Margaret Rees was born 20 April 1844 in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, South Wales. She was the second child of William Rees of Brecon, Breconshire and Elizabeth Thomas of Llywel, Breconshire. Three months before her birth, a tragedy occurred to alter her life. Margaret's father William followed the occupation of farming, sheep raising and dairying. One day he was driving some sheep near a dangerous ledge and accidentally fell into a deserted mine shaft and was killed instantly. He was considered on of the most exemplary men in town and was a great student of the Bible. He never drank or smoked.
After the accidental death of William, the shock seemed to change Elizabeth. She seemed to resent her child about to be born. At the birth of Margaret, her mother was very ill, so Ann Thomas, Elizabeth's mother, took her little granddaughter Margaret, who was three days old at the time, into her home to raise. Margaret loved her grandmother Ann Thomas so dearly, and this seemed to further aggravate Margaret's mother Elizabeth.
When Margaret turned eight years old in 1852, the Mormon missionaries came to her grandmother's home. Margaret was baptized into the LDS church. One of the missionaries asked her, "And what is your name?" In her confusion, she answered, "Latter Day Saint." Her mother was so indignant that she slapped Margaret, and she cried. One of the Elders picker her up into his arms and said, "Never mind, this child will be the only one who will be privileged to go to the temple and do work for the dead." This made them all very angry because they were all very good Latter-Day Saints and had expected to come to Zion. This prophecy was fulfilled.
On May 8, 1868, Margaret married a widower Frederick Thomas. He was a miner and father of nine children from his first marriage. Frederick had adopted the name of Thomas from his grandfather with whom he lived. His real surname was Edwards.
The family immigrated to Utah in October 1874 on the ship "Wyoming" from Liverpool and settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah. Margaret's husband was bitterly disappointed in the United States and wanted to go back to Wales immediately, but Margaret refused. Although Frederick stayed, they divorced about when baby Phillip was about 18 months old. (He was born on July 9, 1875)
Margaret, with her three children – Elizabeth Ann, Reece and Phillip, went to Provo, Utah for a visit with friends to the home of Thomas C. Davies. When she went back to Ogden they corresponded, and a year later they married.
This was the happiest time of her life; Thomas was "kindness itself", as Margaret expressed it. He was affectionately known as "Surveyor Davies" by all of his friends. He was Utah County surveyor. Margaret and Thomas had two children, Thomas Caradoc and John Daniel Davies. Surveyor Davies died on Dec 27, 1892 in Spanish Fork.
Margaret lived alone a few years longer, and then she moved into the home of her daughter, Annie Davies Gardner and son-in-law, Neil L. Gardner. Here she was tenderly loved and cared for until her death on Oct 4, 1904 in Spanish Fork, Utah. She died from the effects of a stroke.
~Condensed from the History of Margaret Davies, re-written by Marilyn L. Williams Grua
--------------------------------
*Margaret Rees Thomas Davies (1844-1904) shares stone with her infant son, John Daniel Davies (1882-1884,) and Surveyor Davies (1816-1892). Forth face of stone is blank.
After the accidental death of William, the shock seemed to change Elizabeth. She seemed to resent her child about to be born. At the birth of Margaret, her mother was very ill, so Ann Thomas, Elizabeth's mother, took her little granddaughter Margaret, who was three days old at the time, into her home to raise. Margaret loved her grandmother Ann Thomas so dearly, and this seemed to further aggravate Margaret's mother Elizabeth.
When Margaret turned eight years old in 1852, the Mormon missionaries came to her grandmother's home. Margaret was baptized into the LDS church. One of the missionaries asked her, "And what is your name?" In her confusion, she answered, "Latter Day Saint." Her mother was so indignant that she slapped Margaret, and she cried. One of the Elders picker her up into his arms and said, "Never mind, this child will be the only one who will be privileged to go to the temple and do work for the dead." This made them all very angry because they were all very good Latter-Day Saints and had expected to come to Zion. This prophecy was fulfilled.
On May 8, 1868, Margaret married a widower Frederick Thomas. He was a miner and father of nine children from his first marriage. Frederick had adopted the name of Thomas from his grandfather with whom he lived. His real surname was Edwards.
The family immigrated to Utah in October 1874 on the ship "Wyoming" from Liverpool and settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah. Margaret's husband was bitterly disappointed in the United States and wanted to go back to Wales immediately, but Margaret refused. Although Frederick stayed, they divorced about when baby Phillip was about 18 months old. (He was born on July 9, 1875)
Margaret, with her three children – Elizabeth Ann, Reece and Phillip, went to Provo, Utah for a visit with friends to the home of Thomas C. Davies. When she went back to Ogden they corresponded, and a year later they married.
This was the happiest time of her life; Thomas was "kindness itself", as Margaret expressed it. He was affectionately known as "Surveyor Davies" by all of his friends. He was Utah County surveyor. Margaret and Thomas had two children, Thomas Caradoc and John Daniel Davies. Surveyor Davies died on Dec 27, 1892 in Spanish Fork.
Margaret lived alone a few years longer, and then she moved into the home of her daughter, Annie Davies Gardner and son-in-law, Neil L. Gardner. Here she was tenderly loved and cared for until her death on Oct 4, 1904 in Spanish Fork, Utah. She died from the effects of a stroke.
~Condensed from the History of Margaret Davies, re-written by Marilyn L. Williams Grua
--------------------------------
*Margaret Rees Thomas Davies (1844-1904) shares stone with her infant son, John Daniel Davies (1882-1884,) and Surveyor Davies (1816-1892). Forth face of stone is blank.
Margaret Rees was born 20 April 1844 in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, South Wales. She was the second child of William Rees of Brecon, Breconshire and Elizabeth Thomas of Llywel, Breconshire. Three months before her birth, a tragedy occurred to alter her life. Margaret's father William followed the occupation of farming, sheep raising and dairying. One day he was driving some sheep near a dangerous ledge and accidentally fell into a deserted mine shaft and was killed instantly. He was considered on of the most exemplary men in town and was a great student of the Bible. He never drank or smoked.
After the accidental death of William, the shock seemed to change Elizabeth. She seemed to resent her child about to be born. At the birth of Margaret, her mother was very ill, so Ann Thomas, Elizabeth's mother, took her little granddaughter Margaret, who was three days old at the time, into her home to raise. Margaret loved her grandmother Ann Thomas so dearly, and this seemed to further aggravate Margaret's mother Elizabeth.
When Margaret turned eight years old in 1852, the Mormon missionaries came to her grandmother's home. Margaret was baptized into the LDS church. One of the missionaries asked her, "And what is your name?" In her confusion, she answered, "Latter Day Saint." Her mother was so indignant that she slapped Margaret, and she cried. One of the Elders picker her up into his arms and said, "Never mind, this child will be the only one who will be privileged to go to the temple and do work for the dead." This made them all very angry because they were all very good Latter-Day Saints and had expected to come to Zion. This prophecy was fulfilled.
On May 8, 1868, Margaret married a widower Frederick Thomas. He was a miner and father of nine children from his first marriage. Frederick had adopted the name of Thomas from his grandfather with whom he lived. His real surname was Edwards.
The family immigrated to Utah in October 1874 on the ship "Wyoming" from Liverpool and settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah. Margaret's husband was bitterly disappointed in the United States and wanted to go back to Wales immediately, but Margaret refused. Although Frederick stayed, they divorced about when baby Phillip was about 18 months old. (He was born on July 9, 1875)
Margaret, with her three children – Elizabeth Ann, Reece and Phillip, went to Provo, Utah for a visit with friends to the home of Thomas C. Davies. When she went back to Ogden they corresponded, and a year later they married.
This was the happiest time of her life; Thomas was "kindness itself", as Margaret expressed it. He was affectionately known as "Surveyor Davies" by all of his friends. He was Utah County surveyor. Margaret and Thomas had two children, Thomas Caradoc and John Daniel Davies. Surveyor Davies died on Dec 27, 1892 in Spanish Fork.
Margaret lived alone a few years longer, and then she moved into the home of her daughter, Annie Davies Gardner and son-in-law, Neil L. Gardner. Here she was tenderly loved and cared for until her death on Oct 4, 1904 in Spanish Fork, Utah. She died from the effects of a stroke.
~Condensed from the History of Margaret Davies, re-written by Marilyn L. Williams Grua
--------------------------------
*Margaret Rees Thomas Davies (1844-1904) shares stone with her infant son, John Daniel Davies (1882-1884,) and Surveyor Davies (1816-1892). Forth face of stone is blank.
After the accidental death of William, the shock seemed to change Elizabeth. She seemed to resent her child about to be born. At the birth of Margaret, her mother was very ill, so Ann Thomas, Elizabeth's mother, took her little granddaughter Margaret, who was three days old at the time, into her home to raise. Margaret loved her grandmother Ann Thomas so dearly, and this seemed to further aggravate Margaret's mother Elizabeth.
When Margaret turned eight years old in 1852, the Mormon missionaries came to her grandmother's home. Margaret was baptized into the LDS church. One of the missionaries asked her, "And what is your name?" In her confusion, she answered, "Latter Day Saint." Her mother was so indignant that she slapped Margaret, and she cried. One of the Elders picker her up into his arms and said, "Never mind, this child will be the only one who will be privileged to go to the temple and do work for the dead." This made them all very angry because they were all very good Latter-Day Saints and had expected to come to Zion. This prophecy was fulfilled.
On May 8, 1868, Margaret married a widower Frederick Thomas. He was a miner and father of nine children from his first marriage. Frederick had adopted the name of Thomas from his grandfather with whom he lived. His real surname was Edwards.
The family immigrated to Utah in October 1874 on the ship "Wyoming" from Liverpool and settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah. Margaret's husband was bitterly disappointed in the United States and wanted to go back to Wales immediately, but Margaret refused. Although Frederick stayed, they divorced about when baby Phillip was about 18 months old. (He was born on July 9, 1875)
Margaret, with her three children – Elizabeth Ann, Reece and Phillip, went to Provo, Utah for a visit with friends to the home of Thomas C. Davies. When she went back to Ogden they corresponded, and a year later they married.
This was the happiest time of her life; Thomas was "kindness itself", as Margaret expressed it. He was affectionately known as "Surveyor Davies" by all of his friends. He was Utah County surveyor. Margaret and Thomas had two children, Thomas Caradoc and John Daniel Davies. Surveyor Davies died on Dec 27, 1892 in Spanish Fork.
Margaret lived alone a few years longer, and then she moved into the home of her daughter, Annie Davies Gardner and son-in-law, Neil L. Gardner. Here she was tenderly loved and cared for until her death on Oct 4, 1904 in Spanish Fork, Utah. She died from the effects of a stroke.
~Condensed from the History of Margaret Davies, re-written by Marilyn L. Williams Grua
--------------------------------
*Margaret Rees Thomas Davies (1844-1904) shares stone with her infant son, John Daniel Davies (1882-1884,) and Surveyor Davies (1816-1892). Forth face of stone is blank.
Inscription
Margaret Reece wife of Thos. Davies, Born Dec 23 1844 in Merthy Tydyil. Glamorganshire, South Wales. Died Oct 4 1904
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