Quotations ... continued

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'Llanover Court, the magnificent seat and estate of Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart., occupies and extensive and fertile portion in this district, while the kindness and beneficence of its accomplished lady is laudably displayed in the erection and maintenance at her own expense of a well conducted free school for the poor of the parish.' Slater's Directory 1858/9.

Excerpts from Lady Llanofer's Correspondence
[In December 1883 Dafydd Williams's daughter Margaret Jane was 'found dead'. She was 22 years old, the daughter of Dafydd's first wife Elizabeth who had died in Aberystwyth a few weeks after Margaret Jane was born. The following excerpt is from a letter dated 2nd April 1884, addressed to Dafydd Williams, from Lady Llanofer who was in London at the time. (HF)]
" ... I am very anxious to hear how the mynwent [grave yard] looked particularly our own graves outside the Tomb and poor Magt Davies's and all others I care about, where I hope there will be no trash nor Gilt Paper or wreaths or Cropes [?] but only Posies Clwm Trwyn [possibly nosegays]. You are welcome to ask Davies Yr Ardd [Davies the Garden] for some little sprigs of Laurel which would [look] very pretty pegged down around your Poor Daughter's Grave and there are quantities of Daffodils growing in many fields of farms where I am sure they would let you have some and there used to be a quantity at Llwyn Celyn - If you do not get them overnight or by daylight in the morning others will be sure to get them."

The following excerpt from the same letter refers to John James, brother of Pedr James.
" ... Dr Harper says Ab Ioan if as well as when I saw him on Tuesday may go a little into the Garden if not too cold if Davies could give him light work such as Raking or Hoeing & put it down by the hour he cannot attempt days work nor going out early in the cold but hours will make days and he may gain a little and the air is good for him after he has had his dinner when the weather permits."

This is from an undated memo from Lady Llanofer to Dafydd Williams.
" ... You must examine again very soon about the Jackdaws, but it would have been enough to bring a Judgement upon us if the Old Birds had been barred out from coming to feed the Young ones before the young ones could take care of themselves but they made such a noise today in Church that Mr. Bevan says he is sure they must have been hatched some of them - under the Tiles between the Tiles & the Ceiling in the body of the Church when the little Jackdaws are fledged before they can fly away is the time when those that are fond of them take them to rear & I should think by the Chatter they made over my Pew today in Church that there must be some & it would be no Cruelty to take to rear - but be that as it may the place must not be stopped until they are provided for by flying away or somebody wishing to have them to Nurse I don't want to have one here now as there is enough to do & no one to care for it when I am gone to London but John Evans use to rear them formerly & as they eat worms they are not expensive to keep."

The following refers to the Rev. Benjamin Williams, (Gwynionydd). The letter was sent from London and dated 5th August 1885.
About Gwynionydd. If he likes to go and settle in the Vicerdy on Saturday next please to tell him from the Arglwyddes [her ladyship] he is welcome to do so but that he had better have his dinner at the Ty-Uchaf first.
Tell Mrs Evan Jones the above and that the Arglwyddes has no time to write to her - but that she and Mrs Chubb are to send for Ann Watkins up to tell her what Gwynionydd is to take and how to cook everything he has. Mr. D.W. is to let Ann Watkins have the use of a Ffwrn fach [Small oven]and one Double [oven] besides - & a gridiron instead of the Frying Pan she now has - She must not fry anything for him it is bad for his health.

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