(The first part of this chapter deals with the early history of the town, and has no genealogical information, therefore it is only the second part that is included here)
......It is only a few score years ago that the quay was constructed; before this the water used to reach up to the castle walls, and up as high as the spot where the Bank was built; and it was only recently that the Bank houses were built, by Mr. Roberts, Glandwr; and the quay in this neighbourhood by Mr. Thomas Hughes, Merchant.
The only Slate Loader in Caernarfon eighty years ago, and less, was Elizabeth James, Tan y bont. She employed the young boys of the town, to whom she paid a halfpenny, or a piece of gingerbread, for their hard work; they lodaed the slate onto the ships by hand, using neither planks nor wheelbarrows. The slates were sent mainly to Dublin, with a lesser quantity also going to Liverpool, which was only a small town at the time.
Following Elizabeth James, her son James took over the slate loading, entering into a partnership with Mr. Robert Griffith, Cantwr Salm, (so-called because he was the singer at the Llanbeblig Parish Church); later Mr. Robert Griffith, Cantwr Salm, went into partnership with Mr. Robert Griffith, Pool Street. These two were the first to use planks and wheelbarrows to load the slates on the Quay. From these humble beginnings, Mr. Robert Griffith, Pool Street, who was the father of Mr. Hugh Griffith, Druggist, Pool Street, and Mrs. Lloyd Roberts, Castle Square, grew to be a well-known Merchant in the town. He died at a fair age at South Penrallt. The area now known as Castle Square used to be full of hills and hollows, and covered with grass. Until quite recently there was a pool stretching from Y Bont Bridd (Bridge Street) to Cadnant, and from Pool Street to Penrallt, on which could be found ducks and geese, and in winter the boys used to skate on it. The pool's water was used to power the Town Mill, which was situated below Y Bont Bridd.
The river which used to feed the pool these days runs through the town into the sea. Where the pool used to be stands a large number of houses covering the area from Y Bont Bridd to Cadnant, and from the back of Pool Street to the bottom of Penrallt.
Before 1820, there were no vehicles resident in the town except for "chaise-coaches", which ran occasionally when needed to ferry tourists. In 1820 a daily service to Bangor was started by Mr. Anthony Dillon, Seedsman, the father of Mrs. Rae, Sportsman Hotel. Travellers of means would hire a horse, but the general population would travel everywhere in Wales, and England, by foot. Thomas Williams, Pool Street, was the Letter Carrier, walking from Bangor to Caernarfon three times a week. Later, a young lad with a pony transported the bags. At one time the post was carried on foot through Bwlch y Ddeufaen, near Penmaenmawr.
Heavy barges were used to carry across the Menai Straits and the River Conwy: they crossed from Caernarfon to Abermenai and Tal y Foel, while other went to Menai Bridge and Garth amongst other places.
There were very few ships of any stature belonging to the port. In the old days, criminals were transported by sea from the Gaol to London.
Llanbeblig Church, and St. Mary's Church, which was primarily the Barracks Church and owned by the Borough, were the only places of worship in the town until 1778, when the Independents built Pendref Chapel in Bangor Street.
In 1841, they built Joppa Chapel in Snowdon Street, and in 1860 they laid the foundations for a substantial chapel at Pen y Graig. They also have a Sunday School in a rented house in Tan y Bont.
After the Independent preachers, Richard and Abraham Tibbot came to Caernarfon to preach, and suffering some persecution, the Rev. R. Harris took a house in Treffynon for his son to preach in. In 1782 the Rev. John Griffith came to minister in the town, and after him the Rev. George Lewis, during whose ministry Pendref Chapel was built. The Rev. J. Griffith returned to Caernarfon after George Lewis left in 1797; his sons are the Rev. William Griffith, Holyhead, and the Rev. John Griffith, Buckley, Flintshire
In 1817 the Rev. John Griffith died, and the Rev. William Jones (presently at Amlwch) took over the ministry in 1819, until 1828, when the Rev. Josiah Thomas Jones arrived in Caernarfon. In 1831 the Rev. William Williams, Caledfryn, took over, and when he left he was replaced by the Rev. David Roberts, the present minister.
In 1792 the Calvinistic Methodists built a chapel at Penrallt, which they later sold to the Parish, who built the Poorhouse on the site. This building now is in the possession of Mr. Richard Rowlands, Pendref. In 1826 they built Moriah, a large, impressive chapel, in South Penrallt; its trustees were Mr. Robert Griffith, Merchant, Caernarfon; Mr. Richard Owen, Shopkeeper, Caernarfon; the Rev. William Lloyd, Caernarfon; Mr. John Huxley, Miller, Caernarfon; Mr. John Wynne, Schoolmaster, Caernarfon; Mr. Robert Evans, Grocer, Caernarfon; Mr. Humphrey Pugh, Glover, Caernarfon; the Rev. John Jones, Tremadoc; the Rev. Michael Roberts, Pwllheli; and the Rev. John Jones, Llanllyfni.
In 1842 they built Engedi Chapel in New Street, and in 1857 a small neat chapel at Tan'rallt called Siloh. They also have, in rented houses, Sunday Schools at Glan y Mor, Court Mark, and Court y Boot.
In 1805 the Wesleyans built a chapel; rebuilt in 1826 as an extensive and convenient house. Its trustees were R. M. Preece, Esq., Bank; Mr. Owen Owens, Tinman, Caernarfon; Mr. Robert Jones, Draper, Caernarfon; Mr. Robert Roberts, Smith, Caernarfon; Mr. Griffith Davies, Draper, Caernarfon; Mr. John Lloyd, Architect, Caernarfon; Mr. John Davies, Plumber, Caernarfon; and Mr. Robert Williams, Nailor, Caernarfon. In 1834 they built the English Chapel in Pool Street.
The Baptists used to preach at Treffynon; and after that in a rented house in South Penrallt, until 1826, when they built Caersalem Chapel, in Garnons Street, which was renovated and enlarged in 1855.
In 1817 the National School was established in the town, on the corner of Bank Street, near the seashore. After this an extensive schoolhouse was built, which was later sold to convert into the Bonded Warehouse. The present schoolhouse at Pen y Graig was built in 1843. In 1821 the Infants' School was built, by the public, for the public; and in 1849 the Ragged School was built in North Penrallt. In 1808 the Meat Market was built in Market Street, the Market Hall in Palace Street in 1832, and the Fish Market, also in Palace Street, in 1858. The Sailors' Christian Institute and Reading Room, on the Square, was established by Mrs. Holcombe of Hereford, in January 1860. The metalled road from Bangor to Caernarfon was opened on the 1st. of July, 1852.
In 1820 the town of Caernarfon was blooming and successful, having a Corporation, with a large sum of money received in revenue annually. Some merchants decided to join the "Joint Stock Company" to build Baths, and they applied to the Right Honourable Marquis of Anglesey for some land in Church Street for the purpose. The Marquis replied that he would favour them by building the Baths himself, at his own cost. In 1822 he built a convenient, handsome, extensive and costly Baths; but in 1852, unfortunately, he sold the building, and had it demolished. In its place was built the Training Institution. In 1858 the British School was built at South Penrallt.
In 1780 the two most popular public houses in the town were the Crown, in Crown Street, and the Boot, on the lower North-Western corner to North Penrallt. Lord Uxbridge, Plas Newydd, together with the gentry, the advocates and the attorneys, descended on the Crown when the Sessions were sitting. The Boot was kept by Mr. Richard Griffiths. His children: Mr. Robert Griffiths, Attorney, Pwllheli; Mr. Griffith Griffiths, Attorney, Dolgellau; Mr. Rowland Griffiths, a doctor in the Navy; Mr. Richard Griffiths, Caernarfon; and Mr. Hugh Griffiths, Cefn-y-gof, Llanbeblig. His grandchildren, the children of his son Robert: Mr. Robert Griffiths, Druggist, High Street; Mrs. Thomas, widow of Mr. Robert Thomas, Draper, Turf Square; Mrs. Jones, Brynhyfryd, Pwllheli; Mrs. Jenkins, Botwnog; and Mrs. Parry, Denbigh.
Around the year 1794 the Uxbridge Hotel was built by Lord Uxbridge, Plas Newydd. Mr. Wakeman was the first licensee, followed by Mr. George Bettis. After him came Mr. Edward Parry, the father of the Rev. Edward Parry, Mrs. E. G. Powell, Coedmawr, and Mrs. John Millington, Bryntirion. After this came Mr. Rowlands, son-in-law to Mr. Richard Davies, Llangefni; and lastly came Mr. Edward Edwards, the present licensee.