FelRh016Rhydddu
15.01.2002 draft
Margaret Pritchard, the wife of David Williams and the mother of Gryffudd Dafydd Felenrhydfawr, hailed from Ffridd Uchaf/Isaf farm, Rhyd ddu, Beddgelert ( Landranger SH579517 and 750 ft. ASL).
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Ffridd Uchaf |
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She is our subject in this note, from the 1700’s to 1809, the year she married. We deal with members of her ancestral family many of whom in the vicinity are recorded , viz. Hafod rhuffyd, Ffridd isaf, Wernlasdeg and Hafod y rhisg, Nant Gwynant ; the Pierces, & Morgans. etc. (ref 1,2&4)
Ffridd Uchaf, where the descendants of the family still live, was/is a very large sheep farm on the South westerly slopes of Snowdon, overlooking Llyn y Garnedd. The farm entry gate is near Pitt’s Head Rock (see photographs). The source of the river Colwyn, which joins the Glaslyn at Beddgelert, is on Ffridd Uchaf land. In times-gone-by the old farm house, - now replaced by a more modern house, was the base camp to Snowdon’s early ramblers. On reading ref 6 ( Snowdonia Guides) we get a vivid impression of how families in the area supplemented their income by escorting parties up Snowdon- going up 2 or 3 times a day - for a few shillings a time.
In ref 2 we see Margaret Prichard’s lineage from Hugh & Margaret Morgan (-1703) her GGGp,who hailed from the adjacent parish of Bettws Garmon, Morgan Hughes (-1698 ) GGf, Pierce Morgan. (1690 1745 – Gf and Catherine Pierce (her mother) and Richard Jones her father. Reading the wills of her ancestors is interesting (see FelRh017 & below)
The archival records (see ref 3) for Beddgelert show the following details of Margaret Prichard’s parents and siblings. The first record of the family we have is:-
“ a marriage by licence 17.5.1756 between Richard Jones and Katherine Pierce”.
We then have the following baptismal Church records :-
1. 1757 Jane
2. 17.5.1759 Martha daughter of Richard Jones, Ffridd, farmer & Catherine Pierce his wife
3. 30.5.1762, John, son of “ “ “
4. 6.10.1765 , Catherine daughter “ “ “ “ “
5. 11.11.1768, Pyrse son “ “ “ “ Catherine Pyrse
6. 23.2.1772, Catherine, dau. “ yeoman & his wife
7. 2.3.1777, William, son “ “ “
8. 6.6. 1779, Margaret, dau “ Margaret (sic) !
All their surname would be “ap Richard” or “Prichard” after the first name of their father, i.e. Richard.
As yet we do not have the pedigree of Richard Jones., Where did he hail from?
Notes on the children ( Margaret’s siblings)
The next record we have is the Will of Richard Jones, written in Welsh, (see ref.2) Roughly translated:-
Jane , his eldest daughter to receive £40, Martha, £30. The rest of the children to receive £20 on reaching the age of 21. Lease on land and buildings to go to his eldest son and Catherine Pierce (RJ.’s widow). The residue to be shared between John and his mother Catherine. Will drawn up 2.5.1780 & probate granted 9.9.1784. No value of the estate was quoted.
We record here the inscription on m.i A173- on the right of the path leading up to Beddgelert’s Church. It is written in English.:-
The body of Richard Jones
of Frith was interred Octor 1781 in the 59yr
of his age.
Here also the remains
of Catherine Pierce, the wife of the above
Richard Jones, who departed this life February the
12th 1794 in the 66th
year of her age.
Here also in memory of
William Prichard,
late of Ffridd, son of the
above said Richard Jones,
who departed this transitory
life on the 28th day
August A.D.1816 in
the 39th year of his age.
Also of Martha,*
wife of John Robert of Bryn Melyn who
died July 2nd 1841 aged 29 years.
*Note.:- Not the same Martha as above but possibly be her granddaughter.
In 1781, when Richard Jones the father died, the children were aged as follows:- Jane 24 (37), Martha 22 (35), John 19(32), Catherine 1 dec., Pyrse 13(26), Catherine 9 (22), William 4 (17), Margaret 2 (15). The figures in ( ) are the children’s ages, (if they were alive) when their mother died 13 years later in 1794. We see that our Margaret Prichard was only two when her father died and fifteen when her mother died. We can only surmise that she stayed at Ffridd with her eldest brother John & his wife Margaret.
Apart from Jane and Martha the children were under 21 years old when their father died.
Margaret Prichard was growing up at Rhyd Ddu & Beddgelert, where she most likely attended the church or Sunday school held at early ‘chapels’. King George III was in the middle of his long reign. The Napoleonic wars started (1803). The battle of Waterloo had not been fought - until 1815.The sea came up to near Pont Aberglasyn and they were thinking of building the Cob at Porthmadog. Talyrni, at Namor was waking-up to Methodism and a Sunday school. At Croesor, William Lewis, who was living at Hafotty with his family was also starting a school. Somehow, his son David Williams, met Margaret Pritchard; their marriage is recorded at Beddgelert. as follows:-
“27 1 1809 by Banns David Williams ( single ) of the parish of Llanddwywe to Margaret Prichard (single )”
It would appear that David Williams was working at Llanddwywe, Dyffryn Ardudwy. We do not know what took him away from Croesor. In 1809 Margaret was aged 30 year old and David was 26 years old.
We now leave the history of the Rhyd ddu family in 1809. From this date see the Croesor history and also ref 18 -6 which deals with the abortive search for Margaret Pritchard..
References:-
13.-1 J.E.Griffiths Pedigrees of Anglesey & Caernarfon
14.-2 Roots and Wills of South Caernarfon T. Ceiri Griffiths
15.-3 Sheelagh Williams Work in the archives at Gwynedd & Aberystwyth
16.-4 Hobley Hanes Methodistiaid Arfon (for Beddgelert, from Carneddog)
17.-5 Tywysyddion Eryri ( Snowdonia Guides) Dewi Jones Gwasg Carreg Gwalch
18.-6 Felenrhyd 007 Margaret Prichard – in search of.