The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-24
GRAVE IS LOCATED
OF FAMOUS POET
Descendant of Rev. Gronow
Owen, of Wales, Finds Burial
Place in Brunswick County.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.l

lSpeCiaI TO The Times DiSpatCh.1
Lawrenceviile. Va, May 23.-An in
teresting story of a former rather OBJ
scure. though later n famous poet, who
once resided In Brunswick County, was
revived by the search of David Lloyd
OF Wales. who came to Lawrencevllle
recently seeking the burial place and
the relatives of one OF his ancestors
Row Gronow owen, rector of St An
drews Parish. Brunswick County. 1900
1883. With the help Of Rev ~. =. Gray
Jr. present rector OF st. Andrews
Church. and r. 7. Michael. OF Law
renceville. MIR. Lloyd spent several
days examining the old parish and
county records, and In questioning old
Inhabitants as to the traditions of the
life and death Of his relative, Gronow
owen.
Enough information was obtained to
make 1t possible to locate the origin
owen plantation. After interviewing
the owners of the farms into which
the plantation was divided, the party
was able to locate what is firmly be-
lieved to be the burial place of Rev.
Gronow owen. famous Welsh poet.
1t Is on the land OF prosperous
negro farmer. Green Allen. In the Reedy
Creek neighborhood. The lot is over
grown with vines and underbrush. and
no stone nor inscription marks the
grave.
Rev Gronow owen was Welsh
minister of scholarly and high literary
attachments. During his short poetcal
and clerical career IN Wales. Rev.
Goronwy Owen. as the Welsh called
him, drifted from one charge to an
other. and finally he came to the Vir-
ginia colony in 1855. where he was
made n professor In william and Mary
College. After several years connec-
ton with that school he was dismissed
1T.
n row between the students and
crowd of Williamsburg men.
The next heard of him was when
no presented himself at st. Andrews
Parish. Brunswick County. with an APP
Dointment from the Hon. Francis
Fauquier. Esqr.. His Majesty's Lieu
tenant Governor and Commander
Chief OF the Colony and Dominion of
Virginia" establishing tho Rev. Gro
now owen as minister of the Church
of England In charge of st. Andrews
Parish. Although the members OF the
parish wished to try another minister
the Governor would not permit them
TO do so. for each Governor appointed
the ministers OF the Church Of England
Tor the parishes In his colony. The
new minister WAS paid the usual salary
OF $4,000 pounds OF tobacco per year,
which was equivalent TO about $500.
The old Brunswick County court
book gives some explanation OF the
cause Of the minister's unsettled life
In his own country and OF his troubles
at William and Mary "At court held
Tor Brunswick County. 9th May. 1855.
Rev Gronow Owen was presented by
grand jury for getting drunk and
swearing"
Another entry states: Same did not
appear for trial and Is fined i've shiI-
lings. or nifty pounds OF tobacco, TO be
paid TO the church wardens."
The date OF his death ls not known
but the old viii book of this county
shows that his viii Was probated March
IS. 1870.
Before coming to America. and while
here. Gronow owen devoted consider
able time to writing patriotic songs
and ballads. As In the cases OF many,
other poets their genius was not mp
prec!ated by those around them and
Gronow owen was not recognized by
his parishioners as II great man.
About 1850 n literary society of Lon
don wrote TO Brunswick for information
regarding Rev. Goronowy owen. his
burial place and his descendants This
society had recognized his genius many
years after his death, and il was ann
ious TO erect a monument in honor OF
h!m rs one of the greatest Welsh poets
and author of one OF the finest of their
patriotic songs.
His biography has been written and
his poems were collected and published
in Wales President Tyler. OF William
and Mary. published several years ago
an article in the William and Mary
Quarterly, in which he characterized
tronow Owen as the greatest poet that
lived for any length OF time In America
during the eighteenth century.
The story of the eccentric, wandering
and poetic Gronow Owen had been for
gotten by local people until 1t was re-
called 10 them by the searches of Mr.
Lloyd. 1t is likely that monun Ant
OF some kind will be erected soon TO
mark the grave OF this distinguished
poet.
L. S. Circuit Court Of Appeals.
INC United SthteS Circuit Court Of A nneals