historian nonconformist minister
Born at Swansea 11 September 1816, he was the only child of William Saunders Davids, pastor of the Congregational church meeting in Providence Chapel, and his wife Bridget, daughter of Thomas Thomas of Vrowen in the parish of Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire. His father died in December 1816, and his mother in 1831. And he was adopted by his uncle Thomas Thomas of Llampeter Velfry, a man of means.
Foreign some years he was educated for the medical profession. But in 1835, against his uncle"s wishes, he entered Homerton College, then under John Pye Smith, and studied for the ministry.
The congregation outgrew the church, and a new church was built in Lion Walk. Davids became secretary of the Essex Congregational Union, and in 1874 moved to Forest Gate. He died at Forest Gate of heart disease on 11 April 1884.
In 1841 Davids married Louisa (died 1853), daughter of Robert Winter, solicitor, of Clapham Common.
The Sunday school attached to his church became well known as a model, and she published in 1847 an essay The Sunday School, which was awarded a prize offered by the Sunday School Union, had four editions, and was for some years regarded as a standard text. Davids married a second time, on 28 April 1859, Mary, daughter of William Spelman of Norwich.
They had no children.
Davids was elected an honorary corresponding member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
