Born 15 January 1832 at Botwnnog, Caernarfonshire, the son of Richard and Mary Owen. After a period spent in Botwnnog grammar school he became a tailor and settled at Tal-y-sarn in the Nantlle valley. After marriage he lived in a house called Pen-yr-yrfa and afterwards in one called Bryn-y-coed. He was precentor at the Tal-y-sarn C.M. chapel for over forty years; he started the Tal-y-sarn Glee Society, and he was one of the founders of the Eryri music festival (' Gwyl Gerddorol Eryri '), 1866. He was a noted vocalist and his services were much in demand as conductor and adjudicator. He composed many hymn-tunes. His song, ' Deigryn ar fedd Mam,' which took the prize at an eisteddfod held at Portmadoc in 1871, was popular for many years. He died 4 June 1897, and was buried in Salem burial ground, Llanllyfni.
Published date: 1959
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/