Welsh Journals

DEPOSITED COLLECTIONS 31. THE DERWYDD COLLECTION. The Derwydd Collection, consisting of nearly eight hundred items ranging in date from 1525 to 1904, was deposited in the National Library of Wales in 1942 by Miss A. A. J. Stepney-Gulston, M.B.E., of Derwydd, Llandebie, co. Carmarthen. A very brief preliminary report on its contents appeared in the Annual Report, 1941-42, p. 27. The collection consists of deeds, accounts, correspondence, local government papers, legal papers, and a few modern maps relating to properties in Abergwili, Abernant, Bettws, Cenarth, Cil- rhedyn, Conwil Gaio, Conwil Elfed, Kidwelly, Laugharne, Llanarthney, Llanddarog, Llanddeusant, Llandebie, Llandefaelog, Llandeilo Fawr, Llandingat, Llandovery, Llandyfeisant, Llanedy, Llan- egwad, Llanelly, Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, Llanfihangel, Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Llanfihangel Aber- cowin, Llanfihangel Cilfargen, Llanfynydd, Llangadog, Llangeler, Llangennech, Llangyndeyrn, Llangynog, Llanllawddog, Llannon, Llanpumpsaint, Llansadurnen, Llanstephan, Merthyr, Myddfai, Mydrim, Newchurch, Pembrey, Penboyr, Pendine, St. Peter (Carmarthen), Talley, and Trelech, co. Carmarthen; Aberyscir, Dyfynog, Llandeilo'rfan, Llanspyddid, Llywel, Penderyn, and St. Davids (Brecon), co. Brecon; Clydey, Kilgerran, Llanfihangel Penbedw, Monington, Narberth, Prendergast, Roach, and St. Dogmaels, co. Pembroke; Llangiwg and Penmark, co. Glamorgan; Hitchendon (or Hughenden) and Lillingstone Dayrell, co. Buckingham; Barnard Castle, Bolam, and South Shields, co. Durham; Great Bardfield and Bardfield Saleing, co. Essex; Midgham, co. Berks.; Irchester, co. Northampton; Brading in the Isle of Wight; Elvington, co. York; and Blagdon, co. Somerset. Two personages emerge clearly from this collection from the point of view both of importance and documentation. They are Walter Vaughan of Llanelly and Madam Bridget Bevan of Laugharne. Walter Vaughan (circa 1580-1636), who was a younger son of Walter Vaughan of Golden Grove and a brother of John, first Earl of Carbery, intermarried with Ann, daughter of Thomas Lewis of Llanelly, and made his home in that town. He was an important figure in the history of the local government of south-east Carmarthenshire during the years 1610-36, and was sheriff of Carmarthen- shire in 1626. He was particular receiver of the king's rents within the lordship of Kidwelly, and beadle of Hengoed hamlet and of the parishes of Llanedy and Llangennech (see No. 690, dated 4 March 1623/4, and No. 634, dated 25 February 1624/5). Document No. 631, dated 14 January 1625/6, names Walter Vaughan as definitive umpire in suits depending before the Council in the Marches of Wales between two of the gentry of the parish of Llannon. Three documents dated in the year 1631 (Nos. 672, 642, and 654) are of particular local interest. They relate the misfortunes of the vessel 'Hope' of Hanborough which was driven by a violent storm into North Burry Roads in June 1631. Her cargo of salt was greatly damaged, and she was later deserted by her crew. Walter Vaughan appears to have acquired possession of both vessel and cargo, and later assigned them to a Plymouth merchant for five hundred pounds. The story of Madam Bridget Bevan (1698-1779), patron of Griffith Jones of Llanddowror and sponsor of the latter's system of circulating schools, is familiar to most. The Dictionary of Welsh Biography provides a fresh notice of her activities, and Dr. Mary Clement touches repeatedly on Madam Bevan's work in her two recent volumes on the S.P.C.K. and Wales. Madam Bevan (as Bridget Vaughan, spinster, daughter of John Vaughan of Court Derllys, esquire, and Elizabeth his wife) first figures in the Derwydd collection in Deed No. 283, dated 3 June 1720, which provided for the raising of a marriage-portion of one thousand pounds for each of John Vaughan's three daughters. On 30 December 1721, Bridget Vaughan married Arthur Bevan of Laugharne, later Member of Parliament for the borough of Carmarthen. She next appears in the Derwydd collection in several deeds and final concords dated in the years 1725-26 as coparcener with her two sisters of the estates of their uncle Richard Vaughan of Derwydd (d. 1724). Full details are given of the manner in which the division was carried out and of the drawing by lot for the three third parts by the coparceners. After the death of her husband in 1743 (an extract from his will defining the benefit thereby devised