John WAYLETT

                   William Henry Waylett was born on 13 February 1826 in Lambeth, London, the son of John and Eleanor Maria Waylett.l  John Waylett was a native of Manchester and is described variously in Parish Registers and Census Returns as "Gentleman" and as "Independent Minister."  On the death of her husband in 1834 Eleanor Maria came, with her four children, to reside with her parents, William and Deborah Owen(s) of Cefn Isaf, Llanddulas.  William Henry Waylett resided at Cefn Isaf, Dolwen, Abergele, Denbighshire in 1834 until he sailed on the ship Jersey on the 5th of February 1853 bound for New Orleans.  He came as a chld with his mother and three siblings to reside at Cefn Isaf the home of his grandparents. (Mother's parents were of Welsh origins William & Deborah Owen).

He states on the 1851 Census that his occupatin was a Collier.  The possibility is that he worked as a moner in eithr the limestone quarry at Tan y Goppa (Abergele) or in the lead mines also in Tan y Goppa, near Tan'rallt Bach.  He would have known Sarah Williams his future wife as she worked and lived in YrAllt, Tan y Goppa, Aberglee and owuld probably have met with her as he waled to work and also at Church meetins which were held at the meeting house in Chapel Street, Abergele (now The Bull Hotel).  

William Henry Walylett was baptized a Mormon by Bernard Parry [his brother-in-law, married to William Henry Waylett's sister, Ann Deborah] of Abergele and became a member of the fledgling Church in that town.  He emigrated to Utah together with twelve others from Aberglee led by Edward Parry.  This contingent from Abergele, part of a larger party of 314 Saints, sailed from Liverpool aboard the ship JERSEY on 5 February 1853 bound for New Orleans.  They arrived at that port on 21 March after a voyage of almost seven weeks to find that cholera was raging in the town.  They thereupon transferred their gaggage on to a river steamer for the long journey up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Keokuk in Iowa.  There they outfitted to join the Joseph W. Young wagon train to cross the plains.  Leaving Keokuk on 3 June the part arived safely at Salt Lake City after facing great difficulties  and much hardship on 10 October 1853. ( from "William Henry Waylett" by R. Fred Roberts)

William is listed as a single man on the pasenger list of the ship but was apparently married on board during the voyage.  His bride was Sarah, the 17 year old daughter of Rice Williams, a nailer of Peel Street, Abergele, and his wife Leah, who were also to emigrate at a later date.  The newly wedded pair settled into obscurity in Salt Lake City later moving to live in Malad, Idaho, where there was a thriving Welsh community.  However in 1863 William Henry Wylett returned to Wales on Church buiness and was then elected President of the Welsh Mission 1864-1865.  He died at Malad, Idaho, ages 53 on 17 october 1879.