Circa 1880

Jane Lewis is the sister of Henry William Lewis who is my great, great grandfather. Jane (b. circa 1844 in Llanmdock, Wales) married William Henry Hunter (b. circa 1844 in Barstaple, England) on October 16, 1865.  Together they had at least 5 children.  Peter is the descendant of their fourth child, Margaret Grace Hunter.

My cousin in Pennsylvania has letters from Jane to the Lewis family in New York  I have not seen them yet, but now I am excited to get my hand on them now.

In 1971, Mr. Lewis began his work with the elderly when he became founding executive director of the Kendal Organization in Kennett Square and established Kendal at Longwood, the first of the Kendal nonprofit life-care retirement communities.

Before that, Mr. Lewis worked at the Vanadium Corp. of America in New York for 11 years; the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia for about two years; and Pendle Hill, a Quaker adult-education center in Wallingford, for 11 years.

But it was his work at Kendal that inspired Mr. Lewis to devote the rest of his life to serving senior citizens. At the time of his retirement from Kendal six years ago, an estimated 2,000 seniors lived in Kendal properties in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and New Hampshire.

Mr. Lewis worked to improve the living conditions of seniors nationwide with the restraint elimination program, called Untie the Elderly, and led the effort by eliminating restraints from all Kendal facilities.

After retiring from Kendal, Mr. Lewis established a new company, US Retirement Communities, where he worked until last year.

He was active in the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, where he served on the executive board, its continuing care committee and its public policy committee

Mr. Lewis also served on the American Gerontological Society, the Committee on Aging of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends, and Friends Services for the Aging in Philadelphia.

In addition, he served on the board of Swarthmore College, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1949, from 1985 to 1989 and again in 1990 until his death.

He was a bird-watcher and was a member of the Society of Friends.

Mr. Lewis is survived by his wife of 49 years, Eliza B. Lewis of Glen Mills; son Paul M. Lewis and daughter Laurie K. Lewis, both of West Chester; a sister; and two grandchildren.

Services are private. The family suggests contributions to either Swarthmore College or the Cape May Bird Observation Center for Research and Education, Cape May Court House, N.J.

I have been deeply curious about the Roach’s because of the mis-spelling of her last name on Anna’s grave. Initially, I though the grave was correct and that the Census record keepers were just sloppy. But as I collected various death records, I became convinced that “Roach” is the proper spelling of her last name.

Back in 1977, my Great Aunt, Grace Lewis, wrote a letter to my Uncle telling him what she knew of Henry Lewis and Anna Roche Roach. She indicated the Anna’s mother, which I later determined to be Margaret, “was educated to become a doctor in Dublin at the University there”.

Now Grace, left out an entire generation of people when describing one of the sisters of Anna, but she did mention one VERY interesting point which appears to have panned out. She stated that Anna Roach had at two sisters and a brother. She said her “brother moved to Cleveland, Ohio and had seven sons”. In Anna’s obituary, there was an editor’s note for “Cleveland, OH papers please copy”. This confirms at least this part of Aunt Grace’s history of the Roach’s.   There was a boy who went to Ohio. But how do we find him?

When I used Ancestry.com last year to see if I could quickly figure out who it could be, I was overwhelmed with results. I quickly gave up that battle and decided to save it for another day.

Well… that day has come. With a clear head, I took a fresh attempt at trying to figure out who the boy was that went to Cleveland, Ohio. I started by once again looking at the Cleveland Ohio’s necrology file which had “paid obituaries” from the early 1850’s to the mid 1900’s. I carefully paged through all records starting in 1850 and found nothing in the text that clued me in to a New York connection.

Then I went to Ancestry.com again and did a bare bones search using the folloing criteria:

Birth range: 1828 – 1848 (based on the ages of the known children of Margaret)
Lived In: “Cleveland, Ohio, USA” (Using the exact data feature)
Sex: Male
Birthplace: Ireland

Now because Ancestry.com has recently changed their search results criteria to filter out results outside the possible lifespan of the date ranges provided, I only got a handful of results. Most of the results came from the 1880 Census in Cleveland. Next I looked for someone who had seven boys… BINGO.

