Colonel Philip Jones of Fonmon

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Colonel Philip Jones (1618 - 5 September 1674), was a Welsh military leader and politician. Under Fairfax, Jones rose to the rank of Colonel in the service of the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War. As Governor of Swansea he successfully held the town against the Royalist forces.

Pembrokeshire aside, most of South Wales had been staunchly Royalist prior to the civil war, and in the resulting power vacuum, Jones was able to rise from comparatively humble beginnings to a position of considerable wealth through purchases and awards of land. From pre-war yeoman's earnings, he ended his life with a four figure income - fabulous riches for those days. In 1656, he bought Fonmon Castle from the St. John family, who had become obliged to sell, as well as numerous other estates. He became comptroller of Oliver Cromwell's household, MP for Brecknock and one of six Welshmen selected to the "Little or Barebones Parliament." In addition, he was appointed a Privy Councillor and sat in the Upper House as Philip Lord Jones.

Even before the Restoration of the Monarchy, there were calls for Jones's trial from the Royalists who had forfeited their lands to him. With Charles II in place, Jones was finally brought to trial in 1661 for having carried away the organ of St. Mary's Swansea, a charge he survived to die in his bed.