File 277B. - Richards family transcripts,

A composite volume comprising three exercise books, with numerous items inset and mounted therein, largely in the hands of Thomas Richards, Mary Richards and Lewis Richards, Darowen. The contents include extracts from Sir John Hill: The Family Herbal (Bungay, 1812) and household and medical recipes; poetry in strict and free metres by [John Jones] ('Myllin'), Evan Jones (Darowen), Evan Thomas (Llansilin), Robert Davies, Nantglyn, W[alter] D[avies, 'Gwallter Mechain'], Lewis Jones (Nant hir), Robert Owen (Denbigh), [John Jones] ('Tegid'), Mrs [Elizabeth] Cribber [Crebar] (daughter of Lewis Morris, 'Llywelyn Ddu o Fôn'), [David Richards] ('Dewi Silin'), ?[David Richards] ('Dafydd Ionawr'), ?Dafydd Elis (Mowddwy), Harry Parry, Arthur Jones, John Parry, Peter Jones, John Rogers, ?Evan Evans (['Ieuan] Glangeirionydd'), [William Williams] 'G[wilym] ab Iorwerth', Mary Watcin (Moelcerni, near Aberystwyth), Mrs E. Jones ('Crefyddwraig', Mowddwy), [Morris Jones] ('M[eurig] Idris') (partly holograph), William Winne (vicar of Llanbrynmair), Rus Cain, Ev. Evans ['Ieuan Brydydd Hir'], Richard Philip, Cadwaladr David, Ann Humphrey, John Jones ('Sir Garnarvon'), Dafydd Jones ('neu'r Tailiwr hir') and Sion Parry ('tatganwr ... o Fallwyd'), and anonymous poems; letters from Robert Davies, Nantglyn to T[homas] Richards, Darowen, undated (the writer's visit to Carmarthen and his stay at Nannau), and D[avid] Richards ['Dewi Silin'], 1825 and undated (mutual visits, a prospectus of ? Diliau Barddas by the writer), William Jones, Llan y Mowddwy, to D[avid] Richards Llansilin, 1822 (a strange incident at Mallwyd), Aneurin [Owen] from Tyn y Celyn [Nantglyn] to D[avid] Richards, Llansilin, 1835 (recte 1825) (an invitation to Tan y Gyrt), [ ] to T[homas] Richards, Llan y Mowddwy, undated (medicine for John Edward), [?L. Jones] 'Llewelin ab Ioan', Bwlch y maen to Thomas Richards, Llan y Mowddwi, 1787-8 (the writer's religious experiences, a translation by the Reverend Thomas Jones [Creaton]) (original letters in Cwrtmawr MSS 872 and 1043), Reginald Heber, Hodnet (in the third person) to Richard Richard[s], Caerwys, 1822 (a donation towards the education of Evan Evans ['Ieuan Glan Geirionydd']),'Harri Ddu o Gaer Derwyddon, swydd Ddinbech' to Richard Richards, Caerwys, 1845 (enclosing poetry, the writer's penury), [John Jones] 'Tegid', Christ Church, Oxford to [? John Jenkins 'Ifor Ceri'], 1828 (Kerry eisteddfod, enclosing poetry, personal), John Williams, Castell, Darowen to [Mary] Richards, 1834 (the excommunication of John Davies from the Society ('Seiat')), William Owen (in the third person) to T[homas] Richards, undated (a request for the loan of ploughs), [Mary Richards] to her nephew, Cornelius Griffydd [London], 1819 (an account of the writer's return from London to Darowen); an account of disbursements at the Ship Inn, Dolgelleu, 5 August 1819 (p. 87); pasted on the inside of the upper cover is a prospectus of R. Williams, Runcorn: Ysgrifenydd Buan; neu Gyfundraith Newydd o Law Fer, (A New System of Short Hand); etc. The transcripts of Lewis Richards, which form the greater part of the third notebook, were compiled during the period 1811-18 and some of the transcripts by Mary Richards are dated 1861-6. Some of the items have been transcribed from the manuscript(s) of 'Cadwaladr Robert o Lan y Mowddwy' and 'John Cadwalader' (p. 87) and 'Cadwaladr Davidd lan y Mowddwy' (p. 132).