|
Mordecai |
|
FelRh068 18.07.2002 D1 23.07.2002 E2/3/4 According to the Book of Esther, Mordecai was Queen Esther’s uncle , her adopted father and a Jew. He was to become the powerful second in command of the king of Persia and saved the Jews from persecution.! Our, not so ancient ancestors, Mordecais, of Llanfrothen, whom we address here, were from a more humble back ground; weavers by trade. First, we quote and translate Bob Owen, Croesor; secondly, we try and analyse the structure of the Mordecai family tree; thirdly, we list nearly 60 extracts from the Llanfrothen parish records and fourthly we type the will* of Anne Tudor and Lewis Jones This is what Bob Owen, Croesor had to say in his book*, Diwydiannau Coll (p58/59) about Lewis John Mordecai and his immediate descendants:- “The trade of weaving remained in one family for many years and generations and in our district. we have more than once seen evidence of at least four generations living on this one trade. For example:-At Tyddyn Gwyn, Llanfrothen on the slopes of the Moelwyn, below the old Roman road from Tanybwlch to Aberglaslyn, (Lewis) John Mordecai carried on the trade of weaving circa.1670.(see chart - note a) (today, old Tyddyn Gwyn is a ruin, but the new house is occupied). In 1695,John Mordecai and Lewis Mordecai, his brother, were busy weaving (b). John Mordecai brought up four sons in the same trade, viz, (c) 1. Lewis John Mordecai 2. John John Mordecai 3. Mordecai John 4. Robert John Mordecai We have Lewis John Mordecai keeping his business going through his three sons (d) • Edward Lewis • William Lewis • John Lewis There is an account of John Mordecai of Tyddyn gwyn weaving for the local squire, ca. 1695-1722- helped by his three sons (e) From the account book of Brondanw we have :- Sept 17,1722 paid John Mordecai for weaving Fflannen, Blanketts and cloth, 12/0, (f). In 1720 we have a references; to John John Mordecai as a weaver; in 1721 Robert John Mordecai and (g something inconsistent here) either Lewis Mordecai or Lewis John Mordecai Making a living by the trade for the years 1745 until his death in 1763.(h) After the death of John Mordecai the trade was carried on at Tyddyn gwyn by Edward Lewis and in the second book of Brondanw we have the following statement:- 1773 There is like wise left unused 19 1/2yards (j) on account of the Blanketts that was weaved for me by Tyddyn Gwyn weaver-1 piece was 49 yards, the other was 28 yards. By 1786, Edward had moved to Beudy’r garreg, nearer to Traeth Mawr (the beach) to weave. (k) He died at Cefn Cyffin in 1793 (l) John Lewis, his brother, married and went to live and weave at Caeglas Croesor From 1776 until the beginning of the next century. In 1781 he carried the same trade at Ty Newydd Caeglas. (here at Ty Newydd Caeglas Griffith Davies was born in 1816 and also his father, David Williams,-son of WL-. died in 1821) William Lewis, the other brother, lived at Hafoty and Traean from 1775 to 1810- he also weaved (m). He was a founder member of Methodism and the Sunday school in the parish of Llanfrothen.. He was the great grandfather of Bryfdir,the late Rev D.D.Williams MA Liverpool ,a grandfather to Glaslyn and great grandfather to Ap Glaslyn ( end of quotation. ).see Ref FelRh 064 William Lewis was also a grandfather of Griffith Davies (1). ( See Ref FelRh012 The attached chart, with cross comments ( a to m) tries to depict the relations of the Mordecai weavers of Croesor from 1670 to 1800. When trying to interpret the mixture/repetition of names, ages and dates that Bob Owen Croesor gives here, we have to:- • fix some dates of birth/marriage/deaths • assume that there are four generations per century • assume that marriages occur at the age of 25 • assume that the first child is born within a year of marriage • assume a life expectancy of about 60 • accept B.Owen’s statement that there are four generations of Mordecai weavers • vary the age of L.J.M. (1.0) between 25 & 35 ca.1670; the earliest date quoted • make some inspired guesses The ‘fixed’ dates which we have, are the death of LJM (1.1.1) in 1763 and any data from his will. Details about William Lewis’s birth, (1748), his marriage (1773) and the birth of his 12 children (1773 to 17980 ( ref FelRh021) On