Council Minutes: Extracts from Town Book, 1751-60

Extracts from Town Book, 1751-60

Further admissions of Burgesses:—

1751 Augt. 20. John Carey, of Cardiff, cooper and victualler; fee 3s. 4d
Septr. 5. Roger Powell of Enau'r-glyn in the county of Glamorgan, esquire.
No fee.
Edward Saunders, of Cardiff, surgeon; fee 3s. 4d.
29th. Thomas Price, rector of Merthyr Tydfil.
Joshua Powell, of Llantwit Major, clerk.
William Lacy, rector of Saint George's.
Thomas Moslip, of Cardiff, victualler.
Lewis William, of Cardiff, victualler.
Edward Kemeys, of Cardiff, carpenter
David Howells, of Cardiff, ironmaster.
Thomas Lewis, of Cardiff, tiler.
Thomas Price of Cardiff, gentleman.

1753 May 17. Thomas Llewellin, of Cardiff, potter; fee 3s. 4d.
Septr. 29. Robert Savourse, of Cardiff, mercer.
Edward Waters of Pilcott, gentleman.
Edward Thomas, of Llanishen, yeoman.
William Richard, of Llanishen, yeoman.
Thomas William, of Cardiff, wheelwright.
James John, of Llanfihangel-y-fedw, yeoman.
Thomas Flay, of Llanfihangel-y-fedw, yeoman.
Miles Meredith, of Roath, yeoman.
(blank) Williams of Titton in the county of Somerset, gentleman.

Novr. 9. At Cardiff Castle, before Herbert Mackworth, esquire, Constable of the same, Edmond Lloyd and Cradock Nowell, Aldermen, were sworn Bailiffs; Richard Mulsop, shoemaker, and Thomas Deer, perukemaker, were sworn Serjeants at Mace; and at the Same time and place before the said Constable of the Castle of Cardiffe Phillip Jones was sworn into the office of Ale Taster of the said Town of Cardiffe.

Constables sworn for 1753:—

High Street Ward.
Lott Lewis and William Wade.

East Ward.
Gabriel Lewis and John William.

West Ward.
Thomas Williams and William Prichard.

South Ward.
John Prichard and Thomas Llewellin.

Further admissions of Burgesses:—

1754 Deer. 23. Bloom Williams, of Cardiff, apothecary. No fee.
Henry Durbrow, of Cardiff, innkeeper.
Joseph Phillips, of Cardiff, shipwright; fee 3s 4d.
John Jones, of Bristol, ironmonger.

1755 Septr. 1. Henry Liewellin of Cardiff, gentleman.
George Evans, of Cardiff, baker.
George Watkins of Cardiff, gentleman.
Thomas Seabrooke, of Cardiff, joiner.
Henry Williams, of Cardiff, tallow chandler.
Henry Yeomans, of Cardiff, glover.
Cradock Glascott, of Cardiff, sadler.
Robert Watkin, of Cardiff, mariner.
John Thomas, gentleman, Town Clerk of Cardiff.

1755 August 21. A number of persons were disfranchised and amoved from their office of Burgess, at a Court of Common Council composed of Cradock Nowell, David Owen, Henry Yeomans, James Owen, Arthur Williams, Edward Waters, Ralph Bowen, Arthur Tanner and David Prichard, the form being the same as that used on 21 August 1736. The Burgesses amoved on the present occasion are precisely the nine above mentioned as having been elected on September 1. The misplacement of the respective entries in the MS. is owing to the re-elections being inserted with others in one separate consecutive list, while the disfranchisements follow on in the ordinary way as Minutes of Council. The amoved Burgesses, therefore, were reinstated ten days after being ousted.

From two of the records of disfranchisement it appears that, the Council Room being wanted by the Grand Jury of the County, the Councilmen adjourned till nine o'clock on the following morning, when they met in the Town Clerk's office.

1755 September 2. Henry Llewellin, George Watkins, Henry Yeomans and Thomas Seabrook, Burgesses, were elected Assistants or Capital Burgesses; and Arthur Williams, Arthur Tanner and Robert Savourse, Capital Burgesses, were chosen to be Aldermen.

September 29. The Aldermen so elected were sworn at Cardiff Castle, Herbert Mackworth Esq^r being Deputy Constable of the said Castle.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Mackworth is in the above entry correctly styled Deputy Constable. (See Vol. II., p. 113.)

1755 Septr. 29. The Revd. Gervase Powell, rector of Lanvigan in the county of Brecon, and the Revd. Thomas Nowell, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, were admitted to the freedom.

1757 Jany. 1. Phillip Stephens and Robert Savours were sworn Bailiffs; and John Cary, cooper, and Thomas Williams, carpenter, were sworn Serjeants at Mace, before Herbert Mackworth, Esqr., Dep^t Con^ble of the Castle. This entry is in an angular handwriting, which does not occur elsewhere in the book. Those which follow are still in the writing of Mr. John Thomas, the Town Clerk.

The Constables Sworn by the said Bailiffs the 7 Jan^ry 1757 are as under:—

High Street Ward.
Griffith William & Lewis Evan

East Ward.
Morgan George & Henry Jones

West Ward.
William Bowen & William Thomas

South Ward.
Lewis Philpot & Thomas Mathews.

Thursday the 29^th of September 1757 the under named Seven persons were admitted and sworn Burgesses or ffreemen of the Town of Cardiff by Phillip Stephens & Robert Savour Esquires then Bailiffs of the said Town of Cardiff that is to Say
William Lewis of Cardiff ffeltmaker
Hezekiah Hopkin of the same Yeoman
Thomas Evan of Lantwit Vardre Yeoman
Thomas Evan of Maesllech Yeoman
Phillip Thomas of Cayre Yeoman
James Thomas the Younger of Llanharry Yeoman
Thomas Stibbs of Cardiff Shoemaker.

1758 July 7. Thomas Edwards, gentleman; John Thomas, Town Clerk; John Brewer, joiner; Francis Minnet, gardener; Alexander Purcell, goldsmith; Henry Williams, tallow chandler; Watkin Morgan, shoemaker, and George Williams, baker, were chosen Capital Burgesses, and were sworn before the Bailiffs.

The same day, Thomas Edwards, an Assistant, was elected Alderman to supply the place of David Owen deceased; and David Prichard, Assistant, was elected Alderman vice Edmund Lloyd deceased.

7^th July 1758.

Cardiff Town to Wit. At the Castle of Cardiff in the said Town of Cardiff before Herbert Mackworth Esquire Constable of the said Castle of Cardiff According to the Antient Custom of the said Town M^r Thomas Edwards Assistant and David Prichard Assistant were Sworn Aldermen of the said Town.

Cardiff Town To Wit. Thursday the 6^th of July 1758 the following Persons were admitted and Sworn Burgesses or ffreemen of the Town of Cardiff by Phillip Stephens and Robert Savours Esquires then Bailiffs of the same that is to say

and on ffriday the 7 of July 1758 by the same Bailiffs M^r Richard Jenkins of Cardiff was admitted and Sworn a Burgess or ffreeman of the said Town of Cardiff.

Town Property. Arrears of rent are to be recovered. Market Tolls are to be once more enforced as in former years. Corn and Grain are to be sold only in the proper Corn Market. No shops are to be kept for the sale of goods (except victuals) by any but the Freemen of the Borough. Pigs are not to be allowed to roam the streets.

Cardiff Town

At a Court of Common Councel held for the Town of Cardiff aforesaid in the Council Chamber of the said Town the twenty third Day of August in the Year of our Lord 1758 to Consider of sundry and diverse Matters of and Concerning the said Town and for the well-Government thereof We the Bayliffs and the several Aldermen and Capital Burgesses duly Summoned and assembled in Council as aforesaid being the major part of the s^d Comon Council Do hereby unanimously Order Constitute direct and ordain in Manner and form following That is to say

First. We do hereby order and direct that The Town Clerk of the said Town do as soon as Conveniently may be make out a Regular Rent Roll of the several Messuages Lands and Cottages belonging to the said Town and the several Arrears due thereon and do for and on the Behalf of the Bayliffs Aldermen and Burgesses of the said Town ask demand and receive from the several persons or Tenants Indebted to the Bayliffs Aldermen and Burgesses of the said Town Such Sum or Sums of Money as are now due and in arrear from them for the said several Messuages Lands & Cottages Hereby Impowering and authorizing the said Town Clerk to take all lawfull ways and means to enforce The payment thereof be the same by Distress or Suit or action at Law.

Also Whereas a Certain Toll hath from the Time whereof the Memory of Man is not to the Contrary been due and accustomed to be payd for all Cattle Horses Sheep and Piggs sold in the said Town That is to say one penny for every Bull Cow Ox or Heifer four pence for every Horse Halfpenny for every Pigg and ten pence for every Score of Sheep and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity of Sheep

And Whereas at a Court of Common Council heretofore held for the said Town it was ordered that the fairs and Marketts kept in the said Town sho^d from thenceforth for a certain Number of Years be free and Exempt from Toll And Whereas the said Term of Years is now Expired and it manifestly appears to us That the said former Order of Council had not the Desired Effect but on the Contrary created many manifest Inconveniences and Disadvantages to the said Fairs & Marketts and the several Persons frequenting the same

We do therefore hereby order direct & ordain That the said Toll shall from and after the 19^th day of September next ensuing be demanded and received as the same was heretofore antiently used and accustomed And We do hereby likewise further Order and direct that proper persons be as soon as Conveniently may be Appointed to Demand receive and Collect the said Toll and that such Collectors or Toll Gatherers be provided with proper Toll Books for the Registering of all Cattle Horses Sheep and Piggs sold in the said Fairs and Marketts agreeable to the Laws and Statutes in that Case made and provided hereby giving and granting to such Toll Gatherers and Collectors full Power and Authority to levy and Collect the said antient Toll And we do hereby direct the Town Clerk of the said Town to cause this our Order to be Incerted in the Gloucester Journal and Copyes thereof fixed in the most publick places of the said Town That the same may be fully known to all persons frequenting or using the said fairs or Marketts.

Also Whereas There now is and hath been from the Time whereof the Memory of Man is not to the Contrary an Antient toll received for all Manner of Corn and Grain Sold in the said Town that is to say a Quart for every Welsh Bushel sold there and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity And whereas the Bayliffs Aldermen and Burgesses of the said Town have in Consideration thereof at their own Expence constantly repaired the Markett House Erected and appointed by them as a proper place for the Sale of Corn and Grain And whereas diverse persons have privately and in a Clandestine Manner bought diverse great Quantitys of Corn and Grain at their respective Houses to the Great Prejudice of the Poor Inhabitants of the said Town by Inhancing of the Price of all Corn & Grain sold there and to the defrauding and Secreating of the said Toll

We do therefore hereby order direct and ordain That from henceforth no person whatsoever Shall sell or buy any Corn or Grain whatsoever but in the said Corn Markett House in publick Corn Markett that is to say from and after the Hour of twelve of the Clock on every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the Year at which Time the Markett Bell is hereby directed to be rung that publick Notice may be taken at what Time and Hour the Corn Markett do begin from which Hour till the Hour of one no person whatsoever but the Burgesses and Inhabitants of the said Town not Exercising the Trade of Bakers or Badgers shall buy any Corn or Grain Exposed to sale And that at the said Hour of One the Bell of the s^d Town shall ring a Second Time and from & after that Time all the Badgers and Bakers and others shall have full Liberty of buying any Corn & Grain sold there And we do hereby ordain Constitute and declare that the said Markett House or place comonly called the Cross (fn. 3) is the only Corn Markett Place in the said Town And we do hereby direct and order that proper Officers be appointed as Clerks or Keepers of the said Corn Markett in manner as have been heretofore antiently used and accustomed to super intend the said Corn Markett and Collect and receive the said Toll And we do hereby also further order and direct that if any person or persons shall presume to buy any Corn or Grain in any other place or at any other Time or in any other Manner than as aforesaid that the said Officers Keepers or Clerks of the said Corn Markett shall deliver in the Names of such persons so offending to the Town Clerk of the said Town who is hereby Impowered and directed at our Expence to prosecute such Offender to the utmost Rigour of the Law And it is hereby directed that publick Notice be given thereof in the three next Markett Days by y^e publick Cryer and that Copyes of this order be fixed upon the said Corn Markett House & other publick places in the said Town.

Also Whereas the Town of Cardiff Is and from the Time whereof the Memory of Man is not to the Contrary hath been an antient Burrough Town The Bayliffs Aldermen and Burgesses whereof have sundry and diverse prescriptive Liberties and immunities Confirmed to them by diverse Kings and Queens of England and sundry Lords and Ladies of Glamorgan And more particularly that it hath been an Antient Custom and Usage within the said Town from the Time where of the Memory of Man is not to the Contrary that no person or persons whatsoever should keep any open Shop or Expose to Sale any Merchandizes whatsoever within the said Town or Borough Excepting Victuals only but such person and persons as were Burgesses or freemen of the same (fn. 4) And Whereas several persons Not being freemen or Burgesses of the s^d Town have of late Contrary to the Said antient usage and Custom presumed to keep open Shops and expose to Sale diverse Merchandizes in the said Town (not being Victuals) to the Great Prejudice of the Trade thereof

Now We Therefore do hereby for the Good Government of the said Town and for the better Enforcing & preserving the said antient usage and Custom order ordain Constitute and direct that if any person or persons not being a Burgess or freeman of the said Town shall at any Time hereafter presume to keep open shop or Expose to Sale any Merchandize whatsoever (not being Victuals) within the said Town That every such person or persons so Offending shall forfeit the sum of 3s. 4d. for every Day that Such person or persons shall henceforth presume to keep open Shop or Expose to Sale any Merchandize (not being Victuals) as aforesaid And we do hereby ordain order and Constitute that the said 3s. 4d. so to be forfeited as a fine for every such Offence shall & may be levied by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods and Chatties or by action of Debt And we do hereby direct that publick Notice be given of this order as soon as conveniently may be.

Also Whereas diverse persons keep within the said Town diverse Sows Boars and Piggs and permitt the same to ramble and go about the Streets to the great Nusance of the Inhabitants of the said Town We do hereby direct and order that if any person or persons shall hereafter permitt or Suffer any Boar Sow or Pigg of his her or their Property to go about or ramble in the Streets of the said Town That such person or persons who shall be the owner of such Boar Sow or Pigg shall forfeit for every Boar Sow or Pigg they shall so permitt and suffer to ramble and go about the Streets of the said Town the sum of one Shilling for every time he she or they shall so offend and ww[hi]chch said one shilling shall and may be levied by Distress and Sale of the Goods and Chattles of every person so offending or by action of Debt And we do hereby also direct that publick Notice be given of this order as soon as conveniently may be.

Cardiff Town To Wit. Thursday the 14^th of December 1758 Robert Watkin of the said Town of Cardiff Marriner was admitted and Sworn a Burgess of the said Town of Cardiff by Robert Savours Esq^r one of the Bailiffs of the said Town.

Cardiff Town To Wit. Wednesday the 24^th of January 1759 Henry Yeomans and Thomas Edwards two of the Aldermen of the said Town were Sworn into the Office of Bailiffs of the said Town by Herbert Mackworth Esq^r Deputy Constable of the Castle of Cardiff.

At the same time and before the said Deputy Constable William Lewis ffeltmaker and Hezekiah Hopkin Yeoman were Sworn into the Office of Serjeants at Mace for the said Town.

At the same time and before the said Deputy Constable Thomas Estons and William Jones were Sworn into the Office of Ale Tasters in the said Town.

The same Day Herbert Mackworth the Younger of Gnoll in the County of Glamorgan Gentleman was admitted and Sworn a Burgess or ffreeman of the said Town of Cardiff by Henry Yeomans and Thomas Edwards Esq^rs Bailiffs of the said Town.

Cardiff Town To Wit. Thursday the 1^st of ffebruary 1759 the following persons were Sworn Constables of the said Town for the respective Wards as under that is to say

High Street Ward.
Edward Lewis Hatter &
John Waters Sadler.

East Ward.
John Rowland Labourer &
Thomas Young Carpenter.

West Ward.
John David Smith &
Edward Young Carpenter.

South Ward.
Evan Richard ffisherman &
Morgan John Shoemaker.

The same day before the Above Bailiffs Llewellin Traherne Esq^r was admitted and sworn a Burgess or ffreeman of the said Town.

Cardiff Town To Wit. 1^st ffebruary 1759. John Jenkin Victualler and Thomas Deere were Sworn into the Office of Common Attorneys for the said Town.

Wednesday 16 May. Thomas Waters, tallow chandler, and John Waters, sadler, both of Cardiff, were admitted to the freedom and paid a fee of 6s. 8d. each.

Town Property. Public buildings to be repaired. The Water Bailiffs. The Toll of Corn.

Cardiff Town.

At a Court of Comon Council held for the said town of Cardiff in the Council Chamber of the said Town the 19^th day of June in the year of our Lord 1759 to Consider of sundry & divers matters of and concerning the said Town and for the well Government thereof We the Bayliffs and the several Aldermen and Capital Burgesses duly Sumoned and assembled in Councel as aforesaid being the major part of the said Comon Council Do hereby unanimously order Constitute direct and ordain in manner and form following that is to say

Whereas M^r John Thomas the Town Cl^k of the said Town did pursuant to an Order of Council of the said Town bearing date the 23^d day of Aug^t 1758 make out a Regular Rental of the several Mess'es Lands and Cottages belonging to the said Town and the several Arrears due thereon And Whereas application have been made by the Comon Attorneys of the s^d Town to all and every the Tenants of the same to pay their Several and respective rent and arrears of rents but several of the Tenants notwithstanding such application have refused or neglected to pay their several and respective rents and arrears of rents Now we do hereby direct and order that the said Town Cl^k do imediately sue and prosecute and take such proper ways and means ag^t all & every the persons so in arrear for the recovery of all & every the rents and arrearages of Rents from them respectively due as he shall think proper and necessary and That Henry Yeomans and Thomas Edwards Esq^rs Bayliffs of the said Town do for that purpose Sett the Com[m]on Seal of the said Town to a proper instrument or power of Attorney to enable the said Town Clerk to make any distress or sue out any process to oblige the tenants to pay the same in the name of the Bayliffs Aldermen & Burgesses of the said Town And that the said Town Cl^k do on receipt of all & every sum and sums of money pay the same into the hands of the Comon Attorneys of the said Town for the use of the Bayliffs Aldermen & Burgesses of the same Hereby recommending and directing the said Town Clerk to write a Letter to each and every of the said Tenants before he shall sue any or either of them to demand from them & each of them their respective arrears and if they or either of them do not think proper to pay into the hands of the said M^r John Thomas their respective arrears within one month after the receipt of such Letter and the Costs of writeing the same That then the said M^r John Thomas do imediately prosecute such person or persons so neglecting to pay their said rents & proceed ag^t them with the utmost dispatch.

