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PENRH - Penrhyn Castle Papers

1 - The Griffith Documents

2 - The Williams Family

3 - Pennants and Douglas-Pennants

1 - Family papers

2 - Legal matters, counsels, opinions etc.

615-701 - Controversy over Crown rights in the parish of Llandegai (1811-1816), occasioned to a large extent by a letter sent to the Treasury by a somewhat scapegrace son of William Williams of Llandegai, most devoted and loyal of the Penrhyn servants. This led to a careful examination pf the grant of Uchaf to Richard, Lord Penrhyn (2Aug., 1784), and the submission of the whole Penrhyn evidence to an array of eminent counsel - Harrison, Dampier, Hargreaves, Plomer, Richards, and others - whose considered opinions weighed heavily in favour of the proprietary rights and against the Crown claims. In order to prevent repetition of the counsel's opinion, it will be well to quote the combined opinion of R. Gifford and J.S. Copley [later Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst] from Lincoln's Inn, 11 Nov. 1823: "We are of opinion that there is no sufficient evidence stated in the above case to establish the rights of the Crown to the common in the parish of Llandegai and that the long possession and repeated acts of ownership exercised by the Penrhyn family render it, in our judgement, impossible to hope for success in any proceedings to be instituted by the Crown to obtain possession of this property" (Gifford and Copley were Attorney and Solicitor General respectively at the time the opinion was given).

702-721 - Further controversy (1822-1824) in the days of G.H. Dawkins Pennant, who succeeded to the estate on the death of his cousin Richard, Lord Penrhyn.

722-727 - Correspondence between a London gentleman named Trimmer [although the word sometimes looks more like Trimner] and the agents of G.H.D. Pennant in 1827-1828; the former wanted a lease from the Crown to raise slates in the parish of Llandgai and claimed shipping facilities at Aber Ogwen.

728-730 - Three papers relating to Llanllechid commons. It is reported that several classifications of persons, not real commoners who have undisputed rights, are in the habit of depasturing cattle and sheep there, and that there were cases of commoners renting or assigning their own rights; cases of overpasturing, cutting turf, &c.

731-734 - Correspondence with H.M.;s Commissioners of Woods, &c. regarding the interpretation of the lease on Uchaf granted to Richard, Lord Penrhyn, on 2 Aug., 1784.

735-761 - Lease of 1784 again examined, 1848-1866, when the estate was held by Col. E.G.D. Pennant, son-in-law of G.H.D. Pennant [the Colonel became Lord Penrhyn in 1866].

762-774 - Dispute between G.H. Dawkins and Thomas Assheton Smith of Vaenol over the diversion of Marchlyn Bach water at the Bishop's Stone on the borders of Llandegai and Llanddeiniolen parishes, the former alleging that such diversion led to insufficient water-supplies for mills and farms the Felin Hen neighbourhood.

775-784 - Right of turbary at Moelyci: was it legal only when exercised on the Bangor side of the parish boundary, was it legal even on that side if used by the inhabitant generally and not by the occupiers of messuages adjoining, did it extend to the Llandegai side in face of the terms of a deed of exchange dated 12 Nov., 1789?

785-789 - Five papers relating to conflicting views between Richard, Lord Penrhyn, and Bishop John Warren about the tithes of Llandegai, and about the exact terms to be included in a lease proviso of 1793.

790-793 - Six interesting queries submitted to counsel in 1824 - about the diversion of the river Ogwen from its old course, the mud and marsh that were formed in consequence of such diversion, the comparative insecurity thus caused by Aber Ogwen as a shipping place for slates, and the possibilty, nevertheless, of persons and interests (other than G.H.D. Pennant) making use of the place as an exporting convenience.

794-796 - Problems of the old coaching days: were not the proprietors of mail or other coaches common carriers, and so bound to carry goods and parcels to a county, e.g, co. Caernarvon, according to the rates fixed by the magistrates of that county at their Easter Sessions (according to 3 William & Mary, c.12, & 21 Geo.II,c.28). Had the proprietors the right to charge 2/- for the journey from London to Shrewsbury, and 1/2 from Shrewsbury to Bangor, this 3/2 being in excess of the regulated price for carriage of goods from London to Bangor? What of places not mentioned in the Justices' regulations, e.g., Leamington, would the carriage from thence be strictly assessed by distance carried? If a parcel was booked for Bangor, could it be taken to Holyhead? Had the proprietors the right to refuse a parcel to be carried from London, unless their own charges for the carriage of the same were paid for at the time of the booking?

797-806 - Ten papers ranging from 1811 to 1831 - all bills of costs by Henry Rumsey Williams for proceedings taken on behalf of G.H. Dawkins Pennant, including letters, journeys, counsel's opinions, and the multifarious expenses incurred when cases came under the jurisdiction of Great Sessions (the 1830-1831 case came before the Court of the Exchequer).

807-810 - Two cases submitted to counsel - whether vessels which had not taken in their cargoes at Port Penrhyn could discharge their ballast on Llandegai sands within the manor of Penrhyn, and whether persons who hold leases from the bishop could erect buildings or baths on the Bangor sea-shore in face of the deed of exchange of 1802? E.H. Alderson (Oct/14, 1829, and 26 May, 1830) has no difficuly in rebutting the claims of the "foreign" vessels, but W. Erle(11 Sept., 1840) is very doubtful about the exchange of 1802 (following the lease of 1786), in face of the acts of proprietorship in the manor of Bangor exercised by the successors of Bishops Warren and Cleaver. In fact, he was in much the same dilemma as Day in 1841 and Parker in 1850 (docts. 811-815).

