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Please can someone help me find my grt grt grandfather JAMES HENRY FREDERICK LEWIS.

All I know about him is that he was a solicitor and married to MAHALA and they had 2 children - HENRY FREDERICK WILLIAM b 1841 in Soho and EMILY ROWENA b1849 in Westminster,Middlesex- my grt grandmother.

I can only guess at his date of birth which I have put at about 1801- 1815 - I have found him in 1848,1851 and 1856 in the PO Directories where he is a solicitor living at 28 Essex Street, Strand, London,

The only marriage I can find which seems to be the right James is in October quarter of 1845 in Strand,Midsx but doesn' t tie in with the birth of Henry in 1841 - but its possible.

I cant find James in any census ,birth or death records. In 1841 Mahala is married and with 2 month old Henry but no James. In 1851 Mahala is married with 2 children Henry and Emily - no James.

In 1861 Mahala is a widow living in Brighton with Emily
I have Mahala in 1871,81, 91 and 1901 and death in 1903

I have looked and looked and found no trace of James at all except the 3 PO entries.He must have died between 1856 and 1861 - but where is he when married.????

On some of the census records with Mahala there are others who could be related - Mary Ann Collins,Julia Hanniford, JF Lewis.

I really need some more eyes to look for him - I'm well and truly stumped. Help very much appreciated please.

Thanks alot

Rosie

1861 England Census
about James H F Lewis
Name: James H F Lewis <<<Solicitor
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Elizabeth Lewis
Gender: Male
Where born: Worcester, Worcestershire, England

Civil Parish: Westminster St Clement Danes
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England


Registration district: Strand
Sub-registration district: St Clement Danes
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 55
Household Members: Name Age
James H F Lewis 50
Elizabeth Lewis 47
Henry C Lewis 15
Edgar N W Lewis 13
Florence E Lewis 9
Eleanor R Lewis 6
Herbert M Lewis 4
Mary A Fowler 19

Hello Rosie, there seems to be some conflicting info.

The marriage you have attached to your tree on Ancestry is this:

Name: James Henry Frederic Lewis
Year of Registration: 1845
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Strand (1837-1913)
County: London, Middlesex
Volume: 1
Page: 377

The people listed on the page are:

Thomas Bodkin 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
Eliza Lucy Buckland 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
Eliza Haddon 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
George Henry Clarke Hall 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
Martin Williiam Kirck 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
James Henry Frederic Lewis 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
Sarah Elizabeth Lloyd 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex
Elizabeth Maddison 1845 Strand (1837-1913) London, Middlesex

None of the brides on that page are called Mahala. I don't know if Mahala is a nickname for one of the ladies?

Edit: based on the census Ginny has posted, it looks a possible that the bride of the James Henry Frederick on the marriage record you found was actually Elizabeth Maddison.

JAMES HENRY FREDERICK LEWIS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening: 27 AUG 1810 St Martins, Birmingham, Warwick, England
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents:
Father: JAMES HENRY FRESERICK
Mother: HANNAH LEWIS

And here he seems to be in 1871

1871 England Census
about Edgar N W Lewis
Name: Edgar N W Lewis
Age: 23
Estimated birth year: abt 1848
Relation: Son
Father's name: James H F Lewis <<Solicitor
Mother's name: Elizabeth Lewis
Gender: Male
Where born: Westminster, Middlesex, England
Civil Parish: Fulham
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: Kensington
Sub-registration district: Fulham
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Household schedule number: 165
Household Members: Name Age
James H F Lewis 60
Elizabeth Lewis 58
Henry C Lewis 25
Edgar N W Lewis 23
Florence E Lewis 19
Elenor R Lewis 16
Herbert M Lewis 14

I did find the marriage in 1845 but I'm getting really confused. Maybe Mahala is a middle or as you suggest a nick name but she is definately on all records as being Mahala.Would the Elizabeth Maddison be the right person do you think?
Emily Rowena is definately the daughter of J H F Lewis - I have the original- albeit tatty -marriage certificate for Emily where he appears

For info

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
about Emily Rensena Lewis
Name: Emily Rensena Lewis
[Emily Rowena Lewis]
Spouse Name: William Edward Balt
Spouse Age: Full Age
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 17 Apr 1873
Parish: St Mary, Hanwell
County: Middlesex
Borough: Ealing
Father Name: James Henry Frederick Lewis
Spouse Father Name: Edward Balt

James is a solicitor, but not stated deceased.

One of the woitnesses ilooks like James F W Lewis, and there is a birth in 1841 to match??

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Jun 1841 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lewis Henry Frederick William Strand 1 342


Andy

Got the original Andy which is just as well as on record Emily Rowena and William Edward have been muddled up with the other couple on the page.

It's a puzzle

Rosie, I think Mahala is someone completely different to Elizabeth Maddison as shown in the census records Ginny has posted.

This is the 1871 that you referred to:

LEWIS, Mahala Head F 57 1814 Sussex
LEWIS, Emily R Daughter F 25 1846 London

Registration District: Kensington
Sub District: St Paul Hammersmith
Enumeration District: 23
Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish: Hammersmith
Municipal Borough:

Address: Gane Place, Hammersmith
County: London, Middlesex

Where did you get the information that James Henry Frederick was Emily Rowena's father?

It might be an idea if we work back from any definite facts you have on e.g. grandparents.

1851 England Census
about Jas Hy F Lewis
Name: Jas Hy F Lewis
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Elizth Lewis
Gender: Male
Where born: Worcestershire, England

Civil Parish: St Clement Danes
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View image

Registration district: Strand
Sub-registration district: St Clement Danes
ED, institution, or vessel: 1a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 6
Household Members:
Name Age
Jas Hy F Lewis 40
Elizth Lewis 37
Hy C Lewis 4
Edgar N W Lewis 3
Mary Ann Davis 25
Mary Ann Searle 16

Im not sure if I have the correct James!

1851 England Census
about Jas Hy F Lewis
Name: Jas Hy F Lewis
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Elizth Lewis
Gender: Male
Where born: Worcestershire, England

Civil Parish: St Clement Danes
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England



Registration district: Strand
Sub-registration district: St Clement Danes
ED, institution, or vessel: 1a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Jas Hy F Lewis 40
Elizth Lewis 37
Hy C Lewis 4
Edgar N W Lewis 3
Mary Ann Davis 25
Mary Ann Searle 16

Marriage of annother daughter??

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
about Eleanor Lewis
Name: Eleanor Lewis
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: abt 1854
Spouse Name: Frederick Nesbitt Kemp
Spouse Age: 35
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 04 Aug 1882
Parish: St John, Worlds End
County: Middlesex
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
Father Name: James Henry Frederick Lewis
Spouse Father Name: Thomas Richardson Kemp

Andy

Is there a possibility that Mahala was actually his mistress? Would explain why his marriage record is to Elizabeth and why Emily Rowena is not with him on any census.

Widow was a popular euphemism for unwed mother in those days.

How do you know that James married Mahala ?


Found this ...........

Marriages Sep 1845

Biddlestone Mahala - Weobley 26 321
Lewis Edward - Weobley 26 321

Anne-Marie - I have the original marriage certifiacte of my grandmother Emily Rowena Lewis on which her father is stated as James Henry Frederick Lewis - occupation - Solicitor so I know that is the correct person.
Elizabeth does seem to be James' wife but maybe I've got the wrong census info ! - you could be right about Mahala being his mistress -

This is the Mahala married to Edward.


1851 England Census
Name: Mahala Lewis
Age: 33
Estimated birth year: abt 1818
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: Edward Lewis
Gender: Female
Where born: Eardisley
Civil Parish: Kinnersley
County/Island: Herefordshire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View image
Registration district: Weobly
Sub-registration district: Weobly
ED, institution, or vessel: 9b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 49
Household Members:
Name Age
Edward Lewis 36
Mahala Lewis 33
William Beellestone 9
George Lewis 3
Elizabeth Taylor 33
Jane Taylor 2

Rosie, it's hunch but I think it works! I think we've all got the right census - just the family was possible spread over two households.

If James HF was an honourable man he may well have acknowledged Emily as his daughter.

Possible 1841??

1841 England Census
about James Lewis
Name: James Lewis
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Gender: Male

Civil Parish: St John Baptist Savoy
Hundred: Ossulstone (Holborn Division)
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: View image

Registration district: Strand
Sub-registration district: St Mary
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Fanny Phillips 20
James Lewis 50
Cecilia Lewis 30
>>>>James Lewis 30 Attorney, not born in county
Matilda Lewis 25
Rowena Lewis 20
Sarah Poll 20
Louisa Richards 60

Andy

I think there may be a mention of our chap here: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?path=sessionsPapers%2F18690503.xml

Interesting that Susannah comes from the same area of Sussex as Mahala.

Groom's Name Henry Frederick William Lewis
Groom's Birth Date 1841
Groom's Age 25
Bride's Name Susannah King
Bride's Birth Date 1845
Bride's Age 21
Marriage Date 10 Mar 1866
Marriage Place Saint Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex, England
Groom's Father's Name James Henry Frederick Lewis <<<<<<<<<<<
Bride's Father's Name Charles King

Indexing Project (Batch) Number M14794-3
System Origin England-VR
Source Film Number 1067130
Reference Number 2:R25CRW



1881 England Census
Name: Mahala Lewis
Age: 67
Estimated birth year: abt 1814
Relation: Mother
Gender: Female
Where born: Eastbourne, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Croydon
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Street address: 41 Croydon Grove
Condition as to marriage: Widow

Registration district: Croydon
Sub-registration district: Croydon
Household Members: Name Age
Henry F.W. Lewis 39 - Accountant; London, Middx
Susannah Lewis 36 - Brighton, Sussex
Mary E. Lewis 13
Bertha S. Lewis 10
Ethell F. Lewis 8
Leonard H. Lewis 7
Arthur E. Lewis 6
Edith F. Lewis 5
Mahala Lewis 67
Esther Rhodes 16