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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: wdytya on Tuesday 07 November 17 12:22 GMT (UK)
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I am returning to this part of my FH after a break as previously I had failed to break down "my wall". My ancestors were from London and having traced back to the marriage and death of my gr gr gr grandfather Thomas Dewis I have never been able to find his birth and parents. He was married 20th August 1832 in the parish of St Dustan Stepney and died in Guys hospital December 1839, death registered St Olave Southwark and name misspelt as Dewars. He was buried at St Andrews Undershaft church, I think in the parish of St Katherine Kree, on the 22 Dec 1839 aged 38. The problem is I suppose as in all London searches is knowing which parish he was born in as there are so many.I think it must be an impossible task especially if you are unable to travel to the records offices in London, but then if you could which records do you search?
One other thing, when the churchyard of St Andrews Undershaft was built over by skyscrapers they must have dug down a great depth for the foundations so would they have moved the remains the buried people, if so where would they have been re-buried or did they just concrete the area over?
any thoughts are very welcome.
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One other thing, when the churchyard of St Andrews Undershaft was built over by skyscrapers they must have dug down a great depth for the foundations so would they have moved the remains the buried people, if so where would they have been re-buried or did they just concrete the area over?
any thoughts are very welcome.
According to this 1951 map there was no churchyard of St Andrews Undershaft there then
http://maps.nls.uk/view/103031118#zoom=4&lat=2696&lon=2414&layers=BT
This is called the Churchyard at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/St_Andrew_Undershaft_with_St_Mary_Axe,_London_Genealogy#Cemetery
Street View https://goo.gl/maps/witdnr41afD2
Stan
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Thanks for the info, I will have a good read through it. As Thomas was a chimney sweep I doubt his widow had money for a headstone etc. The churchyard extended around the church and the os of 1878 shows buildings built over the site.
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You don't mention that his marriage in 1832 gives his name as 'Duies'.
I think the major problem is how his name would have been recorded at his birth. I note that the name 'Dewis' is prevalent in Warwickshire and suspect this could be where he came from. The name/variants in London are few and far between before his marriage in 1832.
Annette
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Yes I agree that the further you go back the name could be spelt differently as illiteracy was common and so the name was written as it was said. Mind you there a records of bmd in the name of Dewis in the 1500,s 1600,s 1700,s and these persons living in London. The name goes back to the Walloons and there are a number of Dewis’s who were weavers in London. I have yet to find a Warwickshire connection with Thomas, maybe someone will find one?
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Do you have all the information on his wife Elizabeth's second marriage and the children?
Jennifer
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I know she married a Samuel Gardiner. Would be interested to read what information you have in case I do not have this.
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Is that your tree on line?
Jennifer
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I do not think it is, Over the years I have shared information when asked so it might be the tree of that person. Can I access it or do I need a subscription?
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Its on Ancestry.
Jennifer
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Having looked on Ancestry there are a few Dewis tree records. I cannot open them as I do not have a subscription but looking at the names there does not appear to be any record earlier than Thomas Dewis b 1801.
It must be an onerous task to search through every record contained in every London parish records even if you live or can travel to London. How do professional FH researchers do it?
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Any further suggestions would be much appreciated before I put this issue to one side for a while as probably a trip to the London records office is needed or a professional researcher who will know where to search?
Thanks for all your help, you are all generous with your knowledge and time
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Have you considered the marriage of Thomas Dewis of Bedworth Warwickshire to Sarah Webb of St Botolph's without Bishopgate she was a minor married by license 26 February 1799
Witness Thomas Darlson, Ann Shank. All signed.
ADDED
The marriage bond may have more information if it has survived
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Good find. Looks like there could be a daughter Sarah born 7/12/1800 bap. 22/12/1800 St Leonards Shoreditch parents Thomas & Sarah Dewis. Can anyone see more information on this?
Jennifer
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Looks to be Elizabeth in 1841 census indexed under the name Davis
6 Booker Gardens St Katherines Cree Church
Elizabeth 29
Thomas 9
Christopher 4
Emma 3
Jennifer
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St Andrew Undershaft
Christopher Antony Dewis born 13/12/1836 bapt 14/5/1837
Parents Thomas & Sarah occ Chimneysweep address 3 Greyhound Alley.
Jennifer
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19/2/1843 St Johns Bethnal Green
Samuel Gardiner bach Sweep father Robert Gardiner Sweep
Elizabeth Dewis widow father Angel Byrne? Gunsmith both of 7 Bookers Gardens
Jennifer
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The other marriage gives Elizabeth Evans?
Jennifer
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There is an Angel Byrne death in 1838 Whitechapel possible father. The Angel Byrne gunsmith on the census is most likely her brother similar age also a gunsmith.
Jennifer
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1841 census Back Road St Geo.in the East
Angel Byrne 25 Gunsmith
Esther 25
Esther 3
Martha 1
Jennifer
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An A Byrne is a witness to the first marriage in 1832 to Elizabeth Evans?
Jennifer
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Thank you for your replies. My Thomas Dewis (spelt on many records incorrectly as I guess they could not read and write so it was recorded as it was said/heard) is the one that married Elizabeth Evans although my research, as you have found, she said on her second marriage that her father was Angel Byrne. On the marriage parish record Elizabeth Evans states she is a spinster and on the birth certificate of her daughter she says her maiden name is Evans. Never got to the bottom of that one either. During their marriage they lived in Bookers Gardens and Greyhound Alley so in different parishes? which might explain the St Andrews Undershaft parish record showing abode as St Katherine Cree. All of Thomas’s children were baptised in St Andrews Undershaft church so maybe Thomas's wife wanted him buried there although they were living in another parish.