XM/5120/94.
LETTER. Hugh & Sarah Jones [America] to Hugh’s brother. His reason for not writing sooner ts this. Hearing his brother is a Methodist preacher, he thought it might be expedient to wait until after the conference is over for he had hoped to see Rev. Thomas Coke. They say he is a Welshman from the recipient’s county. But he decided against going. He had no more expected his brother to become a preacher than to reach the British throne. Expresses a desire to see them all before he dies. He is happy that his father is sober. His father is an excellent farmer, his brother a novice having been brought up mainly in the town. He suggests his brother could build him a house to live in. If Bro. Owen is a tolerable ship’s carpenter he might still learn the house carpenter business which is a very profitable calling in this new county and a great call for millwrlghts and if Coz John Jones of Llwyn y Gwalch who served his apprenticeship to a wheelwright who lived at Street y Llyn, Caernarfon, was here, he might make a fortune. Hugh or John Williams of Pentir might make a lot annually by making plantation utensils. Bro. Evan might do well as a bootmaker. Pleased to hear of Jack Pugh. Wonders whether he is living with his father, but he probably lives in Erw Faethlon. He would like to know what is become of Robt. Hughes, Kingshead and his Bro. Jack. He wants to be told who of his relations have died and who are married. He wants to know what is become of Cos. Evan Williams, who lived at Bangor with Hugh Ellis; also whether Mr. Thompson aid his wife at Bettws and Owen Thompson and his sister Molly are still alive. On 8 June 1779 after six months confinement they were paroled. They were a sight when released. H.J was wearing a check shirt he’d found on the floor, a pair of trousers all in rags, an old jacket almost sleeveless and an old hat. He made friends with one of the guards, Robin Gurthrie. Ashamed of his ragged clothes, he accepted R.G`s invitation to go with him to his father’s house where he was treated with compassion and kindness. On the Sunday they went to the Methodist Meeting. He talks at length of his sub-sequent religious experiences. Talks of the difficulties of coming over to see them [document torn and fragmented]. Refers to his brother Harry’s death and how they would have been unlikely to hear of it.
Cyngor Gwynedd