Showing 25 results

Letters from David Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), Llanystumdwy, Traeth Coch, Bettws St Garmon, Waunfawr, etc. to the following correspondents: John Roberts, [Siôn Lleyn], Pwllheli, 1791-1812 (7) ('Cyfrinach y Beirdd', criticism of an elegy by 'Siôn Lleyn', the unfriendly attacks of Siôn Wm Prichard, the work of Owen Jones ('Owain Myfyr'), etc.), David Owen ['Dewi Wyn o Eifion'], Gaerwen, Llanystumdwy, 1804-07, (3) ('Dosparth Morganwg - Speciments of Morganian Poetry', Dewi Wyn's elegy on Goronwy [Owen], Yr Eurgrawn), Richard Roberts, Harper at Cevn Mine near Pwllheli, 1804 (1) (writer's disagreement with some of the Gwyneddigion and other bardic matters), Thos. Edward[s], Cofiadur C[ymdeithas Y] G[wyneddigion], care of Mr. O. Jones, 148 Upper Thames Street, London, 1806 (1) (writer's disagreement with some of the Gwyneddigion), and one to an unnamed person, 1806 (an essay Dafydd Ddu has written on Welsh poesy); and miscellaneous letters as follows: J. Thomas [Siôn Wyn o Eifion'] to his uncle, J. Roberts [Sion Lleyn], Pen'rallt, Pwllheli, 1809 (his feelings on the subject of religion); D. Thomas, ['Dafydd Ddu Eryri'], Dolydd to John Thomas ['Siôn Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1821 (his inability to find the addressee's book and his intention to move to Llanrug); O. Williams ['Owain Gwyrfai'], Waunfawr to Ebanezer [sic] Thomas ['Eben Fardd'], Schoolmaster, Llanarmon, nr. Pwllheli, 1827 (2) (an invitation to Waunfawr to discuss matters concerning a school), a copy in the autograph of 'Eben Fardd' of a letter from Rob. Williams, Fron deg, to Js. Wyatt, Esq., Lime Grove, 1835 (recommending Eben Fardd as a writer and accountant if a vacancy occurs); Dafydd Llwyd, Llanystymdwy to Ebenezer Thomas ['Eben Fardd'], Llangybi [18]23 (a vacancy at Llanystumdwy School); a note from Owen Williams, [Towyn] to his friends at Capel isaf Celynog [sic] (his 'Holwyddoreg am Grist a'r Pab'), 'Cybi Eifion' [i.e. Ebenezer Thomas], Llangybi to John Thomas, ['Siôn Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1822 (Seren Gomer); E. Thomas to John Thomas, 1826 (how he went to Abererch the previous day to be confirmed); H[umphrey] Gwalchmai, Oswestry to [Ebenezer] Thomas, 1843 (the addressee's parcel); Ebenezer Thomas, Clynnog to R. Saunderson, Printer, Bala, 1835 (the addressee's wish to see an original composition by Eben Fardd together with a translation) (holograph copy); memoranda concerning the grant by Arvon and Lleyn & Eifionydd Monthly Meetings to Eben Fardd's school, 1857-8; a letter from Y Graig Monthly Meeting, Caernarvonshire to [Eben Fardd], 1852 (hoping that he will not leave Clynnog for Portmadoc and promising £30 p.a. for at least five years); Samuel Jones and Richard Thomas, Tydweiliog to Ebenezer Thomas, Schoolmaster, Clynog, 1828 (2) (urging him to come to Tydweiliog to keep a school); Edmund Francis, Carnarvon to David Lloyd, Shoemaker, Llanystymdwy, 1829 (referring to the completion of the translation of the Commission and to the seventh number of a certain publication); R. Jones, Llanllyfni to E. Thomas, 1850 (returning a book - is glad the addressee's honest conduct at the Aberffraw eisteddfod is receiving so much public acknowledgement); Ieuan Prisiart, Ty Mawr, Bryncroes to John Roberts, Bardd, Pen y mount, Pwlleli, undated (concerning poetry and eisteddfodau); John Roberts, Llanbrynmair to John Thomas, ['Siôn Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1815 (his inability to come to the meeting at Pwllheli and the addressee's loss of such a friend as Mrs Nanney), John Jones, Talysarn to Ebeneser Thomas, Clunog, 1840 (the unsuccessful efforts of Robert Owain and the writer to urge the elders of the various churches in those parts to join to hold a school), and to John Jones, Ffactori, Clunog, 1841 (a preaching invitation); David Jones, Caernarfon and Treborth to E. Thomas, Clynnog, 1858 and 1862 (2) (the grant to the addressee's school and the addressee's letter of resignation), and to an unnamed correspondent, undated; and Ellis James, Vaynol to [E. Thomas], 1860 (the resolution of the Llanrug Monthly Meeting if E. Thomas feels it is his duty to move to Pwllheli). It appears that an item in the autograph of John Elias was at one time to be found between letters 20 and 21. Some of the letters have been published in Adgof Uwch Anghof.

