Author: Dai Davies
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Herald of Progress: James Dendle of Collingbrook House, Ilfracombe (1846–1892)
James Dendle came from humble beginnings. He was the son of one of the many Devonshire families that left the county for opportunities in south Wales (Cardiff). His family only stayed there for a few years, however, before laying down roots in Ilfracombe, back in Devon, where James was born in 1846. His mother, Sarah…
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Reading More to Write Better, 2025
This July, I dug through the clutter on my bookshelf and pulled out a notebook. It was old in the sense that I was given it many years ago (and it’s partially decayed) but brand new in the sense that I’d never found a purpose for it. In this notebook, from here forward, I’ve decided…
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A Rural Farmer: Thomas Griffith of Olmarch Fawr, Bettws Leiki (1841–1886)
Thomas Griffith was born on March 27, 1841, at Olwmarch Fawr, in the parish fo Bettws Leiki, Cardiganshire, Wales. He was the third son of Anne Davies and William John Griffith, tenant farmers.[1] If his childhood was anything like his eldest brother’s (he wrote a short autobiography in his old age), Thomas spent much of…
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A Christmas Kindness
My mum’s cousin died today. I knew her by name and by the stories my close family told about her, but I’d only met her a few times. I don’t actually know much about her life at all—certainly none of the things family historians normally write about. But one Christmas, she touched my heart with…
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The Young Draper: Timothy Davies of High Street, Lampeter (1838–1871)
Timothy Davies was born about 1838 in the town of Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales.[1] He was the second son of Charlotte Davies and Samuel Davies, who were drapers and ran a general store on High Street known as “Siop Sam.”[2] While Timothy was baptised at the Anglican church, he was probably raised as a Wesleyan Methodist.…
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Protect our Access to Historical Wills!
Do you want to help protect our access to Welsh and English wills? Family historians use wills all the time and our ability to access them through the Probate Search Service is an invaluable boon to our work. The cost of wills has been £1.50 for a number of years, but the UK Ministry of…
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Rev. Timothy Davies of Meurig Villa, Gartheli (1848–1917)
Timothy Davies was the son of Timothy Davies of Ivy Bush, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, and Mary Jones. He was baptised at the Anglican parish church in Tregaron on April 23, 1848.[1] As a teen, Davies left home to train as a draper[2]—a very common occupation among the descendants of the old yeoman families in this part…
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The Businesswoman: Susannah Lewis of Rhydyronen House, Tregaron (1838–1887)
Susannah Lewis was born around 1838 in the town of Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales. She was the eldest child of Elizabeth Davies and John Lewis (Ioan Mynyw), who was a bard and an influential figure in Tregaron’s history. [1] Susannah married in 1860 at the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel in Tregaron to David Roberts.[2] Together, they had…
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Timothy Evans, son of Gelligwenyn, Silian (after 1787–after 1808)
Virtually nothing is currently known about Timothy Evans of Gelligwenyn. He was the youngest son of Rachel Davies and Stephen Abel Evans of Gelligwenyn, Silian, and the only evidence of his existence is in his father’s will, which was written in 1808. The will gives the farm to Evans’ elder brother, Abel, £10 to his…
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A Quiet Life: Jacob Davies of Hendai, Pencarreg (1825–1875)
Jacob Davies was born around 1825 at Hendai farm in the parish of Pencarreg, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He came from a farming family and was the son of Timothy Davies and Margaret Davies.[1] He probably grew up a Unitarian and continued to be a member of Caeronen Unitarian Chapel as an adult. Jacob lived the majority…