Jonathan Davies (Porthmadog) Papers,

Scope and Content

Business papers of Jonathan Davies, 1859-1933; papers of Davies Brothers slate merchants, Porthmadog, 1872-1947; personal papers of Jonathan Davies, 1875-1936; and papers relating to friends and family members, [c.1853]-1957. The archive contains a wealth of statistical information about the slate industry in Caernarfonshire, Merioneth and Pembrokeshire and the development of Porthmadog as a slate port.

Administrative / Biographical History

Jonathan Davies was born at Nantmor, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, in 1857, the son of Pierce and Jane Davies. He was brought up in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth, before moving to Porthmadog where, in 1877, he began work as a trader in the slate industry. In January 1879, he formed Davies Brothers Slate Merchant Co. with his brother Richard Davies. He held a number of public offices within this locality including deacon of the local Tabernacle chapel and later secretary and treasurer for over 40 years; President of the Calvinistic Methodist Association in North Wales in 1923; President of the National Association of Slate Merchants; member of the Porthmadog Urban District Council; governor of Porthmadog County School; treasurer of the Caernarfonshire Liberal Association; a magistrate for Caernarfonshire for nearly 40 years, serving as vice-chairman of the Porthmadog bench; and chairman of the Anglesey and Caernarfonshire Agricultural Wages Board. In 1885 he married the daughter of John Hughes, a deacon of Tabernacle chapel, Blaenau Ffestiniog. He lived in Bryn Eirian, Porthmadog and had two daughters (names not known) and two sons, Ithel and John Pierce Davies (1886-1908). Jonathan Davies died 18 August 1933, aged 75.

Arrangement

Arranged into two groups; business papers, 1859-1957, and personal and family papers, 1853-1957.

Access Information

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.

Acquisition Information

Ithel Davies of Messrs Davies Brothers; Porthmadog; Donations,; 1950, 1957

Note

Jonathan Davies was born at Nantmor, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, in 1857, the son of Pierce and Jane Davies. He was brought up in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth, before moving to Porthmadog where, in 1877, he began work as a trader in the slate industry. In January 1879, he formed Davies Brothers Slate Merchant Co. with his brother Richard Davies. He held a number of public offices within this locality including deacon of the local Tabernacle chapel and later secretary and treasurer for over 40 years; President of the Calvinistic Methodist Association in North Wales in 1923; President of the National Association of Slate Merchants; member of the Porthmadog Urban District Council; governor of Porthmadog County School; treasurer of the Caernarfonshire Liberal Association; a magistrate for Caernarfonshire for nearly 40 years, serving as vice-chairman of the Porthmadog bench; and chairman of the Anglesey and Caernarfonshire Agricultural Wages Board. In 1885 he married the daughter of John Hughes, a deacon of Tabernacle chapel, Blaenau Ffestiniog. He lived in Bryn Eirian, Porthmadog and had two daughters (names not known) and two sons, Ithel and John Pierce Davies (1886-1908). Jonathan Davies died 18 August 1933, aged 75.

Title supplied from contents of the fonds. Some papers pre-dating the life of Jonathan Davies were inherited in his role as company liquidator, and from the business of Davies Brothers Slate Merchants, Porthmadog. The archive also includes papers of his father and additional papers collected by his son some years after his death.

Archivist's Note

December 2010.

Compiled by Robert Evans with reference to the following sources in the compilation of this description: Davies Brothers Slate Merchants, Porthmadog, Gwynedd Archives, Caernarfon Record Office, XD/60 and XD/86. W.W. Price Biographical Index (unpublished), National Library of Wales;

Conditions Governing Use

Usual copyright laws apply.

Appraisal Information

Action: All papers donated to NLW have been retained..

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

Related Material

The main archive of Davies Brothers Slate Merchants, Porthmadog, is Gwynedd Archives, Caernarfon XD/60 and XD/86.
Plans and sections of the Diphwys Casson Slate Quarry, 1857-1886 (all by Spooner & Co., Portmadoc) were transferred to the Library's Map Collection, and catalogued separately.

Additional Information

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales