DAVIES, MORRIS ('Moi Plas '; 1891 - 1961), quarryman, local historian and researcher
Pseudonym: Moi Plas
Date of birth: 1891
Date of death: 1961
Spouse: Lizzie Davies (née Jones)
Spouse: Kate Davies (née Lewis)
Parent: Ruth Davies (née Humphreys)
Parent: William Davies
Gender: Male
Occupation: quarryman, local historian and researcher
Area of activity: Business and Industry; History and Culture
Author: Arwyn Lloyd Hughes
Born 24 June 1891 in Plas Capten, Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, the son of William Davies, farmer, and his wife Ruth (née Humphreys). He was educated at the board school Trawsfynydd, but in common with many of his contemporaries his schooling was cut short and he left to work at home on the farm. He served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Palestine and France during World War I. Afterwards, and until his retirement in 1956, he worked at the Maenofferen, Oakeley and Llechwedd quarries, Blaenau Ffestiniog. His first act after retiring was to establish a local society to find work and improved living conditions for the injured.
It was the Rev. J. Dyfnallt Owen whilst a minister in Trawsfynydd between 1898-1901, who first encouraged him to take an interest in the history of his native district. He was to spend the remainder of his life conscientiously collecting material and researching into the subject. He wrote occasionally to Welsh newspapers like Y Cymro, Y Dydd, Y Rhedegydd, Y Seren, Yr Herald Cymraeg a'r Genedl, etc. He was regarded as the authority on the history of Trawsfynydd and vicinity. All his MSS., in accordance with his wishes, are lodged in the National Library of Wales - NLW MS 17843-17932 (there is a selection of them on microfilm in the Merioneth Record Office). Morris Davies (or ' Moi Plas ' as he was known locally), was a cultured, likeable and humorous person.
He was twice married: (1) in 1919 to Kate Lewis, Cwm Cynfal, Ffestiniog (died 1929), and four daughters were born to them; (2) in 1931 to Lizzie Jones, Tanygrisiau (died 1968). He died in Blaenau Ffestiniog, 16 April 1961, and was buried in Salem cemetery, Trawsfynydd.
Author
- Arwyn Lloyd Hughes
- Information given by his eldest daughter, Mrs. Naomi Roberts, Dolgellau
- Baner ac Amserau Cymru, 6 November 1958
- The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard, 28 April 1961
- John Ellis Williams, Moi Plas, cyfaill, cymeriad, tynnwr coesau (Llandybie 1969)(1969)
Sources
- Wikidata: Q20821192
Additional Links
Published date: 2001
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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