John Owen Jones (Ap Ffarmwr)
Encyclopedia
John Owen Jones commonly known by his bardic name
of Ap Ffarmwr ("farmer's son"), was a Welsh
campaigning journalist.
. Following his father's death, his mother remarried and the family moved to Dwyran, where he was educated at the local Board school. On leaving school at fourteen, he was apprenticed to a draper, but his wide reading and further part-time education enabled him to win a place at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and he went on to Owens College in Manchester.
, where he became editor of the Merthyr Times. In 1897, he moved to Nottingham
, where he died.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
of Ap Ffarmwr ("farmer's son"), was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
campaigning journalist.
Early education
Jones was born at Ty'n y Morfa, Trefdraeth, AngleseyAnglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
. Following his father's death, his mother remarried and the family moved to Dwyran, where he was educated at the local Board school. On leaving school at fourteen, he was apprenticed to a draper, but his wide reading and further part-time education enabled him to win a place at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and he went on to Owens College in Manchester.
Journalism
Jones began his journalistic career by working as a London correspondent for Welsh newspapers, but soon returned to Wales to set up a school in his home town, continuing to work as a journalist. He campaigned on behalf of agricultural labourers in north Wales, and his articles on the subject of their working conditions led to a conference at Llangefni on Easter Monday 1890, where agreement was reached with employers on a shorter working day. In 1893, labourers made a presentation to him in recognition of his efforts, and he was asked to lead them in forming a trade union. The attempt was unsuccessful, and Jones moved to Merthyr TydfilMerthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, where he became editor of the Merthyr Times. In 1897, he moved to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, where he died.