Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1601x1635]-1924 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
59 volumes.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Ellis (Cynddelw), Baptist minister, poet, antiquary and commentator, was born in 1812 near Penybontfawr, Montgomeryshire. He worked as a farm hand from 1822 to 1835 whilst also cultivating an early love of literary, poetic and antiquarian matters learnt from his mother and from such literary figures as Richard Morris, Pentrefelin, and the Unionist preacher Humphrey Bromley. He joined the Baptist chapel at Gefailrhyd in 1832 and began to preach in 1834. The following year he gained some schooling under the Baptist minister and writer John Williams, Llansilin. Thereafter, he was to minister at Llanelian and Llanddulas (1836-1838), Glynceiriog (1838-1842), Sirhowy (1847-1862) and Caernarfon (1862-1875). A multi-talented individual, Cynddelw was an eloquent preacher, speaker and lecturer, a fine poet and eisteddfodic adjudicator and a prolific author. He edited several poetical works, including Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru (Caernarfon, [?1864]) and Geiriadur y Bardd (Caernarfon, [?1874]). He produced Geiriadur Cymreig Cymraeg (Caernarfon, 1868), a dictionary of Welsh words explained in Welsh. His antiquarian publications include Manion Hynafiaethol (Treherbert, 1873) and a contribution of eighteen chapters to Gweirydd ap Rhys's Hanes y Brytaniaid a'r Cymry (Llundain, 1872-1874). His attachment to his Baptist denomination remained strong; he was editor of Y Tyst Apostolaidd from 1846 to 1850, Y Tyst in 1851 and Y Greal from 1852 to 1853, and wrote biographical works on the Baptist ministers John Williams, Rhosllanerchrugog, and Ellis Evans, Cefn Mawr. Cynddelw died at his old home, Gartheryr, between Oswestry and Llanrhaeadr, whilst on a preaching and lecturing tour in 1875. A collection of his poetical works, Barddoniaeth Cynddelw, was published in 1877.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
David Williams (biographer of Robert Ellis); Brynsaithmarchog; Purchase; 1935.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, [1600x1924], mostly of or relating to Robert Ellis (Cynddelw), with some in the hand of Dr Robert Ellis, his son. The material includes a draft autobiography of Robert Ellis; an introduction written for a collection of Ellis's work under the proposed title Mwyar Berwyn; a draft of part of the first chapter of a biography of John Williams, Baptist minister (Llangollen, 1871); notes for Esboniad ar y Testament Newydd Cyfrol III (Llangollenn, 1878); poetry; diaries, 1840-1866; correspondence, 1833-1875; sermons; lectures; essays; adjudications at eisteddfodau, [1860x1875]; and miscellaneous notes, transcripts and extracts. The collection also includes letters, 1835-1856, of John Williams, Baptist minister; a rental, 1725-1726, of the estate of Watkin Williams Wynn; commonplace books of John Davies, Pentrefoelas, Griffith Williams (Gutyn Peris) and others, together with further collections of miscellany in seventeenth and eighteenth century hands; and autograph sermons by Christmas Evans.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 10216-10274.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library. = Disgwylir i ddarllenwyr sydd am ddefnyddio papurau modern yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru gydymffurfio รข Deddf Gwarchod Data 1998 yng nghyd-destun unrhyw brosesu ganddynt o ddata personol a gasglwyd o gofnodion modern sydd ar gadw yn y Llyfrgell. Nodir y manylion yn yr wybodaeth a roddir wrth wneud cais am Docyn Darllen.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- English
- Welsh
Script of material
Language and script notes
Welsh, English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume III (Aberystwyth, 1961), pp. 200-208.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
The papers were used extensively in the compilation of Rev. David Williams, Cofiant Cynddelw (Caernarfon, 1935).
Notes area
Note
Formerly Cynddelw MSS 1-59.
Note
Title based on contents.
Note
Printed books once included in the archive are held in NLW.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Ellis, Robert, 1812-1875 -- Archives (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
August 2008 & May 2011.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume III (Aberystwyth, 1961); Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig hyd 1940 (Llundain, 1953); Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru (Llandysul, 1986); Cronfa Capeli on-line; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography on-line.
Archivist's note
Description compiled by Bethan Ifan for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS, and revised by Bethan Ifan.