Son of John Johnes, D.L. (high sheriff of Carmarthenshire, 1803), Dolau Cothi, Carmarthenshire, and Elizabeth daughter of John Bowen of Maes, Llanwrthwl (Brecknock.). He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford. He married in 1822, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. John Edwardes of Gileston Manor, Glamorganshire Called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1831, he served as assistant commissioner under the Tithe Commutation Act and on the Admiralty, Copyhold, Enclosure, and Lunacy Commissions. He was appointed judge of the county court of the Carmarthen district, 1847; recorder of the borough of Carmarthen, 1851-72; chairman of quarter sessions for the county of Carmarthen, 1853-72; he was a J.P. and D.L. for the counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke. During the Rebecca riots Johnes did much to keep his own district quiet, and in 1843 he wrote An Address to the Inhabitants of Conwil-Caio …; this was also published by William Rees, Llandovery, in a Welsh translation: Annerchiad at Drigolion Plwyf Conwil-Gaio, yn Swydd Gaerfyrddin a'r Plwyfau Cym'Dogaethol. Besides being an able lawyer, he was a keen agriculturist and antiquary. He was murdered by his Irish butler at Dolau Cothi on 19 August 1876.
Published date: 1959
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.
Find out more on our sponsorship page.