File NLW MS 22353A - Thomas Roberts ('Scorpion'): Diaries

The first of six volumes of pocket diaries of the Reverend Thomas Roberts ('Scorpion', 1816-87) for 1845, 1869, 1881-1883 and 1885-1886 (using the printed Almanac a Dyddiadur (Llanrwst) for 1845, Y Dyddiadur or Dyddiadur Yr Annibynwyr for the other years). Brief daily entries in English, except for 1869 which was used only for accounts in 1869-71 and as a diary for January 1886. The 1845 diary records a year as a student at Brecon College; it includes reference to the execution of Thomas Thomas 'murderer of the butter merchant' on 10 April. The other volumes reflect life as a busy Independent minister in Llanrwst who was also post-master; there are references to building a new chapel ('New Tabernacl') in 1881-2, to frequent floods, to skating on the Conwy in the hard winter of 1881, to denominational and literary friends, notably Dr William Rees ('Gwilym Hiraethog') and W. J. Roberts ('Gwilym Cowlyd'). The diaries also include accounts, with some details of the sale of Scorpion's publications, and sermon notes in Welsh. On the flyleaf of MS 22358 is a priced list of books including 'MSS Copy of Brut y Brenhinoedd' valued at £10.5s.