OWEN
,
ELIAS
(
1833
-
1899
),
cleric and antiquary
;
b. in
1833
, the son of
James
Owen
, who
farmed
in
Llandysilio parish, Mont.
, but later settled at
Llanidloes
. Trained for the
teaching
profession,
Elias
Owen
was appointed
headmaster
of
Llanllechid National School
. Here he
began to evince
interest in archaeological matters
. He devoted his attention to the antiquities of the parish, publishing the results of his researches in the
North Wales Chronicle
, and in
Arch. Camb.
, under the title
Arvona Antiqua
,
1866
,
1867
(with map),
1872
. While at
Llanllechid
he m.
Margaret
Pierce
. In
1871
he took the degree of
B.A.
at
Trinity College
,
Dublin
, proceeding
M.A.
in
1878
. Ordained
deacon
in
1871
(
priested
1872
) by the
bishop of Bangor
, he became
curate
of
Llanwnnog, Mont.
, whence, in
1875
, he moved to
Holy Trinity
,
Oswestry
. The following year he was appointed
diocesan inspector of schools
(
S. Asaph
), which office he held till
1881
, when he accepted the living of
Efenechtyd
, near
Ruthin
. In
1892
he was presented to the
incumbency
of
Llanyblodwel
, where he remained till his death,
19 May 1899
, at the age of 65, and where he was buried.
He continued to be a diligent
student of antiquities
, and was elected
F.S.A.
A prolific
writer
, his best-known literary work is
The Old Stone Crosses of the Vale of Clwyd
,
1886
. Another work,
Welsh Folklore
,
1896
, was a prize-essay at the
1887
national eisteddfod (
London
). He also edited (
1895
) the works of
Griffith
Edwards
(
Gutyn Padarn
)
. At the time of his death he was engaged on a book on ‘
The Holy Wells of North Wales
,’ the uncompleted manuscript of which is preserved in the
N.L.W.
He contributed many articles to
Arch. Camb.
,
The Antiquary
,
The Reliquary
,
Montgomeryshire Collections
, etc.
Bibliography:
-
Bye–Gones, relating to Wales and the Border
Counties
,
24 May 1899
;
-
Archaeologia Cambrensis
,
1901
, 322;
-
Eminent Welshmen
, 1908
;
Collections Historical and Archaeological
relating to Montgomeryshire
, xxxi, 201.
Author:
Canon Ellis Davies, M.A., F.S.A., (1872-1962), Caerwys
