Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, Rowland

by Rees M. Jenkin Jones

JONES, ROWLAND (1722–1774), philologist, was the second son, according to Rowlands, of John Williams, but, according to the ‘Roll’ of the Inner Temple, of William Jones of Bachellyn, Llanbedrog, Carnarvonshire, where he was born in 1722. After receiving a good education, he spent some time as clerk in the office of his father, who was a solicitor, but he soon obtained a similar situation in London. He married a young Welsh heiress, and was enrolled as a member of the Inner Temple 26 Oct. 1751. He is usually described as of Broom Hall, near Pwllhelie, Carnarvonshire. He died in Hamilton Street, Hanover Square, London, early in 1774, aged 52. He left three children, two daughters, Elizabeth and Ann, and a son, Rowland. The son died a bachelor on 24 Nov. 1856, aged 84, and was buried at Llanbedrog.

Jones published:

1. ‘The Origin of Language and Nations, Hieroglyfically, Etymologically, and Topographically defined and fixed, after the method of an English, Celtic, Greek, and Latin-English Lexicon. Together with an Historical Preface, an Hieroglyfical Definition of Characters, a Celtic General Grammar, and various other matters of Antiquity. Treated of in a Method entirely new,’ London, 1764, small 8vo. In this work the author attempts to prove that Welsh was the primeval language.
2. ‘Postscript’ to last work, and often bound with it, London, 1767.
3. ‘Hieroglyfic: or a Grammatical Introduction to an Universal Hieroglyfic Language; consisting of English Signs and Voices, with a definition of all the Parts of the English, Welsh, Greek, and Latin Languages, some Physical, Metaphysical, and Moral Cursory Remarks on the Nature, Properties, and Rights of Men and Things, and Rules and Specimens for Composing an Hieroglyfic Vocabulary of the Signs or Figures as well as the Sounds of Things upon Rational and Philosophical Principles and the Primitive Meaning of Names,’ London, 1768, 8vo.
4. ‘The Philosophy of Words,’ London, 1769.
5. ‘The Circles of Gomer, or an Essay towards an Investigation and Introduction of the English, as an Universal Language, upon first Principles of Speech, according to its Hieroglyfic Signs, Argrafic Archetypes and superior Pretensions to Originality; a retrieval of Original Knowledge; and a Reunion of Nations and Opinions on the like Principles, as well as the Evidence of Ancient Writers; with an English Grammar, some Illustrations of the Subjects of the Author's late Essays, and other interesting Discoveries,’ London, 1771.
6. ‘The Io Triads: or the Tenth Muse, wherein the Origin, Nature, and Connection of the Sacred Symbols, Sounds, Words, Ideas, are Discovered,’ &c., London, 1773.

[Rowlands's Bibliography; Herald Cymraeg, 1856–7; information from John Jones (Myrddin Fardd), Rev. D. Silvan Evans, and T. Walter Williams, esq., of the Middle Temple.]

R. J. J.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.170
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page	Col.	Line
159	ii	33	Jones, Rowland: for 57 read 52