By La Rita Rees Hancock

It all started in Wales!

It was 1781 when Isaac was born to a David Jones and an Ann Davies. He went to live with a family by the name of Rees. They were very good to him. Isaac thought so much of them he changed his name to Rees.

Searching the Bedwellty Parish records of 1795-1827 an entry is found of Ann Davies from Trevethin–the 7th of May 1827–aged 76 years. This could be Isaac’s mother as she would have been born in 1750 as Moroni writes of his genealogy.

Some of Moroni’s descendants remember him saying that Isaac was born illegitimately. This could explain why he went to live with the Rees family, and why Ann’s last name is still Davies and not Jones.

On March 26, 1809, Isaac was married to Gwenllian Haskins at the Bedwellty Parish, Monmouthshire, then Wales. Monmouthshire is now England. They were both of that Parish. Gwenllian was the daughter of James Haskins and Lydia Morgan and was born in Llangynwyd Parish, Brecknockshire, Wales in the year 1780.

Their first child Abel was born 3 January 1811 at Rhymney, Bedwellty Parish.  Gwenllian and Isaac had four other children born to them, a son Thomas, a daughter Eleanor, and sons David and Isaac.

At the time of the big Methodist movement in Wales, Isaac joined that church. He was a faithful member of that church for 27 years and maintained a membership until his death.

Isaac passed away on 25 December 1837 at Abersychan, Monmouth. He was buried at the Methodist Wesleyan Chapel graveyard, Varteg, Monmouthshire.

After her husband’s death Gwenllian went to live with her son, Thomas.

In 1846 missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved into Wales and converted a great many people. Most of the Rees Family joined the Church at that time. Gwenllian was baptized in November of that year at the Nanty-glo Branch, Monmouth. She passed away on 3 June 1853 at Blaenavon, Monmouth. She was 73 years old.

Thomas and David were very active in the Church. At one time David was Branch President of the Ebbwvale[Ebbw Vale?] Branch. On 3 March 1856, the disorganization of the Nanty-go Branch, the Blaenau and Cwm Cely Branches took place in a council meeting held in the Blaenau Inn Assembly room. Also, the organization of the Coal Brook Vale Branch took place on this date. Elder Evan Rees was made President. His Councilors were Thomas Rees and Henry Phillips. David Rees was appointed Clerk.

David Rees met and married Mary Ann Phillips. Their first child was a daughter, Elinor. A few years later they had another daughter. Searching Parish records we find her name listed as Susannah. A few years later a son, Moroni, was born to them. Then another daughter, Emily. When Susannah was seven years old tragedy struck this family when she drowned.

When his children were ready for baptism David baptized them. He blessed little Emily. Soon after baptizing Moroni, for some unknown reason David deserted his family and came to America. It is believed he went to Pennsylvania.

From a census taken earlier in David’s married life we found that his wife, Mary Ann’s brother, his wife and children were living with them. This may have caused friction between them. My grandfather, David, has told us that Mary Ann was a very cross woman. She would frequently get him in trouble with his father. We don’t know the real reason David left his family. We can only guess. It was a terrible blow to them.

Moroni had to go to work in the coal mines to help support the family, at the early age of eight.