Individual Details

John was a musician , generally known as ‘ John Thomas of Llanwrtyd ’. He went to a day school at Blaenannerch and to the Adpar grammar school , Newcastle Emlyn . He was apprenticed to a shopkeeper at Newcastle Emlyn but, owing to ill-health, returned to work in his father's shop, remaining at Blaenannerch till 1871 . He began to write music when he was quite young. He won prizes at the Caernarvon national eisteddfod , 1862 , for two-part songs (‘ Y Lloer ’ and ‘ Y glos loer, fugeiles lân ’) whilst his ‘ Nant y Mynydd ’ won for him the prize at the Swansea eisteddfod of 1863 . He wrote several anthems (‘ Bendigedig fyddo Arglwydd Dduw Israel ,’ ‘ Fel y brefa'r hydd ,’ and ‘ Moeswch i'r Arglwydd ’), and many hymn-tunes, of which ‘ Blaenycefn ,’ ‘ Cymod ,’ ‘ Aberporth ,’ and ‘ Ar ei ben bo'r goron ’ continue to be sung. He was also a poet ; some of his poems are given in the biography by Evan Evans , 1926 . He married Anne , daughter of the family who kept the post office at Llanwrtyd , Brecknock , and he left Blaenannerch to live at Llanwrtyd . He served as music adjudicator and as conductor of hymnody festivals in many parts of Wales . In 1920 he was awarded the degree of M.A. ( honoris causa ) by the University of Wales for his services to the Welsh nation. He d. 25 Feb. 1921 and was buried in Llanwrtyd parish churchyard.

Birth	11 Dec 1839	Tremain, Blaenannerch, Cardiganshire
Marriage	Abt 1871	Ann WILLIAMS
Residence (family)	From 1881 to 1891	the Post Office, Bridge Street, Llanwrtyd, Breconshire - Ann WILLIAMS
Occupation	From 1881 to 1891	sub-postmaster & grocer - the Post Office, Bridge Street, Llanwrtyd, Breconshire
Occupation	From 1901 to 1911	sub-postmaster, grocer & draper - the Post Office, Bridge Street, Llanwrtyd, Breconshire
Residence (family)	1901	Post Office House, Llanwrtyd, Breconshire - Ann WILLIAMS
Residence	1911	the Post Office, Bridge Street, Llanwrtyd, Breconshire
Death	25 Feb 1921	the Post Office, Bridge Street, Llanwrtyd, Breconshire
Probate	11 Jun 1921	Hereford
Burial		Llanwrtyd Parish Church, Breconshire

Spouse	Ann WILLIAMS (1842 - 1904)
Child	Annie THOMAS (1877 - 1939)

Father	Benjamin THOMAS ( - )
Mother	Nansi ( - )

Notes