Maria Jane Williams

Maria Jane Williams was a 19th-century Welsh musician and folklorist born at Aberpergwm House, Glynneath in the historic county of Glamorganshire, South Wales. She was the second daughter of Rees Williams of Aberpergwm in the Vale of Neath and Ann Jenkins of Fforest, Ystradfellte and the sister of William Williams, her eldest briother, who was the first to suggest the formation of a Welsh Manuscripts Society. From an early age Williams displayed she displayed an extraordinary talent for music. She won several Eisteddfodic prizes. However, perhaps she is most highly regarded for her book The Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morgannwg which rescued many Welsh songs from obscurity, including Y Deryn Pur and Y Ferch o'r Sger .