David Price (1804-1874), 1940 Bio

PRICE

Posted By: Gwawr Jones
Date: 3/7/2006 at 14:50:13

This is a translation from the Welsh by Gwawr Jones of the item on David Price from 'Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig Hyd 1940' (The Dictionary of Welsh Biography to 1940).

PRICE, DAVID ('Dewi Dinorwig'; 1804-74), a minister with the Independents and author; born in 1804 in the parish of Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfonshire. Ordained October 30 1829 as minister to the church at Capel Helyg, Llangybi [Not far from Cricieth, South Caernarfonshire, one of the oldest Congregationalist chapels in Wales]. After 2 years he left to become a minister at Penybont Fawr, near Oswestry; there he also became well-known as a lecturer on temperance. After being in Penybont Fawr for 9 years he moved (1843) to Denbigh. There he wrote a book arguing that Nonconformists should not pay Church taxes. In 1857 he emigrated to the USA, and ministered in turn in Utica, Newark (Ohio), and Williamsburg (Iowa). He wrote poetry and articles for the 'Cenhadwr Americanaidd' under the pen-name of 'Dewi Dinorwig' [Dinorwig is the name of the major Iron Age fort situated in the parish of Llanddeiniolen - 'Din' = fort, 'Orwig' comes from the name of the Celtic tribe in these parts, the Ordovices, literally 'the hammer people']. He visited Wales in 1868. He published (1) Y Catecism Cyntaf (Oswestry, 1840); (2) Darlith ar Ryddid Crefydd (Llanrwst, 1844); (3) Dyddiau y Dreth (Denbigh, 1855); (4) Yr Adeiladydd Teuluaidd (Denbigh, 1857). He died in 1874 and is buried in Forest Home, USA.

Bracketed [] comments by the translator, Gwawr Jones of Bangor, Wales.