History of Winnefred (Gwen) Lloyd Roberts Evans
Daniel L. Roberts
David Rees Evans
Winnefred (Gwen) Lloyd, was born November 13, 1822, to John Lloyd and Catherine
Griffith (Jones) Lloyd, tenant farmers on a big estate in Llanfrothen, County
of Merioneth, North Wales. (Of Caer Llwynog (Box Castle or Den) Llanfrothan)
She had a sister named Katherine. A brother, Griffith, and a sister, Margaret
had died earlier. At the age of twenty-one Gwen married Daniel L. Roberts.(1)
(2)
Daniel L. Roberts was born to Roberts Roberts and Elizabeth Edwards.(3) Robert
and Elizabeth were married at Beddgelert on February 3, 1805. Robert was born
in Cae Glas (Blue field) Clynog in Carnarvonshire on 18 January 1775. He and
Elizabeth had eight children Robert (died at two months old) Edward, Robert,
Elinor, David, William, Daniel and John. The first five children were born a
house called Fron Wen (White Hillside) on the estate of the celebrated bard,
David Nanmor. The place is now taxed with Beddgelert (Gelert's grave) in
Carnarvonshire. William and Daniel were born in Bryn-y-Sgybor (Hill with the
barn) and the last, John in Lletty, all in Llanfrothan Parish.
Winnefred (Gwen) and Daniel L. Roberts were married in 1843. Daniel was an
industrious, frugal man with high ideals and a strong religious nature who
worked in a slate quarry near his home of Llanfrothan, Meirionethshire, North
Wales. Every Saturday he would bring his wages home to Gwen except for a
shilling or two, which he kept to have a pint at the pub. After joining the
church, Gwen was determined to emigrate to America hoping for a chance to
improve their lives and the chance to have their own land. Four children were
born to the union. Catherine, Elizabeth, William and John Roberts.
In the year 1846 Daniel's older brother David asked a family friend Robert
Evans to journey to Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, the headquarters of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wales and investigate it and
bring back some information about it. Robert Evans went, met Captain Dan Jones
was taught the gospel and was converted. He returned to David and testified to
him that it was indeed the truth that had been restored. Robert taught the
gospel to David and then baptized him on May 24, 1846. About a month after
David was baptized, Elder Able Evans came and confirmed him. A branch of the
Church was organized called the Festiniog Branch and David R. Roberts was
appointed to preside over it. It embraced the parishes of Festiniog and
Llanfrothan. The first meetings of this Branch were held in the home of David
Peters who lived in a house belonging to and djoining the Factory Rhyd-y-Sarn
(Ford by the refuse dump). The meetings were held here until he emigrated in
1849. After that the meetings were in the home of Elder David Roberts. He was
the president of the branch from the time he was ordained an Elder until he
emigrated on April 10, 1856.
Gwen was baptized on March 11, 1849 by her brother-in-law David Roberts, and
confirmed by Able Evans. Daniel was baptized April 21, 1849 by David Emas
(Eames) and confirmed by David Emas. On Thursday, October 17, 1850, the family
embarked on a sailing ship, the 'Joseph Badger'. The cheapest passage was on
the empty cotton ships returning to New Orleans. The 'Joseph Badger' weighed
890 tons and was 159 feet long, by 35 feet wide and 17 feet high. There were
335 passengers. Of these 227 were converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, mostly of Welsh decent. It was the fifty-first company with
John Morris as President and 'Captain' David Rees Evans and Owel Williams acted
as councilors. After a remarkably short passage, the Joseph Badger arrived at
the mouth of the Missisippi River on the twentieth of November. The uneventful
voyage lastied four weeks. The ship was towed up the river and landed at New
Orleans, Louisiana on November 22, 1850.
After remaining in New Orleans for two or three days, they took passage on a
Mississippi River boat the El Pasa for the journey up the river to St. Louis,
Missouri, their destination. During this time, there was an epidemic of
Asiatic Cholera from drinking contaminated water. Their little son, William,
three years of age, became ill and died. That same night Daniel was very
feverish and he died before morning, just a few hours after the death of
William. Father and son were buried side by side on the banks of the
Mississippi River at a place called Worthings Landing in the state of Kentucky.
Their names were carved in a tree trunk. They arrived in St. Louis on December
1, 1850, where the family spent the winter. This was a sad, sorrowful and
trying time for Gwen. She was now left in a strange land, among strangers,
with two little girls, Catherine age eight, Eliza age six and her son John, 11
months old. She could hardly speak a word of English, nor could she understand
it, which made her position her difficult. Fortunately, there was a man on the
boat who spoke Welsh and aided her in this critical time.
The Saints were assembling in 'Winter Quarters' at Council Bluffs, Iowa, for
the trek westward. Gwen and her little family arrived in Council Bluffs in May
1851. Gwen remained at Winter Quarters, battling for an existence for herself
and family until about July 1852. Gwen's parents tried to persuade her to
return to Wales, but she refused. Gwen had no schooling and could not read or
write any language. It is regretful that she could not have kept a journal.
In July 1852, Gwen sold her husbands clothes and with these slender funds, she
purchased a cow and joined with another emigrant, Mr. Wheeler (he was a tall
gray bearded man who was traveling alone) who owned an ox and wagon. The two
animals were harnessed to the wagon the journey across the plains began. Gwen
walked all the way to Utah as did her two little girls. John Lloyd Roberts,
who was three by now, occasionally rode in the wagon, but frequently had to be
carried by his mother. Eliza was quite frail and sometimes Gwen would slip her
into the back of the wagon. Mr. Wheeler, being partially blind, carried Eliza
on his shoulders to help him see. The two young girls made the most of the
adventure. They found two friends, Emily and Sara, to share their fun and
responsibilities. Gathering buffalo chips for the fire and milking the cow
were daily chores. Picking and eating berries was a joy. Emily died from a
rattlesnake strike. Little William Thomas fell under the wheels of a wagon.
He died, and like Emily, was buried along the trail.
It was eleven hundred miles to Utah. The caravan arrived in Salt Lake City on
September 29, 1852. When they neared the entrance to the valley, they were met
by an old Welsh acquaintance, Tom Jones, who gave Gwen some flour, melons and
other supplies. Tom Jones also asked Gwen to marry him. When Gwen refused his
proposal, Tom demanded pay for the provisions.
In that first icy winter, the widow Roberts and her children lived in an
earthen floor adobe house. This one room shack was semi-warmed by a firepit
which afforded more smoke than heat. They made a meager wage by working in the
homes of the well to do. As spring approached, the floor became damp and them
it became like a swamp. That spring, the entire population was called upon to
go into the fields to fight the crickets. The black bodies blanketed the
fields as the moved en mass. Eliza would later tell the story of the 'horrible
little beasties' squirming under the doors and through the walls. They crept
in anywhere the tiniest of openings would allow.
Gwen was very lonely in Salt Lake City and was anxious to go to Brigham City
where so many of her Welsh friends were located. When Lorenzo Snow was called
by President Brigham Young to take a group of Saints to colonize Box Elder
County, Gwen volunteered to go. She moved to the little settlement southeast
of Brigham City called the ÒWelch Field,Ó which was made up entirely of Welsh
people. They had their own church services conducted in the Welch language.
David Rees Evans
David Rees Evans was born on August 13, 1818 at Fishguard, Pembrokshire, South
Wales. He was the son of Isaac and Hannah Evans. His family were seafarers.
He was a sailor sho made frequent voyages between Liverpool, England and
Portland Maine. David's brother was Harbormaster in Rio d'Janiero, Brazil.
His father and four brothers (James, Isaac, John and William) supposedly, died
in the same shipwreck. David received the nickname, 'Captain', on one voyage
when the crew got drunk and her steered the ship. He married Elizabeth
Matthews on March 18, 1843. They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in 1849. David was baptized on 2 October 1849. They sailed,
with the Roberts family, on the 'Joseph Badger' to New Orleans in 1850. David
Rees and Elizabeth were two of the few Saints who ventured to Utah in 1851.
Elizabeth died on May 20, 1853 and was buried with their new born infant who
had also died.
David Rees Evans and Elizabeth had made their home in the ÒWelsh FieldsÓ Upon
Gwen's arrival there she renewed her acquaintance with Captain Evans. They
were married on July 8, 1853 at Brigham City, Utah. Gwen and her three small
children moved into David's home and farm. Gwen said many times that Captain
Evans was so kind to her little children that she couldn't help but love him.
He was a kindly man. Five sons were born to David and Gwen. David Lloyd
Evans, Charles Rees Evans, Lorenzo Lloyd Evans, Frank (James) and Samuel.
David Evans was devoted to his children and was particularly kind to the
Roberts children. The family took part in the activities of the Church and
community, David would act as a guard when the Indians became troublesome. In
Brigham City he was elected constable and pound keeper, which office he was
holding at the time of his death. David Rees Evans quietly died in bed on
January 3, 1861. David was forty-two years old. Three months later, baby
Samuel was born. Three years later the two youngest children Frank (James) age
five and Samuel age three died on the same day, and were buried in one casket
in Brigham City, Utah. Gwen was questioned about which husband she loved the
most. She answered that her first love was the greatest, but she loved David
Rees the most because he was so kind to her and the children.
Gwen and her six children continued to reside on the farm after David's death.
They had a nice little home and a prosperous farm and were well stocked. Gwen
and her family struggled along successfully there, mindful of her duties and
seeking to implant in the hearts of her children the principles of everlasting
truth which has has espoused and for which she had sacrificed so much. She
continued living on the little farm in Brigham City until April, 1871.
