Translated from Welsh
MEMORANDUM BOOK OF ELDER THOMAS ROBERTS
I was born in the parish of Llangyfelach [North of Swansea], County of Glamorgan, December 24, 1829. I grew and was nurtured by my kind Father and Mother until I was 10 years of age. In the year 1840, I lost my Father by death which caused great sorrow and grief in our family. Eight children were left fatherless, but although we lost our earthly Father, we had our Heavenly Father to care for us, and in those trying ordeals, I began to think of the Great Beyond and these feelings stirred me to go to Sunday School to learn to read. As it happened, it was the Baptist denomination. I joined this religion, and remained a full member for two years, until I was nearly 14 years old. It was just about this time that I heard the everlasting gospel preached by one of the Latter Day Saints by the name of Hopkin Mathews who came to our neighborhood. He made quite a stir there. The elder told the people that he knew the Lord had sent him to warn them and to get them to yield obedience to the doctrines that he set forth. He told them and promised them in the name of Jesus Christ that whosoever would obey his teachings and the testimony he bore to them, they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Shortly after this, Brother Abel Evans came to our town to preach. He showed us the difference between the Baptist religion and the religion of Jesus Christ from the New Testament standpoint. I believed his strong testimony there and then and went down into the waters of Baptism and was Baptized by him on the 17th. November, 1844. I was baptized about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, went to the evening meeting at 7 o'clock and when Brother Evans laid his hands upon my head I received the Holy Spirit which caused more joy in my heart than ever I experienced before. For this I thanked the Lord many times that I had become a Latter Day Saint and left the Baptist religion in my early manhood.
The Baptists came to be bitter enemies to the Latter Day Saints. The more they raged against the Saints, the more I felt to learn and read their doctrines. The first I heard of their bitterness was from a man by the name of Thomas Davis, a Baptist preacher, about the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith, in 1844; but Oh, what love and sympathy I had for them when I heard of the tragedy from their enemies. They were accused of all manner of wrong doings but through it all, I felt good to read and ponder over their religious readings. Their doctrines were always a sweet morsel to my soul. But I am forgetting myself, forgetting many things that happened in the year 1847; the death of Evan and William, my brothers. Evans was 22 when he died and was a faithful Saint in Cwmbychan Branch. William was only 10 years old when he died from smallpox. Both died from the effects of smallpox which caused great sorrow to my old Mother who died in the year 1849 at the age of 55 years, a faithful Saint in the Treboeth Branch and was buried where my Fathers and my Brothers were, in Llangyfelach grave yard, County of Glamorgan. I was left with my two sisters, Fatherless and Motherless and I went to live with my sister Ann who was the wife of Joseph Mathews. Her husband was the president of Treboeth Branch. My other sister went to live out in service.
I continued preaching in the neighborhood and distributing out our literature for Captain Dan Jones, viz the Prophet's Jubilee and other church works, and felt good at this work because I knew my labour was not in vain. In the year 1849, on the 17th. day of May, I was called to the office of Elder likewise I was set apart to be one of Brother Mathews' councillors in Treboeth Branch. I was then only 17 years old when I was called to a priest but I was 20 years old when I became an Elder. But Oh, the trials and temptations I endured from my young companions, but I kept thinking of my religion and the Zion of the Latter Days. I triumphed over my enemies, I came out victorious thanking my Heavenly Father for his kind care of me all along. On June 26th. 1850, I was appointed to be Secretary of the Council of Treboeth that was organized on the 5th. day of the above named month in the Council of Abertawe Conference. The following Sundays were spent travelling in the circle, prayer meetings and Saints' meetings, teaching the Saints in their duties in the Kingdom of God: Sept 8th. in Casllwchwr; preaching in Clydach on the 22nd.; again in Clydach on the 6th. Oct. Nov. 13th. in Counsel in Lliw; preaching in Elder Peregrins' house on the 31st; in Counsel at Graigcefn Park on the 11th. Dec; travelling in these branches caused me to feel strongest in the work of the Lord, and at the close of this year when looking back I could see how the Lord had blessed me;
I could see the consistency of almost everything, how the Lord had opened up the way for his faithful Saints.
1851, January 8; was in Counsel at Treboeth, love and joy filling my heart continually while travelling among the Saints. It has made me rejoice in the Lord to think that he had revealed to His Saints where His Zion was to be built in the last days, where His faithful Saints could live and thrive in freedom and comfort. April 13. preaching on Sunday, exhorting the Saints to be faithful, teaching them to be firm and true in the doctrines of the everlasting gospel. In the meeting at Treboeth, matters pertaining to the conference were the topics of the meeting, Pres. Thomas Pugh and Dr. Richards touched on the necessity of keeping alive the P.E. fund and many other items. Every two weeks I distributed 6 of the little pamphlets, entitled "The Trumpet of Zion" and "The Millenial Star", and the Doctrine and Covenants. May 10; Sunday morning prayer meeting at 8 o'clock; Sunday School at 11; open air meeting but the inclemency of the weather turned against us. May 25; Sunday School in the Treboeth Branch at 11 o'clock; Saint's meeting at 2 and evening meeting at 6. On the 27th. I attended a Council at Neath, where President Pugh and Richards and Robert Cambell were present ... a very good meeting; it was enjoyed. June 1, 1851 ... I got up on the morning of Sunday, held a prayer meeting in my family, went again to Morriston at 11 o'clock and between 3 and 5 preached on the street, went to lunch with Wm. Bowen, preaching again at 6 in the evening to a large gathering of
people, spent the Sabbath very good and comfortable knowing that my labours were not in vain.
June 8; Sunday morning I commenced at 8 o'clock a prayer meeting in my own family; Sunday school at 11, Saints' meeting at 2 o'clock p.m. The 2nd of September I sold quite a few Welsh and English books to the people. I have worked in the coal mine called Pentrefelin since the year 1845 as well as doing quite a big work as an Elder in the Branch, travelling and preaching, and attending conference. Oct. 5 at Treboeth Branch, receiving fast offerings and other donations kept me quite busy all the time. On the following Monday, I was very much edified by the teachings of President Pugh and Phillips and others. Pugh was removed from the conference and Elder Henry Evans was appointed to fill his place, a collection was taken up for Bro. Pugh on his leaving our conference to the amount of [pounds] 15 , I was able to give him five shillings and how it pleased me to have the priviledge of helping the work of the Lord along. I was present on a Sunday morning when Joseph Mathews was Baptized by Hopkin Mathews, President fo the Swansea Branch, but his baptism was to renew their covenants, and it included every memeber of the branches. Saturday, the 15th., when I came home from work, I went to Swansea to buy a Branch book to keep the records. Sunday 16th., attended to meeting and the business of the Branch, again of the 30th. at Treboeth; Dec. 4, in meeting at 2 o'clock, where they mentioned about some riots that occurred in France in the line of persecution of the people; many
were killed, male and female; now this is the month to make up all bank accounts. I have distributed over 400 copies of the Book of Mormon, and 200 of Zion's Trumpets this year.
Jan 1, 1852, I worked this month again like some of the other months. February came which I will long remember when Joseph Mathews and my sister Ann and little Thomas left Swansea for America. Also William Jones and his family left the same time, they all left in good spirits in full faith of reaching the land of Zion. I had lodged and boarded with Brother Mathews in his family for over 3 years and I became President of the Treboeth Branch after he left. But I felt rather weak to have the responsibility of the branch on my shoulders. I felt that I had a great work to do; I handled 69 Stars also 480 of Trumpets and 154 copies of the Book of Mormon. I tell you I was kept busy, meeting at council every two weeks at Neath. I received a letter from Mathews and my sister and little Thomas on the 2nd. of May. They made me feel good for some months after they left by writing to me. I exhorted the Saints in the branch until they came to feel good in the faith. May 10, a very bad explosion took place in a coal mine at Cwmbach, near Aberdare, where 67 lost their lives. 19 of these were Latter Day Saints. Daniel Mathews, brother of Joseph Mathews was one of them. On the 13th. and 14th. I went to Treboeth Branch. On the 23 in Neath at a Council meeting; on the 30th. at Cwmbath about 2 miles from Treboeth, preaching in the house of David Mathews. June 1, I went to Neath to a big council meeting; just like this, I, Thomas Roberts spent my time amoung the Saints in those days.
