#52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Week 3 -Prompt: ‘Longevity'

 Week 3 -  ‘Longevity’

I have been trying to calculate who was the longest living direct ancestor in my tree, and of course, my efforts show me up, in that I still have some records to obtain to verify dates, etc.  

The one that caught my eye, however, was Charles Lewis, my 4^thGreat Grandfather on my mother’s side. First, it appeared that he had lived until he was 96 years old ! 

I thought out loud:  “what!  I didn’t think people lived that long then”

My notes said he was born in 1765 in Ross, Herefordshire, England and died around 1861-2, also in Ross.

So, I have been busy trying to establish his Birth, Death and Marriage dates – his vital records, or for that time period – his Baptism, Marriage, and Burial records.

I had his marriage record from the Newland parish register.  Charles and Benedicta BENNET were married on 02 Nov 1779 at Newland, Gloucestershire.  This was Benedicta’s home parish and Ruardean was Charles’ parish and where he resided. Both coming from the area known as ‘The Forest of Dean’.

 Ancestry.com: Map of Gloucestershire showing the parishes.

On another document, I found the parents of Benedicta listed as Thomas BENNET and Benedicta ROBERTS.  Unfortunately, I have not found any record of Charles’ parents. 

There are Land tax records for a few years up into the 1860’s with Charles renting land and a house at Ellicoe’s Calow pont. 

(Still trying to find out what that is). Sounds like a bridge.

A little under three months after their marriage they had their first baby – 

1.  Richard, baptized, 20 Feb 1780
2.  Benedicta baptized 04 Mar 1781
3.  Sarah, baptized 22 Dec 1782 in Welsh Bicknor, Herefordshire
4.  Thomas, baptized 26 Apr 1784.
The last three were baptized together in Welsh Bicknor Herefordshire
5.  Charlotte, 03 Aug 1790
6.  Mary Ann, 03 Aug 1790 – who was my ancestor.
7.  Jonathan, 03 Aug 1790.

I then found a document from the Family of Dean Family History Trust called ‘Gloucester Marriage Allegations 1747 -1837 and Marriage Bonds 1730 – 1802. It listed Charles and Benedicta’s Marriage and gave their ages as 23 and 24 respectively. Calculation brought Charles birth year to 1756 and Benedicta to 1755.  

Charles was a bachelor with the profession of a tallow chandler, and Benedicta a spinster.  Charles signed the document.

_________________________________________

MARRIAGE ALLEGATION Charles & Benedicta LEWIS

Gloucestershire Marriage Allegations 1747-1837

&Marriage Bonds 1730 – 1802 Transcript Details

Record_ID:                                    48034

Entry No.:                                             0

Year:                                                1779

Month:                                                Oct

Day:                                                    27

Groom_Surname:                        LEWIS

Groom_Forenames:                     Charles

Groom_Age_at_Marriage:                   23

Groom_Condition:                   Batchelor

    Groom_Rank/Profession: Tallow Chandler

Groom_Residence:                   Ruardean     

      

Bride_Surname:                   BENNETT

Bride_Forenames:                  Benedicta

Bride_Age_at_Marriage:                   24

Bride_Condition:                      Spinster

Bride_Rank/Profession:                        

Bride_Residence:                   Newland        

Marriage_by:                           Licence

Signature_or_Mark:               He signs

Witness_1:                                            

Witness_2:                                            

Other_Witnesses:                                  

Sealed and Delivered in the presence of:      

Event_type:          Marriage Allegation

Memoranda  Sworn before Jas Benson

      Transcriber's_Notes: To marry at Newland
Register_Reference:                 Q3/72

Page_no.:                                       16

Soundex_Groom:                      L200

Soundex_Bride:                        B530

 Reference: Forest of Dean Family History Trust

______________________________________________________

Good grief – this means he is 10 years older than I was led to believe.  

So now it’s just finding proof of his year of death, which could be earlier, surely he didn’t live to be 100 or more.  No-one has ever mentioned a Methuselah in our family.

This is turning out to be no mean task.

I have a Death Index for Charles Lewis who died in Ross in 1862.  I will purchase the death record hoping it might hold a clue.  But that would make him 103, so its most likely not him.

Charles Lewis, Ross. Listed on England Death Index. Vol:6a, P. 325

Since then I have found an entry for a Charles baptism on 25 Feb 1756 with parents Charles and Sarah Lewis.  It is the only one I can find for that year. Funny thing is the Parish Curator had also written it out for 1757 – exact same wording.  I wonder if this is really my Charles?

Baptism of Charles Lewis, 25 Feb 1756, St Catherine, Gloucester.

______________________________________

Information about Candle Making 

Reference: Wikipedia, accessed 10 Oct 2018

A person who makes candles is known as a chandler. Traditionally tallow chandlers operated separately from wax chandlers: beeswax candles customarily being used in churches and noble houses, while tallow (animal fat) candles were generally used in other homes.   The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers is one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London and first received a Royal charter in 1462.  It not only engaged in tallow making but also in the trade of oils.  These livery companies comprised London's ancient and modern trade associations and arose from the medieval Guilds.  They played a significant part in City life, not least by providing charitable-giving and networking opportunities.  As is the case with most livery companies, the Tallow Chandlers' Company is no longer a trade association of candlemakers.  Its decline was precipitated by the advent of electric lighting.  The Tallow Chandler's Co.  now exists as a charitable institution and supports education in oil-related fields.