Smallwood Collection of Deeds and Papers,

Papers of R. H. G. Smallwood, together with deeds and documents collected by him, 1317-1943, mainly relating to the Wrexham area and mainly 17th-19th cent., comprising deeds and other papers, 1317-1890, concerning various families and properties in Wales, England and Jamaica; Smallwood's notebooks, files, indexes, etc., on genealogy, especially of the Smallwood family, and local history, freemasonry, numismatics and archaeology; material relating to shorthand, including volumes written in shorthand, [17th cent.]-[18th cent.], catalogues, letters, and material relating to Welsh, American, German, Austrian, Italian, French and English shorthand systems; and various letters, bills, receipts and memoranda [late 18th cent.]-[early 19th cent.).

Robert Henry Gough Smallwood (1864-1943), antiquary, local historian and an authority on shorthand, was born at Burslem, Staffordshire, but spent most of his life in the Wrexham area, having married Mary Pritchard of Gresford, Denbighshire, in 1893. His interests were numerous and wide-ranging, but (in his own words) concentrated on 'old deeds, numismatics, local history (chiefly the personal side) and shorthand'. Smallwood was a member of several genealogical, antiquarian and archaeological societies, and assisted Alfred Neobald Palmer (1847-1915) in his historical studies of Wrexham and its neighbourhood. He also published a number of articles on the history of freemasonry and shorthand, and collected a considerable amount of material during the course of his research.

Arranged into: deeds and documents (relating to families (Warrington; Apperley and Speed; Lloyd of Plas Power; Meredith of Pentrebychan Hall; Cunliffe of Pant Iocyn and Acton Park); to Welsh parishes and counties; and to English parishes and counties); notebooks, files, bundles of cards, etc.; material relating to shorthand; and letters, bills, receipts and memoranda.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Purchased in 1944 (probably from R.H.G. Smallwood's estate).

Robert Henry Gough Smallwood (1864-1943), antiquary, local historian and an authority on shorthand, was born at Burslem, Staffordshire, but spent most of his life in the Wrexham area, having married Mary Pritchard of Gresford, Denbighshire, in 1893. His interests were numerous and wide-ranging, but (in his own words) concentrated on 'old deeds, numismatics, local history (chiefly the personal side) and shorthand'. Smallwood was a member of several genealogical, antiquarian and archaeological societies, and assisted Alfred Neobald Palmer (1847-1915) in his historical studies of Wrexham and its neighbourhood. He also published a number of articles on the history of freemasonry and shorthand, and collected a considerable amount of material during the course of his research.

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.

March 2003.

Compiled by David Moore for the ANW project. The following source was consulted in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of R. H. G. Smallwood Deeds and Papers;

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records purchased by the National Library of Wales have been retained..

Accruals are not expected.

R. H. G. Smallwood's collection of books and periodicals on shorthand are held at the National Library of Wales.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales