Welsh Journals

Search over 450 titles and 1.2 million pages

FORE-NOTE. The Registers of Kerry comprise thirteen volumes, ranging from 1602 to the present time. The first volume, which is here printed, by the generosity of Mr. Willans and with the kind permission of Mr. Phillips, the Vicar, consists of 67 leaves or 134 pages, 13 in. x 7 in., written on parchment, beginning in 1602 and ending in 1659. It is continuous throughout the Commonwealth, which does not appear to have greatly affected the parish,-as Mr. Christopher Brains continued to be Vicar from his induction in 1615 till his death in August, 1654, and in October, 1655, lie was succeeded by Mr. Richard Payne, who was Vicar till 1672. So that we have the Baptisms (and not, as usual during that period, the Births), Marriages, and Burials given for the most part in due order throughout. It is written by several different hands, most of it well and clearly, but much is very faint and some of it illegible-and this is more particularly the case for the interregnum. Many old Welsh female names occur in it, such as Dowlse, Gainor, Goleu, Cwenllian, Machallt, Siblen, Tanglwst. Several Welsh forms of English and foreign ones, as Audrea, Cassandra, Florida, Idissa, Jocosa (Joyce), Manfreda, Oliffe, Sibylla, and Syslia. And for men, Efor, Jason, Lustan, and Troilus. The surnames include Benfrych (Freckle-head), Crosswell, Poughtie, Dudlick, Glace (Gray), Kerryson, Gunsbery, Tyw or Tewe (Fat), Waitho and Wathan, Yoppe. Down to about 1620, with only some eight or nine exceptions, no Place Names are given,-arid the exceptions are drawn in as aliases-e.g., Hugh, al's o'r Come Griff o'r Bugeildy Ieuan al's o'r Bryn Gweeney. o'r Pilaly probably means Plealey in Pontesbury, and Habbamidster is a com- pound for Habberly and Minsterly. Bettws y Crwyn is also given as Bettws Rhyd y Crwyn. Under the Latin forms of Castrum Episcopi, Nova Villa, and Vetus Radnor, we have Bishop's Castle, Newtown, and Old Radnor. The local trades and occupations are represented by gwydd and textor' (weaver), 'tyler,' 'sheeppearder,' 'tector' (thatcher), 'lanius' (butcher), 'tinctor' (painter), 'faber ferrarius' (blacksmith), 'faber lignarius' (car- penter), 'sutor vestiarius' (tailor), 'pavier,' 'pedler,' and 'turnor.' Ccalebs denotes the bachelor and the spinster; but marriage is denoted in many ways-sometimes by simply 'nupcia,' sometimes' the man was 'solemnizatus' to the woman, at other times the couple were celebrati' or 'ducti,' 'matrimonium inierunt,' 'contraxerunt,' 'matrimonii fiedus inihant, intraverunt,' or 'matrimonio juncti, conjuncti, copulati, fuerunt.' A base child was illegitimus,' 'spurius,' 'putatus,' 'reputatus,' 'filius populi.'