,  to  be  thoroughly 
characteristic  of  the  Welsh,  as  distinct  from  the  Norman 
or  English  elements  in  our  Church  history;  such,  for 
instance,  as  the  Llanfair  (St.  Mary)  dedications  of  a 

1  Mrs.  Jameson,  Sacred  Art,  i,  96-97. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  373 

later  period.  Only  a  single  instance  occurs  in  the 
diocese  of  St.  David  of  a  St.  Michael  dedication  in  a 
town,  namely,  at  Pembroke,  and  this  may  have  been  in 
existence  before  the  town  grew  up  under  Norman 
influence. 

The  above  manifestly  points  to  a  period  pre-Norman, 
when  the  first  church  was  dedicated  in  Kerry. 

In  a  Had.  MS.  (1973)  in  the  British  Museum  there 
is  a  notice  of  Elystan  Glodrydd,  the  reputed  lord  of  the 
district  between  the  Severn  and  the  Wye,  and  it  also 
states  that  his  son,  "Cadwgan  ap  Elystan,1  founded  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Mary's  at  Cwmhir,  and  three  churches  to 
St.  Michael — that  is,  Kerry,  Cefnllys,  and  St.  Michael's 
on  Bryn  pab  lenaf  in  Bualet."  There  is  a  palpable 
error  in  the  above,  for  it  was  Cadwallon  ap  Madoc,  great- 
grandson  of  Cadwgan,  who  founded  Cwm  Hir,  yet  it 
may  be  true  that  Cadwgan  was  the  founder  of  Kerry 
Church.  There  was  a  reconsecration  of  Kerry  Church 
before  the  death  of  Cadwallon  ap  Madoc2 ;  we  refer  to 
the  time  when  that  determined  but  bloodless  struggle 
occurred  between  the  celebrated  Giraldus  Cambrensis 
and  Adam,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph.  The  question  in- 
volved was  as  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Kerry,  whether  it 
was  in  the  diocese  of  St.  Asaph  or  St.  David,  and  the 
occasion  was  the  reconsecration  referred  to  above, 
which  occurred  in  1175,  and  during  a  vacancy  in  the 
see  of  St.  David's. 

The  incident  is  thus  related  in  Archdeacon  Thomas's 
valuable  history  of  the  diocese  of  St.  Asaph3  : 

"  Kerry  being  in  the  lordship  or  march  of  Montgomery, 
Adam  was  invited  by  two  of  the  local  chieftains,  Biuion  Glyd 
and  Cadwallawn,  and  some  of  the  clergy,  to  come  and  dedicate 
the  church ;  but  on  proceeding  to  do  so  was  confronted  by 
Giraldus,  who,  as  Archdeacon  of  Brecon  and  representative 
of  the  see  of  St.  David,  solemnly  inhibited  him  f  ex  parte  Dei, 
Dominique  Papse  et  Archiepiscopi  necnon  et  Eegis  Anglise  in 

1  See  pedigree,  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiii,  p,  102. 

2  He  died  in  1179. 

3  Hist.  Diocese  St.  Asaph,  pp.  37-39. 

VOL.    XXV.  C  0 


374  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

cujus  manu  et  custodia  tune  erat  Ecclesia  S.  Davidis,  paulo 
ante  orbata  pastore,  ne  falcem  mitteret  in  messam  alienam.' 
To  this  the  Bishop  rejoined  by  quoting  letters  of  the  Arch- 
bishop confirming  to  him  the  see  of  Llanelwy  (St.  Asaph), 
'  with  all  its  appurtenances',  and  by  producing1,  in  further 
support  of  his  claim,  an  ancient  book  which  declared  that  not 
Kerry  only,  but  all  the  churches  between  the  Wye  and  the 
Severn  '  ad  ecclesiam  Llaneluensis  jure  parochiali  pertinere.' 
This  was  in  complete  accord  with  the  ancient  arrangement 
which  assigned  to  this  diocese  (St.  Asaph)  the  province  of 
Powys,  of  which  Kerry  formed  a  part,  but  it  was  not  to  stand 
against  the  practice  of  three  hundred  years,  during  which  it 
was  alleged  by  Giraldus  that  Kerry  had  belonged  to  St. 
David's. 

"Judging  from  the  retinue  that  attended  the  Bishop  from 
Powysland  and  Caedewen,  and  the  armed  body  which  on  the 
shortest  notice  answered  the  summons  of  the  Archdeacon,  it 
would  appear  that  the  dispute  had  been  one  of  some  standing, 
and  had  now  corne  to  its  expected  crisis.  The  whole  account 
is  curious.  On  the  morning  of  the  dedication  two  of  the  clergy 
(for  the  church  was  a  collegiate  foundation),  after  first  hiding 
the  keys,  set  out  to  meet  the  Bishop.  Meanwhile*,  Giraldus, 
the  Archdeacon,  appears  at  the  gates,  and  having  with  some 
difficulty  obtained  admission,  has  the  bells  rung  in  token  of 
possession.1  Learning  definitely,  through  his  rural  dean,  that 
the  Bishop  was  coming  in  his  official  capacity,2  he  warns  him 
not  to  enter  into  another's  field  ;  and  to  the  Bishop's  threat  of 
excommunication,  he  replies  that  it  did  not  signify  to  him  as  he 
was  not  his  Bishop,  and  hints  that  he,  too,  could  and  would  try 
that  experiment. 

"  And  when  at  length  the  Bishop,  wearing  his  mitre,  and 
holding  his  pastoral  staff,  solemnly  advanced  to  put  his  threat 
into  execution,  Giraldus  had  the  church  door  thrown  open, 
and  issued  forth  with  a  train  of  priests  and  clergy  robed  in 
surplices  and  stoles,  with  the  other  sacerdotal  vestments,  and 
preceded  by  lighted  candles  and  a  processional  cross.  The 
two  parties  stood  face  to  face,  and  when  the  Bishop  began  in 
a  loud  voice  to  excommunicate  the  Archdeacon,  the  latter  in 
still  louder  tones  began  to  excommunicate  him  ;  and  to  add 


1  "  Tanquam  in  investiture  signum  et  possessionis." 

2  Giraldus    and   the  Bishop   were   old  fellow-students.     Giraldus 
sent  some  of  his  clergy,  attended  by  the  dean  of  the  district,  to  inform 
the  Bishop  that  if  he  came  as  a  friend  he  would  be  kindly  received, 
but  if  not  he  urged  him  to  advance  no  further. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  375 

solemnity  to  the  sentence,  he  ordered  all  the  bells  to  be  tolled 
in  the  slow  and  peculiar  manner  (simul  omnes  trino  invervallo) 
usual  on  such  like  occasions. 

"The  issue  was  that  the  Bishop  turned  on  his  heel  and 
galloped  off,  pursued  by  the  sticks  and  stones  and  yells  of  the 
multitude,  as  was  always  the  case  whenever  these  ominous 
sounds  were  heard.  Be  it  added,  however,  to  the  honour  of 
both  disputants,  that  the  Archdeacon's  steadfast  maintenance 
of  the  rights  of  his  see  secured  to  him  ever  afterwards  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  old  fellow-pupil,  the  defeated  Bishop." 

Among  the  few  monuments  in  Kerry  Church  is  one, 
erected  in  1818,  by  Bishop  Burgess,  founder  of 
Lampeter  College,  to  commemorate  the  above  incident, 
and  perpetuate  the  name  of  Giraldus  in  connection 
therewith.  It  has  upon  it  the  following  inscription : 

To  the  memory 

of 
GIRALDUS  DE  BARRI 

commonly  called 

GIRALDUS  CAMBRENSIS 

Son  of  WILLIAM  DE  BARRI 

Maternal  Grandson 

of 

RHYS  AP  TUDOR 
Prince  of  South  Wales 

and 
Archdeacon  of  Brecon 

To   whose 

Judicious  and  Intrepid   Conduct 

in  his  capacity  as  Archdeacon 

The  See  of  St.  David's 

Is  indebted 
For  the  ancient  preservation 

and 
Present  Possession 

of 
The  Parish  of  Kerry 

with 

The  rights  emoluments  and  privileges 
Thereunto  belonging 

This  monument 
Is  gratefully  erected 

By  THOMAS  BURGESS,  D.D.,  F.R.S.  and  F.S.A. 

Bishop  of  St.  Davids 

A.D. — MDCCCXVIII. 

The  incident  related  above,  in  connection  with  the 
rededication  of  Kerry  Church,  at  first  sight  appeared 

c  c  2 


376  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

to  us  to  be  irreconcilable  with  well-known  facts.  The 
two  local  chieftains,  Einion  Clyd  and  Cadwallon,1  were 
brothers,  fourth  in  descent  from  Elystan  Glodrud,  and 
the  then  representatives  of  the  old  Welsh  lords.  The 
former  was  lord  of  Elfael,  a  large  district  in  the  now 
county  of  Radnor;  the  latter,  lord  of  Malienydd,  of 
which  Kerry  was  a  member,  and  he  was  the  founder 
of  Cwrn  Hir  Abbey.  Why  these  two,  whose  principal 
interests  lay  in  an  undisputed  part  of  the  diocese  of 
St.  David's,  should  invite  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  to 
come  and  rededicate  Kerry  Church,  and  so  cut  it  off 
from  St.  David's,  to  which  it  had  pertained  for  three 
centuries,  is  difficult  to  explain,  unless  upon  the  hypo- 
thesis that  they  foresaw  that  the  Mortimers  (with 
whom  they  were  constantly  entangled  in  border  skir- 
mishes, and  who  had  for  a  long  period  been  gradually 
pushing  their  frontiers  from  the  south  side  into  terri- 
tories which  belonged  of  right  to  the  ancient  Welsh 
lords)  would  ultimately  drive  them  from  these  lands 
into  the  sterile  and  mountainous  district  which  inter- 
vened between  Kerry  and  the  valley  of  the  Wye.  It 
may  be  that  Einion  Clyd  and  Cadwallon  conceived 
that  their  temporal  interests  would  be  better  safe- 
guarded by  restoring  Kerry  to  the  diocese  of  St. 
Asaph,  where  the  Mortimers  had  no  interest  what- 
ever at  this  period,  rather  than  permitting  it  to 
remain  a  part  of  the  diocese  of  St.  David's,  where  the 
Mortimers  then  had,  not  only  a  large,  but  a  growing, 
interest.  Cadwallon  was  connected,  too,  with  the 
Princes  of  Powys,  he  having  married  Eva,  daughter  of 
Meredydd,  Prince  of  Powys,  which  might  have  influ- 
enced him  in  the  course  he  took.  Judging  by  the 
jeers  with  which  Bishop  Adam  was  greeted  when  he 
made  his  undignified  retreat,  the  popular  voice  was 
against  the  transfer.  They,  the  people,  did  not  know, 
and,  if  they  knew,  would  not  have  appreciated  the 
motives  which,  we  suggest,  might  have  influenced 
Einion  Clyd  and  his  brother  in  the  matter. 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiii,  p.  102. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  377 

It  may  be  that  Cadwallon,  by  founding  Cwm  Hir 
Abbey  in  the  position  it  stood,  by  granting  to  it  such 
large  tracts  of  land,  not  only  between  it  and  Kerry, 
but  in  the  parish  of  Kerry  as  well,  was  influenced  by 
other  considerations,  as  well  as  by  his  reverence  and 
love  for  Holy  Mother  Church. 

