This page introduces the reader to the genealogy and history of the James Family of South Wales, famous for producing the authors of the Welsh National Anthem. I became interested in this subject through researching my own Welsh family history, which also includes a James family. While I have not established a definite link between my family and the "Anthem" family, I have collected a wealth of information which will be of interest to genealogists and people with an interest in Welsh culture. Much of the research presented has been carried out by other researchers, and I have endeavoured to acknowledge their work herein. I would welcome any additional information or questions regarding any James families from the same area of South Wales.
On his family tree charts, Jack HILL of Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia states that this is the "Caerphilly branch" of the family, and that there were two other branches, one in "Monmouth" and one in "West Wales". He does not give any sources for these statements.
Tom LEYSHON of Poole, Dorset, England has written that the earliest known progenitor of this family was a woollen manufacturer of Caerphilly. He states that 1750 "... is the year when Evan JAMES's father started the family [woollen manufacturing] business in Caerphilly".
This earliest known Mr JAMES had a son, Evan JAMES, mentioned above and born 1773, who continued the woollen manufacturing business said to have been established by his father.
To find out more about Evan JAMES, woollen manufacturer of Caerphilly, click here.
The Welsh National Anthem was written by two descendants of Evan JAMES. His son, Evan JAMES (born 1809), and his son, James JAMES (born 1832), in 1856, composed a patriotic song which rapidly gained popularity as the Welsh National Anthem.
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Peter J Williams
