I have done some sifting through my paperwork for the Lewis family.
Not a lot of info unfortunately, I had spoken to the transcription agent for NSW, he advised it was because they were early church records.
I have a listing for all the baptisms for Fitzgerald's Valley from 1869, all recorded for St.Stephens Church.
Susannah Lewis, my grandmother
Born 1864
Father, Joseph, farmer
Mother Jane, Ireland
Informant, Joseph, farmer, signed
Place, Fitzgerald's Valley
No denomination mentioned.
Joseph Lewis
Death 1889, Fitzgerald's Valley
Father, Charles Lewis
Mother, Mary Smith
Informant, W Goodfellow, Friend
CoE Fitzgerald's Valley.
Jane Lewis
Death, 1912, Fitzgerald's Valley
No parents Listed
Informant, T Lewis, son.
CoE Fitzgerald's Valley.
Note, All the children are correctly listed on both Josephs and Janes death cert.s
Birth, Mary A Lewis, 1854, South Creek, NSW
Father, Joseph Lewis
Mother, Jane Lewis
No denomination mentioned.
In relation to Charles Lewis marriage to Mary A Smith. I think that most the convicts would have been married CoE, because it had many benefits, re Samuel Marsden. I have read some colonial secretary's letters regarding the convicts converting to Christianity.
I do not have any info on Joseph Lewis whereabouts after his birth in 1832 to his marriage to Jane in 1853, a gap of 20 years, this could have been an important part of his life, maybe times were tough? or he was enticed for whatever reason, to become a member of the Presbyterian Church, as they were on the rise in the 1830's.
All their BMD's were in St. Stephens Anglican Church, Fitzgerald's Valley, maybe that was the only church there at the time?
I have no reason to doubt that this Joseph and Jane Lewis are my g grandparents, especially as previously noted that all Susannah's siblings were correctly listed on their death cert.s, it's their ancestors that I am doubtful about.
I hope this makes some sense?