This picture was taken shortly before parts of the family left for the United States. Center Standing - William (Willie), Left to right: Mortimer (Mortie), Kate (Mother), Rose (on her lap), Florence (Florrie), Margretta, Lort (Father), Adelade (Addie). |  |
| The earliest information we have found on the John Lort Lewis family goes back to John Barlow of Lawrenny, who was Sheriff of County Pembroke, Wales, in 1705. In later years his wife was known as "Madam Barlow" who apparently owned properties in Jeffreyston and Lawrenny parishes. The Land Tax lists are in fairly good condition and may be seen at the Haverfordwest Record Office and exist for the most part from 1787 into the 1830s. This property was originally described as the Creswell Priory.
There was also a Bishop Barlow mentioned who lived for a time at the Priory. From source information given to us by Owen Bushell, a third cousin, we find that John Barlow had a daughter Dorothy Barlow who married John Lort. Their daughter Elizabeth Lort of Brickstone married Dr. George Phillips of Haversfordwest. She was born in 1743. Dr. Phillips was born in 1735 and died in 1801. Their daughter Elizabeth Phillips was born in 1769 and died December 29, 1836 at Landessilio, Wales. The first Bushell to come to Pembrokeshire was John Bushell, late of Bellyvaughan in the County of Tipperary in Ireland in 1795. He was an Ensign in the Carmarthen Militia when he married Elizabeth Phillips in St. Thomas Church at Haversfordwest in June of that year. His parents were Edward Bushell and Elizabeth Duchett. This information also came from Owen Bushell of Park East, New Moat. He is a local genealogist and is a founding 1982.r of the Dyfed Family History Society which was formed in 1982. At the time of Edward and Elizabeth's marriage their address was given as Upper Market Street, Haversfordwest. Later they lived at Coedllys in the parish of Cyilyluesllwyd in a small mansion owned by the Phillips family of Peaty Park County, Pembrookshire. While in the militia he was eventually a Captain and Adjutant. However, after a dispute with his senior officer, Major Stack of Laughaume Castle, he resigned his commission and he lived out most of his life at Coedllys. He died at Rhydwhen, Llundinellie at the home of his son in 1839. Elizabeth died in 1837. Both are buried in the southwest corner of Llundinellie church, Pembrokeshire. Their daughter Adelaide M. Bushell married William Lewis. William was a farmer by vocation. Their son John Lort Lewis was my grandfather. Their other children were William Lewis, who married Hettie Ledingham. He was an engineer. He came to America and became a citizen of the U.S. They lived in Kansas City. Lewis Lewis, who never married, was a Navy Captain and Chief Engineer on Queen Victoria's yacht. Another brother, George Lewis, stayed in Wales on the farm. He was grandfather of Mary Rosser who we visited in Wales with Mara in 1990. The girls in the family were Elizabeth, Ann, and Adelaide Matilda. Two of the girls married into well known families. One was a Countess and one married a Milford Haven, the family in which Prince Phillip, Queen Elizabeth's husband, belongs. My grandfather, John Lort Lewis, was born October 28, 1846 in Wernddu Glmaenllyd, Carmarthen. He received a sound education in his native land where he was reared to farming and followed the vocation. He married Catherine M. Lewis, October 23, 1879 in Wales. He died in 1926 at Evanston, Wyoming at the home of his son Fred. |