Another slightly different version of the last post exists. This version is almost the same as the last but was published in Welsh in Seren Cymru and has been translated back into English
Tribute to the Rev John Michael
The death occurred on September 18, 1878, of my brother Shôn. He was born in Holyhead on December 7, 1812, and received the usual education for the time. In 1828 he was baptised as a Baptist, having set his sights on becoming a minister some years before. He told the Rev William Morgan of his intention, and under his instruction, and that of the minister of the Independents, the Rev William Griffiths, embarked on the task – and succeeded in it.
As was the custom then, he was called to address the monthly meetings of the churches and practised his mission on the Lleyn peninsula. After that the Missionary Society of Denbighshire appointed him to the failing church that was in Denbigh town to work with the enthusiastic deacon and successful merchant, Mr Foulkes, who had come from London to live there.
In time, and after applying, he was given a clear path to attend the institute in Abergavenny under the guidance of the Rev Micah Thomas. From there he moved to Trosnant under the Rev Dr Thomas, and remained there until he completed his education.
By this time a new church had been built in Llanfihangel Trichornel (on the site of an old meeting place) and a chapel and dwelling house were erected there.
The church was incorporated and my brother became minister there when the new chapel opened on January 5 and 6, 1839.
Now, with a suitable home, my brother sought a wife and married Rachel, the daughter of William Jones (‘Singer’), of Cymmera, Llanwenarth; a beautiful, pure and religious young woman; and with hopes of financial security because of a family connection with two bachelors in Llanbeudan, who, through a legal stroke of luck, owned many thousands of pounds.
In this way Shôn began his ministerial and married life happily. His wife had two children.
There was a cemetery belonging to the chapel, but as nobody in the fellowship sought to use it, since they buried their dead with their families in the consecrated ground of the parish, my brother planted potatoes in the new cemetery.
This was so contrary to the sacred wishes of the people that the fellowship turned against him, and the more he tried to persuade them, the more ferocious they became.
There was a branch of Mr Boyce’s school, as it was known, in the chapel and payment from that was all the minister received. He complained to the good man, who threatened to stop the money. And although Shôn promised not to plant potatoes again after that crop, the fellowship became more and more bitter and he left them.
After that he took over the Welsh fellowship in Cwmbran, and kept a drapery shop on behalf of his brother-in-law, William. But within three years, thanks to the recommendation of the Rev F Hiley, Llanwenarth, and Evans, Pontrhydyryn, he moved to Llangwm.
He stayed there until Rachel’s death and was left a widower with five motherless children – the oldest being 11 and the youngest not even able to walk yet.
The grandfather and grandmother, at Cymerau, took two of the children, the oldest and the youngest but one, leaving the three others with their father; but they had strong support in Cymerau.
In the meantime, for the sake of her health, a young woman returned to the neighbourhood, who had left more than 20 years ago, and had served the whole time as cook to gentlefolk for £52 a year, plus scraps, and had banked all her earnings. She asked my brother to baptise her and accept her as a member of the church. After this she got him to draw up her will and he discovered she was worth more than £500.
My brother, with his eyes open and without the old maid knowing, went to London to enquire into the truth of this story, and having found it was true, courted the spinster. He was successful and married her. She was a competent nurse to him and a tender and caring mother to his children.
Mrs Michael restored him to health, and since she was a hard-working and well-off woman, decided to set up a grocery in the neighbourhood. For convenience, the family moved from Llangwm to Penhow, in Llanfaches. It was the well-to-do and religious reverend gentleman, Thomas Leonard, who, having built a small chapel, established Penuel Church there and my brother became minister there and in Magor and Mrs Michael opened her grocery shop.
By then my brother’s children had grown up, some had married and moved elsewhere. Some went to Liverpool, and two boys went to Nantyglo where they went into business.
My brother sold the grocery shop, took the money in his pocket, and he too went into the works with the children. But the oldest boy, William, died; and the youngest, Lewis, was not successful in the world. My brother’s daughter, Eunice, married a skilful baker, who made hard bread for sailors, and lived in Newport and Usk.
My brother transferred everything he owned to Mr Morgan Thomas, and among other things, a smallholding worth £8 to £10 a year, on the condition that he was supported as long as he lived. And it was with Mr Morgan, his daughter’s husband, that he died in his sleep, lying in his bed, on September 18 or 19 (it is not known which), 1878. He was about 66 and nine months old since he was born on January 7, 1812.
He was buried with his second wife on September 23 in the cemetery of Penhow Chapel, in Llanfaches, Monmouth.
For the previous 10 or 12 years he had been very poorly. He was so unhappy travelling the countryside of Monmouth over styles, ditches and hedges to visit his scattered fellowship, and he tore the hamstrings in both legs which caused him great pain and drove him to take pills and strong drink in order to gain relief; but which, at the same time, poisoned his constitution.
This made him irascible and hurtful at times, both to others and himself. But his doctrinal views comforted him. He was, as they used to say 40 years ago, a man of strong convictions, and he used to say very definitely and with some force: “I know who I believe in,” “I know that my Redeemer lives”, and so on. He was a not a big reader, he preferred to chat over a smoke. Although Shôn was a Calvinist through-and-through, he had close friends among the Fullerites. The Rev Micah Thomas and he were firm friends. So too were Hiley, Llanwenarth, and Evans, Pontrhydyryn. Thomas Kenvin and he would smoke happily together for hours; so too Hefyd Jones, Casbach, and W Thomas, Newport.
My brother’s preaching talents did not depend on tricks or showiness, but went at a slow, considered pace, like the waters of Siloam – filled with salvation to the believers who would bathe in them.
My heart is sad at the burial of my brother.
OWEN MICHAEL
