John Williams (minister and physician)
Encyclopedia
John Williams was a Welsh
nonconformist preacher and doctor. He was said to be the first to introduce non-conformism to his home county of Caernarfonshire
, and it was also said that he could be heard when he was preaching for a distance of a quarter of a mile.
, in the parish of Llanbedrog
, Caernarfonshire
, north-west Wales
. His father (a member of the minor gentry
) was William Jones, with Williams obtaining a patronymic
surname according to Welsh practice at that time. At the age of 20, in 1647, he matriculated
at Jesus College, Oxford
and studied medicine. Thereafter, his movements until 1662 are uncertain: whilst it is known that he was a Puritan
and took up preaching, the possibility that he was the "John Williams" who was the vicar of Llanbeblig from 1651 cannot be verified on the surviving information. Historians, however, differ on whether Williams was a chaplain in the army during some of this period.
Williams figured in a history of the Methodist revival in Wales, published in 1820 and based upon oral testimony. He was said to be the first preacher to introduce non-conformity to Caernarfonshire, and it was also said that he could be heard preaching for a distance of a quarter of a mile. In 1662, he was arrested for his preaching in Caernarfonshire, leaving for London after his release, where he became the chaplain of a Puritan noble in Kent
. In the following year, he was accused of writing a treasonable letter (which spoke of the sufferings of the non-conformists and hoped that God would arm those fearing him, which was perhaps intended metaphorically rather than literally) and a warrant was issued in Caernarfonshire for his arrest. He gave himself up to the authorities in London, and was acquitted after spending 10 weeks in prison. He then returned to Caernarfonshire and worked as a physician, with his house being registered as a non-conformist meeting-house in 1672. Henry Maurice
rebuked him twice in 1672 for not preaching enough and "neglecting the work of the Lord", but Williams defended himself. He died on 28 March 1673, and was buried in Llangian
, with his tombstone referring in its Latin epigraph to his dual role as minister and doctor.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
nonconformist preacher and doctor. He was said to be the first to introduce non-conformism to his home county of Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
, and it was also said that he could be heard when he was preaching for a distance of a quarter of a mile.
Life
Williams was born on the Llŷn peninsulaLlyn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
, in the parish of Llanbedrog
Llanbedrog
Llanbedrog is a village and community on the Llŷn peninsula of Gwynedd in Wales. It is situated on the south side of the peninsula on the A499 between Pwllheli and Abersoch. Formerly in the county of Caernarfonshire, it has a population of 1,020....
, Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
, north-west Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His father (a member of the minor gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
) was William Jones, with Williams obtaining a patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
surname according to Welsh practice at that time. At the age of 20, in 1647, he matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
and studied medicine. Thereafter, his movements until 1662 are uncertain: whilst it is known that he was a Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
and took up preaching, the possibility that he was the "John Williams" who was the vicar of Llanbeblig from 1651 cannot be verified on the surviving information. Historians, however, differ on whether Williams was a chaplain in the army during some of this period.
Williams figured in a history of the Methodist revival in Wales, published in 1820 and based upon oral testimony. He was said to be the first preacher to introduce non-conformity to Caernarfonshire, and it was also said that he could be heard preaching for a distance of a quarter of a mile. In 1662, he was arrested for his preaching in Caernarfonshire, leaving for London after his release, where he became the chaplain of a Puritan noble in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In the following year, he was accused of writing a treasonable letter (which spoke of the sufferings of the non-conformists and hoped that God would arm those fearing him, which was perhaps intended metaphorically rather than literally) and a warrant was issued in Caernarfonshire for his arrest. He gave himself up to the authorities in London, and was acquitted after spending 10 weeks in prison. He then returned to Caernarfonshire and worked as a physician, with his house being registered as a non-conformist meeting-house in 1672. Henry Maurice
Henry Maurice
Henry Maurice may refer to:*Henry Maurice Welsh Independent clergyman*Henry Maurice clergyman and Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford University* Henry Gascoyne Maurice...
rebuked him twice in 1672 for not preaching enough and "neglecting the work of the Lord", but Williams defended himself. He died on 28 March 1673, and was buried in Llangian
Llangian
Llangian is a small village and former civil parish on the Llŷn Peninsula in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. It is located north west of Abersoch, in the community of Llanengan. The parish was abolished in 1934 and divided between Llanengan and Botwnnog. The village's church of Saint Cian is...
, with his tombstone referring in its Latin epigraph to his dual role as minister and doctor.