WILLIAMS, JAMES (1790-1872), cleric

Born in 1790 (christened 26 July), son of John Williams (1740 - 1826) of Treffos, Llansadwrn, Anglesey, rector of Llanddeusant, Llangaffo, and Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy - John Williams was the brother of Thomas Williams (1737 - 1801) of Llanidan, and his wife was one of the Vincent family. James Williams entered Jesus College, Oxford, in 1807; graduated in 1810; was a Fellow of the college, 1813-22; and took his B.D. in 1820. He was curate of Llanfair P. G. and Penmynydd, 1814-21; then succeeded his father in the three parishes which the latter resigned in 1821. He was promoted chancellor of Bangor cathedral in 1851. He died 24 March 1872, and was buried at Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy. James Williams was a ' squarson ' of the old school, a justice of the peace, very well off, and highly respected. He was interested in agriculture, and contributed notes to John Owen (1808 - 1876) of Tyn-llwyn's book on cattle breeding (1869). He was a zealous and generous supporter of the national eisteddfod which he rarely failed to attend. Moreover, it was he who prepared the way for (Sir) John Rhys - at that time a schoolmaster in Anglesey - to go to Oxford. His daughter, Louisa Mary, married Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay (1814 - 1891) the geologist (see D.N.B.) who first gave the name 'Cambrian' to one of the earth's strata; Ramsay was buried at Llansadwrn.

James Williams and his wife were most active supporters of the Anglesey life-boats; and Williams received a gold medal (1835) for personal bravery in rescue work. See Aled Eames in Transactions of the Anglesey Antiquarian Society and Field Club, 1957, 20-5.

He had a brother

JOHN WILLIAMS (1784 - 1876)

He went to Eton and Jesus College, Oxford (he did not graduate); he was called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn in 1809, was receiver-general for North Wales, and for many years was chairman of the Anglesey quarter sessions.

One of his grandsons was

Sir RALPH CHAMPNEYS WILLIAMS (1848 - 1927)

He was born at Aber rectory, 9 March 1848, son of the Rev. Thomas Norris Williams, and was educated at Rossall. His career was romantic. From 1884 to 1906 he held responsible positions in Bechuanaland, South Africa, Gibraltar, and Barbados. In 1906 he was appointed governor of the Windward Islands, and from 1909 to 1913 was governor of Newfoundland. In 1913 he published his interesting autobiography, How I became a Governor . He died 22 June 1927.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, (1881 - 1969)

Sources

• J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families (1914), 68
• Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: the members of the University of Oxford
• Bangor Manuscript at University College North Wales Library, Bangor 6457 at U.C.N.W.
• R. Hughes, Enwogion Môn, 1850–1912 (Dolgellau 1913)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Ralph Champneys Williams

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q6145638
• Wikidata: Q7287329

Published date: 1959

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