John Jones (Talysarn)

John Jones (Talysarn) (March 1 1796-August 16 1857), was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist minister, regarded as one of the greatest preachers in the history of Wales.

Life

He was born in a house called Tanycastell, in Dolwyddelan and brought up in a farming family but which also had many connections with Nonconformist religion. He received no formal education and was a monoglot Welsh language speaker.

As a young man around 1820 he was engaged as a labourer building Thomas Telford's road from London to Holyhead, and was heard by his fellow workers preaching on religious matters as he walked to work. In 1822 he moved to Talysarn to find work in the quarry, but was increasingly devoting himself to preaching. He was ordained in 1829.

He married Frances (Fanny) Edwards around this time and left the quarry as they kept a shop together - although in practice it was she who understood business and kept the shop, so that he could devote time to matters of religion.

Between 1850 and 1852 he was a joint owner of the Dorothea quarry but this was not to his taste.

He died on August 16, 1857, and was buried at the parish graveyard in Llanllyfni. In the funeral procession were 8 doctors, 65 ministers, 70 deacons, 200 choristers and around 4,000 others with a further 2,000 who joined en route.

His work

In an age when Nonconformist preaching had been riven by doctrinal differences, John Jones spoke plainly on matters that concerned the common people. They considered him one of ther own, which was the foundation of his widespread appeal.

He was also a singer, and composed the hymn tune "Llanllyfni".

Genealogy

John Jones was a member of a large family which has gone to some trouble, before and since, to record its genealogy. In the mid-nineteenth century several of his brothers and sisters and their offspring emigrated to the area around Cambria, Wisconsin, USA. As a result there is interest to this day from many in Wales and the USA in tracing their genealogy through this family.

External links

* [http://members.lycos.co.uk/flindy4/cofiant.htm Online Translated Extract of Biography]
* [http://delwedd.llgc.org.uk/delweddau/gcf/gcf01050.jpgPortrait at the National Library of Wales]
* [http://www.llechicymru.info/IQP.english.htm Slatesite]
* [http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/tm_objectid=15136179&method=full&siteid=50142&headline=move-over-your-royal-highness----i-am-the-true-prince-of-wales-name_page.html Genealogy Story Link]

Bibliography

* W. R. Ambrose (1871), "Hynafiaethau, Cofiannau a Hanes Presennol Nant Nantlle, y Traethawd Buddugol yn Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Pen-y-groes"
* Cledwyn Jones (2003), "Mi Wisga'i Gap Pig Gloyw, John Glyn Davies, 1870-1953" Gwasg Pantycelyn ISBN 1-903314-56-9
* O. Llew Owain (1907), "Cofiant Mrs Fanny Jones, gweddw y diweddar Barch. J. Jones, Talysarn" cyhoeddwyd gan Mrs Jones, Cambrian House , Machynlleth.
* Griffith Owen (1896), "Cadwaladr Owen", Hughes and Son, Wrexham
* G. T Roberts, "John Jones Tal-y-Sarn (1796-1857)", Trafodion Cymdeithas Hanes Sir Gaernarfon, cyfrol 18 (1957)
* Owen Thomas, D.D. (1874), "Cofiant y Parchedig John Jones, Talsarn", Wrexham