Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Traherne, John Montgomery

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760776Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 57 — Traherne, John Montgomery1899Daniel Lleufer Thomas

TRAHERNE, JOHN MONTGOMERY (1788–1860), antiquary, born on 5 Oct. 1788, was the eldest son of Llewelyn Traherne of Coedriglan, St. George's-super-Ely, Glamorganshire, by Charlotte, daughter of John Edmondes. The Trahernes traced descent on the female side, through the Herberts of Swansea (progenitors of the earls of Pembroke and Powis), from Einion ap Collwyn.

Traherne matriculated from Oriel College, Oxford, on 11 Dec. 1806, proceeding B.A. in 1810 and M.A. in 1813. He was ordained deacon in 1812 and priest in 1813, and on 21 March 1844 was installed chancellor of Llandaff, an appointment which he retained until 1851.

He was one of the chief authorities of his time on the genealogies and archæology of Glamorganshire. In 1840 he edited ‘The Stradling Correspondence: a Series of Letters written in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, with Notices of the Family of Stradling of St. Donat's Castle’ (London, 8vo). The bulk of the letters in this collection were addressed to Sir Edward Stradling [q. v.]

Besides contributions to archæological journals, Traherne's assistance was frequently acknowledged by other workers in the same field (cf. Dillwyn, Swansea; Francis, Neath). He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society on 21 Dec. 1813, of the Geological Society in 1817, of the Royal Society on 29 May 1823, and of the Society of Antiquaries on 15 Feb. 1838. He was also an honorary member of the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and of the Society of Antiquaries, Copenhagen.

Traherne died, without issue, on 5 Feb. 1860 at Coedriglan, where he had resided throughout his life, and was buried at St. Hilary, near Cowbridge, Glamorganshire. He married, on 23 April 1830, Charlotte Louisa, third daughter of Thomas Mansel Talbot of Margam, who survived him.

Besides the work mentioned, Traherne published: 1. ‘Lists of Knights of the Shire for Glamorgan and of Members for the Boroughs,’ 1822, 12mo. 2. ‘Abstract of Pamphlets relative to Cardiff Castle in the Reign of Charles I,’ 1822, 12mo. 3. ‘Historical Notices of Sir Matthew Cradock, Knt., of Swansea, in the Reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII,’ Llandovery, 1840, 8vo. Traherne's collections of manuscripts passed on his death to his friend Sir Thomas Phillipps [q. v.], and are now at the free library, Cardiff.

[Pedigree in notices of Sir Matthew Cradock; Clark's Genealogies of Glamorgan, p. 560; Nicholas's County Families of Wales, 1872, ii. 643; Burke's Landed Gentry, 8th edit. p. 2036; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Arch. Cambr. 3rd ser. vi. 140; Gent. Mag. 1860, i. 517; Cambrian (Swansea), 10 Feb. 1860.]

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