What is this initial on the 1881 census?

[heywood]

It sounds very likely.
He is in the same street which is mentioned in his probate and Elizabeth proved the will.
That might reveal more.

[heywood]

I just read your other thread and see that Elizabeth was at same address in 1891 as mentioned in the will.

[ValJJJ]

Yes, lots of connections.  I think 'John Lewis' had to be John Cheltenham Wake.  I think I'll send off for the will so see if the Wake Lewis children are mentioned.

[heywood]

That’s a good idea.

[ValJJJ]

Just looking at the probate record again, and it says Elizabeth Lewis, spinster.  I was so focussed on the addresses that I missed 'spinster'.  So this confirms Rootschatters' conclusions that she was unmarried.

[ValJJJ]

Just received the will and it was written on 13 Jan 1880 with his address 74 Newman St W in the county of Middlesex.  He died 18 May 1882 and probate was granted 5 Jan 1883.

It doesn't help re the Wake Lewis children as they aren't mentioned, and neither is his wife Clara.

He appointed Miss Elizabeth Lewis as his sole executrix.  Well I'm guessing it says Miss so will have to attach a snippet here, because the y of the word immediately above obscures.  In any case, elsewhere in the papers she is referred to as a spinster.

He bequeathed all his property, equally divided, between '...my son Herwald Wake and Elizabeth Lewis...'

So the educated guess is that he was the father of the Wake Lewis children.