| Evans from Wales Back to Contents I received this eight generations Evans genealogy entitled, "Evans From Wales" from Kathy Dix. It had been sent by Larry Golden to the Evans Maillist. First generation begins with Howel of Merionethshire, Wales who was born ca1550, includes the family of David Evans and Mary Jones. The branch of this family that left Wales and settled in Pennsylvania ca 1683, were members of the Tyddyn y Garreg Meeting of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. Generation No. 1 Generation No. 2 i. Evan William Powel, born ca 1611 in on family estate in Parish of Llanvachreth, Talybont, Merionethshire, Wales; died 1684 in at sea on voyage to Pennsylvania. ii. John William. (Nothing more known.) Generation No. 3 He signed a Certificate of Membership for Elizabeth Humphrey of Llanegrin, Merioneth, widow. Dated 27 5mo 1683. From Merioneth Quarterly Meeting. He signed as Evan Will Powel. Also signed was David Evans. Evan William Powel, of the parish of Llanvachreth, gentleman, (alias Evan William and Evan ap William. Deed 30, 31 July 1682 for land in Pennsylvania. (Deed Book C.I. 252 Phila.) Sailed for Pennsylvania1684. Letters of Attorney, dated 27 July 1683, Evan ap William, of Llanvachraeth, co. Merioeth, and David Evans of the same place, to John Roberts, of Llangian, co., Carnarvon, to take possession of 312 1/2 acres of land in Pennsylvania. According to some data that was collected for COL DUDLEY EVANS, President of Wells Fargo Express Company at the time of his death in 1910, it appears that "In more, or less direct descent from Gruffydd Derwess was Evans William Powell (or Howell, for these names were interchangeable in Wales), born, in the Parish of Llanvareth Merionethshire, about 1610, styled in the public records.-as "Gentleman", who having for some years been convinced of the truth as preached by the Society of Friends, became a Quaker and decided to remove to the New World." "The Friends endured severe persecutions under Cromwell and afterwards under Charles II, and many families had already left home and country for the sake of religious freedom. William Penn's Colony in Pennsylvania, known as the Great Welsh Tract, was the objective point of their pilgrimage, and we read that in 1683, Evan William Howell (Or Powell) purchased from Richard Davis one hundred fifty-six and a quarter acres of land in the Colony of 'Pennsylvania. His sons bought an equal amount of land there, and in a short time the family set sail for America. There were in this family: EVAN WILLIAM POWELL, about seventy-three years old; Gwenn, his wife; David his oldest son, about forty years old; Gainor, his wife; David's two children, under age; Philip, youngest son of Evan William Powell." According to tho Quaker custom they received a CERTIFICATE of character from the home Meeting, which reads as follows: "The Certificate of Removal of Evan ap William Howell (alias Howell) 1683 To all People whom these may concern, Whereas Evan ap William Powell late inhabitant in the Pariah of Llanvachrreth in the County of Merioneth in North Wales, together with his wife Gwen, his two Sons David & Philip also his daughter in law Gainor with her two small children are all upon their removal (the Lord makeing their way thereunto) from their native Country in North Wales aforsd unto the Province of Pennsylvania in America; and Whereas Likewise many leave been Known to transport themselves upon the acct. of their Evill doeingds, as theft murther, Debts or running away in passionate discontentedness with parents, wives or the like; Therefore we thought it, our duty to Certify of this family as follows: As in our relation to ye sd, Evan ap William,, Yt is Known & reputed among all sorts of people of his acquaintance to be an honest plain man, fearing God & Zealous of Good Works, not Given to Covetiousness, inclinable to deeds of Charity upon all just occasion, upon wch. Acct. Otherwise minded people took occasion to Call him a , Quaker for above 30 years past; And his conversation since hath been onest & Savory in soo much yt his wife, Gwen came to be like minded, and of a good example to her children and others, by wch means alsoo their children came to be affected with truth inocency & an inocent Conversation to this day. And Whereas Alsoe David Evans is now married we doe certify yt he was careful in his choice of an honest woman yt feared God & walked blamelessly & lived in love &,unity with those yt are honest, as Alsoo with one another; And of Philip we doe certify yt he doth hath carried himself amongst us as became ye Gospell of peace & Salvation. And yt his departure from us Is both in unity & amnity, & a clean Single man from being intangled either by word Covenant or any other obligation with any woman kind, as in relation to marriage, or from being spotted with any defamation, otherwise for all yt we Know or heard of: this we thoughit fitt to recommend unto ye testimony of your truly loving Friends: (signed) Owen Humphrey From Tyddyn y Garreg Mtg. Children of Evan Powel and Gwen are: ii. Philip Evans, born in Parish of Llanvachreth, Merionethshire, Wales; died dsp bef. 28 Dec 1693, Pennsylvania. He married Sarah Thomas 1690 in Merion, Welsh Tract, Pennsylvania. Generation No. 4 Children of David Evans and Mary Jones are: [Note: Mark A. English provides birthdates for most of the above children on his website and states that Gwen, Margaret and Sarah were daughters of Gainor.] Generation No. 5 The only child of whom I am aware of John Evans and Margaret _______ is..... John Evans, born 09 Dec 1737. Generation No. 6 Revolutionary war pension records state that he was born December 7, 1738 in Fairfax County Virginia. He moved at age 13 to Louden Co, Virginia and then in 1770 to Monongalia County, Va, where he entered the service in 1778. The deed record books of Lauden County have numerous mentions to John Evans as a witness and other minor records. Recorded in Louden County Deed Book F, at pages 310-312 is an interesting Bill of sale from John Evans to Charles Binns dated November 28, 1767 and recorded May 9, 1768. This would have been just before he moved to Monongalia County. "Know all men.... I John Evans of County Louden and Colony of Virginia in consideratio sum Six pounds, Two shillings and Six pence half penny current money to me in hand paid by Charles Binns of county and Colony aforesaid...do bargain and sell all the goods and chattels mentioned in a schedual hereunder annexed... November 28, 1767. Schedule At a court held 9th May 1768.. Bill of Sale proved... ordered to be Children of John Evans and Rebecca Martin are: Generation No. 7 Children of Dudley Evans and Anarah Williams are: John W. "Capt. Jack" Evans was born 31 Jul 1768 in Fort Cumberland, Virginia (now Cumberland, Md.), and died 19 May 1849 in Monongahela County, Virginia. He married Gilly Coleman Strother 20 Nov 1800 in Culpepper County, Virginia, daughter of French Strother and Lucy Coleman. Children of John Evans and Gilly Strother are: Generation No. 8 The following record in "War of 1812: Virginia Bounty Land & Pension Applications" could very well be this guy (then again maybe not!): 1835 - October 12, 1835. Listed as the purchaser of land in presumably Washington County, Ohio. Two separate transactions on the same day. One for R07,T04, S30 and the other for R07, T05, S25. At the time of the purchase his residence as Monongalia County, Virginia. 1836 - He moved from Monongalia County to what became Elk Township, Noble County, Ohio. 1839 -July 30, 1839. Listed as purchaser of land in Washington County, Ohio R07, T04, S30. Note the previous transaction in 1835. 1860 - Census - Elk Twp, Noble County, Ohio. Pg 379, line 10, house 1736. He is listed John Evans, 69m, farmer owning land and born in Virginia. He is listed with his wife Nancy, 66 born in Md. There is another group of Evans living with them: Dudley Evans 26 m Va Children of John Evans and Nancy Wells are: |