Archibald Williams & Son, Solicitors, Bala, Papers

Scope and Content

Records collected by Archibald Williams and Son, 1577-1955, comprising solicitors' records of Archibald Williams, J. R. Jordan, R. O. Anwyl and other solicitors in Bala and Machynlleth, 1802-1955, including financial records, 1802-1949, Bala practice papers, 1822-1955, and insurance agency records, 1899-1949; records relating to Independent Churches, 1770-1953, and other denominations, [1830s]-1951; education records, 1868-1944, including records relating to Bala County Schools, 1872-1930; records relating to local government units, 1811-1956, including Bala Union, 1874-1930, Bala Urban District Council, 1811, 1907-1951, Penllyn Rural District Council, 1897-1956, and public undertakings, 1875-1949; papers relating to private businesses and families, 1773-1950, notably the Foulkes-Jones family, Corwen, 1883-1944, Dr John Humphreys, Trawsfynydd, 1883-1943, and Owen Richards, MD, Llandderfel, 1866-1887; records of clubs and societies, 1886-1946; maps and plans mainly relating to Merionethshire, 1831-1951, with Ordnance Survey maps of various counties, 1831-1862; records relating to courts, 1807-1955, including Merionethshire County Courts and Quarter Sessions, 1807-1953, and Denbighshire County Courts, 1898-1931; wills and probate papers relating mainly to Merionethshire, 1709, 1799-1955; and deeds and other documents relating to land transactions and tenancy in Merionethshire, especially Bala, and also in Flintshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, Caernarfonshire, Cheshire and Lancashire, 1577-1953.

Administrative / Biographical History

R. O. Anwyl (fl. 1803-1837) practiced as a solicitor in Bala and in Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire. John Richard Jordan (d. [1942]) and Archibald Williams (fl. 1902-1951) were solicitors based in Bala, Merionethshire. The two men went into partnership but this was dissolved in 1931, and Archibald Willams went on to found his own firm, Archibald Willams & Son. J. R. Jordan was Clerk to the Guardians of Bala Union, to Bala Urban District Council and to the Governors of Bala County School. He died in about 1942. Archibald Williams was Clerk to Bala UDC, 1941-7, and Penllyn Rural District Council, 1945. Among the firms' many clients were the Foulkes-Jones family of Colomendy, Corwen, Merionethshire, timber merchants, and Dr John Humphreys (d. 1935) of Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire.

Arrangement

Arranged into the following: solicitor's papers; Church and chapel records; education records; local government records; private business and family papers; clubs and societies; maps and plans; court records; wills and probate papers; land transactions; tenancy; and old deeds and related papers.

Access Information

No restrictions

Note

Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following source was used in the compilation of this description: Meirionnydd Archives, Papurau Archibald Williams & Son, Solicitors, Bala, Papers, catalogue.

Other Finding Aids

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at Meirionnydd Archives and the National Library of Wales.

Conditions Governing Use

Usual copyright regulations apply

Appraisal Information

All records have been retained

Custodial History

The papers came into the possession of William H. Edwards & Co., Solicitors, Thomas Charles House, Bala, 1971.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected