Fonds GB 0210 BONFAN - Bontdolgadfan (Williams family) Papers,

William Williams ('Gwilym Cyfeiliog') (1801-1876), born in Winllan, Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire, was the son of Richard Williams, a Calvinistic minister and Mary Williams (formerly Howell). In about 1822, he acquired land in Bontdolgadfan, Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire, and remained there for the rest of his life, establishing a strong association with the area. He held the posts of vestry clerk, and Assistant Overseer of the Poor, 1867-1870. From 1823 his poetry and hymns (as 'Gwilym Cyfeiliog') were frequently published. His brother, the Rev. Richard Williams (1802-1842) was a Calvinistic Methodist minister at Liverpool. William Williams married three times, to Anne Evans, of Minffordd, in 1828, to Mary Morris, of Dolgwyddyl, Trefeglwys, in 1834, and to Mary Evans, of Tyn-llwyn, Llanbrynmair (d. 1891), in 1845. He had ten children, including Richard Williams, of Celynog, Newtown (1835-1906), William, Evan (c. 1855-1875), Sarah (afterwards Roberts) (c. 1865-1917) who married John Roberts in 1900, Hannah (-1889), Anne, Elen (afterwards Griffiths), Mary (afterwards Wigley) who moved to America [c. 1850] and the Rev. John Williams (1857-1908) minister at Ffestiniog, Dolgellau and Wrexham. He was involved in temperance societies in Machynlleth. John Williams' children included William Emyr, J. Baldwyn and Eluned. The family accumulated many papers relating to Llanbrynmair, including records of eisteddfodau, Bontdolgadfan Calvinistic Methodist chapel, temperance and friendly societies, and the diary of Richard Tibbott, who was Congregationalist minister of Llanbrynmair, 1741-2.