Lleyson Hopkin Davy
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L(l)eyson Hopkin Davy (1782–1872) was a decorated captain in the Honourable East India Company (HEIC), political representative of the British government and early inventive industrialist.
Early life and family
Davy was born in Cardiff, Wales to parents Jonathan Davy and Mary Hopkins. Jonathan was a shopkeeper and Mary was the niece of Richard Price of Tynton.[1]
As a soldier with HEIC
India
Davy served with distinction for the 22nd Native Infantry in India and was awarded the Army of India medal with rare clasps including those for the Battle of Deig and Capture of Deig. He was shot in the head during the Siege of Bhurtpore (1805), but survived the battle.[2]
Time in Java
Davy joined and actively participated as a Captain in the 4th Bengal Volunteer Battalion during the invasion of Java and overthrow of the Dutch occupiers. He had knowledge of the Malay/Javanese languages[3] and worked at the request of Sir Samuel Gibbs (then a Colonel) as his Secretary[4] and also an interpreter and translator for Sir Stamford Raffles.[5] Duties included being sent as part of an envoy to the Yogyakarta sultanate prior to the takeover of that city. [6] [3] Following the success of the British he was given the title of Acting Deputy Commissioner and served as Resident, Treasurer and Magistrate in Surabaya, Banglakan (at the request of the Sultan of Madura whose friend he was) and Cirebon. He was notorious in Cirebon for levying a notoriously heavy land rent.[4] Davy translated and donated documents from this period to the Bodleian library.[7] He left Java in 1815.
Industrial activities
Wales
Upon his return to the UK Davy built a house near Bridgend named "Sarn Fawr" (whose estate the village of Sarn, Bridgend is now built on) and was involved in early development of railways in this area.[8]
New Zealand
After the death of Davy's wife (Elizabeth) he emigrated to New Plymouth, New Zealand (1841). Whilst in New Plymouth (1841-44), Davy established a farm called "Glenavon" (now a suburb of the town) and built several buildings including a retail store and the first brewery, malt house and public house in the township (the Ship Hotel).[9]
Devon
In 1844 he left his two eldest sons in New Plymouth and returned to the UK, where he partnered with his son-in-law, W. Wilkins in building the Shipley Bridge naptha works and Zeal Tor Tramway (which used wooden rails).[10] These Naptha works were the first of their kind in the United Kingdom[11] [12]and the venture was in some way tied in with an early town gas works at nearby Ashburton. A contract for delivering 500 tons of peat weekly to nearby smelting works in South Brent was also entered into[13][14]
Later life
Davy retired to Clifton, Bristol, close to his daughter Ellen and her husband Fr Alan Greenwell [15]
References
- ^ Williams C (1873) A Welsh family history from the beginning of the 18th century. LONDON Womens printing society, 66 Whitcomb st. p 154.
- ^ Wilkins D (2011) Wintona, supplement to "From Brecon to Broken Hill : the history of the Wilkins family. (1st ed.)
- ^ a b Ricklefs MC and Voorhoeve P (1977) Malay and Indonesian Manuscripts - Oxford University Press
- ^ a b F. de Haan (1935) Personalia der periode van het Engelsch bestuur over Java 1811-1816, in: Bijdragen tot de taal-, land-en volkenkunde dl 92 p. 533-534
- ^ Raffles, Thomas Stamford (1830). The History of Java, volume 2. J. Murray. p. 59. ISBN 9781108023450.
- ^ Carey, Peter (2008). The Power of Prophecy Prince Dipanagara and the end of an old order in Java, 1785-1855. Leiden: KITLV Press. p. 307. ISBN 978 90 6718 303 1.
- ^ Greentree R & Nicholson EWB (1910) Catalogue of Malay manuscripts and manuscripts relating to the Malay language in the Bodleian library. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- ^ Cambrian Newspaper, 29th January 1825.
- ^ Wells B (1878) "The History of Taranaki, a standard work on the history of the province" Edmondson and Avery, Taranaki News Office.
- ^ Harris H (1972) The industrial archaeology of Dartmoor. Newton Abbott. Page 109.
- ^ The South Australian Register, Wednesday14th February (1849), Page 2.
- ^ Western times, Devon England. 4th November (1848).
- ^ London Mining Journal (1850)
- ^ Wellington Independent, Volume IV, issue 505 - August 1850 Page 3.
- ^ Burke B (1879) A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain and Ireland.
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