DAVIES, JOHN (Siôn Gymro; 1804 - 1884), Independent minister, linguist, and commentator

Born at Bwlch-yr-helygen in the parish of Llanarth, Cardiganshire, 5 March 1804, but his parents - David and Mary Davies - shortly afterwards moved to a near-by farm called Castell-y-geifr. His father, whose education was above the average, was his first teacher, but when he was 7 years old he was sent to the school at Neuaddlwyd kept by Thomas Phillips (1772 - 1842). He began to preach on 1 July 1819 at Neuadd-lwyd school, and in 1822 was received into the Independent Academy at Newtown. Here his teacher was Edward Davies (1796 - 1857), while among his fellow-pupils were Samuel Roberts and David Rees (1801 - 1869) of Llanelly. Here, too, he was given the opportunity of mastering the elements of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac, as well as of improving his knowledge of Latin, Greek, and divinity. He was invited to Glandŵr, Pembrokeshire, on six months probation, and was ordained 28 March 1827. Two years later he founded Moriah church, Llanwinio, Carmarthenshire. In 1863 he gave up Glandŵr and, thereafter, until his death, 16 December 1884, confined his activities to Moriah. He was a good pastor, a sound preacher, and a leader in his circle and denomination; in 1873 he was chairman of the Union of Welsh Independents. He was a frequent contributor to the periodicals of the day, writing under the pseudonyms Siôn Llethi, Castellanus, and Siôn Gymro. He delighted in controversy of the kind carried on with John Roberts (1804 - 1884) in Y Dysgedydd, 1850-2, on ' Fanciful Preaching.'

He excelled as a translator and commentator. In 1881 he published his version of the Minor Prophets (Y Proffwydi Byrion), an original translation from the Hebrew with marginal Latin, Greek, and Syriac readings, and explanatory notes. This work is the fruit of forty years of sustained labour and research. His other papers include Llyfr Coheleth and Llyfr Hosea - translations; Horae Petrinae, lectures on S. Peter's epistles; Floreas Poetici - a collection of his verse. He also published Llethi, Afonig Llanarth gyda Sylwadau Achlysurol, in 1868, but he was but an indifferent poet. His son, John Griffith Davies (1836 - 1861), is separately noticed.

Author

• Reverend Thomas Eirug Davies, (1892 - 1951)

Sources

• 'Sion Gymro' by Ben Davies
• Y Geninen, iii, 126, iv, 116
• Y Diwygiwr, 1888-90
• Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru, v, 258
• NLW Archives: NLW MS 6196D, NLW MS 8613B, NLW MS 8614B, NLW MS 8615B, NLW MS 8616B, NLW MS 8617B, NLW MS 8618B, NLW MS 8619B

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: John Davies

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20738093

Published date: 1959

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