The Welsh Society of Philadelphia

Come join the Welsh Folk Dancers of the Three Rivers, along with Edward Morus Jones and Katherine Crusi from our Philadelphia Welsh Society, in their May Day Event!

Samuel Meredith, a significant figure in North American politics before, during and after the American War of Independence, died on this day 1817. Samuel’s fath...er, Reese Meredith, was from a Quaker family in Llandegley, Radnorshire. At the age of 22, Reese had emigrated to Pennsylvania, and found work with and married the daughter of a local merchant. He soon became a very wealthy man and when Samuel had finished his education, he went into business with his father. This allowed him to make contact with politicians, such as George Washington and George Clymer, a subsequent signee of the Declaration of Independence and Samuel developed a keen interest in politics himself. He was elected to the General Assembly in Philadelphia and following the infamous Boston Tea Party of 1773 became increasingly supportive of the idea of independence from Britain and when Washington called for financial help, Samuel and his father donated 5,000. During the war, he started as a Junior Major and due to his actions and bravery at Trenton and Princeton, he rose to the rank of Brigadier-General. He later fought at and was lucky to survive the battle of Brandywine, where estimates for the number of Americans killed are as high as 1,260. Between 1778 and 1783, Samuel served in the Pennsylvanian Colonial Assembly and following the war in 1789, he was appointed as the first Treasurer of the United States, a position he was to hold for twelve years. On 1st March 1798, Samuel was one of sixty-four Pennsylvanian Welshman who launched the Welsh Society of Philadelphia and served as their elected president. The society, which still meets today, not only promoted the Welsh community, it also provided financial help for all Welsh emigrants who needed it regarding health care, employment, education, travel, housing and funeral costs.

Local production set in Wales.

https://fb.watch/4cGeeQ-Vka/

https://www.walesonline.co.uk//pennsylvania-welsh-language

Our St. David’s Day Divine service is still available for viewing. We hope you can join us! https://youtu.be/m4R_cfU5amA