Thomas Stephens

Description

Thomas Stephens was born in the year 1821 at a small place called Pontneddfychan, in the Vale of Neath. He was the son of Evan Stephens of the same place, and grandson of Rev. Wm. Williams, one of the old Nonconformist preachers ministering every Sabbath at the small chapel old Blaengwrach and maintaining himself as a weaver in the above place.

At Aberpergwm lived David Nicholas knows by numerous Welsh poems and English translations amongst them the "Fanny, blooming fair," of Lord Chesterfield. Lower down lived Rhys Jones, called Rhys Pencraignedd another Welsh poet of considerable talent, besides several other Welsh poets of more of less note. It will thus be, seen that Thomas Stephens was, nurtured in an atmosphere of poetry and antiquarianism; in his early life we have never heard of anything different concerning him to the general run of boys.

His grandfather and father, who knew the value of a good education, a sent him to a school at Neath kept by the Rev. John Davies, a Unitarian minister at that place, and who was, deemed a good classical scholar. He was there for some years, and he was wont to say, "that except in arithmetic," of which he was very fond, "he was not remarkable for unusual progress."

He made some proficiency In Latin, end at the age of fourteen he was, apprenticed to Morgan a druggist at High Street, Merthyr. He fulfilled his term, being five years, and Morgan retired and left the town. At this time, Mr. Stephens was about 19 to 20 years of age, and at the recommendation of some friend. he took to the business of his late master. During the term of his apprenticeship he was an indefatigable student, employing every spare minute, with his books, especially those relating to his country, and even at this early age he had written; some essays of considerable ability and research upon Welsh subjects, and which appeared in some newspapers, notably in the “Cambrian,” of Swansea.

But the great bent of his studies was the literature of Wales. With means now at his command, he began enriching his library with rare and valuable works and Celtic scholars who have seen them have been astonished how successful he had been in finding and securing works so valuable and so little known. For some time, the fruit of his studies resulted in several (traethodau) essays being, sent to various eisteddfodau, which in very many cases brought him prize of more, or less value.
His first literary triumph dates from 1840, when, at Liverpool eisteddfod, a prize of £5 was, awarded to him for a “History of the Life and Times of Iestyn ab Gwrgant, the last native lord of Glamorgan."
This was his first appearance in the literary tournaments of his country, and with remarkable ability and perseverance he continued his course, shrinking from no subject connected with Wales, and its literature, and faltering not even when he came into stern collision with some of the leading archaeological scholars of the time.

But the great bent of his studies was the literature of Wales. With means now at his command, he began enriching his library with rare and valuable works and Celtic scholars who have seen them have been astonished how successful he had been in finding and securing works so valuable and so little known. For some time, the fruit of his studies resulted in several (traethodau) essays being, sent to various eisteddfodau, which in very many cases brought him prize of more, or less value.
His first literary triumph dates from 1840, when, at Liverpool eisteddfod, a prize of £5 was, awarded to him for a “History of the Life and Times of Iestyn ab Gwrgant, the last native lord of Glamorgan."
This was his first appearance in the literary tournaments of his country, and with remarkable ability and perseverance he continued his course, shrinking from no subject connected with Wales, and its literature, and faltering not even when he came into stern collision with some of the leading archaeological scholars of the time.

This was a preparatory study for the greater triumph of 1848. In that year at Abergavenny a prize of £25 was, offered in the name of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, for an essay on "The Literature of Wales during the twelfth and succeeding centuries.” On this subject the Rev. Thomas Price, author of "Hanes Cymru," was a rival competitor, but when the late Archdeacon of Cardigan rose to declare the award, he said, “A new star will appear this day In the literature of Wales." "When the bardic cognomen was called out," said an eyewitness, “there was an interest and a silence of the most painful character. Again, the name rang through the building, and a pale young man rose from the reporters' box, and announced himself as Mr. Thomas Stephens, and the author of the successful essay."

This was, afterwards published under the designation of the “Literature of the Kymru," and was not only, favourably noticed in the Athenceum, the Examiner, &c., by the leading students of Welsh history and literature, but received with open arms by Count Villemarque, Henri Martin, and other literary critics in France. It also received the honour of translation into the German language by Professor Schultz, of Magdeburg, in Prussia, and as recently as the Chester Eisteddfod in September 1866, it was highly complimented by Mr. Matthew Arnold, Professor of Poetry at Oxford. At the same eisteddfod he was, awarded £5 for the best “History of Caerphilly Castle.”
In 1850, at Rhuddlan, three prizes were, awarded to him 1st, for a political essay, on the “Advantages of Resident Gentry;” 2nd, “A Biographical account of eminent Welshmen since the accession of the House of Tudor;" 3rd, "A Summary of the History of Wales."

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