Griffith, Capt. Walter (b.1727)
The second son of Walter Griffith of Brongain in the parish of Llanfechain in Montgomeryshire. After an education at Oswestry Grammar School he began his career in the Royal Navy at the age of 16 when he sailed in the Duke under Commodore Trevor. Later he transferred to the Hector and it was in this ship that he took part in an engagement with a French squadron including eight ships-of-the-line. His coolness in this action earned him a berth as Midshipman and a voyage to Jamaica where he survived a shipwreck. He was later promoted Lieutenant and saw further action in Lord Anson's squadron. In 1759 he was given a temporary command and was then made a Post Captain with his own ship HMS Gibralter. He saw further action against the French and was successful in a bitter action with L'Étoile privateer. He saw further service against Spain, and then in the War of American Independence. He distinguished himself in action against the rebelling American forces and against the French in the West Indies. It was in this latter theatre of war that he met his death while commanding the Conquerer of 94 guns, his head being severed from his body by a shot from the shore.
[MW]
[MW]
Griffiths, Anne (fl.1832)
A renowned hymn writer. She was born at Dolwar-fach near Meifod in 1776. Ann’s life was one of complete dedication to God and the Methodist cause. Dolwar-fach became a centre of Methodist preaching and was officially registered as a place of worship in 1803. Ann married Thomas Griffiths, a farmer from the parish of Meifod and a Methodist Elder, and they made their home at Dolwar-fach in the parish of Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa, Montgomeryshire. A daughter was born to them in July 1805 but the child lived for only a fortnight and Ann died shortly afterward.
Ann Griffiths is remembered on account of her letters and hymns, and is highly regarded despite the fact that only about seventy four of her verses have been preserved. Among the finest and best known of her hymns are “Er mai cwbl groes I nature...”, “O! am gael ffydd I edrych...”, “Dymer baball y cyfamod...”and “Wele’n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd...”. Her longest hymn, “Rhyfedd, rhyfedd gan angylion...”, has been described as one of the greatest religious poems in any European Language. Few of her hymns were ever written down and only one verse has survived in her own hand.
[DEW; MC; Morris Davies - Cofiant Ann Griffiths]
Ann Griffiths is remembered on account of her letters and hymns, and is highly regarded despite the fact that only about seventy four of her verses have been preserved. Among the finest and best known of her hymns are “Er mai cwbl groes I nature...”, “O! am gael ffydd I edrych...”, “Dymer baball y cyfamod...”and “Wele’n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd...”. Her longest hymn, “Rhyfedd, rhyfedd gan angylion...”, has been described as one of the greatest religious poems in any European Language. Few of her hymns were ever written down and only one verse has survived in her own hand.
[DEW; MC; Morris Davies - Cofiant Ann Griffiths]
Griffiths, David (d.1735)
Tried at the Montgomeryshire Great Sessions in 1735 for the murder of Lewis Evans, having stuck him down with an axe in the parish of Trefeglwys on 3 February 1735. A David Griffiths was convicted and sentenced to transportation for 7 years at this Session, presumably for this crime.
[Mossop]
[Mossop]
Griffiths, Frederick John (1876-1917)
International footballer. He was born in Presteigne and played for Clitheroe; South Shore; Blackpool; Stalybridge Rovers; Millwall Athletic; Tottenham Hotspur; Preston North End; West Ham Utd; New Brompton; and Middlesborough, winning 2 caps for Wales in 1900. After his football career Griffiths worked as a coal miner in Shirebrook. He joined the Sherwood Foresters in 1914 and was killed in action.
[Davies & Garland]
[Davies & Garland]
Griffiths, John (1757-1843)
Of Keel [Cil] House, Meifod. A landowner of the local gentry his family had served on juries and as churchwardens for the parish. He owned considerable other property as well as Keel House, which he rebuilt around 1800. Unlike many Montgomeryshire landowners he was of a liberal turn of mind. Although not a qualified lawyer he was well versed in the law and undertook a number of law suits in support of the rights of the local poor at his own expense. His horror at the evictions of local tenants on the grounds of their non-conformity and the church's indifference turned him away from the Church of England. The coming of a new vicar who took little interest in the welfare of the poor further disappointed him and in 1800 he was received into the Independent Church. He then became the chief supporter of the Independents in North Montgomeryshire, registering his house as a place of worship and holding regular services there until the congregation outgrew the premises and he built a new chapel in 1819. He died, an immensely popular man among the local poor, at the age of 86 in 1843.
[MC 51]
[MC 51]
Griffiths, Mary (fl.1801)
Of Montgomeryshire. Convict on the ship Glatton to New South Wales for 7 years. Tried at Montgomeryshire Great Sessions August 1801for three offences committed within a week in June 1801. To all charges she pleaded not guilty. Two charges concerned her breaking into an inn in the town of Montgomery and removing goods (a piece of bacon, and a servant girl's clothing). The bacon was found in her pocket and carefully fitted into the whole flitch where it was found to match perfectly. The third charge was one of larceny which took place a few days later. She had taken lodgings at Llanwyddelan in the home of the Evans family. She shared a room and a bed with the daughter of the house, Catherine, and one night she went "missing from bed" taking with her Catherine's clothing.
Griffiths, General Thomas (1865-1947)
Born in Presteigne the son of James Griffiths a local builder. The family emigrated to Australia in 1885 and Thomas enlisted there in the army rising through the ranks until he was commissioned. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he served on the staff of Major General Sir William Bridges in Egypt and went on to serve throughout the Gallipoli campaign as assistant Adjutant General to the ANZAC forces. He went on to serve in various elevated administrative positions to the Australian Imperial Force, serving in London with the rank of Brigadier General. During this time he visited Presteigne where his brother James ran the family building firm. After the war he served as the administrator of New Guinea and then Nauru, both former German colonies before retirement.
[Keith Parker in Presteigne Parish Magazine July 1996]
[Keith Parker in Presteigne Parish Magazine July 1996]
Griffiths, Vavasour (fl.1700s)
GRIFFITHS, Vavasour (fl.1700's)
Ran a Dissenting Academy in Brecon in the early 18th century. By 1740's he was said to be in failing health. His most famous pupil was Richard Price (1723-91) philosopher, mathematician, theologian and political pamphleteer.
[D.O. Thomas - "Richard Price 1723-91"]
Ran a Dissenting Academy in Brecon in the early 18th century. By 1740's he was said to be in failing health. His most famous pupil was Richard Price (1723-91) philosopher, mathematician, theologian and political pamphleteer.
[D.O. Thomas - "Richard Price 1723-91"]