JONES, PETER (Pedr Fardd; 1775 - 1845), poet and hymnist

Name: Peter Jones
Pseudonym: Pedr Fardd
Date of birth: 1775
Date of death: 1845
Parent: William Jones
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet and hymnist
Area of activity: Eisteddfod; Poetry; Religion
Author: Ray Looker

Born 17 September 1775, son of William Jones, a weaver (or tailor) and country bard, Brynengan, Dolbenmaen, Caernarfonshire. He followed his father's trade, but removed while young to Liverpool, where, it is said, he spent some years as schoolmaster, and where he spent the rest of his life. A Calvinistic Methodist, he was elder of the old Pall Mall chapel for many years.

As a boy he showed poetic aptitude, and mastered the rules of cynghanedd; later, many young Welsh bards sought guidance from him. He was successful as an eisteddfod poet; for example, his ' Gwaredigaeth Israel a Dymchweliad yr Aiphtiaid yn y Môr Coch ' was successful at the Brecon eisteddfod of 1822. In 1826 he won the bardic chair at the Gwent and Morgannwg eisteddfod, held at Brecon, for his awdl ' Rhoddiad y Ddeddf ar Fynydd Sinai '. Apparently his last competitive poem was the awdl ' Cystuddiau, Amynedd, ac Adferiad Job ' which was unsuccessful in the Liverpool eisteddfod of 1840 (Eben Fardd being the winning poet). His published works include Mel Awen (1823), a volume of poetry; a volume of hymns, some of which have since become very well-known; an account of the Association held at Bala in 1820; and a translation entitled ' Manteision ac Anfanteision Ystad Priodas.' He was a contributor to periodicals such as Seren Gomer and Goleuad Gwynedd.

He died at Liverpool, 26 January 1845, and was buried in the churchyard of S. Paul's there; David James (1803 - 1871) officiated at the funeral.

In J. H. Morris, Hanes Methodistiaeth Liverpool, i, 119-24, there are fuller details of Peter Jones's somewhat troubled career at Liverpool.

Author

Published date: 1959

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