There are many things transpiring not written in this book but are to be seen in the Branch Book.
Here in this book I feel like writing a few particulars about so many things that my relatives may get to see them in later years and that they may have the pleasure of looking over and see what I have been doing in Treboeth Branch. This has been while I was so closely connected with Jos. T. Mathews, my brother-in-law, for 3 years and as I continued to be true and faithful in the branch after he left the country. I feel happy that I am able to say that the branch is in a good working order, officers and members in good faith, the work of the Lord prospering all through this neighborhood. June 4, I went to work as usual but by noon I came very sick and went home to rest. To-day I felt so much better I went to work as usual but as soon as I started work I became ill and started home again. I shall never forget that day. I was 4 hours ... long hours ... on my way home. I had 1 1/2 miles to go but I was so sick I thought sure I would die on the road, but thanks to my Heavenly Father, I am still alive, hoping to finish my work. Again on the 10th. of this month I received a letter from the Mathews from America, informing me that they had landed safe, but quite a few of the company were accidently killed through some explosion on other boats. Again on Sunday morning, the 15th., I got up at 8 o'clock to pray with the family. I should have mentioned about that accident that 22 of the Saints were killed in that catastrophe on those boats but fortunately the Mathews were not
on that boat. Agin on the same date, June 15th., I got up about 8 l'clock and went to my busy sriting work, wrote up to 12 o'clock when after that I went down to Elder Mathews's home to preach at 3 o'clock. Back again to Treboeth and in the months of July, August and September I had the care of the branch; I had to go to Alltwen to attend council every first Sunday of the month. On Oct. 9, 1852 I was married to Elizabeth Mathews in the Parish Church in Llangyfelach and am living in the house where J oseph and Sister Ann dwelt before they left for America and in this same h ouse all along we hold our meetings and during all this time He is good to us and I thank him for his blessings.
I spent most of my time after that in Treboeth. I continued the work at the same way, so everything went on pleasant and on Jan.9, 1853 at a conference held at Swansea, I was released of the Presidency of the Branch of Treboeth, and Elder Enoch Lewis was to have charge of the branch, and I was to be his counsellor and take charge of all books and records of the branch. But in the month of February I was priviledged to emigrate and leave old Babylon. On February 28th., 1853 I went up to Merthyr to see President Phillips and had a little chat with him. He told me to go right home and explain things to Brother R. Evans and tell him to send my certificate right away to Liverpool and on the 16th. March I went on board the ship Paeat Troubadour from Swansea to Liverpool. On the 17th. March we arrived at Liverpool; it was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and we lodged with one David Davis in Union Street one John Williams and John Jones and his wife Ann stayed there with us. We stayed in Liverpool a few days and while there we met a few more saints that numbered about 20 in all. Thursday, March 24, 1853, we went up to the office of John Jones to pay for a wagon and cattle which John Jones settled the whole business. I paid the sum of [pound sign] 40 in English money and received a receipt for same from W. Richards.
We left Liverpool April 13, 1853. We had a comparatively pleasant voyage; we were on the waters 53 days. We landed in New Orleans on the 5th. June and on the 6th. of June we took a boat for a voyage up the Mississippi river for 900 miles to St. Louis. Then after reaching St. Louis, we took another vessel on the same river and reached a place called Kookahack and then at this place came the tug of war .. we had to wrestle with oxen and wagons over the plains. We were four months on this journey. We arrived in Great Salt Lake City and went to the Tabernacle every Sunday where we heard some fine discourses and when spring came, we moved north 10 miles to Bountiful, Davis County. I have worked all the summer at this place, and the Lord has blessed us and our labours very much. On September 16th., 1854 my wife presented me with a fine baby girl, whom we called Elizabeth Jane.
Signed............
Thomas Roberts
Written from a diary on July 24th. 1850 then added to October, 1854.
