Castell Mss

A small collection of 17 items pertaining to the Roberts family of Castell, near Pentir, Bangor, notably John Roberts (d.1826), farmer and drover, and his sons, Richard, Daniel and Robert Roberts. Other prominent members of the family were Sir Owen Roberts of Dinas, Dr John Roberts of Menai Bridge, Dr John Roberts of Clwt-y-bont and Judge Bryn Roberts. The collection consists in the main of account books and diaries relating to the farm and droving business, which also contain particulars of payments and contributions towards the Pentir C.M. Chapel, the Bible and Missionary Societies, servants' wages, texts of sermons preached at various 'sasiynau', and other miscellaneous matter, 1821-57. There are also account books (c.1839), which appear to have belonged either to the Pont-y-twr shop kept by Robert Roberts or to that kept by Cornelius Jones of Llanbabo.

The patriarch of this family was a John Roberts the elder of Castell, a farmer, drover and a man of great local significance. He had nine sons. After his death in 1826 the farm was run by various brothers, until one of the sons, Richard, married in 1833. After that, the responsibility of the farm fell on him. For many years he was in partnership with his brother Daniel, transporting slates from the Quarry in Dinorwig to the port in Felinheli. It also appears that he was involved in selling coal, and he held shares in shipping and in a gas company in Bangor. His brother Robert ran the Pont-y-twr shop in Bethesda. Richard and his father were Methodists whilst John was prominent in helping to establish the chapels in the area.

Open to all users