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Archiver > DESUSSEX > 2001-12 > 1009379826


From: "Frank O'Donnell" <>
Subject: [DESUSSEX] Re: Henry W. Betts b.4-24-1820
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 07:17:06 -0800
In-Reply-To: <MFMBM0063Fd9x4d4aTO000014a0@mfmbm006.myfamilycorp.local>


> I'm interested in your Mary Ann Lewis from Sussex Co. Del.
> Do you have any more information on her parents ?? I saw
> in FHL that a Jacob Lewis married a Elizabeth Betts on Nov
> 17 1794 in Sussex Co.,Del?? Any relation ?

Hi Bobl331,

Just to jump in here ... I haven't directly researched this couple
personally, but information I have from descendants of Henry W.
Betts and his second wife Mary Ann Lewis indicates that she
was born in Pennsylvania, not Delaware.

I imagine you could clear this up quickly by checking a census
entry for the family in the mid to latter 1800s to see what is
stated for her birthplace.

I don't see a reference to her parents anywhere in my Betts
notes, but since she is shown as being born in 1840 she
should show up as a 10-year-old in the 1850 census. The
only rub is that Lewis is a fairly common name, so it may
take a lot of checking in PA and/or OH to track her down.

As for the Elizabeth Betts who married Jacob Lewis in
1794 in Delaware -- as you indicate, there's a record in the
Delaware state archives showing a marriage of Jacob Lewis
and Elizabeth Betts in 1794 (my transcription of the marriage
card when I visited Dover shows the date as 19 Nov, not
17 Nov). Interestingly, there is also a probate file for Job
Lewis with a will made 16 Apr 1807, probated 10 Dec 1807,
which shows among the heirs a daughter Elizabeth Betts.
In addition, the probate file for my ancestor Jonathan Betts
who died in Delaware in 1824 shows among his heirs the
"heirs of Rachel Lewis," so he just have had a daughter who
married a Lewis. These are the only Lewis references I find
in my Betts files, but there may have been more
interconnections.

Happy holidays,

Frank O'Donnell


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