FRANCIS
,
JOHN
(
1789
-
1843
),
miller and musician
;
b.
20 March 1789
, son of
William
and
Margaret
Francis
,
Melin Rhyd-hir
,
Pwllheli
. He learnt the rudiments of music (including harmony) and began to
compose
when still quite young. In
Seren Gomer
for
Nov. 1821
there appeared two hymn-tunes by him called ‘
Mwyneidd-dra
’ and ‘
Gomer
’ and in the same journal for
March 1823
a hymn-tune called ‘
Pwllheli
’ (but originally called ‘
Morwydden
’). He
composed an anthem
on the words of
Psalm xxxix
which became popular in parts of
Caernarvonshire
. It is said that he used to keep his music books in a chest in his mill and that these were stolen by a
thief
one night. He was
precentor
at
Pen-lan Congregational chapel
,
Pwllheli
, for many years. He d.
19 Aug. 1843
and was buried in
Pen-lan
burial ground,
Pwllheli
.
Bibliography:
-
Y Cerddor Cymreig
, 1861-1873
,
Oct. 1871, May 1872
;
-
M. O. Jones
,
Bywgraffiaeth Cerddorion Cymreig
,
National Eisteddfod Association publication, 1890
;
-
Rhestr gyda nodiadau byrion, o Enwogion
Cymreig o 1700 i 1900
. National Eisteddfod
Association, 1908
;
-
Y Cerddor
,
May 1893
;
-
‘Dictionary of Welsh Biography.’ 27
vols., N.L.W. MSS. 9251–77
.
Author:
Robert David Griffith, M.A., (1877-1958), Old Colwyn
