The following article appeared in the Monday, 22 Aug 1887 edition of the Wilkes-Barre (PA)
Record newspaper. If you would like a copy of this obituary, please send me your mailing
address.
"Mrs. Rachel Theophilus, the mother of Senator Morgan B. Williams, died at Nanticoke
on Friday last at noon, after an illness of about one month. She was born in Rhandirmwyn,
Carmarthenshire, South Wales, in 1811, and was consequently 70 years of age. Mrs.
Theophilus was twice married, and was the mother of nine children, eight by her first and
one by her second husband. She has been a widow for thirty years. Her surviving children
by the first husband, William Williams, whom she married in 1828, are Senator M.B.
Williams, of this city; Daniel Williams, a contractor and builder at Scranton; a sister
who resides in Somersetshire, England; William J.P. Williams, formerly of this city, but
now of Neutral Strip, New Mexico; Mrs. Daniel W. Evans, of Nanticoke, with whom Mrs.
Theophilus lived. Timothy Theophilus is the only child by the second marriage, and is a
tunnel contractor, lives in this city, but is now on a visit to Wales. His father was
William Theophilus and he ma!
rried deceased in 1841.
"Mrs. Theophilus had the advantage of having an early religious training, and had
been from childhood connected with religious organizations. At the time of her death she
was a member in good standing in the Welsh Presbyterian Church in this city. During her
entire life in Wales she resided in the same house in Pentwyn for a period of fifty-five
years. Since she came to this city from Wales about five years ago she had not been in
good health, and during the last three years had been obliged to keep in the house except
in pleasant weather. She will be buried to-day. Services will be held at Nanticoke at
the house of D.W. Evans, the funeral cortege leaving for Wilkes-Barre in carriages about 1
o'clock. The interment will be in Hollenback cemetery."
Nancy Cook
Pasadena, MD, USA