William Lewis (abt. 1636 - 1708)

Born about 1636 in Eglwysilan, Glamorganshire, Wales [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Evans) Lewis — married before 1674 in Wales

Descendants

Died 9 Feb 1708 at about age 72 in Newtown, Chester County, Province of Pennsylvania

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Albertus Robert Casimir Jung [send private message]

PLEASE DO NOT DETACH THIS PROFILE'S WILLIAM LEWIS FROM WIFE ANN EVANS AND THEIR FIVE CHILDREN!

Biography

William Lewis, held to be the son of Ralph Lewis and Ann Pritchard, was born about 1636 in Eglwysilan parish, Glamorganshire, Wales. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

William was the husband of Ann Evans. ^[4] Together they had at least five children:

1. Lewis Lewis, b. 1674, d. 1757;
2. David Lewis, b. 1675, d. 1723, m. Ann Jones; ^[5]
3. Evan Lewis, see also: Evan Lewis, b. 1677, wed Mary Hayes 28 Nov 1704 in Chester co., Penn., ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]} died before 16 Aug 1735, date upon which his will was probated, in Chester, Penn., ^[10] and was buried in West Chester, Chester, Penn.; ^[11]
4. William Lewis, b. 1682, d. 1731.
5. Seaborn Lewis, b. 1686, d. 16 Jun 1707. ^[12]

The eldest children were born in Wales; Seaborn Lewis - as her given name says - was born whilst crossing the sea from Wales to the English Colony of Pennsylvania. ^[13]

According to Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania ^[14] and Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania ^[15] William Lewis arrived in the Colony of Pennsylvania in 1686.

William Lewis died on 9 February 1708 in Newtown, Chester county, Province of Pennsylvania. ^{[16] [17]}

Note on William's Marriage

This profile Lewis-8227 has Ann Evans as William's wife: notice that William and Ann named one of their sons Evan, strongly suggesting that Ann Evans be his mother. Also, in son David Lewis' will it is written that "Brethren Lewis Evan, William Lewis and Robert Jones to assist." Lewis Evan was probably a close kinsman of David Lewis through his mother Ann Evan(s). Several Massey Family Histories show Ann Evans as William Lewis' wife.

According to Chester county Pennsylvania Quaker Meeting Death Records (See Image)

1. "William Lewis departed this life on the 9th day of the 12th month 1707."
2. "Ann Lewis, Wife of the above-said William, departed this life the 15th of the 12th month 1707."
3. "Seaborn Lewis Daughter of the above-said William & Ann Lewis, departed this Life on the 16th of the 4th month 1707."

Note on the Date & Place of Willam's Death

The Twelfth Month of the year 1707 in the original Quaker Meeting record refers to the Old Calender in which the New Year began on 25th March (Feast of the Annunciation). Thus, the 12th Month is February, not December; the Year is not 1707, but rather 1708, according to present-day reckoning. Such historical dates are usually written 1707/1708, or 1707/08.

Newtown Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Prior to 1789 it was part of Chester County. ^[18] Not to be confused with Newtown in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. ^[19]

Research Notes

There has been much controversy regarding the identity of the father of the three Lewis Quaker Brothers, Ralph, David and William Lewis, who first came to Chester County in the 1680s. Rev. Seth S. Moore, a 7th Great-Grandson of William Lewis, whilst researching his family tree, came across the following information about the true father of William's more famous brother Ralph Lewis. It states that their father was Lewis [son of] William. It further states that, whilst Lewis William may have married a woman called Mary, there is proof that the Lewis Brothers' mother was either Jane or Ann Evans, daughter of Richard ap Evan.

The above information can be read in Article 25: The true father of Ralph Lewis, and in the follow-up Article 29: Gateway Ancestors to Royalty. The Lewis Brothers are also related to King Henry III and King Peter the Cruel, as well as linked to Henry VIII, John Bevans (John ab Evans), and William Penn.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Ancestry.com. Text: "Name: William Lewis; Gender: Male; Birth Place: WA[LES]; Birth Year: 1636; Spouse Name: Ann? Lewis; Number Pages: 1."
2. ↑ Geni [on-line] William Lewis
3. ↑ Ancestry.com Family Trees William Lewis
4. ↑ Nota bene: This profile Lewis-8227 has Ann Evans as William's wife: notice that William and Ann named one of their sons Evan, strongly suggesting that Ann Evans be his mother. Also, in son David Lewis' will it is written that "Brethren Lewis Evan, William Lewis and Robert Jones to assist." Lewis Evan was probably a close kinsman of Ann Evan(s). Her Death Record calls her Ann Lewis, wife of the above-said William Lewis. - Albertus
5. ↑ David Lewis' Will. Text: "Lewis, David. Haverford Township. September 9, 1723. Children: James, Edmund, Amos, Enoch, Elizabeth, Ellen and Ann. The Quaker Meeting at Haverford. Brethren Lewis Evan, William Lewis and Robert Jones to assist. Executors: Wife Ann and Eldest son William."
6. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Ancestry.com. Text: "Name: Evan Lewis; Gender: Male; Birth Place: WA [Wales]; Birth Year: 1677; Spouse Name: Mary Hayes; Spouse Birth Place: PA [Pennsylvania]; Marriage Year: 1704."
7. ↑ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, Ancestry.com
8. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Ancestry.com
9. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Ancestry.com
10. ↑ Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, Ancestry.com
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #176785588 for Evan Lewis
12. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Chester Monthly Meeting, Ancestry.com .Text: "Seaborn Lewis, Daughter of the above-said William & Ann Lewis, departed this Life on the 16the of the 4th month 1707." Nota bene: the 4th month was June.
13. ↑ The Blackburn Family Association [on-line] William Lewis
14. ↑ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Ancestry.com. Text: "Name: William Lewis; Arrival Year: 1686; Arrival Place: Pennsylvania; Source Publication Code: 2606.12; Primary Immigrant: Lewis, William; Annotation: Date and port of arrival, date and place of settlement or date and place of first mention in the New World. Extensive family genealogical information is also provided. Source Bibliography: GLENN, THOMAS ALLEN, Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania, Baltimore: Clearfield Co., 2000. Volume I. 233p. Page: 190"
15. ↑ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Ancestry.com. Text: "Name: William Lewis; Arrival Year: 1686-1687; Arrival Place: Pennsylvania; Source Publication Code: 983; Primary Immigrant: Lewis, William; Annotation: Settlement of Welsh Tract lands granted by William Penn, 1681. Mentions many celebrated early immigrants and the ships they took. Source Bibliography: BROWNING, CHARLES H., Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: William J. Campbell, 1912. 631p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967. Page 247."
16. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Ancestry.com. Text: Name: William Lewis; Death: 9 Feb 1707 Chester, Pennsylvania; Original Date on Record: 9th Day of 12th Month of Year 1707." [which translated into modern-day reckoning is 9 Feb 1708.]
17. ↑ Geni William Lewis
18. ↑ Wikipedia [on-line] Newtown, Chester (now Delaware), Pennsylvania
19. ↑ Wikipedia [on-line] Newtown, Bucks, Pennsylvania

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to Albertus, 7th Great-Grandson of William Lewis for creating WikiTree profile William Lewis on 29 Jan 2015. Click to the [Changes page] for the details of edits by Albertus and others.
• Thank you to Sara Patton for creating WikiTree profile Lewis-8227 through the import of hayzlett-hughart-black-waln-adams.ged on 10 Mar 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Sara and others.