LEWIS, GEORGE (Eiddil Llwyn Celyn ; 1826?-1858), poet and shoemaker;
b. in a small cottage in the mountainous part of Carmarthenshire, the son of an agricultural labourer with a large family. He received very little education, but like many other young men of the period took a great interest in Welsh poetry. He came to Heolyfelin (Trecynon, Aberdare) with his family, pursued his trade of shoemaking, and in his spare time competed at local eisteddfodau. He won a prize of one guinea at the ‘Carw Coch eisteddfod’ (Stag Inn) (see Gardd Aberdar, 1854), and other prizes at Blaenau Gwent and Llanilltud Fardre. He d. at the early age of 32, leaving a widow and nine little girls. His brother, William Lewis (Cawr Dar), and Carw Coch (q.v.) published a booklet of his compositions, Telyn y Gweithiwr — caneuon, pryddestau, ac englynion — moesol a dyddorol, etc. — Dros ei Weddw a'i amddifaid galarus, 1859.
Author:
Watkin William Price, M.A., (1873-1967), Aberdare
