MARSH, RICHARD (1710?-1792), bookseller and printer at Wrexham .
Richard Marsh m., 12 Feb. 1746-7, Mary Hurst, Wrexham; the bridegroom is described in the parish register as writing master. In 1753 he became a bookseller; in 1756-7 he was one of the churchwardens of Wrexham. When he started printing is not definitely known; Ifano Jones (Hist. of Printing and Printers in Wales) disputes the accuracy of the dates assigned to some of his publications by A. N. Palmer (q.v.) in his History of Wrexham and by William Rowlands (in Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry). He was certainly printing in 1772, as Cyfarwyddiad i Fesurwyr and Cydymaith i'r Allor belong to that year. Many of the products of his press were of cheap booklets and ballads. He d. 24 May 1792, and was buried in Wrexham churchyard.
Richard Marsh was succeeded by his son, JOHN MARSH (1747-1795), a skilled printer; b. 8 Jan. 1747. The fact that he was called as a witness in the trial of William Davies Shipley, dean of S. Asaph (q.v.), concerning the publication of a pamphlet in 1783 shows that he assisted his father as printer some years before the latter d. Examples of good craftsmanship by the son are Philip Yorke, Tracts of Powys, 1795, and William Griffiths, Practical Treatise on Farriery (2nd ed., 1795). Like his father, John Marsh served as churchwarden, 1794-5. He d. 11 Oct. 1795, and was buried in Wrexham churchyard.
The Marsh business was continued for a short time by M. and S. MARSH who printed John Thomas, Annerch Ieuengctyd Cymru, in 1795. Before the end of that year, however, the business had been transferred to John Painter.
Bibliography:
- To the references given already add J. H. Davies, Bibliog. Welsh Ballads.
Author:
Sir William Llewelyn Davies, M.A., LL.D., F.S.A. (1887-1952), Aberystwyth
