JONES, ROBERT (1806 - 1896), Baptist minister and author

Born at Dolwenith, Llanllyfni, Caernarfonshire, 14 November 1806, eldest son of John Evans, quarryman, and Mary his wife. In 1810 the family moved to Cae'r-waun in the same district. He learned to read in the Calvinistic Methodist Sunday school and, when he was 12 years of age, went for a year to the National School. Some time about 1831 he was converted to the principle of adult baptism by Alsi Hughes of Taleithin Isaf and joined the Baptists. Shortly afterwards he began to preach and, in 1836, was ordained minister of Llanllyfni. He married, 23 February 1838, Margaret Hughes of Ochr-y-foel, Mynydd Llanllyfni, at whose home he lived for the rest of his life. He was minister of Llanllyfni, Pontlyfni, and Llanaelhaearn (1836-43); Llanllyfni, Y Garn, and Capel y Beirdd (1843-55); Llanllyfni and Tal-y-sarn (1855-70); Llanllyfni 1870-85); and Llanllyfni and Peny-groes (1885-8). In 1880 he was chairman of the Union of Welsh Baptists. He published twelve books: Holwyddoreg yr Ymneilltuwyr Protestanaidd, 1832, a translation of an English catechism by S. Palmer; Golygiad Byr or Fedydd Cristnogol, 1839, a translation of an English book by John Craps; Cofiant Evan Evans, gweinidog y Bedyddwyr yn y Garn, 1842; Bedydd y Testament Newyddyn yn cael ei Amddiffyn, 1846, an answer to William Roberts of Clynnog's book on infant baptism; Casgliad o Hymnau ar Destynau Efengylaidd, 1851, containing 918 hymns, many of them by Robert Jones himself; Ystyriaethau ar Fedydd, 1853; Traethawd ar Babyddiaeth, 1855 - this was the book to which he devoted most time; Gemau Duwinyddol, 1865, a collection of notes from the works of the Puritan divines, but including many of his own; Llais y Durtur, 1876, 200 hymns for the Sunday school; Cydymaith Dyddanus, 1878, containing 597 short stories of deliverances and of persecutions; Gemau Duwinyddol, 2nd ed. with additional matter, 1882; and Pregethau Robert Jones, 1883. He was remarkable in his appearance, his way of thinking, and his method of expressing himself. He was an ardent Liberal (see Y Faner, 2 December 1868), and was constantly lecturing on political, religious, and social subjects. He died 3 March 1896.

Author

• Griffith Thomas Roberts

Sources

• Cofiant a Llythyrau y Parch Robert Jones Llanllyfni (Llangollen 1903)
• W. R. Ambrose, Hynafiaethau, cofiannau, a hanes presennol Nant Nantlle y traethawd buddugol yn Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Pen-y-groes, Llun y Pasg, 1871 (1872), 80-1
• Y Geninen, 1895 (104), 1897 (37)

Additional Links

• VIAF: 66256372
• Wikidata: Q20734342

Published date: 1959

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