William Evans

 

This blog has been written with the help of the Directory of Welsh Biography

William Evans was born on 31^st October 1869, in Landore, Swansea, son of Thomas and Mary Evans.  Thomas was a mine owner, and Mary belonged to the same Sunday School, as Griffith John.

1871 Census, William, 1, the youngest son was residing at 1 Mysydd Terrace.  Thomas, 45, Over Man. Mary, 43.  Other siblings were Martha, 19; Edward, 13, Collier; Morgan, 10; Thomas, 7, both attended school, and Catherine, 3.

1871 Census

Rehoboth Congregational Chapel,
Brynmawr

William’s eldest brother, David, who at the time of the 1871 Census would have been 22, had been ordained as a minister at Rehoboth Congregational Chapel, Brynmawr.

William was privately educated at a school run by W. S. Jenkins. Following this, William attended St. Helen’s Road Board School. 1881 Census, William, 11 is still a scholar, resident at 32 Mysydd Terrace., with his widowed mother, Mary, 53.  Also present is his older brother, Edward, 23, a Civil Engineer, and older and younger sisters, Mary Jane, 8, and Martha Davies, 29, and her husband, Oliver, 30 who is employed as Tin Works Rollerman.

1881 Census

On completing his education, William was employed as a weigher at his father’s mine, before apprenticed as a chemist.  The 1891 Census records that William, 21, is resident at 96 Pentre, with his mother Mary, 63, employed as a Green Grocer. William is employed as an Agent for the Insurance, and a younger sister, Mary Jane, 19, a Dress Maker.  Also present is a servant. Elizabeth Davies, 22.

1891 Census

G. Pennar Griffiths

Watcyn Wyn

William began preaching under the ministry of G. Pennar Griffiths before he was a student at Watcyn Wyn’s Gwynfryn School, Ammanford. William then went to Plymouth College.

1898, the London Missionary School, accepted William to serve in Madagascar.  The following year, 1899, was ordained at Siloam, Pentre-esyll, Swansea. Before leaving for Madagascar, William married Margaret Williams, daughter of Rev. R. E. Williams, minister of Ynyslwyd Chapel, Aberdare.

At the end of 1899, having arrived in Madagascar, William was appointed minister of Ambatonakanga, the capital, at a church that was established by David Jones, of Neuadd-lwd.  William spent his career serving the churches in Ambatonakanga, which number 57 at one time.

Madagascar became a dangerous place during the rebellions of 1900-1901 when many Christians and some missionaries were murdered.  Following this rebellion, William became successful.

William mastered the language; he was invited by the United College to train preachers in oratory, this was in addition to his work for the London Missionary Society, where he was director of the Imerina Church. William was also successful with outstanding work, bringing order to life of churches young in faith.

In June 1914, Margaret Williams died.  William married the second time, in August 1918, Phoebe Joyce Hall, a native of Penarth.

From 1913 onwards, William carried out important work as secretary of the Intermissionary Congress of Protestant Missions.

1939 Register

William retired at the end of 1939 as a missionary, at the outbreak of the Second World War, when the 1939 Register was published, William and Phoebe were residing at 119 Holtfash Road, Sutton Coalfield.  William’s occupation is recorded as Minister of Religion (Ret.)

1^st July 1948, William died and is buried at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel.