David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr)
Encyclopedia
David Davies, also known as Dai'r Cantwr (David the singer) (c. 1812–1874), was a Welsh
poet and lay-preacher. He was convicted and sentenced to transportation to Australia for his actions during the Rebecca Riots
.
in about 1812 to John and Mary Davies, his father is believed to have been a tenant of the Duke of Beaufort. Although little of his early personal life is known, in later police records Davies is recorded as a "farm labourer, can plough", and at one time is thought to have worked at a quarry in Newcastle, Bridgend
, also serving as a preacher to the local Wesleyians
. He is later recorded as attending the Philadelphia Baptist Church in Cadoxton
near Barry, one of the earliest Baptist chapels in the area, from which the important Methodist preacher, Christmas Evans
is believed to have given sermons. Davies was nicknamed "Dai'r Cantwr", David the Singer, because he "taught them to sing at church".
, in an uprising by poor farmers, angry at what they believed were unjust taxations. By 26 May, the first phase of the Rebecca Riots ended with the destruction of the Water Street gate in Carmarthen
. On 17 July of that year, the first instance of a group of rioters being led by a male ring leader dressed in women's clothing, widely accepted to be Thomas Rees
. The dressing of the mob leaders as women was a symbolic gesture, in reference to a Biblical text, Genesis 24:60. At some point during the riots, until their end in late 1843, Davies became heavily involved, and like fellow rioter Shoni Sguborfawr, was paid to take a prominent role in the toll-gate attacks.
Although there are various theories of how the two men met, Davies and 'Shoni' became associated in several acts of incendiarism and gate-breaking. The riots were initially supported by the public, and very few rioters were arrested and convicted, but some of those taking part used the guise of 'Rebecca' to exact revenge on individuals and extort money; and Davies and 'Shoni' both undertook these actions. Eventually people turned on both men and on 24 September 1843, warrants were issued for their arrest. The following day Davies was arrested at the 'Plough and Harrow' a public house in Pum Heol near Llanelli
. Shoni Sgunorfawr was arrested in London on 26 September. Davies was placed in custody in Carmarthen Goal to await sentence.
. Davies was found guilty and was sentenced to transportation
for 20 years; 'Shoni' was given a life sentence for attempted murder after shooting a man in Pontyberem.
After sentencing, Davies was held at Carmarthen, and while awaiting transportation he wrote the poem now known as the Threnody
of Dai'r Cantwr, described by Professor David Williams as 'not without literary merits'. On 5 February 1844 he was moved to the Millbank Penitentiary
and remained there until 12 March when he was transported on the London to Van Diemen's Land
, modern-day Tasmania. He landed on 10 July and was set to work on Maria Island
, just off the country's east coast. After completing his work on the Island, he was placed in the employment of various people, but was unable to stay out of trouble, receiving brief sentences for minor offences, such as insolence, drunkenness and using indecent language.
Davies received his ticket of leave in April 1854, and was conditionally pardoned on 31 October of the same year. It is then believed that he returned to Wales, dying in 1874, from smoke inhalation after his pipe accidentally set fire to grass, whilst Davies was asleep and intoxicated.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
poet and lay-preacher. He was convicted and sentenced to transportation to Australia for his actions during the Rebecca Riots
Rebecca Riots
The Rebecca Riots took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales. They were a series of protests undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to perceived unfair taxation. The rioters, often men dressed as women, took their actions against toll-gates, as they were...
.
Early life
Davies was born in the parish of LlancarfanLlancarfan
Llancarfan is a rural village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The village, located west of Barry near Cowbridge, has a pub and a well-known parish church, the site of Saint Cadoc's 6th-century abbey, famed for its learning...
in about 1812 to John and Mary Davies, his father is believed to have been a tenant of the Duke of Beaufort. Although little of his early personal life is known, in later police records Davies is recorded as a "farm labourer, can plough", and at one time is thought to have worked at a quarry in Newcastle, Bridgend
Newcastle, Bridgend
Newcastle Castle, on Newcastle Hill, overlooking the town centre of Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales, was initially constructed in 1106 by William de Londres, one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan, as part of the Norman invasion of Wales....
, also serving as a preacher to the local Wesleyians
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
. He is later recorded as attending the Philadelphia Baptist Church in Cadoxton
Cadoxton, Vale of Glamorgan
Cadoxton is a district of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Cadoxton was once originally its own village, separate from Barry. It grew up around Saint Cadoc's parish church, which survives.The area is served by Cadoxton railway station- History :...
near Barry, one of the earliest Baptist chapels in the area, from which the important Methodist preacher, Christmas Evans
Christmas Evans
Christmas Evans was a Welsh Nonconformist minister, regarded as one of the greatest preachers in the history of Wales....
is believed to have given sermons. Davies was nicknamed "Dai'r Cantwr", David the Singer, because he "taught them to sing at church".
Davies' role in the Rebecca Riots
On 13 May 1839, the first tollgate was attacked by rioters at CilymaenllwydCilymaenllwyd
Cilymaenllwyd is a community on the extreme northwest of Carmarthenshire in West Wales. It lies about 40 km west of Carmarthen, 20 km southeast of Fishguard and 30 km northwest of Haverfordwest.- History & Amenities :...
, in an uprising by poor farmers, angry at what they believed were unjust taxations. By 26 May, the first phase of the Rebecca Riots ended with the destruction of the Water Street gate in Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
. On 17 July of that year, the first instance of a group of rioters being led by a male ring leader dressed in women's clothing, widely accepted to be Thomas Rees
Thomas Rees (Twm Carnabwth)
Thomas Rees , generally known as Twm Carnabwth, was a leader of the first "Rebecca Riots" in 1839.Nobody knows who called the meeting in the barn of Glynsaithmaen farm in the Preseli hills, and nobody knows who attended...
. The dressing of the mob leaders as women was a symbolic gesture, in reference to a Biblical text, Genesis 24:60. At some point during the riots, until their end in late 1843, Davies became heavily involved, and like fellow rioter Shoni Sguborfawr, was paid to take a prominent role in the toll-gate attacks.
Although there are various theories of how the two men met, Davies and 'Shoni' became associated in several acts of incendiarism and gate-breaking. The riots were initially supported by the public, and very few rioters were arrested and convicted, but some of those taking part used the guise of 'Rebecca' to exact revenge on individuals and extort money; and Davies and 'Shoni' both undertook these actions. Eventually people turned on both men and on 24 September 1843, warrants were issued for their arrest. The following day Davies was arrested at the 'Plough and Harrow' a public house in Pum Heol near Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
. Shoni Sgunorfawr was arrested in London on 26 September. Davies was placed in custody in Carmarthen Goal to await sentence.
Transportation to Australia and later life
On 22 December 1843 Davies was tried at Carmarthen assizes under the charge of demolishing the turnpike at Spudder's Bridge near KidwellyKidwelly
Kidwelly is a town in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, approximately north-west of the main town of Llanelli.It lies on the River Gwendraeth Fach above Carmarthen Bay. The town is twinned with French village St Jacut de la Mer.-History:...
. Davies was found guilty and was sentenced to transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
for 20 years; 'Shoni' was given a life sentence for attempted murder after shooting a man in Pontyberem.
After sentencing, Davies was held at Carmarthen, and while awaiting transportation he wrote the poem now known as the Threnody
Threnody
A threnody is a song, hymn or poem of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person. The term originates from the Greek word threnoidia, from threnos + oide ; ultimately, from the Proto-Indo-European root wed- that is also the precursor of such words as "ode", "tragedy", "comedy",...
of Dai'r Cantwr, described by Professor David Williams as 'not without literary merits'. On 5 February 1844 he was moved to the Millbank Penitentiary
Millbank Prison
Millbank Prison was a prison in Millbank, Pimlico, London, originally constructed as the National Penitentiary, and which for part of its history served as a holding facility for convicted prisoners before they were transported to Australia...
and remained there until 12 March when he was transported on the London to Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
, modern-day Tasmania. He landed on 10 July and was set to work on Maria Island
Maria Island
Maria Island is a mountainous island off the east coast of Tasmania. The entire island is a national park. Maria Island National Park has a total area of 115.50 km², which includes a marine area of 18.78 km² off the island's northwest coast. The island is about 20 km in length from...
, just off the country's east coast. After completing his work on the Island, he was placed in the employment of various people, but was unable to stay out of trouble, receiving brief sentences for minor offences, such as insolence, drunkenness and using indecent language.
Davies received his ticket of leave in April 1854, and was conditionally pardoned on 31 October of the same year. It is then believed that he returned to Wales, dying in 1874, from smoke inhalation after his pipe accidentally set fire to grass, whilst Davies was asleep and intoxicated.
Threnody of Dai'r Cantwr
- One of the verses of Threnody of Dai'r Cantwr, translated from the original WelshWelsh languageWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
:
Though wounding were the wicked blows
The cruel world hath struck at me
I have a strength they cannot break
My human pride my dignity
They bound my hands with prison chains
And yet my soul they could not bind
Now far across the sundering sea
I drag my solely troubled mind
My father's home, its tender care
I know I shall not see again
I'll rot for twenty searing years
Among corrupt unfeeling men
Farewell to you a hundredfold
Fair county, sweet untroubled Wales
Still I remember in my pain
Your streams, your hills, your gentle vales
You are the garden of the world
The Eden where all beauty lies
My heart breaks as with flaming sword
They drive me now from paradise