Welsh Journals

Mar., 1878. BYE-GONES. 17 then (1761) been augmenting Dr. Davies's Dictionary. His words are—"What has taken up my chief attention for a good while past, is making additions to Dr. Davies's British Latin Dictionary." Most of the pages in the Welsh-Latin part of my copy contain some additional words written on the margin, but apparently in a hand¬ writing differing from that usually ascribed to Lewis Morris. If these appended words include all the addition which he was able to make, it would appear that he did not accomplish much in his undertaking. The additional words, though not numerous, might, however, be of use ilong with the " List of some Welsh words omitted in Dr. Davies's Dictionary," contained in Edward Lhuyd's Archceologia Britannica, pp. 213-221, in case a new, revised and enlarged edition should be undertaken at some future time. There is no reason why that should not be done by some one or more from the present staff of professors of classical philology in the Principality and elsewhere. It would supply a want often felt by Welsh students when commencing to acquire a knowledge of the language of ancient Rome and its literature. The late Goronva Camlan was of opinion that in preparing Welsh youths for a collegiate course of tuition, the rendering of Latin into Welsh should be practised, which could not be effectually done without the aid of a suitable Latin- Welsh vocabulary. Llallawg. QUERIES. DR. CHARLES BURNEY.—According to some authorities, this musical worthy was born at Chester, where he undoubtedly received his education. Other biographers claim him as a native of Shrewsbury, but, so far as I am aware, no satisfactory proof has ever yet been given of the fact. Have the parish registers of Shrews¬ bury been consulted on this point, and if so, with what result? T. Hughes. WELSH AND BORDER PRESS.—Caermarthen. Taking the Caermarthen printers in order of date, as given in Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry, we now come to John Ross, who printed without date a Welsh edition of Matthew Henry's Scripture Catechism, placed under the year 1743. The same authority gives other books printed at Caermarthen by Ross in 1744 and 1749, and an undated book from bis press is placed under the year 1759. We next find him in partnership with Rhys Thomas printing several books in 1763; it seems, however, that ne soon parted company with Thomas and started onjhis own account, announcing that he was from London, where he had served seven years as foreman in a noted printing- house, and that he was the only one in these parts who had been regularly brought up to the trade. The account of him in Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry, pp., 395-6, is some¬ what mystifying; it seems to be inferred that he was in business at Caermarthen from 1743 to 1799, yet David and Evan Powell and Rhys Thomas are spoken of as old printers living at Caermarthen before his coming, but the earliest book mentioned as printed by either of these is dated 1757. We are also informed that "he died some tune in 1799 or else early in 1800, for an advertisement is iftrt » met ^k tna* h*s widow died in January, 1800, aged 100. For confirmation of this we are referred to the British Magazine, 1800, p. 204, where we find among the deaths the following announcement:—" Legygowan, Jan. j, ' ■^oss> «£/* of ^-r' ■^08S» P1"1^ Caermarthen," and Mr. Silvan Evans, in the Revue CeUique, vol. ii. p. 36, qU^l8 a ^eIsn sermon by Josiah Rees preached at Caer¬ marthen, June 5, 1800, in the imprint of which occurs the name of John Ross, thus showing that he was still alive xxxx and carrying on business in June, 1800, notwithstanding that his widow is said to have died six months previously at the venerable age of 100 years! Putting aside the somewhat doubtful 1759 book, there will be two ways of explaining this matter. There may have been two John Rosses, father and son; or it may have been one and the same John Ross starting in business at Caermarthen about 1743, after a few years migrating to London, then about 1763 returning to Caermarthen as partner with Rhys Thomas, and eventually working up a successful business of his own. Can any reader of Bye-gones ascertain the date of Ross' death and his age, or otherwise assist in elucidating the confused account given in Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry ? W. H. Allnutt. Oxford. -------- REPLIES. BORDER COUNTIES' WORTHIES (Nov. 7, 1877).—Perhaps you will allow me to point out to your correspondent that Thomas Walter and Thomas Walton, in his list are one and the same person—whose real name was Thomas Walton. His will is dated 22 Aug., 1754— and has a codicil dated 23 Aug. 1755. His death took place 6 Feb. 1757. His money built and endowed ttoo schools one at Seamons Moss and the other at Littleheath, both in Bowdon parish. One school cost £2,000, and had a share of the income arising from £5,241 left by him for charitable purposes, the other cost £200, and had the in¬ come arising from £1,120 left by the said testator. Such a liberal benefactor certainly deserves to have his name remembered, and the facts concerning him accurately stated. Similarly Sir John Walter and Sir John Walton in this list are one and the same person, who was Chief Baron of the Exchequer, temp., Charles I. His real name was Sir John Walter, and I therefore presume that his brother or cousin's name should be William Walter and not William Walton. E. OLD FOLKS (Sep. 5, 1877).—"In the year 1873 there died at Abersychan a woman named Edwards, aged 103 years and 6 months; in 1871 one Thomas Jones was interred in Trevethin churchyard, aged 102 years and 9 months, not far from the grave of Elizabeth Rees, who died in 1841, aged 102 years; and a few years ago there was living, not a quarter of a mile from the church [Trevethin], an old woman named Tamar Parry, who claimed to reckon 106 years."—The Usk Gleaner, January, 1878.—"At Chepstow, January 7th, deeply regretted by her relatives and friends, Mary, relict of the late James Clark of that town, and mother of J. H. Clark, of Usk, in the 100th year of her age."—County Observer [Usk], January 12, 1878. What will Mr. Thorns think of the above extracts ? H. E. MARCH 13, 1878. NOTES. OWEN GWYNEDD'S PEDIGREE.—Dr. Powel in his Historie of Cambria, p. 167, states, when treating of the reputed voyages of Prince Madoc, son of Owen Gwynedd, that he "went thither [westerne countrie] agame with ten sails, as I find noted by Gutyn Owen." In which of Gutyn Owen's books this fact is recorded has hitherto remained undiscovered. No mention of it being found in Llyfr Du Basing, which is an epitome of British History by him, it has been suggested that a search should be made for the pedigree of Owen Gwynedd by him, as that may possibly contain some allusion to it. A collection of Welsh pedigrees by Gutyn Owen is known to be among