John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers, (GB 0210 ABITHEL)

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Cymorth chwilio | Finding Aid - John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers, (GB 0210 ABITHEL)

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Tabl cynnwys | Table of contents

- Tudalen | Page 2 - GB 0210 ABITHEL John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers,

Gwybodaeth grynodeb | Summary information

Lleoliad | Repository: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Teitl | Title: John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers, ID: GB 0210 ABITHEL Virtua system control vtls003844438 number [alternative]: Project identifier ANW [alternative]: Dyddiad | Date: 1832-1898 / (dyddiad creu | date of creation) Disgrifiad ffisegol | 0.068 cubic metres (28 volumes) Physical description: Lleoliad ffisegol | ARCH/MSS (GB0210) Physical location: Dyddiadau creu, golygu a dileu | Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Nodyn | Note Title supplied from contents of fonds. [generalNote]:

Hanes gweinyddol / Braslun bywgraffyddol | Administrative history | Biographical sketch

Nodyn | Note The Rev. John Williams ('Ab Ithel', 1811-1862), Anglican minister and antiquary, took his pseudonym from the surname of his grandfather, William Bethell, but for much of his earlier life he wrote under the name Cynhaval, after his birthplace in Llangynhafal, Denbighshire. He graduated from Jesus College, Oxford, in 1835, and became Anglican curate of Llanfor, Merionethshire, where he married Elizabeth Lloyd Williams; he became perpetual curate of Nerquis, Flintshire, in 1843, and rector of Llanymawddwy, Merionethshire, in 1849. His first book, concerning the relationship between the Church of England and Rome, was published in 1836, followed by another in 1844 on the ecclesiastical antiquities of Wales. Williams was industrious both as a parish priest and as an antiquary, but his enthusiasm and Welsh nationalist fervour often outran his knowledge and judgement. His uncritical approach to historical sources was strongly influenced by the romantic inventions of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg', 1747-1826), and much of his work has since been discredited. Nevertheless, he was regarded by many as one of the leading Welsh scholars of his day, and was able to exert a Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 3 GB 0210 ABITHEL John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers, considerable and decidedly mixed influence on the course of Welsh scholarship. In 1846, together with Harry Longueville Jones (1806-1870), another cleric and antiquary, Williams founded the Cambrian Archaeological Association, whose journal, Archaeologia Cambrensis, he edited until 1853. He also published an edition and translation of the Gododdin in 1852, established the Cambrian Journal, which he edited from 1854 until his death, and was prominent in the Welsh Manuscripts Society, editing four of its publications. The Llangollen Eisteddfod of 1858, which he organized together with Richard Williams Morgan ('Mor Meirion', c. 1815-c. 1889) and Joseph Hughes ('Carn Ingli', 1803-1863), caused much derision and embarrassment; Williams' own family won several prizes, and Thomas Stephens (1821-1875) was adjudicated against because he suggested that the story of Madog ab Owain Gwynedd's American expeditions was not true. Williams was nevertheless considered for the chair of Celtic at Oxford University, and he was appointed by the government in 1858 to complete the editions of the medieval Welsh chronicles Annales Cambriae and Brut y Tywysogion, which had been left incomplete by Aneurin Owen (1792-1851), and which were published in 1860. His editorial work was later severely criticised by academics, who pointed to his lack of the necessary diplomatic skills for interpreting medieval manuscripts, and also to his plagiarism of the work of others, notably Owen himself and Thomas Rowland (1824-1884). Williams became rector of Llanenddwyn and Llanddwywe, Merionethshire, in 1862, by which time he was very ill, and he died in the same year. The Ab Ithel Memorial Fund was established in his memory.

Hanes Gwarchodol | Custodial history Some papers relating to Ab Ithel were added after his death in 1862, presumably by his family, and little more is known of what happened to the archive until A. D. Ffoulkes-Jones presented these papers to the National Library of Wales in 1952, when they were designated NLW MSS 17163-17190.

Natur a chynnwys | Scope and content

Letters and papers of Rev. John Williams ('Ab Ithel') and his family, 1832-1898, comprising page-proofs of parts of Brut y Tywysogion (NLW MS 17163D); drafts and incomplete copies in manuscript of several of Ab Ithel's printed works, including Y Gododdin (NLW MS 17167E), The Traditionary Annals of the Cymry (NLW MS 17168E), Druidism (NLW MS 17169E), Brut y Tywysogion (NLW MS 17164E), and Annales Cambriae (NLW MS 17165E); contributions to the Cambrian Journal (NLW MS 17171E0; his address at the Conwy Eisteddfod, 1861 (NLW MS 17187A); papers relating to his collation to the rectory of Llanymawddwy, 1849 (NLW MS 17189E); 'The Church of England independent of the Church of Rome in all ages' (NLW MS 17175B); sermons in English and Welsh (NLW MS 17184C); 'A few plain and practical Observations on Anglican Education' (NLW MS 17185B); the prize essay on the question 'whether the British Druids offered human sacrifices' by 'Hu Gadarn' (NLW MS 17173D); an essay entitled 'Traethawd ar Ddarganfyddiad yr America Gan Madog ab Owain Gwynedd, yn nghylch y ddeuddegfed ganrif' by 'Columbus' (NLW MS 17188C); an essay 'On the state of Agriculture and the progress of Arts & Manufactures in Britain, during the period & under the influence of the Druidical System' by Rev. John Jones, Llanllyfni (see Archaeologia Cambrensis, Supplement 1850) (NLW MS 17176E); 'Y Telynwr Cymreig, sef cyfarwyddiadau i ddysgu'r Delyn' by 'Dafydd Frenin' (NLW MS 17177F); four essays on 'Y manteision a ddeillia i'r Cymry o ddysgu yr iaith Seisnig' by 'Uthr Bendragon', 'Eiddil', 'Gwir Gymro', and 'Y cynyg cynta' 'rioed' (NLW MS 17188C); a 'History of Wales to the death of Llewelyn' (NLW MS 17178E); sections of a work on Christianity in Britain (NLW MS 17179E);

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 4 GB 0210 ABITHEL John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers, letters addressed to Ab Ithel and also to his wife and daughters (NLW MS 17190D); press cuttings and extracts (NLW MS 17181E); sketches and medical and household recipes (NLW MS 17180C), and letters, 1884-1885, relating to the Ab Ithel Memorial Fund.

Nodiadau | Notes

Nodiadau teitl | Title notes

Ffynhonnell | Immediate source of acquisition A. D. Ffoulkes-Jones; Llangollen; Donation; 1952

Trefniant | Arrangement Arranged as NLW MSS 17163-17190.

Cyfyngiadau ar fynediad | Restrictions on access Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Amodau rheoli defnydd | Conditions governing use Usual copyright regulations apply.

Rhestrau cymorth | Finding aids A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.

Disgrifiadau deunydd | Related material Nineteen letters to the Rev. John Williams, most of which relate to the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1858, were donated by Mr Gwyn Neale, Pwllheli, in 1993. These are now NLW MS 23104D.

Ychwanegiadau | Accruals Accruals are not expected.

Nodiadau eraill | Other notes • Statws cyhoeddiad | Publication status: Published • Dynodwr sefydliad | Institution identifier: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 5 GB 0210 ABITHEL John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers,

Pwyntiau mynediad | Access points

• Williams, John, 1811-1862 -- Archives (pwnc) | (subject) • Historians -- Wales. (pwnc) | (subject) • Llanymawddwy (Wales) (pwnc) | (subject) • Wales -- History -- Research. (pwnc) | (subject)

Disgrifiad cyfres | Series descriptions

Cod cyfeirnod | Ref Teitl | Title Dyddiadau | Statws mynediad | Cynhwysydd | code Dates Access status Container NLW MS 17163D. File - 'Brut y Tywysogion', 1859. NLW MS vtls005303971 17163D. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17164E. File - 'Brut y Tywysogion', [pre-1859]. NLW MS vtls005303972 17164E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17165E. File - 'Annales Cambriae', [pre-1860]. NLW MS vtls005303973 17165E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17166C. File - 'The physicians of Myddvai: [pre-1861]. NLW MS vtls005303974 Meddygon Myddfai', 17166C. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17167E. File - 'Y Gododdin', [pre-1852]. NLW MS vtls005303975 17167E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17168E. File - 'The traditional annals of the [pre-1854]. NLW MS vtls005303976 Cymry', 17168E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17169E. File - 'Druidism', [pre-1860]. NLW MS vtls005303977 17169E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17170D. File - 'The ecclesiastical antiquities of the [pre-1844]. NLW MS vtls005303978 Cymry', 17170D. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17171E. File - Articles by Ab Ithel, [c.1855]. NLW MS vtls005303979 17171E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17172E. File - Battle of Argoed. NLW MS vtls005303980 17172E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17173D. File - Swansea Druidic Eisteddfod prize 1841, Aug. NLW MS vtls005303981 essay, 17173D. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17174B. File - Extracts. NLW MS vtls005303982 17174B. ISYSARCHB60

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 6 GB 0210 ABITHEL John Williams ('Ab Ithel') Papers, NLW MS 17175B. File - The Church of England and the [c.1836]. NLW MS vtls005303983 Church of Rome, 17175B. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17176E. File - Agriculture under the druids, [pre-1850]. NLW MS vtls005303984 17176E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17177F. File - 'Y Telynwr Cymreig', 1858. NLW MS vtls005303985 17177F. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17178E. File - A history of Wales. NLW MS vtls005303986 17178E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17179E. File - Christianity in Britain. NLW MS vtls005303987 17179E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17180C. File - Recipes, 1839-1882. NLW MS vtls005303988 17180C. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17181E. File - Press cuttings, [c.1841-1898]. NLW MS vtls005303989 17181E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17182D. File - Songs. NLW MS vtls005303990 17182D. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17183E. File - Miscellaneous papers. NLW MS vtls005303991 17183E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17184C. File - Sermons. NLW MS vtls005303992 17184C. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17185B. File - Catechisms etc. NLW MS vtls005303993 17185B. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17186B. File - A child harpist, [Includes NLW MS vtls005303994 1832-1833]. 17186B. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17187A. File - Addresses, [Includes 1861]. NLW MS vtls005303995 17187A. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17188C. File - Essays. NLW MS vtls005303996 17188C. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17189E. File - Miscellaneous papers, 1849-1885. NLW MS vtls005303997 17189E. ISYSARCHB60 NLW MS 17190D. File - Correspondence, 1845-1895. NLW MS vtls005303998 17190D. ISYSARCHB60

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