William Bulkeley (4 November 1691 – 28 October 1760) was a minor Welsh landowner, remembered chiefly as a diarist. He was born in Brynddu in the parish of

Llanfechell Llanfechell ( cy, 'Llanfechell' ' church + Saint ''Mechell'') is a village in Anglesey, Wales. It is the largest of several small villages and dispersed settlements that make up Mechell Community Council area. It is east of Holyhead, and west of ...

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

, the son of William Bulkeley of Brynddu and of Lettice, daughter of Captain Henry Jones of Llangoed. He was sheriff of Anglesey in 1715. For many years he kept a meticulous diary. It was celebrated in 2014 with a dramatic performance at Brynddu house, still owned by one of his descendants. Two volumes survive: the first from 30 March 1734 to 8 June 1743, and the second from 1 August 1747 to 28 September 1760. Every day he recorded his impression of the weather, but he also gives many details of estate management, local politics and religious upheaval, his patronage of harpists, cattle-dealing in the local fairs, his legal duties as justice of the peace, and his visit to Dublin. He seldom alludes to his business dealings, but in 1736 he refers to a debt and to money paid in London:

Family troubles

He also refers to the marital troubles of his daughter Mary, who in 1738 married

Fortunatus Wright Fortunatus Wright (c.1712–1757) was a British merchant and privateer, notable for his activities in the Mediterranean Sea during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. Early life Wright was apparently a native of Wallas ...

, merchant and privateer of Liverpool. Bulkeley Diaries 21st March 1738 http://bulkeleydiaries.bangor.ac.uk/ accessed 18 Oct 2020 Mary's troubles did not end with Fortunatus' death in 1756: Bulkeley Diaries 7 December 1756 http://bulkeleydiaries.bangor.ac.uk/ accessed 18 Oct 2020

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bulkeley, William 1691 births 1760 deaths People from Anglesey High Sheriffs of Anglesey 18th-century diarists