LLEWELYN, SION (1690-1776), poet;
b. at Cefn Coed y Cymer, Vaynor, Brecknock, 30 Nov. 1690. His educational advantages were meagre, and although he learned to read Welsh, he was totally ignorant of English. Nevertheless, this self-taught bard published a collection of his poetry and hymns in a book of 60 pages, which became so popular as to demand four (possibly five) editions up to the year 1814; the title of the 1791 edition is Difyrrwch diniwaid … sef deunaw o Ganiadau … Gyd a Now o Hymnau duwiol. He was received as a member at the age of 18 into the old Nonconformist chapel of Cwm-y-glo, on the mountain-side between Merthyr and Aberdare by Roger Williams (1667-1730) (q.v.), the pastor. This pastor was an Arminian. Ultimately the Arminian members under their minister, Richard Rees (q.v.), built a new chapel, the Hen Dŷ Cwrdd at Cefn, nearer to the home of Siôn, in 1747, with Siôn as one of the prominent promoters, and first deacon. The poet, a blacksmith by trade (although one manuscript calls him a weaver), d. 1 Jan. 1776, and was buried in the grounds of Hen Dŷ Cwrdd, Cefn. A marble memorial tablet was unveiled at the old chapel by his descendants on 17 Aug. 1947. His grandson was William Harri, of Garw Dyle, Penderyn (q.v.).
Bibliography:
- T. Lewis, Hanes Hen Dy Cwrdd, Cefn Coed y Cymer, 1947;
- W. Morgan, The Vaynor Handbook, 1893;
- N.L.W. MSS. 1159, 2196-7;
- W. Rowlands, Llyfr. y Cym.;
- H. Llen. Gymr. (Ashton);
- Y Drysorfa Gynnulleidfaol, 1845.
Author:
Watkin William Price, M.A., (1873-1967), Aberdare
