ROBERTS, JOHN (Siôn Lleyn; 1749 - 1817), poet, schoolmaster, and religious pioneer

Born at Chwilog Bach, Llanystumdwy, Caernarfonshire. He showed literary talent when he was quite young and published a poem - 'Barn Duw' - before he left his native parish. It would appear that he was a bardic pupil of David Thomas (Dafydd Ddu Eryri); there is an awdl by him in Cyhoeddiadau Cymdeithas y Gwyneddigion, 1801. About the year 1802 he published Marwnad … Robert Roberts, Clynnog, and, in 1815, Caniadau Newyddion.

He removed to Pwllheli and was a schoolmaster there; he was the principal founder of the Calvinistic Methodist cause at Pen-mount chapel in that town and of a Sunday school which flourished some time before Robert Raikes and Thomas Charles (of Bala) began to institute their Sunday schools. Some of his poems were included by David Thomas (Dafydd Ddu Eryri) in Corph y Gaingc; see also Adgof uwch anghof by John Jones (Myrddin Fardd), and the Myrddin Fardd manuscripts in N.L.W. Siôn Lleyn wrote some hymns also.

He died 7 May 1817 and was buried in Deneio churchyard, Pwllheli.

Author

• Robert (Bob) Owen, (1885 - 1962)

Sources

• Robert Owen, 'Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon' and 'Arloeswyr Sir Gaernarfon', two (unpublished) essays
• Trysorfa Ysprydol yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o bethau ar amcan crefyddol, yn athrawiaethol, yn annogaethol, yn hanesiol, &c., ynghyd ag ychydig farddoniaeth, i, 63, 265, 363
• Cymru (O.M.E.), May 1895

Gweithiau

• Gwyneddigion, Cyhoeddiadau Cymdeithas y Gwyneddigion, yn Llundain, am y flwyddyn, 1800 (Llundain 1801)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q18813249

Published date: 1959

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