In  all  human  probability,  though  there  are  no  records 
testifying  to  the  fact,  Cadwallon  would  have  been 
among,  if  not  the  principal  contributor  towards  the 
expenses  of  the  restoration  at  this  period ;  Einion 
Clyd  also  ;  but  neither  of  these  ancient  chiefs  were 
spared  long  after  the  rededication.  In  1177-8,  Einion 
Clyd  was  treacherously  slain  by  the  Normans,  and,  on 
the  22nd  September  1179,  his  brother  Cadwallon  was 
waylaid  and  murdered  by  the  retainers  of  Roger,  son 
of  Hugh  de  Mortemer.1 

It  has  been  conjectured  that  at  one  time  Kerry 
formed  a  part  of  the  diocese  of  Llanbadarn,  and  that, 
on  the  death  by  violence  of  Bishop  Idnerth  at  Llan- 
dewi-Brefi,  which  brought  that  episcopate  to  a  close 
about  the  year  720,2  that  diocese  was  merged  in  St. 
David's,  and,  with  it,  Kerry  parish. 

Previously  to  the  time  of  Henry  III,  the  advowson 
of  Kerry  appears  to  have  belonged  to  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  but,  in  1246,  the  King,  who  "claimed  it  as 
King  of  England  by  virtue  of  conquest",  presented  to 
the  church  of  St.  Michael  in  Kerry  Henry  de  Breton.3 

Giraldus  Cambrensis  complained  loudly  and  repeat- 
edly of  the  mode  of  dividing  benefices  between  two  or 
more  incumbents.4  The  church  of  Kerry  in  1176,  he 
tells  us,  had  two  such  rectors5;  one  church  in  Kadnor- 
shire  had  six  or  seven,6  and  he  intimates  that  so  large 
a  number  was  not  unusual.  It  has  been  inferred  from 

1  See  Mont.  Coll.,  xxiii,  p.  104. 

2  Bevan's  St.  David's,  p.  32. 

3  Arch.  Thomas's  Hist,  of  St.  Asaph,  p.  321,  and  note  ],  ibid. 

4  Ang.  Sacra,  ii,  pp.  450-519. 

5  Ibid.,  p.  472.  6  Ibid>j  p   471> 


378  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

that  statement  that  at  this  time  Kerry  Church  was 
collegiate,  as  was  the  usual  custom  of  the  early  Welsh 
churches ;  but  an  eminent  authority,1  referring  to  the 
above  statement  of  Giraldus's,  says  :  "  We  are  not  to 
suppose  that  this  statement  implies  the  existence  of  a 
collegiate  foundation  in  those  churches,  but  that  they 
were  simply  instances  of  portionist  rectories,  such  as 
are  still  to  be  found  in  England."  The  same  writers 
seem  to  consider  that  such  a  state  of  things  was  rather 
the  effect  of  the  operation  of  the  law  of  gavelkind, 
mentioning  an  instance  where  two  brothers  were  rectors 
of  a  church — the  one  a  cleric,  the  other  a  layman. 

In  the  History  of  the  Diocese  of  St.  Asaph,2to  which 
we  are  chiefly  indebted  for  the  facts  connected  with 
this  part  of  the  history  of  Kerry,  it  is  conjectured 
that  about  the  time  of  Henry  de  Breton's  incumbency 
the  church  ceased  to  be  collegiate,  for  in  the  Taxatio 
of  1291  it  is  simply  described  as  "Eccl'ia  de  Kery", 
and  taxed  at  £20,  deeim'  £2. 

We  met  with  a  document  of  some  interest,  among 
a  collection  of  charters  and  other  papers  connected 
with  the  diocese  of  St.  David's,  which  may  have  some 
bearing  upon  the  point  as  to  the  period  when  the 
rectory  of  Kerry  became  appropriate  to  the  Bishop  of 
St.  David's.  It  is  a  mere  conjecture,  based  mainly 
upon  the  fact  that  the  parish  of  Glascwm,  in  the 
county  of  Radnor,  is  associated  with  Kerry  in  this 
"  Bull"  of  Pope  Innocent's  ;  and  it  appears  also  to  be 
associated  with  Kerry  some  four  hundred  years  later.3 

BULL  OF  POPE  INNOCENT  IV. 
Harleian  MS.    1249,  pp.   168-9. 

Innocentius  Episcopus  servus  servorum  Dei  venerando  fratri 
Thomao  Menevensi  episcopo  salutem  et  apostolicam  benedic- 
tionem.  Ilia  libenter  tibi  concedimus  per  quse  salus  animarum 
tuis  subditis  Deo  propitio  valeat  provenire.  Sane  tua  petitio 

1  Jones   and    Freeman's    Hist,    and   Antiquities   of  St.    David's. 
p.  274. 

2  Hist.  Dio.  St.  Asaph,  pp.  320-321.  a  /^  p<  321. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PAKISH  OF  KERRY.  379 

nobis  exhibita  continebat  et  quod  quandam  partem  tuae  dio- 
cesis  pro  eo  quod  ibidem  non  habes  hospitium  ubi  possis 
commode  hospitari  visitare  non  vales  propter  quod  subditorum 
tuorum  excessus  interdum  remanent  incorrect]  super  quo  petisti 
per  sedem  Apostolicam  salubre  remedium  adhiberi. 

Nos  itaque  tuis  supplicationibus  inclinati  auctorifcate  tibi 
presentium  indulgemus  ut  tu  et  successores  tui  cedentibus  vel 
decedentibus  rectoribus  de  Kery  et  de  Glascom  ecclesiarum 
ad  collationem  tuam  spectantium  Menevensis  diocesis  medie- 
tatem  reddituum  quas  cujuslibet  ecclesiaB  medietas  septuaginta 
solidos  sterlingoruin  valorem  annuum  non  excedit  ad  con- 
struendum  juxta  quamlibet  ecclesiarum  ipsarum  domicilium 
competentem  in  quo  tu  et  successores  ipsi  valeatis  commode 
hospitari  et  ad  sustentandum  et  gubernandum  hujusmodi  domi- 
cilium auctoritate  nostra  possitis  perpetuo  deputare. 

Nulli  ergo  omnino  homini  liceat  hanc  paginam  nostrae  con- 
cessionis  infringere  vel  ei  ausu  teinerario  contraire.  Si 
quis  autem  hoc  attemptare  presumpserit  indignationem  omni- 
potentis  Dei  et  beatorum  Petri  et  Pauli1  ejus  se  noverit 
incursum.  Dat  Asisij  tertio  kalendas  Junii  pontificatus  nostri 
anno  undecimo. 

Translation  of  the  BULL  or  POPE  INNOCENT  IV,  granting  to  the 
Bishop  of  St.  David's  and  his  successors  part  of  the  rents  or 
profits  arising  from  the  Rectories  of  Kerry  and  Glascwm, 
co.  Radnor. 

Innocent,2  Bishop,  servant  of  the  servants  of  God.  To  our 
venerable  brother  Thomas,3  Bishop  of  St.  David's.  Health 
and  Apostolical  benediction.  We  willingly  grant  unto  thee 
those  things  whereby  the  health  of  thy  subjects'  souls  may, 
by  God's  blessing,  be  advanced.  Thy  petition  presented  to 

1  Apostolorum,  in  pencil,  in  the  margin. 

2  Innocent  IV  became  Pope  in  1242,  and  held  the  Papacy  for 
eleven  years,  five  months,  and  fourteen  days  (Isaacson's  Chronology, 
p.  336). 

3  Thomas  [Wallensis]  was,  as  his  surname  implies,  a  Welshman 
by  descent,  and  probably  by  birth,  and  he  did  credit  to  his  country 
by  his  abilities.     Previously  to  his  elevation  to  the  see,  he  had  held 
the  position  of  Archdeacon  of  Lincoln,  appointed  thereto  by  the 
great  Bishop  Grosseteste  on  his  merits,  as  we  learn  from  the  letter 
(No.  51  in  Luard's  edition   of  Grosseteste's  Letters)  in  which  the 
offer  of  that  post  was  conveyed  to  him  while  holding  a  Professorship 
in  the  University  of   Paris    (Arch.  Bevan's   Diocesan  Hist,  of   St. 
David's,  p.  109). 


