Where do I look for Thomas Dewis?

[wdytya]

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.

[stanmapstone]

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

[wdytya]

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.

[Annette7]

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

[wdytya]

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?

[jennifer c]

Do you have all the information on his wife Elizabeth's second marriage and the children?

Jennifer

[wdytya]

I know she married a Samuel Gardiner. Would be interested to read what information you have in case I do not have this.

[jennifer c]

Is that your tree on line?

Jennifer

[wdytya]

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?