Council Minutes: Extracts from Town Book, 1731-40

Cardiff Records: Volume 4. Originally published by Cardiff Records Committee, Cardiff, 1903.

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'Council Minutes: Extracts from Town Book, 1731-40', in Cardiff Records: Volume 4, (Cardiff, 1903) pp. 236-246. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cardiff-records/vol4/pp236-246 [accessed 19 April 2024]

Extracts from Town Book, 1731-40

The following is written in a round Court-hand.

Cardiff Vill. ss. The accts of Joseph Howells and Wilm Jones Overseers of the Poor for the Psh of St John Baptist in the sd Towne, in the year 1731.

Disbursements made in the sd year.

Paid for Edward Williams at Several time as pr accompt £ 4. 5. 6.
Pd Mary the wife of John Price for makeing ye shroud for
Walter Halls wife and Child 3s.
Pd Anne Grandfeild for maintaining Watr Halls son 1s.
June 19. Pd for ale at ye funeral of ye Above 2s.
D° for the daughters funeral 2s.
Pd the Sexton for Ringing & two graves 5s.
to ye Bellman for two funerals 8d.
To candles and pins at ye funeral 4d.
To four yards of Crape at 12d. pence pr yard 4s.
To Crape and cadis for the childes funeral 3s.
To Reece Watkin for two Coffins 12s.
June 28t Pd Eliz. Gibbon of Wenvoe that keept Anne Ailworth and John Veer son by Mr Bailiff Williams Order 9s.
July 12t Pd George Pendrys wife she being delivered of two children at a Birth 2s. 6d.
17. To ditto 2s. more by Bayliff Williams Ordr 4s. 6d. (fn. 24).
31. To Anne Grandfeild arrear for keeping Waltr Halls son & daughter 2s.
Towards Her Childs funeral buried at Landaff 4s.
To the Bellman for ditto 4d.
Augst 28. To Jane Griffiths for tending George Pendrys Wife in childbed by Mr Bayliff Williams order 5s.
Turn Over
Brought Over 7. 5. 10.
Sept. 18. Pd for ale at the funeral of Geo. Thomas Child 1s.
To Phillip Hurd by mr Bayliff Tanners Order 2s.
16th To the Sexton for Ringing and for makeing two Graves 5s. 6d.
To the Bellman for the above funerls 4d.
Novr 13th To Gwenllion David sick in ye Alms hous 1s.
To Morgan Reece & John Anthony two constables for assisting
and proveing an order of delivering John Thomas and Anne Joseph to the Churchwardens of Lannedern 5s. (fn. 25)
15th To Edward Thomas weaver to buy medecines for Edwd
William he being under his care 5s.
To ale at Elizbth ffishers funeral 1s.
20. To Gwenlion David sick in ye Almshous 1s.
27. Pd for fflax for Edwd Williams Leg 1s.
Janr 18. Pd Edward Evans carpenter for Eliz. ffishers Coffin 8s.
To another coffin for Geo. Thomas child 3s.
26. To Mr Jenkins for crape & cadis for Elizbth ffishers Shroud 4s. 5d.
To ditto for George Pendrys childe 3s. 2d.
March 18th To Evan Watkins wife for makeing two Shrouds 3s.
To ale at George Pendrys childs funeral 2s.
To Joseph Howell for goeing w[i]th two persons to Lanedern 2s. 6d. (fn. 26)
To Mr Colrick for Burying G. Pendrys Child 2s.
Allowd Joseph Howell for pen Ink & paper 2s. 6d.
23d Pd Maud Morgan for a coffin for Eliz. Morgan's child buryed at Landaff 3s.
Pd Anne Grandfields for Watt Halls son 2s.
Due to mr Humphrey Jones for flannen for Rolers for Edwd Williams Leg 2s.
To Margt Reece ye Pedler for ditto 1s.
The parish debt in all 9s. 11d.

The following is in the handwriting of John Thomas junior, the Deputy Town Clerk.

Cardiff Town. 21st of augt 1736.

Att a Common Councill held & duly Summoned for the Elecc'on of an assistant in the Room of Roger Morgan dece'd Edmond Lloyd Gent. was duely elected a Capitall Burgess of the said Town by us (being the Majority then & there present)

Arth. Williams
William Lambert
David Owen
George Lewis
Tho. Meredith
Richd Jones
Morgn Jenkins
Hen. Cornish
John Oakey
Phillip Stephens.

Then follows, under the same date, a precisely similar record of the election of George Watkins, gent., as an Assistant or Capital Burgess in the room of John Greenfield, deceased. Edmund Lloyd also signs.

Disfranchisements.

Cardiff Town. 21st of august 1736.

Att a Court of Common Councill duly summoned assembled & held in the said Town Wee whose Names are hereunto subscribed being the Majority then And there present Do disfranchise Oust and remove Edward Herbert alderman and Burgess of this Town of and from his said office of alderman and Office of Burgess of the said Town and do hereby make Null and Void his Title and Claim to the sd offices and to each & every of them.

Signatures as above, with the addition of George Watkins.

Next come similar entries of the disfranchisement of John Davies, gent.; Edward Mashman senior, butcher; John Abbis, ironmonger; Edward Edwards, cordwainer; Christopher Walter, yeoman; Thomas Webb, yeoman; William Deer, yeoman; Watkin Mangell, yeoman; John Rees, yeoman; John Hicks, yeoman; Christopher Wilkin, yeoman; Anthony Ford, carpenter, Burgesses, and Edmond Lloyd, Capital Burgess. The twelve capital burgesses sign all the above Minutes except the last, which has appended to it only the names of Arthur Williams, William Lambert, David Owen, George Lewis and Thomas Meredith. There is nothing in this volume to show the reason of the disfranchisement.

The Twenty Seventh Day of August one thousand seven hundred and Thirty Seven Watkin Morgan Gentleman was Sworn a Burgess of this Town before

Arthur Williams and
William Lambert Esquires
Bayliffes of the Said Town.

Appointment of Constable of the Castle.

On the Same Day the Abovenamed Watkin Morgan produced an Instrument under the hand and seal of the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Viscount Windsor appointing the said Watkin Morgan Esqr Constable of his Castle at Cardiffe During his Lordshipps pleasure, and he was accordingly Sworn Constable of the said Castle before

Arthur Williams
and
William Lambert
Esqrs

Bayliffes of the Said Town.

Alderman sworn by the Constable of the Castle.

On the Same Day Edmund Lloyd Gentleman was Sworn an Alderman of the Town of Cardiffe in the room of Edward Herbert Gentleman before Watkin Morgan Esquire Constable of the Castle of Cardiffe in the said Castle.

The twenty ninth of September 1737 Edward Rushworth of London Gentleman was Admitted a Burgess or ffreeman of this Corporation before Arthur Williams and William Lambert Esquires the Then Bayliffes of the Said Town.

The same day Henry Aylward of Lantwitt Magor, was admitted and Sworn a Burgess or ffreeman of the said Corporation before Arthur Williams and William Lambert Esqrs Bailiffs of the said Town.

Swearing of the Bailiffs and Serjeants at Mace.

Cardiffe Town. Thursday the Seventeenth of November 1737 David Owen and Edmund Lloyd Esquires were Sworn Bayliffes of the Said Town of Cardiffe by Watkin Morgan Esquire Constable of ths Castle of Cardiffe and James Owen and William Jones were Sworn Serjeants at Mace of the said Town.

Swearing of the Ward Constables.

ffriday the 18th of November 1737 the following persons were Sworn Constables for the said Town before David Owen and Edmund Lloyd Esqrs Bayliffes of the said Town in the severall Wards as under mentioned.

George Williams for High Street Ward.
Isaac Rosser
John Howell for South Ward.
Henry Watts
David Thomas for East Ward.
John Lewis
Ralph Bowen for West Ward.
Thomas Deere

Swearing the Aletasters.

Ale Tasters Sworn the Same Day before the same Bayliffes (that is to say)

Robert Watkin and
William Waters.

Cardiffe Town to witt. Thursday the Twenty third of ffebruary one thousand Seven hundred and Thirty Seven.

Att a Court of Common Councell Duely Summoned Thomas Seabrook Joyner was Elected to be a Capitall Burgess of the said Town in the room of Morgan Jenkins Deceased by us the Majority of the Corporation now present as Wittness our hands.

8 signatures.

Cardiffe Town to witt. Thursday the Twenty third of ffebruary one Thousand Seven hundred and Thirty Seven Att a Court of Common Councell Duely Summoned Henry Yeomans Glover was Elected and Sworn to be a Capitall Burgess of the said Town (in the Room of Edmund Lloyd Elected and Sworn an Alderman of this Corporation) by us the Majority of the Corporation now present as wittness our hands.

10 signatures.

Cardiff Town. Thursday the Twenty Third of ffebruary one thousand seven hundred and Thirty Seven.

Att a Councell Duely Summoned and held We the Majority whose names are hereunto Subscribed do Elect George Watkins Gentleman to be an Alderman of this Town in the room of Thomas Meredith Deceased as Wittness our hands.

David Owen
Edmund Lloyd
Will. Mathew
George Lewis
Arth. Williams
Will. Lambert.

ffriday the twenty fourth day of ffebruary one thousand sevenhundred and Thirty Seven the abovenamed George Watkins Gentleman was Sworn an Alderman of the Town of Cardiffe in the room of Thomas Meredith Deceased before Watkin Morgan Esquire Constable of the Castle of Cardiffe.

Jon Thomas Jr

Deputy Town Clerk.

Town Property.

Cardiffe Town. Friday the fourth of August 1738 at a Common Councell then held and duely Summoned We the Majority then present whose names are hereunder written do Agree and Consent to take up a Lease granted by the Town to John Griffiths Cordwayner the said John Griffiths being Since Dead and his Widow in very poor Circumstance and not able to pay the rent of the said Lease being Numbered in the Town Book 3 and now Cancelled by Consent.

6 signatures.

ffriday the Twenty ninth of September 1738 the following people were Sworn and Admitted ffreemen or Burgesses of this Corporation David Owen and Edmund Lloyd Esqrs being Bayliffes of the said Town

Charles Kemeys Tynte Esqre
William Savourse of St Donats Clk.
Richd Hyett of the same Gentleman.
Christopher Richard of the same Yeoman.
Nicholas Lamphey of the same Yeoman.
David Evan of the same Yeoman.
Edward Hancorn of Lanharry Gentleman.
Thomas Morgan of Landough Gentleman.
Lott Seabrook of Cardiffe Joyner.
Henry Thomas of Monknash Yeoman.
Thomas Williams of the same Yeoman.
Edwd Deer of Lantwitt Major Yeoman.

Cardiffe Town, ffriday the Sixth of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Thirty nine at a Common Councell then held and Duly Summoned We the Majority of the Corporation of the said Town of Cardiffe then present and whose names are hereunder Written do Elect John Thomas Deputy Town Clerk to be an assistant or Capitall Burgess for the said Town in the Room of George Watkins Gentleman now one of the Aldermen of the Said Town as Wittness our hands.

Sworn the Same Day

David Owen Edmund Lloyd
Arth. Williams
Tho. Mathews
Jno Tanner
William Lambert
Geo. Watkins
J. Thomas
Jno Oakey
Phillip Stephens
John Phillips
Thos Seabrook
Hen. Yeomans.

Next comes a similar entry, of the same date, recording the election of James Owen to be an Assistant or Capital Burgess in the room of Richard Jones deceased. The signatures are the same as the last entry, with the addition of Jon Thomas Jr D. Town Clerk.

Cardiffe Town. The Same Day at a Common Councell then held and Duly Summoned We the Majority of the Aldermen of the said Town then present do Elect and Choose Mr John Oakey of the said Town Mercer to be an Alderman of the Said Town in the Room of Mr George Lewis Alderman Deceased.

David Owen
Edmund Lloyd
Arthr Williams
Jno Tanner
William Lambert
Geo. Watkins.

What follows is in a handwriting somewhat inferior to that above.

The twenty third day of may one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine Thomas Morgan Gentleman produced an instrument under the hand and seal of the Right Honourable Herbert Lord Viscount Windsor bearing date the 22d Janry 1738 appointing the said Thomas Morgan Esqre Constable of his Castle at Cardiffe During his Lordships pleasure and he was accordingly sworn Constable of the said Castle before

David Owen and
Edmund Lloyd Esqrs
Bayliffes of yesd town.

On the same Day mr John Oakey mercer was sworn an Alderman of the town of Cardiffe in the room of mr George Lewis deceased before Thomas Morgan Esqre Constable of the Castle of Cardiffe in the Said Castle.

