Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

THE WREXHAM REGISTRAR. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE REV. PETER ROBERTS. It is presumed (hat short notices of Emin¬ ent Men, natives of this locality, or, of those who have been in any way prominently con¬ nected with this Town or neighbourhood, will be acceptable to many of our readers. Under this impression we readily insert the follow¬ ing sketch, and shall be obliged to any of our readers or correspondents who will, from time to time, furnish us with similar sketches of departed worth.—Ed. The late Rev. Peter Roberts, was born in the Parish of Rhiwabon, in the County of Denbigh, about the year 1760. His father John Roberts, was the younger son of a freeholder in that parish, and descended from a family, which had, for many genera¬ tions, occupied their small domain, called Tai'n-y-Nant, without any material change in their circumstan¬ ces. He was by trade a clock-maker, and established himself in that busi¬ ness, first at his native village, Rhi¬ wabon, bat afterwards removed to Wrexham. He was an honest and respectable man ; but, though he en¬ joyed the means, he inconsiderately neglected the opportunity of estab¬ lishing his family in a state of com¬ fortable competency. His wife was nearly allied to the ancient family of the Middletons of Chirk Castle. Their son and only child, Peter Roberts, was sent, at a very early age to the grammar-school at Wrexham, which was then in great repute, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Davis, after¬ wards rector of Llanarmon Dyfryn Ceiriog. His early proficiency was very conspicuous, and gave, even at that time, no obscure indication of bis subsequent celebrity. He employed his leisure hours upon various me¬ chanical curiosities, for which he displayed a remarkable genius. Of music he continued, at all times, to be an enthusiastic admirer, and he was enabled, when very young to enjoy his favourite amusement, by playing upon a dulcimer of his own construction. He also attempted to make a telescope. Having remained at Wrexham un¬ til the age of fifteen or sixteen, he removed to the grammar school at St. Asaph, and, as is generally un¬ derstood, in the double character of pupil and assistant. The school at St. Asaph was then in a very flour-* ishing state, under the superintend¬ ence of the Rev. Peter Williams, afterwards vicar of Bettws Alergel- ey, and, besides a great number of pupils from the neighbouring coun¬ ties, there were several from Ireland. Dr. Usher, then a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and afterwards pro¬ fessor of astronomy in that university, came over at this period to North Wales, and resided there for several months. By some accident now un¬ known, or, perhaps, by direct in¬ formation from the Irish scholars, he became acquainted with Peter Roberts, and, as he highly appreciated his character and talents, strongly en¬ couraged him to transfer his studies, under his auspices, to the university of Dublin. With this proposal, which, in his financial difficulties presented, probably, the only chance of an university education, and obvi¬ ously opened a wide field to his liter¬ ary ambition, our young student read¬ ily complied, and entering as sizar in that celebrated seat of learning, very