The Press Gangs of Swansea
In 1803 a Royal Naval Officer named William Harries visited the tiny hamlet of Llangynnwr in Carmarthenshire. With him were several burly men. The press men had come recruiting. It was a criminal offence to refuse the impress as it was known and, on the 30th June, six men appeared in court in Carmarthen. All of them were charged with assaulting a Naval Officer. John Davies was the first to face the magistrate. Davies was described as a mariner and had been identified by the s