MORRIS Ancestory

Wales to Utah
6. Rachel MORRIS DAVIES was the first women to join the church in Wales. Her sister 5. Martha MORRIS DAVIES also joined the LDS church. Over time both families immigrated from Wales and pioneered to Utah. Martha and her husband Henry both died on the way.

Descendants of William Morris

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM1 MORRIS He married ANNA.

Child of WILLIAM MORRIS and ANNA is:
2. i. JOHN2 MORRIS, b. August 22, 1697, St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales; d. November 28, 1729, St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales.

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN2 MORRIS (WILLIAM1) was born August 22, 1697 in St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales, and died November 28, 1729 in St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales. He married ANNA DAVID January 1717/18. She was born Abt. 1699 in Carmarthen, So Wales.

Child of JOHN MORRIS and ANNA DAVID is:
3. i. WILLIAM3 MORRIS, b. April 03, 1722, St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales.

Generation No. 3

3. WILLIAM3 MORRIS (JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born April 03, 1722 in St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales. He married ELIZABETH LLOYD October 23, 1741. She was born Abt. 1722 in St. Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales.

Child of WILLIAM MORRIS and ELIZABETH LLOYD is:
4. i. GEORGE4 MORRIS, b. August 14, 1756, St. Ishmael, Carm., Wales; d. February 10, 1818, St. Ishmael, Carm., Wales.

Generation No. 4

4. GEORGE4 MORRIS (WILLIAM3, JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born August 14, 1756 in St. Ishmael, Carm., Wales, and died February 10, 1818 in St. Ishmael, Carm., Wales. He married CATHERINE ANTHONY October 16, 1781, daughter of DAVID ANTHONY and ANN. She was born May 17, 1761 in St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales, and died April 02, 1849 in Ferryside, St Ishmaels, Carmarthen, S. Wales.

Children of GEORGE MORRIS and CATHERINE ANTHONY are:
i. ELIZABETH5 MORRIS, b. June 05, 1782, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
ii. ANN MORRIS, b. November 03, 1784, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
iii. MARY MORRIS, b. December 1786, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
iv. JAMES MORRIS, b. February 03, 1789, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
v. JAMES MORRIS, b. January 03, 1792, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
vi. CATHERINE MORRIS, b. January 07, 1793, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
5. vii. MARTHA MORRIS, b. April 03, 1795, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
viii . JANE MORRIS, b. January 11, 1798, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
ix. JAMES MORRIS, b. January 30, 1801, St. Ishmael Carm. Wales.
6. x. RACHEAL MORRIS, b. July 04, 1803, St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales; d. May 28, 1882, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

Generation No. 5

5. MARTHA5 MORRIS (GEORGE4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born April 03, 1795 in St. Ishmael Carm. Wales. She married HENRY DAVIES, son of DAVID DAVIES and MARGARET.

Child of MARTHA MORRIS and HENRY DAVIES is:
7. i. RACHEL MARIA6 DAVIES, b. April 15, 1833; d. May 16, 1869. She married JOHN JOHNSON DAVIES Oct 3, 1853 Carmarthen, Wales

6. RACHEAL5 MORRIS (GEORGE4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born July 04, 1803 in St Ishmaeles, Carmarthen Wales, and died May 28, 1882 in Kanarraville, Iron, Utah. She married WILLIAM REES DAVIES Abt. 1824 in Wales, son of REESE DAVIS and ANN THOMAS. He was born July 31, 1805 in New Church, Crmrth, Wales, and died February 05, 1865 in Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

More About WILLIAM REES DAVIES:
Endowment (LDS): May 21, 1856
Fact1: February 19, 1843, Baptised
Sealed to parents (LDS): May 21, 1856

Children of RACHEAL MORRIS and WILLIAM DAVIES are:
i. GEORGE6 DAVIES, b. November 17, 1825, St Augusta, Bristol, England; d. July 1849; m. MARY ANN GRIFFITHS.

More About GEORGE DAVIES:
Baptism: March 23, 1967
Endowment (LDS): April 13, 1967
Sealed to parents (LDS): September 17, 1868

ii. JOHN REESE DAVIES, b. September 16, 1827, Bristol, Glcstr, England; d. October 18, 1862; m. (1) MARY ANN GRIFFITHS; m. (2) PATIENCE SIBYLE GROVES, March 15, 1857.

More About JOHN REESE DAVIES:
Endowment (LDS): February 19, 1843
Fact1: February 19, 1843, Baptised
Sealed to parents (LDS): October 21, 1882

8. iii. ELIZABETH DAVIES, b. November 23, 1829, Eylwisfack, Denby, Wales; d. September 27, 1890, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah. She married (1) REESE JONES WILLIAMS son of John Williams and Margaret Jones 1 April, 1856 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She married (2) JOHN JOHNSON DAVIES 25 Jul 1870 Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

9. iv. JAMES GEORGE DAVIES, b. November 06, 1831, Llanelly, Carms, Wales; d. April 03, 1909, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

v. DAVID DAVIES, b. April 1834, Ferryside, St. Ishmael, Crmrth, Wales; d. December 1840.

More About DAVID DAVIES:
Sealed to parents (LDS): October 21, 1880.

Generation No. 6

7. RACHEL MARIA6 DAVIES (MARTHA5 MORRIS, GEORGE4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born April 15, 1833, and died May 16, 1869. She married JOHN JOHNSON DAVIES, son of JOHN DAVIES and SARAH THOMAS. He was born December 28, 1831 in Carmarthen, Carmarthen Shire, South Wales.

Children of RACHEL DAVIES and JOHN DAVIES are:
i. HENRY WILLIAM7 DAVIES, b. July 20, 1862.
ii. JOHN H. DAVIES, b. April 17, 1860.
iii. MARTHA MARIA DAVIES, b. 1854; m. REESE JONES WILLIAMS, November 24, 1872; b. July 17, 1851, Keg Creek, Pttwrt, Iowa; d. February 08, 1933.

8. ELIZABETH6 DAVIES (RACHEAL5 MORRIS, GEORGE4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born November 23, 1829 in Eylwisfack, Denby, Wales, and died September 27, 1890 in Kanarraville, Iron, Utah. She married (1) REES JONES WILLIAMS, son of JOHN WILLIAMS and MARGARET JONES. He was born September 29, 1819 in Llanthoysaint, Carmarthen, Crmarth, Wales, and died May 27, 1860 in Salt Lake City, S-Lk, Utah. She married (2) JOHN JOHNSON DAVIES July 25, 1870, son of JOHN DAVIES and SARAH THOMAS. He was born December 28, 1831 in Carmarthen, Carmarthen Shire, South Wales.

More About ELIZABETH DAVIES:
Endowment (LDS): June 10, 1937
Fact1: June 05, 1937, Baptised
Sealed to parents (LDS): May 10, 1877

Children of ELIZABETH DAVIES and REES JONES WILLIAMS are:
i. REESE JONES7 WILLIAMS, b. July 17, 1851, Keg Creek, Pttwrt, Iowa; d. February 08, 1933; m. MARTHA MARIA DAVIES, November 24, 1872; b. 1854.
ii. WILLIAM REES WILLIAMS, b. September 02, 1853, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; d. September 28, 1909, Kanarraville, Iron, UT; m. MARY ISABELL ROUNDY; b. February 03, 1856, Centerville, Davis, Utah; d. June 14, 1934, Kanarraville, Iron, UT.

More About MARY ISABELL ROUNDY:
Fact1: 1867, Baptised

iii. ELIZABETH MARGARET WILLIAMS, b. September 1855; d. April 19, 1909; m. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ROUNDY, June 11, 1872; b. February 05, 1851, Sale Lake City, SLC, Utah; d. October 06, 1928.

More About NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ROUNDY:
Fact1: June 05, 1864, Baptised

iv. JOHN DAVIS WILLIAMS, b. August 18, 1857, Little Cottonwood, S-Lk, Utah; d. January 23, 1927; m. SARAH MITCHELL.

Child of ELIZABETH DAVIES and JOHN JOHNSON DAVIES is:
v. CHILD7 DAVIES, b. May 12, 1872.

9. JAMES GEORGE6 DAVIES (RACHEAL5 MORRIS, GEORGE4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, WILLIAM1) was born November 06, 1831 in Llanelly, Carms, Wales, and died April 03, 1909 in Kanarraville, Iron, Utah. He married POLLY WILLIAMS Abt. 1856, daughter of JOHN WILLIAMS and MARCY JANE LUCAS. She was born May 28, 1838 in Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinoise, and died August 12, 1914 in Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

More About JAMES GEORGE DAVIES:
Fact1: October 02, 1830, Endowed
Sealed to parents (LDS): October 21, 1880

More About POLLY WILLIAMS:
Ancestral File Number: 3TM7-6R
Burial: August 14, 1914, Kanarraville, Iron, Ut
Fact1: October 21, 1880, Endowed

Children of JAMES DAVIES and POLLY WILLIAMS are:
i. RACHAEL7 DAVIES, b. April 1857, Fort Harmony, Kane Utah; d. 1859, Fort Harmony, Kane Utah.

ii. ELIZABETH ANN DAVIS, b. January 08, 1859, Fort Harmony, Kane Utah; d. February 26, 1927, Kanarraville, Iron, UT; m. CHARLES PARKER SR, son of CHARLES DAVIS PARKER and ALMEDA SOPHIA ROUNDY, March 10, 1880, LDS Temple, St George, Washington, Utah; b. December 30, 1853, Centerville, Davis, Utah; d. May 15, 1935, Kanarraville, Iron, UT.

More About ELIZABETH ANN DAVIS:
Fact1: March 10, 1880, Endowed

iii. JAMES LORENZO DAVIS, b. February 14, 1861, Old Fort Harmony, Kane, Utah; d. June 04, 1929, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; m. IRONA WELTHA HANKS, December 25, 1885, Hanksville, Wayne, Utah; b. October 31, 1868, Irontown, Iron, Utah; d. April 08, 1935, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

More About JAMES LORENZO DAVIS:
Fact1: February 19, 1932, Endowed

iv. WILLIAM REES DAVIES, b. March 02, 1863, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; d. October 19, 1920; m. ELIZA ANN WILLIS, December 23, 1907, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

More About WILLIAM REES DAVIES:
Fact1: May 02, 1923, Endowed

v. GEORGE ALMA DAVIS, b. February 14, 1865, Fort Harmony, Kane Utah; d. June 07, 1941, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; m. SARAH ISOBELLE HALES, December 30, 1886, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; b. July 02, 1868, Gunnison, Sanpete, Utah; d. January 18, 1927, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah.

More About GEORGE ALMA DAVIS:
Fact1: September 22, 1954, Sealed to parents

More About SARAH ISOBELLE HALES:
Fact1: September 14, 1882, Endowed

vi. MYRON THOMAS DAVIS, b. March 17, 1868, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; d. January 15, 1922, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; m. ANNETTE REBECCA REEVES, February 17, 1897, Parowan, Iron, utah; b. September 29, 1878, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; d. March 06, 1939, Cedar City, Iron, Utah.

More About MYRON THOMAS DAVIS:
Ancestral File Number: 4FXZ-F5
Baptism: October 08, 1876
Endowment (LDS): June 28, 1923
Fact1: June 19, 1923, Sealed to Annetta R. Reeves
Sealed to parents (LDS): March 09, 1927

More About ANNETTE REBECCA REEVES:
Ancestral File Number: 29MQ-ZN
Baptism (LDS): June 19, 1887
Endowment (LDS): June 28, 1923
Sealed to parents (LDS): BIC

More About MYRON DAVIS and ANNETTE REEVES:
Sealed to spouse (LDS): June 28, 1923, SGEOR

vii. REESE JAMES DAVIS, b. February 04, 1871, Kanarraville, Iron,, Utah; d. June 05, 1957, Bunkerville, Clark, Nevada; m. (1) MYRTLE MCNELL; m. (2) SARRAH ELIZABETH REDD, October 17, 1902, St. George, Washington, Utah; b. May 12, 1866, New Harmony, Washington, Utah; d. December 21, 1946, New Harmony, Washington, Utah.

More About REESE JAMES DAVIS:
Burial: June 1957, New Harmony, Utah
Fact1: September 17, 1902, Endowed

More About SARRAH ELIZABETH REDD:
Burial: December, New Harmony, Utah

viii. NORA DAVIS, b. December 23, 1874, Kanarraville, Iron,, Utah; d. March 14, 1946; m. GEORGE ALBERT BERRY, October 08, 1896, St. George, Washington, Utah.

