ANN JONES - ANN OWENS
To clarify a misunderstanding that has persisted for the last hundred years, the following is given.
Ann Jones and Ann Owens are the same person. According to the Welsh tradition a man whose
first name is John will call his daughter Ann Jones - or John's daughter. John Owens had three
children Hugh Jones, Owen Pearce Jones and Ann Jones. When the Welsh saints arrived in the
United States they were confronted with the usage of family names. The first time that Ann
Jones used the new system was when she received her patriarchal blessing in 1851. Little
wonder that no trace of Ann Owens could be found while complete information is known of Ann
Jones.
Ann Jones was born 14 July 1825 in Llanfrothen, Merionethshire, Wales daughter of John
Owens and Catherine Pugh. The first record we find of her is in the preface to the Festinog
Branch records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was the third person to
join the church...she was baptized Ann Jones 12 July 1846 by William Clark and confirmed by
Eleazer Edwards. She migrated 21 Feb. 1849. Seventeen member of this small branch plus
several young children left Festinog as part of Captain Dan Jones Co. of 249 from Wales. They
sailed from Liverpool, England on the ship "Buena Vista" 25/26 Feb. 1849. The company had a
good voyage but after their arrival in New Orleans cholera broke out and many lost their lives.
From the journal of William Appleby 1 May 1849 - On the day of our arrival here we found a
company of about two hundred saints from England on board the steamer Mary just leaving for
Council Bluffs, Captain Dan Jones and several other elders were on board. Some on board were
sick already with the cholera and several had died I was informed, coming up the River from
New Orleans. The Mary left for Council Bluffs in the afternoon of the day of our arrival and lost
upward of 50 of the passengers before arriving at Council Point. Of the original 249 at least 100
died. They continued up the Mississippi River to Kanesville which was the outfitting station for
crossing the plains. Ann's two brothers, Owen Pearce (who was blind) and Hugh Jones, stayed
in Council Bluffs and got to Utah several years later.
Ann and several of the Welsh saints began the trek west with the Dan Jones Company. They
were met by company #4 George Albert Smith and Co. & #5 Ezra Taft Benson. These three
groups were reorganized and traveled together. William Appleby was the scribe of both
companies and his diary gives details of the crossing. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley 22/25
Oct. 1849. It is interesting to see the names of the members of the Festinog Branch, the members
of the wagon party and those who survived the trip.Ann Jones was rebaptized 18 Nov. 1849 by
Dan Jones in Salt Lake City and confirmed 1 Feb. 1851 in Salt Lake City: A blessing by John
Smith, patriarch, upon the head of Ann Owens daughter of John Owens born Wales 14 July
1826. I place my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and seal upon you a
patriarchal blessing which shall be a seal that the destroying angel shall pass by when he goes
forth to reap down the earth. I seal upon you all the blessing of the new and everlasting covenant
for thou art of the blood of Joseph and a daughter of all heir to every blessing which shall be
conferred the children of men. Thou shall be blessed, have a companion which shall be suited to
thy condition and thou shall live in peace with him all the days of thy life and shall come up in
the resurrection with him. Thou shalt have children that shall be great and numerous - shalt hold
the keys of the priesthood. They shall do mighty works in their day and thou shalt have riches
until thou art satisfied for no good thing shall be withheld from thee. If your faith does not fail
thou shall live to see all things accomplished which your heart desires - in the end thou shall
inherit eternal lives. Amen.
Ann Jones Married James Davies 5 November 1850 in Salt Lake City, Utah. James Davies was
born 26 May 1826 llanfoist, Monmouthshire, England son of James Davies and Elizabeth Sykes.
He had come to Nauvoo, Illinois with his parents in 1843 and joined the Mormon battalion in
1846 and arrived in Salt Lake City 29 July 1847. Their home was located on 400 West and
between 3rd and 4th North.
James Davis died 3 August 1865 age 39, leaving Ann to care for her six surviving children. She
died two years later 27 Oct. 1867 age 42. Her children aged 4-15 were taken care of by relatives.
Her eldest daughter Catherine married George Vernon Morris 9 Nov. 1869. James Davis and
Ann Jones were the parents of nine children all born in Salt Lake City.
We can be proud of our pioneer ancestors. Ann was 21 when she joined the church in Wales and
24 when she left her homeland to cross the ocean and then the prairie. We cannot know the
sacrifice and the suffering that Ann went through. Her life of raising children in primitive
conditions must be admired. We are honored to belong to the same family. I hope her
descendants can be worthy of their heritage that she left for us.
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