File NLW MS 3292E. - Llythyrau

The family originated from south Cardiganshire and north Carmarthenshire. They were descendents of the pioneers of nonconformity in Cardiganshire and had strong connections with the Unitarian cause. The line moved to Aberdare when the Rev. John Jones became minister of Hen Dŷ Cwrdd in 1833. His son, Rees Jenkin Jones, succeeded him in 1863.

The family were minor landowners and owned properties in south Cardiganshire, north Carmarthenshire and Aberdare.

Further biographical details and information relating to estate papers can be found in the appropriate unit of description.

Sir John Ballinger was born in Pontnewynydd, Monmouthshire, and received his early education in Canton, Cardiff. At 15 he became an assistant at Cardiff Free Library and, at 20, was appointed librarian at Doncaster before returning to Cardiff in 1884 to take up the post of chief librarian. In 1908 Ballinger was appointed the first librarian of the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth, which was scheduled to be opened the following year. Despite being a non-Welsh speaker, Ballinger brought considerable success to his librarianship roles in Wales. He was selected as president of the Library Association in 1922 and was for a time editor of the Bibliographical Society of Wales. Amongst other honours bestowed upon him, he received an honourary Master of Arts from the University of Wales in 1909, was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1920 and knighted in 1930. In 1932 he received the Cymmrodorion Society's medal for his services to the Welsh nation in the field of bibliography and literature. He died at Hawarden in 1933.