Notes:
ROBERT G. ALLEN
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 Collie 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 lodger 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 about 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.
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