Mysevin Manuscripts

Papers and manuscripts, [1540x1927], from the library of Dr William Owen-Pughe of Mysevin, relating primarily to Welsh literature and culture and to antiquarian subjects. The material includes correspondence addressed mainly to William Owen-Pughe, with a smaller number addressed to his son, Aneurin Owen, from prominent contemporary antiquarian and literary figures, including Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'), Owen Jones ('Owain Myfyr'), Theophilus Jones, Richard Llwyd, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Richard Fenton, Thomas Pennant and Edward ('Celtic') Davies; volumes and papers in the hand of William Owen-Pughe, 'Iolo Morganwg' and others; manuscripts and printed papers relating to the Gwyneddigion Society, the Cymreigyddion Society and the Cymmrodorion; diary entries of William Owen-Pughe, 1811-1835; and transcripts of unpublished letters and papers, 1792-1820, of the writer and prophet Joanna Southcott. NLW MS 13263 is a supplementary volume of letters which was presented separately to NLW (see 'Source of Acquisition' note).

William Owen-Pughe was born in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Merioneth and brought up in a farmhouse called Egryn in Ardudwy. He moved to London in 1776, where he committed himself to the London Welsh community, becoming a member of both the Gwyneddigion Society and the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and corresponded with many scholarly figures of his day. Like his contemporary 'Iolo Morganwg', who greatly influenced him, Pughe held somewhat idiosyncratic ideas concerning the Welsh language and its origins. His own literary output, however, was prolific and included lexicographical works such as A Grammar of the Welsh Language and A Welsh and English Dictionary (both 1803) and translations such as Coll Gwynfa (1819), a Welsh rendering of Milton's 'Paradise Lost'. He was also principal editor of The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales (1801-1807) and the short-lived periodical Y Greal (1805-1807) and was a regular contributor to the newspapers and magazine publications of his day. Pughe conducted a close relationship with the writer and prophet Joanna Southcott from around 1803 until her death in 1814. Pughe's son Aneurin Owen was a historical scholar who received much of his early education from his father. He edited Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales; comprising the Laws ... by Howel the Good ... (London, 1841) and was also a major, though unacknowledged, contributor to the prodigious chronicle Brut y Tywysogion (1860).

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 13221-13263.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their readers' tickets.

NLW MSS 13221-13262; Mr W. Churchill Owen; Mysevin; Purchase; 1940
NLW MS 13263; Mr W. Churchill Owen; Mysevin; Presentation; 1949

William Owen-Pughe was born in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Merioneth and brought up in a farmhouse called Egryn in Ardudwy. He moved to London in 1776, where he committed himself to the London Welsh community, becoming a member of both the Gwyneddigion Society and the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and corresponded with many scholarly figures of his day. Like his contemporary 'Iolo Morganwg', who greatly influenced him, Pughe held somewhat idiosyncratic ideas concerning the Welsh language and its origins. His own literary output, however, was prolific and included lexicographical works such as A Grammar of the Welsh Language and A Welsh and English Dictionary (both 1803) and translations such as Coll Gwynfa (1819), a Welsh rendering of Milton's 'Paradise Lost'. He was also principal editor of The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales (1801-1807) and the short-lived periodical Y Greal (1805-1807) and was a regular contributor to the newspapers and magazine publications of his day. Pughe conducted a close relationship with the writer and prophet Joanna Southcott from around 1803 until her death in 1814. Pughe's son Aneurin Owen was a historical scholar who received much of his early education from his father. He edited Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales; comprising the Laws ... by Howel the Good ... (London, 1841) and was also a major, though unacknowledged, contributor to the prodigious chronicle Brut y Tywysogion (1860).

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IV (Aberystwyth, 1971); Y Bywgraffiadur Ar-lein viewed via WWW, 18 June 2010; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography WWW site, viewed 21 June 2010.

Title based on contents.

Formerly known as Mysevin 1-41 + one previously unnumbered volume.

Preferred citation: NLW MSS 13221-13263.

The descriptions are also available in the Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IV (Aberystwyth, 1971).

Text

Some of the papers are considerably damp-stained and torn and incomplete as well as discoloured.

June 2010.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifans for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS.

Usual copyright laws apply.

For a description of the collection see B. G. Owens, 'The Mysevin Manuscripts', The National Library of Wales Journal, II, 90-2. A typewritten catalogue was prepared in 1939.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales