The Lewis Conundrum - update 3, I am now claiming two of them!

[kathb]

Jean, thank you for your time on this it is very much appreciated.  I have sent for all of the Joseph Lewis Wills within a 60year period fortunately there are only three.
Other than Samuel none of Joseph's offspring have left a Will.  Shucks!!
I think the best way forward is for me to transcribe all of the Lewis births, marriages and burials for St Helens, Tarporley and Little Budworth.    Fortunately the Bunbury ones came on line a few weeks ago as you know.  I could then start to try and piece some semblance of order to it all.
Of course this does not rule out BMD's elsewhere.  I put a post on the Cheshire Board hoping that someone may have collected the memorial inscriptions for Tarporley, but no response as yet.
The continual block in this conundrum is the descrepancy with the old style notes of the minister and the obvious transcription of the curate into the 1813 Rose Index. The minister seems to record Joseph and Mary as parents and then the curate records Joseph and Elizabeth.   I will revisit this next week. 
I will follow your recommendation of looking at earlier Lewis Wills. 
I also appreciate your offer of looking at the information you have on the Lewis line.
I really appreciate the interest being shown by Rootschatters in this conundrum.  The more the merrier as far as I am concerned.
Regards and Thanks again
Kathb
Just a little post script here, we are extremely fortunate in Cheshire that we have the services of the Cheshire Archives.  Not only are they forward thinking enough to put the Wills on line, but the Tithe Maps are a fantastic resource.  Not counting the fantastic staff who are the most patient and helpful people I have met - their customer service is superb.

[JDGen]

Hi kathb,

Just another thought, don't rule out wills of unmarried females or widows - these can be the most productive of all.

I have one that finally cracked my line, where the testator (unmarried female) names 63 separate people, most described as "cousin".  Needed a separate spreadsheet just to work it all out, but it broke down some very longstanding brick walls.

Jean

[kathb]

Thanks Jean, I will trawl the Wills site again and see which other Lewis persons I can pick up.
I have just opened the envelope with the three Wills I sent for so its down to some interesting and hopefully productive reading tonight.
Thank you once again for your assistance and expert help.
Regards
Kathb

[JDGen]

Hi kathb,

I'd be interested in what is in the Lewis wills that you have - eventually we will connect all these Lewis's!!

Jean

[kathb]

Hello Jean, I do hope we can connect these Lewis's they are giving me one heck of a brickwall.  I didn't get the chance last night to read through the the Wills, but will certainly let you know what I find in them.  I went to the Cheshire Archives today and have started transcribing the parish records for the Lewis's. 
I am off there again tomorrow to do some more.
Regards and thanks for your continuing interest in this conundrum
Kathb

[kathb]

Hi, Rootschatters, I have now checked the Bishops Transcripts and they also show the parents of Joseph and Elizabeth as Joseph and Mary.  I am now claiming them as MINE!
Finding the connection with Ann, Margaret, Sarah Fanny, John and Richard will take some considerable time.  I will update you if I break down the wall,
Regards
Kathb

[Jill Shaw]

I hesitate to re-open this conundrum, but recognised some names and places in your posts which could link with mine.
My Lewises were from the villages round Delamere Forest .
I've only managed to get back as far as Samuel Lewis, born Little Budworth c1830. He went on to live in Norley for most of his life.
There were 2 of that name in Norley, about 2 years apart in age. One married Eliza Humphreys and the other(mine) married Elizabeth Hughes.
According to Sam's marriage certificate (1858), his father Robert was deceased. I have been unable to trace him.
On the 1841 census a Samuel Lewis aged 11 was living in Crowton with Joseph Lewis (agric lab) and wife Sarah. I wonder if he had been orphaned and perhaps Joseph was his uncle.By 1851 I think I've found him working as servant to Elizabeth Lewis, widow,73, farmer of 14 acres in Norley. Was she a great- aunt or grandmother, I wonder?
They were all small-time farmers or farm labourers, though I believe that one Samuel Lewis was the first licensee of the Tiger's Head Inn in Norley. My Sam and Elizabeth went on to have 2 sons, Robert and Henry. Any help locating Robert senior would be welcome.

[kathb]

Hi, Jill, JDGen is also intersted in the Lewis's and it may be that she can make a connection with your branch.  I am still stuck with this conundrum and need to do lots more research at the Cheshire Archives to see if I can find any more information to sort out the connections.
Regards
Kathb