William Maurice (antiquary)
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William Maurice | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1620 Cefn-y-braich, Llansilin, Denbighshire, Wales |
| Died | 1680 (aged 59–60) Cefn-y-braich, Llansilin, Denbighshire, Wales |
| Occupation | Antiquary |
| Parent | Lewis Maurice (father) |
William Maurice (1620–1680) was a well-known seventeenth-century collector and transcriber of Welsh manuscripts and books from Denbighshire, Wales.
Mid life
Maurice collected Welsh literature. He had so many books and manuscripts that he built a three-storey library near his home in Cefn-y-Braich called "the Study" in which to store them.[1][3] He spent much of his time there.[4] His collection of books was a fac simile of Friar Baeon's Study, because his library was similar to Roger Bacon's books and manuscripts.[4][5][6] Maurice was associated with the antiquary Robert Vaughan in the collecting and maintaining of these ancient Welsh manuscripts and books that ultimately became a collection of the Hengwrt-Peniarth library, an important part of the National Library of Wales.[7][8][9] Maurice cataloged the Hengwrt manuscript collection in 1658.[10] Many manuscripts are in Maurice's own hand.[A]
Genealogy
Maurice's father was Lewis Maurice, from the family line of Moeliwrch of Powys, Wales.[3] He is descended maternally from the sister of Owain Glyndŵr. Maurice married Laetitia, a descendant of Glyndwr's opponent Henry Bolinbroke.[4] Maurice had a daughter named Laetitia (also known as Anne),[11] who inherited his estate[5] and married David Williams of Glan Kynlleth.[11] Maurice's third great-grandchild was John Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley. His ninth great-grandchild is James Robert Bruce Ogilvy, founder of Luxury Briefing (a magazine about luxury items).[12]