380  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

us  contained  tlie  fact  that  thou  art  unable  to  visit  a  certain 
part  of  thy  diocese,  inasmuch  as  thou  hast  not  any  lodging 
there  where  thou  mayest  conveniently  be  lodged,  whereby  the 
excesses  of  thy  subjects  remain  at  times  unconnected,  where- 
upon thou  hast  sought  to  have  a  wholesome  remedy  applied 
through  the  Apostolic  See.  We  therefore,  being  favourably 
disposed  to  thy  prayers,  do  grant  unto  thee,  by  the  authority 
of  these  presents,  that  thou  and  thy  successors  may  for  ever, 
by  our  authority,  assign,  in  the  case  of  Rectors  of  the  churches 
of  Kerry  and  Glascombe,  in  the  Diocese  of  St.  David's, 
belonging  to  thy  collation,  who  vacate  those  benefices  by 
cession  or  death,  a  moiety  of  the  rents  [or  profits],  such 
rnoiety  not  to  exceed,  in  the  case  of  each  church,  the  annual 
value  of  seventy  shillings  sterling,  in  order  to  build,  beside 
each  of  the  said  churches,  a  sufficient  domicile  wherein  thou 
and  thy  successors  may  conveniently  lodge,  and  for  the  main- 
tenance and  government  of  such  domicile.  Therefore  let  it 
not  be  permitted  to  any  man  whatever  to  violate  this  charter 
of  our  grant  (?),  or  to  contravene  it  by  any  audacious  attempt. 
But  if  any  one  shall  presume  to  attempt  this,  let  him  know  he 
will  incur  the  wrath  of  Almighty  God  and  of  His  Apostles  (?) 
the  blessed  Peter  and  Paul.  Given  at  Assisi,  on  the  3rd  day 
of  the  Kalends  of  June,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  our  Pontifi- 
cate.1 

Whether  the  above  instrument  may  be  regarded  as 
indicating  approximately  the  period  when  the  Bishop 
of  St.  David's  became  interested  in  the  Rectory  of 
Kerry  or  not,  it  will  probably  be  considered  unique  as 
regards  the  diversion  of  a  moiety  of  the  rectorial 
profits  or  rents  to  build  a  domicile  where  the  Bishop 
could  lodge,  and  so,  being  on  the  spot,  could  correct 
the  "  excesses  of  his  subjects,  which  remained  at 
times  unconnected".  It  is  certain  that  the  rectory  had, 
at  some  unknown  date  between  1291  and  1535,  become 
appropriate  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  for  in  the 
Valor  of  Hen.  VIII  it  is  returned  among  the  "  Ecclesia 
ad  dignitatem  Episcopalem  Episcopi  Menevensis  perti- 
nentes",  and  as  let  at  £20  per  ann.,  the  vicarage  being 
worth  £17  8s.  4d.,  minus  tenths,  £1  145.  10cL 

The  tithes  were  commuted  in  1840  at  £850  to  the 

1  Harl.  MS.  1249,  pp.  168-9. 


^ 


§5 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KEERY.  381 

Bishop  of  St.  David's  (now  in  the  hands  of  the  Eccle- 
siastical Commissioners) ;  £10  to  the  parish  clerk — 
this  was  in  consideration  of  the  "  bell-sheaf"  (ysgub  y 
gldch),  an  immemorial  acknowledgment  of  his  services 
in  summoning  the  parishioners  to  church  ;  and  £550  to 
the  vicar,  who  has  also  an  excellent  house  and  ninety- 
nine  acres  of  glebe.1  The  patronage  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  St.  David's.  By  an  Act  passed 
in  the  6-7  of  William  IV,  it  was  enacted  "  that  such 
alterations  be  made  in  the  apportionment  or  exchange 
of  ecclesiastical  patronage  among  the  several  bishops 
as  should  be  consistent  with  the  relative  magnitude 
and  importance  of  their  dioceses  when  newly  arranged, 
and  as  should  offer  an  adequate  quantity  of  patronage 
to  the  new  sees." 

In  accordance  with  this,  an  Order  in  Council  for  the 
transfer  from  Chester,  Hereford,  and  St.  David's  bore 
date  30th  July  1849,  and  it  came  into  operation  on 
being  gazetted  26th  July  1861.  This  included  Kerry 
and  Moughtre. 

THE  CHURCH  BEFORE  THE  RESTORATION  IN  1883. 

Believing  that  a  description  of  the  church  before  it 
was  restored  will  be  interesting,  and  possibly  useful, 
we  again  avail  ourselves  of  Archdeacon  Thomas's  re- 
searches. 

"  Giraldus's  interesting  account  of  the  consecration  fixes 
the  date  of  the  edifice,  or  at  least  the  earliest  portion  of  it, 
in  A.D.  1176,  whilst  its  own  features  supply  a  sufficiently 
accurate  index  to  its  after  history.  The  four  Norman  pillars 
that  divide  the  western  portion  of  the  nave  from  the  north 
aisle  probably  mark  the  extent,  as  well  as  indicate  the  form, 
of  an  earlier  wooden  church,  which  the  one  dedicated  by 
Giraldus  had  superseded,  to  which  a  chancel  was  subsequently 
added,  and  the  north  aisle  correspondingly  prolonged;  for 
the  dividing  pillars  are  of  later  character,  and  the  piscinae  of 

1  Thirty-five  acres  sold  to  John  Naylor,  Esq.,  in  1881  (Arch. 
Thomas's  St.  Asaph,  pp.  321-2). 


382  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

Early  English  date.  Of  the  Perpendicular  period,  again,  we 
have  the  panelled  and  foliated  roof  of  the  nave  (that  of  the 
chancel  and  north  aisle  is  concealed  by  ceiling)  and  the  hand- 
some font,  which  has  its  panels  ornamented  with  the  emblems 
of  the  Passion.  The  massive  western  tower,  surmounted  by 
a  wooden  belfry  in  two  stories,  is  probably  the  same  that 
existed  in  1176,  and  the  three  bells  which  it  holds  may  still 
represent  the  peal  that  contributed  so  materially  to  settle  the 
dispute  which  he  describes  when,  '  simul  ornnes  trino  inter- 
vallo',  they  tolled  out  their  solemn  and  awful  clang.  They 
may  represent  them,  but  they  have  a  tale  of  their  own  to  tell, 
for  they,  too,  bespeak  a  struggle  of  long  duration,  and  of  sad 
and  serious  consequences,  but  at  that  time  happily  closed; 
for  they  bear  the  date  of  A.D.  1679,  and  in  their  inscriptions 
breathe  the  prayer,  '  Prosperity  to  the  Church  of  England', 
and  '  God  GA^s1  his  Church'.  The  priest's  door  and  one  on 
the  north  side  still  retain  their  strong  and  primitive  bolts ; 
and  another  interesting  memento  of  the  past  is  the  chained 
Bible,  at  the  west  end  of  the  north  aisle,  now  used  as  the 
vestry. 

"  A  window  on  the  south  side  shows  the  date  1613,  and  an 
inscription  elsewhere  states  the  church  to  have  been  beauti- 
fied in  1714.  Its  beauty,  however,  can  hardly  be  said  to  have 
survived  to  the  present  time,  for  in  1853  it  was  reported  to 
have  been  in  a  very  dilapidated  condition,  and  recommended 
to  be  pulled  down.  A  large  gallery2  at  the  west  end  projects 
some  twenty-six  feet  into  the  nave,  and  a  small  recess  has 
been  constructed  in  the  north  wall  for  the  organ/' 


THE  CHURCH  AFTER  THE  RESTORATION. 

When  the  present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  O.  A.  Nares, 
was  appointed  in  1879  to  the  vicarage  of  Kerry,  by 
the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  it  was  upon  the  understand- 
ing that  he  should  undertake  the  restoration  of  the 
church.  The  late  Mr.  George  Street,  R.A.,  was  con- 

1  Sic. 

2  As  this  gallery  was  not  re-erected  in  the  restored  church,  the 
following   "Minute",   made    at    a  Vestry  in   1753,   may  be   worth 
recording :    "  That   the  vestry  agrees   to   enlarge  and  improve  the 
gallery.     Note,   that    £50    was    subscribed   towards   the    cost,   and 
agreed,  that  a  rate  of  2d.  in  the  pound  be  made  to  pay  the  balance  of 
the  cost." 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  383 

suited  ;  he  prepared  an  exhaustive  report  upon  the 
condition  of  the  building,  with  suggestions  for  its 
restoration.  An  appeal  was  made  to  the  landowners 
and  parishioners  of  Kerry  for  contributions  towards  the 
work,  in  a  circular  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  : 

"  Thisantient  edifice  having  become  so  dilapidated  as  to  be  insecure  and 
unfit  for  the  reverent  worship  of  God,  it  has  been  determined  to  raise  a 
Fund  for  the  Re-building  of  the  fabric  on  the  present  site,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  its  original  character. 

"  Designs  for  this  object  have  been  prepared  by  G.  E.  Street,  Esq.,  R.A., 
who  estimates  the  cost  at  about  £4000. 

"  The  Church  is  well  known  to  those  interested  in  ecclesiastical  architec- 
ture, as  possessing  features  of  more  than  ordinary  importance.  Its  central 
arcade  of  Norman  arches,  massive  tower,  and  richly-decorated  font,  denote 
a  construction  earlier  than  that  of  most  churches  in  Wales;  while  the 
historical  associations  of  the  parish  to  which  the  church  bears  the  only 
remaining  testimony,  justify  the  endeavour  now  being  made  to  repair  the 
ravages  of  time  upon  the  venerable  structure. 

"  The  landowners  having  contributed  most  liberally  in  starting  this  fund, 
we  are  encouraged  to  make  an  urgent  appeal  to  the  parishioners,  and  all 
Christian  friends  who  may  be  disposed  to  assist  so  good  a  cause,  to  forward 
donations  to  us,  in  order  that  the  required  sum  may  be  collected,  and  the 
operations  commenced  without  delay. 

"  On  the  other  side  is  a  List  of  Subscriptions  which  have  been  promised. 

"  We  are,  yours  faithfully, 

"  OWEN  A.  NARES, 

Vicar  of  Kerry. 

"  JAMES  MARTIN,        )  Church- 
"  LAWTON  L.  MOORE,  )  wardens."" 

This  was  liberally  responded  to.  Plans  were  prepared 
by  Mr.  Street,  and  were  finally  adopted  ;  he,  however, 
did  not  live  to  witness  the  completion  of  the  work. 
His  designs  were  then  carried  out  by  his  son,  with  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  V.  Cotterill  Scholefield,  A.RI.B.A., 
clerk  of  the  works.  Mr.  Edward  Davies,  builder,  of 
Newtown,  was  the  contractor.  The  amount  of  the 
contract  was  £3,005.  The  work  was  expeditiously 
carried  out,  having  been  completed  within  a  year  of  its 
commencement. 