the chart we have drawn a leading edge line from 1640, ( the assumed date of birth of L.J.M. (1.0) of Tyddyn Gwyn) to the known d.o.b of William Lewis in 1748. We have then varied LTM (1.0) age in 1670 from 25 to 35 and shown a life span of 0 to 75. This is continued through the next generations. We hope that this will gives a broad span of period where to search for the d.o.b./m. of the Mor decais of Croesor. (see note 3 below) Observations and comments:- 1. There are other Lewis names at Croesor, such as, Rolant Lewis Garth Llwynog, Mary Lewis Croesorfach and Lewis, the fiddler. of Bryn Gelinen Who are they and where do they fit in? 2. We need to look at the tithe books memorial stones & church records ! (B.T. have been searched) 3. On the attached chart we may have misinterpreted Bob Owen’s generations. Our generation 1 to 5 should possibly have read 0 to 4 ! 4. We need to look at the rough dates on the chart and try and reconstruct the family tree of the Mor decai more accurate over the 100 years from 1670 to 1770 5. Baptism of of Wm. Lewis son of Lewis Jones ( Lewis Mordecai) 1748- from the parish register. Marriage of Margaret Lloyd & William Lewis 17.4.1773 ( W L. was aged 25) 6 A will* of Lewis Jones of Tyddyn gwyn, 8/10/1762, names the following beneficiaries:- • Edward Lewis, • John Lewis • William Lewis, • Mary Lewis • Jonet Lewis • Elizabeth Lewis • His wife Marged Edwart his executor 7 * the book by courtesy of Edgar P. Williams and additional information & will from Nan William– a descendant of Edward Lewis. See copy of the will below.. Issue E2 (Following the letter from Nan Williams on the 22 of July) Listed below are entries in the Parish & Bishops Transcript of Llanfrothen collected by Nan Williams, Sheelagh Williams and Robin Price. They are in date order and as roughly recorded. We have colour coded them as follows:- Baptism BLUE, marriage BROWN burials in GREEN. After each date entry we have put the letters A, B, C, etc to identify groups which form one family e.g. mother, father and their children. ‘A’ & B corresponds to 1st ? & 2nd generation, (No.1 - 6 ): C to 3rd generation (No.8 – 23); and D,E,F &G to 4th generation (No 24 - 60). See note 3 above re four generations. 1. 1695 A 4 Nov Mordecai ( John ?) son of John Mordecai weaver Bap 2. 1707 A John Mordecai Church Warden 3. 1708 A July bapt John Mordecai (was John Mordecai baptised before his marriage to Janet? - No !) 4. 1716 A 9th Sept Jonetta ferch John Mordecai a Janet ei wraig 5. 1719 Edward ap Richard? Buried? 6. 1721 A 11 July Jonetta Jane infant was buried 7. 1721 9/26? Nov Margretta ferch Robert Sion Mordecai & his wife bap. 8. 1722 B 20 October Mordecai Jones married Gwen Owen 9. 1723 A 1 September Jonetta fil Robert John bapt 10. 1729 C Marriage Dec 2 Lewis Jones & Margaret Edward 11. 1731 C Oct 24 Edward son of Lewis Jones & Margaret 12. 1731 C Bur. Nov 7 Edward son of Lewis Jones & Margaretta - infant 13. 1732 B? May 11 buried Ffowc Mordecai 14. 1733 C Bapt 13th May John & Edward ye sons of Lewis Jones & Margaret 15. 1734 C 10 March Mary dau. of Lewis Jones & Margaret his wife was bapt. 16. 1734 A 21 August John Mordecai was buried 17. 1735 C March 10 Bapt Mary dau. Lewis Jones & Margaret 18. 1738/9C 21 January Janet dau. Lewis Jones & Margaret was bapt 19. 1742 C 14.May Margaret dau of Lewis John Mordecai & Margaret his wife was bapt. 20. 1744 B 15 November Gwen Mordecai Groser (should this read Croesor?) was buried ( She could be Gwen Owen dau. of Ann Tudor - of Trawsfynydd who married Mordecai Jones on 20/10/1722 and buried 15/12/1744 21. 1745 C Bapt Aug.18 John son of Lewis Mordecai weaver & Margaret 22. 1747 B WILL of Anne Tudor Trawsfynydd 23. 1748 C Bapt July 7 William son of Lewis Jones weaver & Margaret 24. 1763 C Burial of Lewis John Mordecai Tyddyn gwyn farmer. - WILL (same day as they valued estate) 25. 1773 D William Lewis marriage single man & Margaret Lloyd spinster ( Tystion Witness Edward Lewis & Maurice Isaac ) 17.4.1773 (Sat.) 26. 1773 D Dec 10 bapt Lewis son of William Lewis of Bwlch plwm Labourer & Margaret 27. 1774 D Dec 4 Margaret Dau of William Lewis Tyn’Llan & Margaret his wife 28. 1775 E 4 July John Lewis of Llanfrothen single man and Margaret Hughes spinster (tystion Edward Lewis Robert Lloyd 29. 