Miscellaneous holograph letters written by the following: Richard Davies, Llanystyndwy [sic] to John Thomas ['Siôn Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1827 (sending the money due from Mr Kyffin), G[riffith] Williams ['Gutyn Peris'], Braich talog to John Roberts ['Siôn Lleyn'], Pen yr allt, Deneio, near Pwllheli, 1815 (1), (the help he had expected from his cousin, Hugh Griffith, in obtaining subscribers' names for his book), and to Owen Williams ['Owain Gwyrfai'] Tu ucha'r ffordd, Waunfawr, Llanbeblig, 1829 and 1832 (2), (the intention of John Jones (son of old John (?) Llysdyn), who had lost his sight, to print a small collection of hymns, the coming Eisteddfod, etc.), B[enjamin] Jones, [P(rif) A(rwyddfardd) Môn], Caergybi to the Reverend John Jones, Baptist Minister, Pwllheli, 1824 (sending sixty of the little elegies, answers to [David Owen] 'Brutus' in Seren Gomer, Baptist affairs), Robert Owen, Glanllynau and Derwin to John Thomas ('Siôn Wyn o Eifion'), Chwilog, 1807 and 1809 (2) (religious matters, points of grammar or parsing), N. Roberts, Llundan [sic] to his parents (John Roberts ['Siôn Lleyn'], Pen r Alld, Pwllheli), 1804, with an appended note from R. Griffith (items of news, mention of Mr T. Jones, Mr Charles and Jno. Evans, New Inn), Ellis Owen, Cefn y Maesydd to John Thomas ['Siôn Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1822 (etymology, sermon notes), J. M. Thomas, Nevin to the same, 1823 (books and Seren Gomer), John Pughe ('Ioan ap Huw Feddyg'), Aberdovey to Ebanezer [sic] Thomas ('Eben Fardd'), Clynnog fawr yn Arfon, 1844 and 1850 (2) (mention, among other things, of Sir Edward Denny, S. P. Tregelles, 'Meddygon Myddfeu' and Griffith Anwyl), D[avid] Elias, Pentraeth to [?Ebenezer Thomas, Eben Fardd'], [18]47 (acknowledging the addressee's kindness in permitting them to include his elegy in the biography of the writer's brother), W. Rees ['Gwilym Hiraethog'], Liverpool to [?Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd')], 1852 (outlining a possible new monthly publication to be called 'Yr Arch' and inviting the addressee to take charge of one or two sections, and criticizing the editor of Y Traethodydd for his attitude to the Welsh poets); a collection of thirty-five letters written by J. Thomas ('Siôn Wyn o Eifion], 1822-42 and undated, thirty-two addressed to E. Thomas ['Eben Fardd'], two to William Thomas, Llangybi [step-brother of 'Eben Fardd'] and one to the editor of Y Dysgedydd (draft) (main subject being the writer's health; one letter, 1837, refers to a stay at Tre Madoc and Tu hwnt i'r bwlch); Peter Williams, Shelton Colliery & Iron Works, near Newcastle, Staffordshire to Mr Thomas, [?Eben Fardd], 1849, (would be grateful for the addressee's opinion concerning the composition of 'Cenhadwr' on the subject 'Ocean Monarch' at the Aberffraw eisteddfod); letters to 'Eben Fardd' from H. Longueville Jones, Beaumaris, [18]49 (Archaeologia Cambrensis), Th. Cambria Jones, Saint Asaph, undated (a request for the addressee's verses on receiving a copy of Sermons in Sonnets), and William Evans, Sarney, Derwen, [18]54 (mention of the writer's nephew; verses of farewell to the Muse); J[oseph] Charles Edwards ['Iorwerth Ddu o Von'], London to an unnamed correspondent, 1850 and undated (3) (mention of eisteddfod competitions and of having inserted the addressee's name amongst his list of subscribers); letters to Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd') from Thomas Stephens, Merthyr Tydfil, 1852 (2) (wishing to know the position of Rhyd Rheon, Cefn Clydno and Bryn Aryen), Jno. Thomas, Liverpool, 1855 (Y Gwerinwr) and L. W. Lewis ('Ll[ew] Llwyfo'), Liverpool and Pensarn, near Amlwch, [18]55 and undated (2) (requesting advice after seeing two attacks on 'Llewelyn Parri' and the adjudication, and wishing to have the addressee's opinion of the 'pryddest' he submitted to the Merthyr eisteddfod under the pseudonym 'Cristion'); Richard Jones ['Gwyndaf Eryri'], Erw, Llanwyndaf to the printer of Seren Gomer, undated (a point of grammar); Lewis Edwards ('Llywelyn Twrog'), Portmadoc to an unnamed correspondent, 1855 (wishing to know what is meant by 'Lleucu Llwyd'); William Rees, Llandovery to Owen Williams, ['Owen Gwyrfai'] 1849 (2) (Welsh manuscripts in the possession of the addressee); H. W. Hughes ['Arwystl'], Liverpool to E. Thomas ('Eben Fardd') 1855-6 (arrangements with regard to adjudicating a series of 'englynion' at a Baptist Sunday School eisteddfod); Robert Hughes ('Robyn Wyn'), Bangor to [?'Eben Fardd'], 1861 (would like to have 'Y Wraig o Samaria' before the end of the week); letters to Eben Fardd from William Roberts, New York, [18]58 (sending a draft for £10 from Mary Williams to her father, William Williams, Pen-y-sarn uchaf, Llanfihengal Pennant, building a new chapel, the state of the cause), E. Humphreys, Llangollen, [18]58 (4) (the chair prize), W. Jones, Jersey, [18]58, (sympathy on the death of the addressee's daughter, the [Llangollen] eisteddfod), and D. T. Williams ['Tydfylyn'], Merthyr, 1850 (thanking the addressee for his kind comment on the writer's success in the Eisteddfod); and David Williams, Pwllheli to John Thomas ['Siôn Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1834 (promising to lay the addressee's letter before Mr Jones Parry, reference to 'the gay Lothario' and an illegitimate child). There are also several loose items as follows: 'Penillion i Sarah Jones ac Ann Williams o'r Chwilog yn Eifionydd' by Robt Parry ('Robyn Ddu Eryri'), Llanarmon, 1829; a copy in the autograph of John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') of a letter from J. Gwenogvryn Evans, Tremvan, Llanbedrog to Myrddin Fardd, [19]13 (Dinlleu); S. Baring Gould, Lew Trenchard to an unnamed correspondent [?Myrddin Fardd], 1903 (Excavations at Tre'r Caeri); J. Rhys, Oxford to Myrddin [Fardd], 1903 (the reading of a word on a stone, etc.); D. Silvan Evans, Llangïan to Owen Jones ('Mannoethwy') 1861 (2) (Y Gwyliedydd, etc.); W. Rowlands ['Gwilym Lleyn'], Machynlleth to Owen Jones ('Manoethwy') 1861 (reference to a society, guidance to the addressee with regard to almanacs, etc. connected with the Llanfair district); letters to Myrddin Fardd from [Owen Humphrey Davies] 'Eos Llechid', Llanberis, 1880 (ordering a copy of the essay on Llên Gwerin [when it appears], the burial-place of Robin Ddu o Von), and Robert Griffith, Greenheys, Manchester, 1904 (has just finished his work on 'Hanes yr Anterliwdiau'); [Richard Parry] 'Gwalchmai', Llandudno to G. Lewis, secretary (is inclined to agree to come to the eisteddfod at Pen-y-groes on Easter Saturday); and a translation into Welsh of a letter (see Cwrtmawr MS 413) from D. Owen ['Dewi Wyn o Eifion'] to [the Reverend Thomas Parry, Bangor] 1839 (the writer's health). Some of the letters have been published in Adgof Uwch Anghof.

Miscellaneous holograph letters, 1806-1914, written by the following: D[avid] Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), Waunfawr, 1806, to Dafydd Owen ('Dewi Wyn o Eifion'), Gaerwen, Llanystumdwy (contributions to Y Greal), R. H. Richards, Llanfair isaf, 1823, to D[avid] Owen ('Dewi Wyn o Eifion') (appreciation of his 'awdl' Elusengarwch, arrangements for addressee to address Cymdeithas Cymroaidd Llanfair), G[riffith] Williams ('Gutyn Peris'), Braich Talog, Llandegai, 1822, to Robert Williams ('Robert ap Gwilym Ddu'), Betws, Llanystumdwy (letters were his chief delight because his work prevented him travelling, absence of Caernarvonshire poets from the Caernarvon eisteddfod, reading old manuscripts, refers to a manuscript of Lewis Morris, a manuscript of William Elias of Plas yn Glyn in the possession of a captain at Holyhead, the manuscript of Angharad James of Penamnen, wishes to be remembered kindly to Dewi Wyn and to assure him that he was not 'Brytyn') (published in Llais Rhyddid, XIII, pp. 111-114), J[ohn] Richards ('Iocyn Ddu'), Llanerchymedd, 1824, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), Caernarvon (commends the intention to form a poetry society but warns of the dangers of disputes, has sent his opinion on the 'Awdlau ar Ymweliad y Brenhin a Môn' to the appropriate place, addressee's prize winning 'awdl' on 'Cerddoriaeth' at the Caernarfon eisteddfod of 1821), John Williams ('Sion Dwyfor'), Y Ffrwdgoch, undated, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), y Bontnewydd Gerllaw Carnarfon (possibility of writer competing at an eisteddfod, sale of (?addressee's) awdlau) (published in Llais Rhyddid, XIII, pp. 115-116), John Williams ('Ioan Twrog'), Factory, Maentwrog, 1836, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), Carnarvon, (names of competitors in a 'pryddest' competition in order of the adjudication, requires a weaver, states his rates of pay for various weaving work, [William Rees] 'Gwilym Hiraethog', Llynlleifiad, 1845, to Robert Williams ('Robert ap Gwilym Ddu'), Monachdy bach, Llangybi (enclosing 'Cywydd Anerch y godidog Brif fardd R. ab Gwilym Ddu (cf. Caniadau Hiraethog (Dinbych, 1855), pp.174-177)), [Edward Roberts] 'Iorwerth G[lan] Aled', Rhyl 1851 to [Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd')] (criticism of Richard Parry ('Gwalchmai') and his poetry), Robert Ellis ('Cynddelw') (2) to [John Edwards] 'Meiriadog', one from Sirhowy, 1851 (addressee's intention of publishing a monthly magazine Yr Hyfforddwr, denominationalism in Wales, writer was preparing a primer on Welsh prosody, writer's opinion of the 'gorsedd', writer's family), the other (a copy) from Caerynarfon, 1871 (writer preparing a biography of the Reverend J. Williams, Rhos, requests addressee's recollections of him, is considering collecting his poetry for publication in a 3/- or 4/- volume, intends finishing his commentary [on the New Testament] and to publish a book entitled Athrawiaeth y ddau Cyfammod), D[aniel] Silvan Evans, Talybont