Bit bleary eyed this morning. Catching the seven thirty to London. Whenever I catch this train, which ain’t that often these days without any compelling reasons to get to London early in the day, I never sleep well. Sorrite. A bacon roll and a cuppa will perk me up.
I’m in London as I’ve entered a team for our Tom’s Fairly Substantial Quiz. A few tix left if you are in London and fancy a fun evening. The quiz is on tonight but I’ve booked a table at the National Archives in Kew for the day. Got some old docs relating to Llanllwni I want to take a look at. V interesting hopefully.
I’m trying to establish the pattern of Landownership in the Parish. Some of it will have been owned by the Prince of Deheubarth at the time, some by the church and some by freemen. In 1291 a guy called Walter Wynter gave half his stake in Llanllwni church to the Bishop of St Davids. In 1330 Walter gave his half to the prior and canons of Carmarthen Priory. In the process, 44 local “comportioners” or the freemen who had a stake in the gaff had to be sorted out. Walter was Archdeacon of Carmarthen and a crony of the English king.
I can’t see that the archives will give me the detail I’m after, ideally names of freemen and their farms, but you never know and if you don’t ask… The people’s names themselves are of secondary importance as in those days they would probably not have had surnames so almost impossible to tie to my own family. However the farm names could be interesting. I doubt people would have moved farms in those days.
I’ll stop there but be assured if I find anything interesting I will let you know asap :).
It’s quite miserable out there. I put on a fleece at the last minute just in case although all I’ve packed is a clean pair of pants and a shirt. The fleece is handy for keeping wallet and phone in zipped pocket. We are talking London. Big bad city. Eyes in the back of your head etc.