EVANS, WILLIAM (Cawr Cynon; 1808 - 1860); colliery official and poet

Born in a small thatched cottage near Ynys-gau iron bridge, Merthyr Tydfil, son of Richard Morgan Dafydd Evan, miner and country 'doctor.' He became a miner, but devoted his spare time to studying the cynganeddion, and at an early age, won a prize for five englynion. He was a frequent competitor at the local eisteddfodau writing cywyddau and englynion; he won a prize for an essay on the history of Caerleon-on-Usk at Abergavenny eisteddfod, 23 November 1836. A poem written on the birth of a son to Sir John and lady Charlotte Guest won him the admiration of lady Charlotte, and a post as foreman in the Dowlais works. He lived for a time at Hirwaun, and it was while there that he adopted the bardic title of Cawr Cynon. He returned to Dowlais, and later became the ' mine agent ' at the Plymouth works for Anthony Hill (see the article on that family). He died 15 November 1860, and was buried in Cefn Coed cemetery.

Author

• Watkin William Price, (1873 - 1967)

Sources

• Charles Wilkins, The history of Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tydfil 1867), 1867
• Merthyr Star and Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, November 1860
• Y Greal sef Cylchgrawn Misol at wasanaeth y Bedyddwyr, 1860, 285
• Tarian y Gweithiwr, 18 and 25 December 1924
• Seren Gomer, April and December 1837

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734614

Published date: 1959

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