Alban died shortly after arriving with his family to the Welsh Hills from Wales.
They went by way of Aberaeron, Wales to Liverpool, on the 3 mast ship "Roman" to
New York. Then on to the Erie Canal, Ohio-Erie Canal to Newark, Ohio.
Alban’s family moved to Moriah, Jackson County, Ohio. Alban was the son of Thomas and Ann (Morgan) Alban, both born in Wales.
Alban Alban
A lonely child in the Welsh Hills Cemetery
Draft Version 3/9/10
In a lonely plot, just east of the memorial for the site of the first Baptist church, stands a simple marker for Alban Alban, 8 years old. This is his story.
My parents are Thomas Alban (1798-1864) and Ann Morgan Alban (1802-1887 m.31 Dec, 1823 LBTE Parish). I am too young to remember my Alban grandparents (Thomas Alban, 1766-1818, and Elizabeth Davies, 1774-1829) who had the Tyngwndwn Farm on the Arth River close to the Cross Inn in Cardiganshire, Wales. My Morgan grandparents lived at the Gorsddalfa Farm just upstream from the Alban Homestead. The children in my family were David, Tom, Alban (me), John and Evan, all boys.
My earliest recollection is everyone talking about the large local family of John Jones (Tirbach) going to America in 1818, some 10 years before I was born. They settled in the southern part of a place called Ohio. Whenever there was news from them, it spread throughout the community like wildfire. It seemed like everyone was considering going to the new world, waaaay across the huge ocean of water. I wondered if it was a fairy tale, more like the Arthurian Legends.
But then the local Hughes family left in the spring of 1833 when I was 5 years old. The Hughes family, Jenkin, 1778-1833 and Susannah, 1779-1851 lived close by with 5 of their 6 children; Isaac, Catherine, Susannah, David, and Lewis. 1 I remember the send-off for them at Aberaeron. A huge crowd of people were crying and waving until the boat was out of sight that was taking them to Liverpool, where they were to board a large 3 mast ship. Mary, the oldest, was married to Dan Edwards of the Brynele clan and they decided not to go at this time because of Dan’s ill father.
And then the next year, the entire Alban Clan were planning to go to America. That's all we heard about-----getting ready. This was most all my Aunts and Uncles: Alban Alban (31) & Mary Ann Davies with son Thomas (2); Catherine Alban (29); John Alban (26) & Mary Morgan Alban (22), younger sister to my mother Ann, with Catherine (6 mo)2; and Ann Alban (20). My father's sister, Mary Alban (33), was married to David Jones and they remained in Wales. My Alban grandparents had already passed away. Out family decided not to go on this trip but to follow later with the family of Dan & Mary (Hughes) Edwards. Dan was like a brother to my Father, Tom, and the Alban Clan and Mary was like a sister to my mother, Ann, since they were little girls. I'm not sure, but I thought I heard that with Mary expecting their 4th child about the time they were to leave, the families mutually decided to go together next year. My father, being the oldest, had family business to finish anyway.
So, in May of 18343, we again gathered at the dock in Aberaeron and waved goodbye to my Aunts and Uncles and 2 little cousins. Later we heard that they boarded a 3 mast ship in Liverpool called the 'New York' and arrived in New York City on July 3, 18344. They then went by way of the canals to the Welsh Hills in Ohio where they were greeted by the Hughes family.
The next year seemed like forever, a long, long wait, knowing that the 2 families would be going next spring. My mother's brother, my Uncle David Morgan5, decided to go with us, as did Dan Edwards, a cousin, Mary, and a nephew, Evan Edwards (16). A close friend of both families, John Evans, made the decision to go also; wife, Mary and children were to go later after John got settled.
So, there were 17 of us gathering at the dock in Aberaeron, again, for the royal send-off that had been repeated many times. My grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins on the Morgan side thought they would never see us again and, though happy for us, were crying. I didn't see my 4 brothers crying, but I was. The Byrnele Edwards family were there to see the Dan & Mary Edwards family off with tears as well. Our family had everything in 6 boxes, the Dan Edwards family had 5 boxes, John Evans had 1 box. We set out from Aberaeron to Liverpool in late May 1835 in a small boat. There, we boarded a 3 mast sailing ship, called the "Roman" arriving in New York on July 22, 1835. then we were on a "steamer" up the North River (Hudson), at Utica we took the railroad to Buffalo, then a boat to Cleveland, a canal boat to "New York" (Newark). It was now mid-August and we had been on a ship or boat since May. Seems I didn't fare to well on the trip, others were sick but not like me and a few others.
My aunts & uncles (Alban) were there to greet us, it was quite a reunion as you can imagine. Cousin Tom was 2 years,4 months when he left and now was 3 years, 7months. He had a new baby sister, Mary Ann. Little cousin Catherine was 6 months old when she left and now was 21 months old, but wasn't well. She had a new baby brother, Thomas, that we hadn't seen before. The Hughes family was there to greet us as well, but with some sadness as the father, Jenkin had died 2 years earlier. We stayed with Uncle John & Aunt Mary (Alban) in their large log house in the Welsh Hills. It was sure cramped with the 2 families and Uncle David Morgan. The Dan Edwards family stayed with the Hughes'. After a few days, my dad (Tom Alban), uncle (John Alban) and Dan Edwards were on their way to southern Ohio to buy land. Uncle John had scouted around during his one year here and said they could get more land for their money but it would be a lot more work. They chose the more land and the more work.
My mom was pregnant when we came over and my little sister, Anna, was born during our brief 2 month stay here. I died here during this brief stay. My plot is lonely because my family went to Jackson County and helped form a famous place called Moriah6. My cousin, now 22 months old, Catherine, died and was buried here also, but then was reburied after Moriah was formed and then was listed as the first person buried at Moriah.
1 David E. Morgan’s writings about his great grandparents; He’s the father of Mary Ellen Morgan.
2 This is the Catherine Alban mentioned on page 30 of the MORIAH sesquicentennial book as the first person buried at Moriah Church. She died in the Welsh Hills and was re-buried at Moriah. So, the speculations mentioned can be re-written.
3 David Morgan’s first-hand account. He wrote in Welsh, and this document was found in a trunk by his great grandson, Lewis Parry Lloyd. The English translation of the account seems to be incomplete, but covers the journey rather well. Lewis had a lady in Aberaeron translate it to English in the 1980’s. Ken Evans has a copy that he got from William R. Alban.
4 People on the ship and dates from arrival at the port in New York City are from ship records.
5 This is the David Morgan that the Reverend W.R. Evans mentions at the bottom of page iii in History of Welsh Settlements in Jackson and Gallia Counties, see photo in the book. His sister, Mary Morgan Alban, was on the 1834 emigration, he was with his sister Ann Morgan Alban, on the 1835 emigration.
6 Re: Charter mentioned on p.10 of MORIAH History. John E. Evans’ wife, Mary, was not on the ship with him. John Alban (wife is the Mary Alban mentioned) may have gone back up to the Welsh Hills to bring Catherine back down for the re-burial, since there was talk of starting a church. Alban and Mary Ann Alban were delayed in the Welsh Hills until January, 1836. In the History of Licking County, p. 571, Alban Alban was listed among the original elders (or deacon?) of the first Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church built in Ohio. We think he would have been among the first deacons at Moriah as he was highly sought after as a speaker in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches.
They went by way of Aberaeron, Wales to Liverpool, on the 3 mast ship "Roman" to
New York. Then on to the Erie Canal, Ohio-Erie Canal to Newark, Ohio.
Alban’s family moved to Moriah, Jackson County, Ohio. Alban was the son of Thomas and Ann (Morgan) Alban, both born in Wales.
Alban Alban
A lonely child in the Welsh Hills Cemetery
Draft Version 3/9/10
In a lonely plot, just east of the memorial for the site of the first Baptist church, stands a simple marker for Alban Alban, 8 years old. This is his story.
My parents are Thomas Alban (1798-1864) and Ann Morgan Alban (1802-1887 m.31 Dec, 1823 LBTE Parish). I am too young to remember my Alban grandparents (Thomas Alban, 1766-1818, and Elizabeth Davies, 1774-1829) who had the Tyngwndwn Farm on the Arth River close to the Cross Inn in Cardiganshire, Wales. My Morgan grandparents lived at the Gorsddalfa Farm just upstream from the Alban Homestead. The children in my family were David, Tom, Alban (me), John and Evan, all boys.
My earliest recollection is everyone talking about the large local family of John Jones (Tirbach) going to America in 1818, some 10 years before I was born. They settled in the southern part of a place called Ohio. Whenever there was news from them, it spread throughout the community like wildfire. It seemed like everyone was considering going to the new world, waaaay across the huge ocean of water. I wondered if it was a fairy tale, more like the Arthurian Legends.
But then the local Hughes family left in the spring of 1833 when I was 5 years old. The Hughes family, Jenkin, 1778-1833 and Susannah, 1779-1851 lived close by with 5 of their 6 children; Isaac, Catherine, Susannah, David, and Lewis. 1 I remember the send-off for them at Aberaeron. A huge crowd of people were crying and waving until the boat was out of sight that was taking them to Liverpool, where they were to board a large 3 mast ship. Mary, the oldest, was married to Dan Edwards of the Brynele clan and they decided not to go at this time because of Dan’s ill father.
And then the next year, the entire Alban Clan were planning to go to America. That's all we heard about-----getting ready. This was most all my Aunts and Uncles: Alban Alban (31) & Mary Ann Davies with son Thomas (2); Catherine Alban (29); John Alban (26) & Mary Morgan Alban (22), younger sister to my mother Ann, with Catherine (6 mo)2; and Ann Alban (20). My father's sister, Mary Alban (33), was married to David Jones and they remained in Wales. My Alban grandparents had already passed away. Out family decided not to go on this trip but to follow later with the family of Dan & Mary (Hughes) Edwards. Dan was like a brother to my Father, Tom, and the Alban Clan and Mary was like a sister to my mother, Ann, since they were little girls. I'm not sure, but I thought I heard that with Mary expecting their 4th child about the time they were to leave, the families mutually decided to go together next year. My father, being the oldest, had family business to finish anyway.
So, in May of 18343, we again gathered at the dock in Aberaeron and waved goodbye to my Aunts and Uncles and 2 little cousins. Later we heard that they boarded a 3 mast ship in Liverpool called the 'New York' and arrived in New York City on July 3, 18344. They then went by way of the canals to the Welsh Hills in Ohio where they were greeted by the Hughes family.
The next year seemed like forever, a long, long wait, knowing that the 2 families would be going next spring. My mother's brother, my Uncle David Morgan5, decided to go with us, as did Dan Edwards, a cousin, Mary, and a nephew, Evan Edwards (16). A close friend of both families, John Evans, made the decision to go also; wife, Mary and children were to go later after John got settled.
So, there were 17 of us gathering at the dock in Aberaeron, again, for the royal send-off that had been repeated many times. My grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins on the Morgan side thought they would never see us again and, though happy for us, were crying. I didn't see my 4 brothers crying, but I was. The Byrnele Edwards family were there to see the Dan & Mary Edwards family off with tears as well. Our family had everything in 6 boxes, the Dan Edwards family had 5 boxes, John Evans had 1 box. We set out from Aberaeron to Liverpool in late May 1835 in a small boat. There, we boarded a 3 mast sailing ship, called the "Roman" arriving in New York on July 22, 1835. then we were on a "steamer" up the North River (Hudson), at Utica we took the railroad to Buffalo, then a boat to Cleveland, a canal boat to "New York" (Newark). It was now mid-August and we had been on a ship or boat since May. Seems I didn't fare to well on the trip, others were sick but not like me and a few others.
My aunts & uncles (Alban) were there to greet us, it was quite a reunion as you can imagine. Cousin Tom was 2 years,4 months when he left and now was 3 years, 7months. He had a new baby sister, Mary Ann. Little cousin Catherine was 6 months old when she left and now was 21 months old, but wasn't well. She had a new baby brother, Thomas, that we hadn't seen before. The Hughes family was there to greet us as well, but with some sadness as the father, Jenkin had died 2 years earlier. We stayed with Uncle John & Aunt Mary (Alban) in their large log house in the Welsh Hills. It was sure cramped with the 2 families and Uncle David Morgan. The Dan Edwards family stayed with the Hughes'. After a few days, my dad (Tom Alban), uncle (John Alban) and Dan Edwards were on their way to southern Ohio to buy land. Uncle John had scouted around during his one year here and said they could get more land for their money but it would be a lot more work. They chose the more land and the more work.
