Zephaniah Williams
Encyclopedia
Zephaniah Williams was born near Argoed, Sirhowy Valley, Monmouthshire
, with much of his childhood spent near the then village of Blackwood, also living for some periods in Caerphilly and Nantyglo. He was fortunate enough not only to have a fair amount of schooling, and becoming literate in both English and Welsh, but also having the character to be self-educated, particularly studying geology.
At the age of 25 he married Joan, then living for some time in Machen and having a son Llewellyn. Daughters Jane and Rhoda were born in 1825 and 1827 respectively.
At the age of 33 he came to Sirhowy, as a free thinking rationalist, with strong radical views, rather than one of religious conviction. Apparently, stories said that he spat every time the name of Christ was mentioned.
He became a coal miner or collier and later a Master Collier at Blaina
and innkeeper, keeping the Royal Oak at Nantyglo
, from where he used to pay his colliers.
It was at this time only natural that such a man would emerge as a natural leader during the Chartist movement in south east Wales.
He was subsequently prosecuted for his part in the Chartist
Newport Rising
at Newport, Monmouthshire
in 1839.
and William Jones
, he led a large column of men from the Nantyglo
area to march south reaching the outskirts of the town [Newport] at about 9am; halting at St. Woolos church
, then moving as a mass to Stow Hill
, continuing to the square, and on to the Westgate Hotel, Newport
. Thirty soldiers (red-coats) were at the Westgate Hotel.
This site is sometimes regarded as the greatest armed rebellion in 19th century Britain.
The men assembled at the Welsh Oak
, Pontymister
before marching as one into Newport
. Known as the "Blackwood Infidel", he had a reputation as a political Radical
, and as an individual prepared to settle disputes in less conventional ways. Some histories refer to his having been prosecuted at Usk
in 1833 for blowing up a coal mine in a dispute with the mineowner. Other histories refer to him having been an atheist who vigorously promoted his views - very controversial at the time.
But his sentence was commuted and he was transported for life to Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania, Australia), arriving at the colony on the last day of June 1840. In 1848 he described the terrible treatment handed out in the colony, ‘Many have I known, though guilty of the offence for which they suffered, commit murder in order to expire on the gallows rather than endure the punishment’.
Once there he made plans to escape, but remained.
He was given a conditional pardon in 1854 allowing him to live anywhere outside of the UK. He decided to remain in Tasmania, and brought his wife and family out from Wales to Australia. He discovered coal on the island and made a considerable fortune from it, so founding the Tasmanian coal trade.
He died a prosperous man at Launceston, Tasmania
on 8 May 1874.
On Rationalism
"I would advise all men to take nothing upon trust but all on trial, whether in politics, religion, ethics, or anything else : to sit down with a determined resolution: to examine closely: and to be directed by that which reason most approves."
On Prejudice
"When prejudice has shut the eye of the mind the brightest rays of truth shine in vain. When men are thus incapacitated for the reception of truth they become liable to become guilty of injustice, ill-nature, and ill manners to others; and insensible of what is properly owing to themselves."
On Friendship
"We know that man is a social being and that consequently he has a capacity for friendship. Friendship is as old as the first formation of society and in its own nature so necessary that I know not how a social being could exist without it."
On The Doctrine of Pre-destination
"Your conduct and your doctrine are at variance; for you are holding to your flock that God will have the number which he has decreed, and afterwards go into my neighbours to persuade them that an impotent mortal like myself may be the means of leading an infinite number of those who are already decreed for happiness (for you could not mean that such as are reprobate could be endangered by my heresy) into eternal misery. According to your tenets I could not be but fulfilling what I was ordained to fulfil, and the act, in itself, is right."
On Inconsistency in the Use of Reason
"Those who distrust reason in matters of faith deem its free and unshackled exercise, not withstanding all their concessions in their pious moods as of essential importance in worldly matters, in which they forget not to use the wisdom of serpents, however wanting in the innocence of doves."
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, with much of his childhood spent near the then village of Blackwood, also living for some periods in Caerphilly and Nantyglo. He was fortunate enough not only to have a fair amount of schooling, and becoming literate in both English and Welsh, but also having the character to be self-educated, particularly studying geology.
At the age of 25 he married Joan, then living for some time in Machen and having a son Llewellyn. Daughters Jane and Rhoda were born in 1825 and 1827 respectively.
At the age of 33 he came to Sirhowy, as a free thinking rationalist, with strong radical views, rather than one of religious conviction. Apparently, stories said that he spat every time the name of Christ was mentioned.
He became a coal miner or collier and later a Master Collier at Blaina
Blaina
Blaina is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county of Monmouthshire.-Notable people:...
and innkeeper, keeping the Royal Oak at Nantyglo
Nantyglo
Nantyglo is a village in the ancient parish of Aberystruth and county of Monmouth situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Blaina and Brynmawr in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent.- Places of interest in Nantyglo :...
, from where he used to pay his colliers.
Chartist
He was a free thinking man in religious matters and the local Working Men's Association met at his home. At the Coach and Horses in Blackwood, Zephaniah Williams met John Frost - a magistrate and supporter of the cause.It was at this time only natural that such a man would emerge as a natural leader during the Chartist movement in south east Wales.
