Sites in Carmarthenshire pertaining to John S Davis’ family
· John S Davis and Elizabeth Phillips:
1.
Married at the parish
church of Merthyr Tydfil
2.
Resided on Nantygwenith Street, George Town
· James Silvanus and Anne Walters (Parents of
John S. Davis)
1.
This couple resided at
Tannerdy, town of Carmarthen. This place (area) is
still in existence. It is on the east side of the town just before you get to
the round about that leads to the roads going north to Cardiganshire or east to
Llanbadarn Fawr.
2.
John S. Davis was
christened at Lammas Street Independent Chapel, town of Carmarthen in 1822.
3.
James Silvanus was an
Independent Minister and was trained and the Neuadd Llwyd Academy near Aberaeron,
Cardiganshire.
4.
He served as minister
at Capel yr Erw, in Cellan, Cardiganshire
(near Lampeter), and at Philadelphia Chapel, Llangunnor Parish, near Carmarthen town. After serving at
these chapels he no longer served as a regularly ordained minister. He preached
at various chapels in the neighborhood. Even though lived in the town of
Carmarthen, he and his wife were considered members of the congregation at Penuel, which is on the side of the road leading from
Carmarthen to Newcastle Emlyn, in the village of Penuel. Both James Silvanus and his wife Ann Walters are
buried in the cemetery at Penuel. The grave marker is
still there.
5.
James and Ann were
married St. Peter’s, Carmarthen
· Thomas Silvanus and Ann James (parents of
James Silvanus)
1.
James was born 4
March, 1789 in the parish of Llangeler,
Carmarthenshire, and undoubtedly christened at Saron
Independent Chapel in that parish. The christening register which dates from
1802 contains the christening of James’ sister Mary, but none of the other
children since they were all born before 1802.
· Richard David Walter and Elizabeth
William(Parents of Anne Walter, the wife of James Silvanus)
1.
Anne was christened in
1781 at the parish church of Llanarthney,
Carmarthenshire, about seven miles east of Carmarthen town.
Sites in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
pertaining to Elizabeth Phillips family
· Benjamin Phillips and Jane Davies (parents of
Elizabeth Phillips).
1.
Elizabeth Phillips and
all of her brothers and sisters were born at White Rock House, Ferryside, Carmarthenshire. Ferryside is in the parish of St. Ishmaels. Benjamin and
Jane belonged to the Baptist cause at Salem in St. Ishmael Parish. Elizabeth’s
sister Mary is recorded in the birth register at this chapel. None of the other
children are recorded, however.
2.
Benjamin and Jane
moved to the town of Llanelli where they resided until
their deaths. Benjamin died in 1858 and Jane died in 1859.
3.
Benjamin Phillips says
that he was born in 1782, in the parish of Llangynog,
Carmarthenshire
· Benjamin Phillips and Elizabeth Thomas
(Parents of Benjamin Phillips, the father of Elizabeth Phillips).
1.
This Benjamin Phillips
was a Baptist minister. He attended the Baptist College at Bristol, England.
When he returned he was ordained the minister of Salem Baptist Chapel in Llanfihangel Abercowin Parish,
near the town of St. Clears. He served there until he defected from the
Particular Baptist cause, and became a Unitarian. He formed a Unitarian chapel
in St. Clears and served as its minister until his death in 1839 at the age of
93. He played a leading role at the Baptist Annual Conference held at Salem, Llanfihangel Abercowin in 1799
that left many chapels divided between the traditional Calvinist Baptist
movement and General Baptist (Unitarian) movement. It affected the Baptist
movement in Wales for many years after this.
· George Thomas and Mary Morris (parents of
Elizabeth Thomas, wife of Benjamin Phillips )
1.
George Thomas lived on
the farm of Alltybeili in the parish of Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire. This farm is just across the bridge from the
town of Whitland, Carmarthenshire. George Thomas was
baptized at Rhydwilym Baptist Chapel in 1730. Shortly
thereafter, he became a deacon at Molleston Baptist
Chapel in the parish of Narberth where his brother Evan Thomas was the
minister. The Thomas family later became associated with the cause at Bwlchgwynt in Cyffig Parish. Most
of the family are buried at this chapel. The
tombstones are still there, at least for some of George and Mary’s children.
2.
Rhydwilym
Baptist Chapel is the oldest Baptist cause in Southwest Wales. It was begun in
1665, and there is a register dating from 1667. There are several histories of
this cause, and they suffered a great deal of persecution in the early years
after the restoration of King Charles II to the throne in 1660. Numerous
members of this congregation emigrated to Pennsylvania
between 1685 and 1700 because of that persecution.