1775 D Nov 12 Bapt Elizabeth dau. of William Lewis of Tyddyngwyn Labr & Margaret his wife 30. 1775 D 28.11.buried Elizabeth dau of William Lewis 31. 1776 E April 17 Bapt Gwen dau. of John Lewis Caeglas weaver & Margaret 32. 1777 D March 15 Bapt Margaret Dau of William Lewis of Bryn Llan 7 Margaret 33. 1778 D May 3 Bapt Lowry Dau. William Lewis of Brynllan & Margaret 34. 1778 E Oct 4 bapt Lewis son of John Lewis Caeglas & Gwen (sic) ! 35. 1779 D June 13 Bapt William(or Griffith) son of William Lewis Labr & Margaret his wife 36. 1780 D July 15/16 bapt Mary dau. of William Lewis Labr of Brynllan & Margaret 37. 1781 F Lewis Lewis bapt son of Edward Lewis & Elizabeth 38. 1781 E 15 April Jonet John Lewis Tynewydd Caeglas weaver & Margaret 39. 1782 D Feb 10/12 bapt Eleanor William Lewis of Bwlch Plwm labr & Margaret 40. 1783 E March 21 bapt (no name) ? dau. of John Lewis of Tyddyngwyn weaver & Margaret 41. 1783 F July 25 Bapt Margaret dau. of Edward Lewis weaver at Garreg & Elizabeth 42. 1783 D Sept 16 Griffith son of William Lewis Tycoch Weaver & Margaret 43. 1785 D 27 January Alice dau.of William Lewis Ty Coch Lab & Margaret 44. 1785 28 April John John Lewis Tynddol Lab & Catherine ? (John Lewis & Catherine Ellis were married 9.12. 1783. What relations, if any ? 45. 1785 G 2 Oct Robert son of Robert Lewis Garth Llwynog & Elenor 46. 1786 F Jan 18 bapt Jonet dau of Edward Lewis of Beudy’r garreg weaver & Elizabeth 47. 1786 D 12 Feb David son of Williams Lewis Tycoch & Margaret 48. 1786 E Sept 18 Bapt Hugh son of John Lewis Tyddyn Gwyn weaver & Margaret 49. 1787 D Nov 4 bapt Lowry dau. of William Lewis of Vottu labr & Margaret 50. 1788 F Sept 14 Bapt Ann dau. of Edward Lewis of beudy’r Garreg weaver & Elizabeth 51. 1788 E Sept 18 Bapt John son of John Lewis Tyddyngwyn weaver & Margaret 52. 1789 G 19 Jan Ellin dau of Robert Lewis Garth Llwynog & Elenor 53. 1791 E 29 Jan Bapt John son of John Lewis Tyddyn gwyn weaver & Margaret 54. 1791 F March 13 Bapt Richard son of Edward Lewis Beudy’r Garreg weaver & Elizabeth 55. 1792 G 29 Jan Elizabeth dau of Rbert Lewis Garth Llwynog & Elenor 56. 1794 E Nov 9 Bapt Joseph son of John Lewis Tyddyn Gwyn farmer & Margaret 57. 1795 G 11 Oct Catherine dau Robert Lewis Garth Llwynog & Elenor 58. 1798 D Elizabeth ‘Betsi William’ dau of William Lewis & Margaret (she may be a dau of an older ‘sister’. No record of her baptism found as yet. She’s Glaslyn’s mother) 59. 1799 G 27 Jan Jane Robert Lewis Garth Llwynog & Elenor 60. 1800 G 20 July Lewis son of Robert Lewis Garth Llwynog and Elenor 61. 1804 G 5 Feb Ann dau. “ 1809 start of the family of David Williams ( 46) and Margaret Prichard (parents of Davies of Felenrhyd, Brynderwen, Holyhead, & Dyffryn Clwyd families) Sheelagh’s correction have been inserted and underlined - above 7b) Additions( from Sheelagh) 62) 1718 18th Oct. Elizabeth dau. Johanis ab John Mordecai & Jonet bap. 64) 1730 27th Dec. Johannis Pugh married Margaretta E.dd ( Edwards)*There are two ME 65) 1731 25th Jan. Buried Margaretta Edward ( wife of J. Pugh) 66) 1749 20th Oct. Griffith Lloyd, drover married Lowri Morris 67) 1749 10th Nov. Bap. Elizabeth dau. of Griffith Lloyd drover and Lowry his wife 68) 1750 20th Feb. Bap. Lowry dau. of Richard Lloyd Lab. & Margaret his wife 69) 1752 28th June Bap. Jane dau. Richard Lloyd and Margaret 70) 1752 1st Nov. Bap. Lowry “ “ “ 71) 1754 26th May Richard Lloyd clerk marr. Jane Roberts Spinster 72) 1754 29th Jan. bap. David son Richard Lloyd butcher and Margaret 73) 1754 3rd July buried David “ “ “ infant 74) 1754 25th Aug. buried John Infant son of Griffith Lloyd 75) 1758 2nd Feb. bap. David son Griffith Lloyd of Llanfr. Inkeeper & Lowry his wife 76) 1770 buried Mordecai Foulke at Llanfrothen aged 63 THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ANNE TUDOR In the name of God Amen, I Anne Tudor of the Parish of Trawsfynydd and Diocese of Bangor being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in mannor following. To will my soul into the hand of Allmight God, my body to be buried att the discrestion of Executor herein after named and as touching the disposition of my personall Estate I give and bequeth thereof as followth I give and bequeth