BREESE
,
EDWARD
(
1835
-
1881
),
antiquary
,
b. at
Carmarthen
13 April 1835
, son of
John
Breese
,
Congregational minister
(q.v.)
, and
Margaret
, daughter of
David
Williams
of
Saethon
in
Llŷn
. His father's death in
1842
threw him upon the care of his mother's kindred, who were influential in
south Caernarvonshire
. In particular, his uncle,
David
Williams
(see under
Williams
of
Bron Eryri
), already far advanced in a prosperous career as
lawyer
and
politician
, was able to give him substantial help; the nephew was received into the
Portmadoc office
and qualified as a
solicitor
in
1857
. In
1859
Breese
succeeded his uncle as
clerk of the peace
for the county of
Merioneth
and other local offices, including the management of the
Madocks
estate, the heir to which was a minor. He had thus an important
part in the planning and development of the new town
of
Portmadoc
and gained general confidence by his ability, integrity, and judicial temper.
David
Lloyd George
, as a beginner in his office, owed much to his kindness. In politics he was a
Liberal
, in religion a
Churchman
. He m. in
1863
Margaret Jane
, daughter of
Lewis
Williams
of
Fron Wnion
,
Dolgelley
,
sheriff of his county
in
1865
. From an early age,
Breese
developed a
strong interest in local antiquities
. Many years of research, backed by an excellent private library, led to the publication in
1873
of
Kalendars of Gwynedd
, a complete record of the
high officers
(
sheriffs
,
Members of Parliament
, etc.) of the
counties of
Anglesey
,
Caernarvon
, and
Merioneth
, which is still an authoritative work of reference.
Breese
d.
10 March 1881
, leaving six children, of whom three became
solicitors
. Through his mother he claimed descent from
Rhys ap Tewdwr
and
Trahaearn Goch o Lŷn
, and he adopted a shield on which were quartered the arms attributed to them.
Of his sons,
CHARLES
BREESE
(
1867
-
1932
) followed him both in his profession and his
antiquarian interests
. Admitted a
solicitor
in
1889
, he served on the
Caernarvonshire county council
, as
major of Volunteers
, as
chairman of the executive committee
of the
Cambrian Archaeological Association
and (in
1930
) as one of its
vice-presidents
. He was
Liberal M.P.
for
Caernarvonshire
,
1918-22
.
Bibliography:
-
Archaeologia Cambrensis
,
1881
, 171-2 and
1932
, 422;
-
Y Gestiana
, Tremadog, 1892
, 86-7;
-
Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon
, 1922
, 7-9;
-
Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and
County Families of Wales
.
Author:
Sir John Edward Lloyd, D.Litt., F.B.A., F.S.A. (1861-1947), Bangor
