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 3 1924 028 863 558 
 
THE EARLY HISTORY OF MERION. 
 
 AN OLD WELSH PEDIGREE. 
 
 By JAMES J, LEVICK, M.D. 
 
 ■ Extracted from 
 The Pennsylvania Magazine .of History and Biography, 
 Vol. IV., 1880. 
 
 Collins Piumting House, 705 Jayne Street, Philadelphia. 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://archive.org/details/cu31924028863558 
 
/^^^^^ ^hzZz — 
 
 ^z^/^f *Z^#T*^r 
 
 JOHN AP THOMAS AND HIS FRIENDS. 
 
 A Contribution to the Early History of Merion, near Philadelphia. 
 
 BY JAMES J. LEVICK, M.D. 
 
 Of the many hundreds of Philadelphians who, daily, during 
 the summer months, on our great central railway, pass to 
 and from the city to Bryn Mawr or further, but few perhaps 
 have ever given a thought to the origin of the names they 
 hear at the various stations. And yet from Overbrook to 
 Bcrwyn, included, many of these names are the same as those 
 which two hundred years ago were familiar as household 
 words to those earnest, sincere, and brave people, who had 
 left their old homes in Wales to found here a new, peaceful, 
 and free commonwealth. 
 
 Bcrwyn bears the name of a range of mountains, which for 
 more than thirty miles constitutes the dividing line between 
 the counties of Merioneth and Montgomery in "Wales. 
 
 Bryn Mawr — the great hill — gets its name from Bryn 
 Mawr, the old Welsh home of Rowland Ellis, a devoted 
 member and minister of the Society of Friends, and one of 
 the earliest owners of land in this vicinity. 1 
 
 1 See note respecting Rowland Ellis at end of this paper. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 Wynnewood commemorates the name of Thomas Wynne 1 — 
 the physician and friend of William Penn-and the home of 
 
 his descendants. 
 
 Radnor 2 but repeats the old name of Radnor in Wales, and 
 'Haverford (aber-fford, the ford at the confluence,) tells the story 
 that it was from Haverford West in South Wales the early 
 settlers in this immediate vicinity came, while Merion, m the 
 new world, takes up and in itself continues a name which 
 has had a topographical meaning for more than a thousand 
 years. Meirion, as it is often written, in the old provincial 
 records, and as it was originally called in the Welsh language, 
 is but a slight modification of the name of that British 
 prince, or king as he is sometimes called, who, as Meyreon, 
 Meirion, Meiriawn ruled over a part of Britain in the early 
 part of the eighth century, and who gave his name, even 
 then, to his own domain, which it has since retained, and 
 which, as Merionethshire, has been a county of North Wales 
 since the year of our era 1284. It was from Merionethshire, 
 North Wales, that the settlers on the land, which now 
 lies north of the Pennsylvania Railroad, near Philadel- 
 phia, chiefly came, and of one or two of them and their 
 families that it is proposed in this paper to write. The in- 
 formation thus given is derived from papers brought here by 
 these emigrants themselves, or written by them cotempora- 
 neously with the settlement, which have been transmitted 
 by them to their descendants. 3 
 
 1 See note respecting Thomas Wynne at end of this paper. 
 
 2 The names of Radnor and of Haverford, like that of Merion, are both 
 of very ancient date. Radnor is mentioned in Welsh history, even so early 
 as A. D. 1196, as having been burned by an invading foe. Haverford had 
 its Castle so early as the year 1112 A. D., and Giraldus Oambrensis gives 
 the account of "a preaching tour" made there by Archbishop Baldwin and 
 himself in the year of our era 1118. He reports that they were most kindly 
 received by the Haverfordians and their religious services gratefully acknow- 
 ledged. 
 
 3 " The termination ydd and eth is of common occurrence in ancient Welsh 
 names of districts . . and seems to have the meaning of a tract or extent 
 of country belonging to the person whose name formed the preceding part 
 of the word." 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 It may not be amiss here briefly to recur to the fact that 
 these people were the direct, lineal descendants of the Ancient 
 Britons, with little or no admixture of Saxon blood. These 
 ancient Britons, as ethnologists now recognize the term, were 
 the different tribes, clans, or nations inhabiting Britain at 
 the time of the Roman invasion, and their descendants. 
 They belonged to the Indo-European family, and to the Celtic 
 branch of that family. Whatever difference of opinion may 
 exist as to the real or fabulous character of the early histories 
 of Britain, there can be no doubt that, for centuries before 
 the Roman invasion, the Island of Britain was inhabited by 
 a numerous, powerful, and intelligent people. That they 
 were brave Csesar found to his cost, and it is a very signifi- 
 cant fact that, although the Roman Geueral brought against 
 them a fleet of 80 ships, with 12,000 infantry and cavalry, 
 yet the most that he could effect was but a landing on the 
 coasts, and that it was not until a hundred years later that 
 the Romans were able victoriously to advance into the inte- 
 rior of the island. 
 
 ~Nor did the Britons, in later years, yield, without fierce 
 resistance, to the invading hordes of Saxons, Danes, and 
 Normans which poured in upon them. 
 
 A recent writer 1 has said of them, "history presents no 
 section of a people standing forth more conspicuously from 
 the general mass. . . . They yielded; but only inch by 
 inch to a superior foe, and, at the last, a remnant, scorning 
 surrender, carried away with them, as Eneas did from Troy, 
 their choicest and most valued treasures— their kindred and 
 their sacra patriosque pevates— made Wales their chosen hind, 
 Mona the sanctuary of their priesthood,and Snowdon Moun- 
 tain the citadel of their freedom. Their name, their lan- 
 guage, and their honour they have to this day preserved as 
 memories of the past." And there, century after century, 
 they remained, too often, it is true, involved in domestic 
 warfare, but holding on to their simple manners, their old 
 traditions and their dearly bought freedom. 
 
 1 Pedigree of the English People. Thomas Nicholas, M.A., London, 1878. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 Of the people of Merionethshire this was especially true, 
 and the author already quoted, 1 says : "the ancient houses 
 of the county of Merionethshire are, almost without excep- 
 tion, of purely Cymric lineage . . . and have shown a 
 Vitality truly remarkable. Even to this day several of the 
 chief families of the 14th and 15th centuries have their 
 representatives on the ground, holding the same domains 
 and bearing, in some instances, the same names." 
 
 To the superficial observer it would seem almost impossible 
 that, even after the long lapse of centuries, the descendants 
 of these warlike men should accept and become identified 
 with the peaceful doctrines and manners of the Quakers, and 
 yet to the careful student of human nature the transition 
 seems not only possible, but eminently proper and natural. 
 To a simple-hearted people there was much in the simplicity 
 of Quakerism to commend it, while the direct dependence 
 of the individual upon God and his independence of man 
 accorded with what had been the sentiment of their race for 
 generations. But when to this, and far more than all this, 
 was added the conviction, that to them the call of their God 
 was in this field of service, they did not hesitate because of 
 the sacrifices it required, or the danger to which it exposed 
 them. They were of the blood of heroes to which the blood 
 of martyrs is closely akin, and they brought to bear in this 
 warfare the earnestness of purpose, the devotion to duty, and 
 the fearless courage which had characterized their forefathers 
 on other fields. 
 
 They yielded not one inch to error, but the fight was a 
 long and weary one; and they yearned, as their fathers had 
 done, for a home where they might be free ; free from such 
 contact with error itself, and free to give such service to God 
 as lie required of them. They needed now no Mona for their 
 priesthood, for they believed, without the shadow of a doubt, 
 that the human heart was the Sanctuary of their Great High 
 Priest, and that in His Name they had a strong tower where 
 the)' could find greater safety than in their fathers' citadel 
 
 1 Annals and Antiquities of the County Families of Wales. By Thorn aa 
 Nicholas, M.A.., etc., Loudon, 1872. 
 
Early History of Marion. 
 
 on Snowdon. And so, to the new world, " a remnant came, 
 carrying with them," as their fathers had carried, "their 
 names, their language, 1 and their honour." 
 
 The future historian when discussing the characteristics of 
 the past and present generations of Philadelphians, their love 
 of family history, their love of old ways, their tenacious 
 clinging to their convictions of right, their conservatism — as 
 it is called — and even, at times, their obstinacy, may per- 
 chance find that these are due not merely to what they have 
 inherited in the blood of their Quaker ancestry, but rather to 
 that remarkable mixture of peaceful Quaker and of fighting 
 Cymric blood, which yet exists in the veins of so many of 
 her people. 
 
 It is of one or more of these early Cymric Quakers that 
 we shall now speak. 
 
 "John ap Thomas, of Llaithgwm, Commott of Pennllyn 
 in the Count}' of Merioneth, gentleman," as the old manu- 
 script records designate him, became a member of the Reli- 
 gious Society of Friends in the year 1672. Hugh Roberts, 2 
 his neighbor and friend from his childhood, says of him: 
 "in the year 1672 he came to Friends' Meeting and was 
 thoroughly convinced of God's truths, and he gave up in 
 obedience to the Heavenly Father's call, though it was a 
 time of great suffering ; the first two meetings he was at he 
 was fined £15, for which the informer took from him two 
 oxen, and a horse that was valued to be worth £11, and re- 
 turned nothing back. 
 
 "The appearance of Truth was so precious to him that he 
 did not only make profession of it, but was also made willing 
 to suffer for its sake, which he did valiantly. When this 
 faithful man first came among us it was the hottest time of 
 persecution that we ever underwent. The chief informer 
 
 1 For many years after they camo to Pennsylvania, many of the Welsh 
 Friends retained their knowledge of and the use of the British language. A 
 memorial concerning Edward Keese and his wife states that their ministry 
 was generally given in the Welsh language. So too with others of the 
 early settlers. 
 
 2 See note at end of this paper respecting Hugh Roberts. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 being a cunning, subtile man, seeing that the high constables 
 and petty constables were something backward to execute his 
 warrants, intended to have been the high constable so that 
 he might make a quick despatch. 
 
 "Most of the great men, being willing to assist John ap 
 Thomas in what they could, this good man went to one of 
 the Justices that was moderate, and requested that he might 
 accept of him to be the high constable, which was granted. 
 So the informer went on and informed against Friends, and 
 Avhen he got a warrant he brought it to the high constable 
 according to his orders ; so he received his warrant, time 
 after time, and would tell the informer to go about his busi- 
 ness, that he was responsible for them. And thus the informer 
 continued to go about until he had got nine warrants, not 
 questioning but that he would ruin him at last, for there 
 was a. clause in the act that if the constables would refuse to 
 execute their office they would be fined to a great extent for 
 every neglect. He kept his warrants until the King's decla- 
 ration came to put a stop to these wicked informers. 
 
 "Thus this faithful and valiant man hazarded his own estate 
 to save his friends and brethren . . and this he did soon 
 after he received the Truth. The Lord blessed him and that 
 in every way. He bestowed upon him a gift in the ministry, 
 by which he hath been serviceable to many ; and although it 
 falls out sometimes that a prophet hath not honour in his own 
 country, yet I know that he was honoured, owned and dearly 
 beloved, and was of great service unto many. So he growed 
 and prospered in the truth unto his dying day. lie had a 
 tedious sickness in which time his pleasure was in exhorting 
 his friends, his wife, and children to he faithful to the Lord. 
 
 "A little while before his departure, I and other Friends 
 were with him, when he said, Friends, wait upon the Lord 
 for he is near, and a little while after he said ' blessed be 
 Thy name, oh Lord God everlasting, Thy will be done on 
 Earth as it is in Heaven.' And with such expressions, mag- 
 nifying and praising the Name of the Lord, he took his leave 
 of his friends, giving his hand to every one of us, and so in 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 a sweet, and heavenly praise he departed the 3d day of 3mo. 
 1683." 1 
 
 This event is thus recorded in the family Bible, by his son 
 ■Thomas Jones. "Our dear father, John ap Thomas, of 
 Llaithgwm, in the Commott of Penllyu in the county of 
 Merioneth, in JSTorth "Wales, departed this Life the 3d day of 
 3d month, 1683, being the 5th day of the week, and was 
 .buryed at Friends burying place at Havod-vadog in the said 
 Commott and County ye 5th of ye said 'month." 
 
 Among other manuscripts which have been preserved by 
 the descendants of John ap Thomas are the original recoi'ds 
 of the sufferings of himself and other Friends, these mem- 
 oranda having been made by him at the time of their occur- 
 rence. They show, beside the one already given, that in many 
 instances he had property taken from him for tithes, for re- 
 fusing to swear, etc. Among them is the following: "In the 
 year 1674, about the 20th day of the 4th month, Harry 
 Parry, parson of Llanthervol, he and his men came to the 
 ground of John ap Thomas and demanded lambes tithes ; 
 and when the said John ap Thomas was not free to give him 
 tithes he sent his men abroad to hunt for the lambs, and at 
 length they found them in one end of the barn where they 
 used to be every night, and they took out the best 5 out of 
 21 for tithes ; and for the tithe corn they took of the corn I 
 cannot tell how much." 
 
 In Besse's Sufferings of Friends, in Gough's History of 
 Friends, in Proud's History of Pennsylvania, and in The Phila- 
 delphia Friend (vol. 27) notices of John ap Thomas may be 
 found. 
 
 Among the official papers received by John ap Thomas, 
 when acting as high constable, two have long been in posses- 
 sion of his descendants. One of these is now given. 
 
 ' A testimony of similar character by his friend Thomas Ellis is also 
 extant. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 Merioneth, ss. 
 
 To Lewis Morris Keeper of his Mqjts goale for if sol County 
 $• to Richard Price § Joseph Hughes. 
 
 Whereas I have apprehended Cadwalader ap Thomas ap 
 Hugh, Robert Owen, Hugh ap Robert, John David, John 
 Robert David & Jouett John, spinster. 
 
 By virtue of his Ma'ties writt issued out of the last great 
 sessions & unto me directed & delivered (I) therefore do will 
 and require you to receive into your custody the bodyes of 
 the said Oaddw'r ap Tho ap Hugh, Robert Owen, Hugh 
 Roberts, John David, Jo 11 Robert David & Jonett John and 
 them safely to convey to the common geole of the sd County 
 and them in safe manner to be kept in y e sd geole whom I 
 doe hereby commit, there to remain for the next great sessions 
 to be held for ye sd county on Monday of ye sd sessions then 
 and there to answer such matters . . as shall be objected 
 agt them on his Ma'ties behalfe this omitt you not at yr 
 perill given under my hand & seale of office the fourth day 
 of May Anno R. R. Carol! . . . Angliae & vicessimo 
 sexto Annoq do 1674. 
 
 OWEN AVYNNE, Esq., Sheriff. 
 
 Another original paper thus preserved is addressed to the 
 high and petty constables of the said county (Merionethshire) 
 and to the churchwardens and overseers of the said county. 
 It announces the law of " the Realme" against Conventicles, 
 and gives the names of nearly thirty persons (Friends) " who 
 have unlawfully met together," and it orders distraints to be 
 made on them. John ap Thomas ap Hugh is among those 
 thus named. The paper is signed by Humphrey Hughes and 
 John Wynne, and is dated May 20, 1675. \ 
 
 1 The text of this paper is as follows :— 
 
 Merioneth, ss. To the high and pettte Constables of the Sayd Comity 
 
 and to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poore of each parish 
 
 within the sd County. 
 
 Whereas by late Act of parlam' made the two & twentieth Yeare of the 
 rcigne of our said august Lord the King that now is (was) Instituted An 
 Act to prevent and suppress seditious Conventicles, it is among other things 
 enacted that if any person of the age of sixteen years or upwards, being a 
 
Early History of Mcrion. 
 
 How fierce and vindictive was the official zeal which could 
 brand as "outlaws" earnest, God-fearing men, and sincere, 
 devout women, and yet how loath some of the local authori- 
 ties were to distress their old neighbors and associates, 1 are 
 both shown in the subjoined letter, viz.: — 
 
 DOLGELI/KY, YE 25lH OF THE 4MO., 1681. 
 
 My dear friend John ap Thomas: 
 
 These in haste may let thee understand that the persons 
 undernamed are outlawed and the Deputy Sheriffe hath 
 
 subject of this Real me, att any time after the tenth day of May next shall 
 be present at any assembly, conventicle, or meeting under colour or pretence 
 of any exercise of Religion in any other manner than according to the Lit- 
 argie and practice of the Church of England, in any place within the King- 
 dom of England, dominion of Wales or towne of Berwick on Tweede, at 
 which Conventicle meeting or Assembly there shall be five persons or more 
 assembled over and beside those of the same household. And whereas wee 
 the justices of the peace subscribed have been informed by the corporall 
 oathes of Owen david and Thomas Johnes, of Penmaen, in the Parish of 
 Llanfawr, and by notorious evidence and circumstance of the fact that on 
 the sixteenth day of May instant the persons in the schedule annexed — being 
 twenty-eight, assembled together in a house called by the name of Llwyn y 
 branar in the township of pen maen within the parish of llanfawr in the sd 
 couutie under colour or pretence of Religion not according to the litargie 
 and practise of y° Church of England, — contrarie to the sd Act. These 
 therefore in his Ma'ties name (we) chardge and command you all & eyther 
 of you yt immediately upon sight hereof you levie by way of distresse and 
 sale of goods and Chattels the sum appearing at each person's name men- 
 tioned in the schedule annexed, and the sum soe levied to pay in open court 
 att the next generall Sessions of the yeare to be holden for the countie of 
 Merioneth that we may distribute and pay the same as by Act of parlament 
 we are ordered and required to doe ; and of your proceeding therein you are 
 to give an account to his Ma'ties justices of the peace att their next generall 
 sessions of the yeare to be holden in this Countie, and there this our warrant 
 dated at llanfawr under our hands and seales this twentieth day of May 
 Anno Regni Caroli di Angliae vicessimo sextimo Annoq dom 1675. 
 
 HUMPHREY HUGHES. 
 
 JOHN WYNNE. 
 Twenty-eight names are on the paper, each fined ten shillings. 
 1 Resse, in his Sufferings of Friends, says that in Shrewsbury the office 
 of Informer against Friends was held so scandalous that Robert Sowtrell, a 
 cruel informer, " could not procure, among all the sons of Belial in the county 
 of Salop, any one that, would be a partuer with him in it." 
 
John ap Thomas and Ms Friends. 
 
 writts against them. Many of them are dead, those that are 
 alive wish them to look to themselves untill such time as 
 friends shall come together to confer in their behalfe, that 
 soe friends in their liberty may order some considerable 
 gratuity to the Deputy Sheriffe for his Kindnesse. Beside 
 those undernamed Elizabeth Williams 1 is particularly to look 
 to herself. There is a writt out of the Exchequer against her 
 as the Deputy Sheriffe informs me • Ye names are as fol- 
 loweth, vizt. : — 
 
 "William Prees. de Llandervol, Litter Thomas, de eadem 
 (or of y" same), John Davies, de ead', Lodovicus ap Robt. de 
 ead', Thomas ap Edward, de Llanvawr, Thomas Williams, de 
 ead', Elizabeth Thomas, de ead' widdow, Rob' John Evan, 
 de ead', Griffith John, de Gwerevol and Elizabeth his wife, 
 Hugh Griffith of the same & Mary his wife, Maurice Hum- 
 phrey Morgan of the same. 
 
 This is att present from thy dear friend and desires to Ex- 
 cuse my brevity. 
 
 LEWIS OWEN. 
 * * * * 
 
 There is also among these papers another letter written 
 about the same date by John David to his dear friend Richard 
 Davies giving notice of the seizure, by the sheriff, of oxen, 
 a cow, heifer, mare, and saddle, the property of Robert Evan. 
 
 1 The Elizabeth Williams here mentioned was one of the earliest and 
 most earnest of the preachers among Friends. With Mary Fisher she suf- 
 fered cruel persecution at Cambridge (England), A,D. 1C53, being at that 
 time fifty years old. Besse says : "The Mayor ordered them to be whipped 
 till the blood ran down their bodies . . which was done far more cruelly 
 than with the worse malefactors, so that their flesh was miserably torn. The 
 poor women then knelt down and prayed God to forgive their persecutors. 
 They were then thrust out of the town, no man daring to give them relief 
 though many did secretly commiserate their case." 
 
 Imprisonment in England followed this, and, later, in Wales she, with 
 several other Friends who were unwilling to take an oath of allegiance 
 though they asserted their loyalty to the ruling powers, were declared to 
 be proceeded against as '.' traytors and felons," the men to be hung and 
 quartered, the women to be burned, a sentence which, to the credit of 
 humanity, was never executed. 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 John David, though a Friend, was at the time high constable, 
 and Richard Davies was an eminent preacher. 
 
 Undeterred by persecution John ap Thomas continued to 
 attend his religious meetings at home and elsewhere, as the 
 following autograph letter shows. It is addressed to his wife, 
 and is as follows : — 
 
 London, 28th of 3mo., 1681. 
 
 My dear wife in dear remembrance of thee & the children 
 & our family doe I salute thee at this time & that thereby 
 also thou mayest understand that I am come to this Citty 
 upon y e 21st day of this instant, without any great difficulty 
 either as in reference to my health or.otherwise, blessed be 
 my God. 
 
 And Thomas Ellis 1 likewise came the same day and as the 
 Lord may order and make way we both intend to sett out 
 together the same time likewise (to witt) the next second 
 day. And since I came to the Citty my health continued 
 much alike to what it usually was when at home And as 
 to the affairs of truth and to give thee an account thereof I 
 hope (if the Lord will) to give it unto thee and the rest by 
 word of mouth in some measure . . it being that the 
 Lord's presence and appearance among his people here at this 
 time hath been beyond expression, & the number increasing 
 likewise from year to year as doth the power and presence 
 of the Lord in and among the precious sons of Zion. 
 
 I lay it upon thee to mind my dear love to my dear friends 
 II. R. & his; Robt. 0. & bis; E. Jo. & his; R. T>. k his; 
 H. G. & his ; G. J. & his ; Elizabeth John & hers ; Elizabeth 
 "Wyn and hers, with all the rest as if named them one by 
 one. ~Eo more at present, but my dear love to thee, & soe I 
 remayne thy dear and loving husband while 
 
 I am JOHN 
 
 AP THOMAS. 
 
 Then follow a few lines in the Welsh language. 
 * * * * 
 
 1 See note at end of this paper respecting Thomas Ellis. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 A few months later John ap Thomas and Edward Jones 
 for themselves and friends (seventeen families) purchased 
 5000 acres of land in the province of Pennsylvania. This 
 land which was at one time known as Merioneth, and later 
 as Lower Merion, extended from the Schuylkill, near the 
 Falls, towards where is now Merion meeting-house, including 
 this ground and extending westwardly beyond it. 
 
 In Holmes Map of the Province of Pennsilvania the fol- 
 lowing are given as the boundaries of this tract of land, which 
 he calls that of "Edward Jones & Company, being 17 fami- 
 lies," viz. : — 
 
 On the north by lands of William Shadow and John 
 Roberts, on the east by the Schuylkill River, on the south 
 by the Liberty Lands of Philadelphia, on the west by lands 
 of Charles Lloyd, Tho. Lloyd, John ap John, Richard Davis, 
 and John Bevan. . . A little to the northwest is the land 
 of Rowland Ellis. 1 
 
 1 In a patent from William Penn, bearing date 3d day of the 11 month 
 (January), 1703, confirming to the sons of John ap Thomas their father's 
 Pennsylvania estate, the 16th and 17th of September, 1681, are recited as 
 the dates of the original grant; and of John ap Thomas's i250 acres, one- 
 half are named as in the township of Merion, county of Philadelphia, and 
 the other 612£ acres in the township of Goshen, in the county of Chester. 
 
 Since this article was begun there has been placed in the hands of the 
 writer by the late Dr. Wm. Kent Gilbert a manuscript having as its title 
 " An indenture where severall are concerned," and bearing date " the first 
 day of Aprill, in the four and thirtieth year of our sovereign Charles, Second." 
 It recites the conveyance, etc., of five thousand acres, by William Penn, to 
 John ap Thomas and Edward Jones. It states that there have been two 
 severall Indentures y° one of bargain and sale for one year, bearing date 
 y e 16th day of September in the three and thirtieth year of his majesty's 
 reign ; the other . . . bearing date y« 1 7th day of the same month and 
 year, both made between William Penn and John ap Thomas and Edward 
 Jones; that for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred pound of 
 good and lawfull money of England to him in hand paid by J~ T. & Edw. 
 Jones he did grant ... the full portion of five thousand acres of land, 
 . . . y° first, within y° tract of land in the Province, in such manner . . . 
 as by certain concessions bearing date y° 11th day of July then last past ; 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 The subjoined is taken from the original manuscript, and 
 gives the names of John ap Thomas' friends and companions. 
 
 An account of tot sum of money every fftiend in Penllyn hath 
 Layd out to buy land in Pensylvania $• wt quantity of 
 Acres of Land each is to have and wt sum of Quit Herd 
 falls upon every one. 
 
 
 pounds. 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Quit Rent 
 
 John Tho' 
 
 25. 
 
 0. s 0. d 
 
 1250. 
 
 12.-6 4 
 
 Hugh Robt. 
 
 12.10.0. 
 
 625. 
 
 6.3 
 
 Edd Jones 
 
 6. 
 
 5.0. 
 
 3121 
 
 3.1i 
 
 Robt, David 
 
 6. 
 
 5.0. 
 
 3121. 
 
 3.1i 
 
 Evan Rees 
 
 6. 
 
 5.0. 
 
 312J. 
 
 3.11 
 
 John Edd 
 
 6. 
 
 5.0. 
 
 312J. 
 
 3.1i 
 
 Edd Owen 
 
 6. 
 
 5.0. 
 
 3121 
 
 8.1* 
 
 Will Edd 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Edd Rees 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 "Will Jones 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Tho Rich 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Rees John W. 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Tho Lloyd 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Cadd Morgan 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 John Watkin 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Hugh John 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. " 
 
 1.6* 
 
 Gainor Robt. 
 
 3. 
 
 2.6. 
 
 156*. 
 5000. 
 
 1.6* 
 
 
 £100. 
 
 0.0. 
 
 £2.10 
 
 paying one shilling for every hundred acres of y° said Five Thousand upon 
 the first day of March forever. . . . 
 
 The paper then recites that others than John ap Thomas and Edward 
 Jones have contributed towards this £100 of purchase-money, and that the 
 said J. T. & E. J. are as Trustees, they being personally responsible for the 
 amounts to which they have individually subscribed . . . that for the 
 £25 which John ap Thomas has subscribed he shall have 1250 acres, and 
 Edward Jones in like proportion ; and that the residue of the land is to be 
 of equal goodnesse. And should John ap Thomas happen to die before ye 
 said Edward Jones that E. J. should take no benefit of survivorship. 
 
 Signed A. D'.: 1682 
 
 by David Davius 
 (for his loving friend in Edward Jones absence). 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 [On the reverse— John ap Thomas Layd out £25.00 and he 
 is to have for yt sum 1250 Acres.] 1 
 
 Preparations were now made by John ap Thomas and 
 family and by the others named, for their departure for the 
 new world. But his health had long been failing him and 
 was now seriously impaired, and the intended voyage of 
 John ap Thomas and family was for a time relinquished. 
 Edward Jones, his relative, friend, and associate, with Ed- 
 ward Sees, William ap Edward and wife, and others — in all 
 forty — set sail from Liverpool in the ship Lyon, John Comp- 
 ton, Master, and they arrived safely in the Schuylkill. River 
 the 13th of 6 month, called August, A. D. 1682. By them 
 John ap Thomas "sent some effects and agreed with them to 
 make some provision against his intended coming." How 
 that voyage was accomplished is told in the subjoined letter, 
 Written by Edward Jones. 
 
 It is addressed as follows : — 
 
 These ff or his much esteemed friend John ap Thomas, of Llaith- 
 gwm neer Bala in Merionethshire, North Wales, to be left 
 ivith Job Boulten att the Boult and tun in Lumber Street, 
 London, and from thence to William Sky Butcher, in Oswes- 
 trie, to be sent as above directed and via London — with speed. 
 
 My endeared fr'd & brother my heart dearly salutes thee 
 in a measure of y e everlasting truth dear fr'd hoping that 
 these few lines may find thee in health or no worster yn I 
 left thee. This shall lett thee know that we have been 
 aboard eleaven weeks before we made the land (it was not 
 for want of art but contrary winds) and one we were in 
 coming to Upland, y e town is to be buylded 15 or 16 miles 
 up y e River. And in all this time we wanted neither 
 meate, drink or water though several hogsheds of water run 
 out. Our ordinary allowance of beer was 3 pints a day for 
 each whole head and a quart of water ; 3 biskedd a day & 
 
 1 Some of those whose names were on this paper had land in other parts 
 of the Province, in addition to what they here subscribed for. 
 
Early History of Morion. 
 
 some times more. We laid in about half hundred of biskedd, 
 one barrell of beere, one hogshud of water — the quantity for 
 each wrole head, & 3 barrells of beefe fur the whole number — 
 40 — ana we had one to come ashoare. A great many could 
 eat little or no beefe though it was good. Butter and cheese 
 eats well upon ye sea. Yc remainder of our cheese & butter 
 is little or no worster ; butter & cheese is at 6d per lb. here 
 if not more. We have oatmeale to spare, but it is well, yt 
 we have it, for here is little or no corn till they begin to sow 
 their corn, they have plenty of it. The passengers are all 
 living, save one child, yt died of a surfeit. Let no frds tell 
 that they are either too old or too young, for the Lord is 
 sufficient to preserve both to the uttermost. Here is an old 
 man about 80 years of age; he is rather better yn when he 
 sett out, likewise here are 3'oung babes doing very well con- 
 sidering sea diet. We had one tun of water, and one of 
 driuke to pay for at Upland, but ye master would faine be 
 pd for 13 or 14 hogsheds yt run out by ye way, but wo did 
 not, and about 3 quarters of Tunn of Goales we p'd for; we 
 laid in 3 Tun of Coales and yields no profit here. We are 
 short of our expectation by reason that y e town is not to be 
 budded at Upland, neither would y e Master bring us any 
 further, though it is navigable for ships of greater burthen 
 than ours. Y" name of town lots is called now "Wicoco; here 
 is a Crowd of people striving for y e Country land, for y" town 
 lot is not divided, & therefore we are forced to take up 
 y e Country lots. We had much adoe to get a grant of it, 
 but it Cost us 4 or 5 days attendance, besides some score of 
 miles we traveled before we brought it to pass. I hope it 
 will please thee and the rest yt are concerned, for it hath 
 most rare timber, I have not seen the like in all these parts, 
 there is water enough beside. The end of each lot will be 
 on a river as large or larger than the Dye at Bala, it is- called 
 Skool Kill River. I hope the Country land will within this 
 four days [be] surveyed out. The rate for surveying 100 
 Acres [was] twenty shilling, but I hope better orders will be 
 taken shortly about it. . . . 
 
John ajp Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 The people generally are Swede, which are not very well 
 acquainted. We are amongst the English which sent us 
 both venison and new milk, & the Indians brought venison 
 to our door for six pence ye quarter. And as for y" land we 
 look upon it [as] a good & fat soyl generally producing 
 twenty, thirty, & fourty fold. There are stones to be had 
 enough at the falls of the Skool Kill, that is where we are to 
 settle, & water enough for mills, but thou must bring Mill- 
 stones and y e Irons that belong to it, for Smiths are dear. 
 Iron is about two and thirty or fourty shillings per hundred; 
 Steel about Is. 6d. p. 1. Y e best way is to make y r picken 
 axes when you come over, for they cannot be made in Eng- 
 land, for one man will work with ym as much as two men 
 with ours. 
 
 Grindle Stones yield good profit here; ordinary workmen 
 hath Is. 6d. a day. Carpenters 3 or four shillings a day; 
 here are sheep, but dear, about twenty shilling a piece. I 
 cannot understand how they can be carried from England. . . 
 Taylors hath 5s. & 6s. a day. . . I would have you bring salt 
 for y e present use ; here is coarse salt, some times two measures 
 of salt for one of wheat, and sometimes very dear. Six penny 
 & eight penny nails are most in use, horse shoes are in no 
 use . . good large shoes are dear ; lead in small bars is 
 vendible, but guns are cheap enough. . . They plow, but 
 very bungerly, & yet they have some good stone. They use 
 both hookes and sickles to reap with. . . . 
 
 Time will not permit me to write much more for we are 
 not settled. I [send] my dear love and my wife's unto thy 
 selfe and thy dear wife and the rest of my dear friends, H. 
 Ro.; Rich. P. Evan Reese; J. ap E. Elizabeth Williams E. 
 & J. Edd; Gainor R.; Ro. On.; Jo. Humphrey; Hugh J. 
 The; and the rest of fr'ds as if named. 
 
 I remaine thy Lo' friend & Bro. while I am, 
 
 EDD JONES. 
 
 My wife desires thee to buy her one Iron Kettle 3s. or 
 3s. 6d. ; 2 pairc of shoes for Martha, and one paire for Jona- 
 than, let them be strong and large; be sure and put all yr 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 goods in cases, if they be dry they keep well, otherwise they 
 will get damp and mouldy. . . . 
 this is ye 2nd letter, Skool Kill River, 
 Te 26th of ye 6mo., 1682. 1 
 
 * * * * 
 
 1 The writer of this letter, Edward Jones, " Chirurgion," as ho is styled in 
 the official papers, lived more than fifty-five years in his new homo, as the 
 following note from Thomas Chalkley's Journal shows. "The 26th of the 
 12nio., 1737, being the first day of the week, there was buried at Morion, 
 Edward Jones, aged about 92 years. Ho was one of the first settlers of 
 Pennsylvania, a man much given to hospitality, a lover of good and virtuous 
 people and was beloved by them. I had a concern to be at that meeting 
 before I left my home at Frankford and before I heard of this Friend's 
 death. There were many hundreds at his funeral." (See The Philadel- 
 phia Friend, vol. 29, p. 396.) A little sketch is given of his wife Mary, 
 daughter of Dr. Thomas Wynne, and of her it is said ; " She was an approved 
 minister among Friends and zealous for the promotion of the truth. She 
 died 7mo., 1726." "Martha" aud "Jonathan" for whom the new shoes, 
 " strong and large," were asked in the postscript, lived to wear out them and 
 many successive pairs. Martha married at Merion Meeting-house, "26th of 
 10mo., called December," John Cadwalader, 1 and has left many descendants. 
 Jonathan married Gainor Owen, daughter of Robert Owen, and lived to be 
 more than ninety years old. His descendants still own the ancestral acres 
 
 near Wynuewood Station. 
 
 ***** 
 
 The longevity of this Welsh race is a remarkable one. Edward Jones, as 
 has been noted, lived to be ninety-two years old, his son Jonathan to be 
 more than ninety. James Jones died at the age of ninety-two. His grand- 
 son, the late Samuel W. Jones, of Philadelphia, died lLmo. 7,1873, aged 
 ninety-two, and a sister of the latter still lives — the light aud the life of her 
 home — now nearly ninety-two years old. 
 
 A branch of the same family settled in Montgomery County early in the 
 
 last century, and it is stated that six members of the family have reached 
 
 the age of ninety years. 
 
 ***** 
 
 Bala and its vicinity from whence these early Friends came is one of the 
 most beautiful regions in North Wales. Believed to have been a Roman 
 station, " it is situated at the head of Pemblemere or Bala Lake, one of the 
 largest sheets of water in Wales. It lies in the bosom of a fair valley 
 guarded by the peaks of the Berwyns, the Arenigs, Aran, Benllyn, and 
 their subordinate hills. The lake is a favorite with anglers, and affords 
 trout of large size, perch, pike, and a white fish called gwyniaid, found, in 
 
 i See note respecting John Cadwalader at end of this paper. 
 
John ap Thomas and Ms Friends. 
 
 John ap Thomas never came to Pennsylvania, but died, 
 3mo. 3, 1683. "Katharine Thomas, Ms widow, and family 
 arrived here in Xovember, 1683, and found one-half of the 
 purchase taken up in the place, since called Merion, and 
 some small improvement made on the same where we then 
 settled." 1 
 
 From all that is left on record, Katharine Thomas, or as 
 •she is frequently styled, Katharine Robert (her name before 
 her marriage) was a woman of great force of character and 
 of much Christian worth. These old manuscript letters show 
 her to have been connected by birth or marriage with many 
 of the oldest British families, names which are still held in 
 esteem in iSTorth Wales. 
 
 A letter from Robert Vaughan, bearing date 3mo. 1687, 
 addresses her as his " Loving Aunt," another is written from 
 Eyton Parke, Denbighshire, September 3, 1692, by her 
 "loving nephew," Edward Maurice, in which reference is 
 made to their near relatives, viz., the Wynnes, David Tale, 
 of Plas yn Tale, and to others. 2 
 
 Great as was the sacrifice, she does not seem to have hesi- 
 tated to leave her comfortable home and congenial friends for _ 
 the distant and wild lands beyond the sea. 
 
 Wales, only in these waters. The town and its neighborhood have long 1 
 been celebrated for the beauty of its people. Lord Lyttleton says he saw 
 here the prettiest girls he ever beheld." 1 
 
 It is an interesting fact, and one that may have had much to do in deter- 
 mining the plan of the streets for the new city of Philadelphia, that the 
 towns of Bala and of Caerwys, from the neighborhood of which many of the 
 early Welsh emigrants came, are among the few which have their streets 
 running at right angles with each other. 
 
 1 From a manuscript letter addressed to William Penn by her son Eobert 
 Jones. 
 
 8 For an account of the family of — 
 
 Vaughan, see Annals and Antiquities of the County Families of 
 
 Wales, p. 680. 
 
 Wynn, see '' " " " p. 712. 
 
 Yale of Plas yn Yale, see " " " p. 419. 
 
 Maurice of Denbighshire, see • " " " p. 412. 
 
 1 Murray's Hand Book of Wales, 1804. 
 
Early History of Mcrion. 
 
 The certificate of removal, furnished by the religious society 
 of which she was a member, is in these words. 
 
 To all whom it may concern: 
 
 Whereas, Katerin Robert, of Llaithgwm, in y° County of 
 Merioneth, widdow, hath declared before us her intention in 
 order to her and her families removal to Pensilvania in 
 America, wee thought it convenient to. certify in her and 
 their behalfeyt she is oneyt received the truth for these ten 
 years past, and that hath walked since answerable to the 
 truth according to her measure. She is a woman yt never 
 gave occasion to ye the enemies of truth' to open their mouths 
 against ye truth which she owned : her children taught and 
 educated in the fear of the Lord from their infancy Answer- 
 able to ye duty of parents, both professing and possessing ye 
 truth. 
 
 from our mens & womens 
 meetings ye 18 of 5mo. 1683. 
 
 Egbert Owen Edward Griffith Elizabeth Wm. Bowen 
 Richard Price Cadd Lewis Elizabeth John 
 
 Margaret Cadwalader 
 & others. 
 
 And so, in the 7th month, 1683, Katharine Thomas with 
 her sons, daughters, and servants, numbering, in all, twenty 
 persons, in the ship Morning Star, of Chester, Thomas Hayes, 
 Master, set sail for the New World. 
 
 It was a long and sad voyage, as these records in their 
 family Bible, made by her son Thomas Jones, show. "Our 
 dear sister Sydney departed this Life the 29th day of the 
 7th month, 1683, as we were a coming from ye said place 
 (Merionethshire) to Pennsilvania, on board the ship Morning 
 Star, Thomas Hayes, Master." A little later occurs another 
 sad record. "Our dear sister Mary departed this Life the 
 .18th of ye 8th month, 1683, at sea in the said Journey." 
 
 As has already been said the surviving members of the 
 fami'ly arrived here in November, 1683, and at once pro- 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 ceeded to their "country home called Gelli yr Cochiaid, 1 in 
 the township of Merion in ye county of Philadelphia." 
 
 Stricken and hereaved as she was, Katharine Thomas still 
 had left to her brave, manly sons and loving daughters, who 
 seem to have left nothing undone for her comfort that filial 
 .respect and affection could suggest. She lived fourteen years 
 longer, but does not seem to have been much from her home. 
 The marriage of her son Robert Jones, bachelor, to Ellen 
 Jones, spinster, took place at her house llmo. 3, 1693. Her 
 death is thus recorded in the family 1 Bible, by her son 
 Thomas Jones. "Our dear mother, Katherin Thomas, de- 
 parted this life the 18th day of y° 11 month, 1697, about 
 y e 2d or 3d hour in ye morning (as we thought), & she was 
 buryed next day." One month later her son Evan 2 died, and 
 there were left of her children, Katherine, Robert, Cadwala- 
 der, and Thomas ap John, or, as they now wrote the name, 
 Jones. 
 
 Katharine married Robert Roberts, son of Hugh Roberts, 
 an eminent minister in the Society of Friends, whose de- 
 scendants are well known and respected -in Philadelphia. 
 
 Cadwalader Jones engaged in the shipping trade, made 
 many voyages to Barbadoes and elsewhere, and seems to have 
 prospered largely. 
 
 Robert Jones was a useful member of both civil and 
 religious society, was a justice of the peace, a member of the, 
 Provincial Assembly, and altogether a very popular man. 
 His marriage with Ellen Jones, 3 spinister, has already been 
 noted. 
 
 1 " Gelli yr Cochiaid" — " the grove of the red partridges." 
 
 2 The minutes of Merion Preparative Meeting show that Evan Jones 
 bequeathed a small legacy to the Meeting for the use of its poor. 
 
 3 Ellen Jones was a sister of David Jones, of Bloekley, who with his wife 
 Katherin emigrated to Pennsylvania in the year 1699. As typical of the 
 character of the certificates furnished by their friends at home to these 
 removing to America, and as a type too of the character of those who 
 brought them, it may not be amiss to insert that of these two Friends. The 
 writer of this paper has often thought, when reading over these certificates 
 of membership and of removal, as they are given, in the original book of 
 records of Merion Meeting, that they constitute a roll of honor, such as can 
 
Early History of Marion. 
 
 Thomas ap John (his father's name reversed), or as he now 
 wrote it Thomas Jones, 1 was born in AVales and was quite a 
 
 be found iu the early history of scarce]^ any other people, and such as any 
 people may be proud of. 
 
 "At our monthly meeting att nendri-mawr, ye 24th day of ye 12mo. 1699. 
 To our dear friend* and brethren in Penusilvania, These are to certifie whi^m 
 it may concern that our friend David Jones and Katherin his wife are such 
 whom we dearly love and who were very servisable while they were here, 
 and of good report amongst their neighbours. So we Leave and recommend 
 them to y° Lord desiring their felicity. "We remain your friends, Robert 
 Vaughan, Ellis Lewis, Thomas Cadwalader and others." 
 
 Another certificate from a meeting at Haver-ford West repeats these 
 declarations of their service on truth's behalfe for many years, and of the 
 tender love and concern felt for them by the meeting now that they are 
 about to leave. 
 
 And, many years after, when they had done good service among the 
 Friends in their new home, the meeting held at Radnor gives to Katherin, 
 widow of David Jones, this certificate, addressed to the Monthly Meeting of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 " Dear ffriends : Our antient friend Katherin Jones, widdow, being settled 
 within the compass of your meeting requested of us a certificate to be joyned 
 thereto. After enquiry made these are to certific on her behalfe that she 
 has been a servisable member of our meeting for many years ; of a meek 
 and quiet spirit, solid, inoffensive Conversation. Thus we recommend her 
 to your Christian care, with desires that the same Powerful Arm that has 
 been her stay and preserver hitherto, may be her support to the end." . . 
 
 Their old acres have ever since been owned, and the site of their children's 
 home occupied by the descendants of this worthy couple. 
 
 1 The reader is doubtless aware that the word ap means son of, and that 
 the name of the father became thus the surname of the son. That this mode 
 of designation must have led at times to great confusion there can be no 
 doubt, and it could only have been continued among a people averse to 
 changes. 
 
 After their removal to America, as in some families before, this nomen- 
 clature was abandoned for the most part. The " ap John'' became " John's" 
 (son) or " Jones," " ap Edward" " Edward's," '' ap "William" "William's," 
 " ap Robert" " Robert's," the possessive apostrophe being soon omitted. In 
 other instances the final letter of ap became the first of the new name, thus 
 ap (or ab) Owen became Bowen, ap Evan, Bevan, ap Humphrey, Pumphrey, 
 ap Howell, Powell, ap Rees became Price,ap Hugh, Pugh. etc. The dis- 
 tinguished name of Wynne (Givynn) originally designated the complexion, 
 hair, or beard of its owner, which was/aiV or white ; while that of "Vaughan 
 (originally written Vyclian) means the younger or little one. Lloyd is 
 brown, gray ; Gough (goeh) rod. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 young man when, with his mother, he came to America. 
 Ho had, however, received a very thorough education, and, 
 as his correspondence shows, was equally at home with the 
 English and the Welsh languages. His handwriting is 
 remarkably clear, bold, and distinct, giving, at the first sight 
 even, the impression that it is by a man of great decision and 
 force of character. So early as the year 1 709 he was Clerk 
 of Haverford Monthly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, and 
 would seem to have been Treasurer of the meeting also. He 
 was an approved minister, and was largely made use of by 
 his neighbors in the settlement of estates, and as guardian 
 and protector of orphan children. 
 
 His letters, copies of which in his clear, bold, hand were 
 kept by him, contain many matters of interest. Among 
 them is one giving an account of the capture of some "Welsh 
 friends on their way to Pennsylvania, A. D. 1708-9. 1 
 
 ' As showing the many dangers to which the emigrants were exposed 
 this narrative has an historical interest. It occurs in a letter to his " loving 
 cousin Robert Vaughan." After referring to his brother Cadwalader, who 
 had made successful voyages to Jamaica, Barbadoes, and elsewhere, " and 
 who, through mercy, hath escaped well and not been taken hitherto, con- 
 'sideriug how troublesome it is," he says : " I suppose thou hast had an ac- 
 count of that Owen Roberts and his company wore, taken by the French. . . 
 They were taken about the 12th day of the 5 month within a few days' sail 
 (less than a week) good wind, of the Capes or mouth of the Delaware, being 
 all alive and pretty well and hearty, and were carried by them, some to 
 Martinico, and the rest to Guardalupa, islands belonging to the French. 
 And so from thence to Monsterat and Antigo, islands belonging to the 
 English, and so from thence here, where they arrived at Philadelphia about 
 y c 7th of 8th month last, excepting nine of the servants that were pressed 
 on board a ship (or man of war) at Monsterat. The names of them that 
 came from your neighborhood are Humphrey Williams, Gadder John, Robert 
 Arthur, Hugh Griffith, and James Griffith. The other three came from 
 'Llun and one from Dolgelley. Two died, a young maid related to Rowland 
 Ellis, at Antigo, and Morris Richard, the Tailor, at sea, coming hither. 
 There were several of them weakly on their arrival, and Edward Thomas' 
 'child dyed att that time. One, Thomas Owen also "that came then and lived 
 with Edward Roberts (remember my love to him, my schoolfellow, and old 
 acquaintance, if thou dost remember it and hast opportunity) dyed also on 
 the 2d mo. Owen Roberts went to Antigo in the 2d month last, and writt 
 from thence that he heard nothing of the servants. There was a great 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 Thomas Jones married Anne, daughter of Griffith John, 
 and was father of one son and several [daughters. 1 lie died 
 8mo. 6, 1727. In the memorial prepared by his Meeting 
 concerning him it is said, " his conduct was exemplary, his 
 ministry sound and edifying, inoffensive in life and conversa- 
 tion, arid zealously concerned for the promotion of the Truth. 
 He lived in love and unity among Friends, and died 8mo. 6, 
 1727." His will, a copy of which is among these old papers, 
 shows that, in addition to several hundred acres of land owned 
 by him in Merion, adjoining lands of Jonathan Jones (Wyne- 
 wood) he had also a tract of land in Goshen, Chester County, 
 Pa. (See note, p. 312.) It was by Thomas Jones that these 
 old and original papers, which have, been quoted, were 
 preserved, aud by his daughter transmitted to his descen- 
 dants. As has already been said, everything that is left by 
 him shows him to have been no ordinary man. Beside those 
 already given, among his manuscripts are drafts of the 
 Minutes of the Meetings of Ministers and Elders of Haver- 
 ford Monthly Meeting (A. D. 1709, el seg.), letters to their 
 relatives in Wales respecting fatherless children whose wel- 
 fare he had kindly looked after, " testimonies" concerning 
 deceased ministers of his own religious society, and other 
 interesting papers. 
 
 Faithful in the discharge of his duties to his fellow-men, 
 active in civil and in religious society, an earnest and yet 
 an bumble Christian, he proved of inestimable value to the 
 members of the new colony witb whom his lot was cast, and 
 was a worthy descendant of the old and noble race from 
 which he came. 
 
 1200 Arch St., Philadelphia. 
 
 storm or hurricane, and it is feared they are lost." Many other names are 
 mentioned in this letter, and short accounts given, doubtless of much interest 
 to their relatives at home. 
 
 1 Thomas Jones's daughter Sarah was married at Merion Meeting, 11 mo. 
 8, 1742, to Jonathan Jones, Jr., son of Jonathan and grandson of Edward 
 Jones. His daughter Katherin married Lewis, son of David and Katherin 
 Jones, of Bloekley. 
 
John ap Thomas and his Fniends. 
 
 The following extracts from tlie Minutes of Merion Monthly Meeting 
 show the intelligent care taken by these early Friends concerning their own 
 history and that of the settlement. Unfortunately these records cannot now 
 be found. 
 
 Att our Preparative Meeting held at Meirion Meeting-house y e 3d of y° 9 
 mo. 1704. Friends having considered of it and it having often been in the 
 view of many, think fitt and do recommend it to friends to bring an account 
 of themselves, children, servants and familys, and their removal to this 
 Country, and their places of abode in their native county and what else 
 may be serviceable or usefull to be kept in Remembrance to generations to 
 come — to the next Preparative Meeting in order to be recorded. 
 
 At the Preparative Meeting, 10 mo. 8, 1704, Edward Jones brought an 
 account of his and his wife's and family's removal to this country, place of 
 abode in their native country, and other remarkable passages in their Lives. 
 Rowland Ellis brought the like account concerning himself and his family 
 'in ordeV to be entered upon Record ; and the rest of Friends are desired to 
 bring in their accounts as soon as conveneently they can. 11 mo. 5, 1704. 
 •John Roberts brought in an account to this meeting of his place of abode 
 iu his native Country being Llun in Caernarvonshire, conviucement and re- 
 movall to this country, marriage and other remarkable passages of his life, 
 in order to entered upon Record. 
 
 The like account was brought concerning Thomas Wynne, of Cayrwys, in 
 Flintshire formerly, and his family, to this meeting, by Edward Jones. 
 
 12 mo. 2, 1704-5. An account was brought by Edward Rees to this meeting 
 •of his descent, Relations, Conviucement, marriage, and other occurrences of 
 his life, in order to be recorded. Richard Jones brought the like account 
 concerning his father Rees John, of Llwyn-Grevill,in the Parish of Glynn, 
 in the county of Merioneth, who removed to this Province with his wife and 
 children — to be recorded. 
 
 1 mo. 2, 1704-5. William Edward brought an account of his descent, 
 relations, marriage, conviucement, and removall to Pennsilvania, with his 
 wife and children, and the like account concerning his brother John Edward 
 and wife and family, and his brother Evan Edward. Richard Walter 
 brought the like account concerning himself, his wife, and children. 
 
 (Note to page 301.) 
 
 Rowland Ellis, " a man of note in the neighborhood where he resided 
 where he had a good estate," was born in Merionethshire, North Wales, in 
 the year 1G50. He became a member of the Religious Society of Friends 
 when about twenty-two years old, and had a largo share of the sufferings 
 which befell that people; all of which he bore with unfaltering constancy. 
 In 1086 he came to Pennsylvania to prepare for a settlement for his wife 
 and family, and purchased a tract of land a little to the north and west of 
 that of " Edward Jones and friends," what is now called Bryn Mawr, the 
 
Early History of Mcrion. 
 
 name being that of his ancestral home in Wales. He returned to America 
 bnnging his family with him in the year 1697. The certificate of removal 
 granted him by the meeting of which he was a member, bears date • Garth' 
 gynfawr, y 7th of 11th month, 1696. It says ofth'im and his wife Margaret 
 that " they are such as we dearly love and have' been serviseable to truth, 
 and ready and open hearted to receive and entertain the followers thereof" 
 and zealous for the Lord and his blessed cause ; carefully diligent for meet 
 ings and the affairs of the Church of God. We therefore commend them 
 unto you in the love of God, tenderly wishing that their removal may be Tor 
 their temporal and eternal felicity. Soe we thus for, and in. the said Bearers 
 behalfe, thought fit to acquaint friends where they may come ; and are your 
 friends and brethren." "Signed Lewis Owen, Rowland Owen, David Jones, 
 & others." 
 
 Rowland Ellis took an active part in the new colony, "being much con- 
 sulted because of his sound judgment in all cases civil or religious." The 
 memorial prepared by Gwynedd Monthly Meeting respecting him, says, he 
 had a gift in the ministry which was acceptable and to edification. He was 
 careful in educating his children religiously by timely endeavoring to incul- 
 cate in them the principles of piety and virtue ; a practice tending thereto 
 was having meetings frequently in his family, which he long continued. He 
 died at the house of his son-in-law, John Evans, in the eightieth year of his 
 age, and was buried at Friends' burying-ground, at Plymouth, 7mo. 1729. 
 
 (Note to page 302.) 
 
 Thomas Wynne was born in Caerwys, Flintshire, North Wales, and came 
 to America in the ship Welcome with William Penn. He took an active 
 part in the early history of Pennsylvania, was Speaker of the first Provincial 
 Assembly held in Philadelphia. He was also a preacher among Friends, 
 and wrote several controversial tracts, a few copies of which are still extant. 
 He died 1 mo. 16, 1692, and was buried in Friends' burying-ground, in 
 Philadelphia. In his last will and testament, a copy of which has been 
 kindly furnished the writer by Dr. William Kent Gilbert, bearing date the 
 15th day of the first month, 1691, he calls himself Thomas Wynne, practi- 
 tioner of physick. ne appoints his dear ffriends Thomas Lloyd, deputy 
 governor of this Province, and Griffith Owen, to be overseers of his will. 
 His daughter Mary was the wife of Edward Jones, who settled at Merion in 
 the year 1682, For one, among many notices of Dr. Wynne, see Philadel- 
 phia Friend, vol. 27, p. 228. 
 
 (Note to page 305.) 
 
 Hugh Roberts, or Hugh ap Robert, as his name is sometimes written, 
 was one of the most useful of the associates of William Penn in his new 
 settlement. Like his friend Rowland Ellis he had been greatly persecuted 
 at home because of his Quakerism, several instances of which are on record 
 in Besse's Sufferings of Friends (Article Wales), and his name is on the 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 writ by which several Friends are committed to prison, page 308 of this 
 paper. His name is next to that of John ap Thomas in the list of " Friends 
 of Pennllyn who have laid out money to buy land in Pennsylvania" (page 
 313). The certificate of membership, granted him by his friends at home, is: 
 " from our Monthly Meeting of Penllin, ye 2d of 5 mo. 1683," and speaks of 
 him as "Hugh Roberts, of the Parish of Llanvawr,in the county of Merion- 
 ethshire, North Wales." It says of him, that " he hath received, declared, 
 and owned the truth for seventeen years, and walked since blameless in con- 
 versation, and peaceable in his place upon all accounts ; he is of good repu- 
 tation among his neighbours and acquaintances. His wife is like minded, 
 walking in the truth, and a good example to others in life and conversation; 
 their children educated in the fear of the Lord from their infancy." Almost 
 immediately after his arrival on these shores Hugh Roberts began an active 
 public life, both in Church and in State. His name occurs very frequently 
 on the minute-books of his meeting as appointed to some service. Before 
 the building of the Merion Meeting-house, religious meetings were often 
 held at his house, and, until the year 1695, nearly, all the, marriages among 
 Friends were solemnized at the house of Katharine, widow of John ap 
 Thomas, or that of Hugh Roberts, probably because they were large and 
 convenient for the young people. After 1695 the meeting-house at Merion 
 was used for that purpose. 
 
 Nor were his religious services confined to his own neighborhood. He 
 visited, as a minister of the gospel, the meetings of Friends in " Maryland, 
 Long Island, Rhode Island, and New England," besides making two religi- 
 ous visits to Great Britain, in one of which he writes, he met at Bristol with 
 his dear friend William Penn, and that they were not a little glad to see 
 each other. 
 
 He was a man of much enthusiasm — "a live man"— as would be said 
 nowadays, and his journals and letters abound with the evidence of it. He 
 seems especially to have enjoyed his visits to his old neighborhood'in Wales 
 where, but a few years before the meeting-houses were rudely closed by the 
 authorities, but where now they wore not only open but were flocked to as 
 doves flock to their windows. In one of his letters, A. D. 1697-8, he says : 
 " had a good meeting at James Lewis's, thence to Dolobran, where I received 
 abundance of love from Charles Lloyd and his wife . . back to Penllyn 
 to a meeting at Robert Vaughan's — Ye house which was one of the 
 greatest in ye county could not contain I believe one-half of the people. 
 So we kept it out of doors and a blessed meeting it was." He was a man 
 of warm, affectionate disposition, full of love for his friends, and not fearing 
 to express it. He had the pen of a ready writer, as his letters, journals, and 
 numerous " testimonies" concerning his deceased friends all show. That 
 respecting his dear friend John ap Thomas has been given in full in the text 
 (pp. 305-307). Many others are on record, all breathing the same loving 
 spirit. 
 
 A memorial concerning him closes with these words : " he died the 18th 
 
Early History of Merion. 
 
 of 6 mo. 1702, and on the 20th was interred at Merion, after which a large 
 meeting was held, wherein the Lord's presence was sweetly enjoyed, and 
 several living testimonies borne concerning his faithfulness to God, and 
 satisfaction of his eternal well being." 
 
 A part of the estate, originally purchased in Pennsylvania by Hugh 
 Roberts, was that now included in our public park at Pairmouut. In the 
 year 1721 a portion of this property, including that now known as George's 
 Hill, was purchased of Edward Roberts, son of Hugh Roberts, by Edward 
 George and wife, and by them and their descendants owned and occupied 
 until, by the munificent liberality of the late Rebecca and Jesse George, it 
 passed into the possession of the Park Commissioners of Philadelphia, and 
 'now forms one of the most attractive features of the Park. 
 
 Jesse George, to whom Philadelphia owes so much for this and many 
 other generous gifts — our own Historical Society having received from his 
 estate a legacy of five thousand dollars — was . the lineal descendant of 
 Richard and Jane George, natives of Llangerig: Montgomeryshire, North 
 Wales. Richard George died at Chester, Pa., in 1708, soon after his arrival 
 here, leaving a widow and many children. Of these, Edward bought of 
 Edward Roberts three hundred acres of land, a part of which he sold to his 
 brother David George. Here the families have lived for many generations, 
 and from this ancestral estate Jesse and Rebecca George gave to Philadel- 
 phia the land now so highly prized as George's Hill. 
 
 For these last facts, and many other matters of interest in this paper, the 
 writer is indebted to John M. and Joseph W. George, of Overbrook. They, 
 too, are descendants of Richard and Jane George, and of William ap 
 Edward, one of John ap Thomas's associates, and are related to most of the 
 old families of Merion. Having in their possession many of the old records 
 of Merion Meeting, they have most kindly aided the writer in his researches, 
 and thus have enabled him to present to the public what, without such aid, 
 it would have been impossible for him to do. 
 
 (Note to page 311.) 
 
 Thomas Ellis, who is referred to in a letter by John ap Thomas (page 311) 
 and who has left a testimony concerning his dear.fricnd, was one of the most 
 eminent of the early Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania. An interesting sketch 
 of him is given by Dr. George Smith in his History of Delaware County, 
 page 458. He held many public trusts, and at the timet of his death, which 
 occurred 1688, was Register General of Pennsylvania. 
 
 The late Nathan Kite, of Philadelphia, who has contributed a large 
 amount of information respecting the early settlers of Pennsylvania, which 
 may be found scattered through the numbers of the Philadelphia Fnend, 
 vols ''7 (1854) to vol. 35 inclusive, gives many interesting facts concerning 
 Thomas Ellis before he had left his home in Wales. Among these he records 
 that Richard Davies and Thomas Ellis, both of them ministers among 
 Friends, having preached at a meeting at Abcrystwith, all the congregation 
 
John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 were taken prisoners. R. D. and T. E. then wrote to the chief magistrate 
 begging him to accept of them and discharge the others. No answer was 
 received by them, but the constable was directed to do so, and the prisoners 
 were discharged. Richard Davies had a short time before offered himself in 
 place of his younger friend Thomas Ellis, who had beeu sent to prison from 
 the meeting-house at Aberyatwith. The magistrates were much affected by 
 this unselfish conduct, and both Friends were released. Nor did its effects 
 stop here, the high constable and deputy sheriff were so deeply impressed 
 by it that both soon after became Friends, and persecution ceased in Car- 
 diganshire. Thomas Ellis died in 1688 and was buried at Haverford. His 
 daughter married Robert Wharton in 1701. 
 
 (Note to pare 317.) 
 
 John Cadwalader was quite a young man when he came to Pennsylvania, 
 and seems to have been greatly beloved by his older-friends at home. His 
 certificate of membership and removal is dated from Pembroke, Wales, where 
 he had spent several years at school. His friends say of him, "we have 
 known him since the age of thirteen, he hath had the reputation of an apt 
 scholar, and hath attained to as good a degree of learning as any at the 
 school. His demeanour hath been sober and innocent." 
 
 He appears to have been cordially welcomed by the Friends in the new 
 colony, and was married at Morion Meeting, 10 mo. 26, 1699, to Martha, 
 daughter of Edward Jones, and granddaughter of Dr. Thomas Wynne. In 
 a recent biographical sketch of one of his descendants it is said of John 
 Cadwalader that he removed to Philadelphia, and "in July, 1705, was 
 admitted as a freeman of the city ; in October, 1718, he was elected a member 
 of the Common Council, and in 1729 a member of the Provincial Assembly, 
 which offices he held until his death in 1733." 
 
 A preacher among Friends, of the same name, very eminent in the early 
 religious history of the Province, died at Tortola, in the West Indies, while 
 on a religious visit to that place, A. D. 1742. A short memorial respecting 
 him by Abington Meeting, of which he was a member, may be found in 
 " Collection of Memorials of Deceased Ministers" (Philad. 1786). A more 
 extended notice of him, and of his wife Mary Cadwalader, is given in 
 " Memoirs of Friends, eminent for piety and virtue, of the Yearly Meeting of 
 Philadelphia, from the settlement of the Colony to the present time (1770)," 
 by John Smith, of Burlington, N. J. These manuscript memoirs, the pro- 
 perty of the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, and which are 
 probably known to but few persons, contain a vast : amount of information 
 respecting the character of the earlier settlers of Pennsylvania and New 
 Jersey. Their writer was a son-in-law of James Logan, of Stenton, and a 
 brother of Samuel Smith, the author of a History of New Jersey. 
 
 The name "Cadwalader" has long been a historicone in Wales, and it is 
 said to signify in the British language — Valiant in battle. 
 
AN OLD WELSH PEDIGREE. 
 
 A Sequel to John ap Thomas and his Friends. 
 
 BY JAMES J. LEVICK, M.D. 
 
 With modern historians the authentic history of Britain 
 begins at the invasion of the island by Julius Osesar B. C. 55. 
 
 Such, however, was not the case among the Britons two 
 hundred years ago. They accepted, as authentic, the records 
 which had existed in Wales for centuries. To them there 
 was no more reason to question their own early history than 
 there was to doubt that of the early Greeks, the Egyptians, 
 or even, perhaps, that of the Israelites themselves. 
 
 That Britain had been inhabited for centuries before Caesar's 
 day, by an intelligent and brave people, no one doubted. That 
 these brave men could not have thus lived century after cen- 
 tury without doing some of those deeds, the record of which 
 makes history, was admitted by all. It needed but an 
 authoritative chronicler of these deeds to place their history 
 on an equality with that of other nations of antiquity. 
 
 Such a chronicler they had in a high dignitary of the 
 church, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Bishop of St. Asaph, whose 
 "Chronicle, that is to say the histories of the kings of the 
 isle of Britain and their names from the first to the last," 
 was accepted by them as full, clear, and, satisfactory. 
 
 Geoffrey lived about the middle of the twelfth century, 
 but his work was itself a translation from an older history 
 written A. D. 670, by Bishop Tysilio, who, in his turn, it 
 was said, owed much of his information to a still more 
 ancient manuscript preserved in Armorica. In these chron- 
 icles the history of the Britons for many centuries before 
 the Roman invasion is recorded; and the very origin of 
 their race is traced back to what would now be regarded as 
 the region of mythology if not that of the merest fancy 
 itself. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 To these authors, and to their readers also, JEneas the 
 Trojan, from whom the Britons came, was no more the mere 
 creation of the poet Virgil than Henry the Eighth to us is 
 but a mere ideal fancy of Shakespeare; and even Dardan, 1 
 Jupiter, and Saturnus were to them not mere ideal gods, but 
 once-living men, who had been deified because of their divine 
 attributes of character. They bore to the ancient Britons 
 much the same relation that Saint Patrick does to the modern 
 Irishman, or Saint Louis to the modern Gaul. In a letter 
 written by Lewis Morris, a celebrated "Welsh antiquary, bear- 
 ing date April 22, 1760, published in The Cambrian Register, 
 1795, its author says: "I see nothing in it (Geoffrey's history) 
 but what may very well pass with a candid reader as a 
 national ancient history, equal to most we have in any other 
 language, of the origin of nations ; for, at best, they are all 
 involved in darkness, the writings of Moses excepted; and 
 surely the ancient traditions of any nation are far preferable 
 to any modern guesses." 
 
 In the history of Wales, "written originally by Caradoc, 
 of Lhancarvan, Englished by Dr. Powell, and augmented by 
 W. Wynne:" London, 1774 (Philadelphia Library, 8109, 0.), , 
 the author discusses the truthfulness of the early history of 
 Britain as given by Geoffrey, of Monmouth, and by the 
 Roman historians, to which the reader curious in such 
 matters is referred. Much interesting information concern- 
 ing the Princes of Wales may also be found in The History 
 of Wales, by Richard Llwyd, gent., Shrewsbury, 1823 (P. 
 Library, 9017, 0.). 
 
 A very rare and remarkable book is " The Ancient and 
 Modern British and Welsh History, beginning with Brute 
 and continued until King Charles the first. By Percy En- 
 derbie, Monmouthshire, May 16, 1662." This interesting 
 book, a folio of more than 350 pages, belonging to the Library 
 of Friends of Philadelphia, gives, in detail, the history of 
 the British kings, "of the legendary period of Britain," as 
 
 1 According to these old authors Dardaa was King of Phrygia, B. C. 1487. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 the late Professor Henry Reed 1 styled it, with an apparent 
 accuracy and minuteness, which could not be surpassed by 
 the chronicler of passing events. To its author, and to other 
 of the early historians of Britain, apply the words of Pro- 
 fessor Reed: "they dealt with their eras of a thousand years 
 with a magnificent assurance, and marshalled kin°-s and 
 dynasties of kings in complete chronology and exact succes- 
 sion. They carried their elaborate genealogy so far beyond 
 the Olympiads that by the side of it Greek and Roman his- 
 tory seems but a thing of yesterday. British antiquity is 
 made to run parallel with Egypt's ancient lore, and with the 
 prophets and kings and judges of Israel. It stops at the 
 Deluge, and is everything but antediluvian." 
 
 Percy Enderbic in his history begins with Brute, who is 
 the great-grandson of ^Eneas, the Trojan, and who, according 
 to our author, landed on the shore of Albion in the time of 
 the prophets Eli and Samuel (B. C. 1136). Dividing the 
 kingdom between his three sons, they and their descendants 
 reigned as kings of Britain, and it is they whose prowess, 
 fortunes, and personal history are given. 
 
 Early among them was "Leir, son of Bleudud" (A. M. 
 4338), whose career with that of his three daughters Gono 
 rilla, Regan, and Cordeilla is minutely depicted. From this 
 narrative, be it history or be it tradition merely, Shakspeare 
 formed his tragedy of King Lear, "one which he felt the 
 power of his imagination could make as universal and as 
 perpetual as the human heart." Of these seventy kings 
 whose histories are here, and by Geoffrey, so carefully given, 
 Milton, in his history of England, says: "I neither oblige 
 the belief of others nor hastily subscribe my own . . and yet 
 that those old and inborn names of successive kings should 
 never have been real persons, or done in their lives at least 
 some part of what has been so long remembered, cannot be 
 .thought of without too strict an incredulity." 
 
 That this incredulity did not exist, as has been said, until a 
 
 1 Lectures on English History, hy Henry Reed, late Professor in the 
 University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1855. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 comparatively modern date, is shown on page 323 of Powell's 
 History (op. cit.), where it is stated, with all the gravity of a 
 sincere belief in its results, that King Henry 7th, being, by 
 his grandfather Owen Tudor, descended out of Wales, did 
 direct a commission to the abbot of Lhan Egwest, Dr. Owen 
 Pool, canon of Hereford, and John King, herald at arms, to 
 make inquisition concerning the pedigree of the said Owen 
 Tudor, who coming to "Wales made a diligent inquiry into 
 the matter; and by assistance of Sir John Leyaf, Gutten 
 Owen Bardh, Gruffyd ap Llewelyn ap Efan Fychan and 
 others, in the consultation of the British books of pedigrees, 
 they drew up an exact genealogy of Owen Tudor, which 
 upon their return they presented to the King. 
 
 This pedigree, which has doubtless been of much aid in 
 the preparation of other Welsh genealogies, is given in full 
 on pages 331 to 342 of Powell's History, and in such an 
 authoritative manner as doubtless was satisfactory to the 
 King, and gratifying to the pride of every Welshman. 
 
 In it the names of more than fifty kings or princes of 
 Britain are recorded. 
 
 This love of ancestral history, which more or less exists in 
 every breast, was by the Welsh people in every way fostered. 
 Family records were carefully preserved, and noble birth and 
 generous descent esteemed above all things. "His pedigree 
 was the Briton's title to dignity and to property; the princes 
 and great men, precisely after the analogy of all early Orien- 
 tal nations, kept their bards or genealogists, filling the func- 
 tions of general annalists, musicians, and moralists ;" and 
 almost every man from king to commoner had his written 
 pedigree extending far back into the shadowy past. Indeed 
 so fully recognized is this trait of the Welsh character that 
 the expression "as long as a Welsh pedigree," has passed into ' 
 a proverb. 1 
 
 1 That this careful attention to their genealogical records was not merely 
 an aesthetic sentiment, but a matter of necessity, is shown in the subjoined 
 note. 
 
 "Among a people where surnames were not in use and where the right of 
 property depended upon descent, an attention to the pedigree was absolutely 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 It might well be supposed that the early Quakers, who 
 had renounced the pomps and vanities of the world, would 
 regard with indifference or aversion these "vain genealogies" 
 which were so eminently fitted to gratify the pride of the 
 creature. Such, however, does not seem to have been the 
 case in Wales, and the early pedigrees of the Lloyds of Dolo- 
 bran, of ap Thomas ap Hugh, of ap Evan (Bevan), of the 
 Wynnes, Vaughans, and others were as carefully preserved 
 by their peaceful Quaker descendants as they had been by 
 their warlike ancestors. Even in the early printed Memorials 
 of deceased Friends of Philadelphia" Yearly Meeting, in 
 several of them it is stated, apparently with much satisfac- 
 tion, that the subject of the memorial "belonged to an 
 antient family." (See also note to page 324, vol. iv., of this 
 Magazine.) 
 