The  following  detailed  account  of  the  restoration 
was  prepared  by  Mr.  Scholefield  : 

The  original  church  was  of  Early  Norman  character,  and 
dated  from  about  the  latter  part  of  the  eleventh  century.  The 
tower,  with  walls  over  six  feet  thick,  and  the  nave  arcade  are 


384  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

the  only  portions  remaining  of  that  structure.  The  church 
was  rebuilt  in  ]  176 — as  we  have  seen  by  the  graphic  account 
of  the  re-dedication  by  Giraldus  Cambrensis.  It  was  the 
period  of  the  transition  from  Norman  to  Early  English,  and 
this  accounts  for  the  arches  of  the  chancel  still  being  circular. 
About  this  time,  however,  the  pointed  arch  came  into  use,  and 
to  this  date  may  be  assigned  the  porch  and  chancel  doorways. 
In  taking  down  the  south  wall  of  the  church  an  old  column 
was  discovered  embedded  in  the  wall,  and  parts  of  the  bases  of 
two  other  columns,  in  position  corresponding  to  the  nave 
arcade.  This  discovery  showed  that  the  original  church 
possessed  two  arcades,  and  followed  the  plan  of  most  Norman 
churches,  being  finished  with  small  north  and  south  aisles, 
probably  covered  with  stone  vaulting,  and  a  circular  apse  at 
the  east  end,  the  tower  being  in  a  corresponding  position  at 
the  west  end. 

The  bases  were  carefully  restored  and  placed  in  the  posi- 
tions in  which  they  were  found,  and  may  be  seen  outside  the 
walls.  Other  portions  of  Norman  work  were  found  built  into 
the  walls.  Thus  in  the  east  jamb  of  the  chancel  door,  but  hidden 
in  the  wall,  is  a  portion  of  a  capital  and  string-course  with  the 
tan  and  dentil  mouldings  and  rough  carving,  and  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  east  pier  of  the  nave  arcade  is  a  portion  of  the  base 
of  window  pier  or  mullion.  Another  portion  of  the  same 
character  was  found  in  the  south  wall,  together  with  large 
quantities  of  red  sandstone  re-used  from  the  old  church. 
The  existence  of  this  portion  in  the  pier  indicates  that  the 
arcade  of  what  is  now  the  chancel  was  rebuilt.  [This  arises 
from  the  custom  of  lengthening  the  churches  eastwards,  which 
commenced  in  the  latter  part  of  the  twelfth  century.]  This 
is  also  indicated  by  the  character  of  the  work,  and  by  the 
use  of  a  different  sort  of  stone;  the  different  jointing  and 
shape  of  the  last  column  in  the  nave,  and  a  bend  in  the  last 
arch  of  the  nave  arcade  to  narrow  the  chancel. 

Further  repairs  were  done  in  the  Decorated  period,  as  is 
shown  by  the  mouldings  on  the  capitals,  and  by  the  profusion 
of  ball-flowers  on  one  of  them. 

The  arches  of  the  chancel  arcade  are  more  finished  than  those 
in  the  nave,  having  two  rings  of  masonry  instead  of  one,  and 
the  sharp  edges  of  the  rings  chamfered  off. 

The  eastern  arch  of  the  nave  arcade  has  two  rings  of  masonry 
on  the  north  side,  which  is  a  further  proof  that  it  was  rebuilt. 
The  columns  are  octagonal  and  of  a  superior  description  of 
work,  but  the  capitals  were  probably  finished  at  a  later  date. 
The  bases  of  the  columns  in  the  nave  were  nearly  covered  by 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  385 

the  accumulation  of  soil,  consisting  almost  entirely  of  human 
remains,  masses  of  bone  being  found  in  many  places  within  a 
few  inches  of  the  surface.  The  floor  has  been  lowered  to  its 
original  level,  so  as  to  show  these  bases,  which  were  carefully 
restored  with  stone  from  the  old  church.  Human  bones  were 
also  found  in  the  south  wall,  close  under  the  wall-plates.  It 
seems  probable  that  soil  from  the  churchyard  had  been  used  to 
make  the  mortar,  which  was  of  the  poorest  description;  and  that 
in  this  way  these  bones  were  built  in.  Other  portions  which 
appear  to  belong  to  the  rebuilding  in  1176  are  the  porch  and 
chancel  doorways,  and  those  into  the  tower  and  belfry  stairs  ; 
the  east  window  of  the  north  aisle,  and  the  small  windows  in 
the  ringing  chamber  and  belfry. 

The  porch  doorway  is  of  very  plain  work,  having  a  pointed 
arch  with  label  and  very  plain  moulding.  The  chancel  door 
has  similar  moulding,  but  is  peculiar  in  having  a  key-stone 
with  a  square  head.  On  each  side  of  it  was  a  carved  head,  and 
these  have  been  used  as  bosses  to  a  new  label.  The  north,  or 
"  Devil's  door",  as  it  is  locally  named,  is  an  unusual  feature. 
It  has  been  restored  as  far  as  possible  to  its  original  form, 
though  but  little  remained  of  the  old  work,  which  was  very 
rough  and  devoid  of  mouldings.  The  doorway  into  the  tower 
appears  to  have  been  inserted.  The  east  window  in  the  north 
aisle  is  a  very  large  three-lighted  one,  built  of  red  stone.  It 
appears  to  have  been  brought  from  some  other  church,  as 
it  was  too  large  for  its  position,  and  had  about  four  feet  of 
the  lower  part  filled  with  rubble.  It  is  certainly  the  oldest 
window  in  the  church,  and  is  a  specimen  of  the  transition  from 
plate  tracery  to  bar  tracery. 

This  is  shown  by  the  form  of  the  window  head,  and  by  the 
moulding.  The  tracery  was  much  decayed,  but  it  has  been 
restored  and  replaced  in  its  original  position.  Further  addi- 
tion and  restoration  took  place  in  the  Decorated  period,  about 
the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth  century.  To  this  period  belong 
some  of  the  windows — most  of  which  were  too  far  decayed  for 
restoration — the  piscina  in  the  chancel,  the  roofs,  etc. 

Near  the  porch  was  a  stone  window1  with  a  square  head, 
enclosing  three  lights  with  arched  and  cusped  heads. 

In  the  chancel  was  a  window  of  a  form  corresponding  to  the 
chancel  doorway,  a  stone  arch  with  square  top,  but  without 
tracery,  which  had  probably  been  removed  at  a  later  date,  as 
on  the  north  side  was  one  of  similar  form,  but  with  the  tracery 

1  1755.  Ordered — "  That  the  window  under  the  Gallery  is  to  be 
enlarged."  Vestry  Book. 


386  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

remaining.  These  windows  were  of  an  unusual  form,  but  were 
too  much  decayed  for  restoration.  A  small  two-light  window 
of  this  period  has  been  replaced  at  the  east  end  of  the  north 
side.  It  is  of  red  stone,  and  is  peculiar  in  having  the  top  part 
of  one  stone  with  a  horizontal  joint,  and  not  following  the 
radius  lines  of  curves. 

The  rest  of  the  windows  in  the  old  church  are  not  worthy  of 
mention, as  they  were  modern  and  of  the  worst  possible  descrip- 
tion. On  the  sill  of  the  western  window,  on  the  north  side, 
was  a  wooden  frame,  to  which  the  old  Welsh  Bible  was 
chained. 

The  roofs  of  the  north  aisles  and  the  old  roof  of  the  chancel 
date  from  the  fourteenth  century.  The  latter  was  much 
decayed,  and  has  been  replaced  with  a  new  fir  roof,  of  a  form 
corresponding  nearly  with  the  old  one.  The  north  aisle  roofs 
are  of  oak,  and  of  very  good  plain  design.  The  principals  have 
collar  beams  very  high  up,  with  large  curved  braces,  and  pur- 
lines  running  through  them,  stiffened  with  windbraces.  These 
roofs  have  been  taken  down  and  thoroughly  repaired.  They 
were  originally  hidden  by  plaster  ceilings  fixed  to  the  curved 
braces,  but  are  now  left  open.  The  piscina  in  the  church  is 
of  the  fourteenth  century.  It  is  in  a  very  good  state  of  pre- 
servation, and  has  been  restored  to  its  former  position.  There 
is  also  a  piscina  in  the  eastern  respond  of  the  chancel  arcade ; 
it  is  of  a  very  rough  description.  There  is  no  evidence  as  to 
its  date ;  it  is  probably,  however,  of  the  latter  part  of  the 
twelfth  century.  Further  restoration  and  addition  were 
effected  in  the  Perpendicular  style,  about  the  fourteenth  or 
beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century.  These  were,  the  east 
window  of  the  chancel,  the  roof  of  the  nave,  and  the  font.  The 
east  window  is  of  ordinary  Perpendicular  form  and  design. 
The  stone  is  very  hard,  and  full  of  small  white  pebbles.  It  was 
in  a  very  good  state  of  preservation,  and  has  been  re-inserted, 
with  the  addition  of  a  new  freestone  arch  inside.  The  nave 
roof  is  of  oak,  and  was  thickly  coated  with  whitewash.  This 
was  all  removed.  It  is  a  good  specimen  of  an  open  timber 
roof,  with  moulded  curved  braces  from  the  collar-beams  running 
down  on  the  wall,  and  moulded  intermediate  principals  and 
purlines  dividing  the  spaces  into  squares,  which  are  filled  in 
with  cusped  windbraces.  There  were  originally  heavy  tie-beams 
on  alternate  principals.  Of  these  only  one  remains,  as  one  at 
the  west  end  was  removed,  probably  to  give  head  room  in  the 
old  gallery,  and  the  eastern  one  was  unsafe  through  decay,  and 
has  been  replaced  by  an  iron  tie-rod.  On  removing  some 
plastering  between  the  lowest  purline  and  the  wall  plate, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  387 

several  fine  tracery  panels  were  found,  of  the  Perpendicular 
character.  The  laths  for  the  plastering  were  nailed  on  the 
panels,  but  they  were  in  a  very  good  state  of  preservation,  and 
have  been  utilised  in  the  new  pulpit.  They  were  in  only  one 
bay  of  the  roof,  but  were  nevertheless  very  varied  in  design. 

