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A commonplace book of the Reverend Thomas Richards (1754-1837), vicar of Darowen containing 'An Extract out of Bishop [William] Beveridge's Exposition on the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England'; household and medical recipes from printed sources; transcripts by Mary Richard [Darowen] of letters, undated, from D[avid] Richards, Llansilin to the Reverend David Hughes, rector of Llanfyllin, and [ ] (Bible Association meetings at Llansilin); autobiographical data by Thomas Richards, 1754-1819; a topographical dictionary of English and Welsh counties; a transcript of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Faith of the Church of England; a journal and account book of Thomas Richards, 1782-92 (with gaps) (incorporating notes of sermons by D[aniel] Rowland, Llangeitho); poetry by Cadwalader Dafydd ('o Lanymowddwy') and David Ellis ('y Gof' ? 'o Lanuwchllyn') and anonymous 'englynion'; a transcript of an address, 1804, by T[homas Burgess], bishop of St Davids, to his clergy outlining his proposal to establish a Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Church Union in the diocese; a transcript of an address, undated, by [Samuel] Horsley, bishop of St Davids, to the masters of schools within the diocese approved by him for the training of candidates for holy orders; tables of tithes payable in the parish of Llanymowddwy, 1789-93; a list of books perused by Thomas Richards, 1786-7; etc.

A minute book of the Berriew branch of the Montgomeryshire Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1818-20, together with lists of subscriptions and donations, 1818-25, and an account of Bibles distributed in the parish, 1819-23. The volume was subsequently used by Mary Richards to record poetry in strict and free metres ('englynion', 'cywyddau', etc.) by Ellis Roberts (Llanddoget), Dafydd Thomas (Llanfyllin), Robert Dafydd (Nantglyn), J. Robert (Hersedd), [William Williams] 'Gwilym Caledfryn', Owen William ([Waunfawr] Caeryn Arfon), [Robert Parry] 'Robin Ddu [Eryri]' (Carnarfon), W[illiam Ellis] J[ones] '[Gwilym] Cawrdaf', Isaac Llwyd, J[ohn] A[thelstan] O[wen] ('Bardd Meirion'), John Blackwell ('Alun'), 'D. Huw Cynwyd', E[van] E[vans] ('[Ieuan] Glan Geirionydd), W. Edwards (Corwen), [John Davies] 'Brychan', [John Jones] 'Myllin', Sion Tudur, Lewis Mon, Mathew Owen, Owen Gryffyth, [Morris Jones] 'Meuric Idris', ?Edward Davies, ?Lewis Hughes, Aneurin Owen, David Richard ('[Dewi] Silin') W[alter] D[avies] ('Gwallter Mechain') and Robert Parry (Eglwysfach), and anonymous poems; letters from Jno. Owen [curate of] Llanlligan to T[homas] Richard[s], Llan y Mowddwy, 1786 (the possibility of receiving charitable donations, a request for a sermon, articles left by the writer at Llanuwchllyn and Nantglyn) (original letter in Cwrtmawr MS 1043), Richa[r]d Owen, Hendre Gadog to O. Williams, Bwlch, Pentraeth, 1811 (enclosing a translation into Welsh by Goronwy Owen of 'The lass of the brow of the Hill', a wedding ?at Plas Gwyn, personal), Hugh Thomas, London to John Edward, Llan y Mowddwy, 1798 (the death of the recipient's son John), 'Myfyr Nan[t]glyn' to D[avid] Richard[s] '[Dewi] Silin'), undated (poetry by the writer), [Rev.] John Humphreys, Cilyllwyn [Bodfari] to R[ichard] Richards, Caerwys, 1826 (statistics of Nonconformist membership in Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and London), Owen William [?'Owen Gwyrfai'], Waunfawr to [ ], 1845 (a request for a Madam Bevan school, with references to B[recte P.] B[ailey] Williams and [David Thomas] 'D Ddu o Eryri'), D. Hughes to D[avid] Richards, Llansilin, undated (the formation of a Branch Bible Society), Thomas Jones, Castell to T[homas] Richards, Darowen, 1835 (the payment of county rate for the hundred of Mowddwy), etc.; a statement of 'The Crown of England's Title to America', based on the discovery by Prince Madog ab Owen Gwynedd; numerical tables of sermons left by Lewis Richards, Llan Erful and Richard Richards, Caerwys, arranged under each book of the Bible; directions to apply on behalf of a blind person for an annuity of £10 from the charity of John Merlot, alderman of the city of Bristol; etc. Some of the 'cywyddau' are said to have been transcribed from a manuscript of Owen Gryffydd [Llanystumdwy].

A volume of transcripts partly in the hand of Mary Richards, Darowen containing 'englynion', etc. by David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Thomas Morris (Pentre Gwyn), 'Iorwerth ab Robert ab Arthur ('neu Ned Glan Gwryd, Glyn Ceiriog'), John Cain Jones ('Siôn Ceiriog'), John Jones ('Myllin'), Robert Davies ('Bardd Nantglyn'), P. Morris (Llanfair Caer Einion), John Athelystan [sic] Owen ('Bardd Meirion'), Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), Dafydd Savage ('Dewi Caer Einion'), Robert Parry ('Robyn Ddu Eryri'), Evan Jones (Darowen), J. Robert (Hersedd), [William Williams] ('G[wilym] Caledfryn'), Owen William (Waun fawr), [William Ellis Jones] ('Cawrdaf'), 'S. Llwyd', John Blackwell ('Alun'), D. Hughs (Huws) (Cynwyd), E. Evans ('[Ieuan] Glan Geirionydd'), Thomas Edwards ('Arwydd y Delyn', Corwen), [? Thomas Williams] 'Eos Mynydd', M[orris] Jones ('Meurig Idris', Dolgellau), Dafydd Jones ('Dafydd ab Ioan', Llan Collen), 'Ioan Cadfan' (Llangadfan), William Edwards ('Gwilym Padarn'), [John Evans] 'Ioan Maelor', etc.; letters and incomplete letters to David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Mary Richards and other members of the family of Richards of Darowen from Arthur James Johnson [recte Johnes], 1854 (the death of John Lloyd (Llwyd) Richards, curate of Llan Owddyn (Llanwddyn), David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), 1811-26 and undated (a memorial to Thomas Edwards ('Twm o'r Nant'), a request for a tenancy from Sir Watkin to Samuel Bromley, a feast called 'Ciniaw y Mawn', payment for Y Gwyliedydd, the appearance of 'y gwr lledrithiawg', personal), Thomas Price, Pembrey, 1812 (a request for the services of a clergyman), John Hughes, Llangollen, 1826 (an invitation to preside at Llangollen Eisteddfod), Thomas Roberts [Llwynrhudol], London, 1820 (thanks for the reception of Gwyneddigion members during recent eisteddfodau in Wales and the appointment of addressee (David Richards) as an honorary member of the Society), Roger Clough, Tyn y Celyn, 1824 (Llangollen Eisteddfod committee meeting), Angharad Llwyd, Caerwys, undated (2) (the contents of a letter from Dr. Meyer, the death of Cynddelw [Richards], Welsh manuscripts, Llangollen Eisteddfod, personal), Thomas Cynddelw Richards [son of 'Dewi Silin'] (2) from Maenor House, Ruthin, 1845 (a psalm book, personal), J. Jenkin ['Ifor Ceri'], 1813 (an invitation to dinner), Edward Jones, undated (two manuscripts in the possession of Edward Jones, Llangollen), William Edwards ('Gwilym Padarn'), Waunfawr, 1821 (a gift of £1 from Powys Cymrodorion), Robert Davies ['Bardd Nantglyn'], 1825 (personal, subscriptions to a publication by the writer, news of friends), Dafydd Jones, Llan Collen, 1820 (enclosing 'englynion'), etc.; meditations by Thomas Richards at the end of his first day, 16 July 1826, in his new parish of Llangynyw; 'Helyntion A fuont ar ddamwain a digwydd i D[avid] Riichards] yn ei daith o Blwyf Darowen ... i Nantglyn ... 1814'; obituaries of John Lloyd Richards [1854], Thomas Cynddelw Richards [1848], David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), 1826, etc.; a biographical note on Jane Richards (1756-1842), wife of Thomas Richards, Darowen, etc.

