My grandfather was born in Birmingham in 1881. Cornelius John Lewis father - James Lewis born 1820- I have only found one brother Willis born 1795 he married Hannah ,,,,,,,, in 1823-they had 6 children, perhaps Willis went to Manchester to work. I have wondered why my grandfathers family went to Manchester before coming to the Railway Works at Horwich. Original Message ----- From: "BARBARA WINDER" <barbara@wonderwinder.freeserve.co.uk> To: <ENG-LAN-BOLTON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 5:48 PM Subject: Re: [ENG-LAN-BOLTON] New Member > Margaret, > I have a Lewis connection to my Emma Basnett in Bolton. The Lewis concerned was Russell Lewis from Wales. In the 1901 census the family are at Back Chorley Street and he is a shoemaker. They had other LEWIS children including JOSEPH born 1904. > Where was your grandfather born? > Best Wishes, > Barbara > > > ==== ENG-LAN-BOLTON Mailing List ==== > For Family/Local History covering Bolton, Horwich, Farnworth, Westhoughton and Turton. Please keep the messages coming. > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > >

Thanks Margaret- given how common the name is I doubt there's a connection. Have you looked into the possibility that he was moved by the Poor Law Commissioners in the 1830s- several thousands were because the factories of the north west needed labour and couldn't get it. Most were moved from the south, but it's possible the midlands did it to. They were typically given travel costs, often by canal to Manchester or Bolton, and a job offer. Some of these transactions survive. Best Wishes, Barbara