Saturday, December 12, 2009

Surname Saturday: Lewis

The LEWIS surname appears in Eileen's maternal line. The line stretches back into Canada just after the time of the American Revolution, but it's ultimate origins have not been discovered.  Quite possible that the family was American with Loyalist ties.


Stories and History:

Ahnentafel # 48: Nathaniel LEWIS (1791-1830).  Nathaniel was born July 13, 1791 in Canada.  He married Nancy Ann SNYDER. Nancy was born August 31, 1794 in Colchester Township, Essex County, Ontario.  They moved to Montgomery County, Ohio before 1820 and Wayne County, Indiana before 1830.  Nathaniel died October 20, 1830 in Hagerstown, Wayne County, Indiana and Nancy died October 17, 1830 in Hagerstown, Wayne County, Indiana.  Both are buried in Ulrich Baptist Cemetery, Hagerstown, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 24: Solomon LEWIS (1820-1895).  Solomon was born January 9, 1820 in Montgomery County, Ohio.  Solomon married Margaret RINEHART on January 31, 1841 in Henry County, Indiana.  Margaret was born July 6, 1822 in Henry County, Indiana.  Solomon was a farmer and they raised their family in Huntington County, Indiana.  Solomon died December 18, 1895 in Lancaster, Huntington County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 12: Jacob LEWIS (1847-1898).  Jacob was born January 17, 1847 in Huntington County, Indiana.  Jacob married first to Laura GROFF on March 30, 1871 in Huntington County, Indiana.  After her death, Jacob married Marietta COOK on November 28, 1878 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Marietta was born April 6, 1855 in Grant County, Indiana.  Jacob died April 22, 1898 in Lancaster, Huntington County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 6: Lawrence Solomon LEWIS (1885-1947).  Lawrence was born March 30, 1885 in Lancaster, Huntington County, Indiana.  Lawrence married Ruth Alice SILLS on February 24, 1906 in Dora, Wabash County, Indiana.  Ruth was born March 29, 1889 in Dora, Wabash County, Indiana. They had 12 children in Wabash County, Indiana.  Lawrence died June 26, 1947 in Dora, Wabash County, Indiana.


Related blog posts:


Friday, December 11, 2009

Family Milestones: December 11th

My paternal 6th-great grandaunt, Martha DAVIS, married on this date in 1740 to Nathan ROGERS.  Martha was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (MAXSON) DAVIS, and the younger sister of my Thomas William DAVIS.  Nathan was the son of Jonathan ROGERS.  Martha was born August 14, 1761.  Nathan was born May 6, 1718.  They had a family of 7 children.  Nathan died June 30, 1806.  Martha died April 1, 1756.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal great-grandaunt, Pansy GILLILAND, married on this date in 1912 in Monroe County, Indiana to Peter W. DECKER.  Pansy was the daughter of Ida DAVIS, and the older sister to my June GILLILAND.  Peter was the son of William Roscoe and Amanda (ROLLINS) DECKER.  Pansy was born December 11, 1894 in Ellettsville, Monroe County, Indiana.  Peter was born March 13, 1890 in Indiana.  They lived in Monroe and Montgomery Counties, Indiana and had 5 children.   Peter died in 1947.  Pansy remarried to Raymond TIMM.  Pansy died January 26, 1968 in Monticello, White County, Indiana.

My maternal 7th-great grandfather, Samuel MILLIKAN, was born on this date in 1742 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  This date may not have been correctly entered from the Quaker style.  Samuel was the son of William and Jane (WHITE) MILLIKAN.  Samuel married 6mo-10dy-1767 in New Garden MM, Guilford County, North Carolina to Ann BALDWIN, daughter of William and Elizabeth (SMITH) BALDWIN.  Ann was born May 18, 1750.  They had 10 children.  Samuel died November 3, 1817 in Randolph County, North Carolina.

Marriage: Thomas Groendyke to Hettie Ballard


My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, Thomas GROENENDYKE, married his second wife,  Hettie BALLARD on December 20, 1899 in Madison County, Indiana.  The license records the surname as GROENDYKE.  

Thomas was born October 2, 1852 near Frankton, Madison County, Indiana, the son of Elias and Nancy (JENKINS) GROENENDYKE.  His first wife, Emily SMITH, had died in 1895.  Hettie BALLARD was born March 1865 in Indiana.  I do not know who her parents were at this time.  She was previously married to J.U. THOMAS.


Thomas died November 25, 1944 in Madison County, Indiana.  I do not know where Hettie died.  The last record I have for her is the 1920 census.  They were living in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana.