JONES, HUGH ('Hugh Jones Maesglasau'; 1749 - 1825), translator and hymnist

Name: Hugh Jones
Date of birth: 1749
Date of death: 1825
Parent: Elizabeth Jones
Parent: William Jones
Gender: Male
Occupation: translator and hymnist
Area of activity: Music; Poetry; Religion; Scholarship and Languages
Author: Elwyn Evans

Son of William and Elizabeth Jones, he was christened at Mallwyd, Meironnydd, 24 November 1749. He received a better education than was usual in his time. At the age of 23 he went to London where he taught for some time. By 1786 he had returned to Wales, for in that year he was one of the founders (and secretary) of the Calvinistic Methodist cause at Mallwyd. He spent some time working on his father's farm and then from 1798 to 1817 he taught at various places in Merioneth and Montgomeryshire.

From 1817 until his death, 16 April 1825, he worked for various publishers translating books for publication - for R. Jones, Dolgelley, for L.E. Jones, Caernarvon, and for Thomas Gee, Denbigh. He published upwards of twenty works, the majority of them being translations of English works and works of a religious nature. His first work was Cydymmaith i'r hwsmon , 1774 (reprinted by Sir Owen M. Edwards, and in 1949 by the University of Wales Press). He published two volumes of verse - Gardd y Caniadau , 1776, and Hymnau Newyddion , 1797. This latter volume contained his well-known hymn 'O tyn y gorchudd yn y mynydd hyn.' Among the works he translated was Thomas Brooks 'Golden Apples for young people, and a Crown of glory for old people, 1782. In 1819 R. Jones, Dolgelley, published his translation of the works of Josephus. He was also a musician and composed the hymn-tune 'Capel Cynon.'

Author

Elwyn Evans

Sources

Hanes llenyddiaeth Gymreig o 1651 O.C. hyd 1850 (1893)
J. Thickens, Emynau a'u Hawduriaid (1945)
Cymru (O.M.E.), xxvi
Catalogue of Printed Literature in the Welsh Department, Cardiff Free Libraries (1898)

Works

Thomas Brooks, Hugh Jones (trnsl.), Afalau aur i bobl ifeingc; a choron gogoniant i hen bobl: neu'r dedwyddwch o fod yn dda yn amserol, a'r anrhydedd o fod yn hen ddisgybl (Mwythig 1782)
Robert Hunter, Hugh Jones (trnsl.), Cyssuron dwyfol: neu, Addewidion gwerthfawr er annogaeth i gredinwyr; gyd a gair o gyngor (Mwythig 1781)
Joseph Humphreys, Hugh Jones (trnsl.), Atteb i bob dyn a ofynno reswm am y gobaith sydd ynom: Mewn ffordd o holiad ac atteb (Mwythig 1781)

Additional Links

VIAF: 68797522
Wikidata: Q13129166

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/