Ales Rarus

Today is the feast of Saint David. St. David is the patron saint of Wales and his day is celebrated much like St. Patrick's is in Ireland. Why am I telling you this? Well, I'm descended from the Welsh.

In 1683, William ap John, a Quaker, left Merionethshire, left Wales aboard the Morning Star with his wife Ann Reynolds and his children John, Alice, Katherine and Gwen. William was an original purchaser of property in Merion (Delaware County, PA) and Goshen (Chester County, PA) from William Penn. William either died on board or shortly after arriving in Pennsylvania. John (born in 1670) inherited the land, sold some of it, and settled on the rest with his wife, Ellen Klinken, whom he'd married at Germantown Friends meeting in 1696. John anglocized his name to become John Williams. The rest, as they say, is history. If you'd like to known more about my family's genealogy, check out my cousin's family tree page.

Here's a St. David's Day recipe for you: potato leek soup.

Here are links to St. David's Society of Pittsburgh and an article about the Welsh heritage room that will soon be added to the Cathedral of Learning.