Davies, Ellen (fl. 1850)
A Brecon convict on the ship Aurora, sentenced to 7 years' transportation to Van Diemen's Land after trial at Anglesey Assizes in July 1850. A freckled 19-year old "nurse girl" from Brecon working in Anglesey, she was convicted of the first offence of burglary (she took a piece of cheese and a few rashers of bacon).
[Beddoe]
[Beddoe]
Davies, Rev.Dr. Francis (fl.1667)
Rector of Llangattock, 1667. A friend of Bishop Hugh Lloyd of Llandaff, he was also ejected in from the parish of Llangan in1643 like Lloyd by the Parliamentary authorities, though he was allowed to keep a quarter of the revenues of his rectory. He became a schoolmaster during the Commonwealth, and was chaplain to the Countess of Peterborough. On the restoration of the monarchy he was restored to his living at Llangan, Glamorganshire and later made Archdeacon of Llandaff under Bishop Lloyd. When Bishop Lloyd died in 1667 he was appointed both Bishop of Llandaff and Rector of Llangattock. He died in 1674.
[Poole; Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
[Poole; Crickhowell & District Civic Society]
Davies, John (d.1821)
Tried at the Montgomeryshire Great Sessions of 1821 for robbery and executed. In the parish of Pool on 19 April 1821 he had robbed William Jones on the highway of 3 watches and some loose change. His execution is reported in the Shropshire Chronicle.
[Mossop]
[Mossop]
Davies, Oliver (fl. 1820)
A native of Montgomery he became a famous harpist at eisteddfodau. He first impressed the public at the Welshpool eisteddfod in 1824 but is said to have astonished a larger audience at the Cymmrodorion Eisteddfod in London in 1829. He performed there again in 1831.
[DWB; MW]
[DWB; MW]
Davies, Rhys (1844-1899) 'Llew Lywel'
J.P. and Brecon Borough Surveyor. Rhys Davies was the son of Thomas Davies, a road surveyor of Defynnog. Rhys inherited the interests and character of his father Thomas – a man steeped in the literature and culture of the Welsh language. Although he later moved to Brecon Rhys never surrendered his love of the countryside and when he became a member of the Eisteddfod Gorsedd of Bards he chose the title of “Llew Lywel” as his bardic name in honour of his native parish. He went to Christ College before and was then articled to Brecon solicitor, Mr Cobb. An energetic supporter of the Eisteddfod he was made a member of the National Eisteddfod Association and when this prestigious event was staged at Brecon in 1889 Rhys filled the office of secretary with the ultimate success of the event being attributed in no small way to his hard work and vision.
He served both as conductor and adjudicator at eisteddfodau held in Brecon in 1894 and 1897. He was a well known local guest speaker and made valuable contributions to the town’s Literary Institute and Infirmary. Through his position of surveyor Rhys was responsible for the laying out of the Usk Promenade. Rhys Davies died in 1899 at the early age of 55 and lies buried at Brecon Cemetery. [Chris Price]
[Davies; Jones (Glanusk Edition)]
He served both as conductor and adjudicator at eisteddfodau held in Brecon in 1894 and 1897. He was a well known local guest speaker and made valuable contributions to the town’s Literary Institute and Infirmary. Through his position of surveyor Rhys was responsible for the laying out of the Usk Promenade. Rhys Davies died in 1899 at the early age of 55 and lies buried at Brecon Cemetery. [Chris Price]
[Davies; Jones (Glanusk Edition)]
Davies, Richard (1635-1708)
Born in Welshpool of parents who had a small estate there, he was brought up in the Church of England but joined the Independents while he was still 12 or 13 and came under the influence of Vavasor Powell. He was apprenticed to a dissenting feltmaker of Llanfair Caereinion and 1657 became a Quaker which he remained for the rest of his life. In 1658 he moved to London and the following year married a woman from the Quaker community there. Soon after they moved to Cloddiau Cochion, Welshpool where they kept open house for Quakers, and began to suffer in the repression of the Quaker community which occurred at the time. He was imprisoned in both Montgomery and Shrewsbury gaols, but continued to visit other Quaker communities throughout England and Wales. He recorded these travels and tribulations in an account of his life which was completed and published by his daughter after his death at the age of 72.
