Person:Thomas Lewis (115)

Childhood

Thomas Lewis was baptised on 17th February 1806 at Husborne Crawley in Bedfordshire, son of Mary Lewis, formerly Goodman, and her husband George Lewis, an agricultural labourer. Thomas's parents had only recently moved to Husborne Crawley. They were both from Willen in Buckinghamshire, where they had married and had their first child in 1803. Thomas's baptism in 1806 is the family's first sighting in Husborne Crawley. As well as an older brother Thomas appears to have had at least three younger siblings, all baptised at Husborne Crawley.

Marriage

Thomas was married on 4th October 1833 at Husborne Crawley, aged 27, to a Sarah (known as Sally) Cook. She was ten years younger than him, being only seventeen when they married. Whilst she had been born at Bow Brickhill her family had moved to Husborne Crawley when she was no more than two years old.

Six months after their marriage they had their first child baptised, a son named Henry. He was followed by Samuel in 1835, Alfred in 1837, Eusebia in 1838 and Susannah in 1840. All were baptised at Husborne Crawley, and each of their baptisms describe Thomas as a pig dealer. Later in 1840 or early in 1841 the family left Husborne Crawley and moved to the nearby village of Aspley Guise, where they appear in the 1841 census living at West Street. All five children are listed with Thomas and Sally, although it appears their son Henry was also listed as staying with his grandparents, Thomas's parents George and Mary Lewis, who were living at Church End in Husborne Crawley.

At Aspley Guise, Thomas and Sally went on to have a daughter named Jane Maria in late 1841 or early 1842, followed by a son named Arthur Bedford Lewis in 1843 (Bedford being Sally's mother's maiden name). Although the family was now living in Aspley Guise, both Jane and Arthur were baptised back at Husborne Crawley. Sadly young Jane died when she was about two years old in late 1843.

Thomas and Sally had a daughter Mary Ann at Aspley Guise in 1844.

In 1846 Thomas is mentioned in a newspaper report in the Northampton Mercury. He was summoned by a chimney sweep named Frederick Whitlock for assault. Apparently Whitlock had gone to the Lewis's house while Thomas was out, and told Sally that "her master" had ordered him to sweep the chimney. She let him, and paid him three pence. When Thomas returned he said he had wanted to sweep the chimney himself in order to put the soot on the garden. The soot was still in a sack by the door, and when Whitlock came to collect it Thomas refused to let him have it, shaking his fists in the sweep's face. Whitlock then claimed there was an assault, which Thomas denied. Both produced witnesses supporting their version of events. The court dismissed the case.

Later that year Thomas and Sally's daughter Susannah died aged just six years old, being buried at Husborne Crawley.

In 1847 Thomas and Sally had a daughter, Sarah Jane. In 1848 Thomas and Sally both gave depositions about some oranges which were stolen from them. Apparently they sold oranges and other 'small articles' from their public house, which is named as The Swan in Aspley Guise. Apparently after Thomas and Sally had closed up and gone to bed one evening some men came to the door wanting food and drink. Sally opened a window and said she would not let them in. One of the men then apparently said to his companions "if they won't let us have some beer I'll have some oranges," and broke the bar window, stealing five oranges that were standing in the window and went away. Thomas and a lodger went down to the village and found the men with the oranges and called the constable.

In March 1849 they had a son, Thomas. Another newspaper report in the Northampton Mercury from September 1849 describes The Swan as one of a number of public houses which were not well conducted, and the magistrates had deferred their decision on whether to renew Thomas's licence. It is not clear whether or not his license was renewed, but there is a fair chance it was not; by April 1850 the family had left Aspley Guise and moved to Little Brickhill, three miles south-west of Aspley Guise. It is perhaps significant that Little Brickhill was just over the county boundary into Buckinghamshire and therefore came under the jurisdiction of a different set of magistrates for the purposes of granting licences.

Little Brickhill

At Little Brickhill Thomas and Sally had another daughter named Susannah, baptised there in April 1850, but sadly she died as a baby of only five weeks old. The 1851 census finds Thomas, Sally and their children at Little Brickhill, with Thomas now described as a victualler, which is consistent with him running a public house. Their eldest son, Henry, was living with his grandparents back at Church End in Husborne Crawley.

Thomas and Sally had daughters named Ellen in 1852 and Amy in 1855 at Little Brickhill. In 1856 Thomas was found to have unjust measures in his possession. He was fined by the Newport Pagnell petty sessions £1 2s 6d.

In 1857 Thomas's father George died back in Husborne Crawley. Later that year Thomas and Sally's youngest child, Ann Elizabeth, was born. In total Thomas and Sally had a remarkable fifteen children together, although four had died young. By the time Ann Elizabeth was born, Thomas was 51 years old.

In 1859 Thomas's eldest daughter Eusebia was married, and Thomas's first known grandchild was born shortly after. Thomas's mother Mary died at Husborne Crawley in 1860.

The 1861 census finds Thomas, Sally and many of their children still living at Little Brickhill, but the census gives the added detail that they lived at the King's Arms. The following year Thomas's recently married daughter Eusebia died aged only 24 years old.

Thomas was still running a public house in Little Brickhill in 1863, when a newspaper report recounts how some of his customers stole his dog. They had been drinking, and soon after they left the dog was missed. Thomas went after them and found they had taken the dog.

Luton

Some time between 1863 and 1866 Thomas and Sally left Little Brickhill and moved to Luton, where they took on the Shepherd and Flock public house (later renamed the Round Green Tavern) at Round Green, then a slightly removed hamlet on the hill to the east of the town itself but on the main road from Luton to Hitchin. Thomas had another fine from the magistrate in 1867 when he refused to produce his measures on request.

The family does not appear to have stayed long at the Shepherd and Flock. By 1870 Thomas had ceased to be a publican and was working as a dealer, and living at Burr Street in the High Town area of Luton, between the town centre and Round Green. His son Thomas stole various things from him, including a glazier's diamond, and Thomas gave evidence in his son's trial. Thomas junior was sentenced to three months' hard labour.

The 1871 and 1881 census each find Thomas and Sally living at 4 Burr Street, and on each occasion they had grandchildren living with them.

Sally died in 1890, aged 74. The 1891 census finds Thomas living in the Luton Union Workhouse. He survived Sally by less than a year, dying in the workhouse on 7th June 1891. He was 85 years old.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish register of Husborne Crawley, 1557-1812. (Bedford: Bedfordshire County Record Office, 1989).

   1806 / Feb 17th Lewis Bapt[ize]d Thomas Son of George & Mary

   The Thomas who married Sarah Cook can be linked to parents George Lewis and Mary Goodman on the basis of Thomas and Sarah's son Henry appearing in the 1851 census living with George and Mary and called their grandson. There are two baptisms at Husborne Crawley for Thomas son of George and Mary, in 1806 and 1813. Having considered the evidence, these are considered to be two separate Thomases. See discussion on Thomas's parents' family page for how the baptisms of Lewis children at Husborne Crawley have been disentangled.

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 5; Book 1; Folio 5; Pages 4-5, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: West Street, Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire
   Tho[ma]s Lewis, male, 30 [1806-11], Pig dealer, born in county
   Sally Lewis, female, 25 [1811-16], not born in county
   Henry Lewis, male, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   Sam[ue]l Lewis, male, 5 [1835/6], born in county
   Alfred Lewis, male, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   Eusabia Lewis, female, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   Susanna Lewis, female, 1 [1839/40], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1723; Folio 89; Page 3, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Thomas Lewis, head, married, male, 40 [1810/11], Victualler, b. Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, wife, married, female, 34 [1816/7], b. Bow Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Alfred Lewis, son, male, 13 [1837/8], Scholar, b. Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Eusibaous Lewis, daughter, female, 12 [1838/9], Scholar, b. Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Mary Ann Lewis, daughter, female, 6 [1844/5], Scholar, b. Aspley, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, daughter, female, 6 [1844/5], Scholar, b. Aspley, Bedfordshire
   Thomas Lewis, son, male, 2 [1848/9], b. Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Arthur Bedford, visitor, male, 8 [1842/3], b. not known