The  font  is  octagonal  in  form,  with  cusped  panels  on  the 
sides,  containing  emblems  of  the  Crucifixion  and  heraldic 
designs. 

It  appears  to  be  of  the  same  stone  as  the  east  window,  and 
is  well  preserved.  It  was  thickly  coated  with  white  paint, 
which  was  cleared  off. 

The  roof  of  the  porch  was  probably  of  this  period.  It  has 
very  heavy  timbers,  with  shallow  mouldings.  All  the  lower 
part  was  much  decayed,  and  has  been  replaced  with  new 
framing  and  tracery  panels.1 

The  bells,  three  in  number,  date  from  the  end  of  the  17th 
century.  It  is  said  that  there  were  originally  six,  and  that 
three  were  lent  to  Montgomery,  and  never  returned.  It  is, 
however,  plain  that  there  never  were  more  than  three,  as  the 
framing,  which  is  evidently  of  the  same  age  as  the  bells,  is 
constructed  to  support  that  number  only.  On  the  tenor  bell 
is  the  inscription  (mentioned  supra),  "  God  9ABS2  His  Church", 
with  the  date  1679  ;  on  the  next,  "  Ora  pro  nobis  sancto  "; 
on  the  small  bell,  "  Prosperity  to  the  Church  of  England''.3 

In  the  tower  is  an  old  clock,  possibly  of  the  same  age  as  the 
bells.  This  clock  had  only  one  hand.  Both  that  and  the  dial 
are  lost.  It  required  winding  every  day,  and  it  is  evidently 
the  work  of  a  village  blacksmith,  and,  though  of  rough  con- 
struction, kept  very  good  time  till  quite  lately  (1882-3),  when 
it  was  neglected. 

Mr.  Scholefield  suggested  that  it  was  well  worthy  of  care  as 
an  antiquity.4 

In  the  restoration  the  contract  was  commenced  on  the  1st 

1  1750  paid — for  half  a  tun  of  tymber  to  the  porch  and  "  carradge" 
12/6.  2  SiCt 

3  In  one  of  the  parish  books  there  is  an  entry  in  1768  that — "a 
Poll  of  the  inhabitants  was  taken,  whereby  there  was  a  majority  of 
45  against  5  for  having  the  Bells  taken  down  and  recast,  and  that 
there  shall  be  an  assessment  of  Qd.  in  the  pound  for  the  year  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  down  the  3  old  bells  and  having  them  recast,  and 
six  new  ones  put  up  in  their  stead." 

4  There  is  an  entry  in  1744  in  one  of  the  parish  books — "Agreement 
24  June  1744  with  David  Meredith  to  pay  him  £1   7s.  Qd.  for  re- 
pairing the  clock,  and  to  pay  him  one  shilling  (I/)  a  year  for  seven 
years  for  maintaining  it  in  order." 


388  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERKY. 

of  November  1882,  and  the  church  re-dedicated  on  Friday, 
October  26th  1883. 

All  the  external  walls  were  taken  down  with  fche  exception 
of  the  west  wall  of  the  north  aisle,  and  new  walls  of  rubble 
masonry,  constructed  of  stone  from  the  Llanymynech  quarries, 
with  quoins  and  windows  of  Grinshill  stone,  are  built  upon  the 
old  foundations. 

The  lectern  was  designed  by  Mr.  Scholefield,  and  carried 
out  by  him  in  connection  with  Mr.  David  Thomas,  of  Kerry, 
and  Mr.  E.  Davies,  the  contractor's  son.  It  consists  of  a  double 
desk,  supported  on  a  hexagonal  column,  and  on  the  stand  are 
three  mythical  creatures.  On  the  front  desk  is  the  old  Welsh 
Bible,  secured  by  the  old  chain  to  a  brass  plate. 

The  reredos  is  of  Grinshill  stone,  formed  of  sunk  tracery 
panels  at  the  back,  the  centre  one  containing  a  cross.  It  was 
designed  by  the  architect,  and  executed  by  Mr.  Koberts,  of 
Welshpool. 

The  roof  of  the  nave  was  underpinned,  and  left  in  situ,  and 
the  walls  built  up  to  it.  The  rest  of  the  roofs  were  placed  in 
position  after  the  walls  were  finished. 

The  whole  of  them  are  now  covered  with  boarding,  over 
which  is  laid  Croggan's  patent  roofing  felt,  and  the  external 
covering  is  of  Whitland  Abbey  green  slate.  The  whole  of  the 
seatings,  stalls,  and  screens  were  new,  of  Riga  wainscot  oak, 
and  are  of  Perpendicular  design.  The  floors  under  the  seating 
are  laid  with  Gregory's  wood  block  flooring ;  the  aisles  with 
plain  tiles,  in  pattern,  from  Godwin  and  Sons,  Engwardine 
Works,  Hereford,  and  the  chancel  with  encaustic  tiles  from  the 
same  firm,  laid  in  patterns  with  Forest  of  Dean  and  yellow 
Mansfield  stone.  The  steps  to  the  altar-place  are  of  Derby- 
shire marble.  The  iron  work  throughout  is  by  Barford,  of 
Maidenhead :  hinges,  latchworks,  casements,  and  altar-rail. 
The  glazing  by  Mr.  John  Davies,  of  Shrewsbury.  The  masonry 
was  executed  by  Mr.  Roberts,  of  Welshpool,  and  is  chiefly  of 
Grinshill  stone. 

The  church  is  heated  by  an  apparatus  from  Mr.  Truswell,  of 
Sheffield.  This  is  placed  in  a  chamber  under  the  north  aisle, 
and  the  hot-air  grating  is  in  the  chancel,  another  grating  for 
the  intake  of  cold  air  being  in  the  north  aisle.  Mr.  Henry 
Walton  presented  the  altar-cloth ;  Mrs.  Walton,  of  Dolforgan, 
the  sanctuary  furniture ;  Miss  Sarah  Walton,  the  alms  basin ; 
Messrs.  Scholefield,  David  Thomas,  and  Edward  Davies,  jun., 
the  lectern;  Mr.  Scholefield,  the  font  cover.  The  Ladies' 
Bazaar  Committee  provided  the  coronas,  heating  apparatus, 
rug  seating,  hassocks,  and  kneelers  throughout  the  church,  the 
pulpit  and  Bible,  vestry  curtains,  etc. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 


389 


The  rededication  took  place  on  the  26th  October  1883. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  and  sums  con- 
tributed towards  the  Restoration  Fund  : 


SUBSCRIPTION    LIST. 


J.  Naylor,  Leighton  Hall 
J.  Walton,  Dolf organ  ... 
W.  Buckley  Pugh,  Pat- 

rington  

Lawton    L.  Moore,  Glan- 

mihely... 

J.  E.  Poundley,  Blackball 
George  Pryce,  Penygelley 
Ecclesiastical  Com'rs.     ... 
"  A  Friend  to  the  Cause" 
The  Vicar  of  Kerry 
Col.  Herbert,  Glanhafren 
Bishop  of  St.  Asaph 
Bishop  of  St.  David's     ... 

Earl  of  Powis      

Pryce  Jones,  Dolerw 
Mrs.  Corbett,  Cardiff  ... 
Mrs.  Pryce,  Brook  Cottage 
William  Kinsey,  Cloddiau 
Walter  H.  Long,  M. P.  ... 
Bishop  Ollivant  ... 
W.  B.  Broome,  Birkenh'd 
James  Martin,  Kerry  ... 
Rev.  J.  Albert  Cheese  ... 
Thomas  Holmes,  Kerry... 
Lewis  Lewis,  Newtown 

Hall      

G.  Stott  Stanhope,  Snow- 
fields     

W.    LI.     Lloyd,    Castell- 

f orwyn ... 
Mr.     and     Mrs.     Morris, 

Kilkewydd       

Christmas  Tree  (1880)  ... 
Christmas  Tree  (1881)  ... 


£ 

s. 

d. 

000 

0 

0 

000 

0 

0 

100 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

30 

0 

0 

25 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

10 

10 

0 

10 

0 

0 

41 

2 

3 

40 

4 

3 

Services 


£    s.     d. 


Re-dedication 

Collection        55  14     2 

Sunday  after  ditto          ...  6  13     9 
Col.  Smith,  London       ..."  5     5     0 

Rev.  T.  Barrett,  Sarn     ...  500 

Lady  Edwards     500 

The  Misses  Griffiths,  Mont- 
gomery   500 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Milnes,  Kerry  500 

W.  &  C.  Davies,  Newtown  500 

Mrs.  Nares,  The  Moat  ...  5     0     0 

Edward  Harding,  Kerry  500 
R.    and   J.  Jones,   Grove 

Place 500 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  S.  Pryce, 

Herbert  Arms 500 

Edward  Hughes,  Kerry  ...  500 
Rev.    J.    Williams,    New- 
town  Rectory 550 

Stuart  Rendel,  M.P.       ...  500 

Ed.  Morris,  Gwernygoe  ...  500 

S.  Richards,  Rhyddwr  ...  5     0     0 

Rev.  J.S.Gammell,  Clifton  500 

Kerry  School  Trustees  ...  500 

Sale  of  Oak  Pews,  etc.    ...  80     0     0 
Incorporated      Church 

Building  Society         ...  175     0     0 
St.  Asaph  Church  Building 

Society 150     0     0 

Bishop  Carey's  Fund     ...  50     0     0 
Total,  including  Smaller 

Sums £3,513  10 


SPECIAL    GIFTS. 

The  Ladies  Bazaar  Committee   i   Th°  Pulpi*»  Coronas,  Heating   Apparatus,  Rug 
(        Seating,  Hassocks,  Altar  Linen,  and  Bible. 

Mrs.  Walton  The  Sanctuary  Furniture 

Mrs.  Henry  Walton  The  Altar  Cloth. 

Messrs.  V.  C.  Scholefield,  David  Thomas  and  Edward  I  rp,     T 

Davies  \          •••  Tne  Lectern. 

V.  C.  Scholefield,  Esq The  Font  Cover. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Scott      Altar  Service  Books. 

The  following  statement  shows  the  expenditure  in 
restoring  the  church. 


