Coke, Dr. Thomas (1747 - 1814)
Of Brecon, Wesleyan Methodist minister. Born 9 Sept. 1747, the son of Bartholomew Coke, a wealthy apothecary, of Brecon who served two terms as bailiff of the town and was also an alderman and justice of the peace. Educated at Christ College, Brecon, and Jesus College, Cambridge, he was ordained as a deacon in 1770 and as a priest in 1772. He served as bailiff and alderman in Brecon himself before becoming a curate at South Petherton in Somerset. During his six years here he became increasingly influenced by Methodism. This led to his ejection from his post at South Petherton in 1777 after which he joined the Methodists, becoming John Wesley's chief lieutenant. He preached in London and across the South of England, sometimes to huge crowds and sometimes to hostile audiences. He was appointed superintendent of the Methodists in America and went to the new state to try to capitalise on the fact that the Anglican congregations there were without leadership. Methodism took its own course here and Dr Coke - to the disgust of Wesley - was appointed Bishop of the new Methodist Episcopal Church of America. The rest of his busy life he spent on missionary projects to the West Indies, Holland and Ireland, and on the preaching of the Methodist cause in the Welsh language in his native land. He died at sea on 12 May 1814, on his way to establish an Indian mission.
[DWB; Thomas; Davies]
[DWB; Thomas; Davies]
Cole-Hamilton, Richard Mervyn (fl.1913)
Rector of Llangattock 1913, later Archdeacon of Brecon.
[Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
[Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
Colwyn Castle
Roman fort near Hundred House, Radnorshire refortified as a medieval ring-work castle. The earliest stages of Roman occupation on the site may have been in the early Roman period when forces pushed north and west from the early frontier to conquer Britain up to a new much advanced frontier. How long the fort was used and the exact nature of its garrison is not known. The earthworks of this fort must still have been much in evidence when the Norman forces of William de Braose conquered the area in the late 12th century. Colwyn castle may have replaced nearby Glan Edw castle as the principal base for occupation of the commote by Anglo-Norman forces. Not long after construction the castle William de Braose and his son were in rebellion against the King. The castle was held by Gwallter ab Enion Clud an ally of the de Braose family. Sir Owain ap Maredudd ab Einion Clud held all of Elfael Uwch Mynydd. In 1260 Sir Owain surrendered the castle to Prince Llywelyn who had taken Builth. The change in sides to support Llywelyn’s rebellion meant that the castle was held by the Mortimers on his defeat. It is though to have been abandoned by the end of the 14th century.
The castle’s ringwork was of stone construction. To what extent the Roman fortifications were re-used is unclear.
[Burnham; Remfry]
The castle’s ringwork was of stone construction. To what extent the Roman fortifications were re-used is unclear.
[Burnham; Remfry]
Connick, Catherine (born c.1803)
Sentenced to be transported for life at Breconshire Quarter Sessions 1832 at the age of 29. There are constant references to her in the Brecon gaoler's accounts because she was in poor health and it is likely she died before transportation.
[Beddoe; Breconshire Quarter Session records]
[Beddoe; Breconshire Quarter Session records]
Constabuary, Montgomeryshire (1840)
At the April Quarter Sessions of 1840 the Order Book records, "The propriety of adopting the Constabulary Force Act within this county having been brought before Court it is resolved and ordered that the Right Honorable the Earl of Powis, John Buckley Williams, John James Turner, Robert Maurice Bonnor Maurice, John Davies Corrie, William Morris, Martin Williams, Henry Adolphus Proctor, John Foulkes, John Arthur Lloyd, and John Robinson Jones esquires, and Richard John Davies and John Hughes clerks, or any three or more of them, be and they are hereby appointed a Committee for the purpose of examining into the expediency of adopting the provisions of the Act" (p.271).
The Committee deliberated, and at the Adjournment of 27 May 1840 it was resolved and ordered to adopt the provisions of the Act and organise accordingly a paid constabulary force for the whole county of Montgomeryshire (p.275).
The manpower was not excessive: one Chief Constable (salary £200 p.a.), two Superintendents (salaries £90 and £75) and twelve Petty Constables (salaries "of each of the Constables be not less than sixteen shillings per week, nor less the (sic) twenty shillings per week", subsequently corrected to read "more than"). A Report was written to one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State to that effect, stating "that it has been made to appear to us as such Justices of the Peace as aforesaid that the Ordinary Officers for preserving the peace are not sufficient for the preservation of the peace for the protection of the inhabitants and for the security of property within the said county . . . " The Committee was designated The County Constables Committee, with the Clerk of the Peace as Secretary. (pp.276-278). That this was not always going to suffice was apparent at the time of the Chartist riots at Llanidloes in April 1839, when the authorities were quick to bring in outside help. The Order Book records, "Ordered that private lodgings be prepared at Llanidloes for the two London police men now on duty in that town, it appearing to the court that the same is more convenient to the men than lodging at the Trewythan Arms as herefore" (p.270)
Once the County force was established there was the question of its role in the old boroughs of Welshpool and Llanidloes, each of which already had its own police force (the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act laid down that each borough appoint a Watch Committee which in turn appointed a borough constabulary). Now at a meeting of the County Constabulary Committee of 21 October 1840, "The Earl of Powis laid before the Committee Lord Normanby's letter of the 16th inst. containing the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown that the County Magistrates have no power to establish a system of Police in the Borough of Pool" (p.353).
