Category Archives: Maternal

Mrs. Laura B. Lewis (obituary)

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Mrs. Laura B. Lewis, wife of Stephen H. Lewis, who had been ill since January, died Sunday at her home, 44 Kidder av, West Somerville, where the funeral service will be held at 2 tomorrow afternoon. Mrs. Lewis was born in Charlottetown, P E I, 65 years ago, and was the daughter of Rev William G. Wright, a Methodist minister. She has been a highly-respected resident of this city since her marriage about 40 years ago, and was also well known in South Duxbury, Mass, where she spent Summers at Standish Shore. She was a member of the College Avenue Methodist Church. In addition to her husband, she is survived by four children, Ex-Representative Wilbur F. Lewis and Dr Minot W. Lewis of the city, Mrs. Laura W. Elliott, wife of Roscoe O. Elliott of Arlington, and Mrs Grace M MacKenzie, wife of William MacKenzie of El Paso, Tex.

Boston Daily Globe
September 14, 1926
Page A12

laura-lewis-obit

Mr. Hammersley on the Ship Thomas P. Cope

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William S.  Hammersley “was a manufacturer of chinaware in England, which business he followed until 1843, in which year he emigrated to America, locating in New York City, where he became an importer of china and earthenware.” When he made that transatlantic crossing on 20 May 1843, he seems to have come alone, with his family to follow sometime later.

The ship he came on was the Thomas P. Cope:

The Thomas P. Cope was a packet ship that sailed between Philadelphia and Liverpool, making 21 round-trip voyages between 1839 and 1846. In December 1846 the ship was struck by lightning and burned for six days before sinking. (source)

Independence Seaport Museum 014

 

Cover Photo Source.

51 Prince Street – Built by William Wright

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From PEI Historic Places:

WHY IS THIS PLACE IMPORTANT?

The heritage value of 51 Prince Street lies in its role as one of the earliest wooden brick encased buildings in Charlottetown; its Georgian and Italianate influenced architecture; and its role in supporting the streetscape.

51 Prince Street was built for James Costello in 1872. While common now, wooden buildings with an exterior clad in brick were rare in the 1870s. Two factors indicate that the building was originally constructed of wood. When local newspapers described the construction of 51 Prince Street, only carpenter, William Wright was listed as being in charge. If the walls had been load bearing, a mason would have been employed. Also, the fact that the bricks are all laid on their sides and there are no bonding end bricks, indicates that the structure is actually wooden underneath.

The building at 51 Prince Street is Georgian influenced in style but also shows some Italianate influences. The Georgian style is one of the most common architectural styles on Prince Edward Island. It emerged from 18th Century Britain and was intent on expressing confidence, order and balance. Combined with the brick exterior of this building, the result was intended to impress. 51 Prince Street’s Georgian features include the symmetrical facade with five bays and a central doorway. The Italianate style was a more decorative style reminiscent of the Venetian arcades of the Renaissance period. Italianate influences can be seen in the slightly arched windows and the flat roof.

155 Euston Street – Built by William Wright

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From Canada’s Historic Houses:

155 Euston Street is a Second Empire style, three storey, former town house located near what was traditionally referred to as Gallows Hill. The large building was constructed in 1875 for the manager of the Guardian newspaper and printer, Joseph William Mitchell (1836-1888) and his wife Barbara Rachel Ann Hooper (1847-1934). The designation encompasses the building’s exterior and parcel; it does not include the building’s interior.

And the Wright connection:

In 1875, the Mitchells’ hired local architect, Richard Weeks to design their home. William Wright was hired as the contractor to build the home that was described in the Semi Weekly Patriot newspaper as a neat, three-storey, brick cottage.

And evidently you can stay there for only $49 per night!

3 Hillsborough Street – Built by William Wright

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3 Hillsborough St.

….The Adams family of New London owned this land from the 1820s into the twentieth century. During that time, in 1872, William Adams leased to Charles McFarlane the corner property for 21 years and Mr. McFarlane agreed “to erect a flat roof house”. It appears Mr. McFarlane reneged on the flat roof as, in 1875, builder William Wright constructed a house and shop for Mr. McFarlane, and it seems to be the gable roofed house there today.

(Source: Virtual Tour of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)

Tracking Down James Reid

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James Reid is my 4th great grandfather, father to Catherine (Reid) Lewis. In Catherine’s obituary, this was written of him:

Mr. James Reid, father of the deceased, was a soldier in the King’s army, and after the Irish rebellion in 1799 was crushed, he came with his family to Canada.

A little more information

Her maiden name was Reid, born at Race End, Donegal, Ireland. The clan from which this branch of the Reid family sprang was noted in Scotland in the seventeenth century. Members of the family lived to the patriarchal age of 90 and 100 years.

Additional Reid family history.

So here are my questions for a professional or more seasoned amateur genealogist than myself:

  1. What is the King’s army that this refers to, and do enlistment records exist for this army?
  2. Would their travel from Ireland to Canada be catalogued somewhere in a passenger manifest (it was likely around 1830)?
  3. What are the records available in Ireland or Scotland during the 18th and 19th century, if any?

With a name like “James Reid,” I am not expecting easy results, or really any results, but if military records do exist, that may be the best chance.

Obituary of Catherine (Reid) Lewis

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OBITUARY
_________
Mrs. Catherine Lewis Died at Lyn
Colchester County, June 15
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Mrs. Catherine Lewis died at Lyn Colchester County, June 15, aged 86 years. Her maiden name was Reid, born at Race End, Donegal, Ireland. The clan from which this branch of the Reid family sprang was noted in Scotland in the seventeenth century. Members of the family lived to the patriarchal age of 90 and 100 years. Continue reading Obituary of Catherine (Reid) Lewis →

Biography of Wilbur Fletcher Lewis

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This biography originally appeared in “Middlesex County and Its People”:

Wilbur-Fletcher-LewisWILBUR FLETCHER LEWIS–For more than eighteen years, Wilbur Fletcher Lewis has been identified with the building, real estate, and insurance business at Somerville, first in association with his father, and since 1918, for himself. He is well known in fraternal and club circles, and has always been interested in athletics, especially in baseball. The business is operated under the name of S. H. Lewis and Son, and the office is located at 253 Elm Street.

Wilbur Fletcher Lewis, son of Stephen Henry and Laura Blanche (Wright) Lewis (see preceding biography), was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, February 28, 1889. He received his earliest education at the Edgerly School, and then continued his studies in the Highland School, from which he was graduated in 1904. The following fall he became a student in the English High School, from which he was graduated in 1908, after which he entered Berkley Preparatory School, where he continued his studies for one year.

Continue reading Biography of Wilbur Fletcher Lewis →

Biography of Stephen Henry Lewis

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This biography originally appeared in “Middlesex County and Its People”:

stephen lewis headshotSTEPHEN HENRY LEWIS–For more than four decades, Mr. Lewis was engaged in the business of carpenter and builder at Somerville, and during those years established a prosperous and prominent industry, which flourished until his retirement from active affairs in 1918. Industrious and enterprising, he had added many important real estate and insurance activities to his business and was recognized as a leader in the trade. His business has continued under the management of a son, Wilbur Fletcher, and to Mr. Lewis is the reward and comfort, the competence which his efforts have earned. Continue reading Biography of Stephen Henry Lewis →