Chapter 5 – Richard Lewis (grandfather of John the Emigrant)

Richard Lewis born before 1537 in the area of Llangattock Crickhowell.  He  was a gentleman who lived his life in that same area.  His will was written March 15, 1627 and proved April 18, 1628, so he died between those dates.

Richard Lewis – Family Notes:

His parents were Lewis ap Thomas who married Maud, daughter of Thomas Lewis John ap Gwilym, Lord of Turbeville and Cotys??? Ref.  Maude’s family owned the Castle of Crickhowell in the market town of Crickhowell.  This castle was in ruin during Maude’s life, so although her family owned it they were not living there

The third quartering in the coat-of-arms of emigrant John Lewis was “Argent Three Chevronels Gules”.  This was the coat of the de Turberville family of Crickhowell, and came to our emigrant John Lewis through his great-grandmother Maude de Turbeville.

Crickhowell is a market town, where farmers from the surrounding countryside would come to sell their produce and goods on market day.  It is on the River Usk, between the towns of Brecon thirteen miles to the North and Abergavenny six miles to the South.  It is in the present-day Brecon Beacons National Park.

Richard’s oldest son William was educated at Oxford and became a lawyer in London.   He is named as attorney in several family land transactions.  William died before Richard’s will was testated, and his wife <name> and children <names> are among those named in Richard’s will.

Another son was given the name Lewis (our emigrant ancestor’s father), so he was called Lewis ap Richard under the Patronymic naming system used in Wales at that time. Lewis ap Richard had also died by the time Richard’s will was testated, and Lewis’s son John Lewis, our emigrant ancestor, was named in the will.

Two younger sons of Richard were Edward and Thomas who both died in 1635.