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

Name: John Roberts
Pseudonym: Siôn Lleyn
Date of birth: 1749
Date of death: 1817
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet, schoolmaster, and religious pioneer
Area of activity: Education; Poetry; Religion
Author: Robert (Bob) Owen

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

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.