GRIFFITH
,
JOHN EDWARDS
(
1843
-
1933
),
naturalist and antiquary
;
b.
18 June 1843
. With a prosperous
pharmacy
at
Bangor
, he was able to take an early
interest in archaeology and natural history
which in time accounted for his volumes on the
Flora of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire
, published in
1894
, and his
Portfolio of Photographs of Cromlechs
in the same two counties, published in
1900
; at his death he was one of the oldest members of the
Cambrian Archaeological Association
, having joined in
1888
; he was, from its inception, a prominent member of the
Anglesey Antiquarian Society
and shortly before his death he supplied to its
Transactions
lists of
Anglesey
clergy
and extracts from the diaries of
William
Bulkeley
,
Brynddu
(q.v.)
.
Griffith
was extremely painstaking in all he did, and it was, therefore, an auspicious moment when he took up the hobby of
pedigreemaking
, of which his natural bent and his family connections made him an ideal devotee. His father,
Griffith
Griffith
of
Taldrwst
in
Llangristiolus
, was a descendant of the
Penhesgin
family of
Llanfaethlu
, his mother derived from the
Hugheses
of
Plas Coch
, an uncle had married a daughter of
William
Williams
(
1738
-
1817
) (q.v.)
of
Llandygái
, while he himself had m. (as second wife) a daughter of
Glasfryn
by
Llangybi
, a marriage which
brought him close acquaintance with a fresh batch of
squires
and
clerics
. Doors easily opened for him to
search family papers
. He made himself at home with the
Dwnn
transcripts, with genealogies collected by
bishop
Humphrey
Humphreys
(q.v.)
and was especially fortunate in securing the pedigree collections of
John
Ellis
of
Tai Croesion
in
Llechylched
, a noted
antiquary
and
genealogist
, who brought his researches down to
1721
. In addition, the records of the diocesan registry and of the probate office (in his time both at
Bangor
) were heavily drawn upon, and confirmed by the examination of numerous parish registers. The fruit of all this activity was the truly monumental
Pedigrees of Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Families
, with their branches in other counties of
North Wales
, published in
1914
, a work of outstanding merit, a godsend to
researchers
. No such work could be perfect, and the great influx of family papers to library repositories has exposed many errors both of commission and omission. But the piling up of such errata by fortunate acquirers of the latest information can never impair the basic importance of this great work.
Griffith
d.
4 July 1933
, at
Bryn Dinas
,
Bangor
.
Bibliography:
-
Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire
Families
, 1914
, introduction, and 6, 31, 210;
-
Transactions of the Anglesey Antiquarian
Society and Field Club
,
1930
(86),
1931
(28-102, 113),
1932
(105);
- personal knowledge.
Author:
Thomas Richards, D.Litt., (1878-1962), Bangor
