(Q65953)

John Hobson Matthews [or Mathews] ('Mab Cernyw'), Catholic historian, archivist and solicitor, was born in Croydon of a Cornish father and English mother but dedicated much of his time and work to Wales and Welsh interests and also followed his legal profession in Cardiff. He was a proficient linguist, speaking Maltese (having worked for some time in Malta following his graduation from Cambridge), Cornish and Welsh. Mathews published several historical and theological works, including Yr hen grefydd a'r grefydd newydd ... (1889, trans. J. H. Jones), A history of the parishes of St Ives, Lelant, Towednack, and Zennor (1892), and The Life and Memorials of Saint Teilo (1893).