Welsh Journals

attorney of Builth seconded, and the motion was carried with acclamation, Mr Wilkins being chaired-doubtless to the Radnorshire Arms! November 15th. Old dog Joss dead. 20th. A new shaft for the mill-wheel. It is pleasant-and maybe somewhat surprising since the Captain strikes one from his diary entries as a somewhat unemotional person-to find him recording the death of a canine friend, perhaps a house dog at Llwynbarried Hall. The Joneses had returned 'home' as the diary expresses it, and so the reference to a mill-wheel must surely refer to Caerfagu Mill less than 2 miles east of Llwynbarried, to which estate it belonged. Its water power came from either the Dulas tributary of the river Ithon or from a brooklet running into the Dulas. December 15th. At ye Assembly. Danced. 18th. Tom Joseph and family dead at Brondinam. 25th. With Mrs J in chaise to Bristol via Abergavenny and the New Passage; stayed at Bush Inn and called on Hannah whose marriage settlement was drawn up by a Mr Davis, a local solicitor 29th. Hannah married to Mr Phillip Gardner; ride in coach all to Stapleton and dined at Bush Inn. 30th. By coach home to Brecon. The Assemblies were the gatherings of the Brecon gentry and professional classes with perhaps some of the most successful business people; they were held in the Castle Inn and were usually by subscription. One can only suppose the Captain noted that he danced because he was 54 years old and may have considered dancing a bit frivolous for a middle-aged man! Tom Joseph was the tenant of Brondinam and how he and his family died in their farmhouse is never fully explained in the diary entries. Possibly they all perished in a fire. Christmas Day 1812 saw the Joneses start out on a journey of some importance in the Llwynbarried family. Hannah was the younger of their two nieces, 22 years old and living in Bristol from the previous June. The diary gives no information about Phillip Gardner, which makes one suspect that his marriage to Hannah Evans did not really meet with Captain and Mrs Jones's approval. Gardner came of a Knighton and Llanfihangel Rhydithon family, with interests in wool manufacturing, who also had some property in Nantmel, and it is likely that Hannah first met Phillip Gardner in Nantmel. 1813 January 8th. To Llwynbarried Hall. Met Tom Edwards with horses at Argoed Mill. 14th Sale at Brondinam. February 1st. Eclipse of sun; partial from 7 to 9 oclock a.m. 3rd. Morgan returned to Oswestry. 19th. Richard Lewis took Brondinam Farm at 75 guineas per annum. The Captain would have taken the coach from Brecon to Rhayader, but left it at Argoed near Doldowlod, where Edwards, one of the servants of Llwynbarried had brought horses for the last part of the journey across the Ysfa common. The sale at Bwlch Brondinam would have been of the livestock and farm implements of the Josephs after the tragic fire there. February 3rd seems a rather late return to Oswestry School after the Christmas holiday-even for a parlour boarder! March 17th. Brother Middleton and Spenser here. Subpoenad as a witness to the Hereford Assizes in Middleton's ejection suit against Dale and Thomas. 25th. To Hereford; cause put off to next assizes.