GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-002664
NameHenry Jones
TitleBishop
Gendermale
DenominationChurch of Ireland
Livedb. ca. 1605-03-25 - d. 1681-01-05 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsSermon on Matthew 6:12 -- preacher (autograph: uncertain)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesClogher -- BishopricMeath -- BishopricArdagh -- DeaneryKilmore -- DeaneryTrinity College -- Place of StudyUniversity of Dublin -- Post
Source of DataBL Catalogue; Anne James; David Robinson
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB
Other NoteBorn in Ireland in 1605 to Lewis Jones, bishop of Kilaloe, and Mabel Ussher (sister of the famous archbishop of Armagh, James Ussher). Entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1616; BA, 1621; MA and fellow, 1624. Presented to the deanery of Ardagh in Cavan by his father in 1625. While there he married a local settler, Jane Culme, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. When the diocese of Ardagh and Kilmore was divided in 1637, he exchanged his office for the deanery of Kilmore. With the Irish rising of 1641, his family were taken hostage and he sent to Dublin with a petition. He was appointed head of a commission of eight ministers to register the claims of dispossessed clerics. His experiences likely coloured his perception of the rebellion as party of a papally directed international conspiracy against the reformed religion. During the 1640s he remained loyal to the king, who rewarded him with the bishopric of Clogher in 1645 and the vice-chancellorship of Dublin University in 1646, a position he held until 1660. During his tenure there he promoted the teaching of the Irish language to clerics. Also in 1646, after the death of his first wife, he married Mary Piers, with whom he had seven children. Despite his loyalty to the king in the early 40s, he was made scoutmaster-general of the army after Cromwell's arrival in 1649. His collaboration with the Cromwellian regime, even if opposed to its religious policy, cost him his position at the university when the regime was overthrown. He was nonetheless soon forgiven, and at the Restoration was translated to the bishopric of Meath. He remained committed to winning the Irish to Protestantism through providing religious instruction in their own language and supported the translation of the New Testament into Gaelic. Died on 5 January 1681.
GEMMS record createdSeptember 18, 2019
GEMMS record last editedSeptember 28, 2019