LMS Biographies, Part V

To make up for a whole bunch of blog posts, I am publishing in post format the biographies I compiled for my world-famous “The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society for all articles relating to their Central Africa Mission from 1876-1905.” I appreciate your patience!

Rev. David Picton Jones
Born: January 20, 1860 at New Quay, Cardiganshire
Died: May 1936, at Warmley, Bristol1

Rev. D.P. Jones studied at Carmarthen College and was ordained on March 14, 1882, at Towyn Chapel, New Quay. Slated for Uguha on the west side of the lake [Jun 1882], he departed England on May 17, 1882 [Jul 1882]. He reached Zanzibar on June 19, 1882 [Sep 1882] and Uguha on March 17, 1883. He resigned [Nov 1885] and returned to England on December 30, 1885 [Feb 1886], where he married Jessie Ann Harries on May 17, 1886 [Aug 1886]. Reappointed to Fwambo, they departed England on May 11, 1887 [Jun 1887], arriving at the station on September 21, 1887. The Jones had their first son at Fwambo on November 16, 1888, who died a month later on December 26 [Jun 1889]. A daughter, Hilda2, was born at Fwambo on April 23, 1890 [Dec 1890], followed by a son Howard on May 6, 1891 [Oct 1891]. In 1890 he removed the Fwambo mission to Kawimbe†. On September 6, 1892, they departed for furlough in England [Jan 1893], and during the trip Howard died at Chinde on November 2 [Jan 1893]. They also brought a Mambwe man Nonde to England to help with translation work3. The couple and Hilda arrived in England on December 24, 1892 [Jan 1893], and had a second daughter at New Quay, Cardiganshire, on January 18, 1893 [Jun 1893]. On May 8, 1894, Rev. D.P. Jones departed England [Jun 1894] to return to Fwambo. In that year he helped found the station at Kambole†. Mrs. Jones had a third son in Sheffield on December 11, 1894 [Feb 1895]. Rev. Jones returned to England due to ill-health, arriving January 10, 1897 [Feb 1897]. He was appointed to the Matabeleland Mission in 1901 [Sep 1901] and retired from missionary work in 1903, later becoming a minister in Glamorganshire, Wales.

Jessie Ann Jones, née Harries
Ms. Harries married Rev. D.P. Jones on May 17, 1886 [Aug 1886]. The couple, slated for Fwambo, departed England on May 11, 1887 [Jun 1887], and arrived on station on September 21. At the mission, Mrs. Jones taught sewing, mending, and singing to women4. The Jones had their first son at Fwambo on November 16, 1888, who died a month later on December 26 [Jun 1889]. A daughter, Hilda5, was born at Fwambo on April 23, 1890 [Dec 1890], followed by a son Howard on May 6, 1891 [Oct 1891]. In 1890 they removed the Fwambo mission to Kawimbe†. On September 6, 1892, they departed for furlough in England [Jan 1893], and during the trip Howard died at Chinde on November 2 [Jan 1893]. Mrs. Jones did not join her husband when he departed again for Central Africa in 1894.

Rev. Percy William Jones
Born: August 19, 1871, at Malvern

Rev. P.W. Jones studied at Nottingham Institute and was appointed to Central Africa is lieu of Mr. D.L Thomas [May 1896]. He was ordained on April 29, 1896 [Jun 1896], and departed England on May 15 [Jun 1896]. He settled at Niamkolo but returned to England, arriving on December 19, 1899. Asked to resign†, his resignation was accepted on October 23, 1900 [Dec 1900].

Kalulu
Ransomed from slavery by the Rev. D.P. Jones during the latter’s stay in Uguha from 1883-18856, Kalulu became his personal servant [Jun 1891]. “Kalulu” is the name given to him by Rev. Jones. During Rev. Jones’ first return to England, Kalulu stayed with Mr. Arthur Brooks at Urambo. There, Kalulu trained in carpentry with Mr. Brooks6. After Rev. Jones’ return to Central Africa, Kalulu joined him in Fwambo. Kalulu was baptized on January 11, 1891, becoming the first convert of the Central Africa Mission [Jun 1891]. Kalulu became a teacher for the London Missionary Society, working at Mbete [Dec 1893], Niamkolo, and Fwambo [Apr 1897]. Kalulu married [Apr 1897], and their first child was named Duia [Sep 1894].

Dr. Frank Laird, L.R.C.P. & S.E.
Born: July 18, 1854, at Crathie, Aberdeenshire

Dr. Laird studied medicine at Edinburgh and was appointed a medical missionary to the Central Africa Mission. He departed England on June 11, 1884 [Jul 1884], but he returned to England due to ill-health and arrived on October 9, 1884. In April 1885 he resigned from the London Missionary Society.

Notes:

Unless otherwise noted, missionary biographies are derived firstly from London Missionary Society: A Register of Missionaries, Deputations, Etc. From 1796 to 1923, prepared by James Sibree, D.D., Fourth Edition, published by the London Missionary Society, London, 1923. Brackets with [Month Year] indicate the issue of The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society which records the preceding event. Information denoted by a dagger (†) is from Christian Missionaries and the Creation of Northern Rhodesia 1880-1924, by Robert I. Rotberg, published by Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1965. Other sources are denoted by a footnote.

1 After Livingstone, Second impression, by David Picton Jones and Dorothy Picton Jones, printed by Benham and Company Limited, Colchester, 1968.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.