John Jones (literary patron)
Encyclopedia
John Jones was a Welsh Anglican
priest, scholar and literary patron.
, Wales. John Jones was educated in Dolgellau and at Ruthin School
before studying at the University of Oxford
, where he matriculated
as a member of Jesus College
. He obtained his BA
degree in 1796 and his MA in 1800. He was ordained as an Anglican
priest and served as curate
in Tremeirchion
between 1797 and 1799, before moving to Llanyblodwel
, where he met John Jenkins
(known as "Ifor Ceri") and other "literary parsons". Jones became one of their number. He provided significant financial support for fellow clergymen such as John Blackwell
("Alun"), and adjudicated at provincial eisteddfodau from 1820 onwards. His own scholarship was shown in 1834 when he published the second edition of British Antiquities Revived by Robert Vaughan
, first published in 1662. He paid for the memorial to Dafydd Ionawr in the churchyard in Dolgellau, and the 1851 edition of the works of Dafydd Ionawr was dedicated to Jones.
After Llanyblodwel, Jones was a curate in Wrexham
before becoming vicar
of Llansilin
in 1811 then vicar of Rhuddlan
in 1820 – a change of parish that led to his declining appointment as secretary of the Cambrian Society for Powys. In 1828, he became rector of Llandderfel
, later moving to the parish of Llanaber
in 1840 where he served until his retirement in 1843, when he moved to Borthwnog
. He died on 6 April 1853.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest, scholar and literary patron.
Life
Jones was born on 31 March 1773, and was the first of thirteen children in the family. His father Thomas Jones was a businessman who established the first bank in DolgellauDolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
, Wales. John Jones was educated in Dolgellau and at Ruthin School
Ruthin School
Ruthin School is one of the oldest public schools in the United Kingdom. Located on the outskirts of Ruthin, the county town of Denbighshire in North Wales, the school is over seven hundred years old and has been co-educational since 1990.- Beginnings :...
before studying at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
as a member of Jesus College
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
. He obtained his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1796 and his MA in 1800. He was ordained as an Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest and served as curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Tremeirchion
Tremeirchion
Tremeirchion is a small residential community in Denbighshire, Wales. It is located on the B5429 road, to the north east of Denbigh and to the west of St Asaph....
between 1797 and 1799, before moving to Llanyblodwel
Llanyblodwel
Llanyblodwel is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England; the spelling "Llanyblodwell" was commonly used in the past, and the village was sometimes simply referred to as "Blodwell". It lies 7 miles west of the nearest town, Oswestry, in the valley of the River Tanat.The parish had a...
, where he met John Jenkins
John Jenkins (Ifor Ceri)
John Jenkins was a Welsh priest in the Church of England and an antiquarian...
(known as "Ifor Ceri") and other "literary parsons". Jones became one of their number. He provided significant financial support for fellow clergymen such as John Blackwell
John Blackwell (Alun)
John Blackwell , who used the bardic name Alun, was a Welsh language poet, born near Mold, Flintshire, in north Wales. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford.-External links:*...
("Alun"), and adjudicated at provincial eisteddfodau from 1820 onwards. His own scholarship was shown in 1834 when he published the second edition of British Antiquities Revived by Robert Vaughan
Robert Vaughan
Robert Vaughan was a minister of the Congregationalist communion, Professor of History in the University of London, 1830–43, and President of the Independent College, Manchester, 1843-57. He founded, and for a time edited the British Quarterly...
, first published in 1662. He paid for the memorial to Dafydd Ionawr in the churchyard in Dolgellau, and the 1851 edition of the works of Dafydd Ionawr was dedicated to Jones.
After Llanyblodwel, Jones was a curate in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
before becoming vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Llansilin
Llansilin
Llansilin is a village and local government community in Powys, Wales, about 6 miles west of Oswestry. The community, which includes Llansilin village, a large rural area and the hamlets of Molfre and Rhiwlas as well as the remote parish of Llangadwaladr, had a population of 648 at the 2001...
in 1811 then vicar of Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire , in north Wales. It is situated to the south of the coastal town of Rhyl and overlooks the River Clwyd. The town gave its name to the Welsh district of Rhuddlan from 1974 to 1996...
in 1820 – a change of parish that led to his declining appointment as secretary of the Cambrian Society for Powys. In 1828, he became rector of Llandderfel
Llandderfel
Llandderfel is a village in Gwynedd, Wales.It was formerly served by the Llandderfel railway station....
, later moving to the parish of Llanaber
Llanaber
Llanaber is a village in western Wales, near the resort of Barmouth.It is served by Llanaber railway station....
in 1840 where he served until his retirement in 1843, when he moved to Borthwnog
Borthwnog
Borthwnog is a family name given to the Borthwnog estate in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.Borthwnog Hall was the Manor House of the estate which encompassed the adjacent Borth farm and lands up the Taichynhaeaf valley and Bontddu. The earliest records date the house to the late 17th century...
. He died on 6 April 1853.