– pictured at work in an 1872 painting
The practice of Bonesetting dates to ancient times in many countries. Bonesetters used manual manipulation to treat muscle and skeletal strains and injuries as well as bone fractures and dislocations. These influenced the development of modern chiropractic and osteopathic practices.
Bonesetters played an essential role in places like Rhymney, where heavy industrial work in the iron works and coal mines, often led to injuries. Thomas Jones was a renowned figure throughout Wales and was known as the “Bonesetter of Rhymney”. He was highly sought after by people from in the town and surrounding areas for his treatments.
Like other bonesetters, Jones was not formally trained. Instead, his skills were honed through personal experience and practical knowledge and an understanding of how bones and joints should align.
He also helped with pain management and recovery and like many other Bonesetters was trusted for his hands-on ability to heal, which often allowed people to return to work and normal life.
Jones was born in around 1823 in Penybryn, close to where the counties of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Carmarthenshire meet. There, he first learned the practices of bonesetting from his father, a local farmer who would treat injured animals.
By 1851, Jones was working as a Puddler in the iron works in Rhymney where he had settled with his young family. In 1871, they were living at 2 Jerusalem Street with both older sons, David and Thomas, also iron workers. It was there that Thomas senior passed on his skills and secrets as a bonesetter, not only to his own sons, but also to young John Rees, who lived next door and went on to gain fame as ‘Bonesetter Reese’ in the USA.
In appreciation and recognition of his skills, Thomas senior was given a painting and some money at a reception at Tredegar Arms in 1872, five years before his death. His older son, David Jones was calling himself David Rocyn-Jones by 1891 where in the census he is listed as a “Healer and Bonesetter at the local Steel Works.” His family was now living at 104 Hill Street, including 18-year-old son v, born in November 1872, a scholar at Lewis School, Pengam.
David junior furthered his studies at University College Cardiff and London before graduating as a doctor from the University of Edinburgh. By 1911, Rocyn-Jones was a general practitioner in Abertillery, where he also served as the chief surgeon at the Powell Collieries, and as honorary surgeon to Abertillery RFC, which had just become one of Wales’ first-class clubs.
After obtaining his Diploma in Public Health from Oxford in 1904, he was appointed as the first Medical Officer of Health for Monmouthshire in 1907, setting up an impressive service in preventive medicine, particularly tuberculosis. Rocyn-Jones was deeply involved in various professional bodies, including the British Medical Association and St. John Ambulance, and was highly involved in the establishment of the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff.
In 1947, he became President of the Welsh Rugby Union, a position he held until his death. For his services, Rocyn-Jones was knighted in 1948. He passed away on 30 April 1953, leaving a huge legacy of significant contributions to public health and Welsh society.
His son, Nathan Rocyn-Jones, followed in his footsteps, both in the medical field as an orthopaedic surgeon and as President of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1964 having gained a cap for Wales in 1925 against Ireland. Another son, Gwyn was also a Doctor and followed his father as the County Medical Officer for Monmouthshire.