Edward Giles Roberts family - Machynlleth, Mallwyd, Penegoes and Dinas Mawddwy
Edward G Roberts Journal entry –
“ From the day Captain (Dan) Jones came to Machynlleth, my work, along with Thomas Hughes and David Roberts, in the school on a Sunday morning was to study the Doctrines of the Saints- to read the book of Daniel, Job, Zachariah, Malachi, the Acts of the Apostles and other places so that I could gain a wider understanding of the Doctrines of the Saints. And the three of us came to this conclusion: - that no proper religion existed if it was not connected with the Latter Day Saints”.
Edward Giles Roberts
Edward Giles Roberts was born on the 8th December 1823 in Lon Pen Yr Allt, Machynlleth, which is a small side street off Doll Street. His father was Robert Roberts from Mallwyd, and his mother was Jane Giles of Machynlleth, who was still living at her mother’s house in Pen Yr Allt, Machynlleth, at the time of their marriage in 1820. Robert and Jane were married in Machynlleth.
Edward was the second eldest of seven children, having an older brother John and a younger brother David. The three boys were all born in Lon Pen Yr Allt, but by 1828 the family had moved a mile outside of Machynlleth to a dwelling called Pen Y Bont, Felin Garrig, near Penegoes. (This location is opposite the site of the now Lloyd’s coach park on the edge of Machynlleth). Here, four sisters were born, Susan b.1828, who died aged 2 months, a second sister called Susan b.1830, who died aged 6yrs, Margaret b.1833, and a third sister called Susan b.1837. The two sisters who died young are both buried at Penegoes cemetery.
Edward’s mother Jane died at the Pen Yr Allt address in 1843 when Edward was only 26 yrs old.
In May of 1844, Edward’s family moved back to Machynlleth, only a distance of 1 mile, yet worthy of note in Edward’s journal.
Edward was brought up according to Church of England teachings, but in 1845 he joined himself to the Campbellites and within a week was made a preacher, teaching in Tywyn, Newtown, Llanidloes, even as far as Aberteifi (Cardigan). During 1845 and 1846, Edward’s father Robert purchased a tract from a visiting preacher Captain Dan Jones, a fellow Welshman who was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Captain Dan Jones had been teaching in rooms at the Town Hall in Machynlleth. He was originally from Halkyn on the north Wales coast, and had travelled to the USA as a 16 yr old. There he discovered, and become converted to, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He then returned to Wales to teach his fellow Welshmen. Edward read this tract from Capt Jones many times over and reflected on it much. He became convinced of the truth of the teachings of this church and in February 1846 he was baptised in the River Dyfi at Llyn Craig Y Bwlch, together with his brother David, and a number of other persons from the town.
Shortly after his baptism, Edward was ordained a priest at the hands of Dan Jones and travelled throughout the local area teaching the doctines of his new found faith to “100’s” at Machynlleth, Aberhosan, Melinbyrhedyn, Cwm Llinau, Pennal, Bryn Crug, Llanegryn and Dinas Mawddwy. He kept a fairly detailed journal of his travelling and teachings over the next few years. He went to south Wales for a while in search of work, continuing his efforts of teaching and baptising in Llanybydder, Builth Wells and surrounding areas. He returned to Machynlleth after 3 months and in 1849 and helped set up the Llanbrynmair branch of the Church, spending 22 months living in that town.
Edward’s younger brother David had moved to Abergynolwyn in 1847 and briefly attended the Llanegryn branch of the church before being called as President of the Machynlleth Branch of the church.
In 1849, Edward’s older brother John married Catherine Davies of Pen Isa’r Dre, Dinas Mawddwy at Mallwyd church and they went to live at Pen y Geulan, Dinas Mawddwy.
In April 1850 the Llanbrynmair branch relocated and became the Dinas Mawddwy branch. Edward had been advised by his church leaders to relocate to Dinas Mawddwy, so in May 1850, together with his sister Susan, he left Llanbrynmair and came to Dinas Mawddwy to live. In September 1850, Edward was President of this branch when he oversaw the baptism in November 1850 of Elizabeth Lewis, the daughter of Robert and Margaret Lewis from Tywyn. On 20th November 1852, Edward was married to Elisabeth Lewis at Mallwyd church and from his journal entries we know that their first born child Jane Lewis Roberts was born at 2pm on 23/8/1854 at their address 2 Wylecop Street, Dinas Mawddwy. Here they would also have their second child, Margaret, b. 1857.
Also in 1852, Edward’s older brother John was baptised. He was ordained an elder in the Priesthood later that year. It would appear that he was by that time living in Llanfyllin.
2 High St, Dinas Mawddwy
Edward’s father Robert Roberts died at Mallwyd in January 1849. In his journal, Edward records “At 2:00 Friday afternoon 14 January 1859 death ended his sufferings and his spirit left his ‘earthly tent’. My father was buried 18 January, Tuesday, in the graveyard of Mallwyd, Merionethshire. He was aged 64 years and 10 months and 5 days. My father had been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints for 12 years and 6 months. He was diligent in propagating treatises and he testified to the divinity of our holy religion to hundreds if not thousands of persons – he urged priests and ministers of every religious sect, religious persons and non-religious persons to believe in the son of God and to repent of their sins and to be baptized so that their sins be forgiven and to have the laying of hands and to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit and to flee to Zion to receive redemption when the Lord will pour his punishment on the ungodly.”
Soon after this time, Edward’s brother David then emigrated to USA with his family. He is believed to have spent some time at Brigham City, Utah, before settling at Malad, Idaho, where he married Mary Morgan of Carmarthenshire in 1866. They had six children and he died in1893 aged 67.
Edward Giles Roberts continued to travel and preach throughout Meirionethshire until he finally emigrated to USA in April 1866, with his wife and two daughters, sailing from Liverpool upon the “John Bright”. Having arrived at Missouri, Edward and his family joined other converts and began a treacherous and arduous 5 month journey across the plains to Salt Lake City. They now owned a wagon, horses and a few cows. Their daughter’s were by then aged 9 and 11, and the girl’s journals describe the hardships of the journey, including an attack by native Indians who rained arrows down upon them. Their relief came when they realised that the Indians were only intent on stealing their animals. However, the whole company was now forced to walk the rest of the arduous trail.
After a reunion in Salt Lake City with his brother David, Edward and his family accompanied Edward to Malad, Idaho, and settled there. At first, they lived in a dug-out, until they could finally build a two roomed cabin. There are no further records of Edward’s time in Malad, but both of his daughters married and had families. Edward died there in 1894, just six months after his younger brother David. He had remained faithful in his duties as a member of the Church throughout his time in America.
Many Welsh immigrants settled in Malad, Idaho. Brigham Young, as President of the Church had determined that the Malad Valley should be settled by Welsh saints. To this day there is still an annual Eisteddfod held in Malad each year to commemorate and celebrate their Welsh heritage.
Mary Morgan Roberts in front of her home in Malad, Idaho
Malad Idaho today
Mary Morgan Roberts