Diary and Account Book for 1846 (edited transcript)

Thursday first day of the Year 1846
Fine day. Home all day. Uncle Llyslew was here. (Note: Uncle Llyslew – William Jones, Llyslew, Llanidan, brother of William Jones’ father, David Jones.)

2
Friday. Ditto, ditto. Break the plow while plowing cae cefn.

3
Saturday. Rain. Home. Send the plow to Llanerchymedd.

4
Sunday. Rain. Home all day.

5
Monday. Ditto. Plowing cae cefn.

6
Tuesday. Fair. Send 11qr 3qt of oats for corn.

7
Wednesday. Ditto. I have been in Llanerchymedd market.

8
Thursday. Very dirty. Send 9 pigs down to the Port. Sold them to Dr. Griffith, Rhosmynach /3 per lb. Lose £12 in feeding them. I have been unwell this long time. Been with Dr. Roose to get medicine. (Note: Dr Roose – Salter’s Directory of Liverpool and the whole of North Wales, 1844 lists as surgeons in Amlwch Thomas Davies Griffith of Methuselam St., James Roose of School Lane and Robert Roose of New St.)

9
Friday. Fair. Lost 35 sheep. Been looking for them all day.

10
Saturday. Rain. Look out for the sheep. Get them near Llanerchymedd.

11
Sunday. Ditto. Home till night. Been in Sardis chapel. Hear R.H., Llanerchymedd.

12
Monday. Fair. Fetch the sheep home from Dwyrnan fields. In afternoon begin plowing cae llwyd.

13
Tuesday. Raining hard. Plowing ditto.

14
Wednesday. Fair. Ditto. Ditto.

15
Thursday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

16
Friday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

17
Saturday. Rain. Fetch 19 cwt. of coal from Mr. Hill. At night stopped late. Received 27/ from J.H. Treweek.

18
Sunday. Fair. Home all day. Richard Edwards, Bodafon has been here.

19
Monday. Rain hard from the East very hard all day. Home all day. Killed Old Jonath this night. Evan Roberts was the butcher. (Note: Old Jonath – one of the cows.)

20
Tuesday (calendar correction). Fair. I have been in Amlwch. Send skin for Mr. O. Jones, curer. Get old wine cask from Mr. Jones, Ty mawr.

21
Wednesday (calendar correction). Rain. I was plowing all day in cae llwyd.

22
Thursday (calendar correction). Ditto. Will, gof, has been here, 3 shoes for Boos, 2 for Star, 2 for mule. (Note: Will – the blacksmith.)

23
Friday (calendar correction). Fair. Been to fetch potatoes from Moelfre. (Note: Moelfre – a fishing village, O.S. Grid Reference 514866.)

24
Saturday (calendar correction). Ditto. Plowing all day. Ditto.

25
Sunday (calendar correction). Rain. In chapel at night – Sardis.

26
Monday (calendar correction). Rain. Home all day.

27
Tuesday (calendar correction). Very wet. Plowing.

28
Wednesday (calendar correction). Ditto. Home all day.

29
Thursday (calendar correction). Ditto.

Friday (calendar correction). Rain. In Amlwch.

31
Saturday. Fair. Begin plowing bonc ynys felan this day 2 ploughs. Thresh 1 qr barley.

This month was very wet and windy.

Febry.

1
Sunday. First day of Febry. Fine. Home all day,.

2
Monday. Ditto. Been in Amlwch with Peirce Morgan Esqr.

3
Tuesday. Rain. Home all day.

4
Wednesday. Fine day. Plowing in ponc ynys felan.

5
Thursday. Winnowing 17qr:1s:1h:1qt, send it to the steamer for Mr. Jones, Ty mawr for 20/6.

6
Friday. Dry. Plowing bonc ynys felan all day.

7
Saturday. Ditto. Ditto. At night go to Amlwch with Wm. Williams, late of Hen groesa.

8
Sunday. Fine dry weather after very long wet (period). Home all day.

9
Monday. Ditto. Plowing all day ditto.

10
Tuesday. Ditto. Finish bonc. John Jones, smith, was here to mend the ploughs this afternoon.

11
Wednesday. Fine weather. Plowing in cae adlod this morning. In the afternoon go to Llanerchymedd. Go to Amlwch. Been in Glasgrig, get tea.

12
Thursday. Ditto. Plowing all day.

13
Friday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

14
Saturday. Ditto. Plowing this morning. In the afternoon about the house.

15
Sunday. Fine day. Been in Sardis chapel, (Sunday) school.

16
Monday. Ditto. Plowing cae adlod.

17
Tuesday. Ditto. I have been with Mr. Hills.

18
Wednesday. Ditto. Plowing all day.

19
Thursday. Ditto. Been with Boos, try to sell her to Mr. Hills. Been in Amlwch. (Note: Boos, a mare.)

20
Friday. Dry. About the house with David Roberts, Glantraeth.

21
Saturday (calendar correction). Rain. With joiner and smith all day.

22
Sunday. Rain. Blowing hard from south. Home with Brother John. He is going to work now. We have 4 little lambs (born) first 2 days of Febry. Refuse 18/0 for 12 wethers. Sheep are a very high price. Coal is very high 16/ per ton. Horses high.

23
Monday. Rain. Been in Amlwch with the Ty fry servant and Robert. Done.

24
Tuesday. Ditto. Been in smithy putting new iron on gig wheel.

25
Wednesday. Fair. Been in Llanerchymedd. Go with Mr. W.G. Treweek. Look for horse in Llwydiarth esgob. (Note: Llwydiarth esgob – a farm, O.S. Grid Reference 435845.)

26
Thursday. Ditto. Winnowing 15qr:3s:0:0 of oats. Send it to the Port.

27
Friday. Fine day. Stop in Amlwch last night.

28
Saturday. Ditto. Home all day. We are carting muck for the potatoes to crincae mixed with soil at the bottom end of the field.

This month was fine from end to end. Done (i.e. finished) plowing for oats. The market is very low now oats 18/0 to 18/6, barley 33/ to 34/, wheat 52/ to 55/, potatoes 8d to 1/0. Very good spring in the earth. The trees are in bloom already.

March 1846 (mistakenly recorded as 1848 by William Jones)

1
Sunday. South wind. Home this morning. In school in the afternoon. Richard Williams, Glasgrig is here now. I have been in Sardis chapel. Hear David Thomas.

2
Monday. Rain in the afternoon and very windy. Home all day.

3
Tuesday. Rain all day, since last night. Very windy and rainy. Home all day.

4
Wednesday. Showers. Ditto. Ditto.

5
Thursday. Fine day. Been in Llysdulas auction. Buy £3 worth of sweeds. (Note: Llysdulas – a large country house, O.S. Grid Reference 484899.)

6
Friday. Ditto. Fetch the sweeds home.

7
Saturday. Ditto. Mixed manure for potatoes this morning. Been in Tynygongl. D. Williams is ill. (Note: D. Williams – the tailor.)

8
Sunday. Fine day. Home this morning. In the afternoon been in (Sunday) school at Sardis. Been in Penysarn at night.

9
Monday. Ditto. Plowing in cae mawr uchaf for barley.

10
Tuesday. Plowing ditto. In the afternoon go to Llanerchymedd fiar. Father capsizes the gig and hurts his shoulder very much.

11
Wednesday. Ditto. Been in Amlwch this morning. Sell 12 wethers for £1:0:0.

12
Thursday. Ditto. Go with Mr. Jones, Dinorben Hotel to Maes y borth.

13
Friday. Rain. In Caernarvon and Llanberis this day.

14
Saturday. Rain. In Bangor all day.

15
Sunday. Ditto. In Bangor last night. Start home at 3 o’clock. Home at 9.

16
Monday. Fair. Home all day.

17
Tuesday. Rough, snow. Been with Dr. Griffith in Tan y graig. Stop at Tyn y gongl.

18
Wednesday. Ditto. Home all day.

19
Thursday. Fair. Ditto. Ditto.

20
Friday. Fine day. Ditto. Ditto.

21
Saturday. Blowing hard. Been in Amlwch this evening. Buy beans for 3qt for 3/0.

22
Sunday. Fine day. Home all day.

23
Monday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

24
Sunday. Ditto. I went to Amlwch with 2 of the railway boys. (Note: the railway boys – probably engaged in constructing the Central Anglesey Railway which ran from Gaerwen to Amlwch.)

25
Wednesday. Fair. Fetch load of coal for Edward Williams, Llaneuddog (see previous notes.)

26
Thursday. Fair. Fetch load of gorse from Ty mawr. I went to the Port with Mr. Jones to meet the steamer.

27
Friday. Fine. Plowing all day for barley in cae mawr uchaf. Get 2qr of barley for seed from Liverpool.

28
Saturday. Ditto. Plowing for barley. Winnowing 15qr of oats for seed.

29
Sunday. Dry. Home. I went with Richard Williams, Glasgrig to Castell.

30
Monday. Home all day. Plant potatoes. Few in quantity.

31
Tuesday. Ditto this morning. Rain at night. Commence sowing oats in cae cefn. 4 harrows. 4 sacks. Uncle Penrhynoer and aunt were here. (Note: Uncle and aunt – John Jones of Penrhynoer, parish of Llangwyllog, O.S. Reference 425794 was a brother of William Jones’ father, David Jones. John Jones was baptized at Llanddaniel church on 12 April 1775 and died on 29 Aug. 1864 aged 90. His wife Margaret Lewis was born in 1777 or 1778 in the parish of Llandyfrydog and died on 15 June 1863 aged 86. They were both buried in Llangwyllog churchyard.)

This month was mild and wet. Excellent good spring in the earth. Good grass now. Very few have commenced sowing yet.

The market is high. Oats £1. Barley 34 & 35. Wheat 50 to 56. Cattle are very scarce, selling for good prices. Potatoes from 9 to 11 per qt.