A composite volume in various late eighteenth and early nineteenth century hands consisting largely of 'carolau', 'englynion', hymns, etc. by [David Thomas, 'Dafydd Ddu Eryri'], R. Philips, Mary Rees (Llanbrynmair, 1828), [David Jones] ('Ieuan Cadfan') (Llangadfan, 1827), R. Ll., Thomas Williams, John Roberts, John Thomas, Evan Willians [sic] ('o blwy Darowen. Gefen Barhedin'), J. A. Owen ('Bardd Meirion'), 'Iorwerth ap Robert ab Arthur' (Glynn Ceiriog) ('Neu Ned Glann Gwryd'), [? Robert Ellis] ('Cynddelw'), Rowland Hugh ('or Grienyn ...'), H. Jones (Maes y glasau), Arthur Jones, Mary Rhys, [William Edwards] ('Gwillim Padarn'), Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), Robert Davies ['Bardd Nantglyn'], 'Dic'r Erw', [William Williams] ('G[wilym] ab Iorwerth'), J. Blackwell ['Alun'] ('Y Penillion Blaenorol a wnawd yn ddifyfyr pan ydoedd Mair Darowen yn canu Gorhhoffedd gwyr Harlech yn mharlwr Ysgoldy y Berriew ... 1826. Dyma'r yscrifen cynta ...'), John Rogers, and H. Humphreys, and anonymous poems. The volume also contains observations on 'Trioedd y Gorseddigion', a copy of a letter, 1818, incorporating verses, from Ann Edward in London; and a copy of a letter from [ ] ('Da fyddai genyf wybod pwy ... Dafydd Ionawr wedi colli'r Enw'), from Llansantfraid, to the Rev ...iam, 1822 (impressions of an eisteddfod at Caerwys, englynion to 'Ioan Tegyd', etc., enclosing a letter from G[oronwy] Owain).

A composite volume, partly in the hand of Mary Richards, Darowen, containing poetry (some composed by poets on visits to Darowen), largely in the form of 'englynion', by Rowland Parry ('Ieuan Carn Dochen'), David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'), [William Jones] 'G[wilym] Cawrdaf', [William Williams] 'G[wilym] Cyfeiliog', [William Williams] 'Gwilim Iorwerth' (Darowen), Robart Parri (?'Robyn Ddu Eryri'), [David Richards] 'Dafydd Ionawr', Aneurin Owen, 'Llewelyn Idris', William Edwards ('Gwilym Padarn'), David Pugh, [Benjamin Jones] 'P. A. Môn', [Morris Jones] 'Meurig Idris' (Dolgellau), 'Cynfrig', Robert Parry ('Robyn Ddu Eryri'), David Ellis (Llanwrin), John Davies, W. W. Jones (Glaslyn), Robert Davies ('Bardd Nantglyn'), J[ohn] A[thelston] Owen ('Bardd Meirion'), William Edwards ('Gwilym Callestr'), 'Gwilym Tew Glan Taf', Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), [W. Williams] 'Gwilym Bryn Mair', [Henry Griffyth] 'Hari Goch o Wynedd', [Morris Davies] 'Meurig Ebrill', Griffith Llwyd, Evan Jones ('Ieuan Gwynedd') [Robert Jones] 'Bardd Mawddach', John Jones ('Vicar Llanfair'), Edward Beynion [Bennion] ('Meddyg Cyrnybwch') (Oswestry), David (Dafydd) Harries (Nantllemysten), Dr [William Owen-] Pughe, etc., and anonymous poems; 'Traethawd neu Raglwybr yn dysgu Egwyddorion a Gwreiddiau Cerddoriaeth (incomplete); notes on bardic and ogham alphabets; 'Cofrestr or Cromlechau neu Allorau'r Derwyddion'; 'Drygioni Meddod'; 'Tri thlws ar ddeg o Frenindlysau Ynys Brydain' and 'Achau Llywelyn ap Gruffydd' (from a manuscript [Cwrtmawr MS 200] of Lewis Morris ('Llywelyn Ddu o Fôn'); copies of letters to Mary Richards, &c. from [Daniel Evans] 'Daniel Ddu o Geredigion', Maesmynach, near Lampeter, 1830 (the publication of the writer's Gwinllan y Bardd), William Edward ('Gwilym Padarn'), Waun fawr, 1822 (a visit to Gwent eisteddfod, a silver cup of Capt. William Griffith of Caernarvon, enclosing poetry), W. Owen-Pughe ('Gwilym Owain o Feirion') (to John [Ryland] Harris 'Ieuan Ddu Glan Tawy'), 1823 (personal) (with an incomplete reply) ('ni bu yr yscrifell byth mwyach yn ei law'), J. Blackwell ['Alun'] Oxford, 1824 (enclosing a stanza by 'Ioan Tegid'), Jas. Evans, secretary, Cymmrodorion or Metropolitan Cambrian Institution, 1821 (the addressee's election to honorary membership), etc.; an address of the Cymreigyddion Society of Aberystwyth to Mary Richards, 1822, and the latter's reply, 1823; an account of a St David's Day dinner of the Cymreigyddion Society of Aberystwyth, 1823 (from Seren Gomer, June 1823); miscellaneous memoranda and anecdotes, etc. Some of the transcripts are in a bardic alphabet. Inset are two 'carolau' composed in America, 1860, by John Lewis Davies ('Ioan Cadfan').