by Aberystwyth, Llangïan etc. to Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd'), Clynnog, 1843-60 (9), (writer's publication Blodau Ieuainc, commends the publication of a Welsh translation of Chambers's Information for the People, addressee's contribution to Y Brython, seeks addressee's help in collecting colloquial words and phrases for his dictionary), D[aniel] Silvan Evans, Llan ym Mawddwy, 1865, to O[wen] Jones ('Manoethwy'), (addresseee's offer to copy manuscripts in the British Museum), D[aniel] Silvan Evans, Llanymawddwy and Llanwrin etc., 1869-94 (69), to John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd'), Chwilog, with some (20) letters from John Jones to D. Silvan Evans (enquiries concerning books and words, bookbinding, receipt of books, references to other collectors and their collections viz. [Edward] Breese, E[dward] H[umphrey] Owen, [St George] Armstrong Williams, the Plas Gwyn (Panton) collection of books and manuscripts moved to Plas Hen, Llanystumdwy, 1890); Rowland Vab Owen, Trenton and Remsen, Oneida, New York, 1868-70(2), to Owen Williams ('Owain Gwyrfai'), Waunfawr, and John Roberts, Poultney, Vermont, 1871, to Owen Williams ('Owain Gwyrfai'), enclosing a letter to John Roberts from Rowland Vab Owen, Ty Seth Llwyd, Utica, 1871 (Rowland Vab Owen's searches in America concerning Abraham Williams ('Bardd Du Eryri') and information relating to Rowland Vab Owen's family in Wales) (these four letters have been published in Llais Rhyddid, Vol. XIII, pp. 41-8), W[illiam] O[wen] Jones (editor of Llais Rhyddid), Liverpool, 1914, to [John Jones] 'Myrddin Fardd', (returning two letters published in Llais Rhyddid), various writers ('Pryse] Pryse Loveden, Gogerddan, etc.), 1850-56 (12), to D. Douglas Wemyss, Dalkey, Dublin (replies to requests for help in obtaining employment).

A miscellaneous volume (496 pp.; original pagination incorrect) in the autograph of Owen Williams (1790-1874; 'Owain Gwyrfai'), c. 1841-67, of which the main contents are pedigrees of North Wales families transcribed from manuscripts of the Reverend D. Ellis [Cricieth] and Owen Gruffydd, Llanystumdwy and from other sources (with some additions to Owen Williams's own day); transcripts of twenty-four letters, 1752-7 and 1767, from Goronwy Owen to Richard Morris from a (?)manuscript of Mr Loyd [sic], Plasmeini, Festiniog and of eleven letters, 1752-4, from Goronwy Owen to William Morris ('D.S. Dyma lythyrau'r Gwiliedydd im tyb i. O.W.', but this seems doubtful), and extracts transcribed from the introduction to Lewis Morris's 'Celtic Remains' and from [John Reynolds, A Display of Herauldry (1739)] ('Yr hanesion canlynol a dynwyd o hen lyfr achau a argraffwyd o ddeutu amser Cromwel o waith Reinols'). There is a rough index at the beginning and end of the volume. J. H. Davies has written the following note in pencil on the fly-leaf: 'This is the Llyfr Coch which O[wen] W[illiams] always carried under his arm at Eisteddfodau & Literary meetings. It was originally bound in a red cover.'.

