PARCH. REES DAVIES, FOREST HILL, UTICA, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Yn y DRYCH, Rhagfyr 16eg, gwnaed crybwylliad am farwolaeth tra sydyn y Parch. Rees Davies, boreu y 14eg o'r un mis, yn 61 mlwydd oed.Claddwyd ef y dydd Gwener canlynol, pryd yr ymgynullodd un o'r torfaoedd mwyaf a welwyd ers llawer o amser i'r angladd. Cyn cychwyn y corff o'r tŷ, darllenodd a gweddiodd y Parch. David T. Davies, yna aed i addoldy y Trefnyddion Esgobawl ar heol South, a chyflawnwyd y gwasanaeth angladdol, drwy ddarllen, gweddio, a llefaru gan y Parchn. William O. Williams (Gwilym o Fôn), Humphrey Humphreys, a dau o weinidogion Seisonig. Wedi hyny cychwynodd yr arwyl am gladdfa Forrest Hill, lle rhoddwyd gweddillion yr ymadawedig i dawel orphwys, ar ôl bywyd llafurus a diwyd.
Ganwyd y Parch. Mr. Davies mewn lle o'r enw Pontyfylindra, ar yr hen ffordd o'r Towyn i Abergynolwyn, Meirionydd, Gogledd Cymru, ac o fewn haner milltir i Bryn Crug, plwyf Towyn, yn y flwyddyn 1814.
Ei dad oedd Joseph Davies, mab ieuangaf Dafydd Llywelyn, Cyrgenau, lle heb fod yn mhell o Ddolgellau. Pan oedd tua 18 mlwydd oed cymerwyd ef yn egwyddorwas i ddysgu y gelfyddyd o saer coed gyda Mr. Humphrey Jones, yr hwn hefyd oedd yn bregethwr cynorthwyol gyda'r Wesleyaid, a thad y Parch. John Jones, Racine, Wisconsin. Symudodd Mr. Davies oddicartref pan oedd tuag ugain oed, ac aeth i Dredegar, Deheudir Cymru, lle bu dros enyd o amser. Ar ôl dychwelyd, ymsefydlodd yn Llanfaircaereinion, ac yno y priododd. Symudodd yn ôl drachefn i Dredegar, ac yn fuan dechreuodd breg ethu. Bu yno dros ysbaid o amser y tro hwn, ond symudodd eilwaith i Lanfaircaereinion, lle yr arhosodd hyd nes yr ymfudodd i America yn 1844.
Ymsefydlodd yn Utica, a bu ef ac eraill yn foddion i sefydlu achos Wesleyaidd Cymreig yn y ddinas. Wedi trigianu tua blwyddyn yn y ddinas, symudodd i Trenton, swydd Oneida, lle yr oedd achos gan yr enwad y perthynai iddo. Cafodd ei ordeinio i gyflawn waith y weinidogaeth yn fuan, a llafuriodd gyda sel a diwydrwydd mawr yn Sixty, Steuben, a lleoedd eraill. Yn y cyfamser, symndodd i Utica, lle y llafuriodd hyd ddydd ei farwolaeth. Ni welodd ond caledwaith ar hyd ei oes, a hyny o wirfodd ei galon; a thrwy ei ddiwydrwydd anarferol, casglodd swm mawr o eiddo i adael i'w weddw a'i amddifaid.
Y Drych ~ 1af Ionawr 1876.
PARCH. REES DAVIES, FOREST HILL, UTICA, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Our citizens were startled yesterday morning by a report, which proved well founded, that Rees Davis had died suddenly, Monday ... Coroner Hunt did not deem an inquest necessary.Mr. Davis' health was generally very good, but he was occasionally subject to severe attacks of coughing, accompanied with great pain. He had one of these spells last Thursday evening, which may have something to do with his death. The recurrence of these attacks seemed to have impressed themselves upon his mind, so as to induce a premonition of sudden death, so he had often remarked that it would not be accompanied with much sickness.
Mr. Davis was born near Towyn, Merionethshire, North Wales. He came to this country about twenty-seven years ago, and has worked in the carpenter shop of the Central railroad for twenty years, of which he has been foreman for about twelve years. He was upright and conscientious in all his intercourse with others, and much respected by all who knew him. Though known of late as a worthy citizen who followed a secular calling, in other years he has labored zealously in preaching the Gospel, organizing churches, and supplying those that were too feeble to support stated pastors. In his youth he united with the Wesleyans, and commenced to preach at Llanfair.
After his arrival in this city, he was one of those who organized the Welsh M. E. Church, supplied the pulpit gratuitously in order that the young society might meet its pecuniary obligations, and gave time and labor to solicit contributions towards paying for the church edifice. Since the church has secured the services of stated pastors, Mr. Davis has continued to be an active member, supplying the pulpit when there was call for it, and giving help and encouragement not only to this church, but to all the benevolent, religious and literary movements among the Welsh people.
In the pulpit, he was an exceptionally earnest and impressive speaker, and very many of those who heard him, have expressed regret that he did not devote himself wholly to that work. Mr. Davis leaves a wife and three sons, all grown to man's estate. They have the sympathy of our whole community in their sudden bereavement.
Morning Herald and Daily Gazette (Utica, NY), Wednesday, December 15, 1875.
REES DAVIS, FOREST HILL, UTICA, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
I Rees Davis of the City of Utica in the County of Oneida and State of New York, being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say.First. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas the sum of two thousand dollars.
Second. I give and bequeath unto my son David the sum of two thousand dollars.
Third. I give and bequeath unto my son William the sum of two thousand dollars.
The above legacies I hereby direct to be paid to my said sons on William arriving at the age of twenty one years of age and not before.
Fourth. The rest residue and remainder of my property both real and personal I hereby give and devise unto my wife Mary forever and she is to have the use of the six thousand dollars above given and bequeathed to my three sons until my son William arrives at the age of twenty one years of age. And I hereby appoint her the sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.
Fifth. If myself and wife should depart this life before we return from Great Britain where we now contemplate going then my son David is to receive five hundred dollars a year out of my estate from the date of this instrument for the purpose of aiding him to complete and finish his education.
The rest and residue of the annual income of my estate my son William is to receive until he arrives at the age of twenty one years.
Sixth. Should there be any portion of my estate in existence at the death of my said wife and the same should be undivided by her that same., I hereby give and devise unto my three sons and their heirs share and share alike.
Lastly. Should my wife depart this life before my son William arrives at full age then I hereby appoint my son David and my friend Griffith J. Griffiths the Executors after the decease of my said wife.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of September 1871.
Rees Davis.
The foregoing instrument was at the date thereof, signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Rees Davis as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Peter Davis residing at Utica in Oneida County.
David J. Davies residing at Utica in Oneida County.