More About NORA DAVIS:
Fact1: October 08, 1896, Endowed

ix. ELLINOR MATILDA DAVIS, b. January 26, 1876, Kannarraville, Iron, Utah; d. November 20, 1950, Kannarraville, Iron, Utah; m. SAMUEL LORENZO POLLOCK, December 10, 1895, St. George,Washington, Utah; b. February 04, 1873, Kannarraville, Iron, Utah; d. March 24, 1959, Hurricane, Utah.

More About ELLINOR MATILDA DAVIS:
Fact1: December 10, 1895, Endowed

More About SAMUEL LORENZO POLLOCK:
Fact1: September 22, 1954, Sealed to wife, Ellinor Matilda Davies

x. ALBERT DAVIS, b. May 14, 1880, Kanarraville, Iron,, Utah; d. October 18, 1948, Cedar City, Iron, Utah; m. HANNAH AUGUSTA REEVES, December 08, 1908, Temple, St George, Wash, UT; b. August 23, 1885, Kanarraville, Iron, Utah; d. March 13, 1969, Cedar City, Iron, UT.

More About ALBERT DAVIS:
Ancestral File Number: 4FXZ-KT
Baptism (LDS): October 15, 1893
Burial: October 21, 1948, Kanarraville, Iron, UT
Endowment (LDS): December 08, 1908, SGEOR
Fact1: September 22, 1954, Sealed to parents

More About HANNAH AUGUSTA REEVES:
Ancestral File Number: 1L5H-PG
Baptism (LDS): October 15, 1893
Burial: March 17, 1969, Kanarravllle, Iron, UT
Christening: June 03, 1886, Kanarraville, Iron, UT
Endowment (LDS): December 08, 1908, SGEOR
Sealed to parents (LDS): BIC

More About ALBERT DAVIS and HANNAH REEVES:
Sealed to spouse (LDS): December 08, 1908, SGEOR.

xi. ALICE MAY DAVIS, b. August 19, 1883, Kannarah Mountain; d. August 08, 1964, Cedar City, Iron, Utah; m. JOSEPH HENRY JR. POLLOCK, December 04, 1901, Parowan, Iron, Utah; b. January 19, 1880, Kanarraville, Iron,, Utah; d. March 31, 1957, Price, Carbon, Utah.

More About ALICE MAY DAVIS:
Fact1: November 01, 1958, Endowed

More About JOSEPH HENRY JR. POLLOCK:
Fact1: April 02, 1957, Buried in Kanarra, Iron, Utah

Faith in Every Footstep, William Reese DAVIES and Rachel MORRIS

[More DAVIES history posts to be added]

Faith In Every Footstep
William Rees/Reese DAVIES and Rachel MORRIS
(Rachel-first women baptized in Wales)
and son James George DAVIS with 2 other grown children
25 Sep 1852 Pioneers from Wales

*William Reese DAVIES
Born: 31 Jul 1805
Place: New Church, Carmarthen, South Wales
Married: Abt 1824
Place: Swansen, Glamorgan, Wales
Immigrated from Wales: 1849 sailed from
Liverpool on the “Buena Vista”
with Dan Jones Pioneers: 25 Sep 1852 William Morgan Wagon Company
Died: 5 Feb 1865
Place: Kanarraville, Iron, UT

*Rachel MORRIS
Born: 6 Apr 1803
Place:St. Ishmeal, Carmarthen, South Wales
Died: 28 May 1882 Place: Samgamon, IL

Childlren:
1.(*)George, 17 Nov 1825 St. Ishmael, Carmarthen, South Wales
2.*John Rees, 16 Sep 1827 St. Agusta, Bristol, England
3.*Elizabeth, 23 Nov 1829 Ferryside, Carmarthen, South Wales
4.*James George Born: 6 Nov 1832 Place: Llanelly, Carmarthen, South Wales Married: Polly Willams Date: 21 Oct 1856 Place: St. George, Washington, UT Died: 3 Apr 1909 Place: Kanarraville, Iron, UT
5. David, 9 May 1834 Carmarthen, South Wales -died at 6 yr

Grandparent *Pioneer, (*) Possibly died of Cholera between New Oreans and Council Buffs.
Note: For the history of James George and Polly Williams see history under their names.

