Allen Family History

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 ATirdarnaw@ 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. _2004 Price & Associates Incorporated RVG/mh

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[williamlancelot022505 / 0346] 10 March 2005

One thing which has bothered us as we have worked on this family is the fact the marriages for John Lewis and Margaret John, and Enoch Evans and Susan Williams are not in the International Genealogical Index. This is strange, since all Welsh were required to be married in the Anglican Church, despite the probability they were non-conformists. The latter point means these entries would not appear in the International Genealogical Index.
One marriage we had wondered about was John Lewis to a Margaret John on 12 July 1782 at Colwinston parish. We checked the Family History Library Catalog for information on this parish, and obtained the Parish Registers of Colwinston. We checked the marriage information, which was accurate, but as we checked the christenings from 1782 we saw this couple stayed in this parish beyond the calculated date of John Lewis, Jr.=s birth date of 1788. This indicates the marriage is not ancestral. We decided to re-examine the Bishop=s Transcripts of Llangyfelach, where we found the following entries: 1713/1714, Mar 2 Rees, son of Lodwick Lancelot christened 1726-1713 gap in records 1734, Dec 17 Jeremiah Lancelot md. Ann Jeremy 1763, Dec 3 Jeremiah Lancelot md. Anne William 1764, Jul 16 Ann, dau of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1766, Nov 23 William, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1769, May 27 David William md. Mary Lancelot 1769/1770, Jan 2 Thomas Lancelot md. Catherine Rees 1769/1770, Jan 3 Thomas, son of Thomas Lancelot and Catherine, chr. 1770, Apr 30 Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1772, Jul 17 Thomas, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened

We checked other non-conformist records in the area, starting with Gelli-Onnen Chapel - Presbyterian. There were no Lancelots in this parish, so on to the Mynydd-Bach Chapel - Independents which was actually too late to be of use. This was followed by the Tirdunkin Independent Chapel in Llangyfelach, where we found the following Lancelot entries: 1696, Jun 22 Lemuel, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1699, May 14 Margaret, dau of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1710, Apr 10 Mary, dau of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1703, July 4 Lodowick and Sarah, children of Jeremiah Lancelot christened

This was encouraging, so we now were a bit puzzled. We looked at the published volumes of the Llangyfelach Parish Registers previously, but we still could not quite understand why the family was not in them. We discovered the originals of the Llangyfelach Parish Registers were available on film, and we turned to them next. We quickly identified the problem - from 1744 to 1737 either was missing or illegible, and from 1728 earlier was illegible. This is in relation to the filmed version of these records, although we were able to read many parts between 1744-1737. What we need to do is to read the originals in Wales, where we can probably make out more of it.
Nevertheless, we carefully went through these records, and noted the illegible parts and the percentage we could not read. The entries we discovered were: 1749 partly illegible 1748, May 2 Jeremiah Lancelot buried; marriages & christenings illegible 1747 partly illegible 1746 illegible 1745, Apr 13 Jeremiah Lancelot buried 1745, Apr 28 Morgan, son of William Jeremiah christened 1744 Partly illegible 1743 may be missing 1742 mostly illegible 1741 30% illegible 1740 christenings and marriages illegible 1739 50% illegible 1738 may be missing 1737 marriages and burials illegible 1736 marriages illegible; christenings 40% illegible 1735 40% illegible 1734, Dec Jeremy Lancelot md. Anne Jeremy; 60% illegible 1733 may be missing 1732 complete but no family names 1731 50% illegible 1730 80% illegible 1729 80% illegible - switches to Latin 1728 90% illegible 1727 80% illegible 1726-1712 illegible 1711-1692 illegible

From the combination of the records searched, we were able to reconstruct a fairly complete family chart of the Lancelot family [document #1]. Due to the rarity of the Lancelot surname, we see Mary Lancelot who was born about 1742 - right in the range which is hard to read. Mary was the daughter of Jeremiah Lancelot and Ann Jeremy, with potential brothers Jeremiah (md. Ann William) and Thomas (md. Catherine Rees). Jeremiah Lancelot (md. to Ann Jeremy) was born about 1712 (illegible range), buried 2 May 1748, and his probable brother, Rees Lancelot christened 2 March 1713/1714 at Llangyfelach. Rees is a known son of a Lodowick Lancelot (Lodowick is the Latin form of Llewylln).
A Lodowick Lancelot, christened 4 July 1703, was the son of another Jeremiah Lancelot, born about 1672. Jeremiah=s other children were:
Lemuel, bapt. 22 Jun 1696 at Tir Dunken Independent Margaret, bapt. 14 May 1699 Tir Dunken Mary, bapt. 10 Apr 1701 Tir Dunken Sarah, bapt. 4 Jul 1703 Tir Dunken

The combinations of unusual given names and surname are especially helpful in Wales. It is likely the Ludowick who was the father of Rees (and probably Jeremiah), was a brother of Jeremiah who had a son Ludowick in 1703. It was a very time-consuming task reading nearly illegible records, but was worth it considering what we found. What is even more exciting is we have enough information to search estate records in Wales, which could extend the pedigree further.
An outline search revealed a complaint again Jeremiah Lancelot, labourer of Llangyfelach in 1758. Apparently, his cattle had gotten into the pastures of a gentleman, whose bailiff confiscated the cattle. Jeremiah took them back without permission. It is uncertain if this refers to the ancestral Jeremiah Lancelot, or his son [document #2]. This also means we need to go back through the originals in Wales and work on the other family names on the pedigree, namely John Lewis, Margaret John, Enoch Evans, and David William. We could possibly find them as well in the estate records, since many of them would be in the Tithe Maps of 1840. 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. _2005 Price & Associates Incorporated JMK/mh

ROBERT ALLEN PROJECT SUMMARY

[williamlancelot022505 / 0346] 10 March 2005

OBJECTIVES Seek parents of David William and Mary Lancelot.

RESULTS Identified probable parents of Mary Lancelot as Jeremiah Lancelot and Ann Jeremy.

Found probable brothers Jeremiah and Thomas Lancelot.

Found probable uncle Rees Lancelot, the son of Ludowick Lancelot.

Found another Lodowick Lancelot and his siblings Lemuel, Margaret, Mary, and Sarah, children of Jeremiah.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Read original parish registers of Llangyfelach onsite in Wales for Lewis, John, Evans, William, and Lancelot.

Find the above families in the Tithe Maps of 1840.

Find estate records for Llangyfelach, and try to trace families there.

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[williamlancelot022505 / 0346] 10 March 2005

One thing which has bothered us as we have worked on this family is the fact the marriages for John Lewis and Margaret John, and Enoch Evans and Susan Williams are not in the International Genealogical Index1.  This is strange, since all Welsh were required to be married in the Anglican Church, despite the probability they were non-conformists.  The latter point means these entries would not appear in the International Genealogical Index.  
One marriage we had wondered about was John Lewis to a Margaret John on 12 July 1782 at Colwinston parish.  We checked the Family History Library Catalog2 for information on this parish, and obtained the Parish Registers of Colwinston3.  We checked the marriage information, which was accurate, but as we checked the christenings from 1782 we saw this couple stayed in this parish beyond the calculated date of John Lewis, Jr.’s birth date of 1788.  This indicates the marriage is not ancestral.
We decided to re-examine the Bishop’s Transcripts of Llangyfelach4, where we found the following entries:

1713/1714, Mar 2 Rees, son of Lodwick Lancelot christened 1726-1713 gap in records 1734, Dec 17 Jeremiah Lancelot md. Ann Jeremy 1763, Dec 3 Jeremiah Lancelot md. Anne William 1764, Jul 16 Ann, dau of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1766, Nov 23 William, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1769, May 27 David William md. Mary Lancelot 1769/1770, Jan 2 Thomas Lancelot md. Catherine Rees 1769/1770, Jan 3 Thomas, son of Thomas Lancelot and Catherine, chr. 1770, Apr 30 Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1772, Jul 17 Thomas, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened

We checked other non-conformist records in the area, starting with Gelli-Onnen Chapel - Presbyterian5.  There were no Lancelots in this parish, so on to the Mynydd-Bach Chapel - Independents6 which was actually too late to be of use.  This was followed by the Tirdunkin Independent Chapel7 in Llangyfelach, where we found the following Lancelot entries:

1696, Jun 22 Lemuel, son of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1699, May 14 Margaret, dau of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1710, Apr 10 Mary, dau of Jeremiah Lancelot christened 1703, July 4 Lodowick and Sarah, children of Jeremiah Lancelot christened

This was encouraging, so we now were a bit puzzled.  We looked at the published volumes of the Llangyfelach Parish Registers previously, but we still could not quite understand why the family was not in them.  We discovered the originals of the Llangyfelach Parish Registers8 were available on film, and we turned to them next.
We quickly identified the problem - from 1744 to 1737 either was missing or illegible, and from 1728 earlier was illegible.  This is in relation to the filmed version of these records, although we were able to read many parts between 1744-1737.  What we need to do is to read the originals in Wales, where we can probably make out more of it.  
Nevertheless, we carefully went through these records, and noted the illegible parts and the percentage we could not read.  The entries we discovered were:

1749 partly illegible 1748, May 2 Jeremiah Lancelot buried; marriages & christenings illegible 1747 partly illegible 1746 illegible 1745, Apr 13 Jeremiah Lancelot buried 1745, Apr 28 Morgan, son of William Jeremiah christened 1744 Partly illegible 1743 may be missing 1742 mostly illegible 1741 30% illegible 1740 christenings and marriages illegible 1739 50% illegible 1738 may be missing 1737 marriages and burials illegible 1736 marriages illegible; christenings 40% illegible 1735 40% illegible 1734, Dec Jeremy Lancelot md. Anne Jeremy; 60% illegible 1733 may be missing 1732 complete but no family names 1731 50% illegible 1730 80% illegible 1729 80% illegible - switches to Latin 1728 90% illegible 1727 80% illegible 1726-1712 illegible 1711-1692 illegible

From the combination of the records searched, we were able to reconstruct a fairly complete family chart9 of the Lancelot family [document #1].  Due to the rarity of the Lancelot surname, we see Mary Lancelot who was born about 1742 - right in the range which is hard to read.  Mary was the daughter of Jeremiah Lancelot and Ann Jeremy, with potential brothers Jeremiah (md. Ann William) and Thomas (md. Catherine Rees).
Jeremiah Lancelot (md. to Ann Jeremy) was born about 1712 (illegible range), buried 2 May 1748, and his probable brother, Rees Lancelot christened 2 March 1713/1714 at Llangyfelach.  Rees is a known son of a Lodowick Lancelot (Lodowick is the Latin form of Llewylln).  
A Lodowick Lancelot, christened 4 July 1703, was the son of another Jeremiah Lancelot, born about 1672.  Jeremiah’s other children were:  

Lemuel, bapt. 22 Jun 1696 at Tir Dunken Independent Margaret, bapt. 14 May 1699 Tir Dunken Mary, bapt. 10 Apr 1701 Tir Dunken Sarah, bapt. 4 Jul 1703 Tir Dunken

The combinations of unusual given names and surname are especially helpful in Wales.  It is likely the Ludowick who was the father of Rees (and probably Jeremiah), was a brother of Jeremiah who had a son Ludowick in 1703.  It was a very time-consuming task reading nearly illegible records, but was worth it considering what we found.  What is even more exciting is we have enough information to search estate records in Wales, which could extend the pedigree further.  
An outline search revealed a complaint again Jeremiah Lancelot, labourer of Llangyfelach in 1758.  Apparently, his cattle had gotten into the pastures of a gentleman, whose bailiff confiscated the cattle.  Jeremiah took them back without permission.  It is uncertain if this refers to the ancestral Jeremiah Lancelot, or his son [document #2].10
This also means we need to go back through the originals in Wales and work on the other family names on the pedigree, namely John Lewis, Margaret John, Enoch Evans, and David William.  We could possibly find them as well in the estate records, since many of them would be in the Tithe Maps of 1840.
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.

2005 Price & Associates Incorporated JMK/mh

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH CALENDAR

[williamlancelot022505 / 0346] 10 March 2005

Sources of information: 1. Marriage Index: Grooms (Fiche #6400050)