[Original spelling preserved. Some punctuation
changes.]
I John Price am the seccond
son of William and Sarah Price of Twyn Blaen-nant, in the Parish of Blaina
Gwent; County of Monmouth; where I was born on the 12th day of April
1820. [insert from opposite page: I was
married May 14th, 1842 to Margaret 2nd daughter of Isaac
& Margaret James of Beaufort Iron works Breconshire.]; [Overstrike: She
died April]
I was baptized on the 7th
day of April 1844 by William Evans, Priest, and Confirmed the following week by
Elder William Davies president of the Rhymney Branch Merthyr Conference.
I was ordained a priest in
council at the house of Elder W. Henshaw on the 30th day of December
1845 under the hands of Elders Abel Evans and William Evans, after which I went
about the Branches preaching the Gospel, as directed by the Council at Merthyr
still following my work as a miner.
(Page 2)
Soon after I was ordained a
priest my beloved wife was baptised by Elder William Evans to the great
annoyance of her parents who were rank Westlyan Methodists but she continued
faithful in the kingdom of God till in April 14, 1846 she died rejoicing in the
blessings of the gospel leaving a son under my care as the fruit of our short
but happy union.
After the death of my beloved
wife I was more at liberty from the cares of the world, which I used for the
furtherance of the gospel.
On July 11th I
baptised Margaret Edwards at Rhymney; and on the 19th baptised
Daniel Birch and Jane his wife at Sirhowy, Monmouthshire.
In the latter end of July I
(Page 3)
was counselled by Captain Dan Jones then President
of the Church in Wales to go on a mission to Pembrokeshire, which I instantly
obeyed, leaving my child in the care of my mother in law.
I started for Pembrokeshire
in company with Cap Jones and Elder John Holliday president of the Bristol
Conference, who were on their way to Liverpool; we landed at Milford about 1
o-clock in the morning, where I left Elders Jones & Halliday, and came as a
lonely stranger to the house of Mrs. Obrey of Pembroke dock, and was kindly
received, and entertained by her and family. On the following morning I went to
Penbroke to visit two sisters Mary and Dorothy Ormond who received me as an
(Page 4)
angel from heaven, for before my coming they had not
seen one of the servants of God for a long time, so my arrival was to them a
source of joy, and they were to me a means of support during my stay in the
country.
I commenced preaching at
Pater, Pembroke, Monkton, Marloes, to large congregations, and on 19th
of September I baptised Mary Hughes at Marloes. About this time George Davies,
Priest, was sent from Rhymney to assist me.
When he came, we commenced
travelling together through the county preaching in every place where we could
get an opening. We preached at Lawrenny; John Griffiths, shoemaker received us
and procured a house for us to preach in , who
(Page 5)
was soon after baptised in company with James Eynon,
ferryman, and his daughter; they have all continued faithful till now. Next we
visited Tenby and preached at the house of William Griffiths, brother to the
above John Griffith, who fed us and lodged us courteously.
We preached at Creswell Quay
at the house of a sister to the above John & Wm. Griffiths, from that to
Blackbridge near Milford at the house of a man named Lewis. He received us
kindly but was very poor. On October 2nd /46 baptised Charlotte
Davies at pembroke, on 6th Dec baptised Elizabeth Harries at
Marloes. On 19th December baptised Margaret Obery at Patter.
About this time we visited
the Town of Narberth, had permition with an
(Page 6)
Independent preacher of the name B. R. Thomas to
preach in a schoolroom which was at his disposal, had a large congregation of
worthless beings who never offered us any kindness at all , but left us lodge
in a public house at our own expense.
Next morning we went to a
village called Maenclochog among the Welsh people, had permission to preach in
a stable to a large congregation, here we were served the same as at Narberth ,
we had a few pamphlets for sale and this procured a few pence to pay for our
lodgings in a public house.
Next morning we started for
Fishguard, attended a prayer meeting in the Baptist chapel, George Davies had
permission to preach a little to the congregation, he shewed the
(Page 7)
first principles of the gospel and bore a faithful
testimony of the restoration of the priesthood to the Prophet Joseph Smith,
& at which they were all offended. The Minister, a Mr. Owens, rose and said
that the young man had gone to the hight of presumption, in saying that he was
a servant of God and had been sent to preach the gospel. He confessed that
though he had been paid for preaching for many years, and hoped that he had
done much good, yet he would not, for the world say that he was a servant of
God!! After him rose an old drunken deacon of the name of Evan Evans and called
us dogs and other evil names, and bad the people to beware of us lest we should
deceive them.
(Page 8)
The next day we went to Saint
David's, walked up to the old Methodist preacher and asked for the use of the
chapel to preach in but were denied. We then asked for the school-room the
answer was no with much indignation. We
left him and tryed the Independent Deacon for the chapel or schoolroom but to
no purpose. We then tryed for liberty to preach in a private house, but could
not be permitted; however a friendly old woman gave us lodging for 4 pence each
and got a good row with her husband for letting us abide in the house. I have
forgotten his name, but he was a true son of Mother Church and an enimy of God.
(Page 9)
We had completely failed to
preach at St. David's this time but conversed with many on the principles of
the gospel.
Next morning we commenced our
way to visit the Saints at Pater & Pembroke, being completely run out of
money and food, we had a journey of nearly 30 miles before us, we traveled
along the sea coast through several villages, but did not stay to preach, being
in haste to see the saints. We came to Newgal sounds, and being weary sat down
to rest where we gathered twelve stones and built a pillar to the memory of the
twelve tribes of Israel. And other two for Ephraim & Manaseh. And a big one
on the top for King David to reign over them.
(Page 10)
We then knelt down and prayed
that God would hasten the gathering of Israel as we had gathered these stones,
the spirit of God restored up on us mightily, and being refreshed, we rose up
and pursued our journey.
We then traveled 7 or 8 miles
farther, met with Sister Ormond returning form Milford Market with a penny loaf
in her basket unfold, which we broke between us and soon swallowed for it was
the first we had had for the day. We were then fit to finish our journey. We
reached Patter before night and found the saints all well. After we had a comfortable
meeting with the saints, we received a letter of counsel to return to Merthyr
to go to work a while that we might recruit for another start.
(Page 11)
On the 21st of
December we took our journey back to Rhymney where I went to work as a miner,
and G. Davies at his trade as a Tailor.
About the 27th of
January 1847 I was counsel to go to work at Risca, Monmouthshire to preach the
gospel there. I went and got work & commenced preaching at night and
working by day. I took a room for preaching and comenced the work in that
place. On 31st of January four were were baptised at the Rock. I
baptised one Elizabeth Nicholas. January 24th I baptised John Davies
at Rhymney-had hard work to baptise him and he proved a worhless man.
While at RiscaI had my leg
broken by a stone falling on it in the work. Was treated barbariously by my
fellow workmen, placed on a tram
(Page 12)
of stones to be carried to my lodgings left at the
door for a long time with blood running from a wound, before I could get it
dressed, having no friend to minister to me till Brother James John, a priest
who had come to help me in that place, came from his work, and he took me in,
laid his hands upon me and prayed for me.
I soon got ease, and recovered fastly, walked out the second day, but
slipped from a stone, and hurt it again.
After I recovered I returnred
to Rhymney, abode there for a short time, on 29th June baptised
Sophia Henderson.
I was ordained an Elder April
18th at Merthyr Conference under the hands of Elder Thos Pugh and William
Phillips.
(Page 13)
1847 July 21 - Having
received counsel I started a second time for Pembrokeshire on a mission to the
Welsh part.
22nd. Arrived at the house of Elder
Joseph Matthews, Trepoeth [Treboeth] near Swansea, he and his wife received me
kindly.
23rd. Reached Llanelly. Elder W. Hughes
entertained me. I preached there on the first principles &
24th Came to Carmarthen, found the saints
all well. I abode with them over Sunday and preached twice and attended the
Saint's meeeting.
27 Started for Pembroke where I arrived about six o
clock , at the house of Sister Ormond who I found rejoicing in the truth.
28th Visited Patter, found Elder John
Hays at Mrs. Obrey's house just going to be married to Ellen Jane Obrey which
took place on
(Page 14)
Sunday following. Elder Wm Mitchel soon came in from
H. West (Haverford West) and we rejoiced together. Took a walk and received counsel from him
relative to my mission to the Welsh.
28th Accompanied Elder Mitchell to
Lawrenny and baptised one Elizabeth Eynon and preached on the first principles.
29th returned with Elder Mitchell to
Pater where the Lion 180 gunship was launched
on the 30th
I started for Haverfordwest, was kindly received by John Rogers I baptised John
Thomas Mason and confirmed him at the time.
31st I reached St. Davids, tryed 11
houses before I could procure a lodging, the people knew me to be a Mormon
Preacher as they called me.