VOL.  xxv. 


DD 


390 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 


KERRY  CHURCH  RESTORATION  FUND,   1883. 


RECEIPTS. 

Contributions  as  pi 
Bank  Interest  ... 
Sale  of  Pulpit  ... 
Proceeds  of  Bazaar 
Baptist  Chapel  Trustees 
for  Churchyard  Fence 


EXPENDITURE. 

£ 

8. 

d. 

£ 

s. 

d. 

st  3513 

10 

1 

Contractor          3089 

17 

11 

..       30 

6 

4 

Clerk  of  the  Works 

156 

15 

0 

3 

0 

0 

Architect  

168 

2 

0 

..     228 

16 

10 

Ironwork  

48 

10 

9 

es 

Circulars,         Monument, 

je        2 

0 

0 

Faculty           

9 

13 

9 

Re-Opening  Services     ... 

20 

6 

8 

Fuel,  Gravel,  Parcels     ... 

7 

9 

9 

Churchyard  Fence 

22 

9 

8 

Platforms,  Lightning  Con- 

ductor... 

15 

12 

6 

Gable  of  North  Aisle    ... 

1 

5 

0 

Furniture,  as  per  printed 

Bazaar  Account 

228 

16 

10 

Ladder,  Slates,  and  Sun- 

dries 

7 

11 

7 

Balance  in  the  Bank 

1 

1 

10 

£3777 

13 

3 

£3777 

13 

3 

In  December  1890,  a  new  organ  was  erected  in 
Kerry  Church  at  a  cost  of  £300,  which  although  not 
a  new  instrument  is  possessed  of  several  fine  stops,  is 
rich  and  full  in  tone,  and  appears  well  adapted  to  the 
needs  of  the  church.  The  builders  were  Harrison  and 
Harrison,  of  Durham.  The  following  is  the  specifi- 
cation of  the  organ  : — 

GREAT  ORGAN. — Open  diapason,  8  ft.;  dulciana,  8  ft.;  stopped 
diapason  bass,  8  ft.  ;  stopped  diapason  treble,  8  ft. ;  principal, 
4  ft. ;  flute,  4ft. ;  fifteenth,  2  ft. ;  twelfth,  2§  ft. ;  clarinet,  8  ft. 

SWELL  ORGAN. — Lieblich  bourdon,  16  ft. ;  viola,  8  ft.;  echo 
dulciana,  8  ft. ;  lieblich  gedacht,  8  ft.  ;  gemshorn,  4  ft. ;  mix- 
ture, 3  ranks ;  cornopean,  8  ft.  :  oboe,  8  ft. 

PEDAL  ORGAN. — Grand  bourdon,  16  ft.  tone  ;  open  diapason, 
16  ft. ;  couplers,  swell  to  great  ;  couplers,  pedal  to  great ; 
couplers,  pedal  to  swell. 


KERRY  CHURCH,  MONUMENTS  AND  MONUMENTAL 
INSCRIPTIONS  THEREIN. 

These  tablets  have  been  arranged  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
order  of  family  and  connections.  The  following  include  the 
whole  of  the  monumental  tablets,  with  their  full  inscriptions, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  391 

within  the  church,  and  the  whole  are  placed  on  the  western 
walls  of  the  two  aisles.  There  are  within  the  steeple  in  the 
lowest  floor  chamber  several  stone  slabs  which  formerly  were 
in  different  parts  of  the  old  church,  with  two  hatchments,  but 
they  are  all  placed  so  high  and  in  such  dark  and  shady  parts 
that  they  could  not  be  deciphered. 

MAEBLE  TABLET 
To  the  memory  of  Giraldus  de  Barri  (see  supra,  p.  375). 

JONES'S  MONUMENT. 

A  tomb  monument  in  marble  with  a  bust  in  relievo  of 
deceased.  An  armorial  design  with  the  motto — "Vitee  est 
honorati,  mors  decus."  Inscription  : — 

"  This  monument  is  erected  to  perpetuate  the  memory  and  donations  of 
Richard  Jones,  Esq.,  late  of  Greenwich  in  the  county  of  Kent,  formerly  a 
Purser  in  the  Royal  Navy,  who  was  born  at  Black  Hall  in  this  parish,  and 
died  on  the  3rd  of  November  1788,  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age." 

In  his  will  and  codicils  he  bequeathed  to  trustees  the  sum 
of  £1,000  3  per  cent.  Consol.  Bank  Annuities;  £,1000  4  per 
cent.  Consolidated  Bank  Annuities ;  £1,000  5  per  cent.  Bank 
Annuities. 

The  dividends  whereof  to  be  for  ever  applied  in  victualling, 
clothing,  and  educating  the  children  of  the  poor,  and  appren- 
ticing boys,  and  directed  that  the  charity  be  called  THE  BLACK 
HALL  INSTITUTE  ;  and  he  also  bequeathed  the  further  sum  of 
£700  3  per  cent.  Consol.  Bank  Annuities  to  the  same  trustees, 
the  dividends  whereof  to  be  for  ever  applied  in  supporting  a 
Sunday  School  established  by  him,  and  which  he  directed  to 
be  called  THE  KERRY  CHURCH  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  on  the  Black 
Hall  Institute. 

The  £1,000  3  per  cents,  having  been  redeemed  by  the 
Government  has  been  advanced  on  mortgage  to  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  First  District  of  Eoads  in  Montgomeryshire. 

THE  JENKINS  TABLET. 
A  Marble  and  Slate  Slab. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  John  Jenkins,  A.M.,  Prebendary  in  the 
Dioceses  of  York  and  St.  David's.  Chaplain  to  H.R.H.  Duke  of  Clarence, 
and  22  years  Vicar  of  this  parish,  who  in  every  relation  of  life,  whether 
clergyman,  magistrate  or  husband,  father,  brother,  friend,  was  most  ex- 
emplary. He  departed  this  life  20th  November  1829,  aged  59  years,  leav- 

D  D  2 


392  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

ing  a  mournful  widow,  an  infant  son,  and  a  numerous  circle  of  relations  and 
friends  to  lament  his  loss." 

(His  gravestone,  with  part  of  the  inscription,  "  Eeverend 
John  Jenkins/'  is  also  preserved  upon  the  wall.) 

HERBERT  MONUMENTS. 
Urn-Monumental  Tablet,  Marble. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  John  Owen  Herbert,  of  Dolvorgan,  who  died 
March  31,  1824,  aged  41.  In  testimony  of  her  regard  to  a  kind  and 
affectionate  husband  this  monument  was  erected  by  his  widow." 

MARBLE  MONUMENT, 

With  a  carved  figure  reclining  on  a  broken  column,  sur- 
mounted by 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  and  as  a  token  of  fond  affection  this  monu- 
ment is  erected  to  John  Herbert,  Esq.,  of  Dolf organ  Cwmydalfa,  etc.,  etc., 
in  this  parish,  who  died  May  12th  1807  in  the  73  year  of  his  age. 

"  And  to  Avarina  Brunetta,  his  wife,  Heiress  of  Thomas  Owen,  Esq.,  of 
Llynlloedd  in  the  Parish  of  Machynlleth,  who  departed  this  life  February 
9th  1816,  in  her  73  year. 

"  Also  to  Mary  Ann  Herbert  of  Forest,  in  this  parish,  third  daughter  of 
John  and  Avarina  Brunetta  Herbert,  who  died  December  27,  1848. 

"  '  Our  days  on  the  earth  are  as  a  shadow,  and  there  is  none  abiding.' 
— 1  Chron.  xxix,  15." 

MARBLE  TABLET, 
With  a  carved  figure  in  mourning  attitude. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Margaretta  Georgina  Herbert  of  Forest, 
eldest  daughter  of  the  late  John  Herbert,  Esq.,  of  Dolf  organ  Hall,  in  this 
parish.  She  departed  this  life  on  the  24th  March  1838,  in  the  city  of 
Bath,  and  her  remains  are  deposited  in  a  vault  in  the  Abbey  Church  of 
that  city. 

THE  LONG  MONUMENT. 

Elaborately  ornamented  monument  in  Caen  stone,  enclosing 
a  marble  tablet. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Avarina  Brunetta  Long,  daughter  and  sole 
heiress  of  the  late  John  Owen  Herbert  of  Dolforgan  Hall,  Esq.,  who  died  at 
Seagry  House,  Wilts.,  on  the  28th  January,  1847,  aged  18  years. 

"  Also  to  the  memory  of  her  husband,  Walter  Long,  jun.,  Esq.,  of  Rood 
Ashton,  Wilts.,  who  departed  this  life  after  a  short  illness  at  Rome,  in  the 
24th  year  of  his  age. 

Endued  with  all  the  virtues  which  adorn  the  Christian,  the  youthful 
pair  were  cut  off  in  the  morning  of  their  age. 

u  Lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives,  in  their  death  they  were  not 
divided." 

BUCKLEY  SLAB. 

Brought  from  the  church  wall  outside  and  erected  in  the 
north  aisle  wall  of  the  church  inside — much  decayed  by 


HISTORY  OP  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY.  393 

the  weather.  Surmounted  with  a  shield  of  arms  and  crest, 
which  are  not  distinguishable.  Inscription,  in  double  columns 
underneath  : 

lieth  interred  ye  Body  And  ye  Body  of 

of  Joseph  Buckley  Jane  his  wife 

who  departed  this  life  who  departed  this  life 
Sept  28  1739  April  24th  1738 

Aged  62  Aged  49 

MARBLE  TABLET. 

"In  memory  of  Joseph  Buckley  of  Dolfor,  Esq.,  who  died  28th  Sep- 
tember 1739,  aged  62. 

"  Also  of  Jane  his  wife,  who  died  24th  April  1738,  aged  49. 

"  Also  of  Millington  their  son,  who  died  10th  March  1766,  aged  42." 

MARBLE  TABLET. 

"  In  memory  of  R.  Millington  Buckley  of  Dolvor,  who  died  23rd  Sept. 
1821,  aged  67. 

"  Frances  Matilda  Pugh,  born  21st  April,  1818 ;  died  at  Claines 
(Worcester)  26th  Sept.  1843,  aged  25  years. 

