JAMES, JOHN (1777-1848), Baptist minister, hymn writer, bookbinder, and printer;
b. at Aberystwyth 29 Aug. 1777, the eldest of eight children of James David John and Elizabeth Jones. He was baptized there on 27 March 1796, and became a member of Bethel church. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, but started to preach in Sept. 1799, and after a course of study of some months at Cardigan and Aberystwyth, he became co-pastor, with Samuel Breeze (q.v.), of Bethel church and its branches. After a period of exceptional activity in the town and in the surrounding districts, he moved, in March 1817, to Pont-rhyd-yr-ynn, Mon., and, in May 1827, to Bridgend, where he d. on 30 Jan. 1848. On 30 Sept. 1804 he had m. Catherine Davies, a member of Bethel, Aberystwyth, and three children were born to them. He was also taught the craft of bookbinding, and in May 1808 he opened a book-shop at Aberystwyth. In May 1809 he established the first printing press in the town, in his house in Bridge Street, but it was not a financial success, and he was obliged, in Sept. 1812, to sell his share of the business to his partner. The best-known publication from the press was Pigion o Hymnau, 1811, a collection of hymns of his own composition. He also published Etholedigaeth wedi ei Hystyried mewn Pregeth (Carmarthen, 1808), and Hanes Cymdeithas Llundain er Taeniad Cristianogrwydd y'mhlith yr Iuddewon (Aberystwyth, 1811). N.L.W. MS. 692 contains sermons and memoranda in his hand.
Bibliography:
- John Evans, Cofiant John James, 1849;
- Spinther, iii, 391, 399;
- J. Ifano Jones, Hist. of Printing and Printers in Wales, 202-4.
Author:
Benjamin George Owens, M.A., Aberystwyth