A composite volume of the second quarter of the eighteenth century containing English poetry (eclogues, epigrams and epitaphs); Latin poetry (extracts from Cato, Virgil and Ovid, epitaphs and epigrams); and Welsh poetry largely in free metres. The Welsh poems are generally anonymous but some of them, as well as one of the English epitaphs, are assigned to John Morys (Maurice) (1736-47), and there are single compositions by Humph[rey] Owen, B[ardd] C[wsg] (1732), J[ohn] R[hydderch], E[van] W[illiam] and Owen Griff[ydd] (1733). An addition to the volume contains a poem in Welsh by 'Gilielmus Didymus' (1755). . Inscribed in the hand of Mary Richards, Darowen on the inside upper cover: 'Pwy a ddwyn hwn Bydd ei ran gyda Lladron yn Dragwyddol'.

Two volumes in the hand of Mary Richards, Darowen consisting largely of transcripts of poetry from manuscripts then in the Llansilin Collection (e.g. Cwrtmawr MSS 204, 206-7, 227, 238, 242-3). Other transcripts in the collection are items from 'copy o un [o] lyfrau Maesglase, Mallwyd', including 'Merddin ai dywaid', 'Taliesin ai traethoedd', Merddin ai Traethodd', 'Taliesin ai Traethodd', and 'Merddin a Gwenddydd'. The poetry, in strict and free metres, is by Griffyth ap Dafydd Vychan, Robin Ddu, Dafydd Llwyd Llywelyn ap Griffydd, Owain Twna, Dafydd Gorllech, Ifan Brydydd hir, Huw Pennant, Edwart [ap Rhys], Dr. Sion Cent, Ie[uan] Dyfi, Iolo Goch, Meredydd ap Rhys, Llywelyn ap Owain, Rhys Coch or Eryri, Thomas Prys ('o Blas Iolyn'), Edmwnd Prys, G. Philip, W. Elias, Owain Gruffudd, Gruffudd Nannau, Owain Gwynedd, Gruffyth Hiraethog, Guto'r Glynn, Tudur Aled, Thomas Owen, William Llyn, Ieu[an] Tew, Tudur Penllyn, Huw kae Llwyd, Llywelyn Goch Amheurig hen, Dafydd Nanmor, Gruffydd Hafren, Syr Owen ap Gwilim, Sion Philip, Bedo Brwynllys, Morys Dwyfen (recte Dwyfech), Sion Tudur, Sion Philip, Llywelyn ap Gutun, Syr Rhys Carno, Wiliam Kynnwal, Gwilym ap Ieuan hen, Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), John Athelystan Owen, D. Parry, Rowland Parry ('Ieuan Carn Dochan' 'O Lanuwchllyn'), Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'), Roger Cyffin, [Morris Jones] ('Meurig Idris'), J. Blackwell ['Alun'], William Edward ('[Gwilym] Padarn'), Gruffydd Lloyd ab Dafydd ab Einion Lliglyw, Ifan ab Howel Swrdwal, Ifan Tudur Benllyn, Cathrin Sion, Gaynor Llwyd, Thomas Evan, Evan Thomas, Moris Richard, Hugh Sion, Huw Moris, Griffydd Moris Evan, Morys Robert, Sir Rees Cadwaladr, Edward Jones ('Vicar Machynlleth 1644'), Llywelyn Cadwaldr, Richard Llwyd, Shon Dafydd, William Puw Llafar, Lewis Môn, Huw Llyn, Rees Edennyfed [sic], Lewis Edward, William Edward, ? Robert Edward Lewis, Richard Philip, Rees Ellus, Gruffydd ab Gronwy Gethin, John Morgan ('Vicar Aber Conwy ... 1698'), Edward John ab Evan, John Rhydderch, Gwilim ab Sefnyn, John Davydd, John Vaughan ('o Gaer Gai'), [David Richards] ('Dafydd Ionawr'), Thomas Llwyd, Cadwaladr Roberts, Edward Rowland, Richard Abraham, Edward Morus, Hugh Lewis, Thomas Lloyd 'fiengca', Rowland Vaughan, [John Jones] ('Tegid'), Robert Davies ('Bardd Nantglyn'), John Rogers, D. Ellis (Mowddwy), William William ('Wil y Prydydd'), Evan Jones (Darowen), [David Jones] ('Ieuan Cadfan') [David Richards] ('D[ewi] Silin'), Jeremy Humphrey, Dafydd Davies, John Rees, Morris Jones ('or Talwrnyn agos i Lanfyllin'), Thomas Edward ('Twm o'r Nant') Arthur Jones, John Davies, William Philip, Cadwaladr Moris, John Brwynog, Lewis Owen, John Edward, Dafydd Rees (Llanbryn Mair), Syr Gri[ffudd] Vychan ('o Sir Drefaldwyn'), John Thomas, Henri Humphreys (Bwlch y Ddar), [Hugh Evans] ('Howel Eryri') Dafydd Morris ('Bardd Einion') and others; an anonymous 'English Elegy on the Reverend Mr. Howel Davies Chaplain to the Rt. Hon. Countess of Walsingham'; a letter from David Davies, Tu Uchaf, near Mallwyd, 1810 (the distribution of Welsh Bibles in Llanymawddwy) (together with a list of subscribers and a table of statistics); a table of minted coins ('Darnau o bres bathol'), with dates; a letter from Thomas Philips, Neuadd Llwydiarth to [Mary] Richards, 1863 (enclosing verses on the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra); a list of the dates of the birth and baptism, 1712-33, of children of Richard Foulkes and Jane Griffith, his wife; a letter from T[homas] Price ('Carnhuanawc'), Crickhowel, 1833 (the preservation of the Welsh language); pedigrees of William Pugh of Mathafarn and of Christopher Bethell, bishop of Bangor; a certificate, 1798, of the payment by the parish of Llan y Mowddwy, Merioneth of a sum of £7-7-3, being a 'Voluntary Contribution for the Defence of the Country'; etc. Printed items pasted inside the covers include a prospectus of Carl Meyer: An Essay on the Celtic Languages and a notice of a proposed public dinner to W. Owen Pughe at Denbigh, 1834. Some of the transcripts are dated within the period 1857-8.

A collection of 'cerddi', 'carolau', etc. by Hugh Morris, together with a 'cerdd' by Huw Jones, Llangwm, a 'cerdd' by the Reverend Walter Davies ['Gwallter Mechain'], anonymous 'englynion, 'carolau' and some financial accounts, 1805 and undated. The volume is in the hand of Huw Jones, Llangwm, with a few later additions by Elizabeth Maurice and by Mary Richards, Darowen. It belonged to Thomas Powel, 1804, and Martha Powel, 1805, and also bears the names of Henry Powel, 1756, John Jones, carpenter, Pentregayr [Oswestry] and Martha Edwards.

A volume of transcripts of poetry by Dafydd ap Gwilym, together with a few 'englynion' and 'cywyddau' by Wm Morris, G[ruffudd] Grug, Dafydd ap Edmund, Rhys Gôch Glan Ceiriog, Dafydd Nanmor, Iolo Goch, R[obin] Ddu, and some anonymous 'englynion'. The transcripts are taken from UCNW Bangor MS 6. A note by Mary Richards, Darowen on p. 1 ascribes the volume to John William[s], musician ('Cyfansoddwr Tona'), Dolgelley, probably John Williams ('Ioan Rhagfyr') (see Thomas Parry (gol.): Gwaith Dafydd ap Gwilym (Caerdydd, 1952) pp. c1xviii-clxix). At the end of the volume is a table entitled 'Rhannau Monwent Dar-Owen megis y dosparthwyd ag y cyweiriwyd hwynt ar eiriol David Davies vicar yno, gan ddechrau, o barth dwyrain Ty'r Vicar ag felly diwygio oddi amgylch Mai yr 28 1636' (' ... carefully transcribed out of the original by me Lewis Jones Vicar of Darowen' - a Chopiwyd genyf inneu or Terrier Darowen. M. R. Dar[owen]'). Tipped into the volume are a bond, 14 February 1690/1, from David Jones of Cowarch, Merionethshire, gent. to John Thomas Rees of the same, yeoman for the observance of covenants, and a poem in free metre entitled 'Myfyrdod y Parchedig Mr [Roderick] Lewis Periglor Llanbrynmair Uwchben Bedd ei ddiweddar Wraig', 1829. Among a number of items laid on the inside lower cover is Ychydig o gynghorion buddiol i Bobl Ieuainc, Wrth fyned i wasanaeth (Treffynnon, n.d.).