Greetings, everyone.
We've been a quiet bunch for months now, and if everyone is half as busy as
I, the silence is understandable! Hopefully, there is a bit of light
seeping through and growing so we may get excited again about our wonderful
Welsh roots!
I wish to update you on the progress of receiving from Wales the various
items I expect to find at my doorstep.
First the good news:
1. Roland, I did receive the large deed you and I shared in purchasing. I
will get a copy to you as soon as I can. If anyone else is interested in
this, I would appreciate you considering to help purchase it as the cost
was 18 pounds. (That's nearly $30.) It is a very large deed (in English,
very neatly written) for a Tripartite indenture dated 1688 between William
Price of Rhiwlas, Roger Price, son & heir apparent of William Price of the
first part; ; Richard Bulkeley & Thomas Bulkeley, John Griffin and Robert
Wynn of the second part; and Robert Lord Buckeley of the third part. The
deed lists in many cases people living at various locales on the Rhiwlas
estate at that time. I have not transcribed all of it and leave that to
those who have more time than I. It does mention Fron Goch, a mill at Fron
Goch and Tyddin Fron Goch. There are other places of interest to our lines
such as Garn, Uchldre, etc.
Perhaps to be fair about this, you need to know it is ten pages of the
largest copy paper (12 x 16 in. in Wales, but I would have to copy it on a
bit larger size to fit.) There is some overlap, but I will just copy page
for page and not worry about that. I would suggest that those wishing it
to email me directly and after, let say a week, we'll divide the cost
depending upon how many are interested. (Roland, I will, of course
consider the cost that each of us paid and reimburse you.) IF you are
interested ONLY if the amount is under a certain limit, please indicate
that. I would not expect that all of you would be interested.
FYI: This one deed was written on a single piece of sheep skin and is
in wonderful shape at this time. The ink is dark, clear, and the writing
very neatly done. The actual document has some colored inks in it, as I
recall. Much to the shock of those who saw it and other documents, anyone
can view these records and touch them, although you are asked to be very
careful. They are not otherwise preserved and as far as we could find out,
no film copies have been made. There is some transcription in the Rhiwlas
Estate records book which I also copied for this deed. I did not copy
years that didn't pertain to our family and the Estate records do not go
much before the mid 1600s, unfortunately.
2. MOST of the papers I order have arrived, but not the 1682 and 1687
census for Llanfor Parish and Llanderfel. I'm greatly disappointed in this
as I know Roland and Unc didn't see this box. I do believe they lost that
order for me and will have to spend time trying to make them realize that I
have paid for it.
3. Today I received a book I ordered (Roy told me to get it). It is "A
Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend up to about A.D.
1000" by Peter C. Bartrum. The cost is 40.25 pounds, if anyone is
interested in getting it. It takes two weeks to arrive (after they receive
payment) and mine was prompt. You could order it by email:
rnj(a)llgc.org.uk (email for D.H. Michael, Director of Finance); by calling:
01970 -632-800; by fax: 01970- 615-709; or by writing:
National Library of Wales
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3BU, Wales
It is 649 pages, paperback bound, contains the Who's Who of Wales with
documentation of sources for the "facts." There are a few place-names.
When you email, ask for a list of books sold by the library (free) in
case you may wish others.
4. Other records I ordered from the library and the records office are
available for copies, but there is really very little info in them. A few
deeds that I have not had time to transcribe and when I do (at least enough
to tell you what they are....can't recall now), I'll either post them or
offer them to you at the cost of copy and postage, etc. I found a few
small pieces on the history of some places such as Ysptty Ifan, Llanfor
Church, etc. Either I will glean the info and post, or offer. At this
point in time, it may be over the Christmas/Winter Break for schools before
I can even look at them.
5. My boxes of books that I mailed to myself while in Wales and Ireland
have arrived. I'm still trying to get some reading done on those in my
spare time (right, spare time! <G>) At the moment, I'm digesting the
History of Angelsey which begins in the Stone Age era. I will make every
effort to post all my personal Welsh library as soon as I can ....and at
least will get it done for the website (see # 13)
THE BAD NEWS:
6. As yet and after three emails to Robin, I have not received a copy of
the Video. He responded only to the first email that I sent (giving him my
addr) in late August/early Sept. I will make one more attempt to write a
kind note in the case he did send it and for some reason it wasn't delivered.
7. Refer to #3 above about not receiving all I ordered while in Wales.
<VBF> (Very BIG Frown)
8. Roy is in Kosovo and I have only tried to write once --no reply, but he
may have not arrived when I wrote...I will try again. Roland, I'm sure he
would love to hear from you as well. He expressed some disappointment not
seeing you there on Friday, the last day for Priscilla and I. (You and Unc
were headed south then...I explained.)
9. My contact in Ysptty Ifan: One emailed once...I'll write again and the
historian to whom I was referred hasn't answered at all. I jog memories,
just in case.
10. Carys has been quit busy and silent since Sept. She now has her B & B
webpage up. (URL, below). Those of you who didn't go with us this last
summer will notice when viewing this webpage that she is no longer using
the Fron Goch farmhouse as the B & B. We were told that at our visit, but
I elected not to mention it until her plans were in place. The major
reason for this change is twofold: First, she still has children at home
and wants privacy for them. The second reason has to do with the economy
and rents. She will give tours upon appointment, however. In the past,
she has had large vans of people arrive unannounced and basically demanding
a tour. She and Dewi have a farm and a home to run. Tourist and
genealogists can be so demanding.
This house is on land across the road from Fron Goch. The house is owned
by Carys and Dewi and will be their retirement home. Remember that they
have a tenant agreement for three generations and Dewi is the second
generation, so their son will live there and farm it at some point. The
name of the house is in essence: Cysgod y Garn or The ghost of Garn. She
explained it to me that way, saying that they used the stones from the
house called Garn. Garn is a familiar farm to some of us. I need to find
out exactly where it was. Cysgod Y Garn is built on the land that once
held the north part the Frongoch Whiskey distillery. If any of you are
into Irish History (recent history), Michael Collins and hundreds
(thousands?) of his Irish pals were put in prison here. The distillery
which was build by the grandfather or gr-grandfather (can't recall at the
moment) of Robin was used as a prison in the early 1900s. While at Robin's
home all of us saw a bottle of the whiskey from that distillery. The Queen
has a case of it, however...Robin "joked" about it being nice if she would
return it.
URL:
http://www.btinternet.com/~frongochfarm/
11. Regarding the rest of my "journal" that I began online, I've just not
had time to finish. In order to save time in writing, I have to be in the
mood...perhaps over the holidays. Better yet, for all of you, I should
offer it offline. I hate to think what I say will be in the archives. I
shall rethink this idea. I could send everyone interested the info
directly.
12. Regarding the photos I promised to scan for some of you...I've not
forgotten.
13: Website -- Keith is doing well...he is teaching me (as soon as I have
time to practice) how to do a webpage. See Roland, I am trying to get one
up for our list. <VBG> I want a few bells and whistles, so I need time!
SUGGESTIONS on what to post is welcomed. This can be OUR site.
I would like to include a great bibliography, at least ,and would
appreciate any of you sending a list of what you have used to research our
line. I would want FULL citations using the standard format. Ask if you
need a sample of that format.
Other ideas would be to include
Some history of our most famous ancestors,
History of the locales relating to them,
Links to GOOD Welsh webpages that would tend to exist longer than a few
months. I detest links that become defunct after a time.
Tourist info and suggestions, in the case others may go.
A brief geneal. for a couple of generations that lived at Fron Goch
A way to contact me if people are interested in trying a trip there.
My apologies for those of you who have been waiting patiently for info from
the crew that visited, but I'm sure I can speak for most everyone when I
state that it was a busy experience, too short for all we wished to do and
....you just had to be there to understand! As Beth discovered when she
called me on the phone, I could tell a million stories and the memories
flow quickly in conversation...wish I could chat with all of you. Maybe
someday, we'll venture a reunion.
I appreciate all your patience regarding our divulging our
experiences....for me....I'm slow, but I'll get there....
Any secretaries out there for hire.....cheap! <G>
So....how have all of you been?
Have a GREAT T-DAY!
Best wishes,
Emily