Allen Family History

Sources of Information: 1. 1851 British Census, Club Row, Landore, Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, Wales, ED 1A, page 234 (FHL #6344846) 2. Welsh Mormon History "A History of William John Lewis and Jane Davis" (www.welshmormonhistory.org)

Notes:

ROBERT ALLEN 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 AJohn@ born into either a ALewis@ family, or the son of a man whose given names was ALewis@ 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 AEnoch@ 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 AJoan Morgan@ and ASusan 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 B 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. _2004 Price & Associates Incorporated NRM/mh

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[LewisEvansDavies102504 / 0346] 31 October 2004

Davies Lineage After retrieving this researcher=s previous research notes from the project file, it became clear a major review was needed of the follow up research which was conducted in the report davies081104 dated 31 August 2004. A brief review of the results demonstrates this need: ACorrected christening date of John Hughes@ (to 28 Oct 1751, Llansannan); the original date being Aabout 1750.@ This same date was found previously in October 2003 during a research trip to Wales.

ACorrected marriage date of John Williams@ (from no date to 23 Sep 1807, Llansannan). This date was also found in the October 2003 research trip.

Moving on to the research report itself, on page 2 the will of John Williams of Rhydidion Bach was located B however, the original of this will was located in Wales and copied for that report. His christening was previously found, which stated his mother was Elizabeth, formerly Elizabeth Davies of Heskin. His marriage was also located, and a copy of the license obtained. William Davies The report mentioned above states the marriage record of William needs to be obtained by correspondence, duly ordered, and received. However, this information was obtained on the Welsh research trip during 2003. Much of this report was a re-do of the Welsh research trip, so it appears the researcher either did not have access to this information, or did not review it prior to his research . At this point, we agree with the researcher that the lineage of Gaenor (or perhaps Eleanor) Owens is in question. We are a bit concerned that the marriage of Robert Davies to Gaenor was not in the Gwytherin Parish Registers, the Gwytherin Bishop=s Transcripts, nor the Hayes Marriage Index for Denbighshire. We also checked the Llangernyw Parish Records for the same information, but no record was located.
While searching in this parish (Llangernyw), we searched 1730-1779 for other children of Robert Davies and Dorothy, and found entries for the following children who were in the data file: David, Catherine, Margaret, Anne, John, Robert, Thomas, and Eleanor, before stopping this search. All of them were children of Robert (shoemaker) and Dorothy. We also re-examined the Llansannan Parish Registers for more information about the family of Elizabeth Davies wife of David Williams. We found a potential entry for Elizabeth Davies, daughter of Hugh Davies of Heskin and Catharine, christened 13 March 1763. This fits the chronology of a marriage in March 1785 to David Williams. We also searched for the christening of Jonnet Pierce from 1747 to 1761, but it was not located in this parish. The christening for John Hughes (28 October 1751) in the client PAF file lists his parents as David and Joan Hughes. Looking at the same records above, we discovered his mother was actually Sina or Sinai [document #7] and found additional family members: William, son of David Hughes of Llwyn y Gibws and Sina his wife 8ber 8 (1749) p. 101 John, son of David Hughes of Llwyn y Gibws and Sinai his wife xber 28 (1751) p. 103 Edward, son of David Hughes of Llwyn Gibws and Sinai his wife May 5 (1754) p. 106 Adam, son of David Hughes of Llan and Sina his wife 9br. 20 (1756) p. 109 John Hughes of this parish and Jonnet Pierce of this parish were Married in this Church by Banns this third Day of May in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred and seventy six p. 351

We now turned our attention back to the marriage of Robert Davies and Eleanor Owens received by correspondence. This marriage took place in the parish of Ysbyty Ifan and a copy was sent to us [document #5]. The transcript states the following: 8 Jan 1797 Robert Davies, X (signed by mark) and Elinor Owen X both of this parish by banns, witnesses: William Davies, X and Edward Davies, X

We checked the Isbyty Ifan Bishop=s Transcripts to follow up on this entry, since these records are here. The information is the same, except for the fact the witnesses were not mentioned. We also found an Elizabeth Davies, daughter of Robert Davies and Elinor Owen his wife, who was baptized 6 August 1797. This appears to be a sister of the ancestral William Davies, if this is the right marriage. We then turned to the Hayes Marriage Index for Denbigh in an attempt to locate a marriage for either of the witnesses mentioned above. The idea behind this search was perhaps one of them was Robert=s father. There were no marriages for Edward Davies from 1732-1797 in this parish, but there were several for a William Davies: William Davies married Sarah Richard 1764 William Davies married to Jane Hughes 1754 William Davies married to Margaret Ellis 1744

We then returned to the Isbyty Ifan Bishop=s Transcripts, where we found the family of William Davies and Sarah Richard: 1764, Jan 7 William Davies Bach= and Sarah Richard Spinster both of this parish were married by banns 1766, Nov 9 David, the son of William Davies and Sarah his wife (christened) 1768, May 12 Catherine, the dau of William Davies of Ty=n Nant and Sarah his wife (chr) 1770, Dec 15 Richard, the son of William Davies of Ty=n Nant and Sarah Richard his wife (chr) 1772, Apr 14 Alice, the dau of William Davies of Ty=n Nant and Sarah Richard his wife (chr) 1775, Mar 20 Gwen, dau of William Davies of Ty=n Nant and Sarah Richard his wife (chr)

