John Ystumllyn
John Ystumllyn (c.1740 - 1786) was a garderner and estate worker, living most of his life around Criccieth, North Wales.. It is thought that he had been a slave, originating in West Africa. Unlike most victims of the Slave Trade, we know much about his life.
John was given his name when he was christened following his arrival in North Wales in the service of the Wynn family. He was named after their Ystumllyn estate near Criccieth.
John was sent to work in the gardens of the estate. He had a good education, learning both English and Welsh (making him possibly one of the first bilingual non-white Welsh residents), as well as horticulture.
The 1754 portrait of John (right) by an unknown artist shows a vigorous young man, probably in his teenage years, in green livery.
He began a relationship with a local girl, Margaret Grufydd. The pair eventually married in 1768, after John ran away from his job on the estate - although he later returned to working for the Wynns. He had been a land steward as well as gardener.
John and Margaret had seven children, five of who survived to adulthood. Their descendants still live in the area today.
John was well regarded, not only for his horticultural knowledge, but for his honesty, being generally respected - although it is difficult to believe that he did not encounter no racial prejudice. This is, however, not recorded.
Ellis Wynn, owner of the Ystumllyn Estate gave John a garden and cottage in recognition of his service to the family.
John is buried in St Cynhaearn's Church, near Criccieth. Margaret died in 1828.
John's epitaph reads:
Yn India gynna'm ganwyd a nghamrau
Yng Nghymru'm bedyddiwyd
Wele'r fan dan lechan lwyd
Du oeraidd y'm daearwyd
Translation:
India was the land of my birth
But I was Christened in Wales
This spot marked by grey slate
Is my cold, dark resting place
India in this case refers to anywhere unknown and foreign, i.e. non-European.
John Ystumllyn is the first Black Welsh resident of whom we have a detailed life story. A man who became a slave, but whose family remain in Wales, keeping alive the memory of this extraordinary man.
