EVANS, DAVID (1778 - 1866), Baptist minister, known as 'Dafydd Evans, Ffynnonhenry'

Not to be confused with another David Evans, who was minister at Ffynnonhenry (and at Priory Street, Carmarthen) from 1765 to 1793.

Dafydd Evans was born at Nant-y-fen, Conwil Elvet, son of Stephen and Jane Evans, and was at school at Conwil under Arthur Evans. He began preaching c. 1808, and in Easter week 1811 was ordained at Ffynnonhenry as co-pastor.

In 1846, rather than submit to a legal verdict which he obstinately maintained to have done him an injustice, he preferred to spend two-and-a-half years in Carmarthen gaol. He died 5 March 1866; according to his tombstone he was then 88 years old. These are all the facts and dates of his career which are recorded.

But his place in the memory of his people depends upon things that cannot well be exemplified here: his originality, his wit - and indeed, his oddities. These are recorded in the book about him by Benjamin Thomas (Myfyr Emlyn, 1836 - 1893), first published in 1870 but reprinted time after time and sold by the thousand.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, (1881 - 1969)

Further reading

• Benjamin Thomas, Dafydd Evans, Ffynonhenry (Castellnewydd-Emlyn 1870)
• Benjamin Thomas, Ffraethebion Dafydd Evans, Ffynonhenry (Caerfyrddin 1908)
• Sidney J. Jenkins, Hanes Eglwys y Bedyddwyr, Ffynnonhenri (1930)

Additional Links

• NLW Archives: NLW MS 2923C: David Evans, Ffynnonhenry, 1843-1846

Published date: 1959

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