(Page 15)
August 1st I preached at Cyfarchell at
one o clock . At St David's at 6 o clock I preached on the cross in the open
air, to a large congregation. Sold many
pamphlets.
On the 3rd I preached again in the same
place at 6 o clock .
4th At Solva at 7 o clock
5th At Skivog at 7 o clock
6th At an ajacent village ( I do not
remember the name ) at 7 o clock
All in the open air.
9th Preached at Trevine at 7 o clock
where the people made a shocking row by whooping and blowing horns.
After I had closed the
meeting a gentleman of the name of Williams made me a present of a shilling.
The people here mostly belong to the Calvinistic Methodists.
(Page 16)
10 I
preached at Fishguard at the door of the Market House to a large congregation
who bought many pamphlets.
11th Preached at Newport at 7.
12th Preached at St. Dogmells to a large
congregation at 7 o clock .
13th Preached at Cardigan at 7 to a large
congregation. Open air.
14th Returned to Maenclochog and on the
15th preached at 2 & 5 o clock to a crowded audience. After I
had closed the meeting an Independent preacher exclaimed "he is enough to turn
the place upside down."
16th Preached at Little New Castle to a
large congregation of Half Bruits in the house of Nancy Parry who was pretty
kind to me.
(Page 17)
Also a poor widow Mariah
Evans treated me with much kindness. As for all the others they were more like
savages than Christians as they proudly call themselves. I preached there several times after that,
and was always treated with the greatest indignity. One time a mob beset the house while I was
preaching, threw stones at the doors and windows. Once they threw a horses
legbone down the chimney filling the house with smoke dust and soot, and so
proud were they of their sport that they published in the news. After trying to save them till I was wearied I
left them to their fate and went in search of a people who would hear and obey
the gospel.
(Page 18)
I went then to Letterstone, a
village about 2 or 3 miles from Newcastle where I was permitted by the trustees
of the Westlyan Chapel to preach to a large and civil congregation. After
meeting I was invited to public house called The Harp where I was kindly
treated by the landlord and family who gave me food and lodgings free of
expence . One Thomas Evans a baptist
declared after meeting that he had never heard the gospel in purity before, he
has since been baptised .
When I returned to preach
again I was refused liberty in the Chapel because I talked too much about
water, however I was permitted
(Page 19)
to preach in a blacksmith's shop which I did to a
large congregation having the hearth for a pulpit. After which preached several times but could
get none to obey though many confessed that they believed the principles to be
true.
I preached many times at
Fishguard and other places, but found the people very hard to obey the truth,
infact I was obliged to leave them at that time without baptising one. John
Davies priest had visited the nighboruhood of Saint Davids and baptised his
sister Lettitia Davies, and I confirmed her and left her alone. The Lord has
supported her till now, she stands firm in the faith though she has no saint
near to her.
(Page 20)
About this time I left
Pembrokeshire and retunned to Rhymney and worked for a short time preaching and
filling my circle in company with the officers of that branch. I then left Rhymney and went to work at
Cwmbraen where I commenced preaching, and was soon called to preside over a
small branch of the church at the Rase, containing 13 members.
I commenced preaching and baptising , the Lord
wrought with me, for in two days less than 12 months I baptised 31.
Anne Doggett
March 26 - 1848
Margaret Williams
March 28th /48
I confirmed both March 30th /48
Ann Carey
April 2nd, /48
Sarah Phillips Ap 11th /Do [Ditto]
(Page 21)
Emma Phillips Ap 25 - /48 Confirmed the same day
Mary Anne Lewis
May 24th /48
Confirmed by Elder W. Henshaw May 25th
James Lewis
July 27th confirmed Aug 3.
John Masters
Sep 24 Conf Oc 1st
Thos Nash,
Sarah Pocock Oct 26 Confirmed
the same night by me
David Williams Nov 5th Confirmed Nov 16th
by Elder John Carver
William Thomas Nov 6th Conf. 9th.
Caroline Danks Dec 3rd conf Ibid
Elizabeth Ashman
Dec 11th confd. 17th.
Hannah Williams
Do Do
Isaac Lovday Dec 10th confd. 14th
John Doggett
Do Do
Elizabeth Thomas Do Do
John Williams & Wm Ducum Dec 21st confirmd the 24th by
Elders W. Henshaw and Charles Watts
(Page 22)
Elizabeth Williams of the Rase Bap Feb 1st
1849 confd. 20th
Elizth. [abrev] Williams of Cwmmosdy Bap Feb 1st
- confd. 8th by me
Samuel Summers Bap Feb 7th confirmed Feb 15th
by me /49
Lewis Morgan Feb 18th at Abersychan
confirmed the same night.