 All this corresponds too with what is the concurrent testi- 
 mony of Gough, Besse, Proud, and others, that many of the 
 early converts to Quakerism in Wales, like Penn in England, 
 and Barclay in Scotland, were men of strong intellect and of 
 good social position. In and about Denbighshire, Merioneth- 
 shire, and to some extent in Pembrokeshire this was strik- 
 ingly the case; indeed a close investigation shows that these 
 early converts were, the most of them,: members of the same 
 social circle, "old friends and school fellows," as one of them 
 puts it; one or more of whom having become Friends their 
 leavening influence was soon felt by the others. 
 
 essential; and as the prevention of forgery was of the utmost importance it 
 was requisite that the investigation of genealogy! should be vested in a body 
 of officers in whom could be reposed entire confidence. Such officers were 
 known as 'Arwyddreirdd,' i. c, Herald Bards, whose duty it was to register 
 Arms and Pedigrees as well as to undertake the embassies of State. In the 
 course of time these were succeeded by the Poets or Prydydd. One of their 
 duties was to attend the funeral of any man of high descent . . to give his 
 elegy and to enter this on his genealogical register. This elegy was to con- 
 tain truly and at length his genealogy from his 'eight immediate ancestors. 
 The particulars of the elegy were then registered in the Book of the Herald 
 Bards and a faithful copy was to be delivered to the heir, one month from 
 the day of the funeral."— From Lineage of the Lloyd and Carpenter 
 Family by 0. Perrin Smith, Library of Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 John ap Thomas, to whom reference has been made in a 
 former number of this Magazine, 1 was an earnest, consistent, 
 self-sacrificing Friend, but he clung to his ancestral history 
 with all the tenacity and pride of a genuine Welshman. The 
 subjoined genealogical paper appears to have been owned by 
 his family ten years after he became a Friend, and, with 
 whatever incredulity it may be received by others, they do 
 not seem to have doubted it. 
 
 It is put on record here as a remarkable specimen of a 
 Welsh pedigree, and without claiming anything more for it, 
 it certainly deserves the respectful consideration which age 
 should always command, the manuscript having crossed the 
 ocean with the first emigrants, and having been carefully 
 preserved by their descendants, in the family to which it 
 belongs, for nearly two hundred years. 
 
 1 Vol. iv. p. 301 et seq. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 Pedigree of John ap Thomas, ap Hugh, 
 of Merionethshire, North Wales. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 Marchweithian boareth guwls a 
 Lyon Rampant Argent Armed 
 Langued Azure. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree; 
 
 Marchweithian . . 
 
 ap Llud 
 
 ap Lien 
 
 ap Llanimod angel 
 
 ap Pasgen 
 
 ap Urien redeg 
 
 ap Cynvarch 
 
 ap Meirchion gul 
 
 ap Grwst Ledlwm 
 
 ap Cenan 
 
 ap Ooel godebog 
 
 ap 'IVpvau 
 
 ap Deheulraint 
 
 ap Tudbwyll 
 
 ap Urban 
 
 ap Gradd 
 
 ap Eunedlwych 
 
 ap Rydeyrn 
 
 ap Endigaid 
 
 ap Endeym 
 
 ap Enid 
 
 (ne Elvid o enw arall) 
 
 ap Kndog 
 
 ap Endollen 
 
 ap Avallach 
 
 ap Affleth 
 
 ap Beli mawr 
 
 ap Monogen 
 
 ap Oappoir 
 
 (ne Pabo o enw arall) 
 
 ap Pyrr 
 
 ap Saml Penissel 
 
 ap Rhytherich 
 
 ap Eidiol 
 
 ap Arthvael 
 
 ap Seissyllt 
 
 ap Owain 
 
 ap Caph 
 
 ap Bleuddut 
 
 ap Meiriawn 
 
 ap Gorwst 
 
 ap Clydno 
 
 ap Clydawr 
 
 ap 111 id 
 
 ap Urien 
 
 ap Andrew 
 
 ap Kerryn 
 
 (ne Thoryn o enw arall) 
 
 ap Porrex 
 
 ap Ooel 
 
 ap Cad dell 
 
 ap Gerant 
 
 ap Elidr mawr 
 
 ap Morudd 
 
 ap Dan 
 
 ap Seissyll 
 
 ap Cyhelyn 
 
 ap Gwrgan sunsdrwth 
 
 ap Beli 
 
 ap Dyfnwal moch mud 
 
 ap Dodion 
 
 ap Cynvarch 
 
 ap Aedd mawr 
 
 ap Antonius 
 
 ap Seissyllt 
 
 ap Gorwst 
 
 ap Riwallon 
 
 ap Cunedda 
 
 ap Regan 
 
 Ferch Lyr 
 
 ap Bleuddut 
 
 ap Rum baladr bras 
 
 ap Lleon 
 
 ap Brutus Darianlas 
 
 ap Evroc Cadarn 
 
 ap Membyr 
 
 ap Medoc 
 
 ap Locrinus 
 
 ap Brutus 
 
 ap Silvius 
 
 ap Ascanius 
 
 ap ^Eneas 
 
 ap Anchises 
 
 ap Capius 
 
 ap Assaracus 
 
 ap Tros 
 
 ap Ericthonius 
 
An Old Welsh, Pedigree. 
 
 ap Dardan 
 ap Jupiter 
 ap Saturnus 
 ap Coelus 
 ap Ciprius 
 ap Chctim 
 ap Javan 
 ap Japheth 
 
 ap Noahen 
 ap Lamech 
 ap Methusalem 
 ap Bnos 
 ap Seth 
 ap Adda 
 ap Duw. 
 
 This pedigree, as has been said, is here put on record 
 merely as a rare relic of the past. To the antiquarian its 
 analysis is an interesting one, which, however, cannot be 
 more than imperfectly attempted here. 
 
 From John ap Thomas, A. D. 1682, to Marchweithian, six- 
 teen generations, it was doubtless compiled from written 
 records and family traditions and the aid of the herald bards, 
 and may, without any great strain of credulity, be regarded 
 as authentic. Of Marchweithian, the eleventh of the fifteen 
 tribes of North Wales, full and satisfactory histories may be 
 found in "The Cambrian Register," for 1795, page 151 (Phila- 
 delphia Library, 8650, 0.), and in the "Annals and Antiqui- 
 ties of the County Families of Wales" (Philadelphia Library, 
 20,319, O.). 1 
 
 1 These fifteen tribes or nobles of North "Wales held their land by Baron 
 Service, and were bound to particular ministerial attendance on their Princes 
 besides what they were in general obliged to as subjects by homage and 
 fealty. 
 
 " Marchweithian, the eleventh of these fifteen tribes of North "Wales, was 
 called Lord of Is-Aled (i. e., of the lower (river) Aled) ; his lands were Car- 
 wed Fyndd Dincadfael, Frees, Berain, Llyweni, Gwytherin, and many other 
 townships within the said hundred of Is-Aled. Pennant, in his tour of 
 "Wales, says he lived A. D. 720. The families descended from him are many, 
 but the most eminent are these : Berain, now incorporated to the Llyweny 
 by the marriage of Catherine, daughter and heir of Tudur ap Robert Fychan, 
 Esq., of Berain, with Sir John Salusbury, of Llyweni, Knight. ... Of 
 Marchweithian are descended also "Wynn of Foelas, Price of Rhiwlas, Ellis 
 Price of Plas Jollin . . Vaughan of Pant Glas, and many others. March- 
 weithian gave for his arms a Lion Rampant Argent, armed azure." 
 
 Catherine of Berain was one of the most famous women of Wales. She had 
 four husbands, " each of a high and honorable house." A story is told of her, 
 probably mere gossip, that on the way home from the funeral of her first 
 husband she was asked in marriage by Morris Wynn, Esq., of Gwydir, but 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 From Marchweithian to Brutus, seventy-seven generations, 
 it accords, for the most part, with the pedigrees of others of 
 . the fifteen tribes, sprung as many of them were from a com- 
 mon ancestry, an official illustration of which is seen in the 
 return of the Commission appointed by Henry 7th, which has 
 already been referred to (Powell's Hist, op. cit.). 
 
 That this old manuscript genealogy was made indepen- 
 dently of this last, is, in other words, not a mere copy, is 
 proved by the fact that, in some instances, it differs from it, 
 and, what is interesting to note is, that where discrepancies 
 occur the correctness of the old manuscript is proved by the 
 line of descent as given in Percy Enderbie's History of Wales 
 (op. cit.). In this book the histories of about fifty of those 
 named in the old paper are given. 1 
 
 From Brute to Chetim (Kittim), the manuscript follows the 
 accepted record of mythological history, Silvius, or as it is 
 
 excused herself as she had just become engaged to Sir Richard Clough ! An 
 intimation was, however, given her suitor that were she ever again a widow 
 there might be a hope for him. In due course of time this hope was fulfilled, 
 and she became his wife, surviving him some years, and marrying for her 
 fourth husband Sir Edward Thelwall, of Plas y Ward. "What with her many 
 husbands and numerous progeny, she was often known as " Mam Cymru," 
 " the Mother of "Wales." Her picture is given in " Yorke's Royal Tribes," 
 and " indicates much intelligence and firmness of character." 
 
 1 The only coat of arms given in the old pedigree is that of Marchweithian 
 [who] " beareth gules a Lyon rampant armed langued azure." In En- 
 derbie's History of Wales those of many others who are on the old paper are 
 given. It will be noticed that, like that of Marchweithian, they are nearly 
 all but modifications of the arms of their great ancestor Brute. 
 
 Brutus. Brute. Or a Lyon 1 rampant gard Gules on his neck and 
 
 shoulders 3 crowns in pale. 
 Locrinus Arma paterna 
 *Jees ap Tewdor Gules a Lyon rampant loithin a border endented or 
 
 incensed azure. 
 Rees Goch — Argent a Lyon rampant. Sable Coronne Or 
 Enyon Glyd Gules a Lyon rampant argt within a border of y c 2 d ogresse. 
 
 The two following, though on the paper, differ from the preceding ; 
 
 Urien Redeg. Arg a chevron between 3 ravens Sable 
 Coel godebog Azure. 3 crowns or in pale 
 
 1 The orthography and punctuation are that of tho original. 
 
An Old Welsh Pedigree. 
 
 sometimes written lulus, being the son of Ascanius, the son 
 o'f ./Eneas, the son of Anchisos, and so on through Erictho- 
 nius, Dardan to Ciprius the father of Coelus. Here sacred 
 and profane history become interlinked, and Kittim, the 
 father of Ciprius, is recorded as the son of Javan, the son of 
 Japheth, the son of Noah, thus agreeing with Genesis, chap. 
 x., v. 1-5. 
 
 " The sons of Japheth were Gomer . . and Javan. And 
 the sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and 
 Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided 
 in their lands ; every one after his tongue after their families 
 in their nations." 
 
 Ffom this to its conclusion the old manuscript follows, of 
 eourse, the sacred record.