Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Thomas (abt. 1829 - abt. 1886)

Born about 1829 in Betws-Y-Coed, Wales

Wife of William John Thomas — married about 1851 in New York

Descendants

Died about 12 Jan 1886 at about age 57 in Wild Rose, Wisconsin

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Biography

Mary's native language was Welsh. She came to the United States about 1843 as an orphan. Tradition says she had one sibling, Phillip who was older and taken by the British as part of the medical corp in India. The 1841 Welsh census and church records for Betws-y-Coed have not mentioned our Mary or Phillip or even a Williams family with only two children. Mary went to Quincy, New York to live with Dr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Woodward. In checking the 1850 census she was found to be living with the Woodwards and is not listed as a servant. Family tradition is that she was treated like a daughter. She married William John Thomas sometime in the fall of 1851 in Quincy and then left for a visit with his family in Remsen, New York before going to Wisconsin. She and William were the proud parents of five daughters.

Betws-y-Coed, meaning "prayer house in the wood" is a northern village and community in the Conwy valley in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In 2011 the parish had a population of 564. Its origins date back to 1254.

Sources

• Douglas M. Henry, M.S.
• Pam Anderson, J.D.