Rachel Davies (Rahel o Fôn)

Rachel Davies ("Rahel o Fôn"; 25 August 1846 – 29 November 1915) was a Welsh-born lecturer and evangelist preacher who emigrated to the United States. She was the first woman minister ordained in the state of Wisconsin.[1] Rahel o Fôn is the Welsh Bardic name for "Rachel of Anglesey".

Rachel Paynter Davies
Rachel Evans Paynter Davies "Rahel o Fôn" circa 1870
Born
Rachel Evans Paynter

25 August 1846
Born most likely near Brynsiencyn, Anglesey, Wales
Died29 November 1915 (1915-11-30) (aged 69)
Resting placeWatertown, Wisconsin
NationalityWales
OccupationPreacher and theologian
Known forFirst woman minister ordained in the state of Wisconsin
Spouse(s)Edward Davies
ChildrenAnnie Davies
Joseph E. Davies

She started preaching with the Baptists at the age of 20. She was later invited on a preaching tour of the United States and when living in Ixonia, Wisconsin she joined the Calvinistic Methodists. While in Wisconsin, she met and married Edward Davies, a prosperous wagonmaker who had emigrated to Watertown, Wisconsin from Tregaron, Wales. After her husband died, she was ordained a minister at the age of 44, and carried on preaching all her life.[2]

She returned to Wales for a period and lived at her sister's home Cefn Derwen, Anglesey across from Caernarfon Castle. At one time she gave some assistance to David Lloyd George in his electoral campaign.[3]

She died 29 November 1915 in Washington, D.C. at her son's home and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Watertown, Wisconsin. A 50 ft stained glass window given in her memory by her son, Joseph E. Davies, can be seen at the Washington National Cathedral.

Culture

A theatrical play about her life, Rahel o Fôn.[4] was written by Emily Sprague Wurl.[5] It won first prize in the Wisconsin Centennial Playwriting Contest in 1948.[6]

Family

She was the daughter of William Cox Paynter, and his wife Jane Mary Williams of Llanfihangel-y-pennant, Caerns.[7] She married in the United States to Edward Davies, a native of Cardiganshire. Her son, Joseph Edward Davies, was the second Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union as well as U.S. Ambassador to Belgium before World War II.

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References
  1. Rev. Rachel Davies. In Ken Riedl, (ed.). History of Watertown, Wisconsin.
  2. Boskenna and the Paynters by Jim Hosking ISBN 0-9501296-4-X (page 11)
  3. https://biography.wales/article/s-DAVI-RAC-1846?query=llanfihangel&field=content
  4. Rahel O’Fôn, The Play, 1947
  5. Robert Edward Gard Grassroots theater: a search for regional arts in America
  6. From the archives of her great grand daughter, Mia Grosjean.
  7. https://biography.wales/article/s-DAVI-RAC-1846
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