Lewis family in wales

[Chris7471]

I am trying to find it nformation on a James Lewis born in Wales abt 1858. His wife is Mary Jane Jones from Pittsburg, PA and he has a son named William Lewis born in Chicago, IL. I can't find any info about who his parents are or if he is from Wales, UK or Wales, Australia...any thoughts?

[jorose]

If on the US census he says he's from "Wales", it will mean Wales in the UK.
If he was from New South Wales, US records would specify Australia. I've never seen anyone say "Wales" to mean NSW.

Unfortunately you've got a very common surname there, so you'll need to concentrate on US records first. For example, do you know when he married in the US, and when he died? Did he become a US citizen? When did he arrive in the US?

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

Presumably this is the family
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQYW-8B4

....

I see you have posted more information about the family here
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=859371.9

In the 1900 census for James Lewis wife Mary Jane Jones it says Mary is a widow so he has to be dead before 1900. James son is William Lewis born in 1881. I'm thinking James died in the war around 1916 cause since he was away at war he wouldn't be listed in the census would he?

Mary Jane his wife was born abt 1863

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Mary Jones is with her parents on the 1880 census in Maine .Parents Thomas C Jones born 1833 Wales and his wife Catherine born 1834 Wales.
Mary Jane Jones has married and is having her first children -William born 3.3.1881  in Chicago at Brown Mills.Then Kate Aug 1883 in Maine ,Thomas Apr 1886 in Maine ,Mary Jan 1888 Maine and Raymond 7 Jan 1892 at Maine.
So James died somewhere between 1892 and 1900.And the couple must have married between 1880 and 1881.

His gravestone is at Cape Elizabeth Cemetery 21.11.1893 born 6 Aug 1858.
His death cert gives parents William R Lewis  and Mary  lewis nee Waters? Father iron wrcker.James died of diabtes.

1880 census Maine at Cape Elizabeth.
William C Lewis 50 puddler Wales
Mary 53 Wales
James 21 lab Wales
Bell 16 Pensylvania
Willie 13 Tenesse
Sarah 10 Tennesse

There is a possible marriage in Merthyr Tydfil Dec 1856 for Mary Waters and William Lewis.

possible death for William O Lewis at Portland Maine 23.1.1912 s of John and Elizabeth Lewis nee Divers
(William and Mary seem to be living with their married daughter Sarah).William retired Father  iron maker?William died of a stroke age 81 Mary died 2 Jan 1912 d of John and Sarah Waters also in Portland.Age 85.Her father was a slater.

ps 1861 census Merthyr
William 31 puddler born Pembrkeshire
Mary 33 same
John 4 and James 2 born Merthyr Tidfil.

Good luck with tracking them down- It looks like they were both baptised in St Davids at a non conformist chapel.(It's on Ancestry).

Ciderdrinker

[osprey]

birth registration
James Lewis dec qtr 1858 Merthyr Tydfil vol 11a pg 300 mmn Waters

The 1856 marriage cert should confirm names & occupations of fathers of the couple

Possible non-conformist baptism
17 Sept 1826 Mary born 26 Aug daughter of John, labourer, & Sarah Waters of Tremyny in the parish of St David's

If this is the correct baptism, marriage of parents in St David's 3 Nov 1825 John Waters & Sarah George, witnesses James George & John Phillip.

[osprey]

this could be William & family in Merthyr Tydfil in 1851

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG8F-YP7

possible non-conformist baptism in St David's 21 Sept 1830 William born 15 Aug son of John, farmer, & Elizabeth Lewis of Trefadoc.
There's a baptism to John & Sarah Waters a few lines later.

[osprey]

just found the headstone for William Lewis & Sarah Watters and also noted is Elizabeth Lewis 1804 - 1881.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199451360/elizabeth-lewis

William's middle initial is O so it's possible that the marriage of his parents is
26 May 1826 in St David's John Lewis & Elizabeth Owens, witnesses Thomas Owens & William Roberts.

1871 census in Knoxville, Tennessee
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDD8-3HC