Bore da!
I just joined this list, after being on the Glamorgan list for several years. I am
looking for info on my DAVIES and REESE families. In the US, the names were nearly always
written as DAVIS and REESE, but I am open to looking at DAVIES and REES spellings in
Wales. This is what I know about their life in Wales:
They were instrumental in recruiting coppersmelters from Swansea and thereabouts to come
to Baltimore, Maryland (which could also have been referred to as Canton, Maryland, as
Baltimore is divided into named neighborhoods and Canton was were the Welsh smelters
settled).
The DAVIS men were David, Daniel and Thomas. (Thomas Davis was my
g-g-grandfather.) The REESE men may have been related to Thomas Davis' wife,
Margaret REESE.
If David W. Davis came here to supervise the smelter (which he did--they
were all superintendents at one time or another), is it likely he held a
similar position in Wales somewhere????
I would be interested in knowing if anyone had relatives who came to the US
(esp. Maryland) to smelt copper in the mid-late 1800s, or who might have
these men in their trees and wonder where they went? I would LOVE to find
living relatives in Wales!
I know that once in the US, the smelters (not just our Davis and Reese
folks) tended to stick close together, at least for the first 50 years or
so, and often moved in groups to where the work was. I am thinking it was
that way in Wales, too, but correct me if I am wrong. I did learn that
smelting was a closed profession, passed from father to son. So if there are
other researchers out there with S. Wales smelters in their trees in the
1800s, it is possible they knew these men.
(Note: This book is the only place I have seen our DAVIS spelled with an
"E", except for one obit; and it is the only place I have seen these REESEs
with the extra "E".)
Here is the Welsh version I found, followed by a translation provided by
another list member:
It is from the book, Hanes Cymry: A History of the Welsh in America, by R.
D. Thomas, and I have read a version that was already translated, but I want to check it
for accuracy. These Davis men are my direct ancestors and I am trying to determine the
correct relationship of the 3 men, as the info from this book disagrees slightly with an
American obituary.
Dechreuwyd y sefydliad yn 1845, Daeth David W. Davies, Ysw., yma i
arolygu y gwaith copper, ac anfonodd am Gymry profiadol fel toddwyr
copper o Lanelli ac Abertawe, D.C. Buy gwaith yn llwyddianus hyd 1850 ar
y Locust Point, pan yr ymrafaeliodd y cwmpeini, ac y dechreuwyd y
gwaith ar Canton.
Llwyddodd gwaith copper Canton dan arolygiaeth D. W. Davies hyd ei
farwolaeth, Ion. 13, 1854. Dewiswyd ei frawd yn olynydd iddo, sef Daniel
Davies, gynt o Llwyn Adam, ger Pont-ar-ddulas, Morganwg, D.C. Dyn da a
chrefyddol ydoedd. Parhaodd i weinyddu ei swydd hyd 1864.
Dilynwyd ef yn ei swydd gan ei fab, Thomas Davies, Ysw.; a dilynwyd
yntau gan Thomas Rees, a John T. Rees.
Hi Mona,
Here is a quick translation.
The settlement (NOTE: meaning the Welsh in the Canton area of Baltimore,
Maryland) started in 1845. David W. Davies came here to supervise the
copper works, and he sent for experienced Welshmen as copper smelters from
Swansea and Llanelli D. C. The work was successful until 1850 on the Locus
Point when the company broke up and the work started at Canton. The copper
work at Canton was successful under the supervision of D. W. Davies until
his death, Jan 13, 1854. His brother was chosen as his successor, namely
Daniel Davies, previously of Llwyn Adam near Pontardulais, Glamorgan D. C.
He was a good and religious man. He remained in office until 1864. He was
succeeded in his office by his son Thomas Davies Esq. and he in turn by
Thomas Rees and John T. Rees
So, if any of this sounds familiar to anyone, I would love to exchange information. I will
be coming to Wales in mid-January and will be staying in Bishopstown for about a week.
Diolch yn fawr,
Mona