JONES, ROBERT (1745-1829), Calvinistic Methodist exhorter and author;
b. 13 Jan. 1745, son of John and Margaret Williams of Suntur, Llanystumdwy, Caerns. He was taught to read by his mother, and he attended one of Griffith Jones's circulating schools>, kept by Thomas Gough. Robert Jones succeeded in persuading Bridget Bevan (q.v.) to reopen the circulating schools in North Wales, and he himself was a teacher at Llangybi (1766), Beddgelert (1767), Capel Curig (1768), Rhuddlan (1769), Brynsiencyn (1770), Llangybi (1772-3), and Brynengan (1778). In 1768 he began to exhort among the Calvinistic Methodists and became a prominent figure in their assemblies. He preached throughout North and South Wales, and in 1779 got as far as London. He m. Magdalen Prichard at Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, 2 Nov. 1772; his wife was the daughter of Richard Griffiths, one of William Prichard (1702-1773) (q.v.) of Clwchdernog's servants [the niece of Morris Griffiths, 1721-1769, q.v.], and the grand-daughter of Francis Evans of Cae'r Tyddyn. They took a seven years lease of a cottage known as Tir Bach, Rhos-lan, where Robert Jones erected a building large enough to be used in part as a chapel and where he gathered round him a strong Methodist society. When the lease expired they went to live at Tŷ Bwlcyn, near Dinas, Llŷn. The history of four of the children is known: DANIEL became a Liverpool draper and Methodist preacher; Mary m. Richard Jones of Tŷ Bwlcyn and became the mother of Magdalen Jones of Waun Fawr, who wrote Rhodd Nain; Hannah m. Richard Owen of Meillionen, Ceidio, and their descendants are to be found in Llŷn and the U.S.A.; SAMUEL went to Liverpool where, for a very long time, he was one of the most prominent Methodist elders. Robert Jones published Lleferydd yr Asyn, 1770, a defence of the Methodists against their persecutors; Drych i'r Anllythrennog, 1778, a Welsh spelling primer; Grawnsypiau Canaan, 1795, a collection of hymns — the first hymn-book used by the Calvinistic Methodists in North Wales; and, finally, Drych yr Amseroedd [1820], a description of the Methodist revival in Wales and its effects. This last book is his masterpiece; the writing is terse, the descriptions are lively, and it is permeated with the fervour of the revival. Robert Jones had a hand in preventing Thomas Charles from leaving Wales in 1784 and also in persuading him to agree to the ordination of Methodist preachers as ministers in 1811 [he himself was not ordained, but delivered a charge at the service]. He d. 18 April 1829 and was buried in Llaniestyn churchyard, near the east wall.
Bibliography:
- Wheldon MSS. 1-7, 9-12, 16;
- Cymru (O.M.E.), xii, 227;
- Y Llenor (O.M.E.), xv, 1-192;
- Cofiant Robert Jones;
- [N.L.W. MSS. 4836, 12793, 12794.]
Author:
Griffith Thomas Roberts, M.A., Llanrug
