DAVIES, JOHN (1795 - 1858), Unitarian minister and schoolmaster

Born in 1795, son of David Davies (1764? - 1828) of Llan-y-bri. He was educated at home, at the local grammar school, and at Carmarthen Academy (1815-19). While at college he became a Unitarian and began to preach in the Unitarian chapel in the town. In January 1820, when David Davis of Castellhywel (1745 - 1827) retired, he was invited to minister to his churches - Llwyn-rhyd-Owen, Pen-rhiw, Alltyblaca, and Bwlchyfadfa. For a time he was an assistant at Davis's school, but before long started schools of his own at Gelli-gron, Tyssul Castle, Blaenbydernyn (Pencarreg, Carmarthenshire), and Tre-fach; in 1830 he opened an academy at Adpar, Newcastle Emlyn, which flourished until his death. Many of his most distinguished pupils have testified to his ability as a teacher. He wrote some hymns and edited for James Evans, stone-mason and bookbinder of Pentre-nax, Bwlchyfadfa, the 3rd impression of the hymn-book of Josiah Rees (1744 - 1804). In this new edition he included some additional hymns written by T. J. Griffiths (1797? - 1871) and by himself. He died 19 April 1858 and lies in the graveyard of the old chapel at Llwyn-rhyd-Owen.

Author

• Reverend Thomas Oswald Williams, (1888 - 1965)

Sources

• E. Pan Jones, Oriel Coleg Presbyteraidd, Caerfyrddin: yn cynwys hanes yr holl fyfyrwyr fu yn y coleg o 1796 hyd 1899 (Merthyr Tydfil 1909), 35
• The Unitarian Students at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen … 1796–1901 (1901), 20
• Hanes Plwyf Llandyssul (1896), 115-6

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733375

Published date: 1959

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