Descendants of Lewis ap David of Cardiganshire, Wales

Generation #3

Note: Information on the Lewis Family before Walden Lewis b. c. 1774 in Virginia comes from assumptions based on multiple sources. Therefore, the information on this page is not reliable for genealogical purposes. A detailed discussion of the many connections can be found at Lewis Family Research.

Sir John (2James ap Lewis, 1Lewis ap David) Lewis, Knight of the British Empire

We know of Sir John from the following records:

Origins of the Lewes family.

Fortunately for social historians, the deputy herald Lewys Dwnn made two calls at plas Abernantbychan in the Cardiganshire parish of Penbryn. On the first, 15 January 1588-9, he was entertained by the head of the household, James Lewes, esquire, Justice of the Peace, which resulted in the production of an exhaustive family tree, duly signed as correct by the squire, and faithfully recorded by the deputy-herald (Heraldic Visitations of Wales, i, 39-40).

Dwnn's host died in 1599 and some ten years later, Dwnn called on his son Sir John Lewes who had succeeded to Abernantbychan, and again made a detailed tree, with numerous additions bringing it up to date (ibid, i, 54-5). Whereas on the former visit Dwnn had enjoyed hospitality only, the second proved more profitable, for in addition to board and lodging, the knight presented him with ten shillings for his travail. Although no biographical details of the earlier ancestors are entered, we can deduce that they belonged to the pedigreed freeman class, the bonheddig, whose marriages were invariably made with partners from families of a similar status, and that they enjoyed a position of local importance.

    Ceredigion : Journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, Vol. 8, nos. 1-4, 1976-1979, Gellidywyll : a Ceredigion family South of the Teifi <http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1093205> 29 September 2012.

1604. March. Sir John Lycwis Knt. of Abernant-bychan. Son of James ap Lewis of that place, (H.S. 1571, 1589, by Ann dau. of John Wogan H.S. 1562,) b. 1580, ent. at Jes. Coll. Oxford 22 April 1598, aged 17, ent the Inner Temple Nov. 1598, m. Bridget eldest dau. of above Sir Richard Pryse of Gogerddan (see 1584,) was knighted 29 June 1604, H.S. co. Card. 1608, 1633, M.P. 1604-11, became possessed of Coedniawr, by exchange, and d. 1643 or about 1656.

    THE PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPALITY of WALES, W. K. WILLIAMS, 1895 <http://www04.us.archive.org/stream/cu31924030498939/
cu31924030498939_djvu.txt> 29 September 1012.

The younger brother, John had a distinguished career. Born in 1580, he was educated at Jesus College, Oxford and at the Inner Temple. Like his father, he added substantially to the estate, was equally active in public life, and in 1604 elected Member of Parliament for the county, serving until 1611. In 1604 he was knighted, served the office of High Sheriff in 1608 and 1633, and appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County in 1617. He bought Coedmor on the banks of the Teifi from Rowland Mortimer in 1615, which became the main seat of his descendants. Sir John, who had married Bridget Pryse of Gogerddan, died intestate in 1656, and the property passed to his son Col. James Lewes of Coedmor.

    Ceredigion : Journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, Vol. 8, nos. 1-4, 1976-1979, Gellidywyll : a Ceredigion family South of the Teifi <http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1093205> 29 September 2012.

John Lewis was born 1580 in Cardiganshire, Wales. And, he attended Oxford at age 17. In about 1600, John married Bridget Pryse b. c. 1582, daughter of Sir Richard Pryse of Gogerddan. The Lewis and the Pryse (ap Rys) families went back for hundreds of years.

John was knighted in 1604, making him Sir John Lewis. Sir John is best known from his service as High Sheriff of Cardiganshire and in the British Parliament (1604-1611) from which we have the many records.

In 1609 Sir John was visited again by the deputy herald Lewys Dwnn who was making his second call at plas Abernant Bychan in the Cardiganshire parish of Penbryn. From this interview, additional genealogical information was added to the record.

In 1615 Sir John purchased the expansive Coedmor Estate on the Afon Teifi from his uncle, Rowland Mortimer, Baron of Coedmor. Later generations would relocate to Coedmor and let plas Abernant Bychan to renters.

Sir John died 1656 in Cardiganshire, Wales.

1615 Sir John Lewis purchased Coedmor on the banks of the Teifi from Rowland Mortimer.
THE CHURCH OF PENBRYN AND ITS CONNECTIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
By D. Prys Williams, Esq. (BRYTHONYDD).
The Name of the Church. — Its full name is’Llanfihangel Penbryn or St. Michaels Church on the Headland.
Some Memorial Tablets in the Church.
There is a fine brass tablet in the floor within the communion rail to the memory of Dame Bridgett Lewes and her son. It is about 17 ins. long, and 12  ins. wide. It runs as follows :

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF DAME BRIDGETT LEWES, DAUGHTER
TO SIR RICHARD PRYSE OF GOGERTHAN, KNIGHT, AND WIFE
TO SIR JOHN LEWES OF ABERNANTBYCHAN, KNIGHT,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 4th OF OCTOBER
IN THE YEARE OF OUR LORD 1643.
ALSO
HERE LYETH THE BODY OF RICHARD LEWES HER SONNE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 6 OF JANUARY 1622.

It may be noticed that the above Dame Bridgett Lewes was the mother of the celebrated Sir James Lewes, of Abernant Fychan, who took such an active part in the Civil Wars on the side of King Charles I. He was one of the chosen knights intended as a member of the Royal Oak, if that had been instituted.

    Archaeologia Cambrensis, p. 155. Chas. J. Clark, London 1905 <https://archive.org/stream/archaeologiacamb1905> 18 March 2020.
Circa 1642 John Lewis of Coedmore married Lettice, daughter of Rhys Lloyd of Bronwydd.

    Children

    1. Col. James Lewis b. 1601 Cardiganshire, Wales

    2. Letys Lewis

    3. Mari Lewis

    4. Richard Lewis

Generation #4

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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