Griffith Davies 1722-1778

Griffith DAVIES 1722-1778

Davies's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection 8104)

Biographical Note

Born at Epping, son of Thomas Davies; the family were originally of Welsh origin. He became a prominent citizen of Harwich, as the land agent for Henry Pelham; he was mayor of Harwich 15 times between 1743 and 1776.

Books

Davies used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 8104). The extent of his library is not known; in his will, he bequeathed all his books ("except books of account"), along with his scientific instruments, swords, guns and watch to his eldest son Henry Pelham Davies.

His youngest son, also called Griffith (b.1766) also used an armorial plate, of Chippendale rather than Jacobean design, labelled G. Davies Harwich (a plate not in the Franks Collection; see Blatchly).

Sources

• Will of Griffith Davies, The National Archives PROB 11/1046/154.
• A. Senter, VCH Essex vol.13, Social History of Harwich and Dovercourt.
• Blatchly, J., East Anglian ex-libris, London, 2008, p.63.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.