Holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and very occasionally elsewhere, by his brother David Howell mainly from Machynlleth. 12558D. Seventy-seven letters, 1833-1837 (financial and legal matters [relating to the professional activities of the two brothers in the solicitors' offices in which they were working in Welshpool and Machynlleth respectively], personal and family affairs including the writer's efforts to improve his education, his inclination to seek a post in Manchester so that he could study at the Mechanics' Institution, his prospects in his law career at Machynlleth, his attempts to become an articled clerk, the problem of deciding upon a career for [their brother] George, the sending of [their sister] Elinor to school at Minsterley [co. Salop], and the health of their brother Edward, the possibility of a new bank being opened at Machynlleth, the certificates of registration of a chapel at Mallwyd and of Hebron chapel at Aberangell (1836), mention of Llanbrynmair and Diosg schools, the presenting of the rules of the Darowen Friendly Society to the [Quarter] Sessions (1836), a fire at [Machynlleth] (1836), mention of the Mer[ioneth] election (1836), a public dinner and ? firework display to be organised [at Machynlleth] to celebrate the coming of age of Princess Victoria) (one of the letters contains an abstract of the contents of a letter sent by another brother, Lewis Howell, from Lake Providence, Louiziana, to his father and mother, January 1837, in which he comments on wages, land transactions, cotton growing, etc., in that state). 12559D. Seventy-two letters, 1838-1840 (the financial and legal activities of the two brothers, personal and family news, the writer's career prospects in the solicitor's office in which he was employed at Machynlleth, [their sister] Ellen's schooling at Minsterley, the writer's impressions of James Rees Jones ['Kilsby'] the prospective minister of Capel y Graig [Independent Church at Machynlleth], the members who had separated from Capel y Graig, trouble concerning possession of the said chapel and the advisability of having it registered, a plan to invest in property in London (the letter referring to this topic is accompanied by a copy of a letter from David Howell to his brother Evan in London giving more details of the plan), the tenancy of a factory [? at Llanbryn- mair] (the letter referring to this point is on the dorse of a lengthy letter to Abraham Howell from [Elinor Howell] his mother, from Llanbrynmair, 27 November 1838, containing local news including details of a fatal shooting accident near Diosk [farm, Llanbryn-mair], news of [the recipient's brother] Lewis in America, moral exhortations to the recipient and his brothers and sisters in the form of verse, and a long poem advocating the cause of temperance), an attack by Hugh Thomas, clerk to the Board of Guardians [of the Machynlleth Union], on Captain Thruston [? chairman of the board] at [his home in] Talgarth, the election of the writer as clerk to the aforementioned Board of Guardians as successor to Thomas (some of the letters dealing with this election are dated January 1838, but this is a mistake for 1839 as the election was held in January of that year), a query with regard to the registration of a Calvinistic Methodist chapel at Aberangell in 1836, a subscription by the writer towards six copies of the Rev[eren]David W[illiam] Williams ['Caledfryn']: Drych Barddonol [neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth . . ., Caernarfon, 1839], a meeting to discuss enclosing 'the Park and other Commons', possible proposals for enclosures in the manor of Cyfeiliog) the letters contain occasional references to Samuel Roberts and John Roberts, the writer's cousins). 12560D. Eighty letters, 1841-1845 (personal and family news, legal and financial transactions by the writer and recipient, the commutation of Machynlleth tithes, a query concerning the legal venue for the parliamentary election for the county of Montgomery (1841), doubts as to 'whether the Conservative voters at Newtown will be allowed by the mob to vote' [? in the election for the borough seat], a post for [their brother] George in Liverpool, the moving of the Dovey bridge toll gate and the building of a road by Sir John Edwards, owner of Ffrydd, in order to evade paying toll at the new gate, the birth of recipient's son, mention of the certificate of registration of Capel y Graig [Independent Chapel at Machynlleth], [their sister] Hannah's schooling, the mental illness of [ their brother] Samuel, a request for advice in connection with the commutation of Darowen tithes).

Holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and very occasionally elsewhere, by his brother David Howell mainly from Machynlleth. 12558D. Seventy-seven letters, 1833-1837 (financial and legal matters [relating to the professional activities of the two brothers in the solicitors' offices in which they were working in Welshpool and Machynlleth respectively], personal and family affairs including the writer's efforts to improve his education, his inclination to seek a post in Manchester so that he could study at the Mechanics' Institution, his prospects in his law career at Machynlleth, his attempts to become an articled clerk, the problem of deciding upon a career for [their brother] George, the sending of [their sister] Elinor to school at Minsterley [co. Salop], and the health of their brother Edward, the possibility of a new bank being opened at Machynlleth, the certificates of registration of a chapel at Mallwyd and of Hebron chapel at Aberangell (1836), mention of Llanbrynmair and Diosg schools, the presenting of the rules of the Darowen Friendly Society to the [Quarter] Sessions (1836), a fire at [Machynlleth] (1836), mention of the Mer[ioneth] election (1836), a public dinner and ? firework display to be organised [at Machynlleth] to celebrate the coming of age of Princess Victoria) (one of the letters contains an abstract of the contents of a letter sent by another brother, Lewis Howell, from Lake Providence, Louiziana, to his father and mother, January 1837, in which he comments on wages, land transactions, cotton growing, etc., in that state). 12559D. Seventy-two letters, 1838-1840 (the financial and legal activities of the two brothers, personal and family news, the writer's career prospects in the solicitor's office in which he was employed at Machynlleth, [their sister] Ellen's schooling at Minsterley, the writer's impressions of James Rees Jones ['Kilsby'] the prospective minister of Capel y Graig [Independent Church at Machynlleth], the members who had separated from Capel y Graig, trouble concerning possession of the said chapel and the advisability of having it registered, a plan to invest in property in London (the letter referring to this topic is accompanied by a copy of a letter from David Howell to his brother Evan in London giving more details of the plan), the tenancy of a factory [? at Llanbryn- mair] (the letter referring to this point is on the dorse of a lengthy letter to Abraham Howell from [Elinor Howell] his mother, from Llanbrynmair, 27 November 1838, containing local news including details of a fatal shooting accident near Diosk [farm, Llanbryn-mair], news of [the recipient's brother] Lewis in America, moral exhortations to the recipient and his brothers and sisters in the form of verse, and a long poem advocating the cause of temperance), an attack by Hugh Thomas, clerk to the Board of Guardians [of the Machynlleth Union], on Captain Thruston [? chairman of the board] at [his home in] Talgarth, the election of the writer as clerk to the aforementioned Board of Guardians as successor to Thomas (some of the letters dealing with this election are dated January 1838, but this is a mistake for 1839 as the election was held in January of that year), a query with regard to the registration of a Calvinistic Methodist chapel at Aberangell in 1836, a subscription by the writer towards six copies of the Rev[eren]David W[illiam] Williams ['Caledfryn']: Drych Barddonol [neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth . . ., Caernarfon, 1839], a meeting to discuss enclosing 'the Park and other Commons', possible proposals for enclosures in the manor of Cyfeiliog) the letters contain occasional references to Samuel Roberts and John Roberts, the writer's cousins). 12560D. Eighty letters, 1841-1845 (personal and family news, legal and financial transactions by the writer and recipient, the commutation of Machynlleth tithes, a query concerning the legal venue for the parliamentary election for the county of Montgomery (1841), doubts as to 'whether the Conservative voters at Newtown will be allowed by the mob to vote' [? in the election for the borough seat], a post for [their brother] George in Liverpool, the moving of the Dovey bridge toll gate and the building of a road by Sir John Edwards, owner of Ffrydd, in order to evade paying toll at the new gate, the birth of recipient's son, mention of the certificate of registration of Capel y Graig [Independent Chapel at Machynlleth], [their sister] Hannah's schooling, the mental illness of [ their brother] Samuel, a request for advice in connection with the commutation of Darowen tithes).

Holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and very occasionally elsewhere, by his brother David Howell mainly from Machynlleth. 12558D. Seventy-seven letters, 1833-1837 (financial and legal matters [relating to the professional activities of the two brothers in the solicitors' offices in which they were working in Welshpool and Machynlleth respectively], personal and family affairs including the writer's efforts to improve his education, his inclination to seek a post in Manchester so that he could study at the Mechanics' Institution, his prospects in his law career at Machynlleth, his attempts to become an articled clerk, the problem of deciding upon a career for [their brother] George, the sending of [their sister] Elinor to school at Minsterley [co. Salop], and the health of their brother Edward, the possibility of a new bank being opened at Machynlleth, the certificates of registration of a chapel at Mallwyd and of Hebron chapel at Aberangell (1836), mention of Llanbrynmair and Diosg schools, the presenting of the rules of the Darowen Friendly Society to the [Quarter] Sessions (1836), a fire at [Machynlleth] (1836), mention of the Mer[ioneth] election (1836), a public dinner and ? firework display to be organised [at Machynlleth] to celebrate the coming of age of Princess Victoria) (one of the letters contains an abstract of the contents of a letter sent by another brother, Lewis Howell, from Lake Providence, Louiziana, to his father and mother, January 1837, in which he comments on wages, land transactions, cotton growing, etc., in that state). 12559D. Seventy-two letters, 1838-1840 (the financial and legal activities of the two brothers, personal and family news, the writer's career prospects in the solicitor's office in which he was employed at Machynlleth, [their sister] Ellen's schooling at Minsterley, the writer's impressions of James Rees Jones ['Kilsby'] the prospective minister of Capel y Graig [Independent Church at Machynlleth], the members who had separated from Capel y Graig, trouble concerning possession of the said chapel and the advisability of having it registered, a plan to invest in property in London (the letter referring to this topic is accompanied by a copy of a letter from David Howell to his brother Evan in London giving more details of the plan), the tenancy of a factory [? at Llanbryn- mair] (the letter referring to this point is on the dorse of a lengthy letter to Abraham Howell from [Elinor Howell] his mother, from Llanbrynmair, 27 November 1838, containing local news including details of a fatal shooting accident near Diosk [farm, Llanbryn-mair], news of [the recipient's brother] Lewis in America, moral exhortations to the recipient and his brothers and sisters in the form of verse, and a long poem advocating the cause of temperance), an attack by Hugh Thomas, clerk to the Board of Guardians [of the Machynlleth Union], on Captain Thruston [? chairman of the board] at [his home in] Talgarth, the election of the writer as clerk to the aforementioned Board of Guardians as successor to Thomas (some of the letters dealing with this election are dated January 1838, but this is a mistake for 1839 as the election was held in January of that year), a query with regard to the registration of a Calvinistic Methodist chapel at Aberangell in 1836, a subscription by the writer towards six copies of the Rev[eren]David W[illiam] Williams ['Caledfryn']: Drych Barddonol [neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth . . ., Caernarfon, 1839], a meeting to discuss enclosing 'the Park and other Commons', possible proposals for enclosures in the manor of Cyfeiliog) the letters contain occasional references to Samuel Roberts and John Roberts, the writer's cousins). 12560D. Eighty letters, 1841-1845 (personal and family news, legal and financial transactions by the writer and recipient, the commutation of Machynlleth tithes, a query concerning the legal venue for the parliamentary election for the county of Montgomery (1841), doubts as to 'whether the Conservative voters at Newtown will be allowed by the mob to vote' [? in the election for the borough seat], a post for [their brother] George in Liverpool, the moving of the Dovey bridge toll gate and the building of a road by Sir John Edwards, owner of Ffrydd, in order to evade paying toll at the new gate, the birth of recipient's son, mention of the certificate of registration of Capel y Graig [Independent Chapel at Machynlleth], [their sister] Hannah's schooling, the mental illness of [ their brother] Samuel, a request for advice in connection with the commutation of Darowen tithes).

Forty-four letters, 1820-1883, nearly all addressed to the Reverend Samuel Roberts ['S.R.']. The correspondents are Evan R. Bebb (cousin), New York, 1833 (his employment, family news), William Bebb (cousin), Hamilton [Ohio], 1840 (the result of the presidential election, family and other news), B. W. Chidlaw, Paddy's Run, Ohio, and New York, 1841 (2) and 1848 (the death of his wife, Hannah, religious affairs, the cause of Anti-Slavery, his work on behalf of the Am[erican] S[unday] S[chool] U[nion], with a note, 1848, from Samuel Roberts, Llanbrynmair, to J. F. Parker, Birmingham (reference to the approaching departure of thirty(-five) or more members from Llanbryn-mair for America)), J[ames] Evans, Hon. Sec., Cymmrodorion, London, 1823 (re sending the medal awarded to Samuel Roberts for the best essay from the schools in North Wales on the subject 'O Dduw y mae pob peth'), E. L. (?) Gardenhire, Sparta, Tenn[essee], 1859 (mention of his charges to the grand juries, his hope that the addressee will be able to have a speedy adjudication of his claims), Jas. Griffiths, Treliwyd, 1833 (unaddressed and possibly to the Reverend John Roberts, Senior ?) (news of Henry, etc.), H[enry] Griffiths, Stroud, 1842 (requesting help in translating into Welsh some words to be written on the cover of a book for presentation to a Mrs. Mailing), David Howell, writing from Machynlleth, London and [Paris], 