I found a Patrick Roach (b. abt 1835 in Ireland), married to an Elizabeth with one daughter and seven boys. When looking even closer, it turns out that Patrick’s first daughter, Margaret Roach ( the same name as his Anna’s mother), was born in New York circa 1856. Then when looking at Patrick’s first Boy born, I see that his name is Andrew, which is what I believe to be the name of Anna’s father.

So finally, I have something to work off of. Just when you think all trails are going cold, you make a break through. That is why this hobby is so much fun! Now lets see where this takes us.

Patrick lived on Woodland Avenue and was a Superintendent of a Catholic Cemetery.  That should be enough to get me going!

Click to enlarge census image

The board of Kendal Charitable Funds approved the creation of the Lloyd Lewis Fund at its meeting in October 2007. The purpose of this new fund is to support improvements in serving older adults through the Promising Innovations campaign. The new fund and this campaign were initiated by the generous gift of $250,000 from the Janet Comey Foundation, a private foundation established through the estate of former Kendal at Longwood resident Janet Comey.

• More Information at the Kendal Website
• Or write to:
  Kendal Charitable Funds
  1107 E. Baltimore Pike
  Kennett Square, PA  19348
  1-800-220-0042

• Lewis
• Tierney
• Beattie
• Hayes
• Hanley
• Colwell
• Gackstetter
• Bishop
• Graham
• Hayes
• Sheehan

The Association was organized on March 2, 1887 in the old hall at Third Avenue and 24th Street in South Brooklyn.  It opened with 15 charter members.  Within the first year, it had accumulated over $80,000 of assets.  By 1890, the association’s assets had grown to $250,000. When the “great Panic of 1893″ occurred, the association not only survived, but actually increased it’s assets.  In 1895, the association moved its offices to 91 Court Street.  It also had a branch office at 76 39th Street.  In 1897, the assets had grown to a whopping $465,000.

Thomas F. Lewis’ primary job was as a real estate broker in the Brooklyn area. It’s not clear how or when he became involved with the Association, but by 1897, he was the Association’s President.  It appears that his role as the president was a “part-time” job, although he maintained a desk in the office of the Association at 91 Court Street.  He was paid a nominal salary for his services, which prevented him from leaving his Real Estate business.

Trouble seemed to start on January 31, 1901 when an article was published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle entitled “They Hoped For Better Times”.  The article talked about the collapse of the Kings County Co-operative and quoted Thomas F. Lewis several times about the problems plaguing Associations in modern times.

Just three days later, Thomas wrote a Letter To The Editor, rebutting many of the quoted remarks published in The Brooklyn Eagle article just days before.

Then, at 1 AM in the morning of February 13, 1901, Joseph V. Sculley, the Associations Vice President, reportedly ran to the local Police Station and requested a Police Officer to come to the association’s office and stand by while an emergency audit of the books was performed.  Apparently, at a regular meeting of the board, it was discovered that a member of the Association was 6 months in arrears of a mortgage commitment.  According to the by-laws of the Association, any lateness at all should have resulted in the Boards immediate notification.   Thomas F. Lewis indicated that he knew nothing of the tardiness, but the Financial Secretary, J. H. Kampf, admitted he did.

In an apparent “abundance of caution”, the board immediately suspended both the President and the Financial Secretary, pending a full audit and investigation.  It appears that the Board ultimately held Thomas Lewis accountable for Mr. Kampf’s actions.  Whether this was the opportunity the board was looking for to get rid of him or not is not clear, but the timing of events is most certainly interesting.

Although the audit revealed that the books balanced out to within a penny, the investigation went on.  Relations between Thomas and the Board remained strained when members of the Board were charged with Larceny for breaking into Thomas’s desk at the office on Court Street. Thomas contended that the desk only contained money, legal papers and documents related to his Real Estate business and the board had no business going into the desk.  The charges were later dropped when Thomas withdrew his complaint.

