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Updated: October 2005
RALPH and MARY LEWIS
Ralph Lewis lived in Treverigg in Glamorganshire, Wales, in the late 1600s. (1)
Probably
married Mary. (2)
Children: (3)
Mary, born 1674. Married James Sharpless.
Martha. Married David Hugh.
David.
Evan.
Lydia,
born 1683. Married Joseph Sharpless.
Abraham.
Samuel.
Thomas, born 1687.
Sarah, born 1691. Married William Walter.
The
Lewis family appears to have left Wales in 1783. On the 10th day of the 7th month of 1683, the Quaker meeting near Treverig
issued a certificate stating than Ralph Lewis was a member in good standing. It states that "Ralph Lewis, wth his
family, passing ye same time with our frind John ap Bevan, for Pensylvania." (4)
The immigration of the Bevans and Lewises
is mentioned in "Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania." The account states: "John Bevan, eldest son of Evan
ap John, born on the ancestral estate of Treverigg, parish of Llantrissant, county of Glamorganshire, in the year 1646, inherited
the estate of Treverigg at the death of his father about 1665. … He became a member of the Society of Friends and was
for many years an esteemed minister of that sect, travelling extensively on that service. He became interested in founding
a colony of Welsh Quakers in Pennsylvania, and as agent for a company of them purchased 2,000 acres of William Penn, a part
of which was surveyed in Haverford township, Chester county, and about 300 acres in Merion, Philadelphia county. He also purchased
a tract of land for his brother, Charles Bevan, and made several purchases in his own name. On the 10th of the
7th month (September) 1683, a certificate was granted by the Friends Meeting at Treverigg for John Bevan, his wife
Barbara, and their children, to remove to Pennsylvania. They were accompanied by Ralph Lewis and a number of other Welsh Quakers
who settled near them. His land was laid out in different parts of Philadelphia and Chester counties, and he settled on a
tract of 300 acres in Merion." (5) The book also mentions "Ralph and Mary Lewis, of Treverig, Glamorganshire, who came to
Pennsylvania in 1683, and settled in Haverford township, Chester county, later removing to Upper Darby, where Ralph Lewis
died September, 1712 and Mary, August 1704." (6)
The business relationship between John Bevans and Ralph Lewis was outlined
in a deed described in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736." The abstract of the 1706
deed to Thomas Reece (also spelled Reese and Rees in the document) states: "Whereas William Penn on 16 & 17 Mar 1681 granted
to John Bevans of Troorigg in the parish of Lantrsaint in the county of Glamorgan in Wales, yeoman, 2000 acres. Whereas 250
of the 2000 acres was only held in trust for Ralph Lewis. John Bevans did discharge the trust by deed dated 8 Aug 1683 and
grant to Ralph Lewis 250 acres. Whereas the 250 acres was laid out in the Welsch Tract by survey dated 13 Mar 1684." (6a)
The
transaction between Ralph and Thomas Reece was initiated in February 1691, but it wasn’t actually completed until 1706.
By that time, both men lived in Darby.
The Lewises apparently moved to Darby Township at about the time of the 1691 transaction.
The "Originall Record of the Township of Darby in the County of Chester" lists the names of "the first adventurers from Old
England who settled in the Township of Darby" and Ralph Lewis appears among those who settled in 1691. (7) However, his daughter
Mary’s marriage certificate states that Ralph still belonged to the Haverford meeting. And a deed dated June 14, 1692,
mentions "Ralph Lewis of Haverford, planter." (7a)
Chester County court records show Ralph receiving deeds for: 150 acres
along Darby Creek in Darby on June 14, 1692; 100 acres in Haverford on March 12, 1694; 300 acres in Edgmont on June 5, 1701;
250 acres in "Havford" on the 15th day, 11th month of 1701; and 400 acres in Darby on April 1, 1709.
(8)
Ralph’s wife Mary is said to have died in 1704. (9)
On Aug. 28, 1705, Ralph wrote a deed granting the 300-acre
Edgmont to his son Evan "for love & affection." However, the transaction does not appear to have been completed until
May 6, 1712, a few months before Ralph died. (10)
On April 20, 1708, Ralph wrote a deed granting 150 acres in Darby and
100 acres in Haverford to Samuel Lewis of Darby – probably his son. On June 17, 1712, he wrote a deed granting 250 acres
in Darby to Samuel Lewis of Darby. (10a)
Ralph died between Sept. 9 and 19, 1712. (11)
(1) Records from the Quakers’ Radnor Monthly Meeting, transcribed in "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," by
Gilbert Cope, 1887, page 102. An account of the ancestry of Ralph Lewis is contained in "Ancestry of Sharpless Moore and Rachel
(Roberts) Moore," compiled by Blanche Haines, 1937, page 57. I have not yet tried to confirm any of the details so I cannot
recommend it as a reliable source. It states: "A memorandum, dated Nov. 20, 1899, signed by Thomas Alien Glenn, in possession
of Mrs. Charles Shumaker Jack of Media, Pennsylvania, gives the ancestry of William Lewis and Ralph Lewis (brothers and the
immigrants to Pennsylvania) to Richard Gwyn as follows: ‘William Lewis, immigrant, was son of Ralph Lewis of Llanishen,
a landbolder in Eglwysilan in 1683, who married Ann Prichard; that Ralph Lewis was the son of David Lewis, landholder in Eglwysilan,
who died in 1630; that David Lewis was son of Edward Lewis of Llanishen, who was the son of Edward Lewis, a large landholder
in Eglwysilan and Sheriff of Glamorganshire in 1548. This Edward Lewis married Ann, daughter of W. Morgan of Pencoed, and
was the son of Lewis ap Richard Gwyn.’" A few things about Ralph’s family can be determined from a letter from
Ralph’s brother William. First, William and Ralph had another brother named David. In addition, Ralph’s mother
was probably named Prichard since the letter mentions that "youre unkel thomas prichard" had died. The letter is transcribed
in "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," page 103. (2) Although I have not yet turned up a reference to Mary in primary sources,
the secondary sources are unanimous in listing Ralph’s wife as a woman named Mary.
Virtually all of them rely on "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," by Gilbert
Cope, for their basic information. (3) The children are listed in "Wills: Abstracts, Book C : 1705-1714: Philadelphia
Co, PA," at the USGenWeb Archives. This does not appear to be the correct birth order since Evan is listed as Ralph’s
third son in land records appearing in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 2, 1729-1745,"
by Carol Bryant, pages 146-147. The birth dates and spouses are cited in "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," page
104. Mary and Lydia’s marriage certificates are transcribed on pages 105 and 120, respectively. David Hugh
lists Ralph Lewis as his father-in-law and Martha as his wife in his will, which is recorded in Philadelphia County, Pa.,
Will Book C, page 160, as cited in Wills: Abstracts, Book C : 1705-1714: Philadelphia Co, PA," at the USGenWeb Archives. (4)
The certificate is transcribed in "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," page 102. (5) "Colonial and Revolutionary Families
of Pennsylvania," Lewis Publishing Co., 1911, page 138. (6) "Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania," page 1356.
(6a) "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736," by Carol Bryant, 1997, page 87.
(7) "Genealogy of the Smedley Family Descended from George and Sarah Smedley, Settlers of Chester County Pennsylvania," by
Gilbert Cope, Lancaster, Pa., 1901, page 10. (7a) "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736,"
by Carol Bryant, 1997, page 23. (8) The first two transactions appear in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land
Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736," by Carol Bryant, 1997, page 118. The 1701 transactions appear in "Records of the Courts of Chester
County, Pennsylvania," Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, pages 78 and 89, respectively. The Edgmont tract is identified by
location in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 2, 1729-1745," by Carol Bryant, pages 146-147.
The 1709 transaction appears in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736," by Carol Bryant,
1997, page 117-118. (9) "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," page 104. (10) "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land
Records, Vol. 2, 1729-1745," by Carol Bryant, pages 146-147. (10a) The deeds appear in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania,
Land Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736," by Carol Bryant, 1997, pages 188 and 154, respectively. (11) Ralph wrote his will on
Sept. 9 and it was proved Sept. 19. It is listed at "Wills: Abstracts, Book C : 1705-1714: Philadelphia Co, PA," at the USGenWeb
Archives and also at "Abstracts of Wills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, 1714-1758," compiled by Jacob Martin,
page 548.
EVAN and ANN LEWIS
Evan Lewis was the son of Ralph Lewis. He might
have been born in his father’s hometown of Treverig, Glamorganshire, Wales. (1)
Married a woman named Ann. According
to one source, she was Ann David and they married in the third month of 1707. (2)
Children: (3)
Evan Jr.
Jesse.
John.
Ann. Married Nicholas Steer.
Mary. Married Peter Babb.
Hanna. Married John Sinkler.
Others are possible.
Evan
grew up in Chester County, Pa., where his parents were among the earliest settlers. His father, Ralph Lewis, had immigrated
about 1683, apparently in a party led by Quaker leader John Bevan. (4)
On Aug. 28, 1705, Ralph wrote a deed granting 300
acres in Edgmont to his son Evan "for love & affection." However, is appears that the land wasn’t actually conveyed
to Evan until May 6, 1712. (5)
Evan later moved to "the western part of Brandywine
in the County of Chester," which is listed as his residence in a deed dated April 5, 1720. In that deed, Evan granted 50 acres
of the Edgmont tract to Samuel Lewis – possibly his brother. (6) The move is mentioned in a narrative concerning
Evan's father, Ralph. It states: "Evan settled in Edgmont township, but about 1720 removed to Caln township, near twenty-five
miles back in the woods; and on the 22d of Feb. 1747-8, he conveyed to certain trustees a lot of two acres upon which
West Caln Meeting House was soon after erected and a burying ground established." (7)
Evan Lewis is listed on 1737-8 tax
list of West Caln Township. Jesse Lewis is listed in the same township as an inmate, which normally indicates that he was
a married man living on another’s property. It’s likely that Jesse was Evan’s son or nephew. in the same
township. (8)
On Nov. 2, 1762, Evan Lewis and Ann, his wife, conveyed property to Thomas Babb, yeoman. Thomas Babb is
listed as a grandson of the said Evan Lewis, and eldest brother and heir at law of John Babb. The property is beside land
owned by Peter Babb and land of Sampson Babb. (9)
(1) Evan is listed as the third son of Ralph Lewis in land
records contained in "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 2, 1729-1745," by Carol Bryant, pages
146-147. At least two other Evan Lewises lived in the area during this time, according to Chester County estate records. The
will of Evan Lewis of Whiteland, husband of Maud, was filed March 28, 1727, in Will Book A, page 224. The will of Evan Lewis
of Newtown, husband of Mary, was filed Aug. 26, 1735, in Will Book A, page 432. These are listed in the USGenWeb Archives.
Evan is also listed in Ralph’s will, which appears in "Abstracts of Wills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, 1714-1758,"
compiled by Jacob Martin, page 548. (2) Numerous records mention that Evan’s wife was named Ann, including Chester County,
Pa., Deed Book M, page 528. Ann’s maiden name and the wedding date are mentioned in "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family,"
by Gilbert Cope, Philadelphia, 1887, page 104. (3) Evan does not appear to have left a will but these children appear in the
records of various Quaker meetings in southeastern Pennsylvania. Ann appears in "The William Wade Hinshow Index to Pennsylvania
Quaker Meeting Records," Kennett Monthly Meeting, established 1686 as Newark Monthly Meeting in Chester County, Vol. VI, indexed
by Selby Publishing and Printing, page 4. Hanna’s wedding appears in "Quaker Marriage Certificates, Concord Monthly
Meeting, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, 1679-1808," by Gwen Boyer Bjorkman, pages 41-42. Jesse and John appear in "Early Church
Records of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Quaker Records of Bradford Monthly Meeting," by Martha Reamy, 1995, pages
132 and 134, respectively. Ann is not specifically identified as the daughter of the elder Evan and Ann. However, the elder
pair and Jesse Lewis are the only Lewises listed as witnesses at her wedding, which is listed in the Bradford records on page
41. The younger Evan isn’t mentioned as a child, either, but the link is pretty certain since Quaker records list him
as "Evan Lewis Jr." and he appears in the records during the same time as Evan’s other children. Two other Lewises appear
in the Bradford Quaker records during this time but it’s uncertain whether they have any connection with Evan and Ann.
They are Phinehas and Sampson, appearing on page 132. (4) "Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania," Lewis Publishing
Co., 1911, page 138. (5) "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 2, 1729-1745," by Carol Bryant, pages
146-147. Evan may have purchased an additional property in Edgmont Township in 1708/9. "Evan Lewis of Newtown, yeoman," purchased
240 acres along Crum Creek in a deed recorded Feb. 26, 1708/9, according to "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land
Records, Vol. 1, 1681-1736," by Carol Bryant, 1997, page 127. At this time, our Evan seems to have lived in Edgmont already.
However, another Evan Lewis lived in Newtown. (6) "Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Land Records, Vol. 2, 1729-1745,"
by Carol Bryant, page 147. (7) "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family," by Gilbert Cope, Philadelphia, 1887, page 104. (8) "Tax
List of West Caln Township (1737-8): Chester County, PA," in the USGenWeb Archives. (9) Chester County, Pa., Deed Book M,
page 528.
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