[MC 9; DWB]
[MC 9; DWB]
Davies, Samuel (fl. 1790s)
Harper from the Builth area of Breconshire. Rev. Thomas Price “Carnhuanawc” records seeing him on many occasions before 1800. He played regularly for dancing at the Green and the Gro in Builth and for Llanafan feast. He had a smaller single-strung harp of 3 or 4 feet in height for these occasions to which he had added straps so that he could play whilst marching in church processions.
Davies, William (fl. 1790s)
Tried at the Montgomeryshire Great Sessions for house breaking in 1790, aged 19. In the parish of Montgomery on 21 September 1789 he had broken into the dwelling house of Thomas Bird and stolen a pair of leather breeches and 4 linen sheets to a total value of 10 shillings. His execution was respited. According to the Montgomeryshire Quarter Sessions papers he was dieted till 16 November.
[Mossop]
[Mossop]
Davis, Diana (d.1797)
Also known as Elizabeth Davies, wife of Richard Davies, thatcher, late of the parish of King's Pyon, Herefordshire. She was tried with her son James Davis at Radnorshire Great Sessions in 1797 for sheep stealing (that on 10 November 1796 in the parish of Presteigne they stole 8 wether sheep, value 4s. the property of Walter Phillips). Her son was reprieved, but she was ordered to be hanged on Wednesday 10 May. The burial register of St Andrew's Church, Presteigne reads "Buried 10 as Elizabeth Davies".
[Mossop]
[Mossop]
Dee, Dr. John (1527-1608)
Hieroglyph of John Dee
Mathematician, astronomer, geographer, antiquary, spy and magus. He claimed descent from Llewelyn Crugeryr, and the Dee family of the Nant-y-Groes estate on the border between Pilleth and Whitton parishes. John Dafydd Rhys author of a Welsh grammar confirmed Dee’s ancestry in a letter of the time. Dee’s father Rowland Dee left Nant-y-Groes for London after the accession of the Tudors as many Welshman of the time did, eventually becoming a gentleman server to Henry VIII. His son John Dee was born at Mortlake. He graduated from St John’s College Cambridge in 1546 and was made fellow of the new Trinity College. He travelled in the Low Countries and lectured in Paris to huge audiences. He was extremely learned speaking many languages including Welsh. During the years of catholic Queen Mary his beliefs came under scrutiny and he narrowly escaped persecution.
He fared better under Elizabeth I, becoming one of her consultants on state affairs, including the reform of the Julian Calendar, though the financial rewards were intermittent. At some point he is thought to have been given the living of Leadenham in Lincolnshire though he does not appear to lived there. He had genuine skill at mathematics and astronomy, and his studies in alchemical science were nothing unusual for his time but his explorations of occult matters put him at odds with many. He used mirrors and crystal balls in his attempts to contact angels and spirits and had the misfortune to work closely with Edward Kelley who convinced him of his ability to commune with these. The pair travelled in Bohemia and Poland where their claims received a warmer welcome. Kelley was exposed as a charlatan and Dee’s work in occult areas led him to be accused of conjuration of spirits.
In 1596 he was made Warden of a Christ’s College in Manchester but failed to win a permanent post at court. When James I came to the throne his services were not required at court and he lived in semi poverty. His treatises were published abroad as well as at home and he was regarded as an important figure in his lifetime.
[RT; DWB; The New Companion to the Literature of Wales (ed. Meic Stephens)]
He fared better under Elizabeth I, becoming one of her consultants on state affairs, including the reform of the Julian Calendar, though the financial rewards were intermittent. At some point he is thought to have been given the living of Leadenham in Lincolnshire though he does not appear to lived there. He had genuine skill at mathematics and astronomy, and his studies in alchemical science were nothing unusual for his time but his explorations of occult matters put him at odds with many. He used mirrors and crystal balls in his attempts to contact angels and spirits and had the misfortune to work closely with Edward Kelley who convinced him of his ability to commune with these. The pair travelled in Bohemia and Poland where their claims received a warmer welcome. Kelley was exposed as a charlatan and Dee’s work in occult areas led him to be accused of conjuration of spirits.
In 1596 he was made Warden of a Christ’s College in Manchester but failed to win a permanent post at court. When James I came to the throne his services were not required at court and he lived in semi poverty. His treatises were published abroad as well as at home and he was regarded as an important figure in his lifetime.
[RT; DWB; The New Companion to the Literature of Wales (ed. Meic Stephens)]