Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [c. 1631] - [1718] (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
xiii, 149 ff. (paginated 1-298, ff. i-iii are modern fly-leaves, iv-xiii and pp. 295-8 original fly-leaves). John Davies provided foliation 1-132 (= pp. 1-264) ; 200 x 137 mm.
Formerly in 'old vellum covers' [RMWL].
Context area
Archival history
Other inscribed names include Gwen Gruffyth (f. xii), John Morris (p. 247), all of [17 cent.], and Robert Owen, 1740 (pp. 41, 92), John Lewis (p. 92), Morgan Jones, 1740 (p. 67), Margaret Morus (p. 110), John Prys (pp. 141, 272), 'John Reynolds de Oswestry antiquary' [John Reynolds, nephew of John Davies, author of The Scripture Genealogy (1739), see also Peniarth MS 145] (pp. 240, 242), all of [18 cent., first ½]. 'Wm. Wynn. Rector of Llangynhaval’s book' [William Wynn] (f. xiv); notes in his hand are on, e.g., pp. 67, 71, 112, 151. The manuscript doubtless reached Hengwrt with others of Wynn’s manuscripts in the collection of Griffith Roberts.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The manuscript's first use was for a record of actions of petty debt, [c. 1625-8], probably by Richard Wynne, the main scribe, who had learnt legal script (see pp. 29, 38) (pp. 275-94 (inverted text), see also f. xiii). Its second use began at the back end (pagination follows the second use); it is on pp. 1-237 and on later pages reversed. This use was by Richard Wynne of Abercynlleth, Llangedwyn, for cywyddau, etc. of [15-17 cent.], mainly of [16 cent., second ½] - [17 cent.], and of local if not personal interest, and some canu rhydd (pp. 1-81 and, reversed, pp. 247-64). On f. xiii verso is a signed autograph poem by him in English, composed in 1631, perhaps copied later. The hand of Richard Wynne is a variable one. The poetry had mostly, if not all, been copied by 1640 (see pp. 54, 81, 248, 263). Material in his hand includes: his own pedigree, compiled about 1640 (p. 252); memoranda of family baptisms and burials (pp. 269-70); notes in English on Welsh history (pp. 271-4); 'Eisteddfod Caerwys' (pp. 267-8); and notes in English on blazon (pp. 206-14). His is the primary hand of the pedigrees on pp. 81-5 and 92-166, set out as achau’r mamau and mostly of local interest; these pages of pedigrees are in smaller script than the poetry, evidently his later hand (he was writing in 1646 on p. 75), as is the poem he added on p. 247. Pedigrees were added on pp. 87-91 by a second hand, probably that of John Wynne (1634–72), son of Richard, whose pedigree begins on p. 87; the hand is consistent with the signature on his will [NLW, SA/1672/104]. Additions were then made throughout by a third hand, writing in 1673 (p. 201), that of Edward Davies of Rhiwlas, Llansilin (1618–80), half-brother of John Wynne. He contributed additions to pedigrees (e.g. pp. 16, 20, 42) and the main text of the pedigrees on pp. 167-205, 215-37, and the poetry on pp. 238-46. He wrote his name on pp. 9, 247, 248 ('Edward ap Dafydd') and, with a pennill by him, on p. 293. Substantial additions were then made throughout by John Davies of Rhiwlas [son of Edward], [c. 1680] - [1718] (p. 46). He left his signature (e.g. on pp. 7, 11); he provided foliation and, on ff. iv-viii, an index to the pedigrees; he added englynion (e.g. f. xiii verso and pp. 2, 7, 47) and many notes, in margins, of the place and date of burial of contemporaries; and pedigrees (e.g. ff. viii verso-xiv).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Welsh, English, Latin.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A detailed list of the manuscript's contents may be found in J. Gwenogvryn Evans, Report on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language (London, 1898-1905), I, 902-907.
Description based on Daniel Huws, A Repertory of Manuscripts and Scribes c.800-c.1800 (Aberystwyth, 2022), I, 398.
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital version available https://hdl.handle.net/10107/6224792 (April 2024)
Available on microfilm at the Library.
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Formerly Hengwrt MS 419.
Note
Preferred citation: Peniarth MS 144 [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
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Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
July 2023.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Description revised by Maredudd ap Huw.
Digital object metadata
Latitude
Longitude
Media type
Image
Mime-type
image/jpeg