(1) Hugh Evans, who was b. in 1712, was educated under David Price at Llwyn-llwyd Academy near Hay. He then went to live with an aunt at Bristol, where he received baptism and was in 1740 [7 Feb.] chosen coadjutor to Bernard Foskett, minister of Broadmead Baptist church and head of the Bristol Baptist Academy; on Foskett's death (1758) Evans succeeded him in both functions. He d. 28 March 1781. His son CALEB EVANS (1737-1791), b. at Bristol 12 Nov. 1737, became his coadjutor in 1758 and his successor in 1781, dying [in Aug.] 1791; [he was D.D. of Aberdeen]. Caleb Evans published several books, but is chiefly remembered for his championing of the American colonists against John Wesley in 1778. Though he and his father had left Wales, neither lost touch with Wales. Joshua Thomas (q.v.) records that Hugh Evans regularly attended Welsh association meetings, and preached thereat seventeen times ‘always in English, but repeating portions of his sermon in Welsh’; Caleb Evans ‘did not understand Welsh,’ yet he would attend the meetings, and he preached six times. The Evanses were very influential among the Welsh Baptists, and their Academy attracted able young Baptists from Wales — William Richards of Lynn (1749-1818) (q.v.) was one of these.
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D., F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor.