EDWARDS, ROBERT (1796 - 1862), musician

Details of his birth and parentage are not known. He started his career as a miller in Melin Gwibnant, near Mostyn, Flintshire. Removing to Liverpool as a carter, he afterwards rose to be a foreman or superintendent under the Bridgewater Trust, a post which he held for the remainder of his life. He was connected with the music at Bedford Street Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Liverpool, for twenty-four years, as precentor there, he succeeded John Ellis (1760 - 1839). He composed ' Caersalem,' 8.7.4., one of the most popular hymn-tunes in Wales. Written in 1824, it appeared in Peroriaeth Hyfryd (John Parry), 1837, and became known as ' Tôn Bob y Felin ' (Bob of the Mill's tune). In 1878 it was published in Y Cysegr a'r Teulu (Thomas Gee), and there attributed to E. Roberts, but information supplied by John Edwards, Bedford Street (Robert Edwards's successor) and others proved that the composer was Robert Edwards. He died in 1862 and was buried in Anfield cemetery, Liverpool.

Author

• Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

• Yr Haul, 1889, 113
• Y Cerddor, May 1892, 1896 (12) July 1905, February 1907
• Edward Jones, Rhestr gyda nodiadau byrion, o Enwogion Cymreig o 1700 i 1900 (1908)
• J. Hughes Morris, Hanes Methodistiaeth Liverpool (Liverpool 1929-1932), i, 231-2

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734324

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/