811-815 - Five papers relating to the lease for three lives made by John [Warren], Lord Bishop of Bangor, to Richard, Lord Penrhyn (25 Decr., 1786), upon land in the manor of Bangor for erecting wharfs, quays, houses, storehouses, &c., and to the deed of exchange concluded between Bishop Cleaver and Lord Penrhyn on 1 Novr., 1802.

Collapse 816-833 - To secure a full conspectus of the evidenc on his question, this group of papers must be supplemented by a careful study of docts. 65-66, 162-164, 172-173, 188-191, 193-196, 215, 237-241, 337-339, 378, 1,038, together with all references in the rent-books from the earliest period. Such a study was made when submitting cases for counsel, as witness the various marks in pencil opposite or under the relevant entries in the rentals

816-833 - To secure a full conspectus of the evidenc on his question, this group of papers must be supplemented by a careful study of docts. 65-66, 162-164, 172-173, 188-191, 193-196, 215, 237-241, 337-339, 378, 1,038, together with all references in the rent-books from the earliest period. Such a study was made when submitting cases for counsel, as witness the various marks in pencil opposite or under the relevant entries in the rentals

816-817 - Proposals (1 Aug., 1764) for leasing "both the wears" at Oenrhyn to Messrs Everett & Knight by Richard Hughes the agent, and a letter by the same to Lady Yonge explaining at some length the full implication of these proposals.

818 - Deed of lease (29 Jan., 1722) by John and Richard Pennant, esquires, to Grace Evans, widow, through their agent Samuel Wright, upon the Ogwen and Cegin weirs in Llandegai.

819-820 - Two letters of Samuel Wright from knutsford to Richard Pennant, esq., 12 & 17 May, 1773, in both of which (inter alia) he would like to know more about the ancient proofs of the rights of the Penrhyn owners to the weirs "upon the Sands in the Bay of Beaumaris", and refers to some persons who has been gathering mussels ["muscles"] there without warrant. In the second letter he proposes, when next at Bangor, to examine witnesses regarding the rights of the estate in the matter, and to take down their "examinations" in writing.

821 - Deed of lease (12 Oct., 1793) by Richard, Lord Penrhyn, to William Griffith of Tyddyn Canol in Llandegai upon "that ware [weir] or fishery lying and being on the shore of the sea ..... below Tyddyn Canol"

822-833 - Bundle of 12 papers relating to the Menai fishing trespass and the oyster question, 1840-1854, all depending upon the citing and interpretation of ancient docts., together with reference to customary rights arising from these evidences: letters of Mr. James Wyatt, illustrating his close acquaintance with the subject-matter; counsel's opinion (W.C. Townsend, Feb. 9, 1884); notes taken of Baron Parke's directions to the jury; further opinion by counsel (J.H. Lloyd) on the practice of "stealing oysters" (18 January, 1854). Interesting plan of a proposed "net accross the Ogwen".

834-836 - Two legal opinions on an abusive letter in the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald (27 May, 1848) by Dr. O.O. Roberts of Bangor; counsel (J. Henderson) points out the many intricacies of the law of libel (7 June, 1848); letter from Mr. Wyatt to Col. Pennant (12 June).

837-839 - Three documents regarding the rating of railways: a letter (19 March, 1849) from Alfred King to mr. James Wyatt, agent of Col. Pennant, enclosing two papers, viz., a copy of Mr. Benjamin Russell's examination before the Select Committee of the House of Lords and a full copy of the report of The Queen v. The Grand Junction Railway Company from the Law Journal Reports [Vol.13, New Series].

840-843 - Various papers: case and opinion regarding building leases in bethesda (March 16, 1852); opinion of Mr. Richard Couch on the diversion of the Caseg brook (April 3, 1854); opinion on the Coetmor fishery question (Aug., 1856); and Mr. Archbold's opinion on the case as to the powers of Guardians to unite parishes for the purposes of rating (12 Decr., 1859).

844-849 - Six papers relating to the mortgage of the Coetmor estate by the Earl of Egmont to Sir Edward Tierney [an estate bought by Col. Pennant from the mortgagee] and to the possible reactions of the case Egmont v. Darell in the Court of Chancery before Vice-Chancellor Wood.

850-855 - Six papers relating to the Bryn Hafod y Wen Quarry water works and the litigation arising therefrom (1876-1881): letters, plan, and the considered opinion (very short) of the distinguished legal writer Joshua Williams (26 June, 1879).

856-863 - Negotiations for a railway from Bangor to Bethesda (1876-1881): letters, section of ordnance map, and a report (1 May, 1876) on the proposed line, the three alternative routes suggested, to the connections with Port Penrhyn, and estimated cost.

3 - Llandegai : leases and deeds of exchange

4 - Llanllechid : leases

5 - Bangor : leases

6 - Various : Aber, Eifionydd, Penmachno

4 - The Jamaica Estates

5 - Estate Administration

6 - Quay and quarries

7 - Addenda

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