Researching Edward Evans

Evans was a "bard according to the rites and ceremonies of the bards of Britain", and his pedigree is traced in one unbroken line to the ancient Druids. He was pastor at the Old Meeting House, Aberdare, from 1772 to 1798, and is said to have 'devoted his time faithfully to his religious duties, to the satisfaction of a large number of people, who attended from the country from a distance of many miles.'

He published a Welsh translation of S. Bourne's Catechism (1757), Book of Ecclesiastes done into Verse, by E. E. and Lewis Hopkin (Bristol, 1767), An Address delivered before the Association of Ministers at Dref Wen, near Newcastle Emlyn, with two Hymns (1775); and his poetical works were collected and edited by his son, Rees Evans (1778–1869), in Merthyr in 1804. Evans died on 21 June 1798, the day on which he had arranged to meet the other bards of the Chair of Glamorgan.

Evans, son of a clergyman, was born at West Meon, Hampshire, in 1573, and educated at Winchester, whence he matriculated at New College, Oxford, 10 October 1593, and took the two degrees in arts, B.A. 27 November 1598, M.A. 21 January 1602. He had been admitted fellow of his college in 1595, but resigned in 1604. On 23 December 1601 he was instituted by the college to the vicarage of Heckfield, Hampshire, which he resigned in January 1601–2.

Two years later the college presented him to the vicarage of Chesterton, Oxfordshire, 15 November 1604, where he remained until 1610. Evans, who was 'a noted preacher of his time in the university,’ published 'Verba Dierum; or, the Dayes Report of God's glory. … Foure Sermons [on Ps. xix. 2],’ 4to, Oxford, 1615. In that year he does not appear to have been beneficed.

Wood has wrongly ascribed the authorship of these sermons to another Edward Evans, who was born and educated at Llanrwst, Denbighshire, entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1598 when aged 16, and graduated B.A. 15 February 1603, M.A. 13 March 1606.

He later opened his own print shop and gradually accumulated an extensive stock. He is known for his Catalogue of a Collection of Engraved Portraits, Comprising Nearly 20,000 Portraits of Persons Connected with this Country, undated and published at Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, where he died 24 Nov. 1835, aged 46. His widow, Anne E. Evans, and son, Edward David (1818–1860, brought out a second volume in 1853 at No. 403 Strand, whither the business was moved in that year. The two volumes profess to describe about fifty thousand prints.

Edward David Evans carried on the shop in the Strand until his death there on 15 Aug. 1860, aged 42. He was succeeded by his brother and partner, Albert.