MARSH
,
RICHARD
(
1710?
-
1792
),
bookseller and printer
at
Wrexham
.
Richard
Marsh
m.,
12 Feb. 1746-7
,
Mary
Hurst
,
Wrexham
; the bridegroom is described in the parish register as
writing master
. In
1753
he became a
bookseller
; in
1756-7
he was one of the
churchwardens
of
Wrexham
. When he started
printing
is not definitely known;
Ifano
Jones
(
Hist. of Printing and Printers in Wales
) disputes the accuracy of the dates assigned to some of his publications by
A. N.
Palmer
(q.v.)
in his
History of Wrexham
and by
William
Rowlands
(in
Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry
). He was certainly
printing
in
1772
, as
Cyfarwyddiad i Fesurwyr
and
Cydymaith i'r Allor
belong to that year. Many of the products of his press were of cheap booklets and ballads. He d.
24 May 1792
, and was buried in
Wrexham
churchyard.
Richard
Marsh
was succeeded by his son,
JOHN
MARSH
(
1747
-
1795
), a skilled
printer
; b.
8 Jan. 1747
. The fact that he was called as a witness in the trial of
William Davies
Shipley
,
dean of S. Asaph
(q.v.)
, concerning the publication of a pamphlet in
1783
shows that he assisted his father as
printer
some years before the latter d. Examples of good craftsmanship by the son are
Philip
Yorke
,
Tracts of Powys
,
1795
, and
William
Griffiths
,
Practical Treatise on Farriery
(2nd ed.,
1795
). Like his father,
John
Marsh
served as
churchwarden
,
1794-5
. He d.
11 Oct. 1795
, and was buried in
Wrexham
churchyard.
The
Marsh
business was continued for a short time by
M. and S. MARSH
who printed
John
Thomas
,
Annerch Ieuengctyd Cymru
, in
1795
. Before the end of that year, however, the business had been transferred to
John
Painter
.
Bibliography:
-
To the references given already add
J. H. Davies
,
A Bibliography of Welsh Ballads printed in
the 18th century
, 1908-11
.
Author:
Sir William Llewelyn Davies, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A. (1887-1952),
Aberystwyth
