Friday, January 28, 2011

24-William and 25-Mary Mead Rex. Part 1.


24 - William Rex
b. 19 Aug 1817, Upton-Noble, Somerset
p. John Rex, Ann Osland
m. Mary Mead Rex, 12 Nov 1842
d. 7 Apr 1852, St. Louis Missouri







25 - Mary Mead Rex
b.
17 Nov 1813, Charleston, Hawthorne, Somerset, England
p. Meshack Mead, Betty (Elizabeth) Fox
m. William Rex, 12 Nov 1842
d. 20 Dec 1899, Randolph, Utah






Mary had her share of joys and sorrows but she bore them all with calmness and fortitude.

William was the sixth of eight children born to John Rex, a mason, and Ann Osland Rex. Mary was one of five children born to Meshack Mead, a sieve maker, and Betty (Elizabeth) Fox Mead.

William and Mary were married November 21, 1842 in the Union Chapel at Sherborne, Dorset, England. They were early converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. William was baptized February 10, 1849, and Mary was baptized on August 2, 1849. That year William wrote in his journal, opened my house for preaching. His sister Sarah was also baptized.

On December 17, 1849 Elder E. Hanham wrote: I now leave Sherborne after walking nearly one thousand miles for the salvation of this people. Since June 15, 1849, having been presiding Elder over this place since that period. I have succeeded in getting, by the assistance of others, Brother Rex not being least; eleven to be baptized, one of whom is cut off. But I think the Gospel standard is so well planted here that many will obey the Gospel ere long. My prayer to Israel’s God is that the few who have obeyed the Gospel may prosper, and become exceeding great. Yea, that the little one may become a thousand, and the great one a strong nation! I now leave my blessing on them and say, 'Be ye blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, and may ye prosper according to your well doing.' I remain your brother in the bonds of the New and Everlasting Covenant.

William Rex was ordained an Elder on December 23, 1849, and placed over the branch at Sherborne.

On October 2, 1850 William and Mary Mead Rex departed Liverpool, England on the emigrant ship James Pennell. Part of a company of 254 souls under the direction of Christopher Layton, they are listed on the ships passenger list with their children, and their birth years. William was 33 years old and Mary was 37, their children, Thomas John,7, William, 6, Charles, 4, Alfred George, 2, and 5-month old Florence Celeste who had been born earlier that year on May 5, 1850.

According to the Millennial Star, Vol XIII, page 9, their trip was an ordinary passage.

The materials for these posts are from Helen Rex Frazier's collection of history of her great grandparents, William and Mary Mead Rex. Much now appears in History, Descendants and Ancestory of William Rex and Mary Elizabeth Brough of Randolph, Utah, compiled and edited by Ronald Dee Rex, 1999. James Pannell voyage notes are from FamilySearch Mormon Immigration Index (50174) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000 edition. The cover page, pictured beneath, was written and compiled by her Aunt Edna Brown Rex.
To be continued ...

3 comments:

  1. Crazy, I had just recently been thinking that we didn't know the actual conversion story for our ancestors. Guess I was wrong.

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  2. Crazy is right. Christopher Layton is Bob's great great grandfather on his mother's mother's side.

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  3. Flora Lee, I find this amazing! Someone in a DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) meeting last year suggested we see if we can find other camp or company members, who are descended from earlier company members, who emigrated together. You just did it within the Rex family. Thank you!

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