An album of 'memoranda, made to the year 1857', together with copious annotations and an index, by Richard Rees (born 1781) of Alltycham, Pontardawe, seventh child by the second marriage of Josiah Rees (1744-1804), Unitarian minister, of Gellionnen, parish of Llan-giwg (Llanguicke), Glamorgan. The volume consists largely of holograph letters addressed for the most part to Richard Rees, the writers including Josiah Rees, 1802-3 (relating partly to the church at Gellionnen); William Wyndham Grenville, baron Grenville, 1818 (a description of the writer's home at Dropmore, information concerning Neath Abbey); George Owen Rees, Guy's Hospital, London, 1846 (biographical notes on the writer's father, Josiah Rees); C[hristopher] R[ice] M[ansel] T[albot], London, 1848; C[onnop Thirlwall], bishop of St. Davids, 1848; Geo. Rice Trevor, aft. 4th baron Dynevor, 1838 (concerning Neath Abbey); John M. Traherne, Coedriglan, Cardiff, 1848; [Edward Copleston, bishop of Llandaff, 1848]; [Sir Thomas Phillipps, Middle Hill, 1848]; H[enry] Hussey Vivian, London, 1855 (the death of John Henry Vivian); etc. The miscellaneous documents contained in the volume include material towards a pedigree of the family of Rees of Gelligron; the certificate of ordination of Josiah Rees at Gellionnen, 6 August, 1767; poetry and ballads, including an epigram by Thomas Rees, fifth child of Josiah Rees by his second marriage and an 'englyn' to Richard Rees; newspaper cuttings, including obituary notices of Josiah Rees, 1804, Mary Rees, his widow, 1829, Owen Rees of Gelligron, 1837, and Sarah Rees, daughter of Josiah Rees, 1851; copies of letters of Richard Rees, 1846; etc.
Amongst the references are those to the election and admission of Richard Rees for Morden College, Blackheath; the Smith family of Castellau, Glamorgan; the Penllergaer estate, Swansea; and the experiences of an emigrant to Australia, 1843.