In October 1901, Thomas Lewis sued the association to recover $106 of his salary due.  The outcome of the suit is not yet known, but Thomas never returned to the Association.

The many details of the events mentioned are contained in multiple Brooklyn Eagle articles, which have I have compiled into a single PDF document.  You can  see ads and read the many articles by clicking the link below.

• Brooklyn Eagle Ads & Articles

From Philip Sr., Colleen, Philip Jr. and Kevin…. THANK YOU!

On Veteran’s Day we honor Soldiers who protect our nation. For their service as our warriors, They deserve our admiration. Some of them were drafted; Some were volunteers; For some it was just yesterday; For some it’s been many years; In the jungle or the desert, On land or on the sea, They did whatever was assigned To produce a victory. Some came back; some didn’t. They defended us everywhere. Some saw combat; some rode a desk; All of them did their share. No matter what the duty, For low pay and little glory, These soldiers gave up normal lives, For duties mundane and gory. Let every veteran be honored; Don’t let politics get in the way. Without them, freedom would have died; What they did, we can’t repay. We owe so much to them, Who kept us safe from terror, So when we see a uniform, Let’s say “thank you” to every wearer. By Joanna Fuchs

Private Ralph Yerks b. 1894 d.1918 World War I, US Army, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division Killed in Action and is buried in Thiaucourt, France at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery. Genealogy Note: Colleens Great Uncle Second Lieutenant Harry W. Lewis b.1892 d.1972 World War I, American Expeditionary Forces Served on the United States Expeditionary Force in France. Stay an extra year after the Armistice was signed and played tennis for the AEF team assigned to rebuild relations in war torn Europe. Genealogy Note: My Grandfather James Tierney b. 1894 d.1931 World War I, American Expeditionary Forces Company M, 307 Infantry James served in France and saw many friends die in Europe. We have a letter from him, to his brother Frank, while in France. Genealogy Note: My Great Uncle Lloyd Lewis b.1928  d. 2000 Korean War Conflict Served in a “secondary” MASH unit in Japan.� Genealogy Note: My Uncle Colonel Robert E. Dunn, US Army b. 1892 d. 1974 Served in both World War I and World War II. In WWII Colonel Dunn lead a black Division of Engineers on Okinawa. Genealogy Note: Husband to Grace Elinor Tierney, my Great Aunt. James Leroy Yerks III b. 1938 Non-Wartime Served in the U.S. Navy Genealogy Note: Colleen’s Father. William B. Yerks b. 1891 d. 1960 World War I William fought in World War I and survived a Mustard Gas attack, only to die of complications of it some years later. Genealogy Note: Colleens Great Uncle and brother of Private Ralph Yerks. Jonathan J. Foley b. 1896 d. 967 Genealogy Note: Husband of Agnes Beattie, my Great Aunt. Brian Hogan Gulf War 1990 -1991 Genealogy Note: Husband to my cousin, Patty Brady Hogan. John W. Dunn b. 1930 d. 2000 USAF Active Duty 1948-1953 Korea 1950-1952 USAF AIR Guard – Berlin Wall Conflict 1961-1962 Retired USCG reserves 1979 Genealogy Note: Son of Edna V. Hone, a distant cousin to Colleen. John E Dunn 1985-1990, USAF Active Duty Genealogy Note: Another distant cousin to Colleen. William Sheehan Fred Barnes George Condos Nick Condos

One of her most intriguing and wonderful stories comes from a neighbor and good friend of hers when she lived in Larchmont, NY. Her childhood friend was a girl named Patty Coots. Jeanne played almost every day with Patty as a little girl. In fact, we have several pictures of them playing together in the family photo archive. Patty’s father was Jay Fred Coots, better known for a little song he wrote called “Santa Clause Is Coming Town”. Jeanne would often hear Patty’s father playing his piano, composing one of his many well known compositions. One day, Jeanne was treated to a very special memory. Jeanne was there when Patty, at age three, stood on the stage of the Murray Avenue School in Larchmont, New York and sang the first public rendition of the now very famous song; “Santa Clause is Coming To Town” while her dad played the piano.

In the 1940’s, Jeanne began her college career at Syracuse University where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in “Music”. After College, Jeanne was hired by the Oceanside Long Island School System as an Elementary Music Teacher, where she taught grades 1 – 6. In 1949, while teaching in Oceanside, she managed to secure a “Master of Art” degree from Colombia University. Her degree is signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was the only year that he was the President of the University.

Jeanne soon found herself on the other shore of Long Island teaching in the Great Neck School System. While she was at Great Neck, she would occasionally teach at New York University where she helped out with their “Rhythmic Programs” run by the Athletic Department. She soon married John J. Hayes of New Hampshire and moved to Towson, Maryland where John’s work took him.

While in Towson, she briefly assisted at Goucher College. Soon, she moved back to Chappaqua, New York, where she lived for more than 25 years and participated in a wide variety of jobs and hobbies that kept her very active with her music.

In 1965, she became very involved in the Chappaqua Drama Group, playing the piano and coaching vocals for more than 20 musicals covering a span of more than 20 years.

In 1974, she became very involved with helping out with the Senior Class Musicals at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua. For many years she helped hundreds of High School Seniors with their first and sometimes only audition for a stage show. Among others, some of her notable students included, Vanessa Williams (Class of 1981) and John Ahlin (class of 1974).

In the late 1970’s, she began teaching private vocal and piano lessons and continues to do so today. In fact, she has taught several people who were on or eventually moved onto Broadway.

Today, Jeanne seldom has to read sheet music, as hundreds of songs and their notes are permanently etched into her memory. If she had ever been given the opportunity to play on the game show “Name That Tune”, she would surely have cleaned up!

Many years ago, my Uncle told me a story of my Great, Great Grandfather Henry William Lewis and how he had witnessed the beginning of the Civil War.   This  story was always very interesting to me so I decided to do some research into the events of that day. There are actually many very interesting stories about Henry William Lewis that I will write about in the future, but today’s story is about his time aboard “The Nashville” and it’s role in the start of the Civil War.    The history books and buffs have many versions of how things happened that day in Charleston Bay in relation to the Nashville. But thanks to an interview with H. W. Lewis, published in “The Sun”, a New York newspaper, on May 16, 1897, things become much clearer.

Henry William Lewis was a crewmember of the Nashville in April 1861.  It was one of several ships owned by a merchant company out of New York.  The Nashville was built in Greenpoint, New York, in 1853.  She was a 1221-ton side-wheel steamer and was originally built as a passenger steamer.  In 1861 she was making merchant runs between New York and Charleston, South Carolina. In fact, she was due in Charleston Harbor on April 14th with a load of goods, the day after the South bombarded Fort Sumter.

Now, the Harriet Lane, which had been transferred to the U.S. Navy for a second time in March 1861, left New York City with the transport ship Baltic and warships Pocahontas and Pawnee.  They were on an expedition sent to Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina.  Their mission was to supply and support the Fort Sumter garrison as tensions were rising between the North and South. The expedition departed New York on April 8th, 1861 and arrived off Charleston on April 11th.  Now the Southerners had heard that the Harriet Lane and her sister ships were on her way, so tensions were rising fast.

Somehow, the Nashville had passed the Harriet Lane and her sister ships and arrived in Charleston Bay before them.  It was 4:30 in the morning on April 12 and Henry Lewis was the lookout on board the Nashville. The Nashville was just outside Charleston harbor, near a sand bar when the confederate battery on Morris Island fired a round at the Nashville, thinking she was the Harriet Lane. After all, the Nashville and the Harriet Lane were roughly the same size and had similar riggings.  Captain Murray of the Nashville gave the orders to ”retire from the bar” immediately.  At this point he knew that if he had continued in, he would have faced certain destruction.

