Elegy
MERTHYR TYDFIL LIBRARY :
The 1841 Census for Dowlais has been
lost. When I referred to Joshua Prosser having been a leader of the Calvinistic
Methodists the Librarian retrieved a book, written about 1900 on the History
of Hermon Chapel in Dowlais. In this I found references to Joshua Prosser.
An English translation of relevant sections by Brian Davies, a neighbour
gave me :
Pages 17 & 18 "In this
period (early 19th C) Josua Prosser first came into the history
of the faith in this area, and for the next forty years his name is pre-eminent
in connection with the church as illustrated in the following remarks.
He was born in 1768, at a farm named Cwm Colyn in the parish of
Merthyr Cynog, Breconshire. His father died when he was three years old.
His mother was a firm believer in education and her son received all the
opportunities available to him at that time. He learned to read and count,
he was fluent in English. She thought that he should be
proficient in Music, and he frequently
attended the musical services at the local parish church. Faith was not
paramount in his priorities at that time, but he did maintain a link through
the sanctity of worship.
On attaining manhood he married, and his attention was turned towards the
works ( presumably the Dowlais Works). He established his roots
in Dowlais and remained here for the rest of his life."
Pages 18-19 " At
that time the congregation at Ynysgau Chapel, Merthyr was renowned for
its singing and Prosser went there to enjoy himself.
When he was forty years old he went to hear Richard Lewis of Tredegar preaching
in the home of Thomas Davies. He thereafter became a convert to Methodism.
He devoted all his energy to the work of the Sunday School in Dowlais.
He took his Bible to work with him and he became conversant with the scriptures.
he admitted to having more of an appetite for "the word" than for food
in the mornings. In the Church meetings he would often take the reading
and lead the prayers, and when he rose from his seat in regal fashion the
people grasped every word he
spoke. He was a man of strong
character, led by example, never used corporal punishment- his quiet manner
and spoken word was reprimand enough. He and Josua Davies represented the
Church in the "Seiat".
Page 29
"He had four children- two boys and two girls, and they followed their
father in their love for music. His daughters, Phoebe and Bettws
Prosser, were the principal singers at Dowlais in their day; and Rhys,
one of the sons, was the conductor of the local choir. He was, for a while,
in France, and became impressed with their church music and also developed
himself into becoming an accomplished violinist. On his return home in
1849 he formed a choir, and performed many of the choral works of Mozart.
He did not have a good singing voice, and led the choir
from the instument." ( could
this be the violin?)
The book confirmed Rees (Rhys) as his son , mentions Rees`s time in France
(Decazeville) and gave lots of additional information on Joshua and his
family.
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