BENJAMIN JONES

Benjamin Jones was the son of David and Elenor Morgan Jones. He was born on a farm called Pandry Manfymith at Mandils Llanfyhennel Garnmarthenshire, South Wales on January 1, 1815. Esther Davis Jones, his wife, was born on a farm called Janycord near Lampeter Garmarthenshire, South Wales, on June 5, 1815.

Esther's parents were raised close together. The families owned their estates for generations back and were free holders. They were devout Methodists, very liberal in their ideas, and very highly respected, being the wealthiest family in the county in the year 1838, the year Benjamin and Esther were married. They began their lives together with a good farm and fine prospects, but soon much sickness came, and they were advised to move to Glanmorganshire; this was just prior to the great cholera epidemic of 1848. The doctors advised my grandfather to work at his trade, that of boot and shoe maker. He was also a shoe merchant.

After they had been married about five years, they moved to Gaymock, where some of the family had previously moved. They prospered and were doing fine. Elenor and Evan were born in this place. Again the couple were advised to move, but this time it was by the Methodist denomination. They wished Benjamin to lead their choir and take care of the chapel and the cemetery for about three years. Everything seemed to go their way, and prosperity and contentment filled their home. Elenor was about four years of age at this time.

In February of 1848 they were living in Gadiston Parish when Captain Dan Jones passed through the village on his way to Swansea, where he was going to take a steamer for Liverpool to America. He brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him, but it brought a spirit of uneasiness to the village. Some of the people ridiculed him and spoke all manner of bad things about him. A great disturbance existed throughout the towns and villages. The people spoke of a new religion. In a few weeks one of the neighbors asked Benjamin if he had heard these people preach. His answer was, "No, and I do not want to hear them." The neighbor told Benjamin that he was a wise and intelligent man, that she would go to him in spiritual affairs, and she asked him to go hear what these missionaries had to say and then give her his opinion.

Benjamin went to hear them, and when he returned home, his wife asked him what he thought of the missionaries; he did not make much of an answer, but he had some of their books and his own Bible. He read much of the time, and the family could see that he was uneasy about the doctrine. In a short time one of the men came to talk to him, and he invited him in. He had dinner and spent the afternoon, and he called many times afterwards.

This brought ill feelings between Benjamin and Esther. She wished him to join the Church of England because they wanted him to be the clerk, and he would have a better salary than he had been getting. This people, the Latter-Day Saints as they were called, promised Benjamin if he would be baptized by them with a prayerful heart, he would have knowledge that he had joined the right church. He made up his mind to try and find out. He knew they would be hated by their friends; still, he was determined to know for himself. In a few weeks he was baptized; this was in July, 1849. By this time Esther was converted and was baptized six weeks later. In a short time, Grandfather made it known to the society to which he belonged. They then ordered him to leave the place in which they had been living free of rent. The elders of the Methodist Church came to plead with Benjamin. They asked him to consider what he had done because of the disgrace he had brought upon them and the church he had been brought up in. The Curate and Vicar of the Church of England pleaded with the couple not to keep the children Mary and David from Sunday School and day school. Benjamin tried to get a house in the village but failed; so they had to move a few miles away.

He was ordained an Elder and called to preside over a branch, which position he held for nine years; during this time the meetings were held in their home. He was then chosen to preside over another branch for four years. They endured many persecutions.

Benjamin could not get work; all their friends were against them, and they sold what they could to get the necessities of life. As the children grew older, they obtained work, and in this way assisted their parents. They also gave part of their earnings to the church. Many times they would walk for miles to attend church and sing in the choir.

In 1861 there were now ten children in the family. Mary Harding came to Utah in 1863. Her brother David came to Willard, Utah in 1864. He died there one month later. Another child, Elenor, and three or four younger children came in 1866--Evan, Margaret, Sarah and Joseph. Benjamin came to Utah in 1865. He married Mary Jones on October 18, 1869. Esther Jones, her son John, and daughter Eliza remained in Wales. John died April 9, 1881. Esther died April 6,1882 at Heath Glanmorganshire, South Wales.

Eliza was now left alone. She came to Willard, Utah, in 1890. She married William Davis on June 6, 1894, in the Salt Lake Temple. Their little daughter Esther Rebecca was born October 17, 1898 at Ogden, Utah; she died September 18, 1899 at Willard, Utah.

Three children were born to Benjamin and Mary Jones. They were: Jane Jones--July, 1870, Rose Ann (or Anna) Jones--1872, and Thomas Jones--1875.

Benjamin was father of thirteen children. Ten were born in Wales, and three in Willard, Utah. My grandparents were very kind to us, and when we took meat or fruit to them, Grandma would always give us an egg, and then we would buy candy with it. I remember the room my grandfather worked in. He was a shoemaker. In later years he would come early in the mornings to visit his children. We grandchildren were always happy to see him come. My mother would often have a family dinner on January 1, to celebrate his birthday. He was always a thorough Latter-Day Saint and lived a good life.

He died on July 22, 1891 in Willard, Utah.

His children are:

1 Mary Jones Harding born in 1839

2 David Jones born in 1841

3 Elenor Jones Call born in 1843

4 Evan Jones born in 1847

5 Margaret Jones Harding born in 1849

6 Sarah Jones Beecher born in 1852

7 Joseph Jones born in 1853

8 Eliza Jones Davis 1856

9 Benjamin Jones born in 1857

10 John Jones 1861

11 Jane Jones born in 1870

12 Rose Anna Jones born in 1872

13 Thomas Jones was born in 1875

14 William Jones, a step-son