The Lewis Family - The Later Years at 1 The Crescent

This update continues with the Lewis family who lived at 1 The Crescent, Taunton, Somerset.

Josiah, who died on 15 May 1915, was evidently a well respected public servant, first as a local Councillor then going on to be Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Taunton and a Justice of the Peace. He was also a Tailor employer, member of the Silver Street Baptist Church and Father to 9 children. There are many articles on the British Newspaper Archives website (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk), too many to feature in this blog, of works that Josiah and his wife Ellen Norah undertook in the local community. 

Ellen continued to live at 1 The Crescent. In the school holidays of 1916, Ellen's daughter, Ellen Norah, commonly known as Nellie, along with her husband, Alfred Samuel Tetley, and their three children, Ethel Norah, John Lewis and Elizabeth Gertrude, visited Taunton from their home in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Sadly on Monday 4 September 1916, Alfred Samuel was taken ill and passed away. He was 48 years old. An article was featured in the Western Times on Friday 8 September 1916 [1].

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

An article regarding his burial was also featured in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser on Wednesday 13 September 1916 [2].

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

I have not been able to locate Alfred Samuel Tetley's grave in St Mary's Cemetery at this time. 

This was sadly not the only bereavement which occurred in 1916 for the family. On Thursday 5 October 1916, Fanny Elizabeth and her husband Frederick William Penny, suffered the sad loss of 2 of their 3 sons. Leslie, their eldest, was 13 years old, and Stephen, their youngest, aged 6 years. On Wednesday 11 October 1916, an article was featured in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, relaying the Alderman and Mrs Penny's 'Severe Loss' [3].

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A further article also appeared on the same date in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser with details of the funerals of the brothers with a service being held at their home, Greenaway House, prior to burial at St James Cemetery. I have still to locate the brother's graves.

There is no further mention of Ellen Norah or 1 The Crescent in the local newspapers, which can be found online at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk until November 1922, when, on request of the trustees of the late Mr J Lewis, the property of No 1 The Crescent is advertised for auction by William J. Villar & Co. The article in the the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser on Wednesday 8 November 1922, gives us a good insight to the layout of the house, its dimensions and also about a separate lot of a garage [4]. 

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A second article in the same newspaper on Wednesday 24 January 1923 details the contents of the house that are also being auctioned [5]. 

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

On Tuesday 23 March 1926, Ellen Norah died her home, 5 North Town Crescent. An article was featured in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser on Wednesday 31 March 1926 [6]. 

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Her burial took place at St Mary's Cemetery, however, I have been unable to locate her grave. Her residence, listed as No 5 North Town Terrace, along with its contents, were later placed up for auction according to a notice in the Taunton Courtier and Western Advertiser on Wednesday 21 April 1926 [7].

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This brings to an end the Lewis family time living at The Crescent, first at number 9, then number 2, before moving to number 1. They have been a really interesting family to research as part of my One Place Study of the The Crescent in Taunton, Somerset, England, and I found out much more about Josiah and Ellen Norah and their children. I will be writing further articles on this family in the future including one about their history with the Silver Street Baptist Chapel in Taunton following my research of the Baptist records held at the Somerset Heritage Centre (https://swheritage.org.uk)

I hope that you have enjoyed reading about the Lewis family as much as I have enjoyed researching them. It would be wonderful to hear from you via the comments section on this blog or via my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/lucythecrescentops/ - If you would like to see the tree that I have been building for my One Place Study of 1 The Crescent, it is on ancestry.co.uk under 1 The Crescent Taunton One Place Study

As a side note, the house at 1 The Crescent was listed as vacant on the 1939 Register [8]. 


[1] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Western Times, Friday 8 September 1916 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved. 
[2] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 13 September 1916 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved.
[3] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 11 October 1916 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved.
[4] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 8 November 1922 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved.
[5] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 24 January 1923 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved.
[6] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 31 March 1926 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved.
[7] Britishnewspaperarchvie.co.uk, Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, Wednesday 21 April 1926 - Image (c) The British Library Board - All Rights Reserved.
[8] The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/7041B  - This information is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence).