Album of 'Clwydwenfro',

An album compiled by John Lloyd James ('Clwydwenfro'), Congregational minister at March, Cambridgeshire, etc. The volume is almost wholly of Congregational interest, and relates for the most part to Glandwr Church, Pembrokeshire, and to the activities of John Davies ('Siôn Gymro' otherwise 'Siôn Llethi' otherwise 'Ioan Llethi'), who was ordained minister of the church in 1827. The manuscript items include genealogical extracts in the hand of 'Clwydwenfro' (the families of Evans of Penywenallt, Jenkins of Pantyrlys, and Lloyd of Noyadd Trefawr, all in the parish of Llandygwydd, and the Reverend Thomas Nicholas of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, etc.); letters of dismission to Glandwr Church, 1738-1833 (one from Rhyd-wilym Baptist Church, 1785, another signed by M[organ] Jones, 'Ty Newydd, Treleach', 1833); receipts to Lewis Thomas [of Bwlch-sais, parish of Llanfyrnach, first minister of Glandwr Church] for the payment of rent in respect of the [Congregational] meeting- house at Reed y Ceised [Rhydyceisiaid], parish of Llanginning, 1738/9-1739; holograph letters to John Davies ('Siôn Gymro') from S[amuel] Griffiths, Horeb, 1836 (the distribution of 'Mr. Jones Cofiant'), Thos. and Mary Griffiths, Glynarthen, 1836 (an endeavour 'to bring things to a better order among us than they are at present'), Richard Jones, Llwyngwril, 1828 (the distribution of publications), M. D. Ioannes [Jones] [Bala, 1879] (the visit of John Thomas, publisher, Merthyr, to Bodiwan and to Ffestiniog and his proposal for the publication of the recipient's Y Proffwydi Byrion, constitutional controversy in the Independent College, Bala) (Greek), Edw[ ard] Davies, Brecon, 1851 (recommending Joseph Jervis to the ministry of either Llwynyrhwrdd or Capel Ifan [Iwan]), Ja[me]s Griffiths, Treliwyd, St. Davids, 1830 (meetings at St. Davids, etc.), G. Jones, Llandilo, [18]81 ( enclosing proof sheets), M. A. Johns Hill, St. Clears, [18]56 (a request to visit the writer's mother), Sam[ue]l Roberts ['S. R.'], from [Y] Dydd Office, Dolgellau, 1868, and from Conway, 1881 (thanks for the recipient's Llethi, a request for leading articles for Y Dydd, the presentation of a testimonial to 'S. R.' for his 'pioneer pleadings . . . for Penny Postage', comments on a libel suit), John Davies, Cwrte, 1846 (the death and burial of the writer's daughter), William Lewis and John Thomas, Carmarthen ('Late fellow student [sic] at Neuaddlwyd'), 1828 (the distribution of books), Robert Gladding, book-seller, London, 1878 (the purchase of a book), J. Jones [1831] (the distribution of publications, arrangements for the writer's preaching tour), D[avid] Pugh, House of Commons [M.P. for East Carmarthenshire], 1867 (the presentation to the House of the recipient's petition against the sale of intoxicating drinks on Sunday, and the second reading of the Sunday Trading Bill), E. Evans, Trehowell [parish of Llanfyrnach], 1847 (the first offer of Trehowell as a residence), Wm. Davies, Fishguard, undated (the recipient's preaching engagement at Fishguard) (fragment), and Jno. Williams, Castle [parish of Llanarth], [18]24 (the writer's studies, local news) (with an addition by Thos. Williams, Llwyncelyn, to Mr. David Jones, 1824, relating to the writer's application for admission to Newtown Academy); a copy of a letter from J. G. Davies ['Siôn Gymro'], 1827 (a bequest to the minister of Glandwr Church); an undated letter from the Baptist Church at Newcastle Emlyn to Glandwr Church, proposing a joint renewal of the lease of Cappel loan [Iwan] and the joint provision of a new cemetery; a copy of a letter from David Davies, Penywayne [parish of Llanfihangel Llantarnam, Monmouthshire] to J[ames] Michael [Pont-hir], 1821 (observations on William Evans's revolt and his application for membership of the recipient's church); a holograph letter from [Diana Noel], baroness Barham, to the Reverend Wm. Griffiths, Glandwr, 1822 (the recipient's health, the opening by the writer of a chapel [at Park Mill, Gower]); an autograph letter, 1897, signed by Thomas E. Ellis and T. F. Roberts on behalf of the Welsh Library Committee of University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; an incomplete draft of a letter from ['Clwydwenfro'] to the Reverend T. Stephens, Wellingborough [editor of Album Aberhonddu (Merthyr Tydfil, 1898)], 1895 (biographical notes on the Reverend John Griffiths, Hitchin, and others); a holograph letter from Marth[a] James, Raccoon, Gallia County, Ohio, to David Thomas, Velin Wern, Llanina, Cardiganshire, 1855 (the death of the writer's husband, the writer's property and stock, the improvement in living conditions, food and land prices, industrial development, references to Welsh neighbours); a holograph letter from [the Reverend] Wm. Evan[s], Llaindelin [parish of Llanfyrnach) to the Reverend Wm. Griffiths, Glandwr, 1805 (a controversy at Glandwr regarding the succession to the ministry, with copies of proposals for the use of Glandwr and Penygroes meeting-houses); receipts for books borrowed from the Trustees of Glandwr Church, 1748/9 and undated; vouchers for the purchase of wine, 1759-1767; a certificate, 1854, for procuring the registry of Glandwr as a place of worship, pursuant to 16 Vict., c. 36; rules of public worship adopted by the minister, elders, and deacons at Glandwr, 1796; undated lists of members of Glandwr and Rhydyceisiaid Churches; miscellaneous music; a probationary call to John Davies ('Siôn Gymro') ('Student, Newtown') to the ministry of Glandwr Church, 1826; a certificate of the ordination of John Davies, 1827; a testimonial to John Davies from Edw. Davies, North Wales Academy, Newtown, 1826; confessions of faith of John David (died 1756), minister of Glandwr Church, and of applicants for membership of the church; a certificate of the subscription of oaths by John Davies ('Siôn Gymro'), 1822; 'Carol Nadolig'; sermon notes by J[onah] Lloyd [Congregational minister], St. Asaph; vouchers of John Davies ('Siôn Gymro'), 1842-1879 and undated (the schooling of his children, the purchase of books, the payment of poor rate for the parish of Llanfyrnach) and miscellaneous accounts; the petition of Mary Gibbon, widow, of the parish of Llangolman, for relief as a result of the destruction of her house by fire, 1793; a bond, 1814, from Rees Edwards of Nantyreglwys, parish of Llanboidy, co. Carmarthen, gent., to Roger Griffiths of Castle Garne [recte Garw], parish of Llangludwen, co. Carmarthen, and John Morse of Graig, parish of Llanvirnach, co. Pembroke, gentlemen, for the payment of a sum of £20 and interest, being a bequest by Mrs. Edwards, mother of the said Rees Edwards, for the support of the minister of the congregation of Dissenters at Glandwr meeting-house; a draft lease [for 999 years] [1797] from the Reverend John Griffiths, minister of the Gospel, Dinah Griffiths [his wife], and John Devonald Griffiths, their son, gent., of Glandwr, parish of Lanvirnach, co. Pembroke, to Roger Griffiths of Castellgarw, parish of Langloydwen, co. Carmarthen, and John Morse of Graig, parish of Lanvirnach, co. Pembroke, gentlemen, of a piece of land, being part of Glandwr, parish of Lan[virna] ch (endorsed by 'Clwydwenfro': 'The following draft of Glandwr Chapel Deed was drawn up and is in the hand-writing of James Davies ('Siams Dafi')); an account of a controversy in 1803 between the Reverend William Evans and the Reverend William Griffiths concerning the succession to the ministry of Glandwr Church (endorsed by 'Clwydwenfro': 'Mae yr hanes dilynol yn llaw ysgrifen James Davies, Penlanfach wedi hyny o Bentregalar'); a receipt, 1839, signed by John Evans, Nantyr Eglwys, afterwards archdeacon of Carmarthen; case, and the opinion of John Williams, Chancery Lane, 1803, touching the power of the lessees specified in the deed of 1797 to lock up Glandwr meeting-house to prevent the assembly of William Evan and his adherents; certificates of the registration of deaths, 1844-1874; a certificate, 1837, of the registration of Glandwr for the solemnization of marriage; an obituary, 1831, of Betty Daniel Watkin, Blaen y Pant, Llanarth, with in memoriam verses by 'Ioan Llethi'; biographical notes by 'Clwydwenfro' on a family of four brothers surnamed Evans of Llanboidy; a pedigree chart of the descendants of Roger Griffiths, Castell Garw, compiled by Miss Norah Griffiths of Sandown, I.O.W.; a draft agreement, 1847, between David Owen of Ynysfawr, parish of Llandysylio, co. Carmarthen, gent., and John Davies ['Siôn Gymro'] of Pencalch, parish of Llanwinio, minister, for the purchase by the latter of Iet Wen, parish of Llanfrynach [sic], co. Pembroke; the will of John Davies, minister of the Gospel at Glandwr, parish of Llanfurnach, and at Moriah, parish of Llanwinio, co. Carmarthen, 1834; a letter, 1834, to the Carmarthen journal by 'J. D. De Castelle', relating to lines in Latin transcribed from a paper among the books of the Reverend John Pughe of Motygido, Llanarth; accounts of dreams experienced by John Davies ('Siôn Gymro'), 1860-1882; a letter, 1842, to the Weekly Dispatch by J. Davies ['Siôn Gymro'], Llanfyrnach, replying to an attack on Christianity; poetry by Abel Williams, 'Toywr' 'near Castlewilia', and a hymn by W. Griffiths, Glandwr; etc.