With the next entry the Town Clerk's handwriting is resumed.

Cardiff Town to Witt. The Third of July 1739

Phillip Howell of the said Town of Cardiffe Cooper was Admitted a ffreeman or Burgess of the Said Town by David Owen and Edmund Lloyd Esqrs Bailiffs and paid for his ffreedom 20s.

Inspected 7th Sept 1739
Wm Longman.

Then come admissions of the following persons as Freemen or Burgesses, 29 September 1739:—

Richard Prichard of Collunna in the County of Glamorgan, Gentleman.

Jonathan Lambert, of the City of Bristoll, Gentleman.

William Howard, of the Town of Cowbridge, Gentleman.

Moses Morgan of Cardiff, gentleman, chosen Assistant or Capital Burgess.

Cardiffe Town. Thursday the Thirteenth of December 1739 George Watkins and John Oakey Esquires Were Sworn Bailiffs of the Said Town of Cardiffe by Thomas Morgan Esqr Constable of the Castle of Cardiffe.

At the same time John Brewer Joyner and Thomas Stephens Tobacconist Were Sworn Serjeants at Mace of the Said Town.

ffriday the Twenty first of December 1739 the following persons Were Sworn Constables (in the Severall Wards) for the said Town before George Watkins and John Oakey Esqrs Bailiffs of the said Town that is to Say

ffor High Street Ward: Thomas Pendry Victualler
Cradock Glascott Sadler
ffor High Street Ward: Edward Thomas ffisherman
Phillip Howell Cooper
ffor South Ward: Thomas Lewis Victualler
Thomas Maslip Victualler
ffor the West Ward: John Williams ffarrier
Edward Evans Carpenter.

Thomas Deer, of Cardiff, perukemaker, admitted Burgess. Fee 20s.

Swearing the Clerks of the Market.

Thursday the 27th March 1740 Sampson Stone of the Said town Barber was Sworn one of the Clerks of the Markett in the room of John Harry Dece'd before George Watkins Esqr Senr Bailiff of the Said Town.

The following persons were admitted Freemen up to 29 September 1740:—

Thomas Van, of Cardiff, farrier.
Richard Harris, of Worcester, haberdasher.
The Reverd Mr. Chas Carne, Rector of Saint Athans.
Nicholas Hopkins, of Sully, yeoman.
David John, of Lantwitt, yeoman.
John Reed, of Wicke, yeoman.
George Westly, of Lantwitt, yeoman.
Morgan John, of Saint Athans, yeoman.
George Williams, of Penllyne, yeoman.

Town Property.

Cardiffe Town. ffriday the 26th of December 1740 at a Common Councell duly Summoned and held for the Said Town We the Majority then present do Agree and Consent in Manner and form ffollowing (That is to Say)

Whereas William Richards of the Said Town Gentleman [and All other the Tenants] (fn. 27) Stands indebted to this Corporation in a Large Sume of Money for rent and Arrears of rent it is therefore Ordered that the Town Clerk do draw up a Case Concerning the Same to be laid before some Councell such as the Bailiffs of this Town shall appoint in Order for Opinion thereupon and that the Town Clerk after such opinion given thereon do follow the directions of the Same for the Speedy recovery of the Said rent and Arrears rent and for his so doing this Shall be his Sufficient Warrant.

And it is likewise Order'd that the Same Measures be taken and pursued against all Other the Tenants being in Arrear to the Said Town and that the Expences thereof be allowed out of the Town Stock.

Geo. Watkins
John Okey
Will. Mathew
David Owen
Arth. Williams
Jno Tanner
Edmund Lloyd
J. Thomas
Gab. Lewis
John Phillips
Jas Owen.
Inspected by
B. Bromhead.

Cardiffe Town to Witt. The Twenty fifth of August 1741. The Right Honoble Thos Lord Mansell Baron of Margam in the County of Glamorgan was admitted a ffreeman or Burgess of the said Town by Geo. Watkins and John Okey Esquires Bailiffs of the said Town.

Footnotes

  • 24. A curious method ot addition!
  • 25. Presumably because one or both of them were natives of that parish.
  • 26. Presumably John Thomas and Anne Joseph. (See preceding page.)
  • 27. The words in brackets were struck out.