unto my Grandchildren by Mordecai John and my daughter Gwen one mooty (Moiety a fraction or half) of all my personall Estate to be equally divided between them share and share alike, namely John, Owen, Anne, Gwen and Jane and I do comit the care and guardianship of my said Grandchildren and their respective share unto my brother Griffith Tudor I give and bequeth the other mooty of my said personall Estate unto my son Richard Owen whom I do constitute and appoint sole Executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revokoing all former wills by me heretofore made. In witnoss whereof I here unto set my hand and seal? This 22th day of June 1747 Signed, Sealed, Published and declared? By the above named Anne Tudor as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us whofor names and subscribe and with?? Hereunto John Evans and Jn O Lloyd The mark of Anne ***Tudor Aug 17th 1747 This will proved in common form of Law and the validity thereof allowed and administration? Granted to the executor within in named he being first personally sworn as the law directs Before me Edward Bennet Surrogate THE WILL OF LEWIS JONES 1763 LLANFROTHEN In the name of God Amen on the 8th day of Octorber in the year of our Lord 1762 I Lewis Jones of Tyddynwyn in the parish of Llanfrothen and the County of Merioneth in the the Deicse of Bangor Do make this my last will and testament in the maner and fform ffollowing; ffirst I commend my soul to the hands of Almighty God In hopes of salvation through the meritts of my saviour Jesus Crist and my body to the erth to be interid in a desent maner at the discretion of my excutrix hereafter named As to my worldly goods of personall Estate i give and be giveth and dispose of them as ffolloweth that is to say Imprimis I give and Begiveth to my son Edward Lewis and my son John Lewis my workehouse I give and begiveth to my son William Lewis the wenscod chest and the one pound tenshillings in money I give and begiveth to my daughter Marry Lewis two shillings I give and begiveth to my daughter Jonet Lewis a par of of bedclos I give and begiveth to my daughter Elisabeth Lewis the new chest and all the and Residue of my goods and cattls & chattells I give and begiveth to my wife Marged Edwart whom I nominate and appoint sole Executrix of this my last will and sole Executrix Testament In witness where of I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and the year above written Signed sealed published and declared in the present of us The mark of Lewis ****** Jones Gabriel * GJ* Jones And Hugh **** Owen A true and perfect inventory of the goods Cattle and Chatteles of Lewis Jones of Tyddyngwyn of the Parish of Llanfrothen in the County of Merioneth and Diocese of Bangor, Yeoman Deceased made and appraised by us whose names are hereonto subscribed the 25th Day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three 1763 First £ s d • 5 cows appraised at the value ye sum of 12 0 0 • also 1 mare appraised at the value of ye sum of 3 0 0 • also 30 sheep appraised at the value of ye sum of 6 0 0 • also the househould stuff appraised at ye value ye sum of 10 0 0 • also the working house appraised at ye value ye sum of 5 0 0 • also the wearing apparels saddle and bridle appraised at ye sum of 1. 1 6 Tott £ s d 37 1 6 Gabriel *G J* Jones Robert + Joseph On the 9th day of December in the year 1763 the within written will was insinuated? Proved approved and in common fform of the Law decreed valid and administration granted to the Executrix within named she being first personally sworn on the Evangolists as the Law Directs by me J Jones Surrogate More Comments, Questions and anomalies. 1. No record of the marriage of Robert Lewis & Edward Lewis, maybe they were married in adjacent parishes, where their wives may hail from. (Porthmadog, Ffestiniog or Beddgelert ?) 2. entry 34 4.10.1778 E -- John Lewis of Caeglas his wife is recorded as Gwen (sic) ! Should this not read Margaret? 3. We might have misinterpreted Bob Owen re the four generations – see note 3 above 4. Entry 44 28.4.1785 On 9.12. 1783 John Lewis married Catherine Ellis. What relationship, if any? 5. No memorial stones could be found at St Brothen or Ramoth for the Mordecai/Lewis families. |
|
|