WYNN, WILLIAM (1709 - 1760), cleric, antiquary, and poet

His father, William Wynn, Maesyneuadd, Llandecwyn, Meirionethshire, was high sheriff (1714), his mother, Margaret, daughter and heiress of Roger Lloyd of Rhagad, was related to such well-established houses as Nannau and Helygen. Wynn matriculated as of Jesus College, Oxford, 14 March 1727, graduating B.A. 12 October 1730, and M.A. 15 July 1735. He was licensed as deacon at Watlington, near Oxford, 22 September 1734, and became vicar of Llanbryn-mair 9 June 1739. At Llanbryn-mair he was involved in a dispute with Howel Harris (November 1740). He married Martha Roberts of Rhyd-onnen, Llandysilio, near Denbigh, 6 August 1742; Wynn refers to children of this marriage (Panton MS. 58 (185)), as does William Morris (Morris Letters, ii, 168). His son, Robert, matriculated as of Jesus College, 31 March 1762, and a daughter, Margaret, was buried at Llanbryn-mair 12 March 1747. On accepting the living of Manafon, 15 March 1747, Wynn went to live at Berriw, and the living of Llangynhafal was given him in addition to Manafon, 28 April 1749. He came to live at Llangynhafal in 1751, and there he died 18 January 1760, and was buried 22 January He was interested in Welsh antiquities and literature, corresponding with his friends within the Morrisian circle, mainly on these topics, in the light of manuscripts which he had collected and copied. He composed a few cywyddau, ballads, carols, and englynion on the usual subjects of his circle and his period. And though he had not the greatness of Goronwy Owen or Lewis Morris, by his learning and by collecting manuscripts, by his letters and his poetry, with others of the Morrisian circle he helped to recover the tradition of Welsh poesy which had been neglected in the previous two centuries.

Author

• Reverend Robert Gwilym Hughes, (1910 - 1997)

Sources

• J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families (1914), 283, 299
• registers of parishes named above
• Institution Books of dioceses of Oxford and St Asaph
• Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: the members of the University of Oxford
• Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, XXV, ii, 432
• J. H. Davies (ed.), The Letters of Lewis, Richard, William, and John Morris, of Anglesey, (Morrisiaid Môn) 1728-1765 (1907–9), vol. I, vol. II (forty references; see index)
• Y Cymmrodor, XLIX, i (index)
• poems in David Jones, Blodeu-Gerdd Cymry (Mwythig 1759)
• Dewisol Ganiadau yr oes hon Yn ddwy rhann Y rhann gyntaf. Sydd yn cynwys englynion, cywyddau ac awdlau, o waith yr awduriaid goreu yn yr oes bresennol Yr ail rhann. Carolau plygain a cherddi newyddion, na fuant yn argraphedig erioed o'r blaen. O waith llawer o beirdd Cymru (Shrewsbury 1779), 1759
• Jones (ed.), Llu o Ganiadau, neu gasgliad o garolau a cherddi dewisedig (Oswestry 1798), 1798
• NLW Archives: NLW MS 3061D

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: William Wynn

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q8020626

Published date: 1959

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