Printed and graphic material in the volume includes verses entitled 'Hen Gapel Glandwr, Swydd Benfro', 1866, by W. H. James ('Gwallter Myrnach'), New Zealand, a native of Pontygavel, Llanfyrnach; an 'Outline of Plan' of the proposed University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1870; a notice of 'Cymanfa Myfyrwyr Hen Athrofa Neuaddlwyd', 1851, with a covering letter to J Davies from the Reverend William Evans, Aberaeron; verses by 'M.', Milford, entitled 'Lines, Addressed by a young Lady to the Rev. William Davies, of Pencaer, in the 81st year of his age, when addressing his Son, on his settlement at Neyland; and giving an account of the origin and progress of about 30 places of Worship in the English part of Pembrokeshire'; verses entitled 'Mae'r flwyddyn yn d'od: Pennillion ar glywed Bronfraith yn canu gerllaw, Chwefror 2, 1865' by [John Davies] ('S[ iôn] Llethi'); the Humble Petitions of Thomas Davies of Bankyfelin, parish of [Llan]fihangel-Abercowin, Carmarthenshire, 1829, and Thomas Davies of Cerrig-gwynion, parish of Llanarth, Cardiganshire, 1832, for relief as a result of the destruction of their properties by fire; an address, 1829, by H. Leach, Milford, to the Freeholders of the County of Pembroke, deploring the lack of tolerance shown by opponents of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill (together with a draft Welsh translation in the hand of John Davies ('Siôn Gymro') for publication in Y Dysgedydd); a prospectus of a school to be opened at St. Asaph by [the Reverend] Jonah Lloyd, 1826; a prospectus of the first number of Y Diwygiwr, 1 August, 1835; an appeal on behalf of the Welsh Independent Chapel,Manchester, 1829; an undated paper on 'Gweddio ar Eistedd' read by John Davies ('Siôn Gymro') at the Pembrokeshire Congregational Quarterly Meeting; hymns sung at the anniversary of Ivor Chapel Sabbath School [Dowlais], 1870; an undated biography of the Reverend John Griffiths (died 1811), Glandwr, by John Davies ('Siôn Gymro'), read at the centenary services of Pen-y-groes Congregational Church [1865]; a circular letter, 1880, in the name of M. D. Jones, Bala, announcing the death and burial of the Reverend R[obert] Thomas ('Ap Vychan'); in memoriam cards, 1870-1872; Regulations of University and King's College, Aberdeen, in granting degrees in Medicine, 1840, with a covering letter, 1842, from William Gregory to John Davies ('Siôn Gymro '); A Brief View of the Operations and Principles of Temperance Societies, published by the British and Foreign Temperance Society, 1834, and addressed to 'Revd. Mr. Davies, Glandore'; an issue of Band of Hope Review, April 1853; a proof sheet of a list of students of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, 1818-1869, with annotations in the hand of Principal W. J. Evans; press cuttings (Rhyl National Eisteddfod, 1892, portraits and photographs of ministers of religion, eminent personages, and of church buildings, a letter by Daniel Davies, Bethesda, Swansea, 1848, relating to the removal of the Normal College for Wales to Swansea and to the voluntary principle in education, poetry by 'Clwydwenfro' and 'S[iôn] Llethi', a sermon by J[ohn] D[avies] ('Siôn Gymro'), 1874, etc.); a map of the Roman Empire drawn by John Griffiths Davies, son of 'Siôn Gymro', and given by him to 'Clwydwenfro' before his apprenticeship to a draper at Narberth; a composite photograph of seventy Congregational ministers, together with a printed key ('Enwau y deg a thrugain'); and water-colour drawings by Lily James and Rose James, 1896.

Title based on contents.

Formerly known as D. Morgan Lewis 1.

Much of the material included in this volume has been transcribed or incorporated in J. Lloyd James ('Clwydwenfro'): Hanes Eglwys Glandwr . . . ( Merthyr Tydfil, 1902).

Preferred citation: NLW MS 11614E.

The description is also available in the Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IV (Aberystwyth, 1971).

Letter from Marth[a] James, Raccoon, Gallia County, Ohio: Digital version available http://hdl.handle.net/10107/5796025 (February 2022)

Published