MOSES, WILLIAM (Gwilym Tew o Lan Tâf, or Gwilym Tew, 1742 - 1824), poet

Born 1742 at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire. Compelled to work for a livelihood from an early age, he received only seven months' instruction at school. He strove to educate himself in the art of writing poetry against almost insurmountable difficulties. He was, for example, for the greater part of his life without a Welsh grammar or dictionary; but imbued with a love for his native tongue and inspired by a natural bent he succeeded in writing many creditable verses in Welsh on various subjects. In 1808 he published his first volume of poems and in 1824, just before his death, a second edition was published entitled Caingc y Gog; neu amryw gyfansoddiadau ar wahanol destunauyn ym cynnwys cynghorion, myfyrdodau, galarnadau, annerchiadau, etc. (J. James, Merthyr Tydfil). He died 27 November 1824 at Merthyr Tydfil.

Author

• Dr Moelwyn Idwal Williams

Sources

• Robert Williams, Enwogion Cymru. A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen (1852)
• H. Blackwell, NLW MSS 9267A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• The Cambrian, 24 December 1824

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q28360900

Published date: 1959

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