Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this site and stumbled on it as I'm searching for any information about my Hewitt family.

I have just read all the posts starting with Kirsty's search for her John & Mary Hewitt. You have all done so much research!

My grandfather was William James Hewitt who immigrated to Australia from Scotland in 1923. I always believed his Hewitt line came from Scotland but this is not the case. I have traced his line back, after doing a detour via Middlesex to Henry Hewitt born 1803 in Coventry a watchmaker who was married to Sarah Barnsley abt 1826.

I have been able to go one step further back to his father Henry Hewitt born abt 1779 in Prescot also a watchmaker. He married Mary Schrivener in Coventry abt 1800.

Their children were:
Henry Hewitt 1803 – Ann Hewitt 1808 – Mary Ann Hewitt 1812 – Charles Hewitt 1815 – John Hewitt 1821 – Selina Hewitt 1824.

I know there were Hewitts in both Prescot and also Coventry but I haven't been able to make a connection. Henry (1803) also had a son Henry and he was also a watchmaker. So that's three Henrys and all watchmakers.

I am only working on a hunch as I don't have anything else to go on that Henry (born 1779 Prescot) must be related to the Thomas/Joseph Hewitts.

But before anyone does this I have read Mary's Big Mistake so hopefully one of you kind Hewitt hunters might be able to help me out.

So if anyone has come across the Henry Hewitt born in Prescot in 1779 and could possible throw any light on which Hewitt clan he came from I will be eternally grateful.
Cheers Pamela

Hi

On www.lan-opc.org.uk a free site you will probably find of interest it has that

Henry HEWITT born 20 August 1779 christened 12 September 1779 son of John and Jane Hewitt of Rainhill occupation watchmaker was christened at St Mary the Virgin Prescot (Rainhill was in the parish of Prescot)

On 14 February at All Saints Rainford (within the parish of Prescot)
John HEWET signed HEWITT a bachelor of the parish of Prescot married Jane SWIFT who made her mark spinster
witnesses James Spencer and William X Twist

Hilary
Ed Officer

Thanks so much Hilary. That is great. I nearly did myself a brain injury trying to work out how to progress my search. I will have a lot of fun on the web link you gave me. Cheers Pamela

When transcribing the 1901 census for Prescot, I was struck by the number of inhabitants of the town who were born in Coventry - 160. Of these, about 80 had recorded occupations and 68 of these were in the Watch industry.

I spoke to Dave Griffiths at Prescot Museum about this and he gave me some supporting information about the migration between the two towns of Watch industry workers.

On my website at http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info you will find the narrative for Capt. Herbert Gregory of the Machine Gun Corps who died shortly after the war and is buried at Christ Church, Eccleston. Hel ived in Lugsmore Lane but had previously lived in Chester Street, Prescot. All his family were from Coventry and I suspect that most of them returned there after the demise of the industry whilst Herbert remained.

There is a "Thomas Hewitt" amongst my list of men who "Also Served" but I haven't researched him as yet.

I have a picture of Pte Frederick Hewitt of Thatto Heath who was killed in action during ther Germn offensive of March 1918

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_det ... ty=1582534

and can send this through to you if you can provide an email address