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Not a lot happened today. It was the usual humdrum everyday housework, eating and, the highlight of the day, taking the dogs for a walk. Princess Emmadora Snowface put in an appearance but, basically, it was dull.
So I reckon it’s the perfect opportunity to write about the Welsh Colony in Patagonia.
Looking back to the 16th century, there was a story about the Welsh Prince Madoc who, it was claimed, was the first European to ever see the Americas. It was said that he escaped a secessionist row, sailed west and landed by the Mississippi River where he set up a colony, mixing well with the native population. That was in 1170.
Of course, Christopher Columbus disputed this claim, saying he was first. I don’t think he was as successful with the natives though.
Then, in 1617, Sir William Vaugh sent a bunch of Welsh colonists to Newfoundland. Note that he didn’t go. The colony failed. Sir William tried a few more times with limited success.
In the 17th century, a load of Welsh Quakers believed the ads that they would be welcomed in Pennsylvania. This was to be called the Welsh Tract but, by the time the Quakers arrived, the land had already been partitioned for other people. I’m guessing they went back to Wales.
There were other attempts in North America but, generally, they had little success. It was then decided by whoever makes these decisions, to try South America.
There was a bit of success in Brazil but the real turning point; the real success story was in the Chubut Valley in Patagonia. It all started in 1865 when 153 Welsh settlers landed at Puerto Madryn.
Actually, it started a few years earlier than that when Love Parry Jones and his mate, Lewis Jones, set off aboard the Candelaría in 1863 to determine the viability of a Welsh Colony. Incidentally, the town of Puetro Madryn is named after Madryn Castle where Love Parry Jones lived.
Love Parry Jones, not to be confused with his father Love Parry Jones, was actually Sir Thomas Duncombe Love Jones-Parry. The name is a bit confusing given Love Parry Jones senior added a second Parry to his name for reasons unknown then being known as simply Love Parry Jones. Anyway, for ease of writing and, hopefully, understanding, I’m going to call Sir Thomas Duncombe Love Jones-Parry, simply Thomas*.
Thomas was a politician who, for reasons unexplained, had a desire to send a bunch of Welsh people off to South America for settlement there. (Note that they were not convicts.) Along with Lewis, he stopped off in Buenos Aires first where they had a meaningful chat with the Interior Minister before heading south.
A storm forced their ship ashore. The ship, its crew and passengers all survived and Thomas named the place where they landed, Porth Madryn. This grew into Puetro Madryn.
While Thomas provided the cash, Lewis Jones was the main driver of the idea of setting up a Welsh colony. He was a printer by trade but, having moved to Liverpool joined an organisation intent on setting up a colony where Welsh people could preserve the Welsh language and customs a long way from home.
The learning of Welsh was being eradicated by the English at the time. This meant that the native language of Wales was not welcome in Wales. Patagonia seemed a much better place.
Having established Puetro Madryn as that place, Thomas and Lewis sailed back to their respective homes. Lewis gave a series of speeches, praising the place where he wanted people to move to. He must have been a pretty good talker because 153 people were quickly convinced this was a great idea.
Lewis then headed back, slightly ahead of the actual colonists, in order to make sure things were set up for them. After the colonists arrived, Lewis moved to Buenos Aires to start up a printing business. This didn’t last very long though because, in 1867, he heard rumblings coming from Puetro Madryn that some of the colonists called bullshit on the suitability of the place and were threatening to go back to Wales.
Lewis successfully convinced them to stay. He remained in Patagonia until his death in 1904 having been instrumental in the construction of a railway through the Chubut Valley, the town at the railhead, Trelew, being named after him.
His daughter, the author, Eluned Morgan who was born aboard a ship bound for South America, was a prominent defender of the Welsh language eventually settling in Patagonia where she wrote a history of the Incas. In Welsh. As you do.
These days, in Patagonia, there continues to be a lot of Welsh language learning. Interestingly, like Canadian French, Patagonian Welsh isn’t that different to Welsh Welsh. One understands the other, although there are regional differences.
And so endeth the history lesson.
To finish this post, here’s the developing stalactites from yesterday.
* There is a bit of confusion over this name. I have found variations with and without hyphens. I have chosen Love Parry Jones because it’s the funniest option rather than the most accurate.