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 871; Folio 61; Page 10, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Kings Arms, Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Thomas Lewis, head, married, male, 50 [1810/11], Victualler, b. Husband Crawly, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, wife, married, female, 42 [1818/19], b. Bow Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Samuel Lewis, son, unmarried, male, 24 [1836/7], Baker, b. Husband Crawly, Bedfordshire
   Mary A. Lewis, daughter, female, 15 [1845/6], Plaitter of Straw, b. Aspley, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, daughter, female, 12 [1848/9], Scholar, b. Aspley, Bedfordshire
   Thomas Lewis, son, male, 11 [1849/50], Scholar, b. Aspley, Bedfordshire
   Ellen Lewis, daughter, female, 8 [1852/3], Scholar, b. L. Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Annie Lewis, daughter, female, 6 [1854/5], Scholar, b. L. Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Ann Lewis, daughter, female, 3 [1857/8], b. L. Brickhill, Buckinghamshire

5. ↑ Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service: The Swan, Aspley Guise, accessed 12 Feb 2012.

   Thomas Lewis listed as publican of The Swan, Aspley Guise in 1850.

6. ↑ Dead Pubs: Kings Arms, Little Brickhill, accessed 12 Feb 2012.

   Thomas Lewis listed as publican of The Kings Arms, Little Brickhill in 1863 (citing Duttons Directory). Was publican of The Shepherd & Flock, Round Green, Luton, by October 1866 - see newspaper article transcribed on his son Arthur Bedford Lewis's page.

7. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1573; Folio 58; Page 1, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 4 Burr Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Thomas Lewis, head, married, male, 65 [1805/6], Dealer, b. Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, wife, married, female, 52 [1818/19], Sewer, b. Bow Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Ammey Lewis, daughter, female, 16 [1854/5], Sewer, b. Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Ann Lewis, daughter, female, 13 [1857/8], Sewer, b. Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
   Sarah Lewis, granddaughter, female, 5 [1865/6], Scholar, b. Islington, Middlesex

8. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1650; Folio 57; Page 1, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 4 Burr Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Tho[ma]s Lewis, head, married, male, 78 [1802/3], Furniture Dealer, b. Usborn Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, wife, married, female, 65 [1815/16], Furniture Dealer Wife, b. Usborn Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Lewis, granddaughter, female, 15 [1865/6], Servant, b. London
   Elizabeth Lewis, granddaughter, female, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. London
   Ellen Whiles, granddaughter, female, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Luton
   ~second household at same address~
   Tho[ma]s H. Cook, head married, male, 25 [1855/6], Iron Moulder, b. Birmingham
   Sarah Cook, wife, married, female, 24 [1856/7], Iron Moulder Wife, b. Northampton
   Wm? Cook, son, male, 1 month [1881], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

9. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 1275; Folio 144; Page 6, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: Luton Union Workhouse, Luton, Bedfordshire
   [many paupers, including:]
   Thomas Lewis, pauper, widower, male, 87 [1803/4], Hawker, b. Husband Crawley, Bedfordshire

10. ↑ Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    Registration District Luton
    1891 Death in the Sub-district of Luton in the Counties of Beds and Herts
    No.	When and where died	Name and surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
    450	Seventh June 1891 Union Workhouse, Luton U.S.D.	Thomas Lewis	Male	87 years [1803/4]	Hawker of Luton	Gangrene of Feet, Exhaustion Certified by Henry E. Jackson M.R.C.S.	George Brandon Master, Union Workhouse, Luton	Eighth June 1891	John Gardner, Registrar

    
11. ↑ Burials in Luton 1813-1904, in Bedfordshire Family History Society. Luton Parish Register Transcript. (Bedford).

    Name: Thomas LEWIS
    Abode: Luton
    Buried: 11 Jun 1891
    Aged: 87 [1803/4]

12. ↑ Luton Union Vol. 1, Workhouse Births and Deaths 1866-1905.

    Date of Death: 7 Jun 1891
    Name: LEWIS Thomas
    Age: 87
    From what parish admitted: Luton
    Where buried: Luton

13.   Northampton Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Saturday 2 May 1846.

    WOBURN
    PETTY SESSIONS
    Frederick Whitlock, a sweep, summoned Thomas Lewis, a pig dealer, of Aspley, for assaulting him. Whitlock went to Lewis's house during his absence from home, and told Mrs. Lewis that he had been ordered by "her master" to sweep the chimney. She allowed him to do so, and he charged her 3d. On the return of her husband he denied having done so; it was all gammon, for he meant to sweep the chimney himself, and put the soot on his garden; and seeing the valuable commodity in a sack outside the door, he seized it, and, when Whitlock came for his soot he refused to give it up, and shook his fists in the sweep's face. A witness was produced on each side. The complainant swore there was, and the defendant that there was not, an assault, the the latter saying - I did not see this man (turning to the pig-dealer) hit this 'ere gentleman (turning to the sweep). The case was dismissed, and the parties referred to the Quarter Sessions if they were not satisfied.

14.   Northampton Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Saturday 1 Sep 1849.

    WOBURN
    PETTY SESSIONS, August 24.-Before Lord Charles Russell, the Rev. Edward Orlebar Smith, Colonel Hervey Smith, W.D. Cooper Cooper, Esq., Colonel Gilpin, and W. Lynn Smart, Esq.
    Publicans' Licenses.-This being the general licensing day, the Magistrates were occupied for some time in granting the new licenses. The houses in the different divisions were reported well conducted, with the exception of the following:-The Swan, Salford, Robert Emerton; Swan, Aspley, Thomas Lewis; Red Lion, Heath-and-Reach, Robert Belgrove; King's Arms, Leighton Buzzard, Richard Byers; Sow and Pigs, Toddington, S. Foxley; and the Flower-de-Luce, Hockliffe, James Bosworth, which stand over until the next meeting.

15.   Bucks Herald, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Saturday 20 Dec 1856.

    NEWPORT PAGNELL
    PETTY SESSIONS.-DECEMBER 17.
    UNJUST MEASURES.-Richard Jesse Baldwin, a victualler, of Fenny Stratford, was charged by Superintendent Whadcoat with having unjust measures in his possession on the 10th inst. He was convicted in a penalty and costs of 15s.-Thomas Lewis, victualler, of Little Brickhill, was convicted for a similar offence on the 10th inst. Penalty and costs £1 2s. 6d.-Edwin Hacket, victualler, of Great Linford, was convicted for a similar offence on the 5th inst. Penalty and costs 17s. 6d.

16.   Bucks Herald, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Saturday 7 Feb 1863.

    NEWPORT PAGNELL
    PETTY SESSIONS.-FEBRUARY 4
    DOG STEALING.-Thomas Hollis and Goerge Coley were convicetd for stealing a dog, the property of Thomas Lewis, of Little Brickhill, victualler. It appeared that the prisoners were drinking with others at the house of the prosecutor, and soon after they left, the dog was missed. The prosecutor went after them, and the dog was traced into the possession of the defendants. Penalty and costs £1 each; or, in default, 21 days imprisonment, with hard labour.

17.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Saturday 22 Jun 1867.

    PETTEY SESSIONS, MONDAY, June 17.
    Present-Col. Ames, chairman, and Rev. H.B. Smyth
    Weights and Measures
    Thomas Lewis, Round Green, was fined 13s. 6d. and costs 16s. 6d., for refusing to produce his measures when requested to do so on the 5th inst.

18.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 6 Mar 1885.

    A TRUMPARY ASSAULT.
    GEORGE TOPP, John-street, blocker, was summoned for assaulting Thomas Lewis, marine store dealer, 4 Burr-street, February 24.
    Complainant said about 2.15p.m. he met defendant in the churchyard. Topp caught hold of him by the collar and said "You -, I want 6d off you." Told him he hadn't got it. Defendant pulled him about for 5 minutes, and put his fist in his face 3 or 4 times. Defendant pulled his bag away. At length said he had owed his missus 3s. 6d. for 3 or 4 yeas: and he (complainant) wanted him to go to his wife about it, but that he went the other way.
    The defence was that complainant owed him money for goods, and that on meeting him words passed, when complainant pushed the bag in his face, and then he took hold of it. He denied any assault.
    Then Bench dismissed the case.