William Rex and Mary Mead (couple 3)

[Dad's paternal grandmother's paternal Grandparents]
[Ada Estella Rex > William Rex > Rex/Mead]

Most of this information was gleaned from reading the AncestralTies blog, there is more information:
William Rex (1817-1852) 
Mary Mead (1813-1899)
Part 1, early lives
Part 2, 1850 voyage on James Pennell
Part 3, storm at sea, arrival at Mississippi River
Part 4, arrival in St. Louis
Part 5, Mary married to James Clucas, life in St. Louis
Part 6, move to Randolph, Utah
1903 letter from Thomas John Rex 

Including a few posts on our next pertinent progenitor:
William Rex (1844-1927)
Mary Elizabeth Brough Rex (1858-1939)
Part 1
Part 2
Mary's funeral, 1939
William Rex teaches school in Argyle, Utah
Ada Rex Jackson writes of her family part 1, part 2
1937 Wm & Mary Rex home burns
These make for a very interesting read!

From the AncestralTies blog:

Mary had her share of joys and sorrows but she bore them all with calmness and fortitude.
William was the sixth of eight children born to John Rex, a mason, and Ann Osland Rex. Mary was one of five children born to Meshack Mead, a sieve maker, and Betty (Elizabeth) Fox Mead.
William and Mary were married November 21, 1842 in the Union Chapel at Sherborne, Dorset, England. They were early converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. William was baptized February 10, 1849, and Mary was baptized on August 2, 1849. That year William wrote in his journal,opened my house for preaching. His sister Sarah was also baptized.
On December 17, 1849 Elder E. Hanham wrote: I now leave Sherborne after walking nearly one thousand miles for the salvation of this people. Since June 15, 1849, having been presiding Elder over this place since that period. I have succeeded in getting, by the assistance of others, Brother Rex not being least; eleven to be baptized, one of whom is cut off. But I think the Gospel standard is so well planted here that many will obey the Gospel ere long. My prayer to Israel’s God is that the few who have obeyed the Gospel may prosper, and become exceeding great. Yea, that the little one may become a thousand, and the great one a strong nation! I now leave my blessing on them and say, 'Be ye blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, and may ye prosper according to your well doing.' I remain your brother in the bonds of the New and Everlasting Covenant.
William Rex was ordained an Elder on December 23, 1849, and placed over the branch at Sherborne.
On October 2, 1850 William and Mary Mead Rex departed Liverpool, England on the emigrant ship James Pennell. Part of a company of 254 souls under the direction of Christopher Layton, they are listed on the ships passenger list with their children, and their birth years. William was 33 years old and Mary was 37, their children, Thomas John,7, William, 6, Charles, 4, Alfred George, 2, and 5-month old Florence Celeste who had been born earlier that year on May 5, 1850.
According to the Millennial Star, Vol XIII, page 9, their trip was an ordinary passage.

The materials for these posts are from Helen Rex Frazier's collection of history of her great grandparents, William and Mary Mead Rex. Much now appears in History, Descendants and Ancestory of William Rex and Mary Elizabeth Brough of Randolph, Utah, compiled and edited by Ronald Dee Rex, 1999. James Pannell voyage notes are from FamilySearch Mormon Immigration Index (50174) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000 edition. The cover page, pictured beneath, was written and compiled by her Aunt Edna Brown Rex.

About

And this is from the notes section on FamilySearch.org:

At this time several branches of the various REAKES/REX families in Upton Noble, Milton Clevedon and Batcombe, began to convert to non conformist religions, ie not Church of England. We know from historical records that Elizabeth's son John had at least two children who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and migrated to America. Sarah Austin Reakes born 1810 and her brother William Rex, joined The Church in 1848 at Upton Noble. The Historical Dept of the Church sent me some information about the two converts: The Upton Noble branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organised in 1848 with James Rawlings as president. At her (Sarah) funeral in the Sixth Ward in Salt Lake City in 1877, "Elder Hanham" and "Elder Rawlings" were speakers. Both men had been at the Upton Noble Branch in 1848. Her obitituary in the Deseret Weekly News for May 16, 1877 mentions a baptism about 30yrs before her death. Elder Hanham baptised her. She sailed as Sarah Austin Rex on the ship `James Pennell' on Oct 2 1850 from Liverpool to New Orleans. Her brother William Rex, aged 33, his wife Mary aged 36, and children Thomas J. 7, William 6, Charles 4, Alfred George 2, and Florence Rex 3mths are listed in the British Mission's Liverpool Emigration Records. The ship arrived at New Orleans on the 22nd November 1850, then the passengers continued their journey up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri, arriving there in early December. (Records from Upton Noble, show their arrival as 3rd Day of Dec 1850.) The papers relating to the branch at Upton Noble show quite a few papers relating to the Rex family and give the date of William's death at only 35yrs of age. He was an Elder of the Church at the time and was buried in the city burying ground. Son William was buried there too, dying 17th June 1853 aged 1 year 1 month and 2 days. Florence Celeste had died 20th July 1851 aged 7yrs 7mths 14 days and was buried in the Franklin Ave Cemetery. So it see ms a sad introduction to the New World.