- a similar essay on the marriage of believers.
- ‘Rhai Hymnau Newyddion,’ Brecon, 1781, a set of new hymns, followed by 2nd and 3rd parts in 1782 and 1787.
- ‘Immanuel,’ Trevecca, 1786; a translation of a work by Archbishop Usher (reissued in 1803 and 1826).
- Dialogue (Welsh) between ‘Philalethes’ and ‘Eusebius’ as to true Christianity, Carmarthen, 1791; a defence of Peter Williams [q. v.]
In 1811 Williams's second son, John, at the request of the South Wales Association, issued at Carmarthen a complete edition of his father's hymns, which was reprinted at Carmarthen in 1824 and Swansea in 1829. Other (incomplete) editions were those of Robert Jones, Rhos Lan, in 1795 (‘Grawnsypiau Canaan,’ Liverpool), and William Rees in 1847 (‘Y Pêr Ganiedydd, Liverpool). A part of a religious poem by Williams, found among his son's papers, was published in 1830 (Llandovery) under the title ‘Reliquiæ Poeticæ.’ Seven of the more important elegies appeared, in one volume, at Swansea in 1854. In 1867 James Rhys Jones [q. v.] edited a complete edition of the works of Williams (published at Glasgow), with a memoir and a critical essay, the latter by William Rees. Recently a new collected edition by N. Cynhafal Jones has appeared, in two volumes (Holywell, 1887; Newport, 1891).
[The earliest memoir of Williams is that by Thomas Charles in the Trysorfa for January, 1813. It is the source of all later notices. Edward Morgan, of Syston, published in 1847 (Llandovery) an English account of Williams's ministry; William Rees's ‘Rhyddweithiau’ (Liverpool, 1872) contains a critical essay; and there is a full bibliography in Ashton's Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymreig. Cf. Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry and the catalogue of the Welsh portion of Cardiff Public Library. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynol Cymru (ii. 528, 530, iii. 583) gives the facts as to Williams's dissenting connections.]
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM (1739–1817), Welsh antiquary, was born in February 1738–9 at Ty Mawr, Trefdraeth, Anglesey. His father, William ap Huw ap Sion, was a stonemason. After a very short stay at school he served a seven years' apprenticeship to a saddler at Llannerch y Medd, during which he formed his mind by much private study and by intercourse with the bards of the district, notably Hugh Hughes (1693–1776) [q. v.] and Robert Hughes (1744?–1785) [q. v.] Moving to Llan Degai, Carnarvonshire, he obtained employment as occasional clerk in the Penrhyn estate office, acting at the same time as land surveyor and dealer in slates. In 1782 he induced Lord Penrhyn to take into his own hands the slate quarries at Cae Braich y Cafn (now the Penrhyn quarry), and was appointed quarry supervisor, an office he held until he was pensioned in 1803. He died on 17 July 1817, and was buried at Llandegai.
During his long life Williams was a diligent collector of antiquarian lore, and use was made of his manuscripts by Richard Fenton [q. v.] and Sir Richard Colt Hoare [q. v.] Only two of his works have been published. ‘Observations on the Snowdon Mountains’ (London, 1802) deals with the natural history and antiquities of the region around Bangor, and was originally prepared for the private use of Lord Penrhyn. ‘Prydnawngwaith y Cymry’ (Trefriw, 1822) is a continuation (to the Edwardian conquest) of the ‘Drych y Prif Oesoedd’ of Theophilus Evans; the preface shows it was completed in 1804. Williams had some skill as a Welsh poet, and was known in this capacity as ‘Gwilyn Ddu o Arfon.’
[Gwladgarwr, viii. 193–9; Ashton's Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymreig.]
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM, generally known as Williams of Wern (1781–1840), Welsh preacher, born in 1781, was the sixth child of William and Jane Probert of Cwmhyswn-ganol in the parish of Llanfachreth, Merionethshire. The father, whose christian name became his son's surname, was a small farmer and carpenter, and young William worked as carpenter for several years. In his nineteenth year he commenced to preach in connection with the independent church of Pen-y-stryd, and, being practically without education, he went for nine months to a school at Aberhavesp, near Newtown, and then for four years (1803–7) to the dissenting academy at Wrexham. While a student here he used to preach in the smaller villages of the district, and this led to his being invited to become the pastor of two exceptionally weak churches at Wern and Harwood (now Brymbo) in the parish of Wrexham. After a year's probation he was ordained on 28 Oct. 1808. But he by no means confined his labours to this narrow sphere. He formed, and for some years supervised, churches at Llangollen and in the mining districts of Rhos and Ruabon; he was one of the chief organisers of the Welsh Union, formed in 1834 for the liquidation of chapel debts, and himself gave material assistance in many ways to the poorer churches of Flint and Denbighshire. But, above all, he periodically made several preaching tours throughout the whole of Wales.
