Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/418

 125), was the first to suggest, in 1836, the formation of the Welsh Manuscripts Society.

In 1826–7 Jane made a collection of the fairy tales of the Vale of Neath, which were first published in the supplemental volume of Crofton Croker's ‘Irish Fairy Legends’ (1828, iii. 207 et seq.), and subsequently reprinted in an abridged form in the ‘Fairy Mythology’ (ed. 1850, pp. 414–19) of Thomas Keightley (1789–1872) [q. v.], at whose suggestion the collection seems to have been originally made. She and her sister were regular attendants at the Eisteddfodau held at Abergavenny under the patronage of Lady Llanover, and at the fourth annual meeting in October 1837 (not 1838, as stated on the title-page; see Seren Gomer, November 1837) she was awarded the prize for the best collection of unpublished Welsh music. This was published in 1844 under the title of ‘Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morganwg’ (Llandovery, fol.), with Welsh words and a few translations supplied by Crofton Croker and others. This collection, which is arranged for the harp or pianoforte, was formed by noting down the various airs from the songs of the peasantry, chiefly in the Vale of Neath, the best known of the airs thus rescued being ‘Y Deryn Pur’ and ‘The Maid of Sker.’ Miss Williams subsequently noted down many additional airs (which after her death were delivered to Lady Llanover with a view to publication), and she also rendered much assistance to John Parry (1776–1851) [q. v.] when preparing the last edition of his ‘Welsh Harper’ (1848), as well as to Brinley Richards and John Thomas (1795–1871) [q. v.] for their respective collections of Welsh songs.

In October 1838, at the ensuing Eisteddfod, another prize for the best arrangement of any Welsh air for four voices was awarded to Miss Williams (Seren Gomer, November 1838). She was also a most skilful player both on the harp and guitar, while she was described by Henry Fothergill Chorley [q. v.] as being ‘in her day the most exquisite amateur singer he had ever heard’ (All the Year Round, 3 Oct. 1863, p. 131; cf., Letters, pp. 38, 50).

She died in 1873 at Ynyslas, a house close to Aberpergwm, in which she had spent most of her life, and was buried at Aberpergwm chapel. A sketch of her as a young girl, with a guitar in her hand, was reproduced in the ‘Red Dragon’ for June 1883.

[In addition to the authorities cited, information was kindly supplied as to Jane Williams (Ysgafell) by her niece, Miss Eleanor M. Williams, Aylestone Hill, Hereford, and the Hon. Miss Emma Laura Shaw-Lefevre, who were the executrices of her will; see also Notes and Queries, 20 Nov. 1869; Old Welsh Chips, p. 313; and Poole's Illustrated Hist. of Breconshire. As to Jane Williams of Aberpergwm, information was kindly supplied by his Honour Judge Gwilym Williams; see also the Literary Remains of the Rev. T. Price (Carnhuanawc), ii. 95; Bishop Thirlwall's Letters to a Friend, p. 6; and M. O. Jones, Cerddorion Cymreig (Welsh Musicians), pp. 143, 160.] 

WILLIAMS, JOHN, (1500?–1559), born about 1500, was the second son of Sir John Williams of Burfield, Buckinghamshire, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Richard More of Burfield. His father sprang originally from Glamorganshire, and was a kinsman of Thomas Cromwell alias Williams, whose service John Williams entered. He is also described as a servant to Wolsey and to Henry VIII (, Hist. of Thame Church, pp. 410–15). On 6 April 1530 he was appointed a clerk of the king's jewels, with a salary of twenty marks, in succession to Thomas Wyatt (Letters and Papers, iv. 6418 [27]). On 6 March following he was made receiver of the lands of Edward Stafford, third duke of Buckingham [q. v.] On 8 May 1531 he received a grant in reversion of the office of principal clerk of the king's jewels. In 1535 he was placed on the commission of the peace for Oxford, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, and in April 1536 he was associated with Cromwell in the office of master or treasurer of the king's jewels (ib. x. 776 [1]). During the northern rebellions of that year he was ‘called by the council to hear matters and keep a register of accusations’ (ib. xi. 888). On 15 Oct. 1537 he was present at the christening of Prince Edward, and on 12 July 1538 was granted the receivership of the lands of Woburn Abbey. He had himself acted as visitor of the monasteries at Winchester and elsewhere. In November he was pricked for sheriff of Oxfordshire, and in 1539 obtained some of the lands of the dissolved monastery of St. Mary, Thame. He is said to have been knighted on 18 Oct. 1537 (, Complete Peerage, viii. 140), but he is first so styled in contemporary documents on 29 Sept. 1539. The dissolution of the greater monasteries brought him further grants of land (see Letters and Papers, vols. xiv–xvi. passim, esp. xvi. 779 [21]), and on Cromwell's attainder he succeeded as sole keeper of the king's jewels. On Christmas eve 1541 there was a great fire at his house in Elsingspital, during which many of the jewels were stolen