1868

11/1 Elizabeth Davies, smack, launched launched by John Williams and son. Tonnage 50, Length 53 feet, Breadth 16ft 2 inch. Owner Capt. Evans Davies, St Dogmaels.
20/2 Mary Jane smack, launched , launched by John Williams and son, Tonnage 60, Length 53 ft 3 inch, Breadth 6ft 9 inch. Owner Griffith Jenkins, Aberporth.
/3 Penny Readings at the newly opened British School in Old Bethania became more popular than that at the Guildhall. Sectarian rivalry between National School and the British School which lasted for many years had started.
14/5 Wedding of Wm Picton Evans, sol. and Miss Margarette Elizabeth Jenkins, 2nd daughter of the Mayor (R D Jenkins), by Revd Griffith Thomas, vicar and assisted by Revd R. Bowen Jenkins (bride’s brother). John Esau, Hope and Anchor, and a few others at Bridge End foundry were injured by the bursting of a cannon when fired on the morning of the wedding.
/5 Boundaries Commission recommended add St Dogmaels to Cardigan. Town Council refused.
/8 Bethania Chapel redecorated by John Miles & Son, Daniel
1/11 Election no. 4: John Lewis, Royal Arms 213; W. W. Smith, sol. 204; Thomas Edward, merchant 199; Dr David Mathias 167; Thomas Parker, Black Lion Hotel 112.
9/11 Mayor Dr John Thomas (Liberal)

26/11 GREAT ELECTION of 1868:

6 Polling Stations: Cardigan, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Llandysul, Lampeter and Tregaron.

Candidates: For the County:
Edward Mallet Vaughan (Conservative)
Evan M. Richards (Liberal)

For the Boroughs:
Sir Thomas D. Lloyd (Liberal)
No Conservative candidate

5/9 Rousing meeting at the Guildhall addressed by Evan M. Richards. Chairman was the Mayor Dr John Thomas. Other speakers: Revd W. Davies, Capel Mair; Revd Wm Jones, Tabernacle, and the Revd Evan Thomas, Bethania.

On Election day Cardigan streets were crowded before dawn. First election since the Second Reform Act, 1867. Struggle between Church and Chapel.

Main streets of the town were blocked with vehicles of all descriptions. Every voter was given a bodyguard of three or four stalwarts before and after recording his vote. He (no she yet!) was lavishly entertained. Few went home sober that evening.
In those days the results were declared from the Shire Hall at frequent intervals. (Good idea?)
During the morning the Conservative candidate was leading. But the 12.30 bulletin declared Richards, the Liberal well ahead. There followed an afternoon of fights and rowdy scenes in the pubs.

Richards (Liberal) 277
Vaughan (Conservative) 235

At 3.00 pm Richards had gained a comfortable lead

Richards (Liberal) 310
Vaughan (Conservative) 258

But what was happening in the other polling stations? Official count was not until Saturday morning.

On Sat afternoon the result was declared at the Guildhall:

Cardigan Richards 312 Vaughan 261
Aberystwyth R 800 V 578
Aberaeron R 422 V 377
Llandysul R 201 V 172
Lampeter R 107 V 226
Tregaron R 232 V 304
Majority for Richards 156

Then the evictions began. Thomas Harries, Llechryd appeared before a Select Committee of the House of Commons and said that he knew of 30 tenant farmers who had been evicted. On 2nd Jan, 1870 collections were made at local chapels in aid of the £20,000 fund for compensation to the evicted tenant farmers. At the 1868 election Gladstone secured a majority of 120. In 1872 the Secret Ballot Act was passed in 1872.

The following were buried in St Mary’s Church cemetery:

  • Marston, Joyce wi of … Marston 86th Regt  01.05.1868 aged 68 EW14
  • Jones, David, mariner 05/06/1868 aged 63 MPM15
  • Lewis, David son of John & Mary 19/07/1868 aged 1yr & 9m HPW14
  • Sambrook, David died at sea in Harlech Castle at Cape Horn 08/08/1868 aged 52 C32A
  • Jones, John, shoemaker 23/08/1868 aged 40 MPJ5
  • Williams, Mary, wi of Wm 25/08/1868 aged 63 B8
  • Davies, William Tudor son of John Tudor & Elizabeth, chief officer of Almora drowned from Bombay to Liverpool 02/09/1868 aged 23 MPM7
  • Griffiths, Jane yngst dau of Griffith & Jane, & for upwards of 40 yrs faithful servant & beloved friend of late Capt. & Mrs Robert Straton and their daus d at Norwood, Surrey 11/09/1868 aged 65 D2
  • Thomas, George, printer 12/09/1868 aged 81 B21
  • Evans, Mary Ann wi of Evan 13/10/1868 aged 41 HPW5
  • Johnes, Mary wi of John 14/10/1868 aged 60 MPW2
  • Gillespie, Mary dau of Henery & Martha 04/12/1868 aged 18 HPW64

Mayor: Dr John Thomas