tional writers’ in the church of England (A. W. Haddan in the Guardian, 20 May 1865, and Haddan's Remains, pp. 527–8). He was endowed with a true poetic gift, though his lines were sometimes lacking in vigour of expression. They were composed in a ‘lower and sadder key’ than the ‘Christian Year’ of Keble, but were full of sweetness and earnestness. Several of his hymns are in the volume of ‘Hymns Ancient and Modern,’ and six of them are said to be in common use.
[Autobiography, ed. Sir G. Prevost, 1892; Churchman's Family Mag. July 1865, pp. 59–63; Church Quarterly Review, xxxiv. 332–48; Dean Church in Haddan's Remains, p. xvi; Church's Oxford Movement, pp. 57–69; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; J. H. Overton in Julian's Hymnology, pp. 1282–4; Gent. Mag. 1828 i. 267, 1853 i. 330, 1842 ii. 311; Guardian, 10 May 1865 p. 462, 17 May pp. 500, 503, 504; Welch's Harrow School, p. 50; Newman's Letters, i. 271, 411, 460, ii. 53, 75, 84; Miller's Singers of the Church, pp. 474–5; Stephens's E. A. Freeman, i. 43–50; Halkett and Laing's Anon. Literature, i. 71; Pycroft's Oxford Memories; information from the Rev. H. E. D. Blakiston of Trinity College, Oxford, and from the Rev. G. A. Williams of Hillcote, Dorking.]
WILLIAMS, JANE (1806–1885), Welsh historian and miscellaneous writer, generally known as ‘Ysgafell,’ was the daughter of David and Eleanor Williams of Riley Street, Chelsea, where she was born on 1 Feb. 1806. Her father, who held an appointment in the navy office, was descended from Henry Williams (1624?–1684) of Ysgafell, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, a convert and friend of Vavasor Powell [q. v.], with whom in 1654 he, Richard Baxter, and others, signed a remonstrance on behalf of the nonconformists of the Welsh borders against Oliver Cromwell's assumption of supreme power. After the Restoration Williams suffered much persecution, and his name is still traditionally associated in Montgomeryshire with a miraculous crop of many-eared wheat, which was regarded as a special blessing bestowed on him (Williams, Mont. Worthies, pp. 310–12).
Owing to her weak health, Miss Williams spent the first half of her life at Neuadd Felen, near Talgarth, Breconshire, where she acquired a knowledge of the language and a taste for the literature of Wales. Here she also made the acquaintance of Lady Llanover, who introduced her to many literary friends. From 1856 onward she lived in London, first at 9 Hans Place, and afterwards at 30 Oakley Crescent, Chelsea, where she died on 15 March 1885, and was buried in Brompton cemetery.
She was the author of the following works, the later of which show much literary skill, and are written in a clear and vigorous style: 1. ‘Miscellaneous Poems,’ privately printed at Brecknock, 1824, 12mo. 2. ‘Twenty Essays on the Practical Improvement of God's Providential Dispensations, as Means to the Moral Discipline to the Christian,’ London, 1838. 3. ‘Artegall; or, Remarks on the Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of Education in Wales,’ two editions, Llandovery and London, 1848, 8vo. 4. ‘Cambrian Tales,’ a series of Welsh sketches with numerous original poems interspersed, first published in Ainsworth's ‘Magazine’ for 1849–50, and reprinted in 1862 under the title ‘Celtic Fables, Fairy Tales and Legends.’ 5. ‘The Literary Remains of the Rev. Thomas Price (1787–1848) [q. v.], with a Memoir of his Life,’ Llandovery, 1854–5, 2 vols. 8vo. 6. ‘The Origin, Rise, and Progress of the Paper People; for my Little Friends,’ with eight coloured illustrations by Lady Llanover, London, 1856, 8vo. 7. ‘The Autobiography of Elizabeth Davis, a Balaclava Nurse,’ London, 1857, 2 vols. 8vo. 8. ‘The Literary Women of England’ (down to 1850), London, 1861, 8vo. 9. ‘A History of Wales derived from Authentic Sources,’ London, 1869, 8vo. This work, the result of much research, not always, perhaps, sufficiently critical, is her best production. It comes down to the end of the Tudor dynasty, and remains, even to this day, the best history of Wales in the English language.
‘A History of the Parish of Glasbury’ by Miss Williams appeared in ‘Archæologia Cambrensis’ for 1870 (4th ser. i. 306). In 1843 she translated from the original French an essay by Dr. Carl Meyer, on the comparative philology of the Celtic languages, which was subsequently given the premier position in the first number of the ‘Cambrian Journal’ (1854, i. 5). Brinley Richards, in the preface to his ‘Songs of Wales,’ acknowledged her ‘kind and valuable aid’ in the preparation of his work.
She is to be distinguished from a contemporary of the same name, who, like herself, was both a friend of Lady Llanover and a writer on the folklore and music of Wales.
(Maria) Jane Williams (1795–1873), born in 1795, was the second daughter of Rees Williams (d. 1812) of Aberpergwm in the Vale of Neath, Glamorganshire, by his wife Ann Jenkins of Fforest Ystradfellte. Southey corresponded with Rees Williams in 1802; while his son, William Williams (d. 19 March 1855), who was a considerable traveller and linguist (Cambrian Journal, ii.