He was subsequently prosecuted for his part in the Chartist
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
Newport Rising
Newport Rising
The Newport Rising was the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain, when on 4 November 1839, somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 Chartist sympathisers, including many coal-miners, most with home-made arms, led by John Frost, marched on the town of Newport,...
at Newport, Monmouthshire
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
in 1839.
The Newport Rising
Along with John FrostJohn Frost (Chartist)
John Frost was a prominent Welsh leader of the British Chartist movement in the Newport Rising....
and William Jones
William Jones (Chartist)
William Jones was a political Radical and Chartist, who was a former actor, working as a watchmaker at Pontypool in Monmouthshire and was also keeping a beer house....
, he led a large column of men from the Nantyglo
Nantyglo
Nantyglo is a village in the ancient parish of Aberystruth and county of Monmouth situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Blaina and Brynmawr in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent.- Places of interest in Nantyglo :...
area to march south reaching the outskirts of the town [Newport] at about 9am; halting at St. Woolos church
Newport Cathedral
Newport Cathedral in the city of Newport in South Wales is the cathedral of the Diocese of Monmouth, in the Church in Wales, and seat of the Bishop of Monmouth. The full title is Newport Cathedral, Woolos, King & Confessor...
, then moving as a mass to Stow Hill
Stow Hill, Newport
Stow Hill is both an electoral district and coterminous community parish of the City of Newport, South Wales.It is bounded by the River Usk to the east, George Street and Cardiff Road to the south, the Great Western Main Line to the southwest, Caerau Crescent, Caerau Road, Godfrey Road, Devon...
, continuing to the square, and on to the Westgate Hotel, Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
. Thirty soldiers (red-coats) were at the Westgate Hotel.
This site is sometimes regarded as the greatest armed rebellion in 19th century Britain.
The men assembled at the Welsh Oak
Welsh Oak (pub)
The Welsh Oak is a pub located in Pontymister, Caerphilly County Borough, Wales.This was the final meeting place of John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones, all members of the Chartist movement in South Wales in the 1830s prior to and during the Newport Rising of 1839.Each man headed up a...
, Pontymister
Pontymister
Pontymister is a small village in Caerphilly county borough in Wales.-History:Originally a farm called Tŷ Isaf, the village came about as a need for housing for the local steel mill and chemical works workforces. Most houses were built in 1920 - 1925.Pontymister steel works was famous for being...
before marching as one into Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
. Known as the "Blackwood Infidel", he had a reputation as a political Radical
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
, and as an individual prepared to settle disputes in less conventional ways. Some histories refer to his having been prosecuted at Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
in 1833 for blowing up a coal mine in a dispute with the mineowner. Other histories refer to him having been an atheist who vigorously promoted his views - very controversial at the time.
Transportation to Australia for Life
For his part in the Chartist march on Newport he was sentenced on 16 January 1840 with the verdict of 'guilty of high treason' - sentencing to death by hanging, drawing,and quartering.But his sentence was commuted and he was transported for life to Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(now Tasmania, Australia), arriving at the colony on the last day of June 1840. In 1848 he described the terrible treatment handed out in the colony, ‘Many have I known, though guilty of the offence for which they suffered, commit murder in order to expire on the gallows rather than endure the punishment’.
Once there he made plans to escape, but remained.
He was given a conditional pardon in 1854 allowing him to live anywhere outside of the UK. He decided to remain in Tasmania, and brought his wife and family out from Wales to Australia. He discovered coal on the island and made a considerable fortune from it, so founding the Tasmanian coal trade.
He died a prosperous man at Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
on 8 May 1874.
Letter to Benjamin Williams by Zephaniah Williams
This letter (printed by John Partridge of Newport) to Rev. Benjamine Williams, who was a nonconformist minister, written in Sirhowy in 1831, expresses his [Z. Williams] view on a number of subjects. The extracts are as follows :On Rationalism
"I would advise all men to take nothing upon trust but all on trial, whether in politics, religion, ethics, or anything else : to sit down with a determined resolution: to examine closely: and to be directed by that which reason most approves."
On Prejudice
"When prejudice has shut the eye of the mind the brightest rays of truth shine in vain. When men are thus incapacitated for the reception of truth they become liable to become guilty of injustice, ill-nature, and ill manners to others; and insensible of what is properly owing to themselves."
On Friendship
"We know that man is a social being and that consequently he has a capacity for friendship. Friendship is as old as the first formation of society and in its own nature so necessary that I know not how a social being could exist without it."
On The Doctrine of Pre-destination
"Your conduct and your doctrine are at variance; for you are holding to your flock that God will have the number which he has decreed, and afterwards go into my neighbours to persuade them that an impotent mortal like myself may be the means of leading an infinite number of those who are already decreed for happiness (for you could not mean that such as are reprobate could be endangered by my heresy) into eternal misery. According to your tenets I could not be but fulfilling what I was ordained to fulfil, and the act, in itself, is right."
On Inconsistency in the Use of Reason
"Those who distrust reason in matters of faith deem its free and unshackled exercise, not withstanding all their concessions in their pious moods as of essential importance in worldly matters, in which they forget not to use the wisdom of serpents, however wanting in the innocence of doves."