MORGAN, GWENLLIAN ELIZABETH FANNY (1852-1939), antiquary;
b. at Devynnock 9 April 1852, daughter of Philip Morgan (family pedigree in Theophilus Jones, Hist. Brecknock, 3rd ed., iv, 134-6 — and see the article on Thomas Morgan, 1769-1851, below), who was perpetual curate of Pen-pont (1841-64) and of Battle, near Brecon (1859-64), and afterwards, from 1864 till his death in 1868, rector of Llanhamlach. ‘Miss Philip Morgan,’ as she was always called, settled down at Brecon in 1868, and became very prominent in the public life of her town and its neighbourhood, especially in matters educational; she was the first woman in Wales to serve on a borough council, and to become (1910-11) mayor. But she also showed a marked interest in the history of her county. She was a frequent contributor to the antiquarian journals edited by W. R. Williams of Tal-y-bont on Usk, and wrote the biography included in the volume Theophilus Jones, Historian. Her major interest, however, was in the poet Henry Vaughan (q.v.). She discovered many facts concerning his early life, and when, in 1895, she met the American Louise Imogen Gurney (1861-1920), another ‘specialist’ on Vaughan, they agreed to bring out an edition of the poet's works, with biographical and historical notes. The project was announced as early as 1896, but the two friends d. without realizing it. Their large collections, however, were handed over to the late Dr. F. E. Hutchinson, who used them for his standard book Henry Vaughan (1947). The University of Wales conferred an honorary M.A. degree upon Miss Morgan in 1925. She d. at Brecon, 7 Nov. 1939.
Bibliography:
- F. E. Hutchinson's preface to his book;
- personal acquaintance.
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D., F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor.
