Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, David (1711-1777)
JONES, DAVID (1711–1777), Welsh hymn-writer, was the son of Daniel Jones of Cwmgogerddan, in the parish of Caio, Carmarthenshire, where he was born in the early part of 1711. A farmer and cattle-dealer, he remained in his native place until 1764, when he removed to Hafod-dafolog, near Llanwrda, an estate belonging to his second wife, and remained there until his death on 30 July 1777.
Jones was an independent, and wrote, at the request of ministers of that denomination, a large number of Welsh hymns, which rank in popularity second only to the productions of the greatest of Welsh hymn-writers, William Williams of Pantycelyn (1717–1791) [q. v.], the methodist preacher. Like Williams's hymns, Jones's works do not bear the impress of sectarian theology, and are in common use throughout Wales at the present day. Always joyful in tone, they move easily and are clear in thought and expression. His translation of Watts's version of the Psalms was published in 1753, and the following year he issued a small volume of original hymns, to which he subsequently added two other volumes. His last and, perhaps, his greatest work was his translation of Dr. Watts's hymns. The titles of his published works are as follows: 1. ‘Salmau Dafydd: wedi eu cyfansoddi yn ol jaith y Testament Newydd … yn Saesneg gan J. Watts, D.D.,’ London, 1753; 2nd edit. Llandovery, 1766; 3rd edit. Carmarthen, 1817. 2. ‘Difyrwch y Pererinion o Fawl i'r Oen, yn cynwys Hymnau ar amryw Destunau o'r Ysgrythyr Lan,’ 1754; 2nd edit. Carmarthen, 1763. 3. Ibid., ‘Yr Ail Ran’ (the second part), Llandovery, 1764. 4. Ibid., ‘Y Drydedd Ran’ (the third part), Carmarthen, 8vo, 1770. These three parts were republished in one book under the title of ‘Hymnau a Chaniadau Ysbrydol, gan I. Watts, D.D., ac a gyfieithwyd i'r Gymraeg gan D. J.,’ Carmarthen, 1775; 2nd edit. Trevecca, 1791; 3rd edit. Carmarthen, 1794. 5. ‘Caniadau Dewisol wedi eu hamcanu mewn iaith esmwyth er budd a gwasanaeth i Blant, yn Saesneg gan Isaac Watts, D.D.,’ Carmarthen, 1771, 8vo. 6. ‘Can Ddewisol … ar ddull ymddiddan rhwng Proffesswr hunangyfiawn a'i gydwybod,’ Carmarthen, 1779.
[Yr Adolygydd, ii. 475–95; Rees's Hist. of Protestant Nonconformity in Wales, pp. 401–3; Rowlands's Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry; Enwogion y Ffydd, ii. 145–50.]