Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harris, Joseph (1773-1825)

by Rees M. Jenkin Jones ‎

HARRIS, JOSEPH (Gomer) (1773–1825), author, born at Llan-ty-ddewi, St. Dogmells, Pembrokeshire, in 1773, was the eldest son of William Harris, a small farmer, who could only afford him an education at the common schools of the district. He was an industrious student from the first. Like his father, who had left the establishment to join the baptist church in the neighbourhood, Joseph was a baptist. He became church member at Llangloffan in 1793, and in 1795 was invited to preach. In 1800 he was ordained at Llangloffan, and in the following year undertook the pastoral oversight of the baptist church at Swansea. In order to improve his knowledge of English he attended the Baptist College, Bristol, but after four months was compelled to leave by want of funds. By great perseverance he at last became an able preacher in English, and he continued his pastorate at Swansea in the enjoyment of great popularity and respect until his death, 10 Aug. 1825. He never recovered from the shock of the death of his only son, John Ryland Harris [q. v.], in 1823.

Harris was a zealous cultivator of Welsh literature, and in August 1815 was presented by the London ‘Gwyneddigion’ Society with a medal for his services in that direction. His publications are:

1. ‘Ychydig o hymnau newyddion ar amryw fesurau. At ba rai y chwanegwyd, Can, o Gyngor i Ieuengctid,’ Caerfyrddin, 1796, 12mo; a selection of Welsh hymns; this was the basis of a book which continued till recently the chief hymn-book of the denomination, passing through very numerous editions.
2. ‘Yr Anghyffelyb Broffeswr yn nghanolddydd ei Ddysgleirdeb,’ 1802, partly translated from the English.
3. ‘Bwyell Crist yn Nghoed Anghrist,’ 1804, being a reply to a work published the same year by the Rev. Josiah Rees (unitarian), Gellionen, chief promoter of the earliest Welsh magazine (1770).
4. A work on baptism (English), 1806.
5. ‘Pechod Anfaddeuol,’ a sermon on the unpardonable sin, 1812.
6. On Saturday, 1 Jan. 1814, appeared the first number of ‘Seren Gomer,’ the first newspaper published in the Welsh language. Harris was editor, and it continued to be published weekly until 9 Sept. 1815, when eighty-five numbers had appeared. At first it received extensive patronage, which gradually declined, and it was then discontinued for want of sufficient support, the proprietors, six in number, sustaining a loss of 1,000l.
7. ‘The Proper Deity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,’ in English, 1816.
8. The same in Welsh, 1817. This work met with great approbation from all the popular denominations, and even from Bishop Burgess.
9. In January 1817 he started a new magazine, ‘Greal y Bedyddwyr’ (Baptist), but the second number never appeared.
10. In January 1818 ‘Seren Gomer’ appeared as a monthly magazine. This has continued to appear almost without intermission to the present day.
11. ‘Cofiant Ieuan Ddu,’ being a memoir of his son, 1823.
12. An edition of the Bible in both Welsh and English, with brief marginal notes, under the title ‘Y Bibl dwyieithog … gyda darlleniadau a chyfeiriadau ymylenol helaeth cyflenwedig … nodiadau eglurhaol,’ Swansea, 1825, &c., 4to.
13. His complete works (‘Gweithiau Awdurol’), with memoir by his son-in-law, the Rev. D. Rhys Stephen, 1839.

[Stephen's Memoir; Jones's Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol; Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Art. Periodical Literature of Wales, in Cardiff Eisteddfod Transactions, 1883.]

R. J. J.