David Jones (barrister)
Encyclopedia
David Jones was a Welsh barrister.
Jones was best known as ‘the Welsh Freeholder’. He was born in 1765, the only son of John Jones of Bwlchygwynt, near Llandovery
, Carmarthenshire
, where his father farmed his own freehold. He was a relative of John Jones, unitarian
critic. He received his early education at Pencader
and Abergavenny
, and in 1783 entered Homerton College, London, with the view of preparing for the ministry among the Calvinistic dissenters, but, adopting unitarian views, moved to Hackney College.
There he became tutor and lecturer in experimental philosophy
until, in October 1792, he took charge of the New Meeting congregation at Birmingham, as successor to Joseph Priestley
, who had recommended him for the post. During his ministry there he delivered in 1794–5 ‘some admirable courses of lectures on the philosophy of the human mind, as connected with education, the theory of morals, and also on history.’ Turning to the study of the law, he was admitted a student of Lincoln's Inn
on 1 May 1795, was called to the bar on 26 June 1800, and practised chiefly as a chancery barrister, but attached himself as well to the Oxford and South Wales circuits. He also became a member of Caius College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1800 and M.A. in 1803. He died in 1816.
Jones made a spirited defence of unitarianism against the attacks of Bishop Samuel Horsley
in several works written under the name of 'The Welsh Freeholder'.
as David Jones
Jones was best known as ‘the Welsh Freeholder’. He was born in 1765, the only son of John Jones of Bwlchygwynt, near Llandovery
Llandovery
Llandovery is a market town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the River Tywi and the A40 road.The town is served by Llandovery railway station, where there is a park and ride to Llanelli and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, where his father farmed his own freehold. He was a relative of John Jones, unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
critic. He received his early education at Pencader
Pencader
Pencader may refer to:*Pencader, Carmarthenshire, Wales*Pencader Hundred, an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware, in the United States...
and Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, and in 1783 entered Homerton College, London, with the view of preparing for the ministry among the Calvinistic dissenters, but, adopting unitarian views, moved to Hackney College.
There he became tutor and lecturer in experimental philosophy
Experimental philosophy
Experimental philosophy is an emerging field of philosophical inquiry that makes use of empirical data—often gathered through surveys which probe the intuitions of ordinary people—in order to inform research on philosophical questions This use of empirical data is widely seen as opposed to a...
until, in October 1792, he took charge of the New Meeting congregation at Birmingham, as successor to Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
, who had recommended him for the post. During his ministry there he delivered in 1794–5 ‘some admirable courses of lectures on the philosophy of the human mind, as connected with education, the theory of morals, and also on history.’ Turning to the study of the law, he was admitted a student of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
on 1 May 1795, was called to the bar on 26 June 1800, and practised chiefly as a chancery barrister, but attached himself as well to the Oxford and South Wales circuits. He also became a member of Caius College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1800 and M.A. in 1803. He died in 1816.
Jones made a spirited defence of unitarianism against the attacks of Bishop Samuel Horsley
Samuel Horsley
Samuel Horsley was a British churchman, bishop of Rochester from 1792.Entering Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1751, he became LL.B. in 1758 without graduating in arts. In the following year he succeeded his father in the living of Newington Butts in Surrey...
in several works written under the name of 'The Welsh Freeholder'.
Works
as 'The Welsh Freeholder'- A Letter to the [Bishop] on the Charge he lately delivered, London, 1790, 8vo, which evoked ‘An Answer … by a Clergyman of the Diocese of St. Davids,’ London, 1750, 8vo
- The Welsh Freeholder's Vindication of his Letter, &c., London, 1791, 8vo.
- Reasons for Unitarianism, or the Primitive Christian Doctrine, London, 1792
- The Welsh Freeholder's Farewell Epistles to the Bishop (lately of St. Davids), now of Rochester, London, 1794, 8vo.
as David Jones
- Thoughts on the Riots at Birmingham, Bath, 1791, 8vo, an enlarged reprint of an anonymous letter written by Jones in the Morning ChronicleMorning ChronicleThe Morning Chronicle was a newspaper founded in 1769 in London, England, and published under various owners until 1862. It was most notable for having been the first employer of Charles Dickens, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew which were collected and published in book format in...
, and republished without his authority both at Maidstone and Birmingham. - The Nature and Duties of the Office of a Minister of Religion, Birmingham, 1792, 8vo.
- The Revolution in France and the Progress of Liberty, considered in connection with our idea of Providence and of the Improvement of Human Affairs (see advertisement in The Nature and Duties, &c.), announced by Jones in 1816, is not known to have been published.