Evan Reese (abt. 1830 - abt. 1915)

Born about 1830 in Wales Bryndracnog Pantydnr

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Bennett) Rees — married 10 Aug 1858 in Abbey-Cwmhir, Radnorshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died about 11 Oct 1915 at about age 85 in Wales, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Donald Smith [send private message]

Biography

Evan was born about 1830. He passed away about 1915.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/186430103/person/212437259839/facts

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Reese-4943

b& d date years from Sharon Harris. died age 83 Bryndainog Pantydwr Parish of St Harmon, came from Builth area (spelling??)

https://familysearch.org/tree/person/LCVM-DWB/details

Here is the heart of the name and note at the bottom the description on the coat of arms.

THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE DISTINGUISHED SURNAME ***REESE***

Beautiful Wales, mountainous land of the red dragon and Eisteddfods (music festivals) and King Arthur, gives us the distinguished surname of Reese. The Romans vacated the British Isles at the end of the 4th century. The Welsh or Ancient Britons were left in sole possession of all of England, all the way north to the banks of the Clyde. The Saxons forced them westward into the mountains of what is now Wales, north to Cumberland and southern Scotland, and into Cornwall. Rhodri Mawr, or Roderick the Great, was the first recorded monarch of all Wales. He died in 1893. On his death he gave Wales to his three sons, Anarawd became King of north Wales, Cadalh became King of south Wales and Mervyn became King of Powys, or mid Wales. The ancient history of the name Reese also emerges from these same Welsh chronicles. It was first found in Carmarthenshire where they were seated from very early times. From some of the many early records researchers examined, manuscripts such as the Doomesday Book, the Pipe Rolls, Hearth Rolls, the Black Book of the Exchequer, the Curia Regis Rolls, the family name, Reese, was traced in many different forms. Although the name Reese was mentioned in serveral different records, it was spelt Rees, Reece, Rhys, Ap-Rhys, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. It was not uncommon for a person to be born with one spelling, marry with another, and still have another on the headstone in his or her resting place. The Norman Conquest of Wales was less than conclusive. A testimony to the Welsh fighting spirit is that there are more castles, or ruins of castles, to the square mile in Wales than anywhere else in the world. The welsh tactic was to thrust, then retire to their bleak mountain homes to plan their next attack. As peace gradually returned to this picturesque country, the Welsh, attracted by the economic opportunities, moved eastward into the English cities. This distinguished Welsh family name Reese, emerged in Carmarthen where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated as Lords of the manor and estates in that shire. They were descended from Urien-Rheged, Prince of Rheged, who was descended from Coel Codedog, king of the Britons. He built the Castle of Carmarthen. Descended were Sir Elidir Ddu, Phillip his son, Griffydd his son, Owen, Morris, to Rees of Llechdwnny in Kidwelly Land. His son, Rhys, was High Sheriff of Carmarthen in 1615. His son, Morris Rhys is buried at Kidwelly Church. Hector Rees, his grandson, declined the offer of a knighthood. Present family seat is at Killymaenllwyd near Llanelly, prominent amongst the family during the late middle ages was Sir Elidir Ddu. For the next two or three centuries the surname Reese flourished and played an important role in local county politics and in the affairs of Britain in general. Religious conflicts followed. The newly found passionate fervour of Cromwellianism found the Roman assessments, tithes and demands imposed a heavy burden on rich and poor alike. They looked to the New World for their salvation. Many became pirates who roamed the islands of the West Indies such as Captain Morgan. Some were shipped to Ireland where they were known as the Adventurers for land. Essentially, they contracted to keep the Protestant faith, being granted lands for small sums, previously owned by the Catholic Irish. There is no evidence that the family name migrated to Ireland, but this does not preclude the possibility of their scattered migration to that country. The New World also held many attractions. They sailed across the stormy Atlantic abouard the tiny sailing ships, built for 100 passengers, but sometimes carrying 400 or 500, ships which were to become known as the "White Sails". The overcrowed ships, sometimes spending two months at sea, were wracked with disease. Those that survived the elements were often stricken with small pox, dysentery and typhoid, sometimes landing with only 60 to 70% of the original passenger list. In North America, one of the first migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the Reese family or having a variation of the family surname spelling, was Henry Reece, settled in Nevis in 1663, along with Jane. Richard Reece settled in New England in 1668; Barbara, Jacob, Mathew, Thomas and William Reece all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870; Edward Aprees arrived in Delaware in 1682 with his wife and children; Thomas Rees settled in Virginia n 1623; Bartholomew and Bennett Reese arrived in the Barbados in 1680 with their servants; Lawrence Reese arrived in the Barbados in 1678. Thee are many notable contemporaries of this name, Albert Rees, Australian Scientist; Brian Rees, Charterhouse Headmaster; Carl Rees, Professor of Mathematics; Charles Rees, British Chemist; Elfan Rees, Clergyman; Florence Rees, British Parasitologist; Leslie Rees, Australian Author; Merlin Rees, M.P.; Mina Rees, American Mathematician; Thomas Rees, American Politician; William Rees, Welsh Historian; William Rees, Pshchologist; Addison Reese, American Banker; Thomas Reese, American Psychologist; Jean Rhys, Novelist. Whilst researching the family name Coat of Arms, we traced the most ancient recording and grant of Arms. Those many branch Coat of Arms which were granted down throught the ages may also be appropriater to the name. The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was: Silver with a chevron between three black ravens. The Crest was: A black lion The ancient family Motto for this distinguished name was: "Spes Melioris Aevi"

Here is the family motto found below the Reese crest:

REESE FAMILY MOTO AS FOUND BELOW CREST This is a Latin sentence, which means "Hope for better days" and similar poetic meanings (such as "Better days to come" and the like). SPES = noun: hope, expectation, lookout AEVI = genitive for "aevum", time, days, era, generation, etc. MELIORIS = genitive for the comparative melior (better), which qualifies "aevi" in this sentence.

Note: SPES is also a Roman goddess -- which the Romans thought to be the sister of the Sleep -- represented by a smiling young woman crowned with flowers. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Don Smith.