Benjamin Lewis emigrated to Australia in 1841

Barbra,

I am from Cahir and have been attempting to trace my own family tree. When I saw your request for information I  attempted to use The FAMILY search.org to investigate Benjamin Lewis from Cahir.

 The information established was as follows: Benjamin arrived in NSW on the ship named 'SUSAN' on 25 March 1841 . His parents are listed as John Lewis (clerk ) and Catherine Rourke. He was accompanied by his sister Sarah Lewis (houswmaid) who was two years younger and was in his care. However, on Sarah details from the 'Susan' both parents were dead in 1841.

I have then a record of a Catherine Lewis (born circa 1831) daughter of John Lewis being married in Caher to a John Watts on 02 January 1851.

Then there is a record of the death of a Deboragh Lewis Stackpole  in Boston,Suffock,Massachusetts on 25 September 1902. Deboragh parents were John Lewis and Catherine Rourke from Ireland. It is estimated that her birth year was 1823 ,very close to Benjamin and Sarahs. Deboragh's  spouse was Byran Stackpole and she was widowed before her death. Her residence at time of death was 291 Western avenue, she died at Long Island Hospital.and her place of burial was Evergreen.

Some of the above probably confirms what you already know but  I hope it will assist you in your search.

Regards

Tom Hussey 

Hi Tom

Thanks for the email and the fantastic information. I knew about Benjamin coming over on the 'Susan' but wasn't aware of his sister Sarah, so will try and follow that up at this end.

I had no idea about another two possible sisters, so thank you very much for this information. They will need to 'go on the list' of leads to follow up

regards

Barbra

Barbra,

Just to update you on some extra relevant findings.

Deboragh Lewis was married on 16 February 1846 in Caher,Tipperary   to John Mahony. Then on the 15 May 1872 at 46 years of age she as (Deborah Lewis Mahony) married Brian Stakpole (aged 48) at Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts,United States.The record shows the marriage as being Deboragh's second. Brian's trade was recorded as a carpenter.

I hope these few pieces will contribute to you progressing  your family jigsaw.

Regards

Tom

Hi Barbra,

I am a direct descendent of Sarah Lewis. She was my father's grandmother. She married Stephen Lynch, a convict from Dublin, in Sydney in 1844. They had seven children. Her husband Stephen, was killed in a horse riding accident in 1862. Sarah married again in 1864 to a Michael Unger. They had no children from this marriage. Sarah died in 1897.

I have further information if you are interested.

Cheers,

Keith

Hi Keith

Thanks for the email.

Knew about Stephen Lynch- but not the manner of his death or the second marriage for Sarah. Would be delighted to receive any other information you may have. My email is: bmckenz@uow.edu.au.

regards

Barbra

 My great great grandfather,Patrick Walsh, married Mary Lewis in Cahir in 1824. They had 8 children, baptized in the parish of Ardfinan. Would this Mary Lewis be related to the Lewis family referred to above? If any one has information about her,or this family, I would be very appreciative.  One of their children was my great grandfather, John, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1850.

                                        Thanks,

                                         Pat Welsh

Hello Lewis's, my name is Tony Lewis and I am the Great, great, great, grand son of John Lewis. I hope I can fill in a few names in the Lewis Story. At least from the Australia side.

Some of this info has already been mentioned....

Ben came to Sydney with his sister Sarah in 1840. Ben was a shoemaker who could both read and write. The ship Susan arrived in Sydney via London and Guam on the 25th of March 1841.

Ben married Ann O'Brien at St James Church  (Cof E) Sydney on the 18th of June 1844. This church is right in the middle of the Sydney CBD and is still in use.

They had maybe 6 children.* John, William, Benjamin, Agnes and Deborah plus another daughter???

Ben had a shoemakers shop at number 13 Domain Terrace Sydney between 1851 and 1855 before moving his shop to 23 Judge st Woolomooloo (its a inner suburb of Sydney) and also hard to pronounce!! The last shop I could find was at Raglan st Alexandria (another inner city suburb) the year 1871 Ben was now 52 years of age.

