PRITCHARD, MICHAEL (c. 1709 - 1733), poet

Born c. 1709, son of Richard William Pritchard, weaver and sexton, Llanllyfni, Caernarfonshire. He left Llanllyfni at an early age and went to Llan-fechell in Anglesey, where he worked for many years as gardener in the employ of William Bulkeley, Brynddu. He was a poet of considerable ability and many of his works have been preserved. The more notable of his compositions were ' Cywydd i'r Wyddfa '; ' Cywydd Marwnad Owen Gruffudd, Llanystumdwy ' ( Owen Gruffydd (1643 - 1730)), Englynion Duwiol ' (written about 1727); ' Englynion i'r Dderwen y dihangodd Charles II iddi am ei hoedl rhag y Rowndiaid.' Pritchard's death has been variously dated, but his friend Hugh Hughes (Bardd Coch, 1693 - 1776), in his elegy upon him states that he died in 1733, aged 24, at Llanfechell, and was buried there 3 July 1733.

Author

• Dr Moelwyn Idwal Williams

Sources

• Y Brython, 1863, 205, 215
• The Cambrian Biography (1803), 253
• Y Dysgedydd, 1832, 120
• Y Gwladgarwr, 1840, 82, 151, 176, 210
• Y Gwyliedydd, 1833, 220, 376
• NLW MSS 1580, 836 (69)
• H. Blackwell, NLW MS 9270A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• Hugh Owen (ed.), Additional Letters of the Morrises of Anglesey (1735-86) (London 1947-9)
• J. Jones ('Myrddin Fardd'), Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon (1922)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733923

Published date: 1959

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