John Lewis 1853 – 1921
John Lewis has been rather difficult to track down but I was fortunate to find the link to Charles and Mary Rhodes (nee Richards). He was living with them in 1861 (age 8) and 1871 (age 18). He was born in Newtown but I have not been able to find any records of baptism or of his parents other than his father’s name was Edward. Hopefully, a visit to Montgomery records office will be fruitful.
His wife, Anne, has also been difficult to follow but I have now established that her maiden name was Furber. The census returns show glaring inaccuracies in ages and I wonder if this was deliberate to try and hide a possible 9 year age difference. The problem next was to sort out which of the 4 Ann Furbers born in the Hodnet / Wem area at that time was our ancestor.
Her marriage record gives her father as Thomas (gardener) and census records state that she was born in Marchamley, Hodnet. She also admits in all the census returns to being older than her husband John. The four possible Ann Furbers were born in 1856, 1854, 1844, 1844. I have discarded 1856 as she is younger than John Lewis and 1854 as her father was named Richard. The 1844 candidates both have fathers named Thomas. One Thomas, however, was a carpenter and he moved with his family to Birmingham and while there it appears that his daughter, Ann Furber, married Henry Foote. This leaves the other Ann Furber who I have found in the 1851 census living with her parents, Thomas (agricultural labourer) and Sarah, and other family members in Marchamley. I am now confident that this Ann Furber is our ancestor.
Children They had 4 children – 2 boys and 2 girls. It looks as though they were recycling family names :-
Thomas Edward Lewis :- John Lewis’ father was named Edward and Ann Furber’s was Thomas
Charles Lewis :- John Lewis brought up by Charles Rhodes
Mary Elizabeth Lewis :- John Lewis brought up by Mary Rhodes. I wonder if his mother was named Elizabeth
Sarah Ellen Lewis :- Ann Furber’s mother was named Sarah and she had sisters named Sarah and Ellen
GAJ Nov 2009
John Lewis 1853-1921 Update
In April 2010 I went to Llandrindod Wells to visit the Powys Archives which cover Newtown in the old Montgomeryshire.
Despite extensive searching I could not find a suitable baptism (c1853) for John Lewis with father Edward and I had no luck identifying his aunt Mary Richards.
I also contacted the Powys register office (BMD) and they could not find anything. There is a possibility that the birth was not registered and that he was not baptised. So this branch of the family tree remains a mystery.
GAJ May 2010