W. J. Parry.

William John Parry of Coetmor, labour leader and author, was born on the 28 September 1842 in Bethesda, Caernarfonshire. Active in politics throughout his life, he took a leading part in the famous 1868 election. He was a supporter of Home Rule for Wales and at the National Eisteddfod of 1882, he read a paper to the Cymmrodorion Society on Local, Provincial, and Imperial Government . This paper was not published in the Society's Transactions until 1917-1918, because it was regarded at the time as being too revolutionary. In it he proposed the reorganisation of local government, the reform of the House of Lords and the establishment of provincial councils for Wales, Scotland etc.

W. J. Parry was a member of the first Caernarfonshire County Council in 1889 and its chairman in 1892-1893. He took a prominent part in the creation of the North Wales Quarryman's Union in 1874 and became its first secretary. Later he became its president for some years. In 1879 he visited slate quarries in the United States at the Union's request.

Several books were published by him, dealing with the quarryman's affairs; Caebraichycafn : yr Ymdrafodaeth, 1875; Chwareli a Chwarelwyr, 1896; The Penrhyn Lock-out, 1900-1901; Statement and Appeal, 1901; and Cry of the People, 1906. He also edited with W. J. Williams the Welsh translation of the evidence on slate quarries and quarrymen submitted to the Royal Commission on Labour (1893).

He was active in writing for Yr Herald Cymraeg, Y Genedl Gymreig, the Caernarvon and Denbigh Herald and the North Wales Observer on labour problems, leaseholds, Crown lands, Home Rule, county councils, arbitration, etc. He was also one of the founders of the newspaper called Y Werin in 1885, and was its first editor for three years. Books of a different nature were also written by him, such as Cofiant Tanymarian, 1886; Cyfrol Jiwbili Capel Bethesda, 1900, Telyn Sankey, 1901; Cofiant Hwfa Mn, 1907; and The English Hymnal, 1907, and numerous pamphlets.

A prominent member of the University College of North Wales, it was he who sent out the first letter requesting that books be donated. He himself also presented numerous books and papers to the University library and to the National Library of Wales. He was an Independent, and a deacon at Bethesda Chapel. He was involved in the infamous battle of the two constitutions, and in the agreement to establish the Bala-Bangor College. He died on 1 September 1927 at Bethesda.

From the guide to the Coetmor Papers, 1818-1926, (Bangor University)