Thomas Elias (1833-1901) of Llanrwst, Denbighshire, was well known as a local genealogist and antiquary. He was knowledgeable about Welsh archaeology and regularly contributed articles to newspapers; when the British Archaeological Society held their conference at Conwy in 1897, he contributed a paper on the abbeys and monasteries of the Conwy Valley. He was interested in local politics, and was a member of the Llanrwst Urban District Council, the Llanrwst Parish Council and was a governor of the Llanrwst County School. An obituary in the Welsh Coast Pioneer describes him as a staunch Conservative and Churchman. He operated a successful brewing business at Llanrwst, which was taken over after his death by his son, Arthur E. Elias, who was a painter.
Thomas Elias' father, William Elias, was land agent to Lord Newborough of the Glynllifon Estate, Caernarfon. His great grandfather, also William Elias (1708-1787), the eminent Anglesey poet and genealogist, was a contemporary and friend of poet and cleric Goronwy Owen (1723-1769), and of the well-known Methodist preacher Lewis Morris (1760-1855), and a pupil of the poet and antiquary, Owen Gruffydd (ca. 1643-1730) of Llanystumdwy, Caernarfonshire, to which some of the material in this collection relates.
From the guide to the Elias Family Papers, 1612-1894, (Bangor University)
