We were lucky that the information given on the marriage certificate of my
husband's ancestress was absolutely truthful. She had always been known as
Maria REES, dau, of Elizabeth REES and grand-daughter of Hopkin REES,
farmer of Tir Evan Llwyd. She married John GRIFFITH in Swansea in
1848. We bought the only suitable certificate, but the family refused to
accept it as they could not believe she had called herself:
"Maria LEWIS, daughter of Rees LEWIS, farmer & butcher"
As she had died in Clase, Morriston, as late as 1914, there were still
people around at that time who remembered her well. Later, we found her
baptism in Llangyfelach 1831 as:
"Maria, bastard daughter of Elizabeth REES, maid servant, and Rees LEWIS,
farmer of Bryn Mawr".
Rees LEWIS married Catherine MORRIS in 1850 and he was still alive in 1881
aged 77. He had a large family: Lucy, Mary, John, Rachael, Howell,
Thomas, David, Hannah & Catherine. There may have been more. There are
several deaths registered for "Rees LEWIS" after 1881 and we have been
unable to trace his burial. His father, another, Rees LEWIS had married
Lucy HARRY (or HARRIES), in 1800.
Sadly, we have been unable to find any trace of Elizabeth REES (b.c.1811),
Maria's mother.
Is there anyone who is interested in either of these families? We would
be pleased to share information with them.
Anne
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