My mom was pregnant when we came over and my little sister, Anna, was born during our brief 2 month stay here. I died here during this brief stay. My plot is lonely because my family went to Jackson County and helped form a famous place called Moriah6. My cousin, now 22 months old, Catherine, died and was buried here also, but then was reburied after Moriah was formed and then was listed as the first person buried at Moriah.
1 David E. Morgan’s writings about his great grandparents; He’s the father of Mary Ellen Morgan.
2 This is the Catherine Alban mentioned on page 30 of the MORIAH sesquicentennial book as the first person buried at Moriah Church. She died in the Welsh Hills and was re-buried at Moriah. So, the speculations mentioned can be re-written.
3 David Morgan’s first-hand account. He wrote in Welsh, and this document was found in a trunk by his great grandson, Lewis Parry Lloyd. The English translation of the account seems to be incomplete, but covers the journey rather well. Lewis had a lady in Aberaeron translate it to English in the 1980’s. Ken Evans has a copy that he got from William R. Alban.
4 People on the ship and dates from arrival at the port in New York City are from ship records.
5 This is the David Morgan that the Reverend W.R. Evans mentions at the bottom of page iii in History of Welsh Settlements in Jackson and Gallia Counties, see photo in the book. His sister, Mary Morgan Alban, was on the 1834 emigration, he was with his sister Ann Morgan Alban, on the 1835 emigration.
6 Re: Charter mentioned on p.10 of MORIAH History. John E. Evans’ wife, Mary, was not on the ship with him. John Alban (wife is the Mary Alban mentioned) may have gone back up to the Welsh Hills to bring Catherine back down for the re-burial, since there was talk of starting a church. Alban and Mary Ann Alban were delayed in the Welsh Hills until January, 1836. In the History of Licking County, p. 571, Alban Alban was listed among the original elders (or deacon?) of the first Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church built in Ohio. We think he would have been among the first deacons at Moriah as he was highly sought after as a speaker in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches.
Alban died shortly after arriving with his family to the Welsh Hills from Wales.
They went by way of Aberaeron, Wales to Liverpool, on the 3 mast ship "Roman" to
New York. Then on to the Erie Canal, Ohio-Erie Canal to Newark, Ohio.
Alban’s family moved to Moriah, Jackson County, Ohio. Alban was the son of Thomas and Ann (Morgan) Alban, both born in Wales.
Alban Alban
A lonely child in the Welsh Hills Cemetery
Draft Version 3/9/10
In a lonely plot, just east of the memorial for the site of the first Baptist church, stands a simple marker for Alban Alban, 8 years old. This is his story.
My parents are Thomas Alban (1798-1864) and Ann Morgan Alban (1802-1887 m.31 Dec, 1823 LBTE Parish). I am too young to remember my Alban grandparents (Thomas Alban, 1766-1818, and Elizabeth Davies, 1774-1829) who had the Tyngwndwn Farm on the Arth River close to the Cross Inn in Cardiganshire, Wales. My Morgan grandparents lived at the Gorsddalfa Farm just upstream from the Alban Homestead. The children in my family were David, Tom, Alban (me), John and Evan, all boys.
My earliest recollection is everyone talking about the large local family of John Jones (Tirbach) going to America in 1818, some 10 years before I was born. They settled in the southern part of a place called Ohio. Whenever there was news from them, it spread throughout the community like wildfire. It seemed like everyone was considering going to the new world, waaaay across the huge ocean of water. I wondered if it was a fairy tale, more like the Arthurian Legends.
But then the local Hughes family left in the spring of 1833 when I was 5 years old. The Hughes family, Jenkin, 1778-1833 and Susannah, 1779-1851 lived close by with 5 of their 6 children; Isaac, Catherine, Susannah, David, and Lewis. 1 I remember the send-off for them at Aberaeron. A huge crowd of people were crying and waving until the boat was out of sight that was taking them to Liverpool, where they were to board a large 3 mast ship. Mary, the oldest, was married to Dan Edwards of the Brynele clan and they decided not to go at this time because of Dan’s ill father.
And then the next year, the entire Alban Clan were planning to go to America. That's all we heard about-----getting ready. This was most all my Aunts and Uncles: Alban Alban (31) & Mary Ann Davies with son Thomas (2); Catherine Alban (29); John Alban (26) & Mary Morgan Alban (22), younger sister to my mother Ann, with Catherine (6 mo)2; and Ann Alban (20). My father's sister, Mary Alban (33), was married to David Jones and they remained in Wales. My Alban grandparents had already passed away. Out family decided not to go on this trip but to follow later with the family of Dan & Mary (Hughes) Edwards. Dan was like a brother to my Father, Tom, and the Alban Clan and Mary was like a sister to my mother, Ann, since they were little girls. I'm not sure, but I thought I heard that with Mary expecting their 4th child about the time they were to leave, the families mutually decided to go together next year. My father, being the oldest, had family business to finish anyway.
So, in May of 18343, we again gathered at the dock in Aberaeron and waved goodbye to my Aunts and Uncles and 2 little cousins. Later we heard that they boarded a 3 mast ship in Liverpool called the 'New York' and arrived in New York City on July 3, 18344. They then went by way of the canals to the Welsh Hills in Ohio where they were greeted by the Hughes family.
The next year seemed like forever, a long, long wait, knowing that the 2 families would be going next spring. My mother's brother, my Uncle David Morgan5, decided to go with us, as did Dan Edwards, a cousin, Mary, and a nephew, Evan Edwards (16). A close friend of both families, John Evans, made the decision to go also; wife, Mary and children were to go later after John got settled.
So, there were 17 of us gathering at the dock in Aberaeron, again, for the royal send-off that had been repeated many times. My grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins on the Morgan side thought they would never see us again and, though happy for us, were crying. I didn't see my 4 brothers crying, but I was. The Byrnele Edwards family were there to see the Dan & Mary Edwards family off with tears as well. Our family had everything in 6 boxes, the Dan Edwards family had 5 boxes, John Evans had 1 box. We set out from Aberaeron to Liverpool in late May 1835 in a small boat. There, we boarded a 3 mast sailing ship, called the "Roman" arriving in New York on July 22, 1835. then we were on a "steamer" up the North River (Hudson), at Utica we took the railroad to Buffalo, then a boat to Cleveland, a canal boat to "New York" (Newark). It was now mid-August and we had been on a ship or boat since May. Seems I didn't fare to well on the trip, others were sick but not like me and a few others.
My aunts & uncles (Alban) were there to greet us, it was quite a reunion as you can imagine. Cousin Tom was 2 years,4 months when he left and now was 3 years, 7months. He had a new baby sister, Mary Ann. Little cousin Catherine was 6 months old when she left and now was 21 months old, but wasn't well. She had a new baby brother, Thomas, that we hadn't seen before. The Hughes family was there to greet us as well, but with some sadness as the father, Jenkin had died 2 years earlier. We stayed with Uncle John & Aunt Mary (Alban) in their large log house in the Welsh Hills. It was sure cramped with the 2 families and Uncle David Morgan. The Dan Edwards family stayed with the Hughes'. After a few days, my dad (Tom Alban), uncle (John Alban) and Dan Edwards were on their way to southern Ohio to buy land. Uncle John had scouted around during his one year here and said they could get more land for their money but it would be a lot more work. They chose the more land and the more work.
My mom was pregnant when we came over and my little sister, Anna, was born during our brief 2 month stay here. I died here during this brief stay. My plot is lonely because my family went to Jackson County and helped form a famous place called Moriah6. My cousin, now 22 months old, Catherine, died and was buried here also, but then was reburied after Moriah was formed and then was listed as the first person buried at Moriah.
1 David E. Morgan’s writings about his great grandparents; He’s the father of Mary Ellen Morgan.
2 This is the Catherine Alban mentioned on page 30 of the MORIAH sesquicentennial book as the first person buried at Moriah Church. She died in the Welsh Hills and was re-buried at Moriah. So, the speculations mentioned can be re-written.
3 David Morgan’s first-hand account. He wrote in Welsh, and this document was found in a trunk by his great grandson, Lewis Parry Lloyd. The English translation of the account seems to be incomplete, but covers the journey rather well. Lewis had a lady in Aberaeron translate it to English in the 1980’s. Ken Evans has a copy that he got from William R. Alban.
4 People on the ship and dates from arrival at the port in New York City are from ship records.
5 This is the David Morgan that the Reverend W.R. Evans mentions at the bottom of page iii in History of Welsh Settlements in Jackson and Gallia Counties, see photo in the book. His sister, Mary Morgan Alban, was on the 1834 emigration, he was with his sister Ann Morgan Alban, on the 1835 emigration.
6 Re: Charter mentioned on p.10 of MORIAH History. John E. Evans’ wife, Mary, was not on the ship with him. John Alban (wife is the Mary Alban mentioned) may have gone back up to the Welsh Hills to bring Catherine back down for the re-burial, since there was talk of starting a church. Alban and Mary Ann Alban were delayed in the Welsh Hills until January, 1836. In the History of Licking County, p. 571, Alban Alban was listed among the original elders (or deacon?) of the first Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church built in Ohio. We think he would have been among the first deacons at Moriah as he was highly sought after as a speaker in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches.
They went by way of Aberaeron, Wales to Liverpool, on the 3 mast ship "Roman" to
New York. Then on to the Erie Canal, Ohio-Erie Canal to Newark, Ohio.
Alban’s family moved to Moriah, Jackson County, Ohio. Alban was the son of Thomas and Ann (Morgan) Alban, both born in Wales.
Alban Alban
A lonely child in the Welsh Hills Cemetery
Draft Version 3/9/10
In a lonely plot, just east of the memorial for the site of the first Baptist church, stands a simple marker for Alban Alban, 8 years old. This is his story.
My parents are Thomas Alban (1798-1864) and Ann Morgan Alban (1802-1887 m.31 Dec, 1823 LBTE Parish). I am too young to remember my Alban grandparents (Thomas Alban, 1766-1818, and Elizabeth Davies, 1774-1829) who had the Tyngwndwn Farm on the Arth River close to the Cross Inn in Cardiganshire, Wales. My Morgan grandparents lived at the Gorsddalfa Farm just upstream from the Alban Homestead. The children in my family were David, Tom, Alban (me), John and Evan, all boys.
My earliest recollection is everyone talking about the large local family of John Jones (Tirbach) going to America in 1818, some 10 years before I was born. They settled in the southern part of a place called Ohio. Whenever there was news from them, it spread throughout the community like wildfire. It seemed like everyone was considering going to the new world, waaaay across the huge ocean of water. I wondered if it was a fairy tale, more like the Arthurian Legends.
But then the local Hughes family left in the spring of 1833 when I was 5 years old. The Hughes family, Jenkin, 1778-1833 and Susannah, 1779-1851 lived close by with 5 of their 6 children; Isaac, Catherine, Susannah, David, and Lewis. 1 I remember the send-off for them at Aberaeron. A huge crowd of people were crying and waving until the boat was out of sight that was taking them to Liverpool, where they were to board a large 3 mast ship. Mary, the oldest, was married to Dan Edwards of the Brynele clan and they decided not to go at this time because of Dan’s ill father.
And then the next year, the entire Alban Clan were planning to go to America. That's all we heard about-----getting ready. This was most all my Aunts and Uncles: Alban Alban (31) & Mary Ann Davies with son Thomas (2); Catherine Alban (29); John Alban (26) & Mary Morgan Alban (22), younger sister to my mother Ann, with Catherine (6 mo)2; and Ann Alban (20). My father's sister, Mary Alban (33), was married to David Jones and they remained in Wales. My Alban grandparents had already passed away. Out family decided not to go on this trip but to follow later with the family of Dan & Mary (Hughes) Edwards. Dan was like a brother to my Father, Tom, and the Alban Clan and Mary was like a sister to my mother, Ann, since they were little girls. I'm not sure, but I thought I heard that with Mary expecting their 4th child about the time they were to leave, the families mutually decided to go together next year. My father, being the oldest, had family business to finish anyway.
So, in May of 18343, we again gathered at the dock in Aberaeron and waved goodbye to my Aunts and Uncles and 2 little cousins. Later we heard that they boarded a 3 mast ship in Liverpool called the 'New York' and arrived in New York City on July 3, 18344. They then went by way of the canals to the Welsh Hills in Ohio where they were greeted by the Hughes family.
The next year seemed like forever, a long, long wait, knowing that the 2 families would be going next spring. My mother's brother, my Uncle David Morgan5, decided to go with us, as did Dan Edwards, a cousin, Mary, and a nephew, Evan Edwards (16). A close friend of both families, John Evans, made the decision to go also; wife, Mary and children were to go later after John got settled.
So, there were 17 of us gathering at the dock in Aberaeron, again, for the royal send-off that had been repeated many times. My grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins on the Morgan side thought they would never see us again and, though happy for us, were crying. I didn't see my 4 brothers crying, but I was. The Byrnele Edwards family were there to see the Dan & Mary Edwards family off with tears as well. Our family had everything in 6 boxes, the Dan Edwards family had 5 boxes, John Evans had 1 box. We set out from Aberaeron to Liverpool in late May 1835 in a small boat. There, we boarded a 3 mast sailing ship, called the "Roman" arriving in New York on July 22, 1835. then we were on a "steamer" up the North River (Hudson), at Utica we took the railroad to Buffalo, then a boat to Cleveland, a canal boat to "New York" (Newark). It was now mid-August and we had been on a ship or boat since May. Seems I didn't fare to well on the trip, others were sick but not like me and a few others.
My aunts & uncles (Alban) were there to greet us, it was quite a reunion as you can imagine. Cousin Tom was 2 years,4 months when he left and now was 3 years, 7months. He had a new baby sister, Mary Ann. Little cousin Catherine was 6 months old when she left and now was 21 months old, but wasn't well. She had a new baby brother, Thomas, that we hadn't seen before. The Hughes family was there to greet us as well, but with some sadness as the father, Jenkin had died 2 years earlier. We stayed with Uncle John & Aunt Mary (Alban) in their large log house in the Welsh Hills. It was sure cramped with the 2 families and Uncle David Morgan. The Dan Edwards family stayed with the Hughes'. After a few days, my dad (Tom Alban), uncle (John Alban) and Dan Edwards were on their way to southern Ohio to buy land. Uncle John had scouted around during his one year here and said they could get more land for their money but it would be a lot more work. They chose the more land and the more work.
My mom was pregnant when we came over and my little sister, Anna, was born during our brief 2 month stay here. I died here during this brief stay. My plot is lonely because my family went to Jackson County and helped form a famous place called Moriah6. My cousin, now 22 months old, Catherine, died and was buried here also, but then was reburied after Moriah was formed and then was listed as the first person buried at Moriah.
1 David E. Morgan’s writings about his great grandparents; He’s the father of Mary Ellen Morgan.
2 This is the Catherine Alban mentioned on page 30 of the MORIAH sesquicentennial book as the first person buried at Moriah Church. She died in the Welsh Hills and was re-buried at Moriah. So, the speculations mentioned can be re-written.
3 David Morgan’s first-hand account. He wrote in Welsh, and this document was found in a trunk by his great grandson, Lewis Parry Lloyd. The English translation of the account seems to be incomplete, but covers the journey rather well. Lewis had a lady in Aberaeron translate it to English in the 1980’s. Ken Evans has a copy that he got from William R. Alban.
4 People on the ship and dates from arrival at the port in New York City are from ship records.
5 This is the David Morgan that the Reverend W.R. Evans mentions at the bottom of page iii in History of Welsh Settlements in Jackson and Gallia Counties, see photo in the book. His sister, Mary Morgan Alban, was on the 1834 emigration, he was with his sister Ann Morgan Alban, on the 1835 emigration.
6 Re: Charter mentioned on p.10 of MORIAH History. John E. Evans’ wife, Mary, was not on the ship with him. John Alban (wife is the Mary Alban mentioned) may have gone back up to the Welsh Hills to bring Catherine back down for the re-burial, since there was talk of starting a church. Alban and Mary Ann Alban were delayed in the Welsh Hills until January, 1836. In the History of Licking County, p. 571, Alban Alban was listed among the original elders (or deacon?) of the first Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church built in Ohio. We think he would have been among the first deacons at Moriah as he was highly sought after as a speaker in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist churches.
Inscription
Son of Thomas & Ann Alban
Aged 7 Years
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
