Welsh settlement in the Americas

The Welsh colonization of America differs from most other European colonizations by was not undertaken with the support of government, but rather as individual initiative. This article discusses efforts to establish purely Welsh colonies in America. Welsh settlers came as part of the British colonization of the Americas in the New World.

The Madoc legend

→ Main article: Madoc

A study published in the 16th century story claims the Welsh Prince Madoc was in 1170 the first European to see America. Madoc was one of the sons of Owain Gwynedd, Prince of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, possibly because of succession disputes together with a band of colonists fled his country and sailed west. He landed near the Mississippi River and ultimately founded a colony that later mingled with the Indians. In the late 16th century, the legend of writers such as John Dee was used to make English claims to North America law. The legend was revived in the 18th century with tales of Welsh -speaking Indians, but most modern scholars do not believe that it is based on facts. ( See also: Mandan )

North America

There was extensive Welsh emigration to the USA and Canada, but only few attempts to create pure Welsh colonies. Sir William Vaughan sent Welsh colonists in 1617 after Renews ( Newfoundland) to establish a permanent colony, but ultimately failed. Vaughan made ​​further attempts to establish a colony in Trepassey ( Newfoundland and Labrador ) to start, which he called " Cambriol ", but this also ultimately failed.

Many Quakers from Wales emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 17th century with the promise of William Penn that it would allow them to found a Welsh colony. The " Welsh Tract " should be a separate county whose local government would use the Welsh language, because most local settlers spoke no English. The promise was not kept, and in the 1690s the country was already divided into several counties and the " Welsh Tract " never received a self-management.

End of the 18th century, a Welsh colony named Cambria (Pennsylvania) by Morgan John Rys was founded in what is now Cambria County.

Later, 1856-1867, there was an attempt by Samuel Roberts, a Welsh colony in Brynffynnon (Tennessee ) to set up. At the same time, developed Michael D. Jones plans to set up colonies in Wisconsin, Oregon and British Columbia, but this was never realized.

South America

1852 founded Thomas Benbow Phillips of Tregaron a settlement with about 100 Welshmen in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Many of those settlers later moved into the more successful colony in Patagonia has to offer.

The most famous Welsh colony, the colony in the Río Chubut valley of Patagonia, known as "Y Wladfa Gymreig " ( " The Welsh colony " ), was founded in 1865 when 153 Welsh settlers landed in present-day Puerto Madryn. Shortly before the settlers had with Argentina's Interior Minister Guillermo Rawson reached an agreement that the colony would be recognized as one of the states of Argentina when its population had increased to 20,000. This obligation, however, was never ratified by the Argentine Congress, fearing that the British government could use the presence of the settlers as a pretext to occupy Patagonia.

Footnotes

• John Davies A History of Wales. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-014581-8

• Colonial history of North America
• British colonial history ( America)
• Welsh history