HUGHES
,
WILLIAM MELOCH
(
1860
-
1926
),
colonist and writer
;
b.
9 April 1860
at
Pen-sarn
,
Betws Gwerfyl Goch
, but the family moved to
Melin Meloch
, near
Llandderfel
, about
1868
. He was educated at
Bala grammar
school
, at the same time as
T. E.
Ellis
,
O. M.
Edwards
,
J. Puleston
Jones
(qq.v.),
Mihangel
and
Llwyd ap Iwan
. Trained as a
photographer
, he set up in business at
Newtown
, where he also started
preaching
with the intention of entering the
Congregational ministry
, but emigrated to
Patagonia
in
1881
because of ill-health; there he became a prominent member of the
Welsh
settlement, as
teacher
,
farmer
,
tradesman
, and
preacher
. Returning to
Wales
after forty years abroad, he d. at
Rhyl
28 March 1926
, and was buried at
Brithdir
. His book
Ar Lannau'r Camwy
was published in
1927
, and it contains his reminiscences and valuable material relating to the history of the
Welsh
Colony during
1880-1920
.
Bibliography:
-
W. M. Hughes
,
Ar Lannau'r Camwy
;
-
R. Bryn Williams
,
Rhyddiaith y Wladfa
, Denbigh Gwasg Gee,
1949
, 47-50.
Author:
Rev. Richard Bryn Williams, M.A., (1902-81), Rhuthyn / Aberystwyth
