JONES, DAVID (1736-1810), Methodist cleric;
b. 10 July 1736, at Aberceiliog, Llanllwni, Carms., son of Richard and Gwenllian Jones. He was educated at the Carmarthen grammar school. He is probably the ‘David Jones of Llanvernach’ who was ordained deacon by the bishop of S. Davids in 1758; he is known to have been curate of Tydweiliog, Llŷn, in 1758-9, and he officiated at Llanafanfawr, Brecknock, in 1759-60. He was ordained priest in 1760, and was curate of Trefddyn and Caldicot, Mon., the same year. He then went to a parish near Bristol, moving to Crudwell, Wilts., in 1764. There he came into contact with the countess of Huntingdon, and in 1767 was given the living of Llan-gan, Glam., by lady Charlotte Edwin (see Edwin family). He m. (1) Sinah Bowen of Gwaunifor (d. 1792), and (2) Mrs. Bowen Parry of Maenorowen, (Pembs.). After his second marriage he divided his time between Glamorgan and Pembrokeshire. He d. at Maenorowen, 12 Aug. 1810. He began to consort with the Methodists when he was in Monmouthshire, and, after settling at Llan-gan, became one of their leading lights. Llan-gan was one of the popular resorts of the Glamorgan Methodists; they swarmed there in their hundreds to take communion. In 1771 he built a chapel (Salem, Pen-coed) in the parish of Coychurch for the use of his followers. He was a honey-tongued preacher; according to Williams of Pantycelyn he could melt the rocks with his warmth and ‘make the stoutest oaktree bend as humbly as the reed.’ He is said to have opposed the movement for ordaining Methodist ministers, but he died before the final decision to ordain. He published two short booklets; (a) Llythyr oddi wrth Dafydd ab Ioan y Pererin at Ioan ab Gwilim (Trevecka, 1784) which contains a short memoir of Christopher Bassett (q.v.), and (b) A Funeral Sermon … of the late Countess Dowager of Huntingdon (London, 1791).
Bibliography:
- W. Williams, Marwnad D. Rowlands;
- Y Traethodydd, 1850, 141-63;
- E. Morgan, Ministerial Records;
- D. E. Jenkins, Life of Thomas Charles, i, 188-9;
- Tadau Meth., i, 459-77;
- Cylch. Cymd. Hanes M.C., xx, 86, 96-100;
- Church in Wales Records, N.L.W.
Author:
Rev. Gomer Morgan Roberts, M.A., (1904-93), Pont-rhyd-y-fen / St Dogmael's / Llandybïe
