I am hoping someone can help me solve yet another puzzle in my family tree, whether Joseph Marsden b. 1837 changed his surname to Lewes Johns between 1861 and 1864. And why?
(A long email I know, but it is all very complicated!)
Joseph Marsden (b. abt 1837 in Silian) was one of the children of Jonathan Marsden (b. 1790 Winster, Derbs) and Elinor (Jones).
Joseph Marsden married Mary Price in Silian, Lampeter in 1858.
In 1861, they are in High Street Lampeter:
Joseph Marsden 24 yrs head Painter b. Silian
Mary Marsden 32 yrs wife b. Llanfihangel Croyddyn
Anne Eleanor Marsden 0 yrs dau b. Lampeter
plus workman and servant
I can't find him/them in 1871 or afterwards. But...
In 1871, there is this family in Llangybi, Cards which I think might be the same people. I can't find them earlier than this. (Perhaps painter=printer??)
Joseph Lewes Johns 34 yrs Printer b. Lampeter
Mary Lewes Johns 40 yrs wife b. Llanafan
Ann Lewes Johns 10 yrs dau b. Lampeter
Harriet Lewes Johns 6 yrs dau b. Lampeter
The birth of a Harriet Mary Adelaide Johns was reg in Sept qtr 1864. So if he changed his name and if this is his daughter Harriet, then he did so between 1861 and 1864.
Jonathan Marsden's mother's surname was Jones but I can't find a Lewes/Lewis Jones/Johns to connect to the family. Could he have changed his name because he no longer wanted to be associated with his father's family??
In 1876, Joseph Lewes Johns, widower, married Emma Sophia Marsden (b. Tredegar 1852 - 1927).
If Joseph Lewes Johns was the same person as Joseph Marsden, Emma Sophia Marsden would be his (half) first cousin. Their fathers would be half brothers.
She was the daughter of David Marsden (b. 1818 Llanfair, Cards).
In 1881, Joseph Lewes Johns is a hotel keeper in Swansea with his wife and 3 children, one of whom was called Jonathan Marsden Lewes Johns.
And in the household is Elen Louisa Rees 20 yrs, niece to the head of the household. Elen Louisa's mother was Anne Marsden, sister to Joseph Marsden b. 1837 Silian. Does this prove that Joseph changed his surname to Lewes Johns?
Elen Louisa Rees was certainly not the niece of Emma Sophia Marsden. Though perhaps the term "niece" was used very loosely. Or perhaps Elen Louisa was indeed the niece of Joseph Lewes Johns/Marsden.
Sorry it's such a long winded comples tale. But I would be very grateful for any ideas that might help.
