Individual Details

Werndriw, Llanddewi Brefi

Reference is made to Friends at Werndriw in 1709, when John Goodwin, of Esgairgoch, observed two young men of sober and grave deportment at the Yearly Meeting at Llandovery. After there young men had departed, Goodwin was concerned about them, but no one knew their names. All he discovered was that they lived in Cardiganshire. He rode to Aberystwyth, and enquired of a Friend there if he knew of them, but could gain no information. Goodwin allowed his horse to take the road, and thus he came to a shepherd near L1anddewi Brefi, who, in answer to a question addressed to him, "if there were any sober religious people in the neighbourhood," said: "that there were two young men and their sister, living near, who were called Quakers. They would not pull off their hats nor go to Church, but did sit, together, without any preaching." At hearing of which my heart did leap for joy," writes Goodwin. Their names were, Samuel George, John George, and Ann, their sister.
In 1753 a meeting was held in the house of the sister, then a widow, Ann Evans. John Field, in Piety Promoted (Fifth Part) gives an account of a zealous young man, Samuel George, a native of this village who died in 1712, at the age of twenty five, having been a minister for about nine months. In 1717, Richard Heydon died "at the house of our worthy Friend, John George, at Llanddewi Brefi."
Heydon, a native of Oddington, Gloucester, was at the time on a visit to the Church of Christ in Wales, but his life was cut off by smallpox. His body was interred at the Friends burial place, Llandovery, 25th October 1717, aged 67. This seems to prove that as yet there was no Friends burial place at Werndriw.
In 1742, James Gough visited Llanddewi Brefi, and stayed with the widow Ann Evans, because snow prevented him going to Esgairgoch, as he had intended. Gough gives an interesting account of Daniel Rowland, Llangeitho, then 29 years of age, and of the crowds that gathered from all parts to hear him preach. "People would set out as early as two o'clock in the morning, and walk thirty miles to hear him, others would land in boats at Aberystwyth from the Carnarvonshire peninsula, and walk the rest of the distance, some twenty-three miles."
Gough addressed a very large multitude in Llangeitho, from a high tombstone, "a greatly favoured" opportunity, in the morning, after the Church service, and then proceeded to Lampeter for an afternoon meeting.
In 1751, John Griffiths, a native of Radnorshire, who had emigrated to Pennsylvania, visited Wales, and held meetings in his native county. Accompanied by his brother he crossed over the bleak mountains into Cardiganshire, the wind blowing hard with rain, but through mercy we received little harm thereby." A small poor meeting (silent) was "held at one Evan's, religion being at a low ebb at that place."
In 1753, John Player (d. 18o8) spent six weeks in Wales as the companion of William Brown, of Philadelphia. He writes in his Journal "Being guided by Morgan Price we set forward over the mountains to the widow, Ann Evans, of Werndriw , in the parish of Llanddewi Brefi, at whose house we had a meeting on the morrow." (Vide Journal in Appendix.) Werndriw is the only place mentioned in Cardiganshire by John Churchman, an eminent American Friend, brotherinlaw of William Brown. Daniel Evans guided John Player and his friend to John Goodwin's house at Esgairgoch. He was the last of the Quaker family who lived at Garth.The families of Garth and Werndriw seemed to have been the two chief supports of local Quakerism. He was wont to go sometimes to a place beyond Cader Idris to worship with Friends residing there. Daniel Evans died in 1783, and was buried with his kindred in the south-west side of the Werndriw graveyard. The north-east corner contained the mortal remains of the Werndriw family. The Friends burial place at Werndriw seems to have belonged to private owners. John Jenkins, who died in 1790, was buried there, his wife, Ann, and five children. Upon his tombstone is an inscription, the only one in the graveyard. The Monthly Meeting of Werndriw, Penybank, New House, and Carmarthen possessed copies of Besse's Sufferings, and Thomas Story's Life, folio edition. Now in the Friends Library at Neath.
Among those buried at Werndriw, were Daniel David, hosier, Llanddewi Brefi, 1784; Ann Jenkins, Werndriw, daughter of John Jenkins, 1784; Anne Amelia, daughter of Daniel E'vans, and wife of Charles James, 1846; and Charles James, Llanddewi Brefi, 1852. The graveyard measures about twelve perches, is surrounded by a stone wall, with laurel bushes growing luxuriantly between the graves. The oldest headstones have no inscriptions.
"In this sequestered spot repose the mortal remains of John Jenkins, of Werndriw, and of Anne his wife. She died Sept., 1771, and he, February, 1790. Here also lie buried their five children, Thomas Henry, William, John, Ann Elizabeth, and Maria Letitia. David Joel Jenkins, of Lampeter, the sole surviving child of the said John and Anne Jenkins, placed this tablet in affectionate remembrance of father, mother, brothers, and sisters."
John Jenkins was present at the Monthly Meeting, Carmarthen 20, xii., 1789, a few weeks before his death.



From A History of the Quakers in Wales and their Emigration to North America by Rev. T. Mardy Rees
W. Spurrell and Son Carmarthen 1925
pages 123-125

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Birth	Abt 1704	Werndriw, Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire
Marriage	1726	Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire - Thomas EVANS of Rhydeithion
Miscellaneous	1742	lived - Werndriw, Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire
Miscellaneous	1753	lived - Werndriw, Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire
Death	Abt 1771	Werndriw, Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire
Burial	Abt 1771	Werndriw Quaker Cemetery, (Cae Capel), Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire
Religion		a Quaker

Spouse	Thomas EVANS of Rhydeithion (1700 - 1738)
Child	Ann EVANS (1728 - 1771)
Child	Evan EVANS (1734 - )
Child	Daniel EVANS the Last Evans Quaker (1738 - 1782)

Father	George David JENKINS (1650 - 1728)
Mother	UNKNOWN ( - )
Sibling	Samuel George JENKINS (1687 - 1712)
Sibling	John George JENKINS (1690 - 1740)

Notes