Thomas Herbert Lewin (1839 - 1916)

Born 1 Apr 1839 in St Pancras, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (McClean) Lewin — married 1876 in Elham, Kent, England

Died 11 Feb 1916 at age 76 in Abinger, Surrey, England

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Biography

Thomas Lewin is Notable.

The following biography is quoted verbatim from the National Archives:^[1]

"Thomas Herbert Lewin was born in London on 1 April 1839. He was educated at a school in Littlehampton and later became a cadet at the Addiscombe Military College. In September 1857, Lewin travelled to India as a lieutenant and was involved in several campaigns to put down the Indian Mutiny. He became the District Superintendent in Police at Rampur Bandleah in April 1861. In January 1864 he moved to the same post for Noacolly in South Bengal and then to Chittagong in October 1864. In March 1866, he was promoted to Captain. His appointment, first as Temporary Superintendent and later permanent Deputy Commissioner and Political Agent for the unregulated Hill Tracts - a post that he held until 1875 - meant that he became in effect the governor of the remote Lushai and Chittagong Hill tracts. His abilities as an administrator led him to be regarded with affection by the local tribes and his work in understanding the language and culture of the region was of lasting significance. From his experiences he wrote The Hill Tracts of Chittagong and the Dwellers therein (Calcutta, 1869) and The Wild Races of South-Eastern India (England, 1870)."

"In January 1874, Lewin returned to England due to ill health; he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel and received a Colonel's pension. He returned to India in 1875 to take up the post of Deputy Commissioner of Cooch Behar. During another period of furlough in England, 1876-7, he married Margaret Elliot, and they returned to India together in October 1877, where Lewin was take up the post of Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling. Between 1873 and 1879, Lewin wrote three further books: Hill Proverbs of the Inhabitants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Calcutta, 1873), a handbook on the Lushai Dialect (1874), and a manual of Tibetan (1879). He remained at the post until 1879 when he was permitted to retire and returned to England. In 1885, he bought Parkhurst, a house in Abinger, near Dorking, Surrey where he lived until his death in 1916."

"In 1884, Lewin's book, A Fly on the Wheel was published giving an account of his time in India between 1857 and 1873, with a second edition being published in 1912. His interest in India continued until his death and he corresponded with his acquaintances from his days there. After his death, his wife continued this correspondence."

Thomas was born 1 April 1839 in Lewisham, London, the son of George Lewin and Mary Friend. He was baptized 13 June 1839 in London. His father died when Thomas was 16. ^[2]

He married Margaret McClean 24 July 1876 at Elham, Kent.^[3]

He died 11 February 1910 at Dorking, Surrey, England at the age of 70. He was buried at Abinger, Mole Valley District, in Surrey.^[4] His will was probated 25 May 1916 in London.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ The Lewin Family Papers.
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JW8L-V2N : 21 September 2020), Thomas Herbert Lewin, 1839.
3. ↑ Marriages Sep 1876 - Lewin Thomas Herbert Elham 2a 1403 accessed at https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=Kh238WRP5lJPld3%2FNTx6dQ&scan=1 17 Feb 2021
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58112529/thomas-herbert-lewin : accessed 24 February 2022), memorial page for Thomas Herbert Lewin (1 Apr 1839–11 Feb 1910), Find a Grave Memorial ID 58112529, citing St James Churchyard, Abinger, Mole Valley District, Surrey, England ; Maintained by buttershap (contributor 46840435) .
5. ↑ PROBATE - Lewin, Thomas Herbert of Parkhurst Abinger Common Dorking Surrey, died 11 February 1916 Probate London 25 May to Margaret Lewin (Widow). Effects £55094 6s 8d Transcript from https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar#calendar

See also:

• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-4T9V : 10 December 2017), Thomas H Lewin, Chelsea, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 54, Piece/Folio 78/60, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,330.
• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QXY7-86Z : 25 November 2020), Thomas H Lewin, Abinger, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Surrey county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9XD-5JM : 20 May 2019), Thomas H Lewin, Abinger, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Capel subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW8D-NVQ : 8 July 2019), Thomas Herbert Lewin, Abinger, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q25340663, en:Wikipedia
• https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/ab28086c-fda8-4556-9672-30397c98cb3a