Casgliadau Arlein

Photograph of John Harris (Teilwr Bach Dihewyd; 1815-93), with his wife Margaret (b. 1831) and children.

Obituary published in The Cambrian News and Meirioneth Standard, 13 January 1893: "DEATH OF TEILIWR BACH DIHEWID: John Harries, tailor, Feillionen, who was generally known by the name given above, died on Friday, January 6th, aged seventy-eight years. The funeral took p'ace [sic] on Tuesday at Dihewid. The Rev T. Gwilym Evans officiated. He was remarkable for his diminutive stature. This was exhibited to the greatest advantage by means of contrast, for his wife, who survives him, is a corpulent women [sic] 5 feet 5 inches high and weighs 19 lbs. John Harries was only 3 feet 8½ inches in height, and weighed sixty-five pounds. He had nine children, eight of them are now alive, and they are full sized and some of them are tall men and women. Many years ago he made tours through Glamorganshire and other counties, accompanied by his wife and children, and he was able to turn his journeyings to good account by selling photographs of the group. Commercial travellers will remember his sister, who was a servant at the Feather's Hotel for many years. She died about twenty-five years ago. She was only half an inch taller than her brother. It is said that the brother and sister often resisted some tempting offers from showmen to become object of exhibtion They were the children of Simon Harry, Trawsgoed, Dihewid, and both parents and children were at one time members of the Neuaddlwyd Congregational Church under the pastorate of Dr Phillips".