MORGAN, WILLIAM (Gwilym Gelli-deg; 1808 - 1878), poet

Name: William Morgan
Pseudonym: Gwilym Gelli-deg
Date of birth: 1808
Date of death: 1878
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet
Area of activity: Eisteddfod; Poetry
Author: Watkin William Price

Born at Carmarthen, but spent the greater part of his life in the hamlet of Gelli-deg, near Merthyr Tydfil. He worked as a miner in Rhymney, Dowlais, and Cyfarthfa.

He was admitted as ' bard ' in the Abergavenny eisteddfod of 1837. A constant competitor in local eisteddfodau, he won several prizes for poems and as penillion singer; he also served as music adjudicator. Amongst his prize poems are ' Awdl Gweledigaeth Pedr ' (Merthyr, 1836) and ' Cywydd o glod i Wenynen Gwent ' (Merthyr, 1837). A selection from his works was published under the title of Cerbyd Awen (Merthyr Tydfil, 1846), whilst thousands of copies were sold, in fairs and taverns, of his ballad - ' Ple byddaf mhen can mlynedd? ' He died, in poverty, 29 May 1878, and was buried in Cefn cemetery, near Merthyr Tydfil.

Author

Published date: 1959

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