son of
Richard
Jones
, of
Michaelston-super-Ely
, and
Jane
, his wife, daughter of
Thomas
Bassett
,
esquire
and
high sheriff
, of
Miskin, Glam.
Bassett
entered
Jesus College
,
Oxford
, in
1634
, and afterwards the
Dutch
university of
Franeker
, and other seats of learning on the
Continent
, where he studied physics and chemistry. He returned home, and in
1648
(the year of the
battle of S. Fagans
) was published in
Oxford
his
Lapis chymicus philosophorum examini subjectus
. He was involved in his family's dispute with
Philip
Jones
(q.v.)
over the manor of
Wrinston, Glam.
; the documents of this affair were published in
1654
including
Bassett
Jones
’ petition to
Cromwell
and his comments on
Philip
Jones
's reply. In
1659
appeared his
Hermaelogium, or, an Essay at the Rationality of the Art of Speaking. As a Supplement to Lillie's Grammar (sic), philosophically, mythologically and emblematically offered by B.J.
(
London
).
Bassett
Jones
's wife was
Catherine
, daughter of
William
Lloyd
; if she came from
Brecknock
this might help to explain the reference by
G.T.
Clark
to the possession of lands in
Pencelly
, near
Brecon
, by
Bassett
Jones
, although there is no reference to it in
Theophilus
Jones
's
History of Brecknockshire
. According to
Richard
Jones
's will (d.
1659
),
Bassett
had a son,
Thomas
Jones
, by a
Marie
Hughes
, and a daughter
Marie
Jones
, by a
Katherine
Miles
. According to the pedigrees in the ‘
Golden Grove Book
’ he had no children from
Catherine
Lloyd
, his wife.