Also Whereas the Guildhall Eastgate and Quay of the said Town is greatly injured and damaged in the walls and otherwise for want of necessary repairs to the great nusance of the several Inhabitants of the s^d Town and others and the Quay is in such an ill state of repair that the dutyes arising from the same have for several years last past been neglected to have been raised Now It is hereby ordered and directed that the Comon Attorneys of the said Town do from and out of such sum and sums of money as are now in their hands or w[hi]ch they shall hereafter receive for the use of the Bayliffs Aldermen and Burgesses of the said Town pay all such sum & sums towards the rebuilding & repairing thereof as shall be directed by the Bayliffs of the said Town or either of them And that proper officers be appointed by them as well for the raising of the dutyes antiently due from the said Quay as also for the preserving the Navigation of the River Taff leading to and from the said Quay.

Also Whereas divers persons Sell divers & Great Quantityes of Corn & Grain within the said Town without producing or measuring the same under the Markett house of the said Town by reason it is inconvenient to measure all the Corn so sold by them under the Markett house of the said Town And Whereas several persons are willing and desirous to Compound for the Toll of Corn so brought by them and delivered at their respective Storehouses to prevent the trouble and inconvenience that would attend the measuring of the said Corn & Grain under the s^d Markett house and carrying the same afterwards to their respective Store houses Now we do hereby will desire & Consent That the Bayliffs of the said Town do Compound & agree to and with such person & persons as they shall think proper for the Toll of such Corn and Grain as shall be bought by them and brought to their Houses in lieu and Satisfaction of such Toll as the Bayliffs Aldermen and Burgesses of the said Town shall be intituled unto if sold & measured under the said Markett house and that the several persons so Compounded with shall & do pay their respective Composition money into the hands of the Comon Attorneys of the said Town for the use and benefitt of the Bayliffs Aldermen & Burgesses of the same.
Edw^d Waters
Alex^r Purcel
Watt. Morgan
Henry Williams
Hen. Yeomans
Tho^s Edwards
Edw. Morgan
Tho^s Mathews
Phillip Stephens
Tho^s Seabrook
Arth. Williams
Arthur Tanner
Rob^t Savours
David Prichard.

The following is in the handwriting of Mr. John Thomas, the Town Clerk, as previously:—

Amoval of the Steward, and appointment of his successor.

Cardiff Town To Wit. At a Court of Common Councell held for the said Town of Cardiff in the Councel Chamber of the said Town on the 10^th day of September in the year of our Lord 1759 by the Aldermen of the said Town only according to the Antient and usual custom of the said Town Whereas it appears unto us the Majority of the said Aldermen whose hands are hereunto sett and in Councel assembled that William Powell of Lanharran in the County of Glamorgan Esquire Barrister at Law the present Steward of this Corporac'on has for several years last past neglected his Duty in attending as a Steward of this Corporation notwithstanding notice sent to him to attend to the great delay of Justice and Detriment to the Burgesses of this Corporation We do therefore by virtue of the power vested in us by our Charters oust and remove the said William Powell from his said office of Steward of this Corporation and his said office of Steward is hereby declared Vacant.

And we the said Aldermen in Councel assembled as aforesaid in pursuance of the power granted us by the Charters of the said Town do Elect and Choose Herbert Mackworth the Younger of Gnoll in the County of Glamorgan Esq^r Barrister at Law to be and Act in the Office of Steward of the said Town in the Stead and Place of the said William Powell Esq^r

10 signatures.

1759 September 27 Thursday. The following persons were admitted and sworn Burgesses of Cardiff:—

Cardiff Town. 29 September 1760 before the abovenamed Bailiffs the following persons as under Written were Sworn Burgesses or ffreemen of the said Town That is to say

Jacob Thomas of Cardiff Tyler and paid for his admission. 3s. 4d.
Morgan Jenkin of the same shoemaker and paid for his Admission 3s. 4d.
Morgan Jenkin of the same shoemaker and paid for his Admission 3s. 4d.
William Lewis of Pencisly in the parish of Landaff Yeoman and paid for his Admission. [nil]