FelRh031 16.4.2002
Thomas Rees
(he married Margaret Davies, Felenrhydfawr in 1867)
Y Faner (Newspaper) Hydref 19 1867
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Digwyddodd un o’r damweiniau mwyaf dychrynllyd y cofir am dani yn ein hardal dydd Mawrth diwethaf. Yr oedd dau ddyn o’r enwau Thomas Rees a John Parry yn gweithio mewn rhan danddaearol o gloddfa Cwmorthin, pryd yn ddisymmwth, y daeth darn o’r graig i lawr gan eu malurio a’u darnio a’u claddu yn y cydgasgliad ofnadwy.Aeth y si ar led yn ebrwydd ac arferwyd pob moddion er cael eu cyrph yn rhyddion, yr hyn a wnaed cyn hir, ond yr oeddynt wedi eu darnio mor fawr fel mae prin y gallesid penderfynu i ba un y perthynai y naill ran na’r llall. Yr oedd y blaenaf yn ddyn priod er’s ychydig fisoedd, a diau fod y tro yn darawiad trwm i anwyl briod ei fynwes i gael tori y cwlwm mor sydyn ac mewn dull mor ddychrynllyd. Cymerodd hyn le yn y boreu a chymaint oedd yr effaith ar y gwaith fel y rhoddwyd heibio pob gwaith am y gweddill o’r dydd. Cynnyrchodd fel y gallesid disgwyl deimlad angerddol ym mhlith y gweithwyr a thrwy yr ardal yn gyffredinol.
This is a rough translation of an extract from Y Faner 19th October 1867
Blaenau Ffestiniog
One of the most horrendous accidents within living memory occurred in our area last Tuesday. Two men, by name Thomas Rees and John Parry were working in an underground section of the Cwmorthin quarry when a large piece of rock came down without warning, leaving them smashed and broken and buried under terrible rubble. News of the occurrence quickly spread and no effort was spared in the attempt to recover their bodies. This was soon achieved but they were so badly mangled that it was difficult to identify some parts as belonging to the one man rather than the other. The first named had been married only a few months and it is doubtless a cruel blow to his loved one to have this knot broken so suddenly and in such a terrible fashion. This all took place in the morning and so great was the effect on the men that all work was abandoned for the remainder of the day. As one would expect it gave rise to powerful emotions among the workforce and in the community at large.
Thomas Rees was buried in Maentwrog churchyard ( on the right going towards the Church and near to the Bryncyfergid Family) on 11th October 1867.
The headstone gives his date of death:8th October, his home: Bryngoleu Tanygrisiau and his age: 30 years.