Always looking to the future, she felt that with her boys growing up, they
needed more land. The family moved to Malad, Idaho in April 1871.
Homesteading land was available there and reasonably priced. To search for a
suitable location, John and Charles travel to Cache Valley and on to Marsh
Valley, Idaho. Gwen, with David L. and Lorenzo, explored the lower Bear and
Malad Valleys. The first night they camped across the Bear River and the
second night at the Vanderwood Springs. The last night they camped at the
Dutchman's place. The two groups met at their sister Eliza's home in Malad to
review their options.
In 1870, Gwen sold her farm in Brigham City and moved with her family to Malad
Valley to homestead one hundred sixty acres. The site was four miles north of
the Malad village. She received enough money from the sale of her farm to buy
seed and livestock for the farm and, eventually, help her sons further their
education. Initially, the family forged a hole in the side of a hill for
living quarters. The sight, of the first log home, has not been located.
David and Lorenzo went to the University of Deseret and became schoolteachers.
Charles declined any further education and continued to drive a freight wagon
to the Montana mines.
Gwen also bought a large lot in Malad and her sons built her a log home. She
lived in the home for the remainder of her life. The house is still on North
Main Street. Gwen gave Lorenzo the lot just North of her home.
Her children were successful and took an active part in business, civic and
church activities of the communities in which they lived. The two older boys
moved with their families further up into Idaho. John Roberts moved to Sugar
City, Idaho and Charles Rees Evans moved to Marsh Valley (Downey) Idaho. Gwen
and David L. (D.L. Evans) and Lorenzo (L.L. Evans) stayed on the farm and
worked together in a partnership which lasted more than forty years. In 1866 a
co-operative store was erected and owned by several early settlers. The Evans
co-op is an outgrowth of this first store having been purchased by the Evans
brothers and co-operated by the laws of Idaho in 1872. D.L. Evans and L.L.
Evans becamse owners in 1884.
Gwen was a very fine looking woman- tall and well built, with her face
reflecting great strength of character. Her eyes were dark brown and her
naturally curly hair was black, with a touch of grey. She never became
completely grey. Gwen was very practical all her life. She had her burial lot
all fixed up with perpetual car all paid for and a nice monument with all the
names and dates with the exception of her death date. She also had her burial
clothes made and stored in the bottom of the dresser in the spare bedroom. She
always arose early, having breakfast a 7:00a.m. winter and summer, even after
she retired from the farm. Gwen died in peace at the age of 87, on May 2,
1909, surrounded by those she loved, satisfied with the splendid work she had
accomplished, honored and loved by all who knew her. She lived faithfully to
the testimony she had been given as to the truths of the gospel. Her sons
chartered a special train to take her and all who wished to go to Brigham City,
where she was buried in the city cemetery by the side of her husband and two
little boys.
Posterity
Catherine Roberts born in Llanfrothan, North Wales.
Married Amos Silas Wright
Settled in Bennington, Idaho
Daughter Ida E. Dunn
Granddaughter Ida Winifred Dunn
Elizabeth (Eliza) Roberts born in Llanfrothan, North Wales
Married Caleb R. Jones
Settled in Malad Idaho
Caleb disconsolate over a bad business decision, wrote a letter of apology to
his family and killed himself. Pregnant with her tenth child, Eliza journeyed
to Utah to retrieve the body. Two weeks later, she birthed a stillborn boy.
She was 39.
John Lloyd Roberts born in Llanfrothan, North Wales
Married Addie
Settled in Sugar City, Idaho
David Lloyd Evans born 20 May 1854 in Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah
Married Emily Mecham 1878; Mary Ellen Williams 1885
Died 12 July 1929
Settled in Malad, Idaho
Charles Rees Evans born 29 December 1855 in Brigham City, Box Elder County,
Utah
Married Sarah Jane Lusk 7 Feb 1878; Rachel Thomas (divorced)
Died 10 July 1937
Settled in Marsh Valley, Idaho
Lorenzo Lloyd Evans born 15 October 1857 in Brigham City, Box Elder County,
Utah
Maried Matilda J. Lusk 15 April 1879
Died 6 April 1934
Frank (James) Evans born 1859 in Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah
Died 23 November 1864 age five.
Samuel born about April 1861, Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah
Died 23 November 1864 age three.
References
1. History of Winifred (Gwen) Lloyd Roberts Evans (1822-1909)
Page 4 -- The Idaho Enterprise -- April 17, 1997
Written by Sara Evans Sweeten, Granddaughter
2. History of D. L. Evans
By Donald Stephens Evans, Grandson
February 20, 2002
A Record of the family of David and Catherine Roberts of Llanfrothan,
Meirionethshire, North Wales.
By David R. Roberts, grandson
Compiled into one history by Lisa Davis Jensen.