"  Price  Buckley  Pugh,  born  6th  Sept.  1821  ;  died  at  Patrington,  near 
Hull,  25th  June  1883,  aged  61  years." 

MARBLE  TABLET. 

"In  memory  of  William  Pugh  of  Caerhowell,  Esq.,  who  died  3rd 
November  1823,  aged  74  years. 

"  Also  Frances  his  wife,  who  died  13th  Feb.  1824,  aged  68  years. 

"  Also  Beatrice  Matilda  Pugh  of  Brynllowarcb,  who  died  29th  June 
1829,  aged  58  years. 

"  Also  William  Pugh  of  Brynllywarch,  Esq.,  who  died  at  Caen,  France, 
4th  March  1842,  aged  58  years." 

MARBLE  TABLET. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  William  Broom  of  Brynllowarch  who  died 
April  22,  1786,  aged  58. 

u  Also  of  Mary,  wife  of  William  Broom,  who  died  March  1st,  1780,  aged 
35  years. 

"  Also  of  Benjamin  Broom,  who  died  Jan.  5th,  1757,  aged  33  years. 

"  Also  of  Thomas  Broom,  who  died  June  20th,  1787,  aged  67  years." 

SMALL  TABLET. 

"In  the  aisle  adjoining  the  Freeholders'  Pew  is  interred  the  body  of 
John  Pugh,  Esq.,  late  of  Goedtref,  in  this  parish.  He  died  22nd  Oct.  1808. 
Mt.  suse  81.' 

SMALL  TABLET. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Anne  Havard  Home  of  Penygelley,  who  died 
December  l()th,  1836,  aged  58  years. 

u  '  O  Lord,  thou  art  a  shield  for  me,  my  glory,  and  the  lifter  up  of  mine 
head.'— 3rd  Psalm,  3  verse." 


394  HISTORY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  KERRY. 

MARBLE  TABLET. 

"To  the  memory  of  the  Revd.  Edward  Davies,  M.A.,  of  Jesus  College, 
Oxford,  and  late  curate  of  the  parish  of  Llannierewic.  He  died  on  the 
17th  day  of  January  1838,  in  the  32nd  year  of  bis  age. 

"This  tablet  is  most  affectionately  inscribed  to  his  memory  by  his 
brother  and  sisters." 

MAEBLE  TABLET. 

"  Near  this  place  is  deposited  the  body  of  John  Davies,  who  died  July  31st, 
1823,  aged  59. 

"  This  tablet,  by  direction  of  his  surviving  mother  and  brother,  is  placed 
here  to  remain  a  memorial  of  his  work  and  their  affection." 

BRASS  PLATE. 

"  In  memory  of  the  Rev.  Horace  Monro,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  this  parish,  who 
died  Oct.  3rd,  1836,  aged  38  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  this 
church." 

MARBLE  TABLET, 

"  To  the  blessed  memory  of  Frances  Mary  Ann,  the  beloved  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Alfred  Hensley,  M.A.,  curate  of  this  parish,  and  eldest  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  William  Morgan,  B.D.,  Vicar,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  21st  day 
of  April  1856,  aged  26  years,  leaving  an  infant  daughter. 

'* '  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  His  saints.'  " 

SLATE   STONE, 

"In  memory  that  Christian  Careless,  youngest  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  Joseph  Careless,  late  Vicar  of  this  parish,  left  £300  in  trust  to  the 
Vicar  and  Churchwardens.  The  interest  thereof  to  be  given  yearly  in 
useful  clothing  to  the  poorest  and  oldest  people  of  the  parish.'' 

SMALL  TABLET. 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Hugh  Maxwell,  son  of  the  late  Hugh 
Maxwell  of  Dalswinton,  Dumfries,  who  died  in  this  parish,  at  Forest, 
15th  July  1810,  aged  76  years." 


(To  be  continued.) 


395 


THE  LAND  AND  FRESHWATER  SHELLS  OF 
MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 

BY    J.   BICKERTON    MORGAN. 

Concluded  from  MONT.  COLL.,  Vol.  xxii,  p.  234.) 

III. 

IN  Montgomeryshire  Collections  for  the  year  1S87,1  the 
present  writer  drew  attention  to  the  fact  that  no 
reliable  record  existed  of  the  molluscan  fauna  of  the 
county,  and  advocated  the  advisability  of  at  once 
compiling  a  fully  authenticated  list,  so  that  this  want 
might  be  supplied.  The  co-operation  of  Montgomery- 
shire corichologists  was  cordially  invited,  in  order  to 
make  the  proposed  list  as  full  and  complete  as  possible. 
On  that  occasion  some  forty-two  different  shells 

J 

were  recorded  as  a  first  contribution  to  the  county 
list,  in  addition  to  the  two  which  alone  were  down  to 
the  credit  of  Montgomeryshire  on  the  Conchological 
Society's  "  Census",2  and  mention  was  further  made  of 
several  other  species  in  the  collection  of  the  Rev. 
J.  E.  Yize  of  Forden,3  which  the  writer  at  the  time 
had  not  had  the  privilege  of  examining. 

In  the  year  following,  a  second  list  of  twenty-five 
additional  names  was  published,  bringing  up  the  total 
number  of  species  and  varieties  to  sixty-nine. 

We  are  sorry  to  say,  however,  that,  owing  either  to 

1  Vol.  xxi,  p.  103. 

2  "  Census  of  the  Authenticated  Distribution  of  Briti  h  Land  and 
Freshwater  Mollusca,"  by  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Roebuck,  F.L.S. ;  vide 
Journal  of  Conchology,  vol.  iv,  p.  319. 

3  Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  xv,  p.  179. 


896  THE    LAND    AND    FRESHWATER 

indifference  on  the  part  of  our  local  conchologists,  or 
it  may  be  to  the  scarcity  of  conchological  material  in 
their  possession,  but  little  response  has  been  made  to 
that  appeal  for  assistance,  and  I  am  therefore  again 
compelled  to  depend  upon  my  own  note-book  for  the 
following  records. 

Anodonta  "cygnea  var.  intermedia,  Pfeiffer. — Found  in  a  shallow  pond  at 
Trederwen  Hall,  Llandrinio ;  also  in  Llyn  du  pool  in  Powis  Castle 
Park.  One  specimen  only  was  taken  in  the  latter  locality,  and  this, 
strange  to  say,  was  brought  to  bank  by  an  angler.  The  Trederwen 
Hall  shells  are  exceedingly  fine,  one  of  them  measuring  6f  inches  in 
an  antero-posterior  direction,  and  4  inches  from  hinge-line  to  outer 
margin. 

Anodonta  cygnea  var.  zellensis,  Gmelin,' — Found  in  great  numbers  in  the 
Tyddyn  branch  of  the  Shropshire  Union  Canal,  at  Deep  Cutting,  near 
Welshpool. 

Paludina  vivipara,  Linn. — Taken  in  the  Tyddyn  branch  of  the  Shropshire 
Union  Canal  at  Deep  Cutting,  near  Welshpool.  Very  abundant,  and 
associated  with  the  foregoing. 

Sphaerium  ovale,  Ferussac. — Only  one  specimen  of  this  little  bivalve  was 
found,  and  that  a  dead  one.  Same  locality  with  the  foregoing. 

Sphaerium  rivicola,  Leach. — Several  empty  shells  of  this  species,  and  of  Unio 
tumidus  and  pictorum,  were  taken  from  the  mud  which  had  been 
thrown  up  in  cleaning  out  the  Shropshire  Union  Canal  at  Pool  Quay, 
near  WTelshpool. 

Helix  caperata,  Mont. — Only  one  immature  specimen  of  this  shell  was  found. 
Locality  :  Morben,  near  Machynlleth. 

Zonites  purus,  Alder. — Taken  underneath  stones  in  a  quarry  at  Gaerfawr,  near 
Welshpool,  together  with  Zonites  alliarius,  Zonites  fulvus,  and  Vitrina 
pellucida. 

Limax  Isevis,  Mull. — Two  representatives  of  this  species  were  found,  the  one  in 
Messrs.  Jones's  Timber  Yard,  Welshpool,  and  the  other  at  Pwll  brwynen, 
north  of  Llanwddyn. 

Arion  ater  var.  nigrescens. — In  damp  moss  at  Pwll  brwynen,  Llanwddyn. 
Two  specimens  found. 

Arion  ater  var.  albolateralis,  Roebuck. — Only  one  example  obtained  ;  Messrs. 
Jones's  Timber  Yard,  Welshpool,  accompanied  by  the  following  : 

Arion  subfuscus,  Drap. — Two  immature*  specimens  were  found  with  the  last 
mentioned.  One  full-grown  example  was  also  found  at  Sarnau,  near 
Welshpool. 


SHELLS   OF   MONTGOMERYSHIRE.  397 

Amalia  gagates,  Drap. — In  a  garden  at  Welshpool.  Tate  states,  in  his  British 
Molluscs,  that  this  species  is  entirely  littoral  in  its  distribution.  This 
is  an  error,  as,  in  addition  to  the  above  locality,  it  has  been  found 
abundantly  in  the  Midlands,1  and  in  Middlesex  and  Herefordshire.2 

The  most  interesting  shell  in  the  above  short  list  is 
undoubtedly  the  Sphcerium  ovale,  affording,  as  it  pro- 
bably does,  an  instance  of  the  operation  of  artifi- 
cial means  in  assisting  the  ordinary  methods  of  nature 
for  transporting  the  fauna  and  flora  of  a  country  to 
widely  separated  areas.  So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to 
ascertain,  this  shell  has  been  found  in  but  few  English 
counties,  and  has  never  been  recorded  from  Wales 
until  now.  By  some  conchologists,  Dr.  Gwyn  Jeffreys 
among  them,  Sphcerium  ovale  has  long  been  regarded 
as  identical  with  the  American  Sphcerium  transversum, 
and  the  suggestion  has  been  made  that  our  English 
form  must  have  been  imported  from  the  United  States 
in  some  of  the  articles  of  commerce  which  we  receive 
from  that  country.3  It  is  at  least  curious  that  in  the  canal 
at  Burnley  it  should  be  associated  with  an  undoubted 
American  shell,  Planorbis  dilatatus ;  but  whether  such 
coincidence  follows  from  their  supposed  community  of 
origin,  or  is  due  to  the  fact  that  a  similar  environ- 
ment is  essential  to  the  existence  of  both,  there  is  not 
yet  sufficient  data  to  determine. 

