A collection of deeds and documents relating to the family of Davies of Maesmawr Hall, parish of Llandinam, co. Montgomery, and formerly of the Marsh, parish of Westbury, co. Salop. The archive had previously been carefully sorted and annotated by the depositor's brother Major E. H. C. Davies, M.B.E., Surbiton, Surrey, and the deposit includes a full list which he had made of the documents. The collection may be classified as follows:
A group of manuscript volumes. An interesting group of manuscripts, mainly memoranda books containing domestic and medical recipes, house hold, rent and other accounts, family particulars, etc., the earlier ones belonging to the late seventeenth century. Also included are a letter book, 1783-1808, of Pryce Davies; an apportionment of tithes belonging to Rev J. Davies; a volume relating to the commutation of tithes for the parish of Llandinam, 1845, a sketch book [c.1840] of Jane Ann Pryce containing scenes from various counties in North Wales; a notebook containing details of excursions in the neighbourhood of Llanberis, 1892; and an account book, 1844-1853, of the trustees of Pryce Jones of the Rock.
A number of pedigrees, 1783-1921, including a group of pedigree rolls relating to the Davies family, Maesmawr Hall, and other related families, with a print of Newtown public rooms erected in 1832; together with a bundle of papers, mainly correspondence, relating to Ann Ffoulkes of Trelydan, 1762-1886; and to Colonel Cecil John Lyons Allanson, 1917 & 1920, including a personal diary and career summary; and a collection of poetry written mainly in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, but including copies of correspondence, 1741-8, and verses relating to the marital adventures of Sir John Pryce of Newtown. Several poems, such as elegies on the deaths of Mr. John Devereux by Rev [William] Thomas of Forden, and of Mr. Tilsley on the Western Main, are of local interest, while verses to Mr. [John] Wilkes, 1776, and to the memory of Dr. [Richard] Price are more general in their appeal. Translations from classical authors made for Dr. Bayley / Bayly in August 1792 are also included.
A group of legal and administrative documents, consisting of testamentary records, including originals and copies of wills and/or probates and letters of administration of members of the Davies and related families, belonging mainly to the nineteenth century; together with numerous deeds, indentures, settlements, and schedules, 1602-1938. Earlier items of note relate to Thomas Price of Dolvorwyn, 1657, Sarah Judge of Newtowne, 1717/18, William Roberts of the Pentrey, parish of Aberhavesp, 1729/30, and Rice Price, 1772, and Vaughan Foulkes, 1794, both of the parish of Mynavon, all in co. Montgomery, and John Rowland of Ymwlch, parish of Llandanwg, co. Merioneth, 1744, and the estate of Humphrey Jones of Garthmill in the parish of Berriew, 1748.
A group of family and personal papers, consisting of records relating to the Maesmawr Hall Estate, 1899-1938, including sale catalogues, plans, rentals, accounts, inventories, and a valuation of the Manafon estate, 1834; files of personal papers relating to the Davies family, 1673-1971, mainly correspondence, accounts, legal documents, professional papers of the members of the family who were clergymen, a diary, 1943, of Miss Annie Davies of Harlech, and papers collected with the duties of those who filled the office of high sheriff for co. Montgomery, some of which were sorted by Major E. H. C. Davies into files for individual members of the family with whom they are concerned, and files for certain related families; correspondence of family and historical interest, 1648-1972, including a letter written on St. Helena in 1685 and another shortly after the writer had fought at the battle of Waterloo; three files of Davies family bonds, 1583-1789, consisting of deeds mainly relating to properties in Montgomeryshire and Shropshire including Marsh, Vennington, and on the Maesmawr Estate; parochial papers relating mainly to Llandinam parish, 1748-1901, including a petition, 1833, by the inhabitants of part of the deanery of Arustley for a change in the system of paying tithes and for the correction of abuses in the established church, terriers, 1790, of the tithes, etc., of Llanwnog and Llandinam, and correspondence, etc., 1833, relating to the Montgomeryshire Canal; and two files labelled ‘Unsorted Letters’, 1712-1913, including a writ, 1712, to confess judgment for the Company of Mine Adventures touching properties in the parishes of Llanidloes, Tre Eglwys, Carno, Llanbrynmair, Llangerrig and Machynlleth, and in Arustley and Talerthaige, co. Montgomery.
The collection also includes a small group of Davies family Bibles, together with presentations made to the Rev. Herbert Davies at Glastonbury and Syston, 1867-1997.