A volume consisting almost entirely of Parts I - II of 'Y Piser Hir' in the hand of Owen Williams, Waunfawr, Caernarvonshire, being transcripts, with copious annotations, made during the period 1859-60, of 'cywyddau', 'awdlau', 'englynion', etc. by Tudur Aled, Gruffydd ab yr Ynad Coch, Guto'r Glyn, Sion Tudur, Edmund Prys, William Llyn, Simwnt Vychan, Gruffydd Hiraethog, Sion Brwynog, Dafydd ab Edmund, Iolo Goch, Gwerfil Mechain, Ieuan Gethin ab Ieuan ab Lleision, Gwilym ab Ieuan hen, Dafydd Nanmor, Owain Gwynedd, Aneurin Wawdrydd, Dafydd Llwyd ysgolaig, Dafydd Llwyd ab Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, Dafydd Meifod, Dafydd ab Meredydd ab Tudur, Dafydd ab Hywel, Dafydd Ddu o Hiraddug, Edward Morys, Edward Maelor, Ellis Rowlands, Gruffydd Llwyd ab Dafydd ab Einion, Gutyn Ceiriog, Gwilym ab Sefnyn, Gruffydd Philip, Hugh Morys, Huw Arwystl, Hywel Dafydd ab Evan ab Rhys, Huw Llwyd Cynfel, Huw Gruffydd ('y Quaker'), Hywel ab Syr Mathew, Huw Cae Llwyd, Huw Roberts ('o Dre Logen'), Ieuan Llwyd Siephrey, Ifan ab Hywel ab Swrdwal, Llawdden Brydydd, Ieuan ab Rhydderch, Lewis Mon, Llywelyn ab Gutyn, Meredydd ab Rhys, Morys Dwyfech (Morys ab Ifan ab Einion), Owain ab Llywelyn ab y Moel, Ffoulk Prys, Owain Deiliwr, Prydydd hael, Richard Philip, Robin y prydydd bach, Robert ab Rhys Wyn, Rowland Vaughan, Rhys Goch Glyn Ceiriog, Robin Ddu Ddewin, Rhys Goch Glyn Dyfrdwy, Robin Cludro, Rhees ab Hary ('gwr boneddig or Dref hir yn Euas'), Rhys ab Hywel ab Dafydd, Sion Philip, Dr Sion Cent, John Prichard, John Davies ('Sion Dafydd las', 'Bardd Meirion'), John Gruffydd (Llanddyfnan), Sion Mawddwy, Syr Dafydd Trefor, Siancyn ab Einion, Sion Roger, Tudur Penllyn, Thomas ab Robert, Thomas Prys (Plas Iolyn), William Philip, Elis Cadwaladr, Huw ab Evan ab Robert, Dafydd ab Gwilym, Sion Risiart, John Davies [? Rhiwlas], Gruffydd Grug, Lewis Daron, Lewis Glyn Cothi, Llywelyn Guto Banwr, Dafydd Epynt, Llywelyn Goch ab Meirig hen ('o Nanau'), Rhys Penardd, Edward ab Rhys, Rhys Nanmor ('pencerdd'), Gruffydd ab Dafydd Vychan, Llywelyn ab Gruffydd ab Ednyfed, Robin Ddu o Fon, Syr Huw Pennant, Dafydd Gorlech, Gruffydd ab Llywelyn Vychan, Ieuan brydydd hir, Ieuan Gruffydd Leiaf, Ieuan Dyfi, Olifer ab Daf'dd Llwyd, Llywelyn ab owain ab Cynwrig Moel, Rhys D'dd Llwyd ab Einon Lygliw, Llywelyn ab Ednyfed leiaf, Dafydd ab Rhys, Rhys Goch Eryri, Meredydd Llwyd, Llywelyn ab Hywel ab Ieuan ab Goronwy, Ll'n ab Einion Ddu, Hwlcyn, Llywelyn ab Hywel, Syr Rhys [o Garno], Owain Dwna, Robin Ddu o Arfon, Gr'dd ab Ieu'n ab Ll'n Vychan, Syr Ieuan, Syr Owain ab Gwilym, Gruffydd ab Goronwy Gethin, Dafydd ab Llywelyn Fychan, etc. The text also includes 'Casbethau Ieuan Brydydd hen' and some Nanmor and Llandrillo pedigrees, and a lacuna in the text of one 'cywydd' is completed in the hand of [John John Roberts] ('Iolo Caernarfon'). Part I is based on 'Llyfr Brith Corsygedol' (Peniarth MS 198) and Part II on a manuscript probably in the hand of John Jones, Gellilyfdy. There are imperfect lists of contents at the beginning of each part. Bound in at the end of the volume, also in the hand of Owen Williams, are 'englynion' ('I'r Iesu', etc.) transcribed in 1853 from a manuscript (1655) of William Salesbury of Bachymbyd; two versions of an address on 'Helynt y Cymry, eu hiaith a'u defodau, etc.' delivered at Eisteddfod Tywyn, Tre Fadog, and prepared for publication in the Carnarvon Herald; and a biography of Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'; 1785-1848). The volume is lettered on the spine in gold: 'Owain Gwyrfai MS'.