William Jones

William Jones was the 16th century Merchant adventurer and a distinguished member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

Born in the village of Newland in the Forest of Dean, Jones was sent as a young boy to Monmouth on apprenticeship. At the age of 20 he settled in London where he worked as porter and factor in London. Eventually he established a successful business in Hamburg trading in the so called “Welsh cottons” made of cheap woolen fabric. Much of his wealth Jones devoted to charity which led to the foundation of schools in Monmoth and Pontypool, almshouses at Newland, and so-called Golden Lectureship in London.