Benjamin Lewis died of heart failure at Sydney Hospital (not far from his first shop) on the 14th February 1899.

*John the eldest son is my direct link. John was born in Hunter st Sydney on the 26th March 1845, married Louise Ellis on the 8th September 1869. Louise and John had 8 children Edward, William, James, Lousa, May, Jessie, * Henry and Elsie. John was also a bootmaker and had a number of shops around the Forest Lodge area (inner city suburb) John died on the 21st of March 1911.  John died of heart disease he was aged 65.

* Henry the youngest son of John and Louise is my Grandfather. Henry was born on the 5th of November 1886 at 30 Junction st Glebe (another inner suburb of Sydney) Henry married Eva Miriam Taylor on the 24th of December ( strange date to be married) at 45 Edgeware Rd Marrickville ( you guessed it another inner city suburb ) they had 5 children William, Dorothy, Jean, Edna, * Roy. Henry died on the 21st of Feburday 1950.

* Roy is my dad.

Footnote. Benjamin is buried with his son William at Rookwood cemetery (an outer suburb of Sydney) My wife and I plus my younger brother visited the grave many years ago and discovered that it had recently been restored . After a few phone calls we discovered all of Williams children and their children and now grand and great grand children. We have a Lewis family picnic around St Patricks day each year.

I hope this helps.

Cheers Tony Lewis.

Hi Barbara,

This is interesting. My Great, Great Grandmother was Johanna O'Rourke in November 1824 she married Patrick Shortis at Caher, Tipperary. Her first child was named Catherine Shortis born in 1825at Caher, so I would presume this was her mother's name? From memory I think I have a baptism for a Johanna O'Rourke in 1796, but that would make her 28 at the time of marriage. Tom would confirm, but the Baptism registers for Caher from late 1700's to abt 1806 are missing. Their 4 sons and I believe 1 daughter migrated to Melbourne Australia  commencing 1863, another branch of Shortis', cousins also migrated to Australia.

Kind Regards,

Kerry

Hello Tom, my wife and I will be in Cahir for 5 nights starting from the 6th April. Would it be possible to meet ?

I would like to find out a little more about the Lewis clan. Perhaps find Benjamin’s birth date and how his mum and dad died.

Cheers Tony Lewis.

Hi Tony and the Lewis family, wherever... I am the great-great-grand-daughter of John Lewis, through his son Benjamin, grandson John, John's Daughter Jessie Catherine (my grandmother) and her daughter Jessie Louise (my mother). I stumbled on this site by accident, trying to find some information on Benjamin's and Sarah's family. I have read the posts thus far, but, Tony, I have a question...  I can find newspaper reports of the severe injuries of a Stephen Lynch in 1862 because of the collapse of a hay loft on the farm of a Mr Dookins at or near Wingham (Karaak Flat or Warrack Flat). I can find no mention at the time of a horse-riding accident. Is the death of Stephen on record as such, or is it what the family has believed? I had little contact with the Lewis family although at times my mother might have been close to some members. I have been in brief email contact with Barbra, adn would love to hear from family members, particularly as we are half a world away in Australia. By the way, hope all are well and surviving the pandemic.

my 

Hello Judith, I must confess to being very slack when I was getting the Lewis Family Tree together. I just followed the “Male” line from John in Ireland to Ben coming over to Australia and then through to my dad Roy Lewis. Dad has been dead now for 17 years.

My previous Post from 2 years ago tells the results of my research. A lot of which was done before the internet!! Hard work.....

I have most of the paperwork of my direct line eg where Benjamin and his son William are buried at Rookwood in Sydney.

Would you mine telling me Jessie Catherine married name?

If I can help in anyway with the “male” side of the family......happy to.

Tony 

The story about the horse riding accident to Sarah Lewis's husband, Stephen Lynch (my great grandfather), was passed down by word of mouth in our family. Clearly, like history, it became distorted over time. This was the Stephen Lynch that was killed in 1862 at Karaak Flat, near Wingham, NSW. The story was written up in the Maitland Mercury at the time. Sarah moved with her young family to the Nambucca River region when she married her second husband, Michael Unger.                                 

