Vittoria, Canada, 26 May1861
I, William Hewitt, was
born 21 Jul 1794 at Hazel End, Parish of Frarnham, Essex Co., England, and
married to Miss Elisabeth Richardson, Liverpool, Lancashire, England by
licence at St. Anns Church, Liverpool 18 Jan 1819.
Elizabeth Richardson
was born 19 Jan 1797 in Liverpool, daughter of Joseph Richardson, from
Romford in Essex, a silversmith & Jeweller in
Liverpool. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Dedges
of London.
My father, William Hewitt, was born at
Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. His father was a builder and cabinet maker of
a highly respectable family. His mother was a daughter of a physician who
had been in the East Indies, her maiden name was Carruthers, the family
was from Howmain Annandale, Scotland.
General Thomas Carruthers of
the British Army was my father's first cousin; he died in Spain or on his
way to the Army under General Moore.
The family court [sic] of arms on my
Mother's side was three Fleurs de Lis on a shield -- the crest a Seraph Volante
Proper -- The Motto -- "Promptu et Fideli."
The private
residence of General Carruttiers when I with my Father had an interview
with him was at Burlington Gardens Piccadilly, London, in 1806 -- as near as I
can recollect it was [in] a row of buildings overlooking the gardens on the
right hand side going from Piccadilly.
My father had also a first
cousin in London, Mrs. Lee, a widow, whose maiden name was Mary
Carruthers. She had one daughter, Matilda Lee.
Mrs. Lee with my Mother
and myself went to the Herald office and searched for the Genealogy, a
copy of which I had but have lost. They were able to trace it in the
office from some china which my father had that was my
great-grandfather's that had the court [sic] of arms on it in red and gold.
I think there were eleven brothers and sisters
of my father's family --some of them died young. My father's brothers
& sisters (so far as I heard of) were --
John
Gideon
George
Mrs. Squires
Mrs. Dodd
and 6 others.
John married a Miss Lightfoot of Lincolnsire (a very aristocratic
family). He obtained all his brothers and sisters property -- a legacy of
£1,100
each which was the property of an Aunt of my fathers, by which and the
property he got with his wife. I understood he cut a canal from Bantry
to Gainsborough about 7 miles, which was his ruin, and on his
death bed he disclosed the robbery of his brothers and sisters legacy by
a fraud in the will done by him and the lawyer who wrote it. He died in proverty,
his wife insane in a mad house, and their children scattered -- some of them
through family connections attained positions of influence. My uncle John Hewitts'
sons were William, John, Rowland, Robert and Charles, all born in
Lincolnshire.
Gideon was a King's Messenger, whose
insignia of office was a silver grey hound; he had one son Gideon, whom I knew, who was very much
respected.
George was a cow dealer, who had one son George, and two
daughters, Frances and Sophia.
Mrs. Squires' husband was a
lawyer; They resided at Saneby in Bedfordshire, had two
daughters, Polly & Patty (when I was about 6 years old).
My father had a sister married to a Mr. Dodd, a Merchant Tailor to the
Royal family; he resided at Great St James St., London. I do not know of
his leaving any family by her as he married again. He
had one or two sons. I do not know by which wife.
My Mother's maiden name was
Sarah Clark, daughter of Joshua & Mary Clark of the same place that I was
born. My Mother's Father was from Wales -- a wool stapler and Inn keeper and
my mother's father's name was Adams, who was the properitor of a large
posting Inn called the "Whalebone" on Harlow Bush Common,
Essex County.
My Mother had a first cousin named Robert Daniels, a substaintial
yeoman
who raised a company of cavalry yeoman near the residence of General Burgoyne
at Harlow in Essex, which volunteered and formed the 16th Light Dragoons when
Robert Daniels was commissioned with a captaincy and afterwards
returned to his estate at Harlow Commons.
My Grandmother Hewitt died in in
the year 1777 at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. As they were Episopalians a
register may be found at Gainsborough.
My father had another relation named
Wolfe, an extensive merchant. His residence was in Hayden
Square in the Minories, London. He was a ship owner and had houses near
Old Ford Lane, Mile End, London.
I never heard much respecting my father's
ancestors,
except an Uncle who my Mother said lost his estate by fraud
practiced on him during a fit of Intoxication; he then left England and
has not been heard of since.
My father had 11 children
John, married in London (now dead)
Mary Ann married John Labrow of Yorkshire.
George marreid to A. Pickering, Liverpool, Lancashire
Malinda married Robert Smith, Stanstead Essex (dead).
William (myself) married E. Richardson, Liverpool
Elizabeth died at Harkney near London
Thomas Carruthers, named after Genl Carruthers. Dead.
Matilda married to G. Chipperfield at Clavering Essex (dead)
Helen died single
Charles, deceased
Henry, deceased
