Richard Robert Jones or 'Dic Aberdaron' (1780-1843) as he was commonly known was a travelling linguist from Aberdaron, Caernarfonshire. Despite receiving very little formal education, he is said to have been fluent in at least 14 languages. He spent many years travelling the country with his books and his cat! He was buried at St. Asaph in 1844.

Dic wrote the following account of his attempt to obtain poor relief, and linguistic notes, c. 1841-2.

Transcription:

'St John's Lane, N. 8, Liverpool.
I shaw Aumonier Inquisiteur 1841 in the month of March Mr Joseph Mayers sent me from Lord Street with a ticket for to be relieved by the Liverpool District Provident Society established 1829, i.e. the same year as the Cathedral Church of York was set on fire by an Inquisitor incendiary who called himself a Prophet.

There I received weekly from March untill the 8th of May the worth of 1 shilling and 6 pence a week of Provision; and during the first week and the week before Easter the worth of 2 shillings and 6 pence a week.
The 8th of May I was denied of relief - Hence

1842 January 15 Mr Joseph Mayers sent me the second time to St John's Lane with a 2cond ticket for to be relieved where I received January 17 one week relief, i.e. one 14 pence loaf and two 7 pence loaves with 2 pounds of bacon. Jan. 24. Denied of relief. January 26 I received a third ticket of Mr James Wordley, Lord Street, with which Jan. 27 I went to St John's Lane where I received one 6 penny loaf and two soup tickets. The ticket was signed Jan 31, after that I was detained some ...'