THE HISTORY OF ANN HUGHES (REESE)
EVANS
Ann Hughes Evans
was born in Llandarog, Carmarthenshire, So. Wales. The woody valleys, lovely landscapes and the
wild and high summits are most alluring, they say. It is not generally known but a fact,
nevertheless, that the modern system of education had its beginning here early
in the eighteenth century in Carmarthenshire which is very closely situated
near Llandarog in Carmarthenshire which is the largest county in Wales.
Ann was born 14
November 1820 the daughter of Mary Christopher and Thomas Hughes, goodly Welsh
Parents, and Thomas' occupation is listed as thatcher.
As a young woman
she married David Rees or Reese in about 1840 or 1841. She embraced the Gospel in 1848 after being
converted by Elias Morris, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter day Saints, who played an important part in her life as friend to all of
her family in the ensuing years. Ann and
David were the parents of three daughters who were all born in Ponty Barem,
Carmarthenshire, So. Wales. David was a
coal miner.
Mary Reese was
born 25 March 1842 and married Thomas Thomas 14 August 1869 and was known to us
as Aunt Mary. Mary and Thomas were
married in Merthyr Tydfil. She died 2
July 1896 at age 54.
Elinora or
Eleanora, who was always called Ellen, was born 28 February 1847 and later
married Joseph Davis 20 September 1867 in Mountain Ash. Ellen and Joseph had two sons and then Joseph
died. Ellen was left a widow, with her
two sons, by the time Ann and her family emigrated to America in 1870. In Salt Lake she was married to Griffiths
Charles 26 June 1871 by Elias Morris and after they were married, they left
immediately for Logan, Cache County, Utah where they lived the remainder of
their lives.
Elizabeth Reese
was born 26 February 1850 and later married William Jones in July 1869. I cannot remember every hearing anything
about Elizabeth or her family. But the
family of Mary Reese Thomas and Aunt Ellen and her family have always been
closely associated, Aunt Ellen's family a little more so because of Aunt Mary's
death.
Their fist son,
Joseph Evans, was born 14/21 August 1853 in Ponty Barem, Carmarthenshire, where
Ann's three daughters had been born and they must have been very happy to be
blessed with a son to join their family.
The second son,
Thomas Hughes Evans, was born 29 December 1855 in Llanelly Y Bea, in the same
county.
Then the family
set up their home in Bettws, Carmarthenshire, So. Wales and established
Cwmamman as their family residence where they remained until they emigrated to
Utah. The use of names rather than
number is Wales was customary. In one of
my records the name Cwmamman was given as the birthplace of one of the daughters,
but the research established Cwmamman as the name of the home and Bettws the
town.
In their new home
the family was blessed with a daughter, Margaret Hughes Evans, 20 October 1858,
always known as Maggie. On 1 April 1859
the hearts of this good Welsh family was saddened by the death of their first
son, Joseph, not quite six years old.
Then after a short
period of time the family welcomed a daughter, Catherine Hughes Evans, 26
February 1861. Catherine was my mother
and although the birth certificate says 25th of February, my mother
was given to believe is was the 26 February 1861. Catherine was my mother and although the
birth certificate says 25th of February, my mother was given to
believe it was the 26th and so we have always celebrated that
day. The informant said, . . . last
night, it apparently was after midnight.
My sister Kate,
Catherine Anne Giles Engberg, remembered grandmother Evans as a very kind,
generous, big hearted motherly fie person.
She helped everyone in need and was always willing to share with other
and was anxious to help anyone ill or in trouble and was called upon
often. In stature she was very much like
Maggie, medium height, thin, rather slight in build, full of pep, a typical
Welsh lady. She was known to her many
friends as Nancy. Her daughters all
inherited the willingness to share and assist others and were known throughout
their lives for their thoughtfulness and kindness to those around them.
Ellen was married
to Joseph Davis 20 September 1867 in Mountain Ash, Wales. Joseph and Ellen had two young sons that
blessed their home and then Joseph died leaving Ellen a widow with the two
sons, David Elias Davis and William Roger Davis, to raise.
In 1869 John and
daughter Maggie, age 11, left Wales for Liverpool, England in a company of
Mormon Immigrants to America, with Elias Morris, the recent President of the
Welsh district, in charge. The greater
number of the company of 338 Saints were from the Welsh principalities. They left Liverpool 2 Jun 1869 on the ship
'Minnesota' crossing the Atlantic Ocean in record time, arriving in New York 14
June 1869. This was the first company of
Saints who came all the way from Missouri River. They reached Omaha 23 June 1869. In Omaha they boarded the Union Pacific train
and were the first Saints to travel over the newly completed railroad. A little more than three weeks had brought
them the whole weary way that once took the best part of a year to travel. They arrived in Ogden, Utah and assisted in
continuing the railroad from Ogden to Salt Lake under Elias Morris.
My father, Henry
Evan Giles, said, "Faithfulness has a heavenly meaning in an earthly
setting. Faithfulness and sincerity are
basic principles." This, I think, could
well apply to the devoted and faithful mother left in Wales with her family
while her husband came to Zion for the Gospel's sake and to earn the money to
send for the family. In November 1870 the
long awaited day came for Ann and family to sail for America. They sailed from Liverpool 16 November 1870
on the ship 'Manhattan.' The ship's listing gave 'Ann Evans,' Elinora Evans,
Thomas Evans, Catherine Evans, and William R Evans, children. Aunt Ellen and William R. should have been
Davis but because they were Ann's family, they were all listed as Evans.
This company of 59
Saints in charge of Ralph Thompson held Sunday School and their church meetings
during their trip while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. I took three weeks and while my mother was
only nine years old she remembered the voyage well. They reached this valley 11 december from
Ogden on the Utah Central Railroad, the one which grandpa Evans had worked on
from Ogden to Salt Lake. He was still in
their employ.
Now, Ann and
family were happily reunited with Maggie and John and many of her good friends
from Wales. She, with her friendly,
willing way to share and help those who needed assistance, brought many a baby
into the world although she was not a mid-wife.
The neighbor or friend would sometimes give her a package of 'green
tea,' so much a part of Welsh living, and many times even less or just a "thank
you" and that was all that was necessary.
She loved doing for others and helped where ever she could. Everyone called on her because of her
pleasant, cheerful and smiling disposition.
In those days the Saints had very little money, if any.
The family settled
on the west side among their relatives and friends. They played an important part in the
Fifteenth and Sixteenth Wards which were so closely situated in that section of
the valley. Their Church meetings,
choir, and church work were the bi part of their lives and time, combined with earning
a living.
Mary and Thomas
sailed from Liverpool on the ship 'Nevada' 18 October 1871. The ships log have them listed. They joined the family and settled in the
fifteenth Ward and raised a large family of boys and girls and led very busy
lives in their new surroundings.
By now, grandpa
Evans was Foreman of the Union Pacific Railroad and worked in their employ
until his last illness when his son, Tom, took over his position.
He was endowed 4
April 1870 and was ordained a Seventy 17 April 1870 by William Hawks. This all made Ann proud of him.
Grandma Evans was
endowed 22 January 1872 and sealed to her husband the same day in the Endowment
House.
Ellen was married
to Griffiths Charles 26 June 1871, Elias Morris performing the ceremony in the Endowment
House and hey left immediately for Logan, Cache County, Utah with William R.
where they raised a large family an did their share in Church and community
affairs. They lived there until their
deaths.
As young folks
should and do the Evans did. Maggie found
her companion right in the area as did her sister Catherine and brother Tom.
Maggie and Daniel
R Thomas were married 5 April 1878.
Catherine married Henry Evans Giles, a promising young musician, 29 June
1879 and Tom married Jane Davis 25 March 1880.
In about February 1886 John took sick and this kindly faithful wife
nursed him through eight long months of illness, on 30 October 1886 he passed
away at age 56, and was buried in the Sale Lake City Cemetary 2 November 1886.
By this time his family was all married and ha homes
and families of their own.
Ellen and
Griffiths were in Logan doing well.
Mary and Thomas
were close to the rest of the family in Salt Lake City.
Margaret and Daniel settled in the nearby neighborhood
and were raising their family there.
Tom and Jane were
establishing and maintaining their home and the family was growing.
Catherine and
Henry first settled in the Fifteenth Ward living with Henry's mother and
father, Hannah Evans and Thomas Davis Giles, when they were first married. There were later called to Provo, Utah for
Henry to establish the music department of Brigham Young Academy about 1885 or
early 1886 and they stayed there until early 1900 when they returned to Salt
Lake.
After John's death,
Ann moved into the home of Tom and Jennie and lived there for a while.
Then, I imagine,
because of her lonliness and needing companionship she married John Thomas, the
father-in-law of her daughter Maggie.
After their marriage they moved into home of John's son George Thomas
and his wife. They lived there until her
death 14 August 1897. The orbituary
notice read: Ann H. Evans, widow of J.J. Evans of the Fifteenth Ward died at
4:00 A.M. this morning of old age. She was buried beside her good husband in the
City Cemetary. Mary had passed away 14
August 1896 but all the rest of her children survived her and many
grandchildren.
Although we lived
on the East side of the city when our family moved back here from Provo, the
west side has always seemed quite special to us because of the memories of the
relatives who lived there and the associations of so many loved ones in that
locality.
I have been trying
for years to assemble and compile all the notes I have gathered through the
years. My niece, Dorothy Giles Topham,
daughter of Una Prass and John D. Giles, has helped me in obtaining some of the
research and this helped me considerably.
I want to thank her.
Jenalyn Giles Cline
Grand daughter
