Josiah Rees (2 October 1744 – 20 September 1804)[1] was a Welsh Unitarian minister.
Lifeedit
Born in the parish of Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn, near Llandovery, he was son of Owen Rees (1717–1768), the first nonconformist minister in the parish of Aberdare, by Mary his wife, who lived to complete her hundredth year. After attending the grammar school at Swansea, he entered around 1762 Carmarthen College, and became minister-elect of the church at Gellionen in 1764, while pursuing his studies at the College for two years longer. Among his fellow students was his lifelong friend, the Rev. David Davis.
Rees was also, until about 1785, a successful schoolmaster. He became known as a preacher, and published some sermons. His chapel was rebuilt and enlarged in 1801. In 1785 he declined the offer of the principalship of the presbyterian college, then in Swansea, but gave a year's course there of divinity lectures.
Rees was married twice, and by his second wife was the father of several sons, including Thomas Rees.
Worksedit
In literature Rees's first and major venture was the Welsh magazine Trysorfa Gwybodaeth, neu yr Eurgrawn Cymraeg. It was the first sustained publication of the kind in Wales: a similar magazine, Tlysau yr Hen Oesoedd or "Gems of Ancient Times", projected in 1735 by Lewis Morris, only lasted one number. Rees's Trysorfa was produced at his own expense. The first number—32 pages at 3d.—appeared on 3 March 1770; it was published by John Ross of Carmarthen. Fourteen fortnightly numbers followed. The magazine was discontinued with the fifteenth number, on 15 September 1770, for want of support. With every number were given eight pages of Caradoc of Llancarfan's Brut y Tywysogion, or Chronicle of the Princes.
Rees's Collection of Hymns, 1796, some from his own and his father's pen, and a Collection of Psalms, mostly after Isaac Watts, 1797, were in use for many years in the Unitarian churches of South Wales; they were not entirely replaced until 1878. A third edition was published in 1834.
Rees's translations into Welsh included a Catechism (1770) on the Principles of Religion, by Henry Read (?); John Mason's Self-Knowledge, which passed through numerous editions; and a Doctrinal Treatise, published in 1804 under the auspices of the Welsh Unitarian Book Society; it evoked from Joseph Harris a defence of the deity of Jesus, The Axe of Christ in the Forest of Antichrist.
Referencesedit
^Robert Thomas Jenkins. "Rees, Josiah (1744-1804), Unitarian minister". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
josiah, rees, chief, justice, bermuda, judge, october, 1744, september, 1804, welsh, unitarian, minister, life, editborn, parish, llanfair, bryn, near, llandovery, owen, rees, 1717, 1768, first, nonconformist, minister, parish, aberdare, mary, wife, lived, com. For the Chief Justice of Bermuda see Josiah Rees judge Josiah Rees 2 October 1744 20 September 1804 1 was a Welsh Unitarian minister Life editBorn in the parish of Llanfair ar y Bryn near Llandovery he was son of Owen Rees 1717 1768 the first nonconformist minister in the parish of Aberdare by Mary his wife who lived to complete her hundredth year After attending the grammar school at Swansea he entered around 1762 Carmarthen College and became minister elect of the church at Gellionen in 1764 while pursuing his studies at the College for two years longer Among his fellow students was his lifelong friend the Rev David Davis Rees was also until about 1785 a successful schoolmaster He became known as a preacher and published some sermons His chapel was rebuilt and enlarged in 1801 In 1785 he declined the offer of the principalship of the presbyterian college then in Swansea but gave a year s course there of divinity lectures Rees was married twice and by his second wife was the father of several sons including Thomas Rees Works editIn literature Rees s first and major venture was the Welsh magazine Trysorfa Gwybodaeth neu yr Eurgrawn Cymraeg It was the first sustained publication of the kind in Wales a similar magazine Tlysau yr Hen Oesoedd or Gems of Ancient Times projected in 1735 by Lewis Morris only lasted one number Rees s Trysorfa was produced at his own expense The first number 32 pages at 3d appeared on 3 March 1770 it was published by John Ross of Carmarthen Fourteen fortnightly numbers followed The magazine was discontinued with the fifteenth number on 15 September 1770 for want of support With every number were given eight pages of Caradoc of Llancarfan s Brut y Tywysogion or Chronicle of the Princes Rees s Collection of Hymns 1796 some from his own and his father s pen and a Collection of Psalms mostly after Isaac Watts 1797 were in use for many years in the Unitarian churches of South Wales they were not entirely replaced until 1878 A third edition was published in 1834 Rees s translations into Welsh included a Catechism 1770 on the Principles of Religion by Henry Read John Mason s Self Knowledge which passed through numerous editions and a Doctrinal Treatise published in 1804 under the auspices of the Welsh Unitarian Book Society it evoked from Joseph Harris a defence of the deity of Jesus The Axe of Christ in the Forest of Antichrist References edit Robert Thomas Jenkins Rees Josiah 1744 1804 Unitarian minister Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales Retrieved 10 April 2019 Rees Josiah Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Rees Josiah Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Josiah Rees amp oldid 1175164161, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
