Rowland Eames (b. 1756 the musician)
and Margaret Jonet Humphreys

Submitted by Brett Gledhill

Ancestors - Pedigree Chart

We now come to the most famous of our Eames ancestors, Rowland Eames (b.1756), Rowland became a accomplished musician, a fine teacher a eminent miner of copper and lead as his father had been and yet a very devout man who gave constantly and unselfishly of his talent to benefit and upgrade music in the churches throughout the Region. In attempting to write this history concerning Rowland and his family, we can't help but feel frustrated and limited at our inability to read the Welsh records for ourselves. Hence, this history must be gleaned primarily through the eyes of just men, Bob Owen, Welch antiquarian. Yet, in the same breath, how pleased we are to have had this one benefactor, a our whole history is based on his worthy contribution.

Apparently, Mr. Owen was aware of several biographical sketches written of Rowland Eames (b.1756). He gave us a rough translation of one such biography, some of which is hardly discernable and some of the words may be written incorrectly but here it is:

From biographies of Welsh Musicians, by E. Lllehid, 1890.

Rowland Eames born in Llanfrothen in 1756. Educated from childhood until he was 18 years old (a privilege at that period). John Williams (of) Dolgalley was his musical tutor and he attended a school of his also.

"In 1775, he married a daughter of Humphrey Sion and Sioned (Jonnatt) his wife at Handre Tromel above Penmorfa. He moved from Llanfrothan to Penrhyndeudreath to live. But because he was a fine scholar he kept a school in the parish church of Llanfrothen and also conducted the church choir.

"He was a good singer ad pretty good musician and he was paid by the vestry for conducting the singing in the church. The old key pitch pipe (and also his baton) used by him is in the possession (1890) of his grandson at Penrhyndaudraeth.

"He composed several short songs which are to be seen in old notation music books. It is said that he composed the air (popular) called Pr Hein Odsrby or latest name Cyfamox. He died Dec. 30, 1825, 69 years old and was buried in Llanfrothen churchyard.

"He used to visit the parish churches of Llanfair, Llanbedr, Llandanwg, Llanfihanel and Llanfrothen to teach singing and he contributed a great deal to perfect church music in the above places."

Some of the details from this sketch prove to be inaccurate, but as a whole it gives us a good insight into Rowland Eames (b.1756), the second great grand father of Rebecca May Eames (Gledhill). His birth actually took place near Beddgelert, Caernarvonshire, Wales, as that parish is when he was baptised as an infant, probably in August of 1756. His father was a miner in copper and lead. Rowland, the only known child, probably helped his father in his occupation. Mr. Owen suggested that Rowland himself (the son) was rather eminent as a miner. It may be that this prominence was partially inherited through soma claim of his father. To what degree Rowland (b.1756) actively pursued mining in later years we do not know. We do know that his father was apparently successful enough at what he did to make an education possible for his son.

A character trait possessed by most successful men is clearly in evidence with the young scholar Rowland (b.1756). He must have bean a highly self-motivated individual to excel in his studies in a day when studies ware not the thing most people did. At least same of his education (directed by John Williams) were at Dolgelley, a parish over 20 miles from his home. Most likely he lived at the school or with his schoolmaster and worked for his board doing chores in addition to his studies. Even after his formal education ended at age 18, Rowland continued his pursuit of excellence. He wrote music, he sang, he became a schoolmaster himself, he was active in parish affairs, he taught groups and individuals to sing, he led choirs and congregations. He had such a desire to improve the quality of literacy and music around him that he went the extra mile. He offered his services to parishes throughout the entire region where he lived and entered their churches to teach them music. This man mist have bean motivated by the desire to use his talents for the benefit of his fellowmen. No one had to spell out for Rowland Eames what jobs needed to be done. Ha was not satisfied with the quality of the singing in the churches, so he set out to improve it. He was not pleased with the general lack of literacy, self-motivation and unwillingness of people in his day toward personal improvement, thus, he dedicated himself to be their teacher. Could he have known what an impact this one man reformation would have on his family? Dozens of scholars, poets, distinguished musicians, ministers and reformers of all kinds are among his descendants. Would it not have been the result of exemplary home training on industry, reason, and a quest for truth that would
lead his son Nathaniel to one day leave the Church of England in search of a better way and ultimately to hear and recognize the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel.

Rowland Eames (b. 1756) married when he was 22 years of age, about 4 years after his extensive formal education had ended. He must have spent some time searching for the ideal wife, one with maturity and refinement. His choice was a girl perhaps 8 or 10 years older than he was but one whose accomplishments and heritage appealed to him. The bride was Margaret Jonet Humphreys, daughter of the late Humphrey John or Sion and his wife Jonet Roberts. Margaret Humphreys was apparently born at Hendra Howel sometime between 1745 and 1747. No exact birth record has been uncovered. Hendra Howel, a noted house in the upper part (or just above) Penmorfa, Caernarvonshire, Wales, is historically significant in the annals of the Calvinistic Methodist denomination, according to Bob Owen. This fact gives us our first indication of division in the Eames line from the Church of England. It could very well be that Margaret Humphreys came from a Methodist background. Mr. Owen, who did not give his source of information, shows Margaret as coming from a family of four girls. Her father died in 1759, when Margaret was just entering her teenage years. Her mother then remarried to John Roberts of Festiniog and had a son and a daughter by him. Whether this Roberts family was related to the family of David Roberts, who become the president of the L.D.S. Branch at Festiniog, we do not know.

Margaret Jonet Humphreys was probably still a resident of Panmorfa in 1779, when she and Rowland Eames were married. The young couple probably lived in Baddgelert for a year or two after their marriage, as their first child was baptized there (into the Church of England). The first little baby, a boy, was named in honor of his deceased grandfather, Humphrey John, who may not have lived to have any sons perpetuate his name. Rowland Eames (b.1756) apparently moved around some, but most of his moves were to places near Llanfrothen, Merionthshire, Wales, since the remainder of his children were baptized there in the perish church where he taught school and music. In 1781, when his oldest daughter Margaret was

Baptized, Rowland was said to be of Garrag Allham. When Jonet was baptized in 1785, they lived at Tnipfor. In 1887, at Eleanor's baptismal, Rowland is listed from Gauthllwnog. By the time Nathaniel and Elizabeth came along in 1789, and 1792, respectfully, he is from Penywich. Where exactly these places are in relation to Llanfrothen has not been determined. It is probable that they were hamlets of the village where Rowland and many of his descendants mere said to have lived namely Panrhyndeudraeth, which is close to Llanfrothen. For the baptismal entries of Margaret, Jonet and Eleanor, Rowland's wife's name is given as Jonet. It is likely that Margaret Humphreys had a middle name of Jonet or that she was called Jonet. This is not too surprising in light of the fact that her mother, grandmother and daughter ware named Jonet, and her father, grandfather and son also bore the root of that name, John.

In the records of his children's baptism, Rowland Eames (b.l756) is described in the various entries as a laborer, farmer and pauper. All of these titles are references frequently used to describe the common man, which Rowland was considered by his fellow parishioners. Mr. Owen mentions entries made in some of the local perish vestry books where reference is made to money paid to Rowland Eames for his teaching. Like those of that profession in our time paid from public funds, the money earned by Rowland was not sufficient to make him a wealthy man. His great talent in vocal music and composition in that day would have earned him fame and great respect, but little in a monetary sense. It may be that even during his later years, mining was still his chief employment. Over the years it seems that he attained somewhat more than the average of this world's goods. His son Nathaniel (b.1789) was purportedly a property owner which we could presume he obtained by inheritance.

We suppose that Bob Owen found record of all the children of Rowland and Margaret Eames. No other christening records have been found for them. One interesting record shoes Elizabeth Rowland married to Daniel Jones, 4 November 1818, at Llanfihangel, ad the witnesses are Rowland Eames and Willier Rowland. The bride, Elizabeth Rowland, is the daughter of Rowland Eames (b.1756). She used the patronymic name, taking her father's first name as her surname. The question is, who is the other witness, William Rowland? If he also used the patronyraic name, then his father could have been Rowland Eames. Our records do not show a William as part of this family, but perhaps they are incomplete.

The children of Rowland and Margaret ware no doubt the greatest beneficiaries of their parents' talent. We can imagine the stimulating home environment which must have been theirs. Singing and perhaps instrumental music was commonplace in the home. Probably even the women had the advantage of learning to read and write. Religion was not just a casual subject with this family. Rowland set a great example for his children as shown by his zeal for worship through music and his many dedicated hours of loving service to the local churches. The Bible was certainly discussed often by them, and the principles therein were applied perhaps, they talked about how the beliefs of their Church of England differed from The Bible teachings. Maybe, they were taught by their mother in the Methodist belief. The children were surely taught from the talents and abilities of their mother, many of which history has not preserved for us. It is likely that the subject of the new scientific advances and world enlightenment were often talked abort in their home. The exciting news of a land of opportunities must have enchanted them as they learned of revolutionary war across the ocean. Then followed the news of the birth of a nation and a constitution governing a people. The seeds of light and truth ware planted deep in the hearts of the children.

Rowland Eames lived a full life and died at the age of 69 years. He was buried at the churchyard in Llanfrothen, December 30, 1825. His wife Margaret outlived him by 13 1/2 years. It is unfortunate that me know so little about her. As is the case with most great mothers, her crowning glory rests in the achievements of her children. After becoming a widow, she probably went to live with some of her children. We know that her last days were spent with her son, Nathaniel. She died at Glanywern, known to be the home of the Nathaniel Eames (b.1789) family in the parish of Llanfrothen. Nathaniel's wife, Catherine Griffith was listed as present at her death. Margaret Humphreys died July 12. 1839, and was buried 3 days later at Llanfrothen churchyard. She was either 92 or 94 years of age when she died.

As the old generation passed away and the fresh young minds of their children blossomed into maturity, the world was preparing for a great new awakening. The voice of God had already been heard in a far off Sacred Grove. The sound of angel's trump would penetrate the whole earth. Evan the little villages of North Wales world never be the same again. The day of conversion was at hand.