Thread: John Lewis

Hi,

I have a brickwall, which is driving my round the bend!! My great great grandfather - John Lewis, I just can't find anything about him before his second marriage, I am sure he has children from his first marriage. These are the facts that I know so far:

John Lewis born c1799 (however on his second marriage certificate he put 1810) in Gloucester.
His second marriage was to Sophia Robinson on 16th July 1860 at the Baptist Chapel in Gloucester both he and Sophia are listed as living in Sweet Briar St, Kingsholm, he is a widower. His occupation is listed as Iron Moulder and is father - John Lewis, Carpenter Journeyman
In the 1861 census, they are listed as living in Painswick next door to his father-in-law James Robinson, John's occupation is listed as labourer. At this pint they have one son John James Lewis who died in 1863
My great grandfather John Michael Robinson Lewis was born in 1865 in Kingsholm
They had other children - Sophia b. 1868, Clara b. 1864, George James c1867.
My great, great grandfather died in 1868 of lung disease in Council St, Kinsgsholm, Gloucester

My problem is that there are so many John Lewis's in the 1841 and 1851 census's and in the marriage parish records that I just can't nail him down.

I'd be grateful for any help you can give me.

Thanks
Jill

Hello

Have you seen this
H107 349 7
Painswick Stroud Glos
LEWIS John 45
LEWIS Mary 40
LEWIS Joseph 1826
LEWIS Hester 1826 All born in the County


elsabels

Thanks Elsabels - I have seen that one, but it looks as if his occupation is some sort of spinner and nothing really to link him to Kingsholm and the iron industry.

There is another John Lewis in the 1851 census H0 107 1965
Middle Hill, Stroud born in Gloucester
LEWIS John 55 Lab
LEWIS Caroline 20 cloth worker
LEWIS George 14 cloth worker

But again - there is nothing to link him back to Kingsholm

Thanks
Jill

Hi Jill,

Are you sure John was born in 1799 - I cannot find a John Lewis in 1841 who is about 41-42yrs old which he would be if born in 1799. Was he born in Kingsholm or do you not know? Do you have any info on his first marriage at all which may help?

Cheers Wendymac

Looking at the original Parish Register may reveal who his father is!

Gloucester, Gloucester, England
parents:Sophia Robinson
record title:England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
name:James John Robinson
baptism/christening date:08 Apr 1853
baptism/christening place:St. Mary-de-Lode's Church,Gloucester, Gloucester, England
mother's name:Sophia Robinson
indexing project (batch) number:I02037-1system origin:England-EASysource film number:855618

I'm not 100% sure that he was born in 1799 - as his second marriage cert. says he was born in 1810; however, everything else points to 1799/1800 ie. 1861 census and death cert. I'm also not sure about Kingsholm or how close this is to the parish of St Nicholas, Sweetbriar Street or Painswick but assumed that they were pretty close.

He is a real puzzle - he and Sophia were married in the Baptist Church so could be non-conformist? Also, Sophia did register his death in 1868 - a lady called Ann Clearland, I'm not sure who she was or why Sophia didn't register it. They were living in Council Street, Kingsholm St Mary by this time.

I haven't been able to place him in either 1841 or 1851 census for sure - there are a number of possibles.

I had assumed that Sophia married John because she had an illigitimate child and life was far from easy in those days - John is so much older than her. His death cert. lists lung disease, which I can imagine he probably would have had when he married in 1860.

Do you think he would have always worked in the iron industry? Could he have changed occupations? Was that normal in the 1800s?

Thanks
Jill

I'm afraid I have no information about his first marriage - I've many hours trying to find him, but there are always a couple of options and I can never pin point him to just one.

On the on-line Parish Records I've found:

John Lewis - baptised 24th March 1799 in Gloucester Aldgate - Parents John Lewis & Margaret
John Lewis - baptised 20th May 1801 in St Nicholas, Gloucester - Parents John Lewis & Mary
John Lewis - born 15th May 1803, baptised 11th Sept 1803 in St Mary De Lode, Gloucester - parents John Lewis & Septima

Anyone of these could be my John Lewis??