G'Day (Shw Mae)
I am hoping that someone is researching a LEWIS or LEAKE family of
Monmouthshire who has a child Emma born in Feb 1824. The problem is that
EMMA LEWIS LEAKE is the only name we have, no parents, no siblings.
Family stories relate that Emma's mother remarried and Emma was sent to
boarding school in Chepstow, but ran away from school, and migrated to
Melbourne Australia from London, arrving Melb, Dec 1843. Had at least one
brother, who may have visited Australia in the 1860s. Also tales of
disownment for marrying into "working class" and that step-father was
well-to-do.
It's all pretty sketchy information, but the few facts we can find tend to
back up the story. I have lots of questions, but don't know where to start
for answers -
Would the family have lived in the Chepstow area for her to go there to
school ?
If her father was Welsh, was his name LEWIS or LEAKE ? Was it anglicised in
the 1820s or would he have used the Welsh form ?
How common was Emma a given name amongst the Welsh ?
Are there any LEAK(E)s in Chepstow or surrounds?
How did she get from Chepstow to London - it was a long way for a 16 yearold
runaway in the 1840s ?
Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.
Diane Cole
Rydalmere
Sydney NSW