WILLIAMS, RICHARD (1835 - 1906), antiquary and lawyer

Born at Bontdolgadfan, Llanbryn-mair, son of William Williams (Gwilym Cyfeiliog). He was educated at schools at Llanbryn-mair and Newtown, and at Bala C.M. College. He then worked in the offices of David Howell of Machynlleth, 1851-6, and Abraham Howell of Welshpool, 1856-69 - both of them being solicitors; he himself was admitted a solicitor in 1866. In 1869 he moved to Newtown, where he spent the rest of his life. He was twice married (1) to Frances Brown, and (2) to Elizabeth Lewis of Rhyl. He was a faithful elder at 'Crescent' chapel. He held a number of public appointments and was the agent for the Liberal candidate, Stuart Rendel, when the latter was elected Member of Parliament in 1880 - the first Liberal member for the county of Montgomery. He published Montgomeryshire Worthies, 1884, 2nd ed. 1894 ; History of the Parish of Llanbrynmair, 1889; and articles on the history and antiquities of his native county. He edited Yorke's Royal Tribes of Wales, 1887, with full notes of his own; Caniadau Cyfeiliog, 1878, and the Mabinogion in old and modern Welsh (published by Isaac Foulkes, 1880). He translated Bacon's Essays into Welsh in 1862. He was a contributor to Bye-Gones and Y Geninen. He was one of the founders of the Powysland Club and was joint editor of its Transactions and Records. He gathered together a valuable library which, on his death, was purchased, thanks to the generosity of lord Davies of Llandinam, and handed over to the National Library of Wales as one of its foundation collections. It is called the 'Celynog Collection.' He died 15 June 1906 at Newtown, 'at the age of 71.'

Author

• William Emyr Williams, (1889 - 1958)

Sources

• Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, ii, etc. (see the index)
• NLW Archives: Bontdolgadfan (Williams family) Papers, 1741-1920

Additional Links

• VIAF: 16999258
• Wikidata: Q20734308

Published date: 1959

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