David Jones (of Treborth)

The Rev. DAVID JONES (of Treborth) was born June 2, 1805, in the parish of Dolyddelen, Caernarvonshire. His eldest brother was the celebrated Welsh preacher--John Jones, Talysarn. Neither of them as children had any opportunities of education beyond what the Sunday school provided. Their father died when the eldest brother was only ten and the youngest only two. So, as they grew up, the former went to work in the slate quarry, and the latter stayed at home to work on the farm for his mother. David Jones, from his boyhood, was fond of preaching: often he would retire to some unfrequented spot and become both preacher and audience himself. He was twenty-one years old when he gave his first sermon in public, and soon came into note. He, like his brother, had the true instinct of self-culture, which saved 124 him to a large extent from the misfortune of early disadvantages. He was ordained at Bala in 1834, and laboured successively at Caernarvon, Treborth, and Llanfairfechan, where he died June 23, 1868. He published three extensive poems on the subjects of 'The Prodigal Son,' 'Christ's Sacrifice,' and 'Man.' The spirit of his poetry is well represented by such verses as these: