Ann Maddocks

This article refers to a Welsh maid. For the organist, see Anne Maddocks.

Ann Maddocks (born Thomas, 1704-1727) was a Welsh maid who according to tradition was forced to marry against her wishes and died pining for her true love. She is also known by the poetic name, 'The Maid of Cefn Ydfa'.

Ann Thomas was born in 1704 to William Thomas of Cefn Ydfa, Llangynwyd and his wife Catherine Price of Tynton, Llangeinor, who was sister to Rees Price, the father of philosopher Richard Price. Thomas and Price married in 1703, but her father died in 1706, and tradition tells that he had placed Ann in the wardship of Anthony Maddocks, a lawyer from Cwmrisga. Maddocks decided that Ann would marry his son, also called Anthony, and records show that the two were married on 4 May 1725.^[1]

The folklore

The legend states that Ann had fallen in love not with the wealthy Maddocks, but with the poet and thatcher, Wil Hopcyn (William Hopkin) and when discovered were forbidden to see each other. The couple continued their relationship by sending love letters to each other in secret, but when these communications were uncovered, Ann's mother took away her writing materials. Unable to be together, Hopcyn left the area, and Ann married Anthony Maddocks. Ann is said to have pined so desperately for her lover that she fell seriously ill. On her death bed she asked to see Hopcyn, and when he arrived she died in his arms.^[2]

Records show that Ann Maddocks died in 1727 and was buried on 6 June.

Interpretations

Several interpretations of the legend have been made in many different formats. Welsh antiquarian Griffith John Williams related and discussed the story in his book Y Llenor (1928). It was also the subject of a novel by Isaac Hughes.

The story of the Maid of Cefn Ydfa is commemorated in the song Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn' (Tending the white wheat) in an opera by Welsh composer Joseph Parry^[3] based on the words attributed to Wil Hopkyn and Dafydd Nicolas.^[4]

In 1904, William Haggar released a silent film, The Maid of Cefn Ydfa^[5] interperating the events, with his family cast as the main characters of the tale.

References

1. ^ Ann Maddocks National Library of Wales - Welsh Biography online
2. ^ "Maid of Cefn Ydfa">Ken John (2006-05-03). "The Maid of Cefn Ydfa". The BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/maesteg/pages/maidofcefnydfa.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-27. 
3. ^ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg499 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
4. ^ The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) pg96 ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
5. ^ The Maid of Cefn Ydfa imdb.com