rapidity, the funds for their support being derived largely, if not chiefly, from England. Mrs. Bevan, formerly Miss Bridget Vaughan of Derllysg, with whom Jones began his long intimacy when preaching at Llanllwch, was also a warm supporter, and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge gave a donation of bibles and other books. In 1737 thirty-seven schools were opened, with 2,400 scholars. Before Jones's death over 3,000 schools had been opened, and over 150,000 had been taught in the day schools alone (Welsh Piety). The success of Jones's efforts was hindered by the want of books, and in 1741 he published ‘An Appeal to the Charitable and well disposed in behalf of the Poor in the Principality of Wales’ for funds to print an edition of the Bible and prayer-book in Welsh. By 1742 a considerable sum had been collected, and in 1746 an edition of the Welsh Bible and prayer-book was issued by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, under the direction of Richard Morris (d. 1764) [q. v.] A second edition appeared in 1752 (Rowlands, Cambrian Bibliography, pp. 386, 406, 429).
The Welsh bishops had never been friendly to the schools, and many of the clergy continued hostile. In 1752 John Evans, vicar of Eglwys Cymmun, published a virulent personal attack upon Jones, which was said to be inspired by a bishop. The pamphlet was entitled ‘Some Account of the Welch Charity Schools, and of the Rise and Progress of Methodism in Wales through the means of them, under the sole Management and Direction of Griffith Jones, Clerk, Rector of Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire, in a short History of that Clergyman as a Clergyman.’ Evans's statement that Jones suffered prosecutions in the ecclesiastical courts for twenty years is not supported by the diocesan registers.
Jones died at the house of Mrs. Bevan on 8 April 1761, his wife having predeceased him in 1755. He was buried in Llanddowror, where a monument was raised to him by Mrs. Bevan, in whose charge he left the funds of the charity, augmented by property of his own, to the value of over 7,000l. (Morgan-Richardson, History of Mrs. Bevan's Charity, 1890).
Jones was a prolific writer in Welsh and English, chiefly on theological subjects, his works showing strong leanings to Calvinism. His ‘Welsh Piety,’ an annual publication, which reached twenty-four numbers (1737–1761), contained yearly accounts of the progress of the circulating schools. His chief works were:
- ‘The Platform of Christianity; being an Explanation of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England.’
- ‘Letter to a Clergyman, evincing the Necessity of Teaching the Poor in the Principality of Wales.’
- ‘The Christian Covenant, or Baptismal Vow,’ first and second parts.
- ‘Esboniad ar Gatecism Eglwys Loegr, yn cynnwys Corph cryno o Ddifinyddiaeth.’
- ‘Galwad at Orseddfainc y Gras.’
- ‘Hyfforddwr at Orseddfainc y Gras.’
- ‘Ffurf o Weddiau.’
- ‘Cynghor rhad yr anllythrennog.’
- ‘Annogaeth i foliannu Duw.’
- ‘Casgliad o Ganiadau y Parch. Rhys Pritchard.’
[Jones's Welsh Piety; Collection of Letters to Mrs. Bevan, ed. Morgan; article by the Rev. Thomas Charles in Y Drysorva for 1813, pp. 1 sqq.; Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Ffoulkes's Enwogion Cymru; Johnes's Causes of Dissent in Wales; Rowlands's Cambrian Bibliography; Dr. Rees's Hist. of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales; Bevan's St. Davids (Diocesan Histories).]
JONES, GRIFFITH (1722–1786), writer for the young and journalist, was born in 1722, and served his apprenticeship to William Bowyer the printer. He was for many years editor of the ‘London Chronicle,’ ‘Daily Advertiser,’ and ‘Public Ledger.’ He settled at No. 7 Bolt Court, Fleet Street, as a printer, and in that capacity was associated with his neighbour, Dr. Johnson, in the ‘Literary Magazine,’ and with Smollett and Goldsmith in the ‘British Magazine;’ he published a great number of translations from the French, to none of which, however, was his name affixed. One little work from his pen, entitled ‘Great Events from Little Causes,’ had an extensive sale; another was a collection of ‘Nash's Jests.’ He died on 12 Sept. 1786, leaving three sons, Lewis (b. 1748), Griffith (b. 1758), and Joseph, and a daughter, Christian, the wife of his cousin, Stephen Jones. The two elder sons were educated at St. Paul's School.
Giles Jones (fl. 1765), Griffith's brother, wrote in conjunction with him many books for children, known as ‘Lilliputian Histories,’ among them being ‘Goody Two-Shoes’ (1765), ‘Giles Gingerbread,’ ‘Tommy Trip,’ &c. (cf. Notes and Queries, 4th ser. viii. 511). Giles was secretary to the York Buildings Water Company, and was father of Stephen Jones [q. v.], and grandfather of John Winter Jones [q. v.]
[Welsh's A Bookseller of the Last Century, pp. 44, &c.; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. iii. 465–6; will reg. in P. C. C. 479, Wake; Gardiner's St. Paul's School Reg. pp. 121, 148.]
JONES, Sir HARFORD (1764–1847), diplomatist and author. [See Brydges, Sir Harford Jones.]
