William Jenkyn Thomas (5 July 1870 – 14 March 1959) was a Welsh headmaster and author best known for his The Welsh Fairy Book. He was an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge and in addition to his writings worked as a lecturer and teacher. He was the first Head Master at Aberdare Intermediate School (1896-1905) and was headmaster (1905-1935) at Hackney Downs School.
His father, John Thomas, later lived in Cloddia, Llidiardau, Llanycil, on the outskirts of Bala, Merionethshire, and Jenkyn’s family are buried in the Methodist chapel there.
John Thomas (1827-1905) presented evidence totalling 6 pages to the Welsh Land Commission in the Shire Hall, Bala, in September 1893, which Jenkyn helped, in part, to prepare (National Library of Wales letter Papers of Wm George Solicitor NLW MSS (12) 4128). In this, “Siencyn” explains he is teaching Latin to D Lloyd George’s cousin and is returning to Cloddiau to assist his father.
In John Thomas’ oral submission to the commissioners of 1893, he explains that his family were tenants of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn at Gwernhefyn, Llanycil, before the battle of Waterloo.
The family connection is tenuous but present through a great uncle, John Owens (1765-1819) of Pandy Mawr who married John Thomas’ great aunt Elin Jones. John Owen’s father, Evan Owen (1726-1819) and grandfather Owen Robert (fl1717-1750) were tenants at Gwernhefyn.
Selected publications
Thomas, W. J. (1894). Penillion telyn, Rhan 1. Caernarfon: Gwymni y Cyhoeddwys Cymreig.
Thomas, W. J. (1870). Cambrensia: A literary reading book for Welsh schools. London: Edward Arnold.
Thomas, W. J. (1907). The Welsh fairy book. London: Fisher Unwin.
Thomas, W. J. (1941). Some Forgotten Welshmen. Trans. Cymmrodorion (1941) 100-114
References
- "The Welsh Fairy Book. By W. Jenkyn Thomas. (T. Fisher » 7 Dec 1907 » the Spectator Archive".
- "W. Jenkyn Thomas".
- Jones, Evan David. "THOMAS , WILLIAM JENKYN (1870 - 1959)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 5 November 2021.