DAVIES, RACHEL (Rahel o Fôn; 1846 - 1915), lecturer and preacher

Born in Anglesey (?), daughter of William Cox Paynter, of the parish of Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Caernarfonshire, and his wife Jane Mary (Williams), Cae Eithin Tew, Cwmystradllyn, Caernarfonshire. (Some of the forebears of her father had been customs officers at Minffordd and Llanfrothen, Merioneth, and at Portmadoc, Caernarfonshire). When she was young she lived for a time at Brynsiencyn, Anglesey. She began to preach with the Baptists. About the year 1865 she came into some prominence as a public lecturer in various parts of Wales on the subject of religious unbelief; she also caused concern among some Baptists because she, a woman, preached from their pulpits. Shortly after 1866 she emigrated to the U.S.A., and whilst she lived in Ixonia she joined the Calvinistic Methodist connexion (Blackwell says 'the Independents'). She preached often in various places in the state of Ohio c. 1871. She returned to Wales for a period and lived at Dwyran, Anglesey; at this time she gave some assistance to David Lloyd George in his electoral campaign. She married, in the U.S.A., Edward Davies, a native of Cardiganshire; and died 29 November 1915.

Author

• Robert (Bob) Owen, (1885 - 1962)

Sources

• Information from her son Joseph E. Davies and from papers belonging to the writer
• parish registers of Llanfrothen and Llanfihangel-y-pennant
• Dros Gyfanfor a Chyfandir sef hanes taith o Gymru at lanau y Mor Tawelog ac yn ol trwy brif dalaethau a thiriogaethau yr Undeb Americanaidd (Aberystwyth 1883), 69
• H. Blackwell, NLW MSS 9251-9277A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• Yr Herald Cymraeg, 1865-6
• The Druid, 15 December 1915

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Rachel Davies

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q7279216

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/