John Davies is of some importance as one of the last members of the dwindling group of bards who were patronized by some of the Welsh landed families. Poems sung by him to members of the following North Wales families survive: Nannau, Doluwcheogryd, Maes-y-neuadd, Glyncywarch, Dolau-gwyn, Cefnamwlch, Gloddaeth, Bodysgallen, Corsygedol, Maesypandy, Tan-y-bwlch, etc. He wrote elegies on the deaths of two brother poets — Edward Morris (q.v.) of Perthillwydion and Morris Parry, parson of Llanelian; he also composed an elegy on the death of king Charles II. Elegies were written after his death by Owen Gruffydd (q.v.), Llanystumdwy (see O. M. Edwards, Gwaith Owen Gruffydd, 1904; this gives the year of the poet's death as 1694), and Lewis Owen (see Cwrtmawr MS. 5).
He was uncle to David Jones (1708?-1785) (q.v.) of Trefriw; see N.L.W. Jnl., vii, 73-4.
Miss Menai Williams, Wrexham / Bangor
