WILLIAMS, WILLIAM (Gwilym Cyfeiliog; 1801 - 1876), poet and hymn-writer

Born 4 January 1801 at Winllan, Llanbryn-mair, son of Richard Williams (Calvinistic Methodist exhorter) and Mary Williams (one of the descendants of Henry Williams of Ysgafell, and sister of the Rev. John Roberts (1767 - 1834) of Llanbryn-mair), and elder brother of the Rev. Richard Williams (1802 - 1842) of Liverpool. He was educated at the school kept by his uncle and at the school of William Owen (1788 - 1838). He returned home to help his father on the farm and in a flannel mill which he owned. About 1822 he acquired possession of some land, houses, and a flannel mill at Pont Dolgadfan, where he went to live. For a time he held the posts of vestry clerk, assistant overseer, and parish registrar. He was married three times - (1) 1828, to Anne Evans of Minffordd; (2) 1834, to Mary Morris of Dolgwyddyl, Trefeglwys, who was descended from Elystan Glodrydd; and (3) 1845, to Mary Evans of Tyn-llwyn, Llanbryn-mair. He had ten children - among them Richard Williams of Celynog, Newtown (1835 - 1906). From 1823 on, pieces of poetry by Gwilym Cyfeiliog were frequently published in Y Dysgedydd, Goleuad Cymru, Y Drysorfa, Seren Gomer, and the Gwyliedydd. His awdl on 'The founding of St. David's College' was awarded the second place at the Carmarthen eisteddfod, 1823, when Daniel Ddu o Geredigion won the first prize. He won the prize at the Llanfaircaereinion eisteddfod, 1826, for a series of englynion on 'The starry sky.' He excelled in his treatment of the classical forms of poetry and was accounted a good writer of englynion. His hymn, 'Caed trefn i faddau pechod yn yr Iawn' is well known and has been translated into the language of the Khasi Hills. He died 3 June 1876 at Pont Dolgadfan, Llanbryn-mair. His son, Richard Williams of Newtown, collected and published his works in 1878 under the title, Caniadau Cyfeiliog .

Author

• William Emyr Williams, (1889 - 1958)

Sources

• R. Williams, Montgomeryshire Worthies (1894)
• NLW Archives: Bontdolgadfan (Williams family) Papers, 1741-1920
• Y Cronicl ('S.R.'), September 1876

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q13132362

Published date: 1959

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