Diary of the Rev. Peter Bayley Williams, rector of Llanrug from 1792 to 1836

This material is held atArchifdy Prifysgol Bangor / Bangor University Archives

  • Reference
    • GB 222 BMSS/1633
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1825

Scope and Content

This diary is based on "Kearsley's Pocket Ledger".

Apart from Mr Williams' gleanings may be mentioned the many references to parishioners of Llanrug and Llanberis, and their places of abode (particulars very often difficult to get at otherwise); the details about dynion mawr (avoirdupois) like "Wm. Jones o Dywyn" and "John Jones o Ruddlan" (i); the three poor people of Waunfawr (ii); the [illicit] brewing of beer by "Catherine Jones, gwraig Thomas Williams Bwlch-y-Groes, Llanberis". Several interesting family touches : the allusion to the 21st anniversary of his wedding on 26th September, the considerable sums of money sent to Oxford to his son Henry Bayley, who followed him as incumbent of Llanrug and Llanberis; references to "St. George" i.e. his nephew St. George Armstrong Williams; references to another nephew, Petere, bro. of St. George, who had died in September 1823 (p.18).

Continual descriptions of weather; details of tithe-setting; issuing of warrants as J.P.; making of wills (e.g. that of Prysgol, August 30); farming operations; visits to Holyhead, Liverpool. Many entries about callers, social visits; arrival of game from Lord Newborough (4 October); a visit from Richards of Caerwys (August 10). Entries on (i) seem to foreshadow a study of the Puritan Revolution on the ecclesiastical side. Bit who was the Evan Hughes of Fachwen to whom he lent two volumes of a work on the History of the Baptists? (21 November )

He remarks opposite February 25 that he had competed his translation of Baxter's "Saints' Everlasting Rest"; the actual translation printed by the Caxton Press of London, shows that he wrote a very short "At y Darllenydd" about eleven days later.

An article about this diary appeared in "Y Genedl" (16 November 1931) by J. Llewelyn Williams, High School, Cardiff

Administrative / Biographical History

Rev. Peter Bayley Williams was the son of Peter Williams the celebrated Methodist preacher, revivalist and commentator, and brother to the Rev. Eliezer Williams.

Other Finding Aids

Another catalogue description can be found here https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb222-bmsspbw