This  list  will  conclude  my  contributions  on  Mont- 
gomeryshire mollusca  for  the  present.  I  have  again 
to  express  my  indebtedness  to  Messrs.  Taylor  and 
Roebuck  for  their  kind  and  ever-ready  assistance  in 
corroborating  my  identifications  of  the  specimens. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  become  in- 
debted to  my  friend,  Mr.  F.  D.  Ward  of  Welshpool,  for 
several  examples  of  the  following  : 

Anodonta  cygnea,  Linn. — Type  form.  Found  in  the  Dairy  Pool,  Powis  Castle 
Park,  Welshpool. 

Anodonta  cygnea  var.  stagnalis,  Sow.—  Same  locality. 


Science  Gossip,  1887,  p.  244. 

Journal  of  Conchology,  vol.  iv,  p.  320.         3  Ibid.,  vol.  v,  220. 


398  LAND   AND    FRESHWATER   SHELLS,    ETC. 

The  mollusca  of  the  county,  as  detailed  in  this  and 
the  two  previous  lists,  may  therefore  be  summarised 
thus : 

Genera.         Species.        Varieties. 

Land  shells     -  -     11  34  8 

Freshwater  shells    -  -     12  32  9 

23  66  17 

or  a  total  of  eighty-three  different  shells. 


399 


POWYSIANA. 

(Continued  from  Vol.  xxiv,  p.  200.) 

LVIII. — THE  REV.  ROWLAND  WILLIAMS,  D.D.,  VICE- 
PRINCIPAL  OF  ST.  DAVID'S  COLLEGE,  LAMPETEB. 
BY  MRS.  E.  WILLIAMS. 

"  He  passed  his  early  childhood  in  the  beautiful  vale 
of  Meifod.     Of  it,  when  his  father  was  promoted  to 
Ysceifiog,  he  writes  :  *  T  always  consider  Meifod  more 
my   birthplace   than  Halkyn.'     As    he    wandered   by 
Vyrniew's  stream,  the  boy's  enthusiastic  nature  received 
its  earliest  impressions ;  here  his  lively  imagination  was 
fostered,  and  here  he  first  learned  to  read  the  book  of 
Nature,  and  acquired  that  intense  love  for  her,  which 
he  preserved  through  life.     It  was  in  her  wilder  forms 
he  more  especially  delighted,  and,  when  absent  from 
mountain  scenery,  he  had  ever  a  keen  longing  for  it. 
His  first  inquiry  in  a  new  place  would  generally  be  for 
the  highest  ground  near,  and  a  dead  level  country  had 
the  same  depressing  effect  upon  him,  which  it  is  said  to 
have  had  upon  Dr.  Arnold.     The  sea  also  had  a  great 
charm   for   him,   the    love    for  it   having  been    early 
awakened  during  some  months  passed  on  the  coast  of 
Anglesey,    where    he  was  sent  as  a  young   child   on 
account  of  delicacy." 

LIX. — JONES  OF  BLUE  BELL  AND  WESTWOOD. 

(Supplemental  to  page  351,  line  7,  MONT.  COLL.,  Vol.  xxiv.) 

Richard  Jones  of  Ehiston,  Churchstoke,  Mont- 
gomeryshire, born  Dec.  15th,  1801,  married,  firstly,  in 
1829,  at  St.  Mary's,  Welshpool,  Anne  Withers,  only 


400  POWYSIANA. 

daughter  of  Richard  Edwards  of  Garthmyl,  Lieut.-Col. 
in  H.M.  7th  West  India  Regiment  (Mrs.  Jones  died 
springtime  1841,  and  was  interred  at  Berriew),  and 
married,  secondly,  on  Nov.  5th,  1 842,  at  St.  Philip's 
Church,  Birmingham,  Mary,  first  cousin  to  his  former 
wife,  and  only  daughter  of  William  Hall,  manufacturer 
of  tortoise-shell  goods,  of  Digbeth,  Birmingham  ;  and 
he  died  at  Bristol,  January  llth,  1870,  and  was  buried 
at  Llangollen. 

By  his  first  marriage  he  had  issue — 

1.  William  Withers  Jones,  M.P.S.  (Lond.,  1853),  of  Kings- 

down,  Bristol,  born  Aug.  19th,  1830,  married  at 
Victoria  Chapel,  Clifton,  Sept.  4th,  1866,  Mary  Anne 
Eenell,only  daughter  and  heir  of  John  William  Upham 
of  Carl  ton  House,  Bristol ;  forty  years  Secretary  and 
Librarian  of  the  Literary,  Scientific,  and  Philosophical 
Institution,  Park  Street,  Bristol  (Upham — Arms  :  A 
chevron  gu.  between  three  water-bougets  ppr.  Crest : 
An  ostrich  rising  from  a  coronet,  in  its  mouth  a  horse- 
shoe ppr.),  and  has  issue — 

i.  William  Upham  Jones,  b.  Dec.  30th,.  1867,  a  Medical 

Student. 

ii.  Florence  Ellen  Jones, 
iii.  Gertrude  Emily  Clara  Jones. 

2.  Mary  Ann  Edwards  Jones,  born  1831  ;  died  unmarried, 

1862;  buried  at  Llangollen. 

3.  Henry   Richard  Jones,   born    1833 ;    died   unmarried, 

Feb.  20th,  1861;  buried  at  Llangollen. 

By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Richard  Jones  had  no 
issue.  Mrs.  Mary  Jones  (nee  Hall)  died  1862,  and 
was  buried  at  Llangollen. 


LX. — LORD  SANDFORD  OF  SANDFORD. 

Sir  Francis  Richard  John  Sandford,  who  was  raised 
to  the  peerage  at  the  commencement  of  this  year  by 
the  title  of  Baron  Sandford  of  Sandford,  co.  Salop, 
claims  an  uninterrupted  male  descent  from  a  Norman 
follower  of  the  Conqueror,  and  is  heir  to  an  estate 


POWYSIANA.  401 

which  has  been  in  possession  of  his  family  since  the 
year  1066.     He  was  born  May  14,  1824. 

Twelve  of  his  ancestors,  or  collateral  relatives,  have 
obtained  the  honour  of  knighthood,  and  some  of  them 
were  greatly  distinguished  in  the  international  contests 
between  England  and  the  warlike  inhabitants  of  the 
Cymry. 

Sir  William,  son  of  Sir  Ealph  de  Sandford,  was 
renowned  in  the  border  warfare  with  the  Princes  of 
North  Wales,  Llewellyn  ap  Griffith  and  David,  and 
two  representatives  of  the  family  were  Seneschals  of 
the  Castle  of  Montgomery. 

Eadus  (or  Bicardus)  Sonford,  A.D.  1327  Seneschal  of 
Montgomery  Castle,  in  an  Inquisitione  post  mortem  is 
mentioned  as  of  Montgomery  Castrum,  1  Ed.  II,  1307. 
(Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  x,  p.  123.) 

Radus  (or  Bicardus)  Sanford  was  Seneschal  of 
Montgomery  Castle,  1354.  He  fought  at  Cressy,  and 
his  "  good  service"  is  acknowledged  by  letters  patent 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  still  preserved  at 
Sandford.  (See  Burke's  Landed  Gentry.)  "  In  an 
Inquisitione  post  mortem,  28  Edw.  Ill,  Montgomery 
Castrum  is  entered  among  his  possessions,  or  residences." 
(Mont.  Coll.,  vol.  x,  p.  123.) 

Sir  Bichard  Sandford  of  Sandford  was  knighted  on 
the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Shrewsbury,  in  which  he 
fell  in  1403. 

Francis  Sandford  was  loyal  to  his  sovereign,  Charles 
the  First,  and  compounded  with  the  Parliament  for 
his  estates  by  a  fine  of  £459. 

Francis  Sandford,  the  Bouge  Dragon  Pursuivant  of 
Arms,  was  a  member  of  this  family.  He  surrendered 
his  patent  of  the  office  of  Lancaster  rather  than 
proclaim  William  of  Orange  king. 

The  grandfather  of  the  newly  created  peerwas  Bishop 
of  Edinburgh,  and  younger  brother  of  Thomas  Sandford 
of  Sandford. 

His  father  was  Sir  Daniel  Keyte  Sandford,  M.P.  for 
Paisley. 


402  POWYSIA.NA. 

Sir  Francis  Sandford  was  a  First  Classman  of  Balliol 
College,  and  married,  in  1849,  Margaret,  fourth 
daughter  of  Mr.  Robert  Findlay  of  Boturich  Castle, 
co.  Dumbarton. 

He  was  one  of  Her  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  the 
National  Exhibition  of  1851,  and  became  Assistant 
Secretary  for  the  Colonies  in  1868.  He  was  subse- 
quently appointed  Secretary  to  the  Committees  of 
Council  on  Education  for  England  and  Scotland,  and 
resigned  that  office  in  1886.  In  the  next  year  he  was 
appointed  a  Privy  Councillor,  having  in  1871  received 
the  distinction  of  a  Commander  of  the  Bath,  and  that 
of  a  Knight  Commander  of  the  same  Order  in  1879. 

Thomas  Hugh  Sandford  of  Sandford,  in  the  parish 
of  Frees,  Whitchurch,  Salop,  to  whose  estate  Lord 
Sandford  is  heir,  was  Sheriff  of  Shropshire  in  1866. 
Burke  observed,  that  it  would  be  difficult  for  either 
France  or  Germany  to  rival  the  claims  to  hereditary 
nobility  of  such  untitled  families  as  those  of  Sandford 
of  Sandford,  etc.  He  married  (1)  Alexina  Nisbet  Lind- 
say, niece  of  the  Earl  of  Crawford  and  Balcarres,  and 
(2)  Sarah,  second  daughter  of  William  Halsted  Poole, 
Esq.,  of  Terrick  Hall,  co.  Salop,  who  survives  him. 

G.  S. 


DA  Collections  historical  & 
740  archaeological  relating  to 

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