Since they could not simply impose their will on the boroughs, the Committee for the County force would have to try co-operation. An Act of 1840 (3 & 4 Victoria C.88 s.14) had made possible the amalgamation of county and borough police forces. Now the Clerk of the Peace was requested to "ascertain from the proper authorities of these Boroughs [i.e. Pool and Llanidloes] whether it is the wish of the Town Council of these Boroughs to unite with the County in the consolidation of the Police Force for the County" (p.354).
In the meantime, a holding measure was adopted at the October Sessions of 1840: "Ordered that the Clerk of the Peace do take steps to enable the County Constabulary Force to act in the Borough of Llanidloes by swearing them in before the Mayor and Justices of the Borough or otherwise as may be deemed advisable until the question whether the Borough of Llanidloes will join the County in the County Constabulary force is determined on" (p.372).
By December 1840 they had their replies. Welshpool's was decidedly cool: "the Council do respectfully decline to agree for the consolidation of the Borough Police with the County Establishment at present". But Llanidloes agreed, "provided the Inhabitants of the Borough are not charged . . . with any expenses under the head of "local expenditure", nor be charged in any other than an equal proportion with the rest of the County" (p.379).
A Police Rate was then levied of one half penny in the pound for the whole county, "exclusive of the Incorporate Borough of Welshpool", but including the township of "Carreghovah", technically part of Denbighshire (pp.381-2).
Every police force needs weapons of restraint, and the Chief Constable was directed to order "fifteen cutlasses, sixteen belts and sixteen staffs" from Dolans of London, for the same price as supplied to the Shropshire Police force (p.382-3). As a footnote to the year, the Order Book records "Ordered that the consideration of the question of the dismissal of the London Police Officers stationed at Llanidloes and Newtown be adjourned to the next Quarter Sessions for the County" (p.382)
[Montgomeryshire Quarter Sessions Order Book 1838-42, MQS/SO/7]
The Committee deliberated, and at the Adjournment of 27 May 1840 it was resolved and ordered to adopt the provisions of the Act and organise accordingly a paid constabulary force for the whole county of Montgomeryshire (p.275).
The manpower was not excessive: one Chief Constable (salary £200 p.a.), two Superintendents (salaries £90 and £75) and twelve Petty Constables (salaries "of each of the Constables be not less than sixteen shillings per week, nor less the (sic) twenty shillings per week", subsequently corrected to read "more than"). A Report was written to one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State to that effect, stating "that it has been made to appear to us as such Justices of the Peace as aforesaid that the Ordinary Officers for preserving the peace are not sufficient for the preservation of the peace for the protection of the inhabitants and for the security of property within the said county . . . " The Committee was designated The County Constables Committee, with the Clerk of the Peace as Secretary. (pp.276-278). That this was not always going to suffice was apparent at the time of the Chartist riots at Llanidloes in April 1839, when the authorities were quick to bring in outside help. The Order Book records, "Ordered that private lodgings be prepared at Llanidloes for the two London police men now on duty in that town, it appearing to the court that the same is more convenient to the men than lodging at the Trewythan Arms as herefore" (p.270)
Once the County force was established there was the question of its role in the old boroughs of Welshpool and Llanidloes, each of which already had its own police force (the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act laid down that each borough appoint a Watch Committee which in turn appointed a borough constabulary). Now at a meeting of the County Constabulary Committee of 21 October 1840, "The Earl of Powis laid before the Committee Lord Normanby's letter of the 16th inst. containing the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown that the County Magistrates have no power to establish a system of Police in the Borough of Pool" (p.353).
Since they could not simply impose their will on the boroughs, the Committee for the County force would have to try co-operation. An Act of 1840 (3 & 4 Victoria C.88 s.14) had made possible the amalgamation of county and borough police forces. Now the Clerk of the Peace was requested to "ascertain from the proper authorities of these Boroughs [i.e. Pool and Llanidloes] whether it is the wish of the Town Council of these Boroughs to unite with the County in the consolidation of the Police Force for the County" (p.354).
In the meantime, a holding measure was adopted at the October Sessions of 1840: "Ordered that the Clerk of the Peace do take steps to enable the County Constabulary Force to act in the Borough of Llanidloes by swearing them in before the Mayor and Justices of the Borough or otherwise as may be deemed advisable until the question whether the Borough of Llanidloes will join the County in the County Constabulary force is determined on" (p.372).
By December 1840 they had their replies. Welshpool's was decidedly cool: "the Council do respectfully decline to agree for the consolidation of the Borough Police with the County Establishment at present". But Llanidloes agreed, "provided the Inhabitants of the Borough are not charged . . . with any expenses under the head of "local expenditure", nor be charged in any other than an equal proportion with the rest of the County" (p.379).
A Police Rate was then levied of one half penny in the pound for the whole county, "exclusive of the Incorporate Borough of Welshpool", but including the township of "Carreghovah", technically part of Denbighshire (pp.381-2).
Every police force needs weapons of restraint, and the Chief Constable was directed to order "fifteen cutlasses, sixteen belts and sixteen staffs" from Dolans of London, for the same price as supplied to the Shropshire Police force (p.382-3). As a footnote to the year, the Order Book records "Ordered that the consideration of the question of the dismissal of the London Police Officers stationed at Llanidloes and Newtown be adjourned to the next Quarter Sessions for the County" (p.382)
[Montgomeryshire Quarter Sessions Order Book 1838-42, MQS/SO/7]