Diaries of Ellis James, Faenol

Diaries containing sparse notes regarding religious meetings and agricultural matters mainly, 1836 - 1876. Rough accounts have been scribbled on a few items.

Ellis James was the son of Robert and Grace James of Ty gwyn, Llanberis, Gwynedd, but he was raised by his grandparents in the same village. Born on 21 January 1813, he was one of four children.

In 1840 he moved from Llanberis to the Faenol near Bangor, Gwynedd where he was well respected by the owner of the Faenol estate, Thomas Assheton Smith, as a very good farmer. He married Jane Griffith in 1850 and they had two children, Catherine James and Robert James.

Ellis James was a religious man, greatly influenced by the sermons of Rev. John Jones of Tal-y-sarn. He was a member of Y Graig Chapel, Bangor (C.M.) and became secretary of the Arfon Monthly Meetings in 1846.

In 1870, at the request of Thomas Assheton Smith, he had to leave Faenol in order to farm Ty'n Llwyn in Pentir. As a result, he also had to leave Y Graig Chapel and he became a member of Pentir Chapel (C.M.). He died in 1878 at the age of 66.

For further biographical details consult the memoirs of Ellis James, Hanes Bywyd y diweddar Ellis James, Ty'nllwyn, Bangor (1881)

Arranged chronologically and incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts

Open to all users.

Presented by Mrs Robertson, Penybryn, Edern in October 1927.

Description compiled by Elen Wyn Hughes, December 2001.

A typescript catalogue is available at the Archives Department of the University of Wales Bangor. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 313 - 344

Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.