Davis, Rebecca Morgan - Biography

REBECCA MORGAN DAVIS

Rebecca Morgan was born 31 January 1828 in Llantwit Vardre, Glamorganshire, South Wales. She was the daughter of Lewis Morgan, a laborer who lived from 1795 to 1880, and Margaret Phillips, 1801-1867. She was their third child, and there were nine children in the family. Rebecca Morgan and Richard Jenkins Davis of Rhondda Valley were married 22 July 1849. Rebecca was 21 years of age at the time of the marriage, and Richard was 23. He was a coal miner.

Their first child, William Morgan Davis, was born 29 November 1850. Richard Jenkins Davis was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 23 January 1851. Rebecca was baptized 20 March 1851. They left Wales 5 February 1853. The LDS religion had made a big change in their lives. Rebecca was the only member of her family to join the Church and emigrate to Utah.

Rebecca and her husband and two-year-old son left Liverpool on the ship "Jersey" and landed at New Orleans six weeks later. They took the steamer "John Simons" up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and on to Keokuck, Iowa, where they stayed for nine weeks preparing to cross the plains by ox team to Utah. After a hard trip via Council Bluffs and much siffering, common in those days, they arrived in Salt Lake City on 10 October 1853.

They spent the winter at Session's Settlement, now Bountiful, Utah, with old Father Cyril Call. In the sping of 1854 they moved to Willard, Box Elder County, Utah. Many other Welsh people came to Willard about the same time. Richard built a rock home on 1st South and 2nd West, and Rebecca lived there the rest of her life.

Rebecca gave birth to their second child Margaret Ellen Davis on 10 December 1854. Richard and Rebecca were endowed 13 June 1856. Rebecca Jane was born 31 July 1856; Ann Gwenthllyn on 24 January 1858; Richard Elias Davis on 6 October 1859; Mary Elizabeth 15 September 1861; Thomas Henry Davis on 21 January 1862; and David Jenkins Davis on 9 May 1865. She gave birth to eight children. If dates are correct Rebecca's husband started on a mission back to their native land the day after her last baby was born on 10 May 1865.

Rebecca's husband, Richard Jenkins Davis, married his second wife in polygamy, Phebe Davis on 18 April 1863. Phebe had a daughter Amelia born 18 May 1864. The two wives lived together in harmony and helped each other. Rebecca sewed for people and did nursing and was a midwife. She also managed the farm. Phebe cared for the house and children.

Richard returned from his mission to Wales 28 August 1868 after an absence of three years and three months. He found his family of two wives and nine children in good health but destitute. In the spring of 1868 three of the best cows had died from eating wild parsnips. The only team had died from eating joint rushes.

On 5 September 1868 Richard married Elizabeth Cozzens, a girl he had brought back from Freystrop, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. She was younger than his oldest son. The two wives never accepted her with joy, and Rebecca did not live with her husband after that. He took Elizabeth, his third wife, and children William M., Richard E., and Margaret to Cherry Creek in Malad Valley, Idaho, where he lived until he died on 5 October 1892. After a short timein Malad Valley Richard E. left his father and went to board for two years with his sistser Ann Gwen and her husband Robert Bell Baird in Willard. The oldest son Bill returned to Willard to live with his mother and Margaret married Thomas Ap Davis of Malad and stayed there.

William (Bill) Davis lived with his mother Rebecca, and he was 44 years old before he married Eliza Jones. Rebecca had Bill, Gwen and Richard who lived close by to care for her. She was bedfast at the last and died of kidney failure on 5 April 1896 at age 68.

Rebecca had been an active church member, having taken part in religious and social activities of the Willard Ward. She was a member of the first Willard choir under the direction of John P. Wood. She was also a member of the first Relief Society in Willard, and with Auntie Parrish adn Jane P. Owens attended to the gathering of wheat. She is buried in the Willard Cemetery.

By Loraine Baird Law, a great-granddaughter