1874-1876, (4, copies, the first to Griff[ith] Jones, Solicitor, Aberystwyth) (sending some autographs for exhibition, with a list, thanking 'S.R.' for the copy of his Helyntion Bywyd, doubting whether Mr. D. Davies would want to be involved in any new venture, mention of the diverse nature of talents, etc.), Ezekiel Hughes, Ebensburgh, 1835 (news of America, the inpouring by Papal Europe of Jesuits and money into the Western part of the country, and the exertions of the Protestants), J. A. James, Edgbaston, [postmark 1834] (the case of the Welsh chapels has been admitted by the Board), John Jenkins, Kerry, 1828 (satisfaction in hearing that he purposes to publish his essay on the excellence of the Welsh language), Griffith Jones, Hon. Sec. (Cymmrodorion) [London], 1826 (2) ('S. R.'s essay on 'Calondid' has been adjudged one of the best on that subject, reasons for the delay in forwarding the medal), J[ames] Rhys Jones ['Kilsby'], Bolton, 1852 (thanking 'S.R.' for the admirable letters he put into his hand at Liverpool and asking him not to write any more against a trunk line to Milford Haven via Llanidloes, with a plan and particulars of distances and also a reply) (copy), Josiah Jones, Braichodnant [Llanbrynmair], 1835, to 'S.R.' in Birmingham (sending greetings to their pastor, with various items of news, and hoping they will soon hear that he is coming home) (with notes also from R[ichard] Roberts [Llanbryn-mair] and John Roberts, Newtown, to their brother (items of news)), David Lewis (cousin), Erdington, 1829 (acknowledging a letter, mention of religious meetings, etc.), Edwd. Miall, Leicester, 1835 (the application by the Welsh Congregational churches for assistance) (with a draft of a letter from 'S.R.'), (Rees and) Grace Morgan [America], 1820 (to the Reverend John Roberts and his wife and in part to a sister) (family news, sympathizing with the sister on the death of her husband), Caleb Morris, [at] Bedwell Park, Herts., 1840 (thanking him for his reply to Edwards, wishing to know about the great Revivals in North Wales, mention of Brecon College, his stay at Bedwell Park with Sir Culling E. Smith, etc.) (continued)

Wm. Stern Palmer, London, [18]43 (acknowledging receipt of a donation to the [Congregational] Union, mention of the meeting of the Union at Leeds), Thomas Picton, New York, 1840 (acknowledging receipt of the memoir of 'S.R.'s father and the note, other Welsh reading, family news, the great schism in their church, etc.), Mary Prodgers (?Rodgers) (cousin), Ebensburg, 1854 (the death of her father [the Reverend George Roberts], reference to having received the letter containing an account of Cousin Ann Williams's death), Tho[mas] Raffles, writing from Donegal, 1842 (replying to a letter), Geo. Redford, Worcester, 1835 (a reminder concerning a pulpit engagement), George Roberts (or George and Jane Roberts), Ebensburg, 1835-1844 (4) (reference to hearing of the death of the writer's only brother [the Reverend John Roberts], and to sending a bundle of his letters for 'S.R.' to make selections from them, mention of D[avid] Lewis and his new wife, religious affairs, his resignation from office (1839) and the appointment of Richard Lewis as his successor, serious difficulties in the church and the resignation of Mr. Jones and himself in June 1838, family news, the death of the President [W. H. Harrison], critical mention of (theological) disputes between John [Roberts] and his cousin Richard Williams and between Samuel [Roberts] and a certain person, [Alexander] Campbell, the death of their dear relative, the Reverend David Lewis (1844), etc.), John Roberts [Senior], Llanbrynmair, [18]29 (they much wish to know when to expect him home from London, Lewis Pugh, the conduct of Mr. Morison in not publishing the memoir of Mrs. Lewis) (with a (?) draft reply in shorthand), J. Pye Smith, Homerton [London], 1840 (his inability to take on another applicant for help, what Mr. Methuselah Davies should do, requesting information concerning affairs at Machynlleth) (with a copy of 'S.R.'s reply concerning the church at Machynnlleth [sic] (end wanting)), A[rthur] Tidman, Sec[retar]y (Board of Congregational Ministers for London and its vicinity), London, 1834 (to the Revd. D. Morgan, Machynlleth, and 'S.R.') ( the appeal of the Welsh Congregational churches) (with draft letters from 'S.R.' to other persons), (?) W. C. Vaughan (nephew), Paddy's Run, O[hio], 1883 (acknowledging receipt of a paper containing a notice of the death and funeral of Richard [Roberts], the state of health of the writer's mother) (with a draft reply), Robert Vaughan, Kensington, 1842 (how to dispose of and send the books which he and brother Blackburn have collected for distribution among their more needy brethren in North Wales) (with draft reply), Algernon Wells, London, 1841 (arrangements for a delegation from the English to the Welsh Branch of the Congregational Union) (with a copy of a reply), J[ohn] B[ickerton] Williams, Shrewsbury, 1834 (sympathy on hearing of the death of the addressee's father), W[illiam] Williams, Wern, 1834 and undated (2) (re writing to London and some other places in England about the Union in Wales, a copy of an announcement to be printed on the wrapper of the Dysgedydd for March, George Lewis's accident, some of the features in the late the Reverend John Roberts that deserved to be emulated [cf. Cofiant y Parch. John Roberts . . . (1837), pp. 28-30]), Joshua Wilson, [London], 1842 (Mr. Blackburn had handed to him 'S.R.'s letter as he (J.W.) was the writer of the article (specified) in the late Supplement to the Congregational Magazine, a query concerning the meaning of an expression in Dr. Dan[ie]l Williams's will (dated 1711)) (with draft reply), and W. Wilson, Nottingham, 1835, under cover to the Revd. J. A. James, Birmingham (acknowledging a letter, individuals in St. James' Street and Friar Lane in Nottingham may help 'S.R.' a little, but the only congregation open to him is, he fears, Mr. Alliott's, suggesting that 'S.R.' should write to Mr. Alliott).

