Exploring Radnor, Ohio - Early Welsh American Settlements Series

Описание: #wales #welsh #welshandproud #welshness #history #americanheroes #welshdescent #americanhistory #welshhistory #ohio #ohioriver #cymru #cymraeg #cymruambyth

Radnor Historic Museum
4425 State Route 203
The museum is open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM the first and third Sundays of April through October. (as of 1/15/2025)
website: https://www.radnorheritagesociety.org...
email: [email protected]

Joe Preston's oral history video entitled: Radnor Ohio - A Brief History with Joe Preston.    • Radnor Ohio - A Brief History with Joe Pre...  

The History of the Early Welsh Settlers in Ohio:    • The History of the Early Welsh Settlers in...  

In this video, we are going to discuss one of the earliest original Welsh communities in Ohio. Today it is known as the town of Radnor, eventually named after the county of Radnorshire in mid-Wales where many of its original settlers came from. According to the 2020 census it had a population of 180, but the entire township of Radnor has over 1,400 citizens. However, before I talk about why you should definitely visit this charming community including the Radnor Historic Museum, let’s learn about Radnor's rich Welsh history.

Dr. Samuel Jones received several acres of land for his service in the Revolutionary War. He also acquired additional land warrants for his service to the country. A land warrant is a document issued by the government that entitles the holder to a specific parcel of land. This was usually given as compensation for military service and used to encourage pioneer settlers to move westward. The holder of a “land warrant” would present it to the local government or land office, which would then assign them a specific piece of land. This system played a significant role in the westward expansion and settlement of the United States.

Using his acquired 25 land warrants, Dr. Jones purchased one-quarter township (or 4,000 acres) of land in 1798. The land was located in Ohio Federal township “six of range twenty” in an area that is known today as Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ohio. There is no evidence that Dr. Jones himself ever visited the location.

In the year 1801, a young Welshman named David Pugh, from Radnorshire, Wales; after a perilous voyage of three months, landed at Baltimore, Maryland. There he found employment and acquired a knowledge of the English language. In 1802, he traveled to Philadelphia, where large numbers of Welsh-Americans resided. It was in Philadelphia that Mr. Pugh met… and became acquainted with Dr. Samuel Jones.

Early in 1802… Dr. Jones employed David Pugh to go to Ohio to scout and survey the 4,000 acres. As was the custom of the day the surveyor received land as payment for the survey. David received 2,000 acres apparently near the Welsh Hills area. After a two-month journey on horseback from Philadelphia… David Pugh arrived near Franklinton, Ohio which is now a part of Columbus. Guided by an old, experienced backwoodsman, he left Franklinton, traveling northward through an unbroken wilderness, and in two days found the land called for in the warrants held by Dr. Jones. After ascertaining its boundaries and carefully examining the quality of the soil, the timber, and the water privileges, he left the wilderness, and in the early winter, returned to Philadelphia and reported the result of his mission to Dr. Jones.

Mr. Pugh recognized the value of the land he was surveying and returned to Philadelphia in the fall of 1802 with an offer to buy the 4,000 acres. Pugh negotiated to purchase 3,505 acres from Dr. Jones for $2,650, or about $0.75 per acre. Dr. Jones was getting older and recognized David Pugh as a good man, so he accepted his offer. The other 495 acres had already been sold by Dr. Jones and Mr. Pugh was to locate the 495 acres in his survey and convey it to those owners who were identified by Dr. Jones.
On February 19, 1803, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson signed an act of Congress that approved Ohio's boundaries and constitution. The new state of Ohio officially joined the United States on March 1st, 1803.

David Pugh’s deed for 4,000 acres was made in Philadelphia and was recorded on February 23, 1803, in Franklin County, Ohio. In 1808 the land was sectioned off from Franklin County and became Delaware County. Pugh platted “forty-one”… hundred-acre lots from the 4,000 acres and then platted about 150 acres of the 4,000 into a village he called New Baltimore.

The Welsh influence on Radnor's history is substantial. Welsh settlers came to the area for three primary reasons that were difficult to achieve in Wales: 1) To own their own land, 2) To support and worship in the church of their choice, 3) To provide education for their children

David Pugh lived in the area only a short time. He married Jane Murphy about 1808 and by 1815 they had moved to the Welsh-Hills community we spoke about earlier. They lived there for the rest of their lives.