Keith

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=%22Stephen+Lynch%22&l-state…

Hi Keith, Thanks for your reply. I am descended from Sarah Lewis's brother, Benjamin, but in my researches I get side-tracked by stories that emerge. I also have lived near the Nambucca region, indeed have visited Bowraville for aspect of my work, several years ago. Hence, I decided to follow Stephen Lynch and his story - afterall, he was a convict, and convicts often found that their life here was an improvement on that back in Ireland.  In Stephen's case I would not be so sure, although life would be hard, the weather would be kinder. One way of tracing stories is to use the archive of digitised newspapers, which is how I found the report of an accident to Stephen Lynch. It is the only story in the Maitland Mercury at the time. It also appeared in the Country News, Manning River. The web-site is above..  Best wishes, Judith

Hi Tony, My grandmother was Jessie Catherine Lewis, born 1883. She married Thomas Edward Franklin in 1912. Eva Miriam Taylor (wife of Henry) has intriqued me, as one of her death notices in the Sydney Morning Herald of 1 November 1919 was placed by her adoptive mother. See attached file - sourced from Trove (trove.nla.gov.au). I am guessing that died of TB as there was a huge epidemic in1919. (How topical at present!).  Judith

Judith, I have in front of me the Marriage Certifcate of Henry Guy Lewis (my grandfather) and Eva Miriam Taylor (my Grandmother) Some info from the certifcate. The marriage was held on the 24th Dec 1906 at 45 Edgeware Rd Enmore Sydney. Henry was born at Forest Lodge a inner Sydney suburb and Eva was born in Summer Hill also a inner Sydney suburb. Henry was 20 years of age and Eva was only 17. Because both were under 21 consent was required for them to marry. Henrys dad John gives his consent for the Groom to marry and a Mrs Ridley J.P. gives her consent for the Bride to marry. The plot thickens...In the section where the bride and grooms father and mother are noted Henrys father is John Lewis Profession Bootmaker (same trade as his dad Ben) mother Louisa Ellis so far so good... Eva's dad is John Hough Profession UNKNOWN and mother Emily Mansugh ??

A couple of other things to note. Eva's hand writing is excellant. Its stated that Henry was living at Arncliffe a suburb of Sydney and profession Carter. Eva was living at Marrickville a suburb of Sydney job Home Duties. The signatures of the witnesses to the marriage are James Samuel Lewis and Clara Agnes Taylor !!!

I hope this helps with the Eva Mirian Taylor mystery.

Tony

Tony,Kerry  and all,

I hope ye are all keeping well and coping with the Covid-19 Virus restrictions .

I have attached the listing from Griffith's Valuations from 1853 showing John Lewis's house in Castle Street Cahir and associated maps. The house was on the  side od the road and the Mill race for  the mill was immediately at the back of the house / yard. The portion of Castle Street on the west side (where John's house was located ) of the Main river bridge over the River Suir has been re-named Bridge Street. The house is still there and seems to be in a reasonable state of repair.

Regards

Tom

Hello Tom, so good to hear from you. Lee and I are okey and at the moment holed up at home in the beautiful Blue Mts.

Thank you for the two interesting attached files.

When I workout how to I will post the photo I took of Johns house in Caher with you back in 2018.

That was a great day we had....to be sure.

Look after yourself Tom.

Cheers Tony.

ps Tom and Judith. Not sure if it will work but I have Upload 3 photos of Johns house back in Caher.

Judith, I have some info on our Great Grand father John Oswald Lewis and his wife Louisa. eg Marriage Cert, Birth Certs and Death Cert. John and Louisa are buried at Woronora Cemetey Sutherland as is my dads brother and his father Henry Guy.

Its been a few years since I looked at the Family Tree and I have forgotten how much info I have...happy to share.

Also Judith click onto this link re Sarah, Bens sisiter.

http://mncp.scss.dyndns.info/individual.php?pid=I32808&ged=Gregory-Huds…

Happy hunting Tony.

Sorry Judith...its the house on the right of the photo.

Tony.

Hello Tom and Tony and other Lurking Lewises, I have a question: On Sarah's passenger details when she and Benjamin migrated to Australia, it states that both her her parents, John and Catherine, were dead. That was 1841. So...how is it that the house in Cahir is "our" John Lewis's in 1853?  See attached jpg.

Hi Tony, I do have that information on John and Louisa, thank you. I find it interesting that Henry was living at Arncliff and working as a carter. The Franklin Senior family (Thomas Edward Franklin and Mary Ann Perry) were living, probably in West Botany Street  - Banksia or Arncliffe (depending on who was writing) and Thomas Edward was a carter. Given that the family joined up with the Lewis family through Henry's sister (Jessie Catherine) marrying Thomas Edward Franklin Junior, I wonder if Henry worked for/with the elder Franklin, and hence, the connection.  Hope all is well with everyone.  Judith

Judith,

A very good question. I was going to address your question in the reply I gave above but I thought it was too detailed.

In Griffith's Valuations for property and land .The surveyors plotted the Farms and Houses over a long period  c.10-15 years before the valuations were assigned . Griffiths valuations valuations only listed the leasor and his immediate landlord who generally had a longer lease on multiple properties from a higher landlord  and in some cases that chain of ownership stretches over ten links with Lord Cahir probably at the top the of pyramid. Griffiths valuations only listed the occupiers of land or property and their immediate leasors but covered all properties and land in Ireland.The information would generally have been supplied by the lease owner , and once the rent was being paid for, the lease would have remained unaltered untill John's affairs ( His will) were resolved.

Long winded I know but I hope it answers your query.

Regards

Tom

Judith, well spotted...Tom thanks for the answer. .Judith getting back to your post about Arncliffe and the Lewis family it is still a great mystery to me because for whatever reason my brothers and I were told that my dads parents Henry and Eva died when my dad was very young and he was looked after by his older sister/sisters. It was a huge surprise when it was discovered Henry didn't die until 1950!!

I would love to know what actually happen way back when.

My Mum and Dad moved to Arncliffe just after the War about 1948. We lived in Arncliffe as a family until about 1980.

Did they move there because of Henry?

I would have driven pass the house in West Botany st with my dad in the car many,many times. And no mention of any family connections in Arncliffe.

Not sure if you have heard of the Sands Sydney Directory ? A little like a phone book before phones...

With the help of Sands I was able to track the movement of both Ben and his son John as they went from Shoe shop to Shoe shop. Happy to share if you do not have this info.

Stay safe Tony.

Hi Tom,Yes I am well thank you. I've been following this correspondence with interest. Totally unrelated, but I have Lewis' and Walsh's on my maternal side from Denbighshire and Cork respectively. Do you think Catherine Rourke may have been related to my great great grandmother Johanna Rourke/O'Rourke? Stay safe. Kerry Shortis

Hello Tony and family, and the wider family, too, Yes, Tony, I have used the Sands Directory - and tried to locate Benjamin's shop  using Google maps. However, that part of Glebe/Annandale etc has been extensively altered, athough the streets remain the wonderful chaotic rabbit warren of early Sydney. Using Sands and the electoral rolls I was also able to keep a sort f tract of another great,great etc Uncle Perry (by marriage connected to the Lewis line) who was an artisan metal worker. I think I have a copper jardinaire that he made probably back at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.  And... the house of the Franklins Thomas Jnr and Jessie Catherine Lewis) in West Botany Street is still there (Dudley cottage). Great grandmother's house (Mary Ann Franklin/Perry) called Henley which was next door, was replaced by villa houses way back in the eighties I think. (The Dudley/Henley names are a clue to the English origins of the Perrys). So good to connect with other family. Stay safe, and good luck with the home-schooling if that is what you are now needing to do.  Judith