DAVIES
,
REES
(
DWB
, 147).
The ‘
Cromindee
’ (‘
Comb du
’) Congregation and the later (
1744
) ‘
Hanover
’ Congregation were one and the same (
Isaac
Thomas
in
Y Cofiadur
,
1958
, 12-13).
Corrections and additions:
DAVIES
,
REES
(
1694?
-
1767
),
Independent minister
;
b. in
Cardiganshire
; according to a letter of his (
Trevecka letter 100
,
20 August 1737
) to
Howel
Harris
, he was ‘kinsman’ to
Evan
Davies
(
1694?
-
1770
) (q.v.)
,
tutor
of
Carmarthen
. At a date unknown to us, he transferred his church membership from
Crug-y-maen, Cards.
, to
Abergavenny
. In
Dr.
John
Evans
's lists of
1718
, a ‘
Rice
Davies
’ appears as
minister
of an unidentified place called ‘
Cromindee
,’ but by
1724
Rees
Davies
was
minister
of the congregation at
Goitre
which in
1744
removed to a new chapel in
Llanover
parish, patriotically called ‘
Hanover
.’
Davies
is said to have been well-to-do (he certainly m. well) and well educated. His letter to
Howel
Harris
shows kindly feeling towards
Harris
and towards
Griffith
Jones
of
Llanddowror
; but the frequent (and acid) references to him in the diaries of
Philip
David
of
Penmain
(q.v.)
show clearly that he was no ‘enthusiast,’ indeed was an exceedingly ‘dry’ man, and on indifferent terms with his fellow-ministers. In
Philip
David
's words, ‘he preached his chapel empty’ but he endowed it well. He d.
Sept. 1767
, aged 73;
Philip
David
officiated at his funeral at
Hanover
,
22 Sept.
Bibliography:
-
Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru
, i, 32-3, 39;
-
manuscript diaries of
Philip David
.
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D.,
F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor
