Mordecai Jones
Encyclopedia
Mordecai Jones was a Welsh
businessman and pioneer in the development of the South Wales coalfield
. He was a notable promoter of the British Schools
model of free education, and of Welsh and English Calvinistic Methodist churches. He became mayor of Brecon
in 1854.
to his interests in 1841, in the same year purchased the Abergavenny Gas Works. He was later chairman of the Brecon Gas Works, from its inception until his death.
Jones developed both the Nantmelyn Colliery in Cwmdare
in the Aberdare
Valley from 1861, and the Mardy Colliery
in the Rhondda Fach Valley in 1876. After Jones's death in 1880, the Nantmelin Colliery Company was formed to run that pit, while Mardy's lease was taken over by Locket's Merthyr Company.
.
A supporter of the Welsh language
, in his position as secretary of the Calvinistic Methodist ministers and elders in Brecknock, in June 1848 he drafted and co-signed a letter to J. P. Kay Shuttleworth of the Committee of Council on Education, urging that H.M. Inspectors of Schools should have a knowledge of Welsh.
and Wales. Jones granted ex-gratia freehold sites to all denominations on both his Mardy, and later Cwmdare sites.
in South Wales, and a financial contributor to the establishment of the Normal School in Brecon in 1846. He then became chairman of the Brecon School Board from its formation until 1879.
Jones supported the efforts of David Charles III to combine Government aid with voluntary charity. At a conference held at Merthyr Tydfil
, non-conformist ministers from Monmouthshire
, Glamorgan
, and Brecknock agreed to accept Government aid, enabling the formation of the South Wales British Schools Association, with Jones as treasurer and Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover
as president.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
businessman and pioneer in the development of the South Wales coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
. He was a notable promoter of the British Schools
British and Foreign School Society
The British and Foreign School Society offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies...
model of free education, and of Welsh and English Calvinistic Methodist churches. He became mayor of Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
in 1854.
Biography
Born in 1813, the son of a boat builder on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, he was educated in Brecon at the expense of a local coal merchant.Career
After leaving school, he took over his sponsor's business, and after adding the old Breconshire BreweryBreconshire Brewery
Breconshire Brewery is a brewery in Brecon in Powys, Wales. The head brewer was Justin "Buster" Grant, formerly of Brakspear Brewery.Named after the original 1841 Breconshire Brewery established by Mordecai Jones, the new brewery since its establishment in 2002, has received numerous awards at...
to his interests in 1841, in the same year purchased the Abergavenny Gas Works. He was later chairman of the Brecon Gas Works, from its inception until his death.
Jones developed both the Nantmelyn Colliery in Cwmdare
Cwmdare
Cwmdare is a village near Aberdare, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The village's history is intertwined with coal-mining, and since the decline of the industry in the 1980s, it has become primarily a commuter base for the larger surrounding towns of Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd, as...
in the Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
Valley from 1861, and the Mardy Colliery
Mardy Colliery
Mardy Colliery was a coal mine located in the South Wales village of Maerdy , in the Rhondda Valley, located in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, and within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales...
in the Rhondda Fach Valley in 1876. After Jones's death in 1880, the Nantmelin Colliery Company was formed to run that pit, while Mardy's lease was taken over by Locket's Merthyr Company.
Politics
Jones was mayor of Brecon from 1854. He then became deputy lieutenant for Brecknock, at which time he built Camden Cottage on land leased from the 2nd Marquis of Camden and Earl of Brecknock. It still stands today, converted to a guest house. In 1876, he became High Sheriff of BrecknockshireHigh Sheriff of Brecknockshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Brecknockshire or Breconshire.The office of High Sheriff of Brecknockshire was established in 1535 since when a High Sheriff was appointed annually by the Queen until 1974 when the office was merged into that of High Sheriff of Powys as part of the creation of...
.
A supporter of the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, in his position as secretary of the Calvinistic Methodist ministers and elders in Brecknock, in June 1848 he drafted and co-signed a letter to J. P. Kay Shuttleworth of the Committee of Council on Education, urging that H.M. Inspectors of Schools should have a knowledge of Welsh.
Religion
A fervent Calvinistic Methodist, he was secretary to the group of Calvinistic Methodist ministers and elders in Brecknock and promoted the development of churches in both EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales. Jones granted ex-gratia freehold sites to all denominations on both his Mardy, and later Cwmdare sites.
Schooling
Jones was one of the chief promoters of the British and Foreign School SocietyBritish and Foreign School Society
The British and Foreign School Society offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies...
in South Wales, and a financial contributor to the establishment of the Normal School in Brecon in 1846. He then became chairman of the Brecon School Board from its formation until 1879.
Jones supported the efforts of David Charles III to combine Government aid with voluntary charity. At a conference held at Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr 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...
, non-conformist ministers from Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, and Brecknock agreed to accept Government aid, enabling the formation of the South Wales British Schools Association, with Jones as treasurer and Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover
Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover
Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover PC , known as Sir Benjamin Hall, Bt, between 1838 and 1859, was a British civil engineer and politician.-Political career:...
as president.