Hello,
I'm attempting to determine my Welsh roots via one, James Lewis [a
GGGrandfather] born about 1794 in Wales; and to learn of his family which
appears to have emigrated to Canada in 1840. [James' year of birth is
estimated and based on a census return] While tracing his children, I was
surprised to find on the marriage registration of his youngest Welsh-born
son, Thomas, that the son had declared James Lewis and Margaret Walters as
his parents. I was surprised because, in the 1851 census of Haldimand
County, Upper Canada, James' wife's is shown as `Berry' . They are living
at home with their six Welsh born children and a daughter born in Canada.
There is a gap of 6-7 years between the births of Thomas, circa 1837 and
his younger sister, born circa 1844. This gap leads me to surmise that
during this period, Margaret died, James remarried and the family
emigrated. When or where the death and remarriage occurred, I simply do not
know. Of course, Margaret might also have died during the voyage to Canada
or upon arrival and James might have met and married Berry in Canada. He
had 11 years to do it before the first census and four years to marry and
have a child with Berry, assuming also that Berry was this child's mother
and not Margaret.
Anyway, for now, I've opted to presume that Margaret died in Wales. Isn't
speculation wonderful !!!
I've searched the Free BMD index for a James Lewis/ Berry ??? marriage
between 1837 and 1840 but came up empty. [Side bar: The Oxford first names
dictionary yields Berry as a female Christian name. I originally had qualms
about the name and suspected a census taker error. It, of course, still
could be incorrect.]
I searched the same index for the death of a Margaret Lewis during the same
period and found six records. Two deaths occurred in England so I've, for
the moment, set them aside. Three deaths occurred in 1840, the year the
family emigrated, so I've set them aside also. This leaves me with two to
investigate `if possible'.
Which brings me to the death of a Margaret Lewis in Crickhowell in Mar.
1839. I understand Crickhowel is in Breconshire. The other death that
currently intrigues me was in Monmouthshire. [A similar post will appear
in that List.]
Can any of you good folks help me learn of this person, Margaret Lewis, nee
Walters? Suggestions?
Thanks for your indulgence.
Ron Davies
Surrey, BC
Canada