As one can see, there is a gap between 1770 and 1772 into which Robert could fit, but it seems unlikely. We also found a Robert Davies, son of Thomas Davies of Plasiolyn and Jane Roberts his wife, christened 25 November 1771. This could fit chronologically with a birth of 22 June 1771. Again the marriage sent to us via correspondence was found in the same source here at the Family History Library in Ysbyty Ifan Parish Registers. Lewis lineage The report lewis080904 on this family was much better, in that only a little overlap was noticed in comparison to the Welsh research trip of 2003. There was a bit of a red herring in following the John Lewis of Colwinston, but this was a logical item to track down and eliminate. The concern here is this is the only marriage found in the state church for a John Lewis to a Margaret John, and at this time period all people regardless of religious affiliation were required by law to marry in the Church of Wales.
Previous research in Wales determined John Lewis Jr. was buried at a Welsh Independent chapel in 1854; neither of them are in St. David=s Probate Index; and they are not in the parish registers of St. John juxta Swansea. There seems to be only one logical conclusion to the marriage issue: perhaps we do not have the correct version of John Lewis= and Margaret John=s last names (either or both).
During the 2003 research trip we discovered neither the Lewis family nor the Evans family were in the parish registers of St. Johns juxta Swansea, which of course indicates a non-conformist association. We also briefly looked at recommendation #3 from the 27 August 2004 report, which was to search the Llangyfelach Bishop=s Transcripts, where we found the baptism of Margaret, daughter of John and Martha Lewis, at Pwllyr dur, Colier, 5 April 1817. We searched these records from 1815 to 1833. Recommendation #4 was dependent upon the 1851 Census Index of Glamorgan arriving at the Family History Library, but it has not appeared yet. Recommendation #5 is really not a great idea, and probably would not work, so should be deferred until everything else has been done. What remains to be done in Wales on these combined families is still quite imposing. We do need to locate the records (if they exist) of the six Non-Conformist Chapels outlined in the Lewis report. We also need to examine the estate papers of the local landed gentry who were the landlords of the property the ancestral families inhabited in Wales. We can probably find a copy of the 1851 Glamorgan Census Index in Swansea. We also need to order any certificates mentioned. As for the Davies side, we also need to order any outstanding certificates. The burial records could be retrieved while in Wales quite easily. Here, also, we need to determine if estate papers will help us. This would require us to again travel to the Denbigh County Record Office. 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. _2004 Price & Associates Incorporated JMK/mh

ROBERT ALLEN PROJECT SUMMARY

[Testimonies2006May / 0346] 16 June 2006

Lewis/Davies:

William John Lewis: AWhen [William] was seventeen years of age he had a very remarkable dream. He saw two men who preached the gospel restored to the earth in the latter days. He was so impressed with it that when he arrived at work the next morning he related his dream to his friend Thomas R. Jones and explained the wonderful principles of the gospel. Thomas was also impressed with what William had told him. As they were walking home from work, they cut across a waste piece of ground. As they started through they saw two men approaching and William exclaimed those were the ones he saw in his dream. Then the men drew near they spoke to William and Thomas and said they were Elders of the Church of Latter-day Saints and were holding a meeting tomorrow night and would like to have them attend. The next night they saw a crowd of people and in the crowd was a man standing on a chair preaching. As they listened they felt it was a meeting different from what they had heard before. After further investigation they applied for baptism. [William] was baptized in July 1849 in Cwmbach, Aberdare, Wales, by Elder Evan Roberts, and confirmed by Elder John PriceCwithin ten days after he received a testimony that the Church he had embraced was true.@ Served a mission for five years [document #146 pgs. 1-2].

William John Lewis: AWhile working [in an iron foundry] he saw a gathering of people in the street. He stopped to see what the attraction was and heard for the first time a Mormon Elder preaching. The elder was John Evans. He was standing on a chair in front of a tavern or public house, what we now call a hotel. He was telling the people about a young prophet Joseph Smith and the restoration of the Gospel, the Book of Mormon, the priesthood being restored to the earth again . . .@ William=s son tells of a vision his father had about his brother on the day his brother was killed in a mine [document #149 pg. 2].

William John Lewis: AWhen he was twelve years old he was ordained an Elder, and was called to labor as a local missionary. He labored as a missionary for seven years. When he was about twenty he was sent to North Wales@ [document #149 pg. 2].

William John Lewis: Crossed the plains in a handcart company. ADuring the trip [across the plains] almost everyone walked, and that included wading across the rivers and streams. Sometimes the water was very cold and dangerous for women. William realized this and, as he was a big, powerful man, he volunteered to carry the women across. . . . They made a fire and each time he came across the women would heat and rub his limbs so he would be able to go again.@ Their company called AStarvation Company.@ AAs the food supply became shorter, they were put on half rations. Strong men became discouraged and would lie down to die@ [document #146 pgs. 2-3].

William John Lewis: AWhen they came to rivers, William took Jane and Eleanor across first and then would make repeated trips to bring their belongings. On one occasion across the Platte, it took twenty-one trips in all. They made a fire and each time he came across the women would rub his arms and legs to keep him going. Through mismanagement of food, the group became known as the >Starvation Company.= They resorted to living on half-rations and the situation became so oppressive that some men just lay down to die. A man in William=s fifty did just that and William spent all night wandering over the area calling his name. When he finally found him, the man said that he had heard William at the first, but was too depressed to answer him. William loaded him onto a cart and took him back to camp. Without his knowledge, Jane and Eleanor shared their food with him and kept him alive to make the valley@ [document #147].

William John Lewis: served another mission in 1875. Served as Bishop in Provo [document #146 pgs. 3-4].