William Evans (abt. 1851 - 1906)

Born about 12 Apr 1851 in Newton, Montgomeryshire, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Watkins) Evans — married 27 Oct 1874 (to 1879) in Wesleyan Chapel, Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales

Descendants

Died 31 Jul 1906 at about age 55 in Fayette, Fayette, West Virginia, United States

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Biography

William was born 1851 in Newton, Montgomeryshire, Wales. In the 1881 census William (age 30), Estate Agent (Auctioneer), was the head of household in Brnllys, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Wales.^[1]

After Willam's wife Jane died in 1879 he left his children with family and immigrated to West Virginia in 1888. William died on 31 July 1906 and was buried in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, Fayette County, West Virginia, United States.^[2]

William's Story

On the 1861 census, William was with his mother and siblings at Brynygroes, Aberhafesp. On the 1871 census he was working as a farm servant at Rhydlydan, a farm of 140 acres run by Charles and Jane Benbow, who have five children. Charles was the brother of William's brother John's deceased wife, Sarah. This farm was barely a mile away from where he was living in 1861. William married 22 year old Jane Watkins on 27th October 1874. Just six months later, their daughter, Sarah Jane was born on 16th March 1875. At the time they were living at Pantybryn, Llanwnog. A son, John, was born the end of January 1878. but died on 3rd May 1878, followed just over a year later by his mother. She died at the local infirmary of an abscess on her kidney. They are both buried at St. Gwynog's , Llanwnog, and the inscription reads: In memory of Jane, the beloved wife of William Evans of Coppy House in this parish, who died April 23 1879, aged 27 years. John their son died May 3rd 1878, aged 3 months. "Grave the guardian of our dust. Grave the treasury of the skies. Every atom of their dust. Rest in hope again to rise". Four years later, on 27th September 1882, William married Catherine Morgan. The marriage took place at the Parish Church in Llanidloes. By 1891, Catherine was living at Llanidloes with her two sons, 7 year old John and 5 year old Edward Morgan; they were there 10 years later. It seems that sometime after the boys were born, William left Catherine and went for America with the daughter from his first marriage Sarah Jane - sometimes known as Sallie - and became involved in coal mining. Sallie married Antonio T. Massey in April 1895; Her father died in a mine explosion on July 31st, 1906. Sallie's husband continued in the coal trade and built up quite an empire. The Massey family became established as very profitable mine owners. Present “man in charge” is Morgan Massey, whom I believe is my third cousin.

Credit: Margaret Kinsey, 2nd Great Grand Daughter of Evans-35866

Sources

1. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 Wales Census"
   Class: RG11; Piece: 5482; Folio: 78; Page: 2; GSU roll: 1342318; ED, institution, or vessel: 7
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8059 #16220145 (accessed 23 February 2024)
   William Evans (30), Estate Agent (Auctioneer), head of household in Brnllys, Llanidloes in Newtown registration district in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Born in Aberhafest, Montgomeryshire, Wales.
2. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
   Find A Grave: Memorial #148646696
   Ancestry Record 60525 #123246657 (accessed 23 February 2024)
   William Evans burial (died on 31 Jul 1906) in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, Fayette County, West Virginia, United States of America. Born in 1851.

• "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMM5-H2S : 11 February 2018), Wm. in entry for W. H. Evans and Mina M. Zimmerman, 02 Oct 1902; citing Ansted, Fayette, West Virginia, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 584,765.

• "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR8-NP97 : 16 August 2019), William Evans in entry for Sarah Evans Massey, 09 Oct 1964; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Richmond, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

• "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F1PF-CB3 : 10 March 2018), William Evans, 31 Jul 1906; citing Fayette, West Virginia, County Records, 2, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,952,528.

• "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N99R-QL2 : 10 March 2018), William Evans in entry for William H. Evans, 15 May 1947; citing Ansted, Fayette, West Virginia, County Records, v 1945-1948 p 15, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 584,754.