PARRY, JOHN (1770 - 1820), poet

Born 29 June 1770 in a farm called Y Wern, near Llanelian, Denbighshire. He may be the John Parry, son of Edward and Catherine Parry, whose christening is recorded on 31 August 1770 in the bishops' transcripts for the parish of Llanelian. He received a good education, as is evident from the character of his poetry. At the age of 28 Parry married Elsbeth Hughes, Ffermnant, Llanelian, and there were six children of the marriage. Parry lived in or near Llanelian for the whole of his life, and for a period he and his wife kept an inn in the village. He died 25 June 1820, and was buried three days later in Llanelian churchyard. He composed a number of poems, mainly of a religious nature, and was noted for his gift of repartee. A selection of his works is to be found in Robert Humphreys, Y Wenynen Bach (2nd ed., Llanrwst, 1840). His best-known poem is ' Myfyrdod Mewn Mynwent,' which is in parts reminiscent of the more famous elegy by Thomas Gray.

Author

• Hywel David Emanuel, (1921 - 1970)

Sources

• Y Geninen, January 1893 (56-8), 1904 (72)
• Geirlyfr Bywgraffiadol o Enwogion Cymru (1870), 809
• Owen Williams, Awduron Sir Ddinbych a'u gweithiau (1937), part iii, 136
• Catalogue of Printed Literature in the Welsh Department, Cardiff Free Libraries (1898), 366
• The Records of the Church in Wales at the National Library of Wales (in N.L.W.)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20738110

Published date: 1959

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