A Biographical Sketch of some of the Most Eminent Individuals which the Principality of Wales has produced since the ReformationWilliams, Robert
History
A Biographical Sketch of some of the Most Eminent Individuals which the Principality of Wales has produced since the Reformation
Williams, Robert
Wales -- Biography
In a few days afterwards he fell in a fit; the landlady who sat in the
apartment below, heard a noise; she ran up, but could not gain admission;
the door was burst open, when the poor Bard was found lying on his face,
with a heavy chair on his back. He remained senseless for two days, and
expired without a groan on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1824, aged 72. He
was conveyed to his silent tomb, in St. Mary-le-bone burial-ground, on
the following Sunday. Mr. Jones left a number of scarce books, and much
music, which were disposed of by public auction in February, 1825, and
produced nearly 500_l._ He had, at various times previous to his death,
sold books and prints to the amount of about 300_l._, so that his whole
collection may be stated at 800_l._; an extraordinary sum, considering
the habits of the collector! Of his professional abilities, his “Relicks
of the Welsh Bards” bear ample testimony; and will convey his name, with
honour, to posterity. They are the result of forty years labour and
research; and his countrymen of the Principality may now boast, that, as
well as the Irish and the Scotch, they also have their “Melodies.”
_Rice Jones_ of Blaenau, in Meirionethshire, one of the most eminent
poets of Wales of recent times. He died in the autumn of the year 1801,
at the great age eighty-six. In the year 1770 he published a “Welsh
Anthology,” in quarto, containing choice selections from the poets of
different ages.
_Theophilus Jones_, the ingenious and learned author of the “History of
Brecknockshire,” was born Oct. 18, 1758. He was the son of the Rev. Hugh
Jones, successively vicar of the parishes of Langammarch and Llywel,
Brecknockshire, and a prebendary of the collegiate church of Brecknock.
With his grandfather, Mr. Theophilus Evans, Mr. Jones passed much of his
early life. His principal education was completed in the college school
at Brecknock. Being destined by his parents to the law, Mr. Jones, at a
proper age, was placed under the care of an eminent practitioner then
resident in the town of Brecknock; and after having passed with credit
the period of his probation, entered into the profession upon his own
account, and continued in it for many years, practising with equal
reputation and success as an attorney and solicitor in that place. Upon
a vacancy in the deputy registrarship of the archdeaconry of Brecknock,
he was appointed to that office, and held it till his death. From the
documents committed to his charge, and to which he was particularly
attentive, he derived much valuable information connected with the
parochial history of the county. After Mr. Jones commenced the history
of his county, finding that the duties of his profession could not be
attended to, and antiquarian pursuits followed at the same time, he
disposed of the attorney’s and solicitor’s business. Being now more at
liberty to pursue the great object of his ambition, he spared neither
pains nor expense to carry it into execution.
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