Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Edwards, John (1700?-1776)

by Rees M. Jenkin Jones

EDWARDS, JOHN (Sion y Potiau) (1700?–1776), poet, born in Glyn Ceiriog in Denbighshire about 1700, was a weaver by trade, but is said in early life to have spent seven years as assistant to a bookseller in London, and during that time is supposed to have gained considerable information. He was a poet of some merit, had two sons named Cain and Abel, of whom some local poet wrote the following jingle: —

Cain ac Abal. cyn ac ebill,
Abel a Chain, ebill a chyn.

Cain gained some note as a publisher of almanacs. Edwards prepared his own monument, and inscribed thereon 1 Cor. xv. 52, in Latin. He died in 1776. His translation of Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' was published in 1767–8.

[Rowland's Cambrian Bibliography.]

R. J. J.