Treboeth Manuscripts

'The whole art of book binding, containing valuable receipts for sprinkling, marbling, colouring etc.', bound volume of manuscript notes compiled by David Davies 1819; small pocket book containing notes on book binding, diary for 1819-1820 and 1825, notes on biblical names etc. 1819-1825; volume of religious pamphlets in Welsh with manuscript notes, copies of hymns compiled and bound by David Davies 1821; diaries of David Davies 1821-1822, 1823-1825, 1827-1829, 1832-1833 and 1849; account books, detailing letters and parcels received and sent, bills and receipts 1859-1868; pocket book detailing personal expenditure 1872; diaries of D.R. Davies of Brynhyfryd 1874 and 1885; bound volumes of manuscript notes from the Bible circa 1846-1848 and c1850-1890.

David Davies was born in 1799. He was an apprentice bookbinder with Henry Bowen of Carmarthen and Neath and in 1819 went to work for Reverend Daniel Evans of Treboeth, minister and bookbinder. In 1823 David Davies set up his own bookbinding business in Treboeth. David Davies was also active in the Mynydd-bach Independent Chapel and was later one of the leaders of a movement to break away and which set up the Caersalem Newydd Baptist Church in 1840. In 1844 he became the minister of Bethania Baptist Church, Clydach. He retired from this position in 1866. David Davies died in 1874. David Davies' son David Rees Davies was born in 1825 and seems to have taken over his father's bookbinding business c1859. In 1869 he became minister in Glyn-neath and in 1874 he was made minister of Foxhole. This collection of diaries, notebooks and account books provide insights into life in Treboeth in the early part of the nineteenth century, as well as into aspects of the bookbinding trade and religious feeling.

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