ELLIS, JOHN (1760 - 1839), saddler and musician
Date of birth: 1760
Date of death: 1839
Parent: Jane Ellis
Parent: William Ellis
Gender: Male
Occupation: saddler and musician
Area of activity: Business and Industry; Music; Performing Arts
Authors: Robert David Griffith, Huw Williams
Born at Ty'n-y-gwernannau, parish of Llangwm, Denbighshire. His christening is recorded as follows: 'Baptized November 8. 1760, John, twin brother of Jane; Parents names, William and Jane Ellis, Ty'n-y-gwernannau; David Lloyd, Rector.' He showed an interest in music when quite young and learnt to play the flute. He was apprenticed to a saddler and after he had served his apprenticeship and had married he opened a shop in Scotland Street, Llanrwst. In 1800 he joined the Calvinistic Methodists and he was appointed travelling teacher of congregational singing. He published, 1816, Mawl yr Arglwydd - this being the first book of hymn-tunes which the Welsh nation was given. After publishing this book he moved to Llanfyllin and thence to Liverpool c. 1822, where he became precentor in Pall Mall chapel. In 1827 he became a member of Bedford Street chapel, where again he was made precentor. He composed several anthems - ' Molwch yr Arglwydd,' ' Duw yn ddiau a glybu,' and ' Cân Moses ' are included in Y Gyfres Gerddorol, arranged by Owain Alaw. His hymn-tune ' Eliot,' 9.8, appeared under the title ' Hill Street ' in Y Dysgedydd, January 1822, and continues to be popular. At Liverpool he became a coal-merchant, but prospered little in the material sense. He died 31 January 1839 and was buried in the English Wesleyans ' burial ground in Stanhope Street, Liverpool.
Authors
- Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)
- Huw Williams, (1922 - 2002)
- M. O. Jones, Bywgraffiaeth Cerddorion Cymreig (1890)
- Y Cerddor, May 1889
- Geirlyfr Bywgraffiadol o Enwogion Cymru (1870)
- Edward Jones, Rhestr gyda nodiadau byrion, o Enwogion Cymreig o 1700 i 1900 (1908)
- Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, May 1928
- R. D. Griffith, Hanes canu cynulleidfaol Cymru (Cardiff 1948)
- Y Gwyddoniadur Cymreig (1889-96) (2nd ed.), iv, 631e,
- J. Hughes Morris, Hanes Methodistiaeth Liverpool (Liverpool 1929-1932), i, 230-1
Sources
- Wikidata: Q20733404
Additional Links
Published date: 1959
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/
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