April 1846

1
Wednesday. Rain. I was in Castell. Try to buy 3 2-year olds.

2
Thursday. Showers. Plowing in crincae for potatoes all day.

3
Friday. Rain all day. Threshing – all of us all day. John Jones, smith, (mends) axletree of the gig.

4
Saturday. Rain. Been in Llanerchymedd fair. Buy 3 oxes from Robert Evans, Castell for £17. Home at 6 o’clock.

5
Sunday. Raining hard all day from the east. Very wet. Cattle in all day.

6
Monday. Raining hard. Winnowing 10qr of oats for seed. Sold the old sow for Cornelius at 2½½ weighing 21 score at Ty mawr. (Note: Cornelius Williams of Glanrafon, Amlwch was a corn and flour merchant.)

7
Tuesday. Dry from the north. Thresh 2 bushels of wheat. In the afternoon go to Moelfre with Mr. Jones, Ty mawr and J. Parry, werthur for potatoes.

8
Wednesday. Dry. Sow oats in the afternoon. 1 sack. Very wet.

9
Thursday. Ditto. Sow 3 sacks. Sent 8qr:1:1:2 of (not stated) to the steamer. Change it with Mr. Jones, Ty mawr for oat seed. Mr. Jones went to Liverpool. I sent him down to the steamer.

10
Friday. Ditto. Sow oats above cae cefn. Sow 1 sack of sheek bean in cae bach.

11
Saturday. Rain. Winnowing 3qr:1s of barley. Robert Hughes gelded 7 little pigs.

12
Sunday. David Thomas, Baptist preacher here now. Going to Sardis at 10 o’clock. In the afternoon go to Gasgrig bach. Richard Williams is very ill. I went to fetch Dr. Davies, Cae mawr there and stayed up all night with him.

13
Monday. Fair. Sow 3 sacks of oats in cae llwyd.

14
Tuesday. Ditto. Sow 3 sacks of (not stated). Done (i.e. finished) cae llwyd.

15
Wednesday. Rain. Too wet for sowing. Been in Amlwch.

16
Thursday. Fair. Sow 8 sacks in bonc ynys felan.

17
Friday. Rain this morning. Been in Llangefni fair with 6 oxes which were not sold. Come home with Mr. Jones, Ty mawr after Bees to Amlwch.

18
Saturday. Fair. Finish harrowing cae bong ynys felan. Begin cae pigsofl. Sow 2 sacks.

19
Sunday. Dry, east. Been in Llaneilian church. Finish the day at Brundasi. Been with Griffith Michael.

20
Monday. Ditto. Finish sowing cae pigsofl. Hurt my foot.

21
Tuesday. Rain. Sow 3 sacks of Scotch barley in cae mawr uchaf. My foot hurts me very much.

22
Wednesday. Very wet in the morning. Sow 1 sack of barley. In the afternoon begin cae adlod – 3 sacks.

23
Thursday. Dry. Sow 5 sacks of oats in cae adlod.

24
Friday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

25
Saturday. Ditto. Finish cae adlod and finish sowing oats for this year. Sow clover and hayseed in cae adlod this year.

26
Sunday. Ditto. Home all day, lame.

27
Monday. Ditto. Sow clover in cae adlod this morning, sow barley in cae mawr uchaf. Try to make an exchange of pony for three oxes with William Thomas, Brundasi.

28
Tuesday. Dry. Brother Thomas arrived in Amlwch Port with a cargo of potatoes from Scotland this morning. I went with him to the Port in our gig. Done (i.e. finished) sowing.

29
Wednesday. Ditto. Sow clover in cae mawr uchaf.

30
Thursday. Rain. Home all day.

William

sack

Cae cefn 11

do. llwyd 6½

do. bonc ynys felan 10½

do. pigsofl 6

do. adlod 13

16)470(29

150

144

May the first

1
Friday. Fair. Plant potatoes and beans in cae bach.

2
Saturday. Ditto. Open ridges for potatoes in crincae and set 1 sack.

3
Sunday. Fine day. Home all day. Brother Thomas is at home. Son of Llygwyd is here. Mr. Jones, Dinorben Hotel and John Hughes, Drug Hall are here.

4
Monday. Fair. Just start with the potatoes.

5
Tuesday. Ditto. Plowing the land for the third time. Wet.

6
Wednesday. Fine. Home this morning. In the afternoon go to Llanerchymedd fair with Thomas.

7
Thursday. Fair. Open ridges for potatoes. Been in Amlwch Bank and change £118:0:0 for

8
Friday. Dry. Carting muck for potatoes all day.

9
Saturday. Dry. Carting muck for potatoes. In the afternoon set and open.

10
Sunday. Rain last night. Home this morning. W. Williams late of Hen groese is here. Cut my hair. Been in Cross Keys. Get a glass of ale. (Note: later in life, William Jones was a teetotaler.)

11
Monday. Fine. Carting muck for potatoes all day.

12
Tuesday. Fair. Ditto. Ditto. Set 3 sacks.

13
Wednesday. Ditto. Ditto.

14
Thursday. Ditto. Ditto. Do harrowing for potatoes. Gather stones from the hayfield.

15
Friday. Dry from the north. We are threshing oats all day.

16
Saturday. Dry. Ditto. Ditto. Been in Amlwch.

17
Sunday. Fair. Home all day.

18
Monday. Rain. Winnowing 13qr of oats for Cornelius at £1 per qr. Send it this evening. (Note: Cornelius Williams – corn and flour merchant of Amlwch.)

19
Tuesday. Rain. Done (i.e. finished) planting potatoes in crincae. At night heavy rain.

20
Wednesday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

21
Thursday. Fine. I was with the blacksmith this morning. In the afternoon been in Amlwch.

22
Friday. Rain. Open ridges for turnips in the afternoon. Sow one storad of barley in cae bach. (Note: storad – Welsh for stone – a measure.)

23
Saturday. Dry all day. Second set potatoes (i.e. set again).

24
Sunday. Fine day. Home all (day) till evening. Been (with) Brother John in Tyfadog Park and in Sardis chapel. (Note: John made his home in the Isle of Man – see correspondence with Genealogist in Isle of Man.)

25
Monday. Ditto. Carting muck for sweeds to crincae all day.

26
Tuesday. Dry very much from the north. 2 horses and cart have been in Ty mawr. We make 18 ridges ready to sow sweedes.

27
Wednesday. Ditto. Sow 1H of sweedes. I went to Llanerchymedd to sell 2 store pigs for £4 and hire Edward Jones, Gell back for 6 months for £7:12:6. Send Mother to the steamer for Liverpool and Isle of Man.

28
Thursday. Dry. Sow sweeds. Bees threw me (in) to the ditch. Got very bad stitch between my shoulders. I could not stir. Let corn to thresh.

29
Friday. Ditto. Very bad this morning. Get 6 leaches between my shoulders. Not much (relief) yet. E. Jones servant came here. (Note: leaches were applied as a counter-irritant to relieve pain.)

30
Saturday. Fine weather. Very bad this morning, not much better in the afternoon. Been in Amlwch. I feel myself a deal better in coming home.

31
Sunday. Want showers of rain very much. My stitch is a deal worse this morning. I feel myself very bad indeed. I think there is something unright.

May

This month was exceedingly good weather. Plenty of grass. Deal of corn unthreshed in the country. Good price for grain – wheat 56/, barley 32, oats 22 to 20, rather lower than a fortnight ago.

Lime from Mr. John Hughes, Madyn

3 June load of lime 7qr

4 3

5 2

6 2

11 7

12 7

June 1846

1
Monday. Very hot. I have been at David Owen, Gadfa’s wedding. Went to Llanerchymedd with William Thomas, Brundasi in bull-car. Come home with the coach to Amlwch.

2
Tuesday. Hot. Been in Llanerchymedd with Brother Thomas. In the evening been to Brundasi.

3
Wednesday. Very hot. Fetch load of lime from Amlwch Port. Father starts for the Isle of Man.

4
Thursday. Ditto. Home. Fetch lime from Port.

5
Friday. Ditto. Plowing the potatoes this morning. In afternoon winnowing 13 qr of oats.

6
Saturday. Hot. Plowing potatoes. In afternoon send 8qr:1:1:3 to Mona Mill. Been at Llysdulas. Rough shot. Young John, Penrhynoer was here. (Note: young John – John Jones of Penrhynoer in the parish of Llangwyllog was William Jones’ cousin. He was baptized on 29 Dec. 1800 at Llanfaelog and died on 16 July 1883, aged 83. He was a bachelor. The adjective young distinguishes him from his father John Jones, born in 1775 and died in 1864 aged 90.)

7
Sunday. Hot. Want rain. Home all day. Don, stallion, was here by Owen serey.

8
Monday. Ditto. Plowing haver all day.

9
Tuesday. Ditto. Plowing potatoes all day. Don first time.

10
Wednesday. Very like rain. Plowing winnowing 9qr:1qt of oats.

11
Thursday. Very dry. Send oats to Cornelius. Bring load of lime home with us. Father and mother return from the Isle of Man, also Jane. (Note: ? Jane, his sister, was baptized at Llangristiolus on 11 April 1824.)

12
Friday. Hot. Finish threshing the wheat.

13
Saturday. Ditto. Mixed the lime with the plow. In Amlwch. Come (home) by 8.

14
Sunday. Hot. In Sardis chapel. Hear Seth Roberts. Jane Brundasi is here now.

15
Monday. Very hot. Plowing haver. Done (i.e. finished).

16
Tuesday. Ditto. Fetch load of coal from the smelt to John Jones, gof. (Note: gof – Welsh for blacksmith.)

17
Wednesday. Ditto. Been in Llangefni sasiwm. (Note: Sasiwm – Welsh for Association, referring to the chapel.)

18
Thursday. Hot. Been in Dissenters’ meeting at Amlwch Port.

19
Friday. Ditto. Mowing all day. Begin to feel myself very ill.

20
Saturday. Hot. In bed just all day, very ill.

21
Sunday. Hot. Been in Amlwch with Dr. Griffith, got something. J. Jones, sadler, Llangefni is here. (Note: Dr Thomas Davies Griffith of Methuselam Street, Amlwch.)

22
Monday. Hot. Done mowing pen isa cae mawr, raking cae tros y lon. The weather broke, thundering, lightning and raining very hard.

