Peter Williams, A.M., an eminent divine among the Calvinists in Wales, who died August 4th, 1796, in his seventy-seventh year. He published a large quarto Welsh Bible in 1770, with copious notes, which has gone through two subsequent editions. He also printed a small edition with notes, also a Concordance, and several religious tracts.
Rev. William Williams, an eminent preacher among the Methodists, and who was a poet of considerable genius. He published a great many tracts, and Welsh hymns for the use of his society; the principal of which is a work called “Golwg ar Deyrnas Crist,” published in 1761. He died about the year 1776.
Rev. Morris Williams, a celebrated Welsh antiquary, was born on the 2nd of March, 1685, in the parish of Cellan, Cardiganshire, and was the son of the Rev. Samuel Williams, vicar of Llandifriog. The elementary part of his classical education he received at the Caermarthen Grammar-school, whence he removed to Oxford, and matriculated at University College, May 31, 1705. Here he took his first degree in arts in 1708; he was afterwards incorporated in the same degree at Cambridge, and proceeded master of arts in that University in 1718. He was ordained deacon by Dr. Fromnel, Bishop of Norwich, a priest by Dr. Ottley, Bishop of St. David’s. Dr. Ottley presented him to the living of Llanwenog, in the above county, in 1715; and in 1717 he was inducted to the vicarage of Devynock, in Brecknockshire, where, in 1718 he married Margaret Davies, of that parish. In 1724 he exchanged this living for the rectory of Chetton Trinity, and the vicarage of St. Mary’s, Bridgewater, Somersetshire. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1732. His chief reputation as a Welsh scholar and antiquary rests on the valuable assistance he gave Dr. Wotton in preparing for publication his edition of the Laws of Hywel Dda, the glossary to which, a very able and learned performance, was principally compiled by Mr. Williams. His other works comprise various theological treatises, now little known. He also drew up a manuscript catalogue of books in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and a manuscript life of himself, deposited in that library. His books and manuscripts he bequeathed to Lord Macclesfield.
Cynwal Williams, an eminent poet of Penmacno, Caernarvonshire, who lived from about the year 1560 to 1600. The most interesting part of his works is his poetical controversy with Edmund Prys, the archdeacon of Meirionethshire; a contest that was carried on with so much feeling as ultimately to cause Cynwal Williams to fall a martyr to the poignancy of one of the replications of his antagonist.
William Wyn, A.M., an eminent poet and divine, of the family of Rhaged, in Meirionethshire, who lived from about the year 1740 to 1760, in which last year he died. He was the rector of Llangyhaval and Manavon, in Denbighshire. Some beautiful compositions by him are printed in Dewisol Ganiadau.
THE END.