I am interested in researching the names of my paternal grandparents: Florence Monica Leworthy and James William Scandrett

Dear Joan,
Perhaps I can help.
My paternal grandmother was born Hilda Leworthy and grew up in the Swansea area. She must have been born about 1890 or a little before. I havn't done much research on her side of the family except that all Leworthys originally come from the region about the village of Leworthy in Devon. The only other Leworthy I can find in the area in the 19th C is John Leworthy aged 22 in 1851 living at 14 Maddoc Street, Swansea (census). He lived with a master shoemaker called Jones together with another (third) shoemaker called William Peddler. All of them where born at various small villages/towns near Leworthy. And the age and birthplace of the youngest of the Jones children suggests that they had all moved to South Wales between 1847 and 1849.

I haven't checked later censusses so I don't know whether Jon Leworthy had male children who could have been the father to my Hilda Leworthy (married name Tribe).

I think this might have interest if your family has been in the Hereford/South Wales area for a very long time.

My maiden name was Leworthy and I have been researching in the location of Rochester Kent - my grandfather was Roland Leworthy born in 1881 in Bristol and moved to Kent between then and 1903/4 his father was Albert Edward Leworthy(married in Bristol) and his grandfather was John Leworthy. I have only just started my research but keep being led back to the Leworthy's in Devon - I am just about to start checking the records in Bristol.

Did you get any further with your research

Regards
Di

Dear Di,

I think your John Leworthy could well be the John Leworthy I mentioned in my note living in Swansea in 1851. The age seems about right in connection with Albert the son and the grandson in 1881 matches well with my paternal grandmother who must be about that period. And distance from Swansea to Bristol is not very great - in those days there was a regular paddle-steamship traffic all around the Bristol Channel. I havn't done any research apart from getting the census data from 1851. Census data from 1861 and 1871 would give names and age of children from John Leworthy's children. Before the move to Bristol.

Ps Hilda Tribe's (nee Leworthy) first son was named Alfred - who might have been your Alfred's grandson.

I can do little research from my current address (Denmark) but I know the census data is reasonably accessable. Sorry I didn't reply straight away but we had a terrible problem on Sunday with a violent allergic reaction to a wasp sting whilst we were getting the garden ready for the winter!!


Steven Tribe

I forgot to mention that "Hilda" and "Roland" are a good match for brother and sister. If the parents were well versed in national romantic literature and myths which were all the rage at the end of the 19th C!

Hi,

I've just started to research my husband's family. There is a Sarah Scandrett who was born abt. 1845 in Dilwyn, Herefordshire. She married a Thomas Plevy, born abt. 1845 Kebleton.

Thanks - I will keep in touch and let you know how my research progresses - I have also found a William Leworthy who was the master of 'The Commerce' - working beween Barnstable and Bideford

Dear Di,

I have got in touch with the west country/south wales part of my family after a break of 36 years! If fact, Hilda Tribe's (nee Leworthy) son Albert (my paternal uncle) - is still alive (aged 89). I hope get his telephone number shortly and will get in touch with you if the data seems to suggest that she (Hilda Leworthy) was the sister of Roland Leworthy, Bristol.

Steven

Thank you - please let me know when you have contacted them
Regards
Di

Dear Di,

Getting data took some time. I have got lots of new family data but my aunt has only a little information to add about Leworthys. Her mother-in-law was born Hilda Leworthy and had two brothers.One was a steward at the conservative club in Swansea and another brother, called Grenville Leworthy, was a "striving business man" type. As there are still many Leworthys in the telephone directory for Swansea - this points to a distinct Swansea Leworthy family going back to John Leworthy who started as an apprentice shoemaker in Little Maddoc Street in 1851 aged 22 years. But your Bristol branch may be connected.