The Lewis Information for Tavistock Area Families |
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Lewis families did not arrive in Tavistock until the late 1700′s. They appear to be mostly agricultural workers who came from the more northern villages like Exbourne, Broadwoodkelly and Langtree.
The Whitchurch families are more mixed. Some originate in Broadwoodkelly, while there are additions from Ashbury and Inwardleigh. The origins of the first families were very difficult to trace as the people died before the 1851 census so that place of birth was not given. Also they left no records other than in the parish registers. No headstones have been found for my Broadwoodkelly family and there are no wills. The most likely village of origin as being Broadwoodkelly was found by looking at many villages and families. Then by looking at the movements of siblings the correct family could be discovered. John and Philip of Broadwoodkelly both moved to Tavistock as did John′s sister and her husband. Later the sister is found living with a descendant as an elderly widow. This would all seem to indicate the correct choice for birthplace. The families from Exbourne were rather easier to trace as they arrived later and were recorded in the census. In fact the Broadwoodkelly and Exbourne families appear to have a common origin in Jacobstowe and Sheepwash DAVID LEWIS & SUSANNA Sheepwash William 29.10.1676 m.Mary Dadge 06.10.1703 Jacobstowe Philip 24.04.1679 m.Elizabeth Brock 10.05.1709 Jacobstowe David 03.11.1681 WILLIAM LEWIS & MARY DADGE m.06.10.1703 Jacobstowe Philip 16.12.1703 m.Mary Handford 25.02.1735 SEE Broadwoodkelly Families Blanch 11.12.1706 m.John Snell 04.09.1742 Andrew 29.10.1712 m.Dorothy Westlake 24.04.1744 Joseph 07.12.1715 d. Susanna 01.09.1718 Joseph 15.05.1724 m.Martha Tamson 06.11.1750 Mary 01.10.1727 PHILIP LEWIS & ELIZABETH BROCK m.10.05.1709 Jacobstowe Susanna 15.04.1712 Elizabeth 11.07.1714 d. Elizabeth 27.04.1716 Ann 17.08.1719 Richard 18.01.1724 David 21.12.1732 m.Susanna Williams 01.01.1757 SEE Exbourne Families The only possible David b.about 1750 found so far is in Bishops Tawton near Barnstaple DAVID LEWES & 1)MARGARET HARRY m.17.05.1655 d.08.01.1663 David 14.03.1655/6 Bishops Tawton and 06.04.1656 LandkeyHowever it is very uncertain that he is the correct David. I would like to thank Valerie Turvey for all her help with these families |
| Lewis Families Tavistock | Lewis Families Whitchurch | Lewis Families Broadwoodkelly | Lewis Families Exbourne |