Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Panton, Paul
PANTON, PAUL (1731–1797), Welsh antiquary, was born in Wales in 1731. He was distinguished for his knowledge of Welsh history and antiquities, and formed a collection of Welsh manuscripts contained in nearly one hundred volumes. This collection included the manuscripts left to him by Evan Evans [q. v.], the Welsh poet and antiquary, on whom Panton had settled an annuity. The Evans manuscripts consisted of more than eighty volumes, some of which were ancient, though the greater number were transcripts from the Wynsstay and Hengwrt libraries (Myvyrian Arch. 2nd ed. p. xii). Panton's collection was deposited in the library of his residence, Plâs Gwyn, in the parish of Llan Edwen, Anglesey, North Wales (Carlisle, Topogr. Dict. of Wales, ‘Llan Edwen’), and was opened freely to antiquaries. Panton died in 1797. The manuscripts were left to his son, Paul Panton of Plâs Gwyn, who allowed the editors of ‘The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales’ to make free use of them for that work (Preface, dated 1801). In 1852 the manuscripts were described (Williams, Dict. of Eminent Welshmen, s.v. ‘Panton’) as still in the library at Plâs Gwyn. In 1875 many of the manuscripts were said to be in the possession of Paul Panton, R.N., of Garreglwyd, Holyhead, Anglesey, a descendant of the original owner (Nicholas, County Families of Wales, 1875, i. 47).
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