File MS 15. - Abstract of Thomas Abbot letters.

Ring-binder containing abstract of letters written by the Reverend Thomas Abbot, a Catholic priest, which are "preserved in the Archives of the Archdiocese of Cardiff." The letters, written between 1862 and 1904 from Monmouth and Lancaster, are addressed to Bishop Brown and Dr (later Bishop) Hedley, and relate to: church business and services; alleged neglectful attitude of a priest; court case involving a priest; financial matters and deeds, particularly concerned with Coedangryd; tensions between Catholics and Protestants; possible vocations of a schoolboy and a young man to the Church; local history connected with the martyrdom of John Kemble and the shrine of St Thomas of Hereford; benefactions; neglect of Coedangred [sic]; retirement of Thomas Abbot and disposal of his effects; a debt; history of Prior Park and discussion of a circular concerning a fire there; death of Father Quaid and his will; complaints against a fellow priest; history of the "Old Missionary Altar," and later a proposal to make it a "privileged altar" following the visit of Cardinal Vaughan; death of Miss Ann Prichard of Skenfrith, subsequent events, and history of the Prichard family and Perthyre [sic] estate; succession of priests at Dowlais; and the decline of Father Abbot's health. In addition the letters contain details of Thomas Abbot's life, items of local interest and material relating to Catholic priests and families. Canning has added notes of genealogical interest in red ink.