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« on: Tuesday 13 December 16 00:08 GMT (UK) »
Thank you for the further replies .
I'm afraid i would probably fall foul of the mods to post the "full" story regarding this family and my research into them - but suffice to say it leads into my family research in London /Essex areas where it has been a longstanding brick wall .
However the key elements pertaining to this particular family in Sheffield and which relates to my original post are these -
1. a family called Lewis that i have traced to Sheffield area ( have found marriage/ births etc to back up the following )-
i have them in the 1871 census -
West Sheffield St Peter Ed 1, Hous/Sch 76, piece 4676 Folio 12 Page 17
59/61 West Bar
Thomas Lewis HD 32 Commercial Porter Manchester Lancs
Mary J 30 Wife Wife Sheffield Yorks
Wm H 11 Son
Mary J 6 Dau
Thomas 1 Son
John Carr 24 Drapers Ass
Susannah 25 Wife Matlock Derbyshire
John W Carr 2 son
Ruth Carr 3 mths
Albert Smith 29 Lodger Commercial Porter
( all bn Sheffield Yorks unless stated )
The same family appears in 1881 as -
Noth Sheffield St Philips Ed 17 , Piece 4646 , Folio 18 , Page No 29
9 Burn Tree Lane
John C Lewis HD 34 Warehouseman
Mary J Wife Wife 40
Wm H 21 Son
Mary J 17 Dau
Fanny 10 Dau
Ada 8 Dau
Matha 5 Dau
Wm Maxwell 36 Lodger Commercial Traveller London
Thos Lewis 12 Son
Arthur Lewis 1 1/2 Son
( all listed as bn Sheffield York unless stated )
As can be seen this is the same woman and children as per previous census (with further subsequent children ) . The main problem is the Hd details clearly indicate a different man from her previous husband Thomas Lewis .
The facts as found are these -
Thomas Lewis and Mary J Carr md Mar Q 1859 Sheffield
The John Carr living with them in 1871 is Mary Jane's brother and his wife etc
Thomas Lewis is not deceased by 1881 as he is found away from his family living in Liverpool as a Hotel Porter in that year and this is also confirmed by the 1891 census which shows him with his eldest son William Henry -
Ecclesall Bierlow Ed 5 Piece 2802 , Folio 80 , Page No 12
Eldon St
William Lewis 30 Hd Silversmith
Elizabeth 28 Wife Liverpool Lancs
Edith 6 Dau
Thomas Lewis 55 Father Widower Hotel Servant Manchester Lancs
Arthur Lewis 11 Brother
Thomas Lewis burial detail from Sheffield Indexers -
LEWIS, Thomas (Hotel Porter, age 60).
Died at Ecclesall Union; Buried on January 4, 1897 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 24, Section Z5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 28417.
I have much more details on this family inc the children found in subsequent census etc but the key points are these -
Thomas & Mary J Lewis appear together in 1861 /71 census but would seem are not together by 1881 as she is now living with another (mysterious ) man named John C Lewis .
There appears to be no man found before or after this 1881 entry (birth & census etc) that matches this man's stated details .
Although Thomas Lewis is listed as a widower in 1891 census there appears no death record matching his wife Mary Jane in the years 1881-1891 ( or later in fact )
Similarly the rest of the family appear nowhere to be found in the 1891 census year , the only elements of the family found in that year are as listed above (eldest son Wm H , his father Thomas & younger brother Arthur ).
John C Lewis , Mary J Lewis and all 4 Lewis dau's disappear from further census - only the son Thomas Lewis who is also missing in 1891 census but reappears 1901/1911 in Manchester with his wife .
What i was trying to do in my original post was to try for any records between the 1871-81 years which might give further detail on this family - most particularly the elusive John C Lewis and if he is listed at the addresses with Mary Jane earlier in order to indicate how long he has been on the scene with the family.
I could list much more to back up the above so to speak but one last point to make is that i cannot find anything more on females in this family after the 1881 census -the only record that shows up is a baptisms in 1895 April 17
Frank Lewis, s/o George and Ada DAVIES, 54 Sturge St
Edith, d/o William Henry and Elizabeth Ann LEWIS, 54 Sturge
St
This shows the elder son William Henry Lewis & younger sister Ada Lewis - both listed at the same address.
The problem here is that there is no known marriage record for a George Davies & Ada Lewis & the Bcert for the child Frank Lewis shows him bn 31 March 1895 and registered on 26th April 1895 .
Informant Ada Lewis (mother ) 54 Sturge St Sheffield - no father given .
However the actual Baptism record for Frank Lewis stated the parents as George & Ada Davies his occupation " Steward " - the indication being that the child Frank is illegitimate .
This part of the tale leads onto my other family research in London Essex areas so probably not relevant to this thread but suffice to say it is a major headache .
Apologies for the length of this post ( but you did ask LOL ) i realise it does appear complicated but i tried my best to keep relevant to the subject and in some kind of order .
If anyone has any thoughts i'm very open to any theories or suggestions .
Thanks for reading
Eden