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Author: ILloydJones
Surnames: Richards
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.wales.mer.general/164.3/m...
Message Board Post:
I have recently acquired a copy John Richards, Brynmelyn, Llanuwchllyn Last Will &
Testament.This John Richards was my grandfather's great grandfather and the father of
Magdalen Richards Brynmelyn, who later lived in Penbryncoch, Parc from 1850s onwards.
Grandparents and 4 yr old grandson are recorded in 1891 Census residing at Penbryncoch
farm:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/MER/Llanycil/1891f.html
Magdalen Richards Brynmelyn and John Roberts Llanddwywe/Pyrse Llanuwchllyn were married 26
November 1851 - both fathers name and occupation appear on the marriage certificate.
Not sure whether this John Richards Brynmelyn was related to JONES , JOHN RICHARD ( 1765 -
1822 ), Sandemanian Baptist minister ; b. at Bryn Melyn , Llanuwchllyn, Mer. , 13 Oct.
1765 . [educated at the school kept by Thomas Davies ( 1751 - 1781 ), then minister of the
' Old Chapel ,'] and was originally a member of the Independent church there; he
began to preach there, but changed his denomination and was baptized by Henry Davies (
1753 - 1825 ) (q.v.) of Llangloffan , at Trawsfynydd , 7 June 1788 . He was ordained, 4
Nov. 1789 , minister of Ramoth chapel in Llanfrothen, Mer. (the focal point of the
Merioneth Baptists ) and its branches. Between 1789 and 1798 he was one of the foremost
preachers of his denomination and was regarded both in North and South Wales as one of the
leaders of the Particular Baptists . He then came upon the works of the Scotsman ,
Archibald Maclean , in which he found what he considered to be a fair exposition of New
Testament teaching and a better!
portrayal of the simple Christianity of the Apostolic church . He now sought to revert
to the sacraments and rites of the Early Church , to emphasize the intellectual side of
faith, to abjure the popular style of preaching with its Methodist fervour and its
perpetual use of parables, and to frown upon the ecstatic 'jumping' of the
congregations. Between 1795 and 1798 Christmas Evans (q.v.) was of great assistance to him
in spreading his ideas, and when, at the 'great debate' held at Ramoth towards the
end of 1798 , J.R. Jones seceded from the 'Babylonish' Baptists of Wales and
formed his own connexion, the ' Scottish Baptists ,' it was Christmas Evans who
felt the blow most keenly. J.R. Jones recruited a considerable following (they numbered at
least 350 in 1807 ) and his connexion still survives in the districts round Harlech ,
Ffestiniog , Glyn-ceiriog , and Rhosllannerchrugog . For twenty-four years he was his
people's general, tirelessly walking over his widespread 'pa!
rish,' refusing on conscientious grounds to accept any salary, and fai
thfully spreading the truth as he saw it. Of his five published books, three are
collections of hymns (by himself and other writers) while two deal with the principles and
tenets of his connexion. He was a man of brilliant, many-sided ability, interested in
every branch of knowledge. He was, to some extent, conversant with Latin , Greek , and
Hebrew , was something of an engineer , took an interest in mathematics , and, all his
life, practised in his own way as a country doctor . There is evidence of his melodious
voice and of his ability as a singer , and he was acquainted with the rudiments of music.
[At least one of his hymn-tunes, ' Ramoth ', is still familiar.] He delighted in
the art of poetry and was the religious teacher of the poets Robert ap Gwilym Ddu and Dewi
Wyn (qq.v.). To convince, to argue, to expound the Scriptures, to discipline the will -
these were the outstanding characteristics of his teaching and preaching. It was in his
nature to be positive, dogmatic!
, and certain of his own mind, but he was also strong in his convictions,
self-sacrificing in his services to his people, and imbued with a profound piety. Ap
Vychan ( Robert Thomas , 1809 - 1880 , q.v.) said of him: ' he was the greatest man
ever nurtured in Merionethshire .' He d. 27 June 1822 .
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