File NLW MS 24148E. - Detholiad o adroddiadau Cymreig

Evan Jones ('Ieuan Gwynedd'; 1820-1859), Congregational minister, journalist and social reformer, was born in Bryn Tynoriaid, near Dolgellau. His lifelong ill-health ensured little professional success although he wrote several articles and other works such as A Vindication of the Educational and Moral Condition of Wales ..., 1848, and Facts Figures and Statements in Illustrations of the Dissent and Morality of Wales ..., 1849.

Robert Ellis (Cynddelw), Baptist minister, poet, antiquary and commentator, was born in 1812 near Penybontfawr, Montgomeryshire. He worked as a farm hand from 1822 to 1835 whilst also cultivating an early love of literary, poetic and antiquarian matters learnt from his mother and from such literary figures as Richard Morris, Pentrefelin, and the Unionist preacher Humphrey Bromley. He joined the Baptist chapel at Gefailrhyd in 1832 and began to preach in 1834. The following year he gained some schooling under the Baptist minister and writer John Williams, Llansilin. Thereafter, he was to minister at Llanelian and Llanddulas (1836-1838), Glynceiriog (1838-1842), Sirhowy (1847-1862) and Caernarfon (1862-1875). A multi-talented individual, Cynddelw was an eloquent preacher, speaker and lecturer, a fine poet and eisteddfodic adjudicator and a prolific author. He edited several poetical works, including Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru (Caernarfon, [?1864]) and Geiriadur y Bardd (Caernarfon, [?1874]). He produced Geiriadur Cymreig Cymraeg (Caernarfon, 1868), a dictionary of Welsh words explained in Welsh. His antiquarian publications include Manion Hynafiaethol (Treherbert, 1873) and a contribution of eighteen chapters to Gweirydd ap Rhys's Hanes y Brytaniaid a'r Cymry (Llundain, 1872-1874). His attachment to his Baptist denomination remained strong; he was editor of Y Tyst Apostolaidd from 1846 to 1850, Y Tyst in 1851 and Y Greal from 1852 to 1853, and wrote biographical works on the Baptist ministers John Williams, Rhosllanerchrugog, and Ellis Evans, Cefn Mawr. Cynddelw died at his old home, Gartheryr, between Oswestry and Llanrhaeadr, whilst on a preaching and lecturing tour in 1875. A collection of his poetical works, Barddoniaeth Cynddelw, was published in 1877.

John Ceiriog Hughes, poet, was born John Hughes in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Denbighshire, on 25 September 1832. At a very young age he had poems published in the periodical Baner Cymru and edited a poetry column in Y Greal. His first poetical mentor was Robert Ellis (Cynddelw). In 1849 Hughes moved to Manchester, obtaining a job as goods station clerk in London Road. The young man soon entered the circle of influential Welsh literary figures living at that time in Manchester, a circle which included William Williams (Creuddynfab), Robert Jones Derfel and John Jones (Idris Fychan). It was R. J. Derfel who taught Hughes the value of Wales, the Welsh language and its poetical tradition and it was under his influence that Hughes added 'Ceiriog' to his name. Idris Fychan passed on to Hughes his love of collecting Welsh airs and melodies, a practice which Hughes kept up throughout his life. His poetical and other works were published in several volumes, beginning with Oriau'r Hwyr (Ruthin, 1860). Cant o Ganeuon (Wrexham, 1863) was a collection of Welsh airs to which he had added words of his own composition, effectively rendering the airs into songs. The composer Brinley Richards included Hughes's words to music in his Songs of Wales (London, 1873). In 1865 Hughes returned to Wales and took up the post of station-master at Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, transferring in 1870 to Tywyn, Merioneth. In 1871 he was appointed railway inspector on the newly-opened line between Caersws, Montgomeryshire, and the Van lead mines near Llanidloes. He died in 1887 and was buried at Llanwnog, Montgomeryshire. A collection of Hughes's last poems, Yr Oriau Olaf, was published by Isaac Foulkes (Llyfrbryf) in 1888. Ceiriog was survived by his wife Annie Catherine Hughes (née Roberts, d. 1931), who he had married in 1861, and four children.

Ganwyd John Roberts (J.R.), gweinidog Annibynol ag awdur, yn Llanbrynmair ar 5 Tachwedd 1804. Ym 1831 aeth i'r academi yn y Drenewydd, cyn dychwelyd i Lanbrynmair ym 1834, ar ôl marwolaeth ei dad, i rannu gwaith ei frawd hynaf Samuel (S.R.). Cafodd gyfnodau yn weinidog yn Abergele, 1838-1839, Rhuthin, 1848-1857, ac yn eglwys Gymraeg Aldersgate Street yn Llundain, 1857-1860. Daeth yn ôl i Gymru yn 1860 ac ymsefydlu ym Mrynmair, Conwy. Roedd J.R. yn adnabyddus fel dadleuwr dawnus a radical, ac ef oedd golygydd Y Cronicl o 1857 hyd ei farwolaeth. Roedd ei ddiddordebau yn llai eang na'i frawd S.R., yn tueddu tuag at dadleuon eglwysig ac enwadol. Cyhoeddodd hefyd nifer o weithiau ar destunau crefyddol. Priododd Ann Jones, Llansansiôr, ym 1838, a cawsant dau blentyn, ond bu farw y tri ohonynt cyn ei farwolaeth yntau ar 6 Medi 1884.