So, the Nashville began it’s move away from the bar in retreat from the harbor, when it suddenly encountered the Harriet Lane. According to the interview, Captain Murray did not want the ships paper examined.  Probably because some of the goods being delivered to the southern port included ammunitions.  So Captain Murray of the Nashville ordered his Chief Engineer to “shake it up” in an effort to out run the Harriet Lane. According to the many accounts, the Nashville was not flying its colors so the Captain of the Harriet Lane fired a “blank” shot in a signal for the Nashville to stop, but the Nashville continued trying to move away.  So the Harriet lane swung around broadside and fired a “solid” shot across her bow.  Captain Murray then ordered his Chief Engineer to stop all engines and to come around.

According to the United States Coast Guard web site, the phrase “The Desired Affect” comes from the Harriet Lane and it’s encounter with the Nashville.  When the Nashville shut down its engine and came around, the captain of the Harriet Lane remarked that their shot had “had the desired effect.”

The story told by H W Lewis indicates that the Captain of the Harriet Lane simply asked some perfunctory questions of Captain Murray, and that was it.  The Nashville then raised the American “colors” and was allowed on its way.  But the two ships then sat on the bar together and not only watched the first shots fired against Fort Sumter, but the entire thirty-six hour bombardment.

When Major Robert Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter on Saturday, April 13th, the Harriet Lane withdrew with her sister ships back to New York.  On Sunday, April 14th, the Nashville lowered its flag and entered Charleston harbor

Henry Lewis, Captain Murray and a few other crew members took a rowboat over to Fort Sumter.  The only souvenir of the historic event he collected was a single dented grapeshot fired by the confederate batteries in the harbor.

In early May, 1861 her owners communicated their intent to the new Confederate government to outfit the ship as a privateer ship. However, the Confederate government had plans of its own. Needing a fast vessel to bring needed supplies from England and possibly transport Confederate Commissioners to England, the new nation authorized the purchase of the vessel for $100,000. Actually, I don’t think the company was given a choice.

Appointing Robert C. Pegram as her Captain, and others of the Confederacy as her officers and crew, the C.S.S. Nashville became the first vessel commissioned by the Confederacy. At this point it is difficult to determine what happened to Captain Murray, Henry W. Lewis and the others. They are not listed as initial crew members of the CSS Nashville so I think they were either taken as prisoners or allowed to return to their homes in New York.

Under Captain’s Pegram’s command, the CSS Nashville slipped out of Charleston Harbor in October 1861, making its first run to Great Britain by way of Bermuda.  When the ship arrived in Bermuda, there is “testimony” in one source that they had to convince the Bermuda officials that it was not a warship.  They apparently succeeded as they were eventually allowed to re-coal in Bermuda.  This began the CSS Nashville’s career as one of the most elusive Confederate privateers.

The CSS Nashville captured and burned the sailing merchantman Harvey Birch in the English Channel on November 19, 1891, and spent some time at Southampton, England. Returning to American waters early in 1862, she captured and burned the schooner Robert Gilfillan on 26 February. Two days later, she ran the blockade into Beaufort, North Carolina, remaining there until mid-March, when she went to Georgetown, South Carolina

She was eventually sold to private interests and renamed the Thomas L. Wragg.  She operated as a blockade runner, but was hindered in this employment by her deep draft. She was again later sold in November 1862, to become a privateer under the name Rattlesnake . On 28 February 1863, while still in the Savannah area, she was destroyed by the monitor USS Montauk.

Summary

What is interesting is that most books acknowledge the shot made by the Harriet Lane as the first shots fired in the Civil War.  But according to my research, it was really the shot from the batteries on Morris Island that kicked off all the excitement.

Resources & References

• The Sun Interview with H.W. Lewis
• The History of The Nashville
• The Case of Great Britain as Laid Before the Tribunal of Arbitration
• The CSS Nashville
• The USS Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane
• CSS Nashville – Civil War Confederate Naval Ship
• The Cutter Harriet Lanes Fires Across The Bow Of The Nashville
• The Crest of CGC HARRIET LANE