Ann Keyes bap Feb 13 confd 20th
Elizabeth Williams confirmed by W Prothroe
Feb 20th Bap Vaughan Morgan, Elizabeth Morgan , Jane Sommers and Sarah
Danks.
Vaughan Morgan confirmed Feb 23rd by
Edward Prothroe
Elizabeth Morgan, Jane Somers and Sarah Danks
confirmed March 1st 1849 by me
March 2nd Thomas Childs was baptized by
Thomas Nash and confirmed by me 8th Do [Ditto]
(Page 23)
March 3rd Baptised the wife of William
Duckham by Thomas Nash - who were all confirmed by me on the 8th
Lucy Childs baptised and confirmed the same time
March 8th Bap Mary Thomas by Thomas Lewis
confirmed by the same time
March 4th Bap Lydia Williams
9th Bap William Keys confirmed on the 12th
/49
The following officers were ordained by me at the
Rase Branch.
January 21-/49 William Duckham a Priest
30th Wm Prothroe an Elder
March 1st Thomas Nash & Wm Ashman,
Elders
Do Benjamin Millar a Teacher by W Prothroe
Feb 2nd John Williams a Deacon
During my stay in this branch
(Page 24)
I succeeded in introducing the gospel to Pontypool--
opened a room at the George Inn. Preached several times Organized a Branch of 2
Elders 1 Deacon 1 Teacher and 9 members being 13 in all. The exact number that
I formed at the Rase when called to preside there.
April 1st 1849 I
left my employment being called to travel through the Garway Conference with
Elder Wm Henshaw at the Newport Conference when was held on first and second of
April. On the 3rd I had to preach at the house of brother Lewarn 4th
at Pillgwenlly.
(Page 25)
5th Attended Council
6th Came to Pontypool where I attend
Saints' meeting and ordained William Ducham to the office of Elder
8th I preached in the Town Hall at
Pontypool.
9th At the House of Br Ashman at the Rase
10th Attended council at P-Pool ordained
Wm Green to the office of Elder, and Vaughan Morgan a Teacher
11th Attended Sts meeting at Abersychan
12th Came to Llanelling abode there one
day.
14th Reached Garway Preached on the 15th
and ordained William Williams an Elder. Charles Holly a Priest & Edwin
Prosser a Teacher and James Evans a Deacon
(Page 26)
16th Preached at the house of Elder
William Williams
17th Preached at Cwm Llanelling
18th Attended Saints' meeting at
Abersychan
19th Attended Ditto at the Rase
20th Do Do at P-Pool
22nd Preached at P-Pool
23rd Preached at the Rase
24th Attended Council at P-Pool
25th Preached at Maendy
Do at Bro. Palphrey's near Newport
26th Attended Council at Newport
27 Saints' meeting at New Port
29th Neport meetings allday
30th Preached at Bro Farrel's house.
May 1st Came to Pontypool
2nd Saints' meeting Abersychan
3rd Visited Cwm Lanelling
4th returned to Abersychan
(Page 27)
6th visited Usk and preached
7 Abode at Usk and preached
8th Returned to P Pool held council
9th Preached at Bro. Farrel Maendy
10th Council at Newport
11th St's meeting
13th While preaching was opposed by H. G.
Westbrook a Preacher at Abersychan.
14 Preached at Abersychan again
15 Came to Cwm Lanellying
16 Reached Garway and held a Saints' meeting at
Brother William Williams' house and remained here till Sunday held council in
the morning and a Saints meeting and confirmed Ann Hill. Afternoon preached at
Brother Holley's Evening at bro. Evans' and held council after meeting.
(Page 28)
23rd Went to Dastans with Elder Carver
24th to Kington 25th to New
Radnor preached in open air.
26 Preached at Stinshop
27th Returned to Kington preach at the
house of James Bengals to a lot of Ranter preachers and a Baptist had a little
contention after meeting was over.
And in the afternoon preached at the house of
William Havard, Kingswood .
28 Came to Garway
30th Attended the funeral of sister Sarah
James, at the parish of Horcup. I returned that night and preached at Garway.
31 Baptised Elizabeth Williams
(Page 29)
at Garway-Hill
June 2nd Baptised Mariah Evans and Mary
Jones at Garway also reconfirmed both.
3rd Conducted Saint's meeting and
confirmed Elizabeth Williams at Garway in the morning at 10. And preached in
the afternoon and evening.
4th Came to Cwm Llanellen attended prayer
meeting with the Saints.
5 Attend Council at Pontypool
6th Attend Saints meeting at Abersychan
and baptised Mrs Govward [?]
7th Attended Council at Newport
8 Attended the saints meeting
10th Preached at 10 o clock conducted
saints meeting at ½ past 2 o clock .
Preached at 6 o clock. After closing the meeting in
the room I went to the end of the Bidge and preached in open air to a crowded
audience.
(Page 30)
11th Preached at Maendy at the house of
Brother Palfrey
17th I visited a village called Magor,
was refused liberty to preach in the Baptists chapel by the minister whose name
I could not obtain, however I preached there twice in the open air to large congregations leaving my testimony
with them.
24 Spent the whole day at Abersychan
25 Preached at Lower Rase
July 1st Preached Magor again
8 Visited Garway and preached
15 Visited the Forest-of-Dean in GloucesterShire ,
preached there and on the
17th returned to Garway and abode in the
neighbourhood till the
22nd when I started through the branches
for the Conference
(Page 31)
at Merthyr which was held on the
29th At which it was determined that I
should take another tour through Pembrokeshire to preach in the Welsh
districts. After Conference I returned
to Pontypool to prepare for my new mission and on the 1st August I
preached at Tredegar Ironwork, 3 where baptised that night.
On the 7th I took
coach from Pontypool to Newport in company with some Brothers and Sisters --had
a pleasant ride. Took the steamer for Bristol at ½ past 6 o clock in company
with Elder John Moris, President of the Pembrokshire conference.
We arrived at Bristol at ½ past 9 o clock and staid
the night at Mr James Allen's coffee house.
(Page 32)
At ½ past 8 o clock the following morning we started
for Tenby by the Talbot Steamer where we arrived at 5 PM. Was met by two of the
brethren from the Stepaside Branch by whom I was conducted to the lodgings of
Elder Daniel Williams being much fatigued. My health having given way by the
tediousness of the journey I had to suffer much for a few days, but by the
kindness of Elder Williams and the Saints under his care I was soon nursed up
again. I continued in the neighbourhood
for a week or nine days, attending all the meetings of the saints in the
(Page 33)
two Branches that were in that neighbourhood, and
enjoying the pleasure of the communion of saints.
I spent the first Sunday 12th of Augt. in
the Stepaside Branch. Attended their Saints meetings in the morning and in the
afternoon attended Saints meeting at Eastlake, and preached in the evening at 6
o clock at Mead Kilmir in the open air to a large congregation.
13th I attended a publicly prayer meeting
at the house of William Thain, Pendilo. I spoke a little on the first
Principles of the gospel, and the necessity of obeying the same. On 14th
I attended Saints meeting at
(Page 34)
Eastlake, at the House of John Rogers; here I had to
interpret a discourse which has been delivered in Welsh by Elder John
Evans. I then exhorted the Saints to be
faithful in keeping all the commandments of God that they might have an
inheritance in the celestial kingdom of Jesus Christ. On the 16th
Augt. having recovered a little strength I started for Pembroke to see
President J. Morris by whom and his kind hearted wife I was received with joy.
17th I visited Pater to see my old
friends the Obrey family whom I found in good health and was cordially received
by
(Page 35)
them all. On the 18th visited Her
Majesty's Dock Yard to see the Ship "Octavia" launched.
19th visited Lawrenny where I preached
and at Weston in the evening.
21 Attended Saints meeting
22 Went to Haverford West and the following day to
Letterston and preached that night to a large congregation.
24. I reached Fishguard in company with Elders John
Evans and William Rees. Spent the
25th perambulating the town and observing
the fictious piety of its inhabitants.
26 At 10 o clock held saints meeting in the house of
Wm. Rees who with his family had been baptised by Elders Evans & Rees.
(Page 36)
I confirmed William Rees in that meeting. At 2 o
clock we preached in the Cwm in the open air, to a large congregation and at 6
o clock preached at Scledde gate to a large congregation.
27th I preached at Fishguard
28th At Wolfs Castle to a large
congregation
29 Attended Cuffern Mountain Branch Saints meeting.
Sep 2nd Preached at upper Slade at the
House of Brother Thos. Rowlands - at 2 o clock held Saints meeting and at 6
preached again.
On the 3rd I returned and preached at
Wolfs Castle and baptised Thomas Evans and Jas Devonald and confirmed them.
(Page 37)
4th I preached at Letterstone
Price, John
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