A Biographical Sketch of some of the Most Eminent Individuals which the Principality of Wales has produced since the ReformationWilliams, Robert
History
A Biographical Sketch of some of the Most Eminent Individuals which the Principality of Wales has produced since the Reformation
Williams, Robert
Wales -- Biography
In the latter part of his life, he derived much support from
Lady Huntingdon, the warm patroness of the Calvinistic Methodists, who
came to reside in the neighbourhood. Mr. Harris died at Trevecca, July
28, 1773, and was buried in Talgarth church. In the year 1752 he formed
the plan of a religious community, something similar in its constitution
to the Moravian societies; and in the same year he laid the foundation of
Trevecca house, with a sufficient extent of buildings and garden, and
other ground to accommodate a large number of inhabitants. Here he
invited his disciples to assemble, and to invest their property in a
common fund, of which all members, as occasion might require, were
equally to participate.
_Morus Huw_ of Perthi Llwydion, near Cerrig-y-Druidion, Denbighshire, a
distinguished poet, who flourished from about the year 1600 to 1650. He
is generally considered to be the best song writer that has appeared in
Wales. Many of his compositions are in the Blodeugerdd.
_Thomas Jones_, bardd cloff (the lame bard). This highly respectable
bard was born at Mynydd Bychan (the little mountain), in the parish of
Llantysilio, Denbighshire, April 15, 1768. When quite an infant, he met
with an accident which lamed him for life—hence the appellation of the
lame bard. In 1775 Mr. Jones’s family removed to Llangollen, and Thomas
was sent to the best school in the town; in 1782 the family removed again
to Machynlleth, in the county of Montgomery. In 1780, Mathew Davies,
Esq., brought young Jones to London, and placed him in his
counting-house, in Long Acre, where Mr. Davies carried on a very large
establishment in the coach and military-lace line. Mr Jones was
exceedingly fond of reading, particularly poetry; and about this time he
began “to torment the Awen” (Muse), as he used to say; and wrote several
things both in Welsh and English. In 1789 he was elected a member of the
Gwyneddigion, and shortly afterwards he became secretary to the society.
At the time when it was regularly attended by Owain Jones, Myfyr, Dr. W.
O. Pughe, &c., who encouraged the young bard, and gave him much valuable
advice. In 1794 we find his name as one of the stewards of the festival
of Ancient Britons, and in 1801, as llywydd (chairman) of the
Gwyneddigion. In 1802 he published “An Ode of St. David’s-day,” and the
following year Mr. Davies made him the head manager of his business; a
convincing proof of the rectitude of his conduct, which was farther
testified by his becoming a partner in 1813. The Metropolitan Cambrian
Institution, founded on the basis of the Cymrodorion (established in
1750) was revived, and Mr. Jones was elected treasurer; and he gained the
gold medal offered by the society for the best poem in the Welsh
language, on its revival. In 1821 he was president of the Gwyneddigion
for the third time; and at the jubilee anniversary dinner, he was
presented with the society’s silver medal, to commemorate the event. Mr.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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