23
Tuesday. Rain. Been in Llanerchymed fair. Sell Sam for £10 to Ty fry servant. Feel myself very ill.

24
Wednesday. Ditto. Carting muck for turnips.

25
Thursday. Rain. Ditto. Ditto. Sow afternoon raking hay.

26
Friday. Rain. Clean the rick yard.

27
Saturday. Fair. Mowing and raking hay all day. Richard Williams and Catherine, Glasgrig came here till Monday.

28
Sunday. Rain and blowing. Home till 6. Went to Amlwch. Send Jane to be ready for the coach by Monday. She was going to the Isle of Man. She had a very rough passage. (Note: Jane, his sister.)

29
Monday. Windy. Thomas smith begins here this morning. Mowing hay all day, 3 or us.

30
Tuesday. Fair, windy. Mowing cae crussul this morning. In the afternoon carting hay from cae tros y lon.

The weather was exceedingly dry and hot till the 22^nd inst., rather wet (there-) after. Middling crop of hay this year.

July 1846

1
Wednesday. Rain. July first. About the house till evening. Been in Amlwch posting letter for Brother Owen – Send his letter to Douglas (Isle of Man). (Note: Owen, his brother was baptized on 9 March 1817 at Llangristiolus. Owen and Thomas were twins. Owen subsequently emigrated to Lanesville, Mass., U.S.A. where he died in 1877. There are letters from Owen to his family at Glybcoed written in Lanesville in 1863 and 1865. I found the graves of Owen and his family at Lanesville in 1966. The cemetery overlooks the ocean.)

2
Thursday. Wet. Plowing the potatoes all day.

3
Friday. Dry. Mowing pen isa cae tros y lon this morning. In the afternoon raking hay, 10 of us.

4
Saturday. Dry. Mowing hay, just done raking and go to Amlwch with Mother. Been with John Treweek and with Dr. Griffith.

5
Sunday. Rain. Home till night. Been in Sardis. Hear H. Williams, Bettws – John Chapter 17, verse 8.

6
Monday. Hard rain. Been in Mona mine. Stop at Penysarn for a few hours.

7
Tuesday. Fair. Carting hay – all in stack. Father got a very bad accident with the cartwheel running over him.

8
Wednesday. Rain. Rotten weather for hay. Commenced opening quarry for drains in waun bach. I have been in Llanerchymedd with Boos and daughter. Horsed them.

9
Thursday. Fair. Open quarry for drain with Uncle Penrhynoer in Llysdulas Park. See John’s oxes. Father feels very bad. (Note: Uncle Penrhynoer – John Jones of Penrhynoer, Llangwyllog who lived from 1775 to 1864.)

10
Friday. Fine day. Carting rubble for drains to cae glover. In afternoon with the hay. Uncle Llyslew is here. (Note: Uncle Llyslew – William Jones of Llyslew, Llanidan, 1788 – 1864.)

11
Saturday. Ditto. Carting for drain. Ditto. Send load of hay for Brother John.

12
Sunday. Fine day. Home. Evan Roberts, Castell, W. Thomas, Brundasi, John Thomas, Croessa, Thomas Jones, smith are here. I have been in Sardis chapel. Head Panur.

13
Monday. Fine day. Carting rubble for drains ditto at cae glover.

14
Tuesday. Ditto. Cut sweeds. In the corn all day. Robert Jones, Frwd fadog begins work 12 o’clock at 1/0.

15
Wednesday. Ditto. Cut sweeds. In afternoon with Thomas, smith.

16
Thursday. Rain. Carting muck for heaps. Owen Thomas, Brundasi is here. Drink glass of porter.

17
Friday. Ditto. Scuffle the sweeds and potatoes. I went to Holyhead with Mr. Jones, Dinorben Hotel, Amlwch. Come home very late through Llanbabo. (Note: Llanbabo – a village, O.S. Grid Reference 378868.)

18
Saturday. Rain. Carting dung for heap to the haver and go to Amlwch.

19
Sunday. Dry. Home all day. Due to John 3/3 for work.

20
Monday. Ditto. Make top of the haystack. Very windy.

21
Tuesday. Rain. Plowing potatoes. They have failed very much. (Note: the disastrous potato blight of 1846.)

22
Wednesday. Fine day. Clean the potatoes and carting muck for the heap. We have wheat in cae Newydd. Elin Jones, Penrhynoer is here and John Hugh Jones, Felin bach, Edward Owens, Tyn y llwyn, John Roberts, Ty mawr, Robert Jones, Frwd fadog and wife here to see father. He is little better. (Note: Elin Jones, Penrhynoer – William Jones’ cousin Elinor Jones of Penrhynoer, Llangwyllog who later married Owen Owens of Treriffri in the parish of Llechcynfarwydd; Robert Jones of Frwd fadog was a farmer of 25 acres and aged 70 at the time of the 1851 Census. His wife was Elizabeth (70) and his children Mary (34) and Robert (28).)

23
Thursday. Rain. Carting much for wheat. Due to John when he commenced draining 9/3.

24
Friday. Fair. Done mixed the large heap is round the haver.

25
Saturday. Dry. Carting soil in cae crin. In afternoon been in Amlwch. Stop with Mr. J.H. Treweek all night with old Mrs. Hughes. She very nearly died.

