Brythonydd Papers,

Papers of Brythonydd and others, [early 18th century]-1952, comprising essays and notes on Teifiside history, 1902-1909; notes on sermons and lectures; diaries, 1906-1923; transcripts of various historical, literary and religious material including Ystradyfodwg parish records, 1735-1930, and Howel Harris' diaries, 1738-1771; transcripts of poetry by Cardiganshire poets including Gwinionydd; letters, 1898-1952; vestry books and account books of Cenarth and Penbryn and other parishes, [pre 1798]-1876; records of Libanus, Treherbert including minute books, registers and account books, 1842-1946; papers of Benjamin Williams, 'Gwinionydd', including letters, sermons, 1855-1890, essays, notes and poetry; papers of David James ('Defynnog'), Treherbert, relating mainly to the column he edited in The South Wales News and including sermons and adjudications of his uncle, Benjamin Thomas ('Myfyr Emlyn'), 1875-1928; papers of John Morris Jones ('Ioan Cunllo'), John Thomas, Charles Davies, Thomas Cynfelyn Benjamin, Lewis Jones, Treherbert, Rees Price, David Price, Joseph Davies and Rhys Lloyd Jones, Troed-yr-aur, and others, consisting mainly of poetry, accounts, letters, addresses, notebooks and sermons, [19th century]-[20th century].

'Brythonydd', the Rev. David Pryse Williams (1878-1952), was a writer, local historian and Baptist minister. He was born at Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, and brought up in Troed-yr-aur, Cardiganshire. After studying at Dunoon Evangelical College, Argyll, Scotland, 1908-1910, he became pastor of the Baptist churches of Ffynnonhenri, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, 1910-1913, Philadelphia, Swansea, 1913-1920, and Libanus, Treherbert, Glamorgan, 1920-1952. He died on 27 October 1952. His personal researches were concerned, in early life, with the history of the lower Teifi Valley, especially the parishes of Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, and Penbryn, Cardiganshire. During this time he wrote articles and poems, published in periodicals such as Seren Gomer and Archaeologia Cambrensis and local newspapers. In 1902 he won the prize at the Newcastle Emlyn eisteddfod for an essay on the history of Cenarth. In later years he took an interest in Rhondda antiquities, with particular emphasis on his own church at Libanus. He was an assiduous collector and was responsible for the preservation of several valuable groups of manuscripts such as those of his paternal grandfather Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd', 1821-1891) and others and also original records of several parishes of the lower Teifi Valley.

Arranged as NLW MSS 15622-15963, and 15985-16039.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Donated by his widow, Mrs A. Pryse Williams, Treherbert, 1953-1955.

'Brythonydd', the Rev. David Pryse Williams (1878-1952), was a writer, local historian and Baptist minister. He was born at Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, and brought up in Troed-yr-aur, Cardiganshire. After studying at Dunoon Evangelical College, Argyll, Scotland, 1908-1910, he became pastor of the Baptist churches of Ffynnonhenri, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, 1910-1913, Philadelphia, Swansea, 1913-1920, and Libanus, Treherbert, Glamorgan, 1920-1952. He died on 27 October 1952. His personal researches were concerned, in early life, with the history of the lower Teifi Valley, especially the parishes of Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, and Penbryn, Cardiganshire. During this time he wrote articles and poems, published in periodicals such as Seren Gomer and Archaeologia Cambrensis and local newspapers. In 1902 he won the prize at the Newcastle Emlyn eisteddfod for an essay on the history of Cenarth. In later years he took an interest in Rhondda antiquities, with particular emphasis on his own church at Libanus. He was an assiduous collector and was responsible for the preservation of several valuable groups of manuscripts such as those of his paternal grandfather Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd', 1821-1891) and others and also original records of several parishes of the lower Teifi Valley.

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.

January 2003

Compiled by Rhys Jones and Seri Crawley for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Brythonydd Papers; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959); Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970(London, 2001).

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..

Brythonydd acquired papers of the following: Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd', 1821-1891); David James ('Defynnog', died 1928), Treherbert; 'Myfyr Emlyn' (1836-1893); Thomas Cynfelyn Benjamin ('Cynfelyn', 1850-1925); John Morris Jones ('Ioan Cunllo', died 1884); John Thomas (1852-1914), Rhydlewis; and Baptist ministers, including Lewis Jones (died 1882) of Pwllheli and Treherbert, Rees Price, and David Price (1865-1931).

Accruals are not expected.

Photographs, portraits and prints are in National Library of Wales, Special Collections.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales