Person:Rees Lewellyn (1)

A Treasured Bio

In 1960, a granddaughter of Rees Rees and Ann Lewellyn wrote a nine-page biography of them. Her name was Lula Llewellyn Whiting from Rupert, Idaho. This bio is a treasure to those of us who are their posterity. It shows the spirituality of Rees as evidenced by the blessing he gave to Lula when she was a little girl. Their story of the difficult journey across the plains is inspiring. They were in the Bunker Handcart Company of 1856.

This bio is included in the Image section of this Person Page for Rees Rees.

An Insightful 1902 Letter

Also included in the Image section below is a handwritten letter from Rees and Ann's grandson, John Rees(e) Llewellyn when John was in his early years at Brigham Young Academy. It relates the advice Rees gave his grandson.

His "Autobiography"

In 2013, I visited the Overland Travel Database on LDS.ORG and found the page for Rees Rees. It referenced an "autobiogrpahy" of 1891. I received a copy from the LDS Church History Library. The "autobiography" turned out to be something less than complete. It was only a long handwritten paragraph. It may have been in his handwriting. It reads, "After laboring two years as a local missionary [in South Wales, presumably], Immigrated to Utah in 1856. Crossing the ocean on the Samuel Curling and the plains in the Edward Bunker handcart company. Participated in the Echo Canyon War as adjuctant to John D. T. McAllister. Resided in Santaquin until 1860 when he removed to Fountain Green. There he has acted as Postmaster [and] a long time as tithing clerk. President of the Town Council since the town was [unreadable word] incorporated in 1885. Filled a mission to Wales in 1876-77. Served a term in the Utah Legislature in 1884. Also served 18 years as magistrate of Fountain Green.

This Biographical Encyclopedia was a form letter which also included his autograph with ONE L at the beginning. It lists his parentage as Rees Llewellyn and Margaret Williams. Birth: Glamorganshire, South Wales (Aberdare) Sept 23, 1828. Baptism: By David Evans, April 6, 1850. Height 5'6", Weight 200 [pounds]. Complexion light. Color of Hair: dark.

This Biographical Encyclopedia also had a two hand written letters from A.P. Johnson of Huntington, Utah to Andrew Jensen, Historian [presumably of the LDS Church], dated Jan 22, 1925. The letters "obliged" the historian to include Rees and Ann Lewellyn as handcart veterans. Both the Bio and the two letters are scanned and included on this person page for Rees, as "Autobiography of Rees Rees Llewellyn in 1891".

Robert N. Llewellyn, Sr September 14, 2013 [Great, great grandson of Rees and Ann]

A Beautiful Obiturary

Rees Rees' obiturary ran in the Desert Evening News on Wednesday, July 19, 1905:

"On July 12th, 1905, the body of Rees R. Llewellyn was laid to rest in Fountain Green, Utah. His was a busy and useful life. He was born Sept 23, 18xx in Aberdare, Glamorgenshire, South Wales, Great Britain. Married Ann Llewellyn in 185x. Left Wales in 1856 for Utah under Capt. Dan Jones to Iowa City and thence in handcart company under Capt. Edward Bunker to Salt Lake City. He acted as clerk for the company. Arrived Salt Lake City October 2, 1856. Went to Santaquin and lived with B. F. Johnson about two years.His faithful wife accompanied him in this trying journey from native land to Zion. While living at Santaquin, he was called to take part in the Echo Canyon War. He came to Fountain Green in the fall of 1859 and moved his wife and child in March 1860. At this place he lived the rest of his life except the summer of 1866 when the people of this place moved to Moroni because of Indian troubles. He died July 10, 1905.

"He leaves his wife and seven of his children, an adopted Indian girl and hosts of friends and relatives to mourn his absence. The result of his marriage is 11 children, four of whom have gone before, 68 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

"Rees R. Llewellyn was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints April 7th, 1850 at Dowlas, South Wales. He was ordained a Priest May 1st, 1851, an Elder July 7th same year, a Seventy May 17th 1857 in the forty-sixth quorum, High Priest November 29th 1891.

"Before leaving his native land, he travelled preaching the Gospel for about two years.In 1875-6-7, he filled a mission again in the land of his birth. At home, he filled many positions of trust, both ecclesiastical and civil. Besides other positions, he was justice of the peace for 15 years, postmaster for 28 years, tithing cleark for 20 years; a term in the territorial legislature in the eighties.

"He became counselor to the ward Bishop in 1891 and acted as such until about four years ago when he resiged on account of failing health. For the last six months of his life, he suffered very much but he always had an abiding faith in the Gospel.

"At his funeral services, President Lewis Anderson, Bishop William H. Davis, Nathaniel Edmunds, Henry D. Reed, W. D. Livingston, James Aagard, Sister Polly A. Johnson, and Dishop C. J. E. Christensen spoke feelingly of the nobel traits and useful life of the deceased."

An Unusual Spelling: "Lewellyn"

Rees and his immediate family used an unusual spelling of their surname for both the 1880 and 1900 census. "Lewellyn" is an uncommon way to spell it in Wales. Llewellyn was the first prince of Wales in the 1200's. His son was Griffith ap Llewellyn. His son was Llewellyn ap Griffith. "Ap" means "son of" in Welsh. There is little chance that Rees Rees or Ann were related to Welsh Royalty. When the people of Wales started using surnames, many picked royalty. We are of proud Welsh coal mining heritage and that probably is about it.

"Double L" in Welsh is a single letter. It is pronounced as a "KL". So our name is Welsh sounds like "KLu-ellen". The last "double-L" is usually not with KL, but just and normal "L" sound.

However, when Rees Rees' obiturary was written, the writer used the Double-L at the beginning. Apparently by then, Rees Rees had adopted the traditional "Ll" format of his native land. Furthermore, his grave in Fountain Green, Utah uses 'Llewellyn'.

As visit to a telephone book in Wales shows there are many different ways to spell our name: Llewellyn, Llewelyn, Llewellen, Llywellyn, Llywellen and so forth. But all of them begin with Double L. Why Rees Rees used a single L will need to be researched by others.

Bob Llewellyn, Great Great Grand Son of Rees Rees and Ann Llewellyn

Image:Bio of Rees and Ann Lewellyn by Lula Llewellyn Whiting.pdfImage:Rees' Spelling of His Name (only 3 L's).pdfImage:Lewellyn Rees and Ann Family 1880 Census.pdf

Image:Rees Rees and Ann Photo with Child.pdfImage:Dr John R to Rees Rees 1902.pdf

Image:Autobiography of Rees Rees Llewellyn in 1891.pdf