Re: -- William Hewitt's Genealogy (Re-written)
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On 20 May 1861 William Hewitt of Vittoria wrote to his son David about the family's ancestry. Someone then re-wrote the same text on 26 May 1861, marginally improving on the original. Both documents survive in the collection of Karen (Hewitt) Phinney of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The following transcription is of the second handwritten account. [Differences between the two documents have not been addressed in the following.]

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

Documents transcribed in this series include:
>
Preface: Hewitt Genealogy Mystery
> William Hewitt's 1861 Genealogy Letter to his son David
> William Hewitt's 1861 Genealogy Letter re-write
> A post card sent to David Hewitt when he lived in Toronto
> List of Children of William Hewitt
> A bit of Karen Hewitt Phinney's genealogy
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