William Bulkeley (4 November 1691 – 28 October 1760) was a minor Welsh landowner, remembered chiefly as a diarist. He was born in Brynddu in the parish of Llanfechell, Anglesey, the son of William Bulkeley of Brynddu and of Lettice, daughter of Captain Henry Jones of Llangoed.[1] He was sheriff of Anglesey in 1715.[2]
For many years he kept a meticulous diary.[3][4] It was celebrated in 2014 with a dramatic performance at Brynddu house, still owned by one of his descendants.[5]
Two volumes survive: the first from 30 March 1734 to 8 June 1743, and the second from 1 August 1747 to 28 September 1760. Every day he recorded his impression of the weather, but he also gives many details of estate management, local politics and religious upheaval, his patronage of harpists, cattle-dealing in the local fairs, his legal duties as justice of the peace, and his visit to Dublin. He seldom alludes to his business dealings, but in 1736 he refers to a debt and to money paid in London: "being entirely abandoned by all my pretended friends, (good Mr. L. of Llysdulas in particular) in my utmost necessity to assist me to find out money to pay a great Debt I run into by his persuasion & tho I writt to him (being now in Ireland) never vouchsafed an Answer, I went to day to Cwtt y Dwndwr, haveing had Morris Lewis's Letter that I might have 800L. pd in London, but wanted to know what Security I would give & when I would have the money pd. I had before writt to my Son to come down to the Sessions to Joyn with me in a Recovery to secure the 800L. which I acquainted him with & was satisfyed–"[6]
30th. The Wind S. clear & very hot weather, Mr. Hughes Plâs Coch came here, & pd. me the 270L. I had pd. for him in London. part of the money he paid for Glan‘rafon & wrâch ddu.[7]
- ^ Bulkeley, William. (1691–1760) Dafydd Wyn Wiliam. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/62643
- ^ Nicholas, Thomas. Annals of the Counties and County Families of Wales. p. 32.
- ^ "Bulkeley diaries". bulkeleydiaries.bangor.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Richards, Thomas (1959). "BULKELEY, WILLIAM (1691 - 1760), squire and diarist". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "William Bulkeley Day". 28 September 2014.
- ^ Bulkeley Diaries 4 April 1736 http://bulkeleydiaries.bangor.ac.uk/ accessed 18 Oct 2020
- ^ Bulkeley Diaries 30 July 1736 http://bulkeleydiaries.bangor.ac.uk/ accessed 18 Oct 2020