The Loyal Parys Mountain Volunteers

by Joyce Hinde

When searching through the Amlwch Churchwarden's Accounts at Llangefni Record Office I was surprised to find an entry of 2/-paid to Lowry Morris, Cerrig Bleddiau as her son was on permanent duty at Beaumaris. Which son I wondered, and what was he doing there?

Lowry was my paternal Gt.Gt.Gt.Grandmother. She had married John Morris, Blacksmith at Amlwch Parish Church on 2 October 1775 and had later baptised four sons and a daughter Mary at the same Church. Mary was my Gr. Gt.Grandmother. Of the sons John was born 1776, William who only lived 2 days in 1778. William 1782, Owen 1793 and Edward 1799. Owen married Ann Evans at Llanwenllwyfo in 1819 and had a large family.

I wasnt to find the answer to my question until sometime later when browsing through the Plas Newydd MSS at Bangor University Library, when I found papers relating to the Loyal Parys Mountain Volunteers.

The Volunteers were formed in March 1797 on the orders of His Majesty's Privy Council at the time of the Napoleonic Wars when there was thought to be the danger of an invasion. There are a number of letters from the War Office and others before the arrangements were finalised. It took some time to enlist the full complement of men and in February 1797 a letter to the Duke of Portland contained a request that although not the usual procedure, the men hoped they might be allowed to reserve to themselves the option of remaining within the County or marching out of it upon any Emergency.

In April 1797 Mr. Price wrote from Mona Lodge, Amlwch, to Mr. Sanderson, that the volunteers met every evening at four-o-clock in a field half way between the town and the mountain and were trained for three hours. Every Thursday in the same field a general meeting was held where they enrolled all who offered. The uniform was blue broadcloth turned up with red, buff coloured waistcoat and pantaloons, likewise turned up with red cord on edging, and plain yellow buttons. In another letter the black hats and feathers were decided on but there seemed to be some trouble getting the right sizes. Mr Price also commented in one letter that "Blue had been decided on because the miners think themselves degraded if they wear a red coat." In 1798 complaints were made at the lack of efficient instructors and of the quality of arms. Pikes were particularly a grievance to the men of the Parys Mountain Corps, they "think themselves degraded by being obliged to carry them."

In 1800 there were two Companies and the Yearly Pay List and Return lists them all. Unfortunately, it only gives names and not addresses so that it is impossible to pick out individuals in many cases, as there are a number of men with the same names. On 19 April 1797, 60 men reported to Beaumaris for training and the same number on 15th May and 6 June. This perhaps explains why Lowry's son was away from home.

THE LOYAL PARYS MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS -1st COMPANY.

(The numbers in brackets = the number of times the name appears)

THE LOYAL PARYS MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS 2nd COMPANY

© Copyright 2000, Joyce Hinde