Miscellaneous letters and notes including two holograph letters from Evan Anwyl, Towyn [co. Merioneth], to [ ], undated (aspects of local history in the parish of Pennal [co. Merioneth], in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, concerning which the writer could contribute an article [to the local press]), and J. M. Howells [Aberdovey], undated (the writer's opinion that some of his articles were worthy of publication, as illustrating life in a parish such as Pennal in the early nineteenth century, forwarding to recipient data relating to Pennal in the first half of the nineteenth century, and original correspondence of the early nineteenth century); six holograph letters from [James Richard Atkin, baron] Atkin [of Aberdovey], London, to Martin [Rees, Aberdovey] 1935-1938 (a united church service [held at Aberdovey, 6 May 1935, to celebrate the King's Silver Jubilee], the writer's views on relations between denominations, comments on the doctrine of the Apostolic Succession in connection therewith, a promise to 'take the chair' at a carnival concert [to be held in Aberdovey], August 1937, points relating to the provision of a motor car for the [Aberdovey] district nurse, 1937-1938); a holograph letter from D. Thomas, Blackstone, Australia, to M[artin] Rees, 1937 (the writer's emigration from Aberdyfi to Australia in 1883, the Welsh church in Blackstone, Welsh churches or 'causes' in Ballarat, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, news received of the [National] Eisteddfod [held at Machynlleth, 1937], reference to the resignation of some of the adjudicators, memories of a singing festival the writer had attended in Capel y Graig, Machynlleth); holograph notes compiled by Richard R[ice] Lewis of Aberdovey, containing reminiscences relating to shipbuilding activity at Ynys Las, co. Cardigan, including the building of the brigantine Hand Maid, the schooner Cambrian, and the smack Lerry, all for local owners, the employment of carpenters, etc., from Aberdovey and Borth in the shipyard, the platform [erected in the Dovey estuary] known as 'the Refuge on the Penrhyn', an epidemic of scarlet fever in Aberdovey in 1852, a chemist's shop kept by the writer's mother in Aberdovey, the building of Aberdovey [ ] school in 1854 and its opening in 1855 under its master Mr. Edsel of Chichister [sic], 'a Good Sharp Master and used to teach Navigation to Young Sailors and grown ups also', the use of the 'Welsh Note (Not)' in this school, schools in four different locations in Aberdovey, ? which the writer had attended, prior to the opening of the above school, and two schoolmasters, viz., Mr. Roberts from Harlech and Thomas Close Jones of Carnarvon; biographical notes on the above mentioned Richard Rice Lewis and his family, by Idris Lumley of Aber-dovey; and further notes on the aforementioned 'Refuge', also by Idris Lumley.

Transcripts of miscellaneous entries of baptisms, marriages, and burials from the parish registers of Pennal, Talyllyn, Darowen, Mallwyd, Llanymawddwy, Towyn, Llanegryn, Llanfihangel y Pennant, Machynlleth (marriages of persons resident in other parishes), and Llangurig; extracts from the registers of Melinbyrhedyn Calvinistic Methodist Church, Darowen, 1813-1838, and Graig Congregational Church, Machynlleth, 1842-1865; a transcript of an assessment on properties in the township of Trefolwern, parish of Llanbrynmair, towards the repairs of that portion of the turnpike road in the township, 1828; transcripts of miscellaneous memorial inscriptions; etc.