EV-0243 — Barry Dock News, 23 Oct 1908, p.3, “Court Leet at Llandough”: vote of sympathy for the family of the late John Williams, Great House

Quotation (verbatim; obvious OCR letter errors corrected only): “The annual court leet and court baron of the lordship of Bute was held on Thursday week last at the Merry Harriers Hotel, Llandough … A vote of sympathy was passed with the family of the late Mr. John Williams, Great House, Llandough, for many years a juror of the court. In accordance with historic tradition, the presentments were signed by the deputy steward and jury.”

Fits with: Mary (Nancy) Williams’s statement (c. 1974): “In the year 1908 my grandfather died and my father took over the farm.” (Mary (Nancy) Williams’s Statement (c. 1974)). This report shows a John Williams of Great House had died by mid-October 1908 and had sat for many years on the jury of the Bute lordship’s court.

Lead: The court’s presentments and court-baron records for the Llandough sessions (lordship of Bute) would show how the manor described Great House and its holder. Repository and references: SOURCE PENDING.

Cuts against: Court-leet juries were drawn from residents, not only freeholders, so jury service says nothing about ownership. The Cardiff Times of 16 Jul 1904 says a John Williams “succeeded his father in the tenancy of the farm in 1855” (EV-0227). The Evening Express of 10 Jan 1908 (p.3) reports a poacher caught on Great House Farm by an “underkeeper” on “his usual round” with a colleague (article); whose keepers they were is not stated, but keepers on the land fit a landlord’s sporting rights over a tenanted farm (inference).

Proves: John Williams of Great House, Llandough, had died by October 1908 and had served for many years as a juror of the Bute lordship’s court leet.

Does not prove: Ownership or tenure of the farm, or the exact date of his death.