Obtained from Mr. Caradog Evans, the printer and bookseller of Pwllheli. He had no idea of its former history. The subject-matter of 1-76 arises almost altogether from the Marches of Wales, including eastern Denbigh and Montgomery; the other 25 pages have to do with Merioneth. With the exception of queries about the wastes and commons of Whittington on pp. 31-38 and on the interpretation of the Enclosure Act of 41 Geo. III, c. 109, on pp. 79-83, the matter is confined to refractory issues arising out of wills and bequests, and refractory questions referred to are Lloyd Kenyon, appointed Lord Chief Justice of England in 1788; Ford and Fogg; Charles Yorke, son to a Lord Chancellor and Lord Chancellor himself for a day or two only; Charles Pratt, afterwards Lord Chancellor Camden; John Madocks; the Wilbraham whose opinion was sought in the Ystumcolwyn litigations; and Richard Richards of Caerynwch, who became Baron of the Exchequer in 1814 and Chief Baron in 1817.
A great deal of law can be learnt from these concise and lucid opinions, and a good deal of family history from the outlines of the cases themselves. E.g., the long and intricate details on pp. 88-93, prove Mr. J.E. Griffith to be hopelessly wrong with the later descendants of Hendreforion (Pedigrees, 262): instead of Francis Parry Jones Evans being christened in 1832 (as he says), he died in that year. pp. 97-99 supply many new facts about the deaths and marriages of various members of the house of Cae'rberllan (Pedigrees, 363); pp. 100-103 tell of the financial arrangements underlying the Nanney-Hartley connection and their interests in the Llwyn and Llanaber estates. Counsel's opinion in this case was given on 10 January 1855, but much the greater part of the document deals with 18th century cases. There is a reference to a Head Master of Friars School (Rev. Robert Williams) on p.94.