Dic Penderyn
Encyclopedia
Richard Lewis, better known as Dic Penderyn (1808 – August 13, 1831), was a Welsh
labourer and coal miner
who was involved with the Merthyr Rising of June 3, 1831. In the course of the riot he was arrested alongside Lewis Lewis, one of the primary figures in the uprising, and charged with stabbing a soldier with a bayonet. The people of Merthyr Tydfil doubted his guilt, and signed a petition for his release. However, he was found guilty and hanged on August 23. After his death he was treated as a martyr in Merthyr and across Britain.
, Glamorgan
, South Wales
, and moved to the Merthyr Tydfil
area with his family in 1819 so that his father could work in the local coal mines. His nickname comes from the village of Penderyn near Hirwaun
in the Cynon Valley
, where he lived. He was literate with some chapel schooling. His sister Elizabeth was married to a well known Methodist preacher Morgan Howells. It seems that Richard was a relative of radical leader Lewis Lewis who was from Penderyn
, and went to live with him there around 1828.
attached to a gun. This incident was alleged to have happened outside the Castle Inn. Private Black's injuries were not fatal, and he did not identify either Lewis Lewis or Richard Lewis; nevertheless, both were convicted and sentenced to death. There is no evidence that Dic played any substantial part in the rising at all unlike Lewis who was definitely involved. Both were held in Cardiff gaol.
Lewis Lewis had his sentence commuted to transportation
, largely thanks to the testimony of a Special Constable
, John Thomas, whom Lewis had shielded from the rioters. The people of Merthyr Tydfil were convinced that Dic Penderyn was not responsible for the stabbing, and 11,000 signed a petition demanding his release, even the conservative Cambrian newspaper objected. Joseph Tregelles Price, a Quaker ironmaster from Neath, who went to console the two condemned men, was immediately convinced of Penderyn's innocence and went to Merthyr to gather evidence for this. He persuaded the trial judge that the sentence was unsafe. The Home Secretary Lord Melbourne
, well known for his severity, delayed the execution for two weeks, but refused to reduce the sentence despite pleas not only from workers but the Welsh establishment. It seems the execution occurred solely because Lord Melbourne wanted a scapegoat to blame for the Rising and to set a deterrent example to others.
in St. Mary's Street, Cardiff (current St Marys Street entrance to Cardiff Market
), on August 13 at the age of 23. According to popular reports his wife was pregnant at the time, and had a miscarriage as a result. His last words were: "O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd" or "Oh Lord, here is iniquity."
Thousands flocked to escort his body to his grave through the Vale of Glamorgan, and listened to a funeral sermon from his brother in law Morgan Howells. He is buried in St Mary's churchyard, Port Talbot
near Aberavon, where a memorial was placed on his grave by local trades unionists in 1966. A plaque to Dic Penderyn can now also be found at the entrance to Cardiff Market on St Mary's Street, Cardiff. Regarded as a martyr his death further embittered relations between Welsh workers and the authorities and strengthened the Trade Union
movement and Chartism
in the run up to the Newport Rising
.
Interest in the case has remained strong. Harri Webb
wrote a booklet on it. In 1972 Alexander Cordell
wrote the popular novel The Fire People, set against the background of the Merthyr Rising. Cordell did considerable research and an appendix to the book presents evidence suggesting he may have been unjustly condemned to be hanged. The book added to the interest in the case. In 1977 a memorial to a ‘Martyr of the Welsh Working Class’ was unveiled at Merthyr public library by the general secretary of the TUC, and sections from Cordell's book were read out.
After reading Cordell's book, Welsh singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph
wanted to write a song telling the story of Dic Penderyn. Cordell warned him to be sure to do Penderyn justice. Upon completing the song, Joseph sent the song to Cordell, who said that he had done "a beautiful thing."
Huw Pudner and Chris Hastings have written a folk song called The Gates Of Cardiff Gaol about the Merthyr Uprising and the execution of Dic Penderyn.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
labourer and coal miner
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
who was involved with the Merthyr Rising of June 3, 1831. In the course of the riot he was arrested alongside Lewis Lewis, one of the primary figures in the uprising, and charged with stabbing a soldier with a bayonet. The people of Merthyr Tydfil doubted his guilt, and signed a petition for his release. However, he was found guilty and hanged on August 23. After his death he was treated as a martyr in Merthyr and across Britain.
Life
Lewis was born in AberavonAberavon
Aberavon is a settlement in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. The town derived its name from being near the mouth of the river Afan, which also gave its name to a medieval lordship. Today it is essentially a district of Port Talbot, covering the central and south western part of the town...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, and moved to the Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
area with his family in 1819 so that his father could work in the local coal mines. His nickname comes from the village of Penderyn near Hirwaun
Hirwaun
Hirwaun is the name of a village at the northwest end of the Cynon Valley in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The village of Hirwaun is from the town of Aberdare, and comes under Aberdare for postal reasons...
in the Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
, where he lived. He was literate with some chapel schooling. His sister Elizabeth was married to a well known Methodist preacher Morgan Howells. It seems that Richard was a relative of radical leader Lewis Lewis who was from Penderyn
Penderyn
Penderyn may refer to:*Penderyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf, a village in Wales*Penderyn , a whisky produced by Penderyn Distillery...
, and went to live with him there around 1828.
Trial
Along with Lewis Lewis (or Lewsyn yr Heliwr), the main leader of the Merthyr rising, Dic Penderyn was arrested for stabbing Private Donald Black of the Highland Regiment, using a bayonetBayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
attached to a gun. This incident was alleged to have happened outside the Castle Inn. Private Black's injuries were not fatal, and he did not identify either Lewis Lewis or Richard Lewis; nevertheless, both were convicted and sentenced to death. There is no evidence that Dic played any substantial part in the rising at all unlike Lewis who was definitely involved. Both were held in Cardiff gaol.
Lewis Lewis had his sentence commuted to transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
, largely thanks to the testimony of a Special Constable
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
, John Thomas, whom Lewis had shielded from the rioters. The people of Merthyr Tydfil were convinced that Dic Penderyn was not responsible for the stabbing, and 11,000 signed a petition demanding his release, even the conservative Cambrian newspaper objected. Joseph Tregelles Price, a Quaker ironmaster from Neath, who went to console the two condemned men, was immediately convinced of Penderyn's innocence and went to Merthyr to gather evidence for this. He persuaded the trial judge that the sentence was unsafe. The Home Secretary Lord Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
, well known for his severity, delayed the execution for two weeks, but refused to reduce the sentence despite pleas not only from workers but the Welsh establishment. It seems the execution occurred solely because Lord Melbourne wanted a scapegoat to blame for the Rising and to set a deterrent example to others.
Death
Penderyn was hanged outside Cardiff gaol on the gallowsGallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
in St. Mary's Street, Cardiff (current St Marys Street entrance to Cardiff Market
Cardiff Market
Cardiff Market , also known as Cardiff Central Market , is a Victorian indoor market in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff city centre, capital city of Wales.Originally the site of Cardiff gaol, the gallows were located on the site of the current St...
), on August 13 at the age of 23. According to popular reports his wife was pregnant at the time, and had a miscarriage as a result. His last words were: "O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd" or "Oh Lord, here is iniquity."
Thousands flocked to escort his body to his grave through the Vale of Glamorgan, and listened to a funeral sermon from his brother in law Morgan Howells. He is buried in St Mary's churchyard, Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
near Aberavon, where a memorial was placed on his grave by local trades unionists in 1966. A plaque to Dic Penderyn can now also be found at the entrance to Cardiff Market on St Mary's Street, Cardiff. Regarded as a martyr his death further embittered relations between Welsh workers and the authorities and strengthened the Trade Union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement and Chartism
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
in the run up to the Newport Rising
Newport Rising
The Newport Rising was the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain, when on 4 November 1839, somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 Chartist sympathisers, including many coal-miners, most with home-made arms, led by John Frost, marched on the town of Newport,...
.
