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THE DIARY OF CAPTAIN FREDERICK JONES PART IV: 1812-1819 EDITED BY R. C. B. OLIVER The death in March 1802 of Morgan Evans, esq. of Llwynbarried and of his wife, Elizabeth née Jones of Pencerrig, in 1807, had left Captain Jones and his wife, with the Revd David Jones of Gladestry, the Captain's brother, entirely responsible for the three Llwynbarried children, all of them in 1807 minors-Elizabeth 18, Hannah 17 and Morgan John, the heir, 14. With the death in 1809 of the Revd D. Jones, the Captain and his wife Ann, nee Evans of Llwynbarried, became as it were in loco parentis for the three minors. Not surprisingly, therefore, the Captain and his wife spent even more time at Llwynbarried than at home in Brecon. It was not until Morgan John, the youngest, became of age in 1814, that they felt their responsibility over, though until their nephew married in 1817, their help was needed in all sorts of ways. The extracts from the Captain's diaries are here taken up from January 1812, when the Captain went to Llwynbarried to supervise the collection of rents from the tenants of the estate. 1812 January 24th. Morgan to Oswestry to Revd Mr Donne's school as a parlour boarder at a fee of 150 guineas per annum. 28th. Old Mrs Price, Rhayader, died aged 102 years. After the sudden death the previous November of the Revd Mr Bradstock of Birlingham near Pershore, where Morgan was being privately educated, the Captain took the advice of Mr Richard Price, M.P. and Mr Theophilus Jones of Brecon, and entered the young man at an old and famous school under one of its finest Headmasters. As a parlour boarder he had his own bedroom and dined with the Headmaster and his staff. Mrs Ann Price was born a Thomas of Llwynmadoc in Abergwesyn, Breconshire and a sister of Mr Evan Thomas, chief agent to the Marquis of Bath. At this time she was the widow of John Price, gent. of Castle, Nantmel, but had lived in Rhayader for more than 20 years. Even in her hundredth year she would ride on her pony to dine with the Llwynbarried family and then ride back home. February 27th. Committed and examined Evan Richards on suspicion of highway robbery, with Richard Richards as accessory. April 16th. Marked and numbered some trees on Girnfawr with David Evans; 125 oak and 136 ashtrees. 17th. True Bill found against Evan Richards at Presteigne assizes, but Judge Hardinge would not let the trial proceed! Girnfawr in Bettws Disserth was one of the oldest farms belonging to the forebears of Captain Jones and associated with Independent Nonconformist worship from the early 1700s. The hardy oak and ash were perhaps the commonest trees in Radnorshire. Judge Hardinge acted as he did, knowing from experience the bad reputation of Radnorshire juries. Hence Captain Frederick's three exclamation marks. May 21st. Paid £ 1812 for Cwm farm. 25th. Penry Price came here as footman.