File 280B. - Berriew Bible Society minute book; transcripts by Mary Richards

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].