Hi Ian,
Please could you let me have your home address again to send photocopies to
you.
Regards
Gill
-----Original Message-----
From: IAN MOSELEY [mailto:MOSELEYFHS@hotmail.com]
Sent: 18 September 2001 08:05
To: POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: Hwyel Harries
Hello Gill,
Thankyou for that most interesting piece, of all the information that I have
received that is the best description.
Regards,
Ian
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gillian John" <gillian.john(a)ntlworld.com>
To: <POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 4:57 PM
Subject: RE: Hwyel Harries
Hi Ian,
I have a book of Talgarth which has the following information.
PROMINENT PERSONS OF THE PAST
HARRIS BROTHERS
To Talgarth came three brothers of the Harris family from Carmarthen.
Howell, the youngest, Joseph, the senior and Thomas, who amassed a fortune
and bought the Tregunter and Trefecca estates.
HOWELL HARRIS
No name is more well known in religious life in the county than that of
Howell Harris.
Howell Harris was born on January 23rd 1714, after leaving school he
embarked on a career as a school teacher and opened a school for young
children.
It was Whit Sunday 1735 when he knelt at the Communion table in Talgarth
church that the baptism of the spirit really came to him. In his diary,
he
describes his experience in words stragely like those in which John
Wesley
described his own experience in 1738 'I felt lsuddenly my heart melting
with
me, like wax before a fire, with live in God my Saviour, I could not
help
called God my Father'.
He began holding small gatherings at his mother's cottage in Trefecca
reading and praying with those who came to hear. Gradually he began to do
what was then called 'exhorting'. These gatherings increased in numbers
and
soon Howell went further afield to preach in the surrounding
villages.
These gatherings were eventually called 'Societies', as established
throughout England by John Wesley. In 1744 Howell Harris married Anne
Williams of the Skreen, Erwood, at Ystradffin. A copy of Anne Williams's
certificate of consent to marry Howell Harris is to be seen in the museum
at
Trefecca. Harris and his co-workers began to travel up and down the
country
preaching and exhorting, and organising into societies the thousand
of
converts. Howell Harris and his fellow workers head of, and soon got to
know the leaders of The English Methodist Movement, John and Charles
Wesley,
George Whitfield and the Queen of the Methodists, the 'Countess
of
Huntingdon'. In 1752, the cottage in which Howell lived was pulled down
and
a much bigger house was built due to gradually increasing numbers
from all
over Wales and England, there was also a chapel, an infirmary, bath house
and dove cote. The community which was referred to as "The Family", lived
a
strenuous, highly organised and disciplined life.
Howell was an enthusiastic founder member of the Breconshire Agricultural
Society, the first of its kind in Wales. It is interesting to note that
the
methods of hedging and ditching taught and practised in the Trefecca
family
are still practised. There were sixty or more trades at Trefecca
including
spinnin, weaving of wool and flax, clog and shoe making, tailoring,
book
binding and printing.
In 1759 Howell Harris and 24 young men joined the Breconshire Militia for
3
years and wherever the regiment was sent he preached. He maintained
12
men
at his own expense.
He lived for only 10 years after returning from militia service, dying in
July 1773 at the age of 59. His funeral would surely have been one of the
most moving sights Wales has ever seen. The enormous crown of 20,000
people
testified to the love borne to him all over Wales. He was buried in
Talgarth church, near to the spot where he was converted. The last
survivor
of the Community died in 1847. There is a small museum in which
there are
a
number of interesting things connected with Howell Harris including
a
dresser and other furniture, Joseph Harris's telescope, an 'electrifying
machine', Howell Harris's grandfather clock (still working), linen sheets
made at Trefecca, books printed on the Trefecca press, Howell Harris's own
pulpit, his cruet, candle snuffers and a number of interesting pictures,
guns and swords carried by Howell during his time in the militia, plus
many
other artefacts. The Memorial Chapel of 1873 now houses this very
interesting little museum.
I've got typist cramp now after that lot. However, I do have 2
photographs
in the book and 2 small paragraphs on his 2 brothers.
If you would like me to copy them which I'm sure you probably will, let me
have you postal address and I'll get p/copies and send them to you.
Regards
Gill, Cardiff.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike & Ronica Hall [mailto:micronic@hallmark.kc3ltd.co.uk]
Sent: 14 September 2001 22:53
To: POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: Hwyel Harries
Hi Ian
If you are able to make it to Brecon - there will probably be
something in the Brecon Area Library on the subject. Ask Chris
Price, Local History Librarian there.
They have several lending copies of books about Hwyel Harris on open
shelves near the desk.
You might even be able to use the Trefecca library facilities near
Talgarth.
Best
Mike H.
Email: micronic(a)hallmark.kc3ltd.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: IAN MOSELEY <MOSELEYFHS(a)hotmail.com>
To: POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com <POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: 14 September 2001 18:00
Subject: Hwyel Harries
>Hello All,
> Does any one know anything about the history of Hwyel
Harries the Methodist preacher who founded Treffecca college and his
involvement in the Breconshire Agricultural Society. Did they
provide subsidies for Young Farmers and their families to move to
Breconshire. I know that the aims of the Breconshire Agricultural
Society was the improvement of Farming in Breconshire and they
founded the Brecon County Show, the oldest agricultural show still
running in the UK.
> I am interested in any list of farmers that were subsidised
and brought into Breconshire.
>
>Regards,
>Ian,
>Hay-on-Wye.
>