Allen Family History

Research Report

[lewis102803 / 0346] 30 October 2003

OBJECTIVES

Conduct preliminary research in Salt Lake City in order to locate as much information as possible on the Lewis-John and Evans-Williams lines in preparation for research in England.

RESULTS

Unable to locate information on the Lewis and Davies lines in Minnie Margett's File or the Swansea, Wales LDS Ward/Branch records.

Located Elizabeth Davies in the 1870 Federal Census. She was in Provo with William and Jane Lewis [document #5].

Located John Lewis in the 1841 British Census with his sons [document #3]. Unable to locate them in Glamorganshire in 1851.

Located the marriage of John Lewis and Martha Evan at St. John's, Swansea. They immigrated to Utah in 1856.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Initiate correspondence to obtain the death certificate of Martha Lewis, who died in 1840.

Research Report

[lewis012904 / 0346] 5 March 2004

The goal of this project was to extend the Lewis and/or Evans lines in Wales. Among the sources consulted were census indexes and returns, LDS compilations and records, Bishop's Transcripts, parish register transcripts, marriage bonds and civil registration indexes.

Lewis

Efforts commenced with an examination of the 1851 Census Index of Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, Wales for the ancestral John Lewis. This was the parish in which the direct-line family was residing when the earlier 1841 British Census was taken. As the 1851 British Census was the first to request a specific birthplace, locating John Lewis in these returns was a priority for pedigree extension. While John was listed as age 45 in 1841, all John Lewises who were between 50 and 65 years of age in 1851 were further researched [document #1]. Results were negative for the ancestral John.

In the event the 1851 returns for John Lewis= sons might provide significant insights, the index was also consulted for these individuals. Results were negative for appropriate listings for David, William John, or Elias. Nevertheless, the household of Enoch Lewis was found [document #1]:

1851 British Census Tirdeunaw, Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, Wales

Lewis, Enoch head mar 30 Coal miner born Llangyfelach Lewis, Jenet wife mar 29 born Llanelli Lewis, John son 3 born Llangyfelach Lewis, Martha dau 2 born Llangyfelach

According to this document, Enoch Lewis was actually born at Llangyfelach, the parish just north and east of Swansea, Glamorgan. While one Internet site suggested all children of John Lewis were born at Swansea [document #2], at least son Enoch and perhaps others were born at Llangyfelach.

In an effort to verify Enoch's correct place of birth as well as determine if his father John Lewis actually joined the LDS Church with his sons, the Early Church Information File of the LDS Church was consulted. Multiple entries were found for both Enoch and Elias Lewis [document #3]. It appeared Enoch Lewis was listed at least twice in the Treboth Branch of West Glamorgan, Wales. Most of the entries for his brother Elias Lewis were from Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah records [document #6]. There was one possible LDS baptismal entry at Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales. This parish is just across the river from Glamorgan.

The Treboth Branch Records reported [document #4A]: Enoch Lewis, collier of Treboth,

born ion (January) 16, 1820, ALlancyfelach@, Glamorgan LDS baptism 28 April 1849 Ordained Teacher 6 June (?) 1849 Ordained Priest 20 June 1850 Ordained Elder 6 Nov 1851 & 17 Sep 1854 Emigrated 16 March 1853

Enoch's emigration date in 1853 is incorrect. He was re-ordained as an elder in 1854 [document #4A] and baptized a John Lewis in March 1856 [document #4C]. This John was likely Enoch's son rather than his father John. Indeed, the branch records indicated Enoch's son John was born on 18 February 1848 at Llangyfelach [document #4D]. This would coincide with a subsequent LDS baptism in March 1856 at the age of eight years. Based on these records, Enoch was living at Llangyfelach in 1848, Treboth in 1849, and at Tirdarnaw in 1856.

A re-examination of the 1851 Census Index of Llangyfelach confirmed Treboeth and Tirdeunaw are both located in the parish of Llangyfelach. Moreover, Penfilia, the residence of the ancestral family in 1841, was also found. However, a household-by-household study of these areas still failed to produce John Lewis or other family members.

In the event the 1851 British Census age for the ancestral John Lewis might have been considerably older than expected, additional research was conducted. Results ultimately were successful in discovering [document #5]:

1851 British Census Club Row, Landore, Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, Wales

Lewis, John head mar 38 Collier Llangyfelach Lewis, Ann wife mar 42 Neath Lewis, Ann dau 14 Llangyfelach Lewis, John son 10 Llangyfelach Lewis, Martha dau 7 Llangyfelach Lewis, Margaret dau 5 Llangyfelach Lewis, Enoch son 1 Llangyfelach Lewis, John lodger widr 70 Collier Llangyfelach

This 70-year-old Alodger John Lewis was the ancestral John Lewis. He was actually the father of the 38-year-old head of household, the junior John Lewis. Indeed, a review of the 1841 British Census confirmed that the younger John Lewis, wife Ann, and daughter Ann were living next door to the ancestral John Lewis and his other sons [research report dated 30 October 2003, document #3]. Moreover, John and Ann Lewis later named children Martha and Enoch, two less common given names also found in the family of the ancestral John and Martha Lewis.

According to these returns, the ancestral John Lewis was born at Llangyfelach. While the 1851 returns have suggested he was born as early as 1781, the 1841 returns indicated a birth as late as 1796. Based on a marriage in 1813, John was most likely born before 1793. His family group record has indicated a birth in 1788.

Since John's death certificate would provide his age in 1854, this document should be obtained. Unfortunately, the civil registration death indexes did NOT include a second quarter 1854 entry for a John Lewis in the Swansea registration district. Thus, additional correspondence efforts will be required in locating the correct record. This is a high priority at the present time.

Meanwhile, since Llangyfelach was identified specifically as the birthplace of both Enoch Lewis and John Lewis Jr., the Bishop's Transcripts and parish register transcripts were consulted for direct-line entries. Results were negative for the children of John Lewis and Martha Evans, supporting the conclusion the family had left the established church.

The earlier years 1783-1794/1795 produced two men who might have been known as John Lewis as adults: John, son of Lewis Davies, was christened in 1787 and John, son of Lewis Williams, was christened in 1791 [document #7A]. However, neither of these matched entries with family records suggesting John was the son of a senior John Lewis. Efforts to locate a marriage for John Lewis and wife Margaret John also proved to be negative although an entry was noted for [document #7A]:

David Lewis and Margaret John marr 30 Dec 1786, Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, Wales The ancestral John and Martha (Evans) Lewis named their second son Enoch (after Martha's father). If their first son John was actually named after John himself, it is possible their third son David was named after John's father, the above David Lewis. In striving to verify the given name of Margaret John's husband, it is recommended her death certificate be obtained. While it would seem she had been a widow for some twenty years by the time she died on 19 July 1840, her deceased husband's name may have been recorded. Based on the index entries, the following document will be requested by correspondence [document # 8]:

3rd Quarter (Sep) 1840: Margaret Lewis Swansea Vol 26 page 309 Since family records listed a death/burial date of 10 May 1818 for the senior John Lewis, husband of Margaret John, searches were conducted at Llangyfelach, St. John Swansea, and St. Mary Swansea [document #7, 9-10]. One 1818 entry were found at St. John's Swansea for John Lewis although the burial date was in October rather than May. Moreover, this John Lewis was fifty-five years of age, calculating to a birth ca 1763 while the family pedigree has suggested the senior John was born as early as 1749. Nevertheless, this may be further considered pending correspondence results.

Additional searches in the Swansea records did reveal one or more adult John Lewises were residing in the parish of St. Mary's during the 1780s. There were two christenings of men named John in the early 1790s, but neither was the son of a senior John. One was the son of William Lewis while the other was the son of David Lewis [document #10]. It is possible the David Lewis who married Margaret John in 1786 at Llangyfelach was the father of the John Lewis christened in 1790 at St. Mary's, Swansea. However, there was also a marriage of a David Lewis to Hester Taylor in 1788 at St. Mary=s [document #10].

Final efforts on the Lewis line utilized the index to Marriage Bonds, West Wales and Gower, 1612-1799. While numerous listings were found for both John Lewis and Margaret John, none had matching marriage dates [document #11]. Previous work has already been completed in probate records for ancestral Lewis document with negative results, unfortunately. Non-conformist records in the Family History Library for Swansea do not appear to begin early enough for pedigree extension. Entries for the later period 1828-1833 in the Castle Independent congregation of Swansea also failed to produce the direct-line family.

Thus, at the present time, obtaining the death certificates of John Lewis and his mother Margaret (John ) Lewis are of highest priority. In addition to enabling their birth dates to be calculated, Margaret's certificate may reveal the given name of John's father. Evans

Searches in the Bishop's Transcripts of Llangyfelach, St. John's Swansea, and St. Mary's Swansea failed to produce burials for either Enoch Evans or his widow Susan (Williams) Evans [document #7A, 9-10]. Moreover, Marriage Bonds of West Wales and Gower 1612-1799 did not yield matching marriage dates for Enoch and Susan [document #11].

Susan's proxy LDS baptism was actually completed as early as 1873 in the Endowment House. However, none of the ordinances provided specific birth or death information for her [document #12]. Nevertheless, a family group record was found for a Susan William who was born Aabout 1771 at Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, Wales. This would match well with the fact Susan's daughter Martha Evans married John Lewis, also of Llangyfelach. According to the family group record, David William was the father of Susan William [document #13]. A search was completed in the Bishop's Transcripts of Llangefelach for all christenings 1763-1773, but results were negative for an appropriate entry for Susan Williams.

Since the death certificate of Susan (Williams) Evans would at least enable her to be located in the 1841 British Census, it is recommended this document be obtained by correspondence. A computerized index of civil registration index entries failed to yield a listing in Swansea district, but this may have been mistakenly overlooked [document #14]. Thus, correspondence will strive to locate the appropriate certificate.

Since the ancestral families appear to have been non-conformists, verification and extension of these lines will likely continue to be quite difficult. However, direct-line marriages may be located pending correspondence work in indexes. With respect to temple work, the family of John Lewis, Jr. and wife Ann should be submitted since it would appear their temple work may not have been completed.

It has been a pleasure to assist you in researching and documenting your family history. We look forward to continuing research according to your instructions.

Research Report

[lewis080904 / 0346] 27 August 2004

The objective of this research project was to extend the pedigrees of John Lewis (1788-1854) and his wife Martha (Evans) Lewis (1790-1840). The couple's marriage record, death dates, and parents names with limited birth and death information were provided to begin the search.

We searched every record type pertaining to Swansea and Llangyfelach available at the Family History Library covering the correct time period for both the Lewis and Evans families. Very little was found regarding the parents of John and Martha. The family appears to have belonged to a nonconformist chapel whose records have not survived. John Lewis Jr.

According to John Lewis's entry in the 1851 British Census of Llangyfelach, Glamorganshire, Wales, he was born at Llangyfelach. Previous researchers searched for his christening records amongst the Church of Wales registers in that location. An infant baptism for a child named John of John and Margaret (John) Lewis does not appear. We continued this search by looking for possible siblings christened there in the 1780s and 1790s [document #1]. It is unknown whether any of the individuals identified belonged to the ancestral family. Unfortunately, the parish priest only recorded the name of the child's father and did not record the name of the mother. This vagueness creates problems in determining whether these infants were children of the ancestral John Lewis Sr.

We found the 1861 British Census listing for John Lewis III in Clase Lower [document #1b].

In the marriage record of John Lewis to Martha Evan at St. John's Parish, Swansea, which previous researchers also obtained, John states he was a resident of St. Marys Parish in Swansea and a yeoman by trade. Following this tip, we decided to search both St. John and St. Marys parishes in Swansea for John Lewis christening record. No possible matches for a child named John born into either a Lewis family, or the son of a man whose given names was Lewis appear in St. John=s parish. It should be noted; however, the early baptismal register of St. John=s (pre-1785) has been lost. The following possible christenings were listed in St. Mary's parish between 1779 and 1795:

John son of Mathew Lewis 1 Jan 1779 John son of John Lewis, b. 15 May 1780, chr. 26 May 1780 John son of David Lewis, b. 8 Mar 1790, chr. 19 Mar 1790

Previous researchers also identified the fact several of John Lewis Jr.'s children stated they were born at Llangyfelach Parish. After the negative searches for John and Martha (Evans) Lewis's children in the Church of Wales parish registers for Llangyfelach, we decided to search nonconformist records. Extant Baptist, Calvinistic Methodist, Congregationalist, Quaker, Prebyterian, Wesleyan, and Independent church records in Llangyfelach and neighboring Swansea fail to identify the baptisms of their children. We are still uncertain of the religious preference of this family prior to joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Note, however, the following nonconformist chapels maintained registers covering the appropriate time period which are not available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City [document 2]:

Bôn-y-maen, Salem/Capel y Cwm, Swansea (Calvinistic Methodist) Ebenezer, Swansea (Congregationalist) Society of Friends, Swansea Llansamlet, Bethel (Congregationalist) Alexandra Road, Tabernacle, Swansea (Wesleyan) Tontine Street, Tabernacle, Swansea (Wesleyan)

To search these records, it will be necessary to conduct research in Wales. For a list of the current repositories of these records, see document #3-4.

In order to determine if land records might survive for John Lewis Jr., the Apportionment of the Rent-Charge in Lieu of Tithes in the Parish of Llangevelach in the County of Glamorgan, 1838 were searched. John Lewis was not listed. The only Lewis in this record was a man named Lewis Lewis who owned the property known as AGelly Cwm Issa.

The General Register Office (GRO) states they could not locate the death record of John Lewis Jr., who died on 9 May 1854 at Pentre Estil, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales, according to the information provided. However, upon close examination of the GROs search, we discovered they searched the wrong indexes. They did not search the years we specified (1853-1855) [document #5], but rather only searched the indexes from January 1853 through March 1854, which is why they did not find him. His death record was probably filed in mid to late 1854. Another request will have to be made, as we really need this record before proceeding further on this line.

A burial record could not be found at Llangyfelach or Swansea in Church of Wales records. The only extant nonconformist burial records covering this time period are for the Quaker and Presbyterian faiths in Swansea. John does not appear in the Presbyterian record and the Quaker records have not been microfilmed and would have to be searched in Wales.

The GRO successfully found the death certificates of John Lewis Jr.'s wife and mother [document #6-7]. The information agrees with the material previously known about these individuals. These records state both John Lewis Jr. and John Lewis Sr. were colliers. Margaret's death certificate identifies the fact her husband, John Lewis Sr., predeceased her and Martha's certificate shows she predeceased her husband John Lewis Jr., leaving him a widower, as he was found in the British Censuses of 1841 and 1851 by previous researchers. Although both women died and were buried in St. John's Parish, according to their death certificates, each of their burials was recorded in neighboring Llangyfelach Church of Wales parish registers:

No. 1809. Martha Lewis, abode: Pentre Estill, St. Johns, Buried July 17, 1840, age 50, bur. by HW

No. 1814. Margaret Lewis, Pentre, St. Johns, Aug 21, 1840, age 84, buried by HW

We did not find any members of this Lewis family in the book Monumental Inscriptions Baran Welsh Independent Chapel Llangyfelach. There were many detailed monumental inscriptions for Lewises in the book Monumental Inscriptions Parish Church of SS. David & Cyfelach, Llangyfelach, Part I [document #8]. We read each of them and translated the Welsh inscriptions to English; however, we could not determine if any of the individuals belong to the ancestral Lewis family. There were two Enoch Lewises: Enoch Lewis, the son of John and Margaret Lewis of Graig Treforis, died 20 Mar 1910, aged 26 years.

Enoch Lewis, the son of Thomas and Hannah Lewis of Plas-y-Coed Treforis, died 25 Oct 1881, aged 13 months.

Due to the paucity of men with the given name Enoch in the area at this time, it is possible these two individuals are kin to the ancestral family. We located the first Enoch in the 1891 British Census, and the second Enoch in the 1881 British Census. Both were listed as children [document #9-10]. Additional research would be required to determine how or if these individuals tie into the ancestral family.

References to John Lewis may appear in the series Bute Papers XXXIV, 1-19 Glamorgan Militia Lists [document #11-13]. These papers identify the following colliers named John Lewis in and around Llangyfelach:

1819, John Lewis, Collier, Enrolled from Llangyfelach Clase Higher 1819, John Lewis, Collier, Enrolled from Llansamlet Lower 1820, John Lewis, Collier, Enrolled from Llangyfelach Clase Higher 1821, John Lewis, Collier, Enrolled from Llangiwg Alltgrug

Several other John Lewises, whose occupations differed, also appear in these militia lists. Because there were also men with the same name and occupation as the ancestral John Lewis Jr. living in the neighboring parishes of Llansamlet and Llangiwg, we decided to check both locations to see if the ancestral John may have gone there to christen his children.

Llangiwg (Llanguick or Llan-giwg) parish borders the northeast lines of Llangyfelach Parish. According to extracts included in the International Genealogical Index, John Lewis did not christen his children in the Church of Wales at Llangiwg. One nonconformist chapel register is available at the Family History Library, the Pant-teg Independent Chapel. A search of baptisms performed there between 1822 and 1837 revealed the existence of two men named John Lewis, both colliers:

William Lewis, son of John Lewis, Alltwen, Collier in the Parish of Kilybebyll [Cilybebyll], Glamorgan, and Elizabeth his wife. Born 30 Oct 1829, bapt. 4 Dec 1829 by Phillip Griffiths Independent Minister at Pant-Teg Alltwen & Carnel.

John, son of John Lewis, Ynysmydu Ganol, Collier in Llanguick [Llan-giwg], Glamorgan & Gwenllian his wife. Born 16 Feb 1831, bapt. 11 Mar 1831 by Phillip Griffiths Independent Minister at Pant-Teg Alltwen & Carnel.

David, son of John Lewis, Ty n graig, Collier, Kilybebyll & Elizabeth his wife. Born 15 Jan 1832, bapt. 24 Mar 1832 by Phillip Griffiths Independent Minister at Pant-Teg Alltwen & Carnel.

Jane, daughter of John Lewis, Ty n graig, Collier, Kilybebyll & Elizabeth his wife. Born 1833, bapt. 15 Jul 1833 by Phillip Griffiths Independent Minister at Pant-Teg Alltwen & Carnel.

Lewis, son of John Lewis, Gellynyd, Collier, Killybebyll & Elizabeth his wife. Born 1 Feb 1835, bapt. 6 Mar 1835 by Phillip Griffiths Independent Minister at Pant-Teg Alltwen & Carnel.

Samuel, son of John Lewis, Gellinyd/Fellinyd, Collier, Keylybebyll & Elizabeth his wife. Born 1836, bapt. 12 Aug 1836 by Phillip Griffiths Independent Minister at Pant-Teg Alltwen & Carnel.

Neither of these individuals could be the ancestral John Lewis Jr., Collier, as the wives and children's name differ between the different families.

Proceeding to Llansamlet parish, we found another John Lewis, collier, who flourished contemporaneously to the ancestral John Lewis Jr., collier. Here is a record pertaining to one of the baptisms of his children in the local Methodist Chapel:

Evan, son of John Lewis, Collier, & Mary (Edmond) Lewis, Spinster, of Pentre I Engim [?]. Born 25 Dec 1830 Llansamlet Parish, bapt. 9 Jan 1831 Llan[samle]t Chapel by David Howell. Father=s parish: Llansamlet. Mother=s parish: Lantwit [?].

This is clearly not the ancestral family, as the ancestral John Lewis's wife was Martha Evans, not Mary Edmond. There were no children christened to a John Lewis B Martha couple in the Church of Wales parish register of Llansamlet. A search in the Independent Chapel register for Llansamlet yielded no mentions of a John Lewis.

John Lewis Sr.

A search in Llangyfelach parish located the burial record of John Lewis Sr. This entry was missed by previous researchers:

No. 246. John Lewis, Forestfach 10 May 1818, age 69 yrs, buried by H. Williams The Glamorganshire Marriage Index did not list the marriage of John Lewis to Margaret John. The request for a search between 1775 and 1792 was amplified during this session to cover all pre-1837 marriages in Glamorganshire. This strategy did not locate the marriage of John Lewis to Margaret John, with the exception to a citation to the following marriage. A search of the ISYS Database at the National Library of Wales Web site, covering marriage bonds in Wales, located the following possibility (also found in Glamorganshire Marriage Index):

10 Jul 1782. John Lewis, bachelor, taylor, Cowbridge, GLA at Colwinston, married Margaret John., A.B. 62/10

The book Colwinston, Glamorgan Parish Church of St. Michael, by the Glamorgan Family History Society lists the following children for the couple John Lewis and Margaret:

Ann d/o John & Margaret Lewis 12 May 1783 David s/o John & Margaret Lewis 27 Aug 1786 Anne d/o John & Margaret Lewis 20 Nov 1788

In the additional index of surnames based on the patronymic system, no matches occur. The record also lists the following burial:

Margaret Lewis, buried 29 Nov 1788, of Colwinston, no age given Although she was not identified as the wife/widow of John Lewis, based upon the dates, this would appear to be the case. The last child of John and Margaret was baptized on 20 November 1788. Probably due to complications in childbirth, the mother appears to have died a few days later, and was buried 29 November 1788. The following marriage is also listed:

John Lewis, Widower, of Colwinston Parish, md. Ann Thomas of Colwinston, on 5 Jan 1793

The children of John and Ann are also listed in this record. A christening for John Lewis, the son of John Lewis, dated 11 June 1758, may apply to this man. We conclude this is a different family, as the ancestral John Lewis was a collier, not a tailor, and his wife, Margaret, outlived him (see above). In addition, Colwinston parish and Llangyfelach parish were over thirty miles apart.

Enoch Evans

Correspondence searches for Enoch Evans's marriage in Glamorganshire returned negative. Only one Enoch Evans marriage has survived in pre-1837 Glamorgan and the bride does not match the name we have for Enoch's wife. The located entry states [document #14]:

Enoch Evan of St Mary's Swansea md. Joan Morgan of St Mary's Swansea 16 Nov 1783 at St Mary's Swansea by banns

The names Joan Morgan and Susan Williams are clearly distinct. No children for either the Enoch B Joan or the Enoch B Susan couple were found in any church or chapel registers in and around Swansea. Additionally, the death certificate obtained from the GRO is not for the correct Susan Evans [document #14b].

Next, we searched for Enoch Evans's christening record in Swansea and Llangyfelach. The results were disappointing. There were no children christened in either locality named Enoch who could have been called Enoch Evans later in life.

The only primary source we have currently found Enoch Evans's name listed is his daughter Martha's marriage record. He was probably a nonconformist because his children's christenings and his own burial record do not appear in the registers of the Church of Wales in and surrounding Swansea, where he probably resided. If he did originate in Cardiganshire, as indicated on the family group record provided at the onset of this project, it is possible his children were born elsewhere. However, this would take a very long time to prove and with the huge amount of record loss amongst nonconformist religions in Wales may be impossible.

The Glamorganshire Militia Lists reveal the presence of several men in Swansea named John Evans and Thomas Evans. It is currently not possible to figure out if these individuals are identical to the sons of Enoch Evans by these names [document #15-17]. We noticed marriage records had not previously been located for most of the children of Enoch Evans. We consulted the Pre-1837 Glamorganshire Marriage Index to attempt to find more about Enoch through his children. The index does not reference the marriages of Margaret Evans to Thomas Richards or Sarah Evans to David Holmes. Possible matches were located for two of Enoch's children:

John Thomas, of Swansea, md. Rachel Evans, of this parish, 10 Dec 1825 St John, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales

John Evans, of Cadoxton, Neath, md. Sarah Jenkin, of Cadoxton, Neath, 08 Oct 1815, at Cadoxton, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales.

It is difficult to tell if these marriages concern the children of Enoch Evans. Rachel's marriage took place at the same parish the ancestral John Lewis Jr. married Martha Evans, daughter of Enoch Evans. This could be the ancestral family; however, if it is, this would probably make Rachel younger than previously estimated. Previously, the year 1792 has been calculated as Rachel's birth year. This would have made her 33 years old upon marriage. The original marriage record states the witnesses were John Evans and Hector Rees. The witnesses names did not help us to determine whether or not this is the correct Rachel Evans.

According to information supplied by the client, Rachel died in 1875. Rachel and her husband were found in the 1841 British Census of Glamorgan (District: Swansea, E.D. 10 East, piece 1424/04, folio 017, schedule 005):

Plough and Harrow, Swansea John Thomas, 40, Collier, b. GLA Rachel Thomas, 40, b. GLA Enoch Thomas, 14, Collier, b. GLA Thomas Thomas, 12, Collier, b. GLA Rachel Thomas, 10, b. GLA Margaret Thomas, 8, b. GLA John Thomas, 5, b. GLA David Thomas, 3, b. GLA Mary Thomas, 1, b. GLA

This census information matches the family as listed in the International Genealogical Index (see family group record of John Thomas). More temple ordinances can be performed on this family if time is taken to trace more of their descendants. For preliminary research conducted on his children see document #18-20.

Additionally, we found the family of David and Sarah (Evans) Holmes in the 1841 British Census of Swansea Town (E.D. 40, piece 1426/07, folio 022, schedule 111):

Swan Row David Holmes, 57, Collier, b. GLA Sarah Holmes, 54, b. GLA Elizabeth Holmes, 20, b. GLA Sarah Holmes, 15, Milliner, b. GLA Rachael Holmes, 15, b. GLA Thomas Holmes, 13, b. GLA

The temple ordinances for this family have not been completed. We would recommend following up in the British censuses of 1851 and 1861 to identify more information about this family.

In regards to the John Evans marriage, both his and his wife's names occur frequently in Welsh records. Because their names are so common, it is difficult to tell whether this is the correct family. Cadoxton Parish, Neath borders Llangyfelach, so it is possible this is a match. We decided to look up the original marriage to see if any familiar persons appear as witnesses. The witnesses were Richard Thomas and John David. Unfortunately, these names are not familiar, so it is difficult to tell if this is the marriage of John Evans, son of Enoch Evans.

According to information supplied at the onset of this project, John died in 1854. John Evans was not found in the 1841 British Census in Glamorganshire. If he can be found in the 1851 British Census, it will list his birthplace. A recently compiled index to the 1851 British Census of Glamorganshire should be available in about a month or so. This will provide key information to determining where Enoch Evans resided.

Conclusion

John Lewis Jr., according to all accounts, lived at Llangyfelach parish during the period in which his children were born. Because his children's baptisms do not appear in the Church of Wales or in any of the nonconformist chapels in Llangyfelach or the surrounding parishes of Swansea, St. John, Llansamlet, and Llan-giwg, we can conclude John Lewis Jr. took his children to a nonconformist chapel in the area which either did not keep or register, or whose register has been destroyed. It is possible, however, he took his children to one of the chapels whose registers have not been microfilmed and will need to be searched in Wales. For a list of these churches, see below.

Tracing the family of Enoch Evans revealed similar research obstacles. Unless Enoch took his children to one of the nonconformist chapels in or around Swansea whose records have not been microfilmed, no surviving accounts list the christenings of his children. There are still temple ordinances which can be performed for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of John Lewis Sr. and Enoch Lewis.

Future Research

The death certificate of John Lewis Jr. should be reordered from the GRO, this time we should request a more specific search covering 1854 and 1855.

Church records in Wales should be investigated for both the Lewis and Evans families. The following records have not been microfilmed for the appropriate time periods:

Bôn-y-maen, Salem/Capel y Cwm, Swansea (Calvinistic Methodist) Ebenezer, Swansea (Congregationalist) Society of Friends, Swansea Llansamlet, Bethel (Congregationalist) Alexandra Road, Tabernacle, Swansea (Wesleyan) Tontine Street, Tabernacle, Swansea (Wesleyan) [document #3-4 for repository addresses]

Additionally, we could seek out relationships between the ancestral Lewis family and the two Enoch Lewis buried at the parish churchyard in Llangyfelach. This might be a way to go in the backdoor and discover more about John Lewis's family.

If desired, the families of descendants of John Lewis Sr. and Enoch Evans which stayed behind in Wales could be traced. They still need their temple ordinances completed. In particular, Enoch's children should be sought in the 1851 British Census. As previously mentioned, an index to the 1851 British Census of Glamorganshire will be available in about a month.

The occupation Acollier, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is used in a broad sense to mean anyone involved in the coal industry, but most frequently is used to indicate a coal-miner [document #21]. The book My Ancestor was a Coalminer provides a useful bibliography which we may need to use to learn more about these families [document #22]. Determining what sources each of these repositories holds may shed additional light on the ancestral coal miner.

It has been a pleasure to assist you in researching and documenting your family history. We look forward to continuing research according to your instructions.

Life Sketch of John Lewis and Martha Evans

Not much is known about the early lives of John Lewis and Martha Evans Lewis. John was the son of John Lewis and Margaret John Lewis and was born about 1781. He married Martha Evans, daughter of Enoch Evans and Susan Williams Evans, on 1 May 1813 in the parish church of St. John in Pentre Estil, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. The witnesses to the wedding were Enoch Evan and Lewis Evans.

According to Lewis family researchers, we have reason to believe that John and Martha, although devout Christians, were not members of the established church. Martha’s parents were involved in the Independent persuasion. We also know that the John, eldest son of John and Martha, was a Deacon in the Calvinist Methodist church near Pentre Estil.

The family came from the city and suburbs of Swansea, which in the early part of the 1800s was called Abertawe. The city, at that time, was an industrial seaport city, known primarily for its mining and iron works. The family may have moved to the industrial city during the industrial revolution that took place about that time.

According to family records at least nine children were born to John and Mary Lewis between 1813 and 1840. Tragedy struck the family in 1840. On 15 July John Lewis lost his beloved wife of twenty-seven years who died suddenly of convulsions at the age of fifty. On 19 September John also lost his mother who passed away at the age of eighty-four. John was left with the two youngest boys at home, William John, age seven, and Elias, age five.

It must have been difficult for John to raise two small boys without his wife. He had to be mother and father while trying to work to support his family. Family stories say the two young boys became very ill with small pox and scarlet fever the first year after their mother passed away. When they had recovered, John and his two young sons went to live with the eldest son John, who was married with a young family of his own. William John would leave the family a few years later at the tender age of ten to begin working in an iron foundry.

Apparently the sons of John Lewis and Martha Evans Lewis all grew up with strong feelings about religion and with a desire for greater truths because indications are that they were raised as non-conformists. Shortly after the first LDS missionaries came to the area, they all joined the new church, with the exception of the oldest son, John. Family records indicate that Enoch was baptized on 28 April, William John was baptized on 4 July, and David was baptized on 29 July 1849.

John Lewis worked as a coal miner and indications are that some of his sons shared that profession. Not much else is known about the life of John Lewis. He died 9 May 1854 in Pentre Estil, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales.

Information for this life sketch was gleaned from: John Lewis and Martha Evans Family Histories and Descendants Published by the John Lewis and Martha Evans Family Organization and Early History of the John Lewis and Martha Evans Family by G. Reed Marchant found online at www.welshmormonhistory.org.