William Rees Davies was born on 31 of July 1805 in New Church, Carmarthen, South Wales. He was the son of Ann Thomas and Rees Davies. William’s wife Rachel Morris, was born the 6 of April 1803 in St. Ishmael, Carmarthen, South Wales. She was the daughter of Catherine Anthony and George Morris. William and Rachel are my fourth great grandparents. They were married about 1824 in Swansen, Glamorgan, Wales.

After they married they moved around to many parts of southeastern Wales living by the Atlantic ocean. When they lived in Newcastle, William picked up the tailoring trade.

The first Mormon missionary arrived in Wales in 1843. The missionary couldn’t speak Welsh so he preached in English hoping that some would understand. The Davies family were his first converts. They where baptized on February 19, 1843 all but their daughter Elizabeth who was baptized three months later. Rachel was the first women baptized in Wales. The Davies might have known a little English, or he and others in his family just recognized truth when they heard it. William then served a mission in Wales he was the first to preach in the Welsh language. In the fall of 1843 he and his companion William Henshaw were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as known to the Later-day Saints. They quoted the scriptures confirming their principles as they preached. Their converts were hindered by opposition to the truth.

While William was on his mission Rachel ran a cookie shop to provide for the family. Rachel also sold used clothes to one particular woman. They lived in the back of this women’s house. She was a wealthy woman and threw away her dirty clothes. Rachel collected them, washed them, ironed them, and sold them back to the wealthy woman.

Music was important to this family. William was blessed with a beautiful voice. In fact he was invited to sing for the Queen of England three times! Rachel loved to sing church songs.

Rachel did her sewing by hand, and all her washing. She had never seen a wash board before she came to America. The clothes were rubbed between her hands.

In 1849 The Saint who had saved $45.00 per person for passage got permission to leave Wales and immigrate to America. On Feb 14, 1849 they arrived in Liverpool, England. They were among the 249 Saints organized to make the trip on the “Buena Vista” the following day. They were lead by Dan Jones assisted by three counselors William was one of those leaders. They sailed to New Orleans.

In February of 1849 there were 72 Welsh branches organized and 4,645 members. One in every 278 Welsh were members of the Church.

As they traveled to Council Bluffs about one fifth of the group were victims of cholera. Only 163 remained in the group after the disease had passed who all continued with their plans to head for Utah.

William was called to stay in Council Bluffs as a leader in the Welch Branch. By June of 1852 most of the Welsh and British were fitted and ready for the trip to the Rocky Mountains. It was a very hot day June 28, 1853 they got underway.

They encountered no snow or rain. They had a much more pleasant trip than the Saints who had left in 1849. Some Welsh brothers met this wagon train with a load of watermelons, muskmelons, potatoes and grapes. This was a blessing because by this time food was in short supply. September 25, 1852 they entered the Zion they had sung and dreamt about. From the Great Salt Lake Valley they traveled south and settled new areas.
Orson Pratt picked the location where the Harmony Fort was built. William Rees Davies was the Bishop with his son John R. Davies and Henry Barney as Counselors. (Henry Barney was the husband of Marcy Jane Lucas William Barney my fourth great grandmother.) At that time Fort Harmony was the southern most colony, and became the County Seat.

Rachel was a mid wife and assisted many families in the fort and in Kanarraville.

After the muddy demise of the Fort in early 1862 they moved and settled what became Kanarraville. [See Marcy Jane Lucas Williams Barney history for detail of the demise of Fort Harmony.] William was the first bishop of Kanaraville Ward and presided until his death, February 5, 1865. Rachel then lived with her daughter Elizabeth’s family.

When her grandson built a home after getting married, she spent the last years of her life with him. Rachel was a widow for seventeen long years. She died in Kanarraville at the age of 76 on May 28, 1882 and was buried next to William in the Kanarraville Cemetary. They both held strong to their church and were grateful they had joined the Saints in Zion.

Sourses:
1. Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, 1999, vol. p. 766-767
2. The Pioneer Heritage CD-ROM
3. Together Again - An Autobiographical History, (about 1975) by granddaughter Sophia Parker Stapley, with History by granddaughter Ester Parker Robb
4. The Gathering, Mormon Pioneers on the Trail to Zion, Maurine Jensen Proctor and Scot Facer Proctor 1996, p. 40