26
Sunday. Fine. Come from Amlwch at 10 o’clock today. Richard Williams, Glasgrig bach is here (and) Jane Thomas, Brundasi. We went to Sardis to hear David Thomas (who) has come here tonight. I send Jane Thomas as far as Penysarn.

27
Monday. Fair. Plowing potatoes and haver all day.

28
Tuesday. Fair. We were in the highway today.

29
Wednesday. Rain and thunder. Begin to thatch hay. I have been in Llanerchymedd. I sold 6 oxes for £8:15 a head. Get wet.

30
Thursday. Fair. Thatch in morning. Clean the sweeds.

31
Friday. Dry from the east. Clean the sweeds. Thunderings, hard rain.

The weather was rather wet this month, rather unfavorable for the hay and there is some hay out yet.

The price of grain.

wheat 40 to 48

barley 26 to 18

oats 11

August 1846

1
Saturday. This evening was visited by a most violent thunder-storm. The lightning lasted without intermission. Heavy fall of rain. Clean the sweeds.

2
Sunday. Hot. In the evening been in Sardis chapel.

3
Monday. Wet. Done (i.e. finished) cleaning the sweeds.

4
Tuesday. Fair. Done thatch the hay. Been in sea-shore with Robert Lewis. He intends going to the Isle of Man.

5
Wednesday. Hot. Home all day.

6
Thursday. Hot. Been in Llangefni. Send 6 oxes to Mr. Roberts’ brother Roberts, Penbol and go to Amlwch. Get £10 for sheep from Richard Jones, Bodorfed. (Note: Penbol – a farm, O.S. Grid Reference 403881.)

7
Friday. Rain. Start from home to Amlwch and from Amlwch with the coach to Menai Bridge, with the packet to Liverpool. (Note: the packet – services were operatd between Menai Bridge and Liverpool thrice-weekly by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company’s ‘Albert’ and a private vessel, ‘Cambria’ and twice-weekly by another private steamer ‘Orion’. Coaches from Caernarvon, Amlwch, Llangefni and Holyhead connected with the steamers.)

8
Saturday. Fair. From Liverpool to Isle of Man. Nice passage.

9
Sunday. Ditto. With Brothers at the Isle.

10
Monday. Ditto. Ditto.

11
Tuesday. Ditto. Ditto.

12
Wednesday. Fine. At Balsala fair. (Note: Balasala – in the Isle of Man.)

13
Thursday. Rough. Come over from the Isle of Man to Liverpool.

14
Friday. Fine. Come from Liverpool to Amlwch with the coach. Begin to cut wheat.

15
Saturday. Rain. Mow oats in cae cefn.

16
Sunday. Fair. Been in church. Richard Williams, Glasgrig is here. for 2….. for 13 from W. Thomas.

17
Monday. Fair. Done cut wheat. I have been in Llangefni. Buy pony.

18
Tuesday. Rain. Mow oats in cae cefn and cae llwyd. Rain in (afternoon) fetch ton of coal from E. Williams for 13/ . (Note: E. Williams – Edward Williams of Llaneuddog, Llanwenllwyfo.)

19
Wednesday. Fair. Mow oats in cae llwyd. Done it. Begin mowing barley in cae mawr. I send the pony per ‘Windermere’ to Liverpool to forward her to the Isle of Man. (Note: Windermere – the Windermere Steam Packed sailed from Amlwch Port to Liverpool once a week. She left Liverpool for Amlwch every Wednesday morning, sailing at 7 from George’s Pier. The Agent was Elizabeth Winder.)

20
Thursday. Rain. Mow oats in cae pigsofl this morning. Fetch Thomas. Go here with him in the afternoon.

21
Friday. Fair. Mow oats in cae pigsofl. Done it. Being bonc ynys felan.

22
Saturday. Fine day. Done mowing barley-field cae mawr and carting all the wheat.

23
Sunday. Ditto. I have been in Glasgrig bach this afternoon.

24
Monday. Ditto. Cut oats – 5 of us all day.

25
Tuesday. Ditto. Ditto. In cae adlod.

26
Wednesday. Very fine. Done (i.e. finished) cutting this morning except small piece of green oats on bonc ynys felan this morning and cynull in cae llwyd and cae pigsofl.

27
Thursday. Ditto. Cynull cae mawr barley and carry cae llwyd. (Note: cynull – Welsh for gather.)

28
Friday. Ditto. Cynull cae adlod.

29
Saturday. Ditto. Carry the barley and stack of oats.

30
Sunday. Fair. Home all day. Been with Owen Mostyn in his land, Gadfa.

31
Monday. Rain. Rope the stacks with Richard Rowlands. In the afternoon done cutting oats. Been in Amlwch.

This harvest in the beginning was rather wet, afterwards very fine.

Sept. 1846

1
Tuesday. Fine day. Carry corn all day. Have the harvest in very nearly except for a little greencorn.

2
Wednesday. Ditto. Cut beans in cae bach. Sell 5 oxes at £8 each to the brother of the wife of Rhosmynach, John Williams. Send Catherine and Betsy to Liverpool per ‘Windermere’. (Note: Rhosmynach – a farm O.S. Grid Reference 481913; Catherine and Elizabeth – his sisters; Windermere Steam Packet.)

3
Thursday. Ditto. Finish cutting beans.

4
Friday. In the stackyard all day.

5
Saturday (calendar correction). Hot. A 1-year old ox died – a good one. Been in Amlwch. Send the skin 371lb. weight.

6
Sunday (calendar correction). Hot. Home till 2 went to Sardis (chapel). Hear E. Williams.

7
Monday (calendar correction). Ditto. Been with Mr. Hills. Shot all afternoon. Barley stack rather hot. Engage R. Hughes for 16d per day.

8
Tuesday (calendar correction). Rain. Thatch. Cousin John, Penrhynoer here. (Note: John Jones, Penrhynoer, Llangwyllog – William Jones’ cousin – see previous note.)

9
Wednesday (calendar correction). Fine. Ditto. Ditto.

10
Thursday (calendar correction). Ditto. Commence tilling for wheat.

11
Friday (calendar correction). Ditto, ditto, ditto.

12
Saturday (calendar correction). Hot. Been in Pentre with the man who bought my oxes. Get tea in Bodafon with Mr. Griffith Edwards.

13
Sunday (calendar correction). Hot. Home all day.

14
Monday (calendar correction). Ditto. Thatch. The 5 oxes 1 sold 2 ins is of by cash £40. I went to Frondeg to Mr. Hills about the horses. He sold it to Tyn y ffordd men for 27. Stop at Dinorben Hotel.

15
Tuesday (calendar correction). Hot. Been in Llangefni fair with Mr. Jones, Dinorben Hotel.

16
Wednesday (calendar correction). Hot. Home all day. Done (i.e. finished) tilling the haver.

17
Thursday (calendar correction). Hot. Home with the sadler. Mother and Joseph go to Llyslew. (Note: Joseph – his brother; Llyslew, Llanidan – the home of his uncle William Jones.)

18
Friday (calendar correction). Ditto. Carting manure to bonc ynys felan.

19
Saturday (calendar correction). Fine day. Clean the stack yard all day. Robert Hughes gelded 14 pigs, 2 calves and 3 lambs.

20
Sunday (calendar correction). Shower of rain. William Williams Bodnofa. I have been in Sardis chapel. Hear young chap from Brynsiencyn and Dissenters’ preacher.

21
Monday. Fair. Home all day carting dung to ynys felan.

22
Tuesday. Rain at night. Been in the Port, enquire for some hearn (?haearn) that Brother Thomas lost with them potatoes. Get tea with and Margaret. (Note: haearn – Welsh for iron.)

23
Wednesday. Rain. Home all day. Make house for the hens with Richard Rowlands.

24
Thursday. Fair. Raise rubble for drains.

25
Friday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

26
Saturday. Showers. Been in Menai Bridge fair. Buy blind pony.

27
Sunday. Fair. Home till evening. Hear in Sardis chapel.

28
Monday. Ditto. Shut drain all day.

29
Tuesday (calendar correction). Ditto. Ditto.

30
Wednesday (calendar correction). Ditto. Ditto.

This month was very wet. Cattle are a very high price. The horses sold high. Potatoes are all gone, all through the country.

Oct 1846

28
Wednesday. Fair. Send the sheep to Tyn llan. Kill 2 pigs.

29
Thursday. Salt the bacon.

30
Friday. Fine. I have been with Mr. Jones, Ty mawr coursing in Trewyn. (Note: Trewyn – O.S. Grid Reference 454851.)

31
Saturday (calendar correction). Fine. Home till night. Been in Amlwch. (Did) not stop there.

Nov.1846

1
Sunday (calendar correction). Ditto. Home till night. Been in Sardis chapel. Hear Seth Roberts.

2
Monday (calendar correction). Rain. Home with Tom gof all day. (Note: Tom, gof – Thomas the blacksmith.)

3
Tuesday (calendar correction). Ditto. Ditto.

4
Wednesday (calendar correction). Ditto. Ditto.

5
Thursday (calendar correction). Rain. I have been in Llanfechell fair. From there to Holyhead. Buy horse from Richard Parry for £25. Start home after 10 at night. (Note: Llanfechell – a village O.S. Grid Reference 369912.)

6
Friday (calendar correction). Fair. Thresh 12 qr of barley. Been in Penysarn hunt. Beat them all with the horses.

7
Saturday (calendar correction). Dry. Spread manure over the field. Been in Amlwch. Stop rather late with W. Williams, Cae moch and Mr. Hughes, Plas uchaf. (Note: Plas uchaf – O.S. Grid Reference 487908.)

8
Sunday (calendar correction). Fine. Been in Sardis chapel. Hear H. Pritchard and Thomas at night.

9
Monday (calendar correction). Ditto. Home all day. Spread.

10
Tuesday (calendar correction). Dry from the east. Home. Ditto. At night been in Pluas uchaf. From there with Mr. Jones, Ty mawr to Tyddyn mawr.

11
Wednesday (calendar correction). Spread lime with Richard Rowlands. Been with W. Williams, Cae moch in Plas uchaf and Nebo.

12
Thursday. Ditto. In smithy this morning. (In) afternoon sow wheat in cae bach.

13
Friday. Dry. Plowing for wheat in part of cae Newydd. Been in Llanerchymedd fair. Come home soon.

14
Saturday. Ditto. Fill the carts this morning. In afternoon plowing for wheat.

15
Sunday. Dry. Been in church. Hear Mr. Owens. At night been in Sardis (chapel), hear stranger. (Note: Llaneilian church. Mr. Owen was the parson.)

16
Monday. Ditto. Plowing for wheat all day.

17
Tuesday. Rain. Sow 1 qr. Of wheat. Done. Been in William Rowland’s wedding.

18
Wednesday. Blowing. Been hunting at Glanrafon with Mr. Owens and (Mr.) Hills. Send my horse to Frondeg. Get my tooth broken by Dr. Griffiths.

19
Thursday. Wet. Mixed lime with soil in cae mawr with Richard Rowlands.

20
Friday. Blowing very hard. Home all day.

21
Saturday. Rain. Home this morning. Been in Amlwch. Get tooth-ache very badly. Come home soon.

22
Sunday. Fair. Home all day.

23
Monday. Raine all day. Been in Amlwch. Get my tooth off by Dr. Roose – the one the Dr. Griffith broke.

24
Tuesday. Rain, very wet. Home all day. Put the horses and cattle all in. Begin to cut gorse.

25
Wednesday. Rain. Home all day.

26
Thursday. Rain. Home till night. Go to Amlwch. Send parcel to steamer for David and Jane. Stop in Ty mawr. (Note: David and Jane, his brother and sister were probably in the Isle of Man.)

27
Friday. Fine. Come hoe with Mr. Jones. Shot all day about Llysdulas.

28
Saturday. Snowing. Swap with Mr. Hills for mare Fanny Park Lodge.

29
Sunday. Frost. Been to see get baptized between Tyn y rhos and Chwillan. At night hear R.O. in Sardis chapel.

30
Monday. Fine. Plowing all day.

Dec. 1846

1
Tuesday, first day of Dec. Rain. With Tum, smith, this morning. In the evening go to Amlwch to the hunt.

2
Wednesday. Fair. Buy 2 oxes from Cornelius for £13:10. Been in Llanerchymedd market.

3
Thursday. David came home. Ditto. Plowing this morning, In the afternoon winnowing 10qr:1s:2h:2qs of oats. (Note: David, his brother.)

4
Friday. Fine day. Send the oats to Mr. Hughes, Madyn. In the afternoon plowing.

5
Saturday. Rain. Been with Mr. Hills. Shot 3 hares, 1 rabbit, 1 pheasant, 3 woodcock and 2 snipe. Get wet through.

6
Sunday. Fine day. Home all day.

7
Monday. Fair. Carry corn to the barn.

8
Tuesday. Fair. Plowing all day.

9
Wednesday. Ditto. Plowing this morning. (In) afternoon in Llanerchymedd market with David.

10
Thursday. Rain. Change pony with Richard Rowland, and the wife wont let him. Been in Amlwch till night.

11
Friday. Snowing. Send 6:1:1:2 of oats to Mr. Hughes, Madyn.

12
Saturday. Frost. Been in Amlwch this evening with David.

13
Sunday. Frost and snow. Home all day.

14
Monday. Thick snow. Been with Mr. Hughes, Madyn. Get £25. Dined with Mr. Jones, Dinorben Hotel.

15
Tuesday. Very rough weather. Been in Ty fry. Pay rent.

16
Wednesday. Ditto. Melt. Home till night. Been in Brundasi with David.

17
Thursday. Frost. Hard to travel. Home all this day.

18
Friday. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

19
Saturday. Rain. Plowing all day with Boos and mule in cae person for oats and part for the haver. (Note: person – Welsh for parson.)

20
Sunday. Fine day. Get goose for dinner. Home all day.

21
Monday. Rain. Home all day.

22
Tuesday. Fine. Plowing all day in cae person. Done (i.e. finished) it.

23
Wednesday. Rain. Been in Amlwch all day.

24
Thursday. Snowing. Plowing in bonc ynys felan this morning. In afternoon about the house.

25
Friday. Frost. Christmas. Home all day.

26
Saturday. Ditto. Plowing. To H. Pritchard yr nerw this morning. Home in the afternoon.

27
Sunday. Fair. Home all day.

28
Monday. Rain. Plowing in rerhw (?) all day.

29
Tuesday. Fine. Home all day.

30
Wednesday. Rain. Home. Tom, smith, here. Mr. Hughes, Llysdulas is here. (Note: Mr H. Hughes, Llysdulas was owner of part of the Parys mine.)

31
Thursday. Rain. Home all day.

This month was very wet. Very little frost. Sometimes the market is very high – oats from 28 to 30/ ; barley 44/ to 48/ ; wheat 70/ to 80/ ; fat pigs from /4 to 0/5 per lb; cattle are very dear.

Diary and Account Book for 1846 (edited transcript)

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