Will Llaw Wan's real name was William David
James. He was also called Big Will. He was probably called Will
Law Wan because of his fondness for taking other people's money.
He lived in Cnwckynduoer. The house is still there if you take
the last turning on the left before you get to Cross Inn from
Pennant.
He was born in 1792 but not in this parish. In the indictment
read out at the Grand Sessions held in Cardigan on 17th September
1821 he was described as a labourer and his age was given as 29.
For the robbery of Pantmarw he was committed on 28th June 1821
by A. Thomas Jones Gwynne, Esq., charged upon the oath of John
Francis. He was three months in gaol until his trial on 17th September
1821 before Samuel Heywood, Sergeant at Law, Chief Justice. In
the meantime he made three attempts to escape and because of this
he was placed in irons. For fixing the irons Humphrey Morris of
Cardigan was paid £1.5.6.
It cost the County of Cardigan £34 to prosecute Will Llaw
Wan. This included witness fees.
Hugh Mathew, his wife Catherine and the servant girl received
£11. For supplying the timber and erecting and taking down
the gallows Thomas Oliver, a carpenter of Cardigan, received £8.5.0.
Will Llaw Wan was hanged on the 15th October 1821 in the presence
of a large crowd of people. He met his death bravely and admonished
young people to beware of sin. He then prayed for nearly three
quarters of an hour. He acknowledged the justice of his sentence
and admitted to another crime for which an innocent man had been
convicted.
Shortly afterwards Thomas Harris wrote a ballad on these events
entitled "Can Newydd yn rhoddi Hanes Alarus am William James,
yr hwn a gafodd ei ddihenyddio yn Aberteifi, ar dydd Sadwrn, Hydref
15 fed 1821, yn ain oed. Cenir ar Fryniau'r Iwerddon." Carfyrddin.
Argraffwyd gan Jonathan Harries, Porth Tywyll, 1821. This ballead
ran to more than eighteen verses.