Thomas Williams

Findagrave.com: Click on the link below for the family and descendants of Thomas Williams:

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17848742/thomas-williams]

From the book "The Life Of Sarah Williams Perkins" by Alberta Lyman O'Brien.

"About the time Evan Williams had gone to Russia, Thomas, after several covert attempts, succeeded in stowing away on a ship bound for the South Pacific, without his parents' knowledge or consent.

His uncle, Thomas Davies, lived in Queensland, Australia, so that was his destination, being determined never to enter the mines again, as he had been required to do so since he was a young boy. This decision nearly cost him his life, for many months later hos family received a report that his ship had been wrecked in the vicinity of New Zealand, with a great loss of life. However, he and several others managed to cling to floating debris for days, until they were at last rescued and taken to New Zealand. From there, he had made his way to his goal in Queensland, but this traumatic experience had left him with a cough and an eye infection from which he would never fully recover.

Letters, if they were even sent, took about 6 months for delivery, so the years passed with no communication between them, but with the yearning and worry still in the hearts of is family,"

Evan Williams and his family emigrated to Salt Lake City in 1878. They embarked at Liverpool on a tired old steamship called The Nevada on the evening of 25 May 1878. Their first port of call was at Queenstown, Ireland, where they were to take on more passengers. It was not until many months later that they learned their son Thomas had been on a ship which passed them as they were anchored in port, headed to surprise the family in Glamorgan after 7 years' absence. His anticipate happy surprise turned out to be a most disappointing one when he went to the old home and found his family gone. After learning the full story from his aunts, he determined to earn the additional fare as quickly as possible and join them in America.

In the Summer of 1879,Thomas rejoined his family in Utah, US. He joined the family on the journey to San Juan County to help them start a new settlement there. He eventually left the group to return to Cedar City UT.

Marriage: 29 March 1884 Cedar City, Iron, Utah, United States: Annie Christine Anderson (1865-1925)