Aftermath
In 1874, a man named Ianto Parker confessed on his death bed, in the United States, to the Reverend Evan Evans that he stabbed Black and then fled to America fearing capture by the authorities, thus exonerating Dic Penderyn. Another man named James Abbott, who testified against Penderyn at the trial, also later admitted that he lied under oath.Interest in the case has remained strong. Harri Webb
Harri Webb
Harri Webb was an Anglo-Welsh poet, journalist and Welsh nationalist.Harri Webb was born on 7 September 1920 at 45 Ty Coch Road on the outskirts of Swansea, but before he was two the family moved to Catherine Street, much nearer the city centre...
wrote a booklet on it. In 1972 Alexander Cordell
Alexander Cordell
Alexander Cordell was the pen-name of George Alexander Graber, a prolific Welsh novelist and author of thirty acclaimed works including Rape of the Fair Country, The Hosts of Rebecca and Song of the Earth....
wrote the popular novel The Fire People, set against the background of the Merthyr Rising. Cordell did considerable research and an appendix to the book presents evidence suggesting he may have been unjustly condemned to be hanged. The book added to the interest in the case. In 1977 a memorial to a ‘Martyr of the Welsh Working Class’ was unveiled at Merthyr public library by the general secretary of the TUC, and sections from Cordell's book were read out.
After reading Cordell's book, Welsh singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph is a Welsh singer-songwriter whose music exhibits primarily a brand of Celtic and folk, while his songwriting is often focused on social lament or protest...
wanted to write a song telling the story of Dic Penderyn. Cordell warned him to be sure to do Penderyn justice. Upon completing the song, Joseph sent the song to Cordell, who said that he had done "a beautiful thing."
Huw Pudner and Chris Hastings have written a folk song called The Gates Of Cardiff Gaol about the Merthyr Uprising and the execution of Dic Penderyn.
Song, verse & word
- Dic Penderyn (The Ballad Of Richard Lewis) - Martyn JosephMartyn JosephMartyn Joseph is a Welsh singer-songwriter whose music exhibits primarily a brand of Celtic and folk, while his songwriting is often focused on social lament or protest...
(Song) - The Fire People - Alexander CordellAlexander CordellAlexander Cordell was the pen-name of George Alexander Graber, a prolific Welsh novelist and author of thirty acclaimed works including Rape of the Fair Country, The Hosts of Rebecca and Song of the Earth....
(Novel) - The Angry Vineyard - Rhydwen WilliamsRhydwen WilliamsRobert Rhydwenfro Williams, known as Rhydwen Williams , was a Welsh poet, novelist and Baptist minister. His work is mainly written in his native Welsh language, and is noted for adapting the established style and context of Welsh poetry from a rural and bygone age to that of a modern industrial...
(Novel) - Dic Penderyn and other poems - John Stuart Williams
- All Things Betray TheeAll Things Betray TheeAll Things Betray Thee, by Gwyn Thomas, is a novel of early industrialism in South Wales. It was first published in 1949, and was republished in 1986 with an introduction by Raymond Williams...
- Gwyn ThomasGwyn Thomas (novelist)Gwyn Thomas was a Welsh writer who has been called 'the true voice of the English-speaking valleys'.-Early life:...
(Novel, based on Penderyn's story) - Dic Penderyn - Islwyn ap Nicholas - (biography)
- My Land's Shore (musical - Christopher J Orton & Robert Gould)
- The Gates of Cardiff Jail by Huw Pudner and Chris Hastings (Folk ballad)
- Only A Matter Of Time & Time Added On For Injuries by Alan PlaterAlan PlaterAlan Frederick Plater, CBE, FRSL was an English playwright and screenwriter, who worked extensively in British television from the 1960s to the 2000s.-Career:...
(Pair of plays) - "Dic Penderyn" by Meic Stevens, on the 1972 album "Gwymon" and also the compilation album "Disgwyl Rhywbeth Gwell i Ddod" which is available on iTunes
- Dic Penderyn (on 1987 album "Cause for Complaint" by folk rock band The Chartists, Sung by Laurence Eddy) - John Stuart Williams / Geoff Cripps (Song)