Welsh Journals

1. Chief Rents: the rents payable by free- holders of the manor to the lord of the manor. Rent collection was one of Bird's main preoccupations as estate clerk, and re- ferences to Burgage Rents (payable by bur- gesses or freeholders within the boroughs), and Cottage Rents (due from tenants of small dwellings) also figure prominently in the pages of his diaries. 2. John Richards senior of Cardiff. See Bio- graphical Notes. 3. Distress: the seizure of goods or chattels for the recovery of rent arrears. 4. Mary (nee Birt), wife of John Richards of the Comer House, Cardiff. See Biograph- ical Notes. 5. i.e. the Glamorganshire Canal. The canal was constructed under the terms of an Act of Parliament, 31 Geo.III c.82. 6. Thomas Thomas of Cardiff, attorney, was under-sheriff in 1774, 1776, 1780, 1781 and 1784. See Appendix D, and Biographical Notes. 7. One of numerous schemes to prevent flooding, particularly on the low-lying moors to the south of the town, and in Cardiff itself, by the construction and maintenance of a series of walls and embankments. 8. Thomas Scandrett of Cardiff, butcher. 9. See Appendix A. 10. The piece of timber cast ashore by the tide had been claimed as wreck on behalf of Lord Bute. Technically all rights of wreck were vested in the Crown, but the everyday flotsam and jetsam of the sea were recognised as the perquisite of the local landowner. As with rights of fishery (note 133) rights of wreck seem to have accrued to the Mar- quesses of Bute as inheritors of the Herbert family's estates and privileges, rather than as straightforward manorial dues. 11. David Prichard of Cardiff, attorney. 12. The officials of Cardiff Corporation comprised the constable of Cardiff Castle and his deputy, two bailiffs, ten aldermen, the town clerk, two sergeants at mace, two com- mon attorneys, two constables for each ward (East and West wards in 1790), a water- bailiff, a clerk of the cattle market and fairs, a clerk of the shambles, an ale-taster, and the bellman or town crier. 13. Glynronthey alias Glynrhondda, one of the manors or lordships inherited by the Mar- quess of Bute from the Herbert family. The Notes to the Text Marquesses of Bute were lords of the follow- ing Glamorgan manors: Boviarton and Llan- twit, Glynrhondda, Lequeth, Llandough, Cogan, Cosmeston and Walterston, Llan- blethian, Llanmaes Bedford and Malefaunt, Llystalybont, Roath Dogfield, Roath Tew- kesbury, Spittle, Whitefriars and Kibbor, Ruthin, Miskin with Pentyrch and Clun, Senghennydd, Whitchurch, Rudry and Llan- vedw. GRO D/DB E/1,2 Bute estate survey compiled by David Stewart, 1824. 14. One of the principal coaching inns in Cardiff. Situated opposite the Castle, near Cardiff bridge and adjacent to the site of the present-day Angel Hotel, it gave its name to Cardiff Arms Park. 15. i.e. Greyfriars. Part of the estates of the Herbert family from the sixteenth century until the mid-eighteenth century when it passed by inheritance to Hurst of Gabalfa and Jones of Swansea. An Elizabethan man- sion was built on the site of the former friary. Remains of the house and friary church sur- vived until 1969 when the Pearl Assurance block was built on the site. 16. Grand Jury: a jury of enquiry not of trial. The Grand Jury, composed of between twelve and twenty-three substantial freehol- ders of the county, was summoned to attend the court of Great Sessions or Assizes (also the Quarter Sessions) by the sheriff. Its mem- bers were instructed in the articles of the charge by the judge, and then received indict- ments and heard evidence from the prose- cution before considering whether there was sufficient cause for the accused to answer the charge. If the Bill of Indictment was found (i.e. was a 'True Bill') the case then went before a Petty Jury or Special Jury for trial. 17. The old county gaol in St Mary Street stood on a site adjoining the Market House. When, in 1832, a new county gaol was erected in Whitmore Lane, on the eastern outskirts of the town, the old gaol continued to be used as the town prison. 18. See Appendix D. 19. Act regulating the tenure of office by sheriffs and their deputies, 23 Hen.VI c.7. 20. See Appendix A. 21. The 'Golledge Cause' in which Mrs Golledge successfully proved her title to the copyhold lands of Davies deceased in the manor of Boviarton and Llantwit. The de- fendant in the case was Lord Bute as lord of