"In 1657 George Fox and John ap John travelled throughout Wales, arriving at Dolgellau from Machynlleth. Their preaching made a great impression on some of the local families, such as the Owen family of Dolserau and Humphrey family of Llwyn Du.
Strangely, there seem to have been pockets of places deeply influenced by the Quakers. For example from Tabor down along the coast on the south side of the Mawddach river towards Llangwril. A number of leading families who owned their own properties were members of the faith, and lived in places such as Tyddyn y Garreg, Llwyn Du, Brynmawr, Dolserau and Dolgun.
At Dolgun, there is an out-building with steps leading up to it, where an early meeting of the Quakers took place. There is also a building at Tyddyn y Garreg.
A number of leading industrialists in the 17th and 18th century were Quakers. People like the Rowntree, Cadbury and Clark families were members of the faith and really the industrial revolution owes a lot to the Quakers. They were a hard working people, who, as Fox said, believed in the inner light, a personal relationship with God, and hard work.
The Quakers as a sect did not believe in rituals - they didn't believe in doffing hats to people who were considered to be more important in society. They believed in equality, even in basic feminism, and they didn't believe in meeting in particular places like churches, which they called steeple houses.
They had a very difficult period after 1661 when King Charles II was restored (to the throne). They were considered to be radical, as they didn't believe in taking the Oath of Allegiance and wouldn't attend church meetings. The Quakers were considered a danger to society and people such as Robert Owen of Dolserau, the local squire, were imprisoned for about five years in a very dank prison on the banks of the river Aran.
It was persuasion through brutality. The bailiffs would fine the Quakers extremely heavily, more than others, and goods were taken from them. As a means of gathering evidence about all these wrongdoings, the Quakers collected information about all of these punishments in the book, A collection of the sufferings of the people called Quakers for the testimony of a good conscience, published in the 1700s.
It's quite fascinating, and you can look up a particular county, and listed there are all the wrongdoings handed out to various Quaker families in the area. It could be of help to people researching their family history.
In 1681, William Penn bought land in Pennsylvania in America, and a lot of the leading Quaker members in Wales decided to emigrate. They'd had enough and wanted to start a new life. So a lot of areas were bereft of their natural-born leaders, and the Quakers tended to die out in areas such as Dolgellau. Rowland Ellis of Brynmawr also moved to Philadelphia in 1687 and became a member of the government of the state. The prominent women's university, Brynmawr, is named after his home.
After moving to America, meeting houses were established at Merion, Radno and Gwynedd, and these places remained Welsh until the middle of the 18th century. These buildings still stand today.
Novels by local author Marion Eames, Ystafell Ddirgel (The Secret Room) and Y Rhandir Mwyn (The Fair Wilderness) give quite a good view of life as a Quaker in Dolgellau and for those who emigrated.
At Dolgellau the archive service is also responsible for a permanent Quaker exhibition at Ty Meirion in Eldon Square. There are photos, video representations and attempts to explain the history of Quakers in this part of Wales. There's also a Quaker burial ground at Tyddyn y Garreg.
It's generally believed that the last Quaker there died in about 1850 or so. The Quaker chapel, established in Tabor, was taken over by the Independents, and they are still there today."
your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
Angharad from nr. Bangor, Gwynedd, N. Wales
I studied 'Y Stafell Ddirgel' by Marion Eames ('The Secret Room') for my GSCE Welsh at school. I found it the most interesting novel I have read. It says a lot about Rowland Ellis. I noticed someone said something about Ellis Puw (or Pugh) too - it mentions him a lot, as well as others such as Robert & Jane Owen, Dolserau and so on. I recommend this book for everyone looking for their ancestors - it may be of great help understanding some of your ancestors' history.I also must recommend the library/museum of the Quakers on Eldon Square in Dolgellau - it's worth a visit.Opposite to most of you (because some of you have come over to Wales), I am planning to come over to Bryn Mawr, PA soon. I find it amazing that I live in Gwynedd, N. Wales, and that there is a Gwynedd township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania! I would love to hear how 'Gwynedd' is said with an everyday American accent!
Mon May 18 11:03:43 2009
Laurence Budd from Colorado
Our ancestor was a Quaker minister in Sussex, imprisoned and executed by King James? His sons came to New Jersey in 1672 as emissaries for Lord Penn, helped build the first real bridge across the Delaware, and built the first homes on the Pennsylvania side, called Budd's Row. The name is Cymraeg. Does anyone have any info on this family name?
Fri Mar 27 09:12:52 2009
Owen Taylor, Brandon, Mississippi
I am a descendant of Griffith Owen. According to a family lineage of this particular line (on my maternal side), the name "Owen" turns up as a last name and then a first name for 8 generations, with one notable skip. As it happens, a great uncle who helped raise my mother believed that it was good luck if your initials spelled a word. So, as the story goes, he had his name legally changed to include his grandmother's maiden name, Owen. So, he became William Owen Raymond Moon (WORM). No kidding. My wife and I saw this lineage for the first time several years ago, and she said it was fascinating that there I was, so many generations later, named for that long ago ancestor. Thanks for all the wonderful info.
Mon Feb 23 09:52:01 2009
Jeanne Reiner of CT
I have recently been working on a family history. I have records that indicate that my grandfather, John Davidson Williams of Pennsylvania, was a direct decendent of William ap John alias William Jones, who came over from Merioneth on the Morning Star in November 1683. William ap John's son was John Williams and thus the beginning of the Williams family to which I refer.John Williams, son of William Jones, sold his Merion land to Cadwalader Morgan in 1694 and his Goshen land to Edward Rees in 1707-08.John Williams had three sisters named Alice, Katherine and Gwen "who took the name Jones".Our family continues to reside nearby in PA, DEL, NJ and Maryland.
Mon Oct 20 09:18:37 2008
Dixie Thomas Collins from Mount Vernon, Iowa
Peter Thomas is my ancestor. Lineage: Peter Sr. - from Wales. Peter Jr. - PA. Issac Sr. - PA. Issac Jr. - PA. Peter - Ohio. John - West Branch, Iowa. Samuel - West Branch, Iowa. Emory - West Branch, Iowa. Harold, West Branch, Iowa. Philip, West Branch, Iowa. Dixie Thomas Collins, Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Whew! I was very excited to find this website as I had been looking for the Wales connection. I am presently a Quaker at Whittier Monthly Meeting (Conservative) in Whittier, Iowa. There is still a conservative Friends meeting in West Branch as well. Thank you for the website!
Wed Mar 19 15:36:34 2008
Gary E Owen from Illinois
I am directly descended from Robert Owen, who moved with his son Griffith to Pennsylvania in 1684. I am the thirteenth/fourteenth (depending on whether you count Griffith or Robert as the first) generation of Owen men to live in the United States. It is my hope that as I learn more about my family's roots I can visit Dolgellau.
Wed Oct 24 10:32:31 2007
Trina Goodwin Wright
My ancestors Thomas Goodwin and his son John were Quaker ministers. Thomas immigrated to Goshen Chester Co. Pennsylvania, but John was not able to immigrate because he was asked to be the leader of the Friends in the area of Llangurig to the lower slopes of Aran Benllyn, Aran Fawddwy, and Cader Idris.The origins of John's descendants have been a mystery to us until today. My uncle had hired a researcher in Wales who was unable to find anything from John's line. I found a website which said John's granddaughter Mary Goodwin was christened in Dolgelley parish church, 14 Nov. 1766. I am just starting, but I hope this is a key to John's extended family. I think John's son John Goodwin and his wife Mary may have lived around this area. Does anyone have any ideas or information regarding this?
Tue Sep 25 09:36:28 2007
John Roberts from Yorba LInda, CA
Seems there are quite a few of us looking for Robert Ellis and family from Tyddyn y Garreg. I visited there in 2005, A farm house, formerly the Quaker Meeting House, and Quaker Burial ground in the ajacent field. What we all are trying to find is where he came from in fact, and what was his family ties. Any help out there?
Thu Jul 19 10:15:12 2007
Suzanne Sock Artz from Benicia CA.
Regarding Denise Roberts Cloud request for information regarding Robert Ellis whom I believe may have become Ellis Roberts. My great grandmother was a Roberts by birth. She was a Quaker and with the information I have I have gone back to a birthdate of 1640 for Robert Ellis in Tyddyn y Garey Merionethshire Wales. He married Eleanor (perhaps Ellin?) They had ?8 children. The 8th child was born 1691 perhaps the year after they came to the US. The children are listed as Roberts in the info I have discovered. The parents both died in 1697 in Radnor, Delaware PA after immigrating to the US. Eventually the descendents made their way to Iowa and then to Nebraska. I'd be interested to see what info Denise has regarding the Roberts from Wales. Is Robert Ellis of our family line as well?
Tue Jul 3 09:13:47 2007
David Brown - Lincolnshire
Re. Robert and Ellin Ellis. The following quotations are from vol 8 part 3 1979 of the 'Journal of the Merioneth Historical and Record Society' "Assistance, however, came in 1690 to Robert Ellis, of Penllyn, a poor Friend, who proposed to leave for Pennsylvania with his wife and children. Montgomeryshire and Shropshire Friends agreed to send £5 to Bala and Merioneth Friends to subscribe a further £10. There was added a prudent caveat that the money was to be refunded if Ellis did not go. "
Penllyn is an area surrounding Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), including Bala, Frongoch, Llangower, Ll! anuwchllyn, Llanycil and Llangower."Our knowledge of Monthly Meetings in Merioneth is unfortunately imperfect. Such meetings, held at Tyddyn-y-garreg, Dol-gun and Dolserau, (though not at Bryn Mawr,the precipitous climb being perhaps too severe for elderly Friends) and at Hendre Mawr in Penllyn issued certificates to Friends about to emigrate, but we have no formal minutes of their proceedings."
Dolserau (now rebuilt and a hotel), Dolgun Uchaf (mostly original and now a B & B) and Tyddyn y Garreg are near to each other, to the east of Dolgellau. There are several Hendre Mawrs but I believe that the Quaker House is the one between Bala and Frongoch.
Tue May 29 09:51:58 2007
Denise (Roberts) Cloud
My great-great-great-great-great grandparents Robert Ellis and his wife Ellin and their seven children emigrated to Pennsylvania from the Quaker quarterly meeting at Tydden y Gareg, the county of Merioneth in 1690. I have the text of the certificate issued by that quarterly meeting to the "beloved Friends and Brethern in the Province of Pennsylvania" on May 28, 1690, but little other information regarding my family in Wales. I am planning a visit to Britain in June 2007, and would appreciate any information or suggestions.
Mon May 21 09:45:53 2007
E. Thomas/Berry - Ohio
My paternal immigrant was Peter Thomas, arrived in 1682/83 at Upland [now Chester], Penna. Married Sarah Stedman in 1686. They were in Radnor and Meirionnydd meetings at first. Since Peter has been referred to as a "Quaker minister", he moved from place to place setting up new meetings - all in Chester County, Penna; it is possible that at some point he may have been in meetings in Delaware County as Delaware was carved out of Chester. If there is anyone who can help with Peter's birth date, his father, the location of his birth, his mother's name plus any other data, I would appreciate hearing. I have been working on this for 35 plus years without success and only recently was told about this web site. With the patronymic system in use, I do not know where to turn for his father, grandfather, etc. I also have no idea his age when he arrived in America but he died in 1722, leaving a wife and 5 children.
Mon May 14 10:46:37 2007
Perry Brandt, Jones, Pa.
I am descended from John ap Thomas and Kathryn Robert through their son Robert Jones and Ellin Jones, through their son Robert Jones, Margaret Knowles, and through his son Nathan Jones and Sarah Gibson, through their daughter Sarah Jones who married James Gilfillan/Gilfilen. Nathan Jones and Sarah Gibson moved from Haverford Chester Co, Pa.to Pfoutz Valley in Perry Co, Pa. about 1795. Nathan Jones died about 1805 and is presumably buried in Pfoutz Valley in an unmarked grave. Sarah Gibson Jones returned to Chester co and is buried in Merion. Sarah Jones and James Gilfillan were my ggg grandparents and are buried in Thompson's Lock Graveyard in Delaware township Juniata Co, Pa. You can read about the family's move to Perry County in Joseph Price's diary.
Mon Apr 30 10:48:49 2007
Carolyn Collen-DuBose from Maryland
Having arrived at Quakersim later in life, I was amazed to discover that a clergyman, who may have been my ancestor, is perhaps mentioned in a harsh light in a Welsh novel about Quakers persecuted in Wales. thanks to your website, I will now try to get a copy of Mariion Eames's book "The Secret Room" and find out. I am trying to research a Jones family from Dolgellau whose "patriarch" is Rev. Maurice Jones of Merioneth. His son was Rev. William Jones of Llangower.
The missing link for me is that William Jones had a son also named Maurice who he doesn't include in his will. I believe my connection to this family is through this younger Maurice. Since I can't find any information about him I'm wondering if he left the area completely. Grasping at straws, I've wondeedr if he disagreed with his father over religion and left the family. Perhaps he was a Quaker! I know that Jones is huge, but perhaps the Quaker route will reveal some missing links for me. If you have any tidbits of information to share please respond.
Mon Apr 16 11:56:27 2007
Lois Watkins
My ancestor Daniel Richards came from Wales in 1686, accompanied by Lewis Walker both settled near Philadelphia in Chester County and Port Kennedy. They were Quakers. He purchased a farm in 1707 and named it Tredyffrin. It remained in the Richards family for four generations. Daniel marraied Elizabeth Evans. They had four children. We have all of the descendants of Daniel up to the present time. They also owned Iron Furnaces at Atsion Crossroads.
Mon Apr 2 10:11:04 2007
Alexandra Star, Homer, Alaska
In 1971 I married Rowland Ellis V, who is the direct descendant of Rowland Ellis from Dolgellau, who accompanied Willian Penn to Pennsylvania when the Quakers were persecuted in Britain. I have a son named Rowland Ellis VI, who is now an engineer in Ventura California. I am a British subject, born in Kenya in 1950. My mother is Welsh, from Bangor in North Wales, and my father is Scottish. I met Rowland Ellis V when he was studying chemistry at London University and I was in London at that time.
I visited the local library in Dolgellau one year and asked if there was anything about Rowland Ellis. The librarian showed me several books and papers about the man, and was thrilled and surprised that someone from abroad would come looking. If anyone else has any information about Rowland Ellis, I would love to receive it. Thank you.
Mon Feb 5 10:21:23 2007
Eleanor Ann Bower - Florida
The family names I have located are familiar with the Welsh names listed in North Wales history. There were also many English and many Quakers - Harlan, Ellis, Davis, Gist, Hunt, White, Chenoweth, Jordan, Owen and Bower. They moved to Indiana where I was born. Any information would be greatly appreciated. My family is listed as decendent from Indiana Pioneers from 1820.
Mon Feb 5 10:12:47 2007
Richard Allen (Wales but in Fulton, Missouri)
Reply to David Owings and Martha John of Missouri and others in America and Wales. I am a C17-18 Welsh Quaker historian currently working as the Fulbright-Robertson Professor of British History at Westminster College, Fulton (2006-7). Please feel free to contact me or, if you are willing, supply me with any information on Welsh Friends.
Mon Jan 29 10:45:17 2007
D.Elwern Jones (nee Thomas) of Rhyl
After some years of research into my Thomas/Cadwalader (Quaker) family history I have finally found the link with the founder of the Cadwalader family, John Cadwalader (1677-1734), who left Llandderfel, Merionethshire, to settle in Pennsylvania in 1697. This all came about when I found my 4XGtGF Cadwalader Thomas's will. He was born in Llandderfel in 1719, died in 1793 in Gwyddelwern. My 6xGtGF Cadwalader ap Hugh's brother was Thomas ap Hugh, the grandfather of John Cadwalader. John's wife was the dau. of Dr Edward Jones who paid Penn £6.55 for 3121/2 acres of land.
I was most interested to read about the descendants out in America, including Dr Thomas Cadwalader (b Philla 1708), pioneer of medicine in the USA having given the 1st smallpox injection and also in helping to establish the Penna. hospital. His sons John and Lambert however followed military careers.
I have collected so much material on the family both sides of the Atlantic, especially of their persecution and imprisonment in the Dolgelley area, it would be great to share my knowledge, and especially to be able to trace any descendants of the Cadwalader family, and also the Jones family, descendants of John ap Thomas (d1683)and Katherine whose sons assumed the name Jones in Pennsylvania.
Tue Jan 2 09:22:57 2007
David Stovall, Tonka Bay, Minnesota, USA
I am descended from Robert Owen of Dolserau, ca 1612-1685, and married to Jane Vaughan. They converted to the Quaker faith and emigrated to America in 1684. This family had a supporting role in Marion Eames' The Secret Room historical novel. They first settled in the Welsh Tract in Pennsylvania but moved on to Duck Creek in New Castle County, Delaware. Family descendants quickly moved on to Maryland and lost their Quaker faith.
In May of 2004 we visited Dolgellau and stayed at the Dolserau Hall Country Inn sited on the lands of my ancestors. We visited the Quaker Museum, walked Torrent Wa! lk and other surrounding areas and climbed Cader Idris. From Dolserau Hall we ventured out to other areas of North Wales on day trips such as Snowdon Mountain and Harlech Castle. Snowdonia National Park and North Wales is a little known gem of stunning beauty in Great Britain (at least to Americans).
Mon Dec 4 10:00:46 2006
Beth Colvin: EDWARDS, ROBERTS
My Quakers came from Landerval, near Bala, or Penllyn, Merionethshire, in North Wales to Delaware on the LYON and THE MORNINGSTAR in 1682/1683.
William ap EDWARD and John ap EDWARD are of special interest to me.
Thu Nov 30 12:48:10 2006
David Owings - Owen & Pugh - Merioneth
My "brickwall" ancestors are Capt. Richard Owen (abt. 1662-1716) and Rachel Robert (abt. 1663-1729) - daughter of Robert Pugh which should make her brother to Quaker preacher Hugh Robert. A popular theory by Dr. Donnell MacClure Owings stated that Richard Owen was a son of Owen Humphrey of Llwyn du but no documents support this and the same with Rachel Robert. Richard Owen signed a number of Certificates of Removal with his fellow Merioneth Quakers. Each of these signers are well documented by 19th century Quaker authors Glenn & Browning and each note Richard but no word on his parentage, apparently they didn't know either. Richard and Rachel migrated to the Welsh Tract about 1683 but apparently did not stay long and were soon found in Anne Arundel County, Maryland and finally Owings Mills, Baltimore County, Maryland where the Owings family first established themselves in America. Richard Americanized his name to "Owings" from the Welsh patronymic system. The fair "assumption" is that Richard signed Certificates of Removal with kith and kin. I have my Y DNA posted with Family Tree but no Welsh matches yet.
Fri Nov 10 09:47:17 2006
Anne Pugh North Carolina USA
We recently visited Dolegellau and met with Marion Eames about her book The Secret Room. Our ancestor, Ellis Pugh, was a secondary character in the book. His book was the first book published in Welsh in America. The library in Dolgellau was extrememly helpful with our research into more ancestors and we actually visited the Ellis Pugh home.
Tue Jun 20 15:14:22 2006
George Adamson , Stockport, formerly of Preston
I have an abiding fondness for Dolgellau which I first discovered when researching the life of a Quaker ancestor, John Kelsall. Orginally from Lancashire, he came to Wales as master of a new Quaker school on the Lloyd estate at Dolobran, near Welshpool. He later left schooling to work for the great ironmaster Abraham Darby. At Colebrookdale, Kelsall was trained and appointed to build and manage a charcoal blast-furnace for Darby at Dolgun, close by today's Torrent Walk. Using iron ore mined from Bryn Castell, near Cross Foxes, together with limestone for flux from near Bryn Mawr, the completed furnace went into blast in January, 1719. This lasted 37 weeks and produced 440 tons of pig iron until the charcoal ran out. During intervals of re-stocking, Kelsall opened a school in Dolgellau and made and erected a sundial in the market square. There is more to tell but suffice to say that, although Kelsall's former family home of Dolgun (with its long Quaker history) is now an attractive B&B, the furnace he built is now a vitrified ruin with only part of its blowing arch remaining. My Quaker ancestor sadly left Dolgellau forever in 1736 when the furnace became uneconomic. With his wife Susannah from Dolobran and the remaining four of his ten children, he moved to Chester where he died in poverty in 1743. How do I know all this? From the diaries John Kelsall kept from 1700 until the day before he died. The diaries are now in Friends House Library, London. So a big 'thank you' John for helping me discover your lovely old house, the site of your furnace and best of all, the delights of Dolgellau. But try as I may, I never did find your sun-dial.
Mon May 8 13:11:36 2006
Julie-Anne, Kent
Further to Helen Teleri's comments above (hi Helen!), I was also raised in Llwyngwril and I too had heard about the secret tunnel between Hendre Hall and Llwyn Du (and I know someone who says he's actually seen it). I'd also heard that there was a tunnel from Llwyn Du to another farm further up the hillside, which was used as an escape route. Also, the door in the attic of Llwyn Du could only be opened from the outside and you can apparently still see names carved into stone or wooden beams of those who were hiding in there.
Sat Mar 18 21:36:22 2006
Helen Teleri (formerly of Llwyngwril)
I was raised in Llwyngril and have always been fascinated by the Quaker history associated with the village (although we were staunchly methodist as a family).
As a child I remember being told of the story of Ann Owen of Hendre Hall who died at an early age and was buried at the Friends Burial Ground near Llwyn Du. Her great love John Bright (who she was not allowed to marry because of the religious differences) returned to the village each year on the anniversary of her death in order to place a rose upon her grave.
There were also local whispers of a secret tunnel between Hendre Hall and Llwyn Du so that meetings could be conducted at either property.
On a visit back home to Llwyngwril last year I was most upset to see the condition of the Friends Burial Ground which is near my family home. Always a special place to me as a child it has fallen into a dreadful state of neglect. This land for the burial of Quakers was deeded to them by Humphrey Owen of Llwyn Du (1756?)and was originally known as Bryn Tallwyn. In 1876 probably due to the declining numbers of Quakers in the village and surroundings the Wesleyan methodists were given permission to bury some of their members within the grounds.
What a shame to see the neglect in this graveyard now. The local farmer who used to cut the grass occasionally has now passed away and no one seems to know who's responsibility this little area of land is.
Can anyone help?
Sat Dec 10 19:24:17 2005
Mary Parkinson
I recently visited Dolgellau from my home in San Diego, California. I loved the town and its surroundings.
My ancestor, Robert Owen lived at Dolserau, and converted to the Quaker faith. His descendents have lived in Pennsylvania for many generations. My 5th great grandfather (Bartholomew Coppock) married his descendent, Jane, daughter of Griffith Owen. Coppock was also from Wales, but the border lands near Chester.
Jane and Bartholomew's great, great grandson Edwin D. Woolley, my great grandfather, became a Mormon and moved from PA to Utah. That's where I was born.
Fri Jun 17 02:50:57 2005
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