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Joseph Lewis
1838 – 1876
3rd Great-Grandfather
1838 – Birth of Joseph Lewis
Sadly, we know very little about Joseph Lewis. It is only from Census records that we know he was born in Liverpool around 1838 – these facts have have remained consistent in the limited information we have found. From his marriage certificate, we know his father was also a Joseph Lewis.
One possibility is that his parents were Joseph Lewis and Catherine Conley (they married in Liverpool in 1833) but this needs to be explored.
We only pick up Joseph’s life when he married Eagle Diana Shaw in Liverpool in 1858. The family travelled all over the north of England and Southern Scotland – Joseph’s occupation varies from Painter to Artist to Landscape Artist to travelling showman (same profession as Eagle’s father which may be how they met).
1858 – Marriage of Joseph Lewis & Eagle Diana Shaw
Joseph Lewis married Eagle Diana Shaw on 29th October 1858 at St Nicolas in Liverpool. Witnesses were William Smith and Ann Smith.
Andrea Napier (Andrea Griffiths) recalls that her mother (Edith Jackson) said that she thought Harriet’s mother was Italian – dark hair and olive skin. Somewhere along the line there was a Grandmother called Rosa, but no-one can recall where she fits in … and no research has found any relation in this line of that name or similar.
The only thing that has been picked up on the census is that Eagle’s father was born in Jamaica around 1792. This just raises more questions than answers!
1859 – Birth of Harriet Elizabeth Lewis
Harriet Elizabeth Lewis (or Elizabeth as she preferred to be known) was born on 21st March 1859 at Luddenden Foot, Warley near Halifax.
She married William Shaw at St George, Barrow-in-Furness on 4th June 1879 – a ceremony witnessed by Christopher G Braithwaite & Sarah Alice Shaw.
They had eight children:
- Sarah Alice Shaw (1879 – )
- John Shaw (1881 – 1961)
- Ellen Shaw (1882 – 1970)
- Hannah Shaw (1885 – 1943)
- Dinah Shaw (1886 – 1925)
- Elizabeth Shaw (1889 – 1979)
- Jane Shaw (1891 – 1930)
- William Shaw (1893 – 1934)
Tragically, Elizabeth died after suffering from a hemorrhage after giving birth to William (junior!) on 3rd April 1893, leaving her husband, William, to look after a newborn and seven young children.
Elizabeth was buried at Barrow Cemetery on 5th April 1893 (Section: 2, Plot: 124)
1861 – Birth and Death of George Henry Lewis
George Henry Lewis was born in Whitehaven on 1st January 1861. His birth was mentioned in the local paper although he hadn’t yet been named.
1861 Census
19 Union Street, Preston, Lancashire
| Name | Relation to Head | Marital Status | Age | Occupation | Place of Birth |
| Josiah LEWIS | Boarder | Mar | 23 | Painter | Liverpool, Lancashire |
| Diana LEWIS | Boarder | Mar | 21 | Farmers Wife | Preston, Lancashire |
| Elizabeth LEWIS | Boarder | 2 | Luddendon Foot, Yorkshire |
Source Citation
Class: RG 9; Piece: 3132; Folio: 89; Page: 31; GSU roll: 543084
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/9624986:8767
1862 – Birth of John William Lewis
John William Lewis appears to have been born as Joseph John Lewis was born on 12th (or 16th!) August 1862 in Ballantrae, Scotland. His parents are stated as Joseph Lewis – a Landscape Painter.
He was the only sibling of Harriet that survived into adulthood. From information Andrea Napier was told by her mum, he looked very “Italian”.
John William married Sarah Elizabeth Treen on 29th August 1887 at St John the Evangelist in Barrow-in-Furness.
They had 10 children together:
- Elizabeth Lewis (1888 – 1967)
- Joseph Lewis (1889 – )
- Edith Treen Lewis (1893 – 1945)
- Emily Alice Lewis (1894 – )
- Elsie Rebecca Lewis (1895 – 1984)
- John William Lewis (1896 – 1897)
- Charles Treen Lewis (1896 – 1968)
- John William Lewis (1902 – 1981)
- George Henry Lewis (1906 – )
- Unknown Baby Lewis (died before 1911)
The family lived in Barrow-in-Furness until several of the Lewis family emigrated to the US. The Barrow home seemed to be a base for John William as appeared to live a life on the road as a Music Hall Artist.
Joseph was the first of the family to emigrate in 1913. He ended up in Illinois via Fargo, Canada and he married in 1917. His parents and siblings, Elizabeth and John William, followed emigrated to Oakland in Michigan and lived in the US for the rest of their lives. Elizabeth ended up moving to San Diego.
John William Lewis died in Wayne County, Detroit on 15th June 1942. Cause of death was reported as Malignicy of Liver (6 months).
His death certificate states he was an artist – and also states both parents names.
1868 – Birth and Death of Celena Lewis
Celena Lewis was born in Jail Square, Glasgow on 6th July 1868. Her birth record shows her parents names and also when they were married.
Celena died at Waterside, Dalmellington, Ayrshire on 17th December 1868 aged around 6 weeks old.
1871 Census
3 Tysons Cottages, Frizington, Cumberland
| Name | Relation to Head | Marital Status | Age | Occupation | Place of Birth |
| Joseph LEWIS | Boarder | Mar | 33 | Artist | Liverpool |
| Eagle D LEWIS | Boarder | Mar | 30 | Artists Wife | Preston |
| Elizabeth LEWIS | Boarder | 12 | Scholar | Yorkshire | |
| John W LEWIS | Boarder | 8 | Scholar | Scotland |
Source Citation
Class: RG10; Piece: 525; Folio: 24; Page: 41
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/28803250:7619
1872/3 – Birth and Death of Ann Clara Lewis
Ann Clara Lewis was born in 1872.
Sadly, she died aged just 1 year old on 23rd September 1873
Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser and General Intelligencer
– Thursday 25 September 1873
1875 – Birth and Death of Joseph Lewis (junior)
It is possible Joseph and Eagle Diana had a son called Joseph born around July 1875 in Ulverston. The GRO Index shows the mothers maiden name was SHAW which is the right maiden name. Lewis and Shaw are not uncommon though so it is possible that if could be another family.
Sadly he died aged just 4 months in Schuster’s Yard, Market Place in Ulverston.
Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser and General Intelligencer
– Thursday 18 November 1875
1876 – Death of Joseph Lewis
Joseph Lewis died from Phthisis (Pulmonary Tuberculosis) at 54 Forshaw Street, Barrow-in-Furness on 9th March 1876 and was buried two days later at Barrow Cemetery. On his death certificate, his occupation was described as Artist but we have not been able to find any reference to him or any of his work.
Dinah (Eagle Diana) registered his death.
His death was reported in Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser on 18th March 1876.
Life after Joseph …
We haven’t been able to find Eagle Diana Lewis on the 1881 Census, but she remarried later that year. She married Thomas Cottam on 4th September 1881 at St Marks in Barrow-in-Furness.
In 1891, they were living at 2 Simpson Street in Bolton. Eagle Diana died from Mania Dilated Heart Asthenia on 31st December 1896 at the Workhouse at Fishpool in Farnworth (Bolton) and was buried at St James The Apostle, New Bury, Lancashire on 5th January 1897.
Thomas was still living in Bolton in 1901, but had moved back to Barrow by 1911. He died and was buried in Barrow Cemetery on 11th May 1914.
Sources
- Ancestry
- British Newspaper Archive
- Find A Grave
- GRO
