Page "Twm Siôn Cati" Paragraph 6

The original character is often said to have been based on one Thomas Jones ( c. 1530-1609 ) who, according to the Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales, was pardoned for unspecified offences in 1559, wrote poetry, was a steward who " often had recourse to the law ", and married the widow of Thomas Rhys Williams of Ystrad-ffin.

It seems unlikely, however, that all the tales told of Twm Siôn Cati in later times can be attributed to this one man.

The Oxford Companion further asserts " he has been confused with others of the same name who were raiders and highwaymen in the district of Tregaron " and lists another eleven Thomas Joneses in the field of literature alone.