David Davies (Welsh priest)

David Davies (1742–1819) was a Welsh clergyman in the Church of England and author. He was born on 9 February 1742 of Welsh parentage[1] at Machynlleth[2] and educated at Codrington College, Barbados[1] and Jesus College, Oxford.[2] His father was Richard Davies.

He was Rector of Barkham in Berkshire, England, from 1781 until his death.

Davies studied the condition of the labouring poor, recorded statistics of their wages, cost of food, etc. in various districts of England and Scotland.[3] A controversial rapid rise in Poor Law costs at the time (especially in rural parishes) instigated debates on the issue, and inspired Davies to compile statistics from which he produced data covering the income and expenditure of certain families in the country (including three in the parishes of Llandegla and Llanarmon (Denbighshire), and two in the parishes of Llanfor and Llanycil (Merioneth). Subsequently he produced the pamphlet, 'The Case of Labourers in Husbandry', which was published in 1875, in which he demonstrated that the 'Poor Rates' were used as a means to keep wages down, and he called for a marked improvement in the standard of living of agricultural labourers. He even advocated the principle of a minimum wage.[4]

He published his findings in 1795 as a book called Cases of Labourers in Husbandry Stated and Considered,[3] an important work in social history.

He died on 6 February 1819 at Barkham.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Horn, Pamela (2004). "Davies, David (1742–1819)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7229. Retrieved 2015-07-15. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  2. 1 2 Rees, James Frederick (2009). "Davies, David". Dictionary of Welsh Biography (Online ed.). National Library of Wales. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  3. 1 2 Page, William; Ditchfield, P. H., eds. (1923). A History of the County of Berkshire. Victoria County History. 3. pp. 238–241.
  4. ↑ Williams, Griffith John. "David Davies". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
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