Dictionary of Welsh Biography

GRIFFITH, PIRS (1568 - 1628), squire and adventurer Penrhyn'; in 1623, 'of London.' He died in 1628, and was buried in Westminster abbey. All his children died before him. Curiously, though he is usually referred to as 'Pirs' or 'PyrsGruffudd', he himself almost invariably spelt his name 'Perys.' See further the article Griffith of Penrhyn family.
GRIFFITH, ROBERT (1847 - 1909), musician Born 1 March 1847 at Glog Ddu, Llangernyw, Denbighshire, the son of John and Jane Griffith. The family moved to Llanrwst in 1853. The father was an Anglican and the mother a Calvinistic Methodist. After receiving some education at the National School, Llanrwst, he became a servant to 'Glan Collen' and afterwards to the Rev. John Rougler, Eglwys-bach. He then became apprenticed to Robert Roberts
GRIFFITH, ROBERT DAVID (1877 - 1958), musician and historian of Welsh congregational singing Born 19 May 1877, in Cwm-y-glo, Caernarfonshire, son of Richard Griffith, a slate quarryman, and Jane (née Williams) his wife. His mother was a cousin of David Roberts ('Alawydd ' and of John Williams ('Gorfyniawc o Arfon'). After moving to Mynydd Llandygái in 1885, the family returned to Bethesda in 1890, where he, too, obtained employment in Penrhyn quarry. Later he became an office clerk, and
GRIFFITH, Sir SAMUEL WALKER (1845 - 1920), judge Born at Merthyr Tydfil 21 June 1845, the son of Edward Griffith, minister of the English Independent church there (1842-5), and Mary, daughter of Peter Walker of Swansea. Sailing to Australia (1854) with his family, Edward Griffith later became pastor of the Congregational church in Ipswich, near Brisbane. After a brilliant career at the university of Sydney, Samuel Griffith was admitted, in 1867
GRIFFITH, THOMAS TAYLOR (1795 - 1876), surgeon and antiquary Born at Wrexham, 11 December 1795, he was one of the eleven children (and the eldest son) of Thomas Griffith (1753 - 1846, surgeon), and great-grandson of John Griffith (1654 - 1698) or Siôn Gruffydd of Cae Cyriog, genealogist and herald, who died 31 October 1698. The family of Cae Cyriog in the Hafod township, Ruabon, was there at least as early as the mid 15th century (P. Fadog, ii, 184). His
GRIFFITH, WALTER (1727 - 1779), captain R.N. Bay. From 1760 to 1763 (when he retired) he was on the Mediterranean. The war of American independence recalled him to active service, and he was killed off S. Lucia, 18 December 1779. The D.N.B. statement that he was of an old Merioneth family needs rectifying. He was in fact the younger son of Ralph Griffith, of Bron-gain in Llanfechain, Montgomeryshire - see J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees, 119, 233
GRIFFITH, WILLIAM (1801 - 1881), Independent minister and hymn-writer in Anglesey, and he himself became one of the leaders of his denomination in North Wales. His connections with Moravianism are of great interest. His mother was a niece of William Griffith (1719 - 1782) of Drws-y-coed, Caernarfonshire, and his association with that family led to his marriage (1843) with Alicia Evans, grand-daughter of the same William Griffith. The marriage was solemnized at
GRIFFITH, WILLIAM (1719 - 1782), farmer - 1801). This was due less directly to Griffith than to his wife ALICE (1730 - 1808), daughter of Rhys Ellis of Tyddyn Mawr, Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Caernarfonshire (another literary family), whom he married 16 November 1753. Griffith died 20 April 1782; his widow died 6 March 1808; both were buried at Beddgelert. They had a son (who emigrated to U.S.A.) and eight daughters; five of these became active
GRIFFITH, WILLIAM JOHN (1875 - 1931), writer of short stories Born at Bwlan, Aberffraw, Anglesey, 15 September 1875, son of Thomas Lewis Griffith, farmer and valuer, and Margaret Griffith of Bwlan. The family went to live at Cefn Coch farm, Llansadwrn, near Beaumaris, where Griffith lived until he was 24 years of age. He was educated at Llansadwrn and at Beaumaris grammar-school, won an agricultural scholarship to the university college, Bangor, and took a
GRIFFITH-JONES, WILLIAM (1895 - 1961), Independent minister and administrator Born at Deiniolen, Caernarfonshire, 2 November 1895, the son of David and Mary Jones, members of Ebenezer Independent Chapel. The ministers at Ebenezer, J. Dyfnallt Owen and E. Wyn Jones, had a great influence on the young Griffith-Jones. When the family moved to Liverpool, he joined the English church in Great George St. During World War I, he served for two and a half years in Salonica, 1916-19
GRIFFITHS, ARCHIBALD REES (1902 - 1971), painter Archie Griffiths was born at Aberdare on 12 January 1902, one of the five children of William Henry and Sarah Jane Griffiths. The family, which was Welsh-speaking, soon moved to Gorseinon, where the father found work as a collier. On leaving school, Archie Griffiths was employed for two years in the tinplate industry and then joined his father at the Mountain Colliery. According to his own
GRIFFITHS, DAVID (1756 - 1834), Methodist cleric Born at Felinwlân, Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire, son of John Griffiths. He was educated at Pembroke grammar-school and, c. 1774, was appointed private tutor to the Bowen family of Llwyn-gwair, Nevern, where he came into contact with some of the principal Methodist leaders. He married the eldest daughter of his patron. He was ordained deacon by the bishop of S. Davids, 16 October 1779, and

Search results

373 - 384 of 1430 for "family"