The Lewis Information for Tavistock Area Families



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 Landkey
However 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 TavistockLewis Families Whitchurch Lewis Families BroadwoodkellyLewis Families Exbourne


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Lewis Information Page
Last updated March 2020
Web Page by Les Haigh. Email: (les.haigh at btinternet.com)

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