Lewis (Drapers) Llanegwad

[marklefty]

Hi
I am chasing a wild goose chase for my wifes Gt Grandfather who was a runaway in the 1890s and think the Lewis Family of Llanegwad may be his bloodline.

Is anyone searching this family on the group?

Most of the family became Drapers or Shop owners in Swansea- Neath area

They also ran the coffee house in Llanegwad

Best regards

Mark

[AlexHoughton]

   Hello,
  I am a direct descendant of the Lewis-Bailey family of Llanegwad who ran Coffee House and lived there until the 1970's. I'm very interested to see whether the match exists,
  Kind Regards,
         Alex.

[marklefty]

Hi Alex
Many thanks for the reply
My Wife's Gt Grandfather James (Harris the name he used) allegedly ran away from home due to cruelty (that's the rumour) and a few snippets of info seemed to fit your family. The info I know is he was a welsh speaker, used to be fairly good with his fists as he used to box but at the same time a kind man.
Their is a rumour that the family owned a shop or shops and that he was cheap labour so ran away from home was caught and shipped onto his brothers work.
I have been told there is stories of two people from the family being involved in the Klondike gold rush.
He was born in the 1870s I would imagine mid to end and has stated he came from Llandysul and Swansea Pontardulais on two Census.
The facts I know are he arrived at Rhayader in the late 1890s and married a local girl worked on the dam, and ended his years as a fireman in the mines in Abertillery, we have a few pictures of him.
Best regards

Mark

[Morganllan]

Hi Mark

I checked 1881 for James ? born in 1870s but nothing obvious.
There was a James Lewis but he was age 20 working as a Farm Servant (indoor) with farmer John Davies at Penrhiwmeredith,  Llanegwad, Carmarthen
RG11 5389 / 79 Page 5

David Lewis age 26 Tailor (Master) (Employing 1 Man) and his wife
Eliza Lewis age 26
were at Coffee House, Llanegwad, Carmarthen
RG11 5389 / 43 Page 13

Morgan

[marklefty]

Hi Morgan

I am not certain his name was James originally, which is a problem one of many.
Initially his children were named after her family then a concoction of names which not sure where they came from Ivor, Ivorelle, John Jenkin then to the welsh names near the end Morfydd and Ceridwyn I was hoping this would lead me to the family.
If you could let me any suspects and I will follow them through to see if they fit.

Many thanks

Mark

[AlexHoughton]

Hello Mark,
Unfortunately I have no knowledge of any of this, i.e. James Harris or people in the Klondike gold rush which is interesting to know. As such all I really can offer is the family tree as I have it, as I presume although as you suggest a link is there, it may be slightly hard to define.
Esther Lewis (1859-1933) married James Bailey (1851-1931)
Esther had to my knowledge 2 siblings, John Lewis (Family tales say he was adopted and moved to Canada) and David Lewis (As Morgan mentions).
The parents of these 3 Children are John Lewis (1822 Born Llanegwad) and Susan (1823 Born Llanegwad). Hope this offers some starting ground for you.
        Regards,
                Alex.