Francis Lewis

Much as been said about the contribution of the Welsh towards the birth of the new American Republic, during their Revolution and afterwards. We hear of Thomas Jefferson who had Welsh ancestry (from his own autobiography he wrote that his ancestors lived in the shadow of Snowdon) though no evidence has ever been found (records etc). Governor Morris of New York who wrote the preamble to the Constitution.  However there was only one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation that was actually born in Wales. That was Francis Lewis.

 

And who was Francis Lewis, and how important was he to America? The first thing we learn is that he is still unknown in the country of his birth, and largely unknown in the one he gave birth to. Unless you live in the Whitestone neighbourhood of Queens, New York City, which was where his 5000 acre estate (7M2) was. You find his name all over the place, including the High School. Francis Lewis High School, aka Franny Lew.

 

And who was Mr Francis Lewis? Unfortunately there is not too much information, he has no autobiography or modern biography all[DH1]  we have is a biography written by his great granddaughter, Julia Lewis Delafield in 1877 "The Lives of Francis Lewis and Morgan Lewis" Julia say that there was very little on Francis besides the recollections of Morgan her grandfather, Francis younger son. This is his story.

 

Francis was born in Llandaff on March 21st, 1713 (according to David Williams in the Dictionary of Welsh biography this was probably a misspelling, and more likely Newport) the son of the Rev Francis Lewis (The rector of Llandaff, also a misspelling as Llandaff practically a ruin, and my own research of the records I could not find Francis's  baptismal record or a cleric of that name) his mother was Amy Pettingal, the daughter of a Rev Dr Pettingal (also an error, he was more likely her brother). Tragedy struck the young Francis when he was still a child when both his parents died, and he went to live with a maiden aunt, a sister of his mother, she was quite wealthy, and taught him Welsh (which he was fluent) and the history of Wales, he travelled much, in Scotland where he even learned Scots Gaelic (possibly the only founder that did!). When he was old enough he was sent to stay with his uncle, the Dean of St Paul's, and attended the prestigious Westminster School, London afterwards he went to work at a "London Counting House", which prepared him for business.

 

America

 

His aunt left him a substantial amount of money in her will, enabling Francis to emigrate to America, and establish his mercantile business in New York City and Philadelphia in 1735, he made his money in New York where he made his money he went into business with Edward Annesley, who himself was a Welshman originally from North Wales, he married Edward's sister Elizabeth,she gave birth to 7 children, of which 3 survived to adulthood. Francis, Morgan, and Anne. Business took him all over the World, quite the traveller! As reported by Julia he took trips back to the British and Irish Isle, he was shipwrecked on the Irish coast and took one trip back to England, something is recorded as him being uncomfortable about being in the country that conquered and oppressed his home land. Nothing is known of him, except some entertaining stories which we shall not get into here.

 

The French Indian War 1752-60

 

When the war broke out Lewis obtained the clothing contract to supply the British army, he was at Fort Oswego attending to business, when General Montcalm advanced with a body of French, and Indian allies. He was friendly with Col Mercer who was killed in the artillery barrage. The fort fell, and what we hear is another of these adventures that Francis Lewis has, like something out of the "Last of the Mohicans". After the fall of Fort Oswego, Francis Lewis demonstrates his charisma as Julia recalls in her biography. General Montcalm gave his Indian allies (Hurons we would assume) 30 captives as their share of the booty. Francis Lewis was one of those captives that went with, as the Indians retreated they would sacrifice one of the captives in celebration of their victory. He guessed at his fate, as was the case he was selected, and he was not shackled because he was so calm,he was escorted towards his fate. Meantime according to Julia's account is a story, that is quite common "whilst they (the guards) beguiled the time talking together. Presently words familiar to his childhood struck his ear. Acquainted with both Gaelic and Cymraeg dialects, it was easy for him to be drawn in their conversation" she goes on to suggest that his life was spared because he spoke a "common language". This is an example of a tale of the "Welsh" Indian that was common in the late 18th and early 19th Century, in fact when Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to survey the Louisiana purchase he asked them to seek out the Welch Indians, and there is a reference in their journals to meeting Indians who they thought were speaking in Welsh. The Story related in Julia Delafield's book is similar to the one told by the Rev Morgan Jones who was captured by some Doeg Indians in North Carolina, where he prayed in Welsh and his captors understood him, released him, and he preached to them in Welsh. The Lewis story is almost the same, he was welcomed by the Indians and released and sent to Montreal,and shipped off to France in a box.

 

The story is obviously nonsense. The Doeg part of the Potawan nation that lived in Southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina spoke a language that bore no relation to Welsh etc. It's just a "tall tale" that

Was common and believed, perhaps motivated by anglophobia more than anything else! However it was also alleged that Meriwether Lewis and Thomas Jefferson corresponded in Welsh,which might have been possible as Jefferson had a Welsh English dictionary in his library. And there might have been used in dispatches that might have been captured by either the French or the Spanish at the time.

 

However, back to Mr Lewis, after he was released and returned to New York, he was rewarded with a "gift" of 5000 acres close to New York City. With his wealth (reputed to be the 5th wealthiest individual in the colonies)he retired from business, and began to get involved in the politics of the New York Colony.

 

1765 1779

 

After a costly Seven Years War, the British government wished to recompense itself over the cost by taxing the American colonies. Under the Granville administration the infamous Stamp Act was introduced in 1765,signed into law by King George lll. In Julia's account she puts it as the King’s “first act of lunacy, for which he could not be held responsible". This was the casus belli for independence that was ruled by a "tyrannical ruler" that was why America rebelled. It is quite clear that the King was by then a constitutional monarch.                  

 

 

However, truth is always more complicated than the facts. The colonists I think were just fed up of being run by a distant government in London. Francis Lewis decided to throw his hat in with those Colonists who wanted rid of the British. In 1765 he attended the Stamp Act Congress, the first body that had representatives from the all American colonies protesting the Stamp Act (which was scrapped). He joined the Sons of Liberty which opposed attempts at taking away the rights of "Englishmen the American colonies. He helped his older son Francis establish a dry goods business, he moved his family to Whitestone.

 

His involvement in the movement that led to the Declaration of Independence began when he joined the Committee of 51 on May 16th in New York which was set up to oppose the closure of Port of Boston, he attended the New York Provincial Convention in which established New York's Colonial government. He was elected to the first and second Continental Congress. He was not an active member of the Congress He rarely spoke, he was more of a "backroom boy" active in committee. When it came to the vote that led to the declaration, the New York delegation abstained, as they waited for instruction from the New York Provincial Congress to vote in favour, they got in on July 10th, and the actual declaration was signed on August 2nd, 1776. On that basis, Francis Lewis put his signature to one of the most important documents in Human history – and made a little piece of history for Wales in the process.

 

His involvement in the War of Independence was organising and purchasing supplies for the army, he devoted all his wealth to his country. He lost much including his beloved wife, Elizabeth, whilst he was away in Philadelphia she was at home in Whitestone. When the British captured her house, they treated her shamefully, destroying the house, burning the books, and papers, she apparently remained calm. They threw her in prison, without a bed or change of clothing and very little food. George Washington heard of this and was outraged and ordered the arrest of the wife of the British paymaster General, after which he was able to organise a prisoner exchange. Unfortunately for Elizabeth her poor treatment severely damaged her health,and she died in 1779.

 

Despite that, Francis continued to work for the new Republic, his strong support of Washington prevented the attempt by the so called "Conway Cabal" to replace him with General Horatio Gates, which might have led to a sad end for independence. Lewis also signed the Articles of Confederation, effectively the first constitution. After that he retired from active affairs in the new United States. His mark on world – and American – history had been made.

 

He retired to Whitestone where he was a Vestryman at Trinity Church, New York City. He lived his final years in genteel poverty surrounded by his grandchildren, his son, Morgan, became Governor of New York, founded the University of New York. He died at the grand Old age of 89, he was buried in a unmarked plot, which was later marked by a granite marker and bronze plaque by the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1947.

 

It is sad that Francis Lewis has been largely forgotten, that even though he is one of the most obscure of the founding fathers, his contribution and his sacrifice in creating this new country in one that should celebrated not only in America, but in Wales which he strongly identified with that the Old should continue in the New. Perhaps Lewis will be remembered and celebrated as he deserves in the country that he also regarded as home and taught it to his children

Francis Lewis a proud Welshman, and American. May he be lifted out of his obscurity!

---

 [DH1]Draft is contradictory as it read

Adventures in America 🇺🇸 part 1

From 1990 to 2002, and 2005 to 2013, my home was (and will be again) America. My America was mostly the wild west of Colorado, Kansas, and a year in California. 

I consider it my adopted home, so now living in the land of my birth, I consider myself an exile. 

In September, 2013 we (myself, wife and daughter) moved back to Wales, the land of my birth, to West Camp between Llantwit Major and St Athan, part of the old RAF St Athan. However things did not work out. My wife was going to teach, whilst I planned to get a job. 

However, the wife was let down by the agency she had worked quite well (and exploited by) who would let her work because she did not have QTS for Wales she did by the way have overseas QTS for England. Major difference in regulation between England and Wales. We pursued it but going to General Teaching Council and the then Welsh Assembly Government. It became a blame game between the 2. So we stayed. At the end of school year, my wife and daughter returned to the US. However when I was going to take a trip i discovered that I was, not allowed in. Due to the fact that I had overstayed in the US, I was banned from returning for a number of years. 

My wife visited me over the years. Unfortunately my daughter I could not see, she could not afford to visit, so that's why I had to go for a long overdue reunion with her and my other children 

Now finally after 10 years I was returning. I travelled up to London to the US Embassy

to  get the required Visitor's Visa which cost me a (worth it) chunk of cash. After a hard interview with a hard assed consular officer was finally approved after an afternoon of prayer at the spectacular Westminster Cathedral 

Surely God answered my prayers and I got it. This was October. I was able to plan my return. 

This was the first leg. I booked my time off and booked my flight with Jet Blue for this coming January (2024). Flying ✈️ to Raleigh, North Carolina via Boston. 

I was definitely excited. I was coming home! 

© [Michael Alan Cridland ] and [Morgan the Old ], [2024]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Michael Alan Cridland ] and [Morgan the Old] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Obituary for a church

St Timothy’s Church in Caerau, Cardiff will be holding its last service, Sunday , January 29th. St Timothy’s was a big part of the life of the Caerau community of Cardiff. it is the last (Anglican) church standing. built in 1957 to serve the new emerging council estate, as the then medieval church of St Mary's was too small and too isolated on the nearby hill. It was a large part of our family's life there. My father was People's Warden (an ancient post in the Anglican church stretching back to the Middle Ages) from 1976., he was also caretaker assisted by my mother. My sister sang in the choir, and I served at the altar.

St Tim’s (as it was affectionately known) what was known as a “dual purpose church” it was a church on Sunday, and a hall for social functions, such as the church’s popular bingo, numerous jumble sales and Christmas bazaars. It was a big part of the local community.

There were the people who made up that family. Joseph Barry (Joe) when we started there was Vicar’s Warden, Choirmaster, Lay Reader, bingo caller, treasurer. Joe was there when St Tim’s opened, where he was choirmaster, People’s Warden. He was a permanent fixture and since as Reader which is a type of “minor order” he was a type of minister. 

I remember the 1970s and 80s well, Father Jack (later Canon) Buttimore was the Vicar (based at St David’s). St Tim’s was served by curates (assistant parish priests) whilst vicar usually served for 10 or 20 years (Fr Buttimore stayed from 1970=97 his predecessor 1933-70] curates were apprentices and remained for 4 or 5 years. Fr Hugh Broad, 1975-79, Fr Colin Sutton, 1980-1985, Fr Bernard Sharp, 1986-91, they all had their strength (and weaknesses).

however, it was the people themselves that was the important part of this family Saint Tim's. Besides Joe, there were others that I remember,  May Collins, Lou Jenkins, Honor North Olive Newbury, Lily Nichols [with her husband Albert who had been caretaker before my father) Gwenny Wade, Melanie Sloman, Queenie Brown, Beaty Cozey, Nelly Cotta . They have all gone, all collaborated tirelessly with my mother and father.

The last years things kept ticking on with my Pauline Boughton and Barbara Cuddihy as churchwardens, Pauline raised money with her teas and legendary baking. There was Margaret Daniels and her husband Alpheus who returned to their home in St Kitts, Millie Parris an old friend my Mum’s who passed away after enduring a lengthy illness, she and her daughter Selma were pillars of the church as were Fred [a veteran of Anzio) and his wife Winnie Andrews good people. It pains me that they are gone. My time at St Tim’s effectively ended  when I went to the US in 1990,but never lost touch with the place where my faith was formulated though it is not what it was the loss of that still is sad.

St Tim’s was a important part of the community, its loss will be and already lost.

The reasons for its closure seems to be due to an inspection from the diocese of Llandaff that found cracks in the buttress that made it structurally unsound, and it was condemned. This survey happened out of the blue and I was told that the vicar had not been aware that this was going to happen. I was quite surprised. I remember talking to someone about replacing the current building with a new church. I suspect that individual knew that it would never happen. The Diocese sold the land for flats for £750k, the diocese got the bulk of it.

There was a building fund which for a permanent building to be built and thej current building would have functioned as a hall, the fact that this never happened was tragic.

People will say that the church are the people and not the building, church is the family! Yes that is true. Yet family lives in a house and that makes it a home. So losing St Tim’s closure is akin to having the family home demolished. 

To the those living and those who are gone, like my father, Joe and the rest it’s sad. 

May St Timothy’s rest in peace! 

What do we do about the Welsh Conservatives and Andrew? 🎶

The Dynamics of Welsh Conservatism: A Look at Andrew RT Davies' Leadership

Welsh Conservatism, under the leadership of Andrew RT Davies, has been a topic of robust discussion and analysis in recent times. Will Hayward, the Welsh Affairs editor of the Western Mail, has provided insightful commentary on the subject, highlighting the internal dynamics and public perception of the party's direction under Davies' maverick leadership style.

Andrew RT Davies, known for his vocal presence on social media, has taken a populist turn, frequently tweeting about contentious issues and adopting a combative tone towards opponents. This approach has drawn comparisons to the 'Trumpian' style of politics, characterized by direct communication with the public through social media platforms and a tendency to polarize opinion.

The Welsh Conservative leader's rhetoric has sparked debate within the party, with some members expressing concern over its potential impact on electability. The division within the party seems to be between those who appreciate a more assertive stance against the Welsh Government's policies and those who fear that such a confrontational approach may alienate voters.

Hayward's article delves into the nuanced opinions of party supporters, members, and insiders, revealing a mix of support and apprehension towards Davies' leadership. Some party members have called for a return to a more progressive form of conservatism, one that aligns with Welsh cultural values and prioritizes policy over divisive rhetoric.

The article also touches upon specific incidents that have heightened tensions within the party, such as Davies' comments on the 'New Elite' and the Welsh Government's implementation of a 20mph speed limit, which has been met with both support and opposition.

The fate of Welsh Conservatism under Andrew RT Davies is a reflection of the broader challenges faced by political parties in adapting to the changing landscape of public discourse and the role of social media in shaping political narratives. Hayward's article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Welsh Conservatism, offering readers a detailed examination of the complexities involved in political leadership in the modern era.

For those interested in the intricacies of Welsh politics and the evolving nature of conservative ideology in Wales, Hayward's analysis serves as an essential read. It not only captures the current mood within the Welsh Conservative Party but also poses critical questions about the future direction of political discourse in the region.

As Welsh Conservatism continues to navigate through these turbulent times, the insights provided by Hayward and other political commentators will undoubtedly play a crucial role in understanding the shifting dynamics within the party and its impact on the political landscape of Wales.

Nye

NYE BEVAN, GREAT WELSHMAN?

Many people during lockdown have binged watched Netflix shows, me. I have been binge-watching lectures by Professor Vernon Bogdanor on the postwar Britain, and they are damn good viewing, this guy is so good, he is better