File 276B. - Darowen tithes; transcripts by Mary Richards; etc.

A volume originally used fairly extensively by Thomas Richards, Darowen as a rentroll of tithes set in the parish of Darowen, 1824-31. Beginning at the end, also in the hand of Thomas Richards, are a note from the Shrewsbury Chronicle, 1829, on the 'Rearing of Apple Trees'; medical, veterinary and household recipes; and accounts of receipts and disbursements (tithes, road rates, rents, etc.) of Thomas Richards, 1827-31. The remainder of the volume was used by Mary Richards, circa 1850-4, to record transcripts of a list of books in the library of Thomas Richards, Darowen; letters from Evan Richards to Thomas Richard[s], curate of Eglwys fach, near Dovy furnace, undated (religious meditations, a pocket Bible), Ch. Meyer, Llanrhaiadr [ym Mochnant], to T[homas] Richards, Llangynyw, undated (news of W. Davies ['Gwallter Mechain'], an invitation to the recipient and Arthur [James] John[e]s), Thos Jones, L[eintwar]dine [aft. of Creaton], to Thos. Richard[s] [at Llangynfelyn], 1779 (personal), and [Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd')], Trefriw to T[homas] Richard[s], Darowen, 1823 (the writer's preparations to enter St Bees, the writer's return to Trefriw, personal) (original in Cwrtmawr MS 534, Letter No. 13); a receipt for a sum of £1 l0s. paid for a sundial for the use of the parish of Darowen, 1761; accounts of disbursements by T[homas] Richard[s] at Llanganfelin [Llangynfelyn], 1776-81, and a list (p. 17) of the first pupils entered in his school at Llan y Mowddwy, 1789; poetry in strict and free metres ('cywyddau', 'englynion', etc.) by Robert Parry ('Robin Ddu o Eryri'), [William Williams] ('Gwilim ab Iorwerth'), Ieuan ap R[hys] ab Llywelyn, Huw Caellwyd, Rhys ab Cynfreig Goch, Dafydd ap Ieuan Llwyd, Sion Kerri, Tudur Aled, Roger Kyffin, Dafydd ap Jenkin an Owen, W[illiam] Phillip, Doctor Sion Kent, Gruffyth ab Goronwy Gethin, Edmwnd Prys, Edward Urien, Tuder Penllyn, Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), [John Jones] 'Tegid', William Cynwal, Hu[w] Llun, Rhys Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Gryffyth ap Efan, Dr Richard Dafis ('Esgob Dewi'), Sion ab Sion, Sion Tudur and Howel Borthor (o'r Trallwng'), and anonymous poems. Among the insets and items mounted on the inside covers are a letter from J. Topham to [ ], 1786 (Mr Stocks's donation); an undated petition by William Davies, late of Cemmes, Llanegrin, Merioneth for a charitable contribution from Price Jones, Cyfronydd (petitioner claims that Cemmes, now in Pryce Jones's possession, was previously the property of his own father John Davies); and Hirnant rent accounts between T[homas] Richards and Captain Gwynne, 1816-18. One of the sources quoted by Mary Richards is a manuscript of Sir Thomas Llwyd, 'Person Cemes, Sir Drefaldwyn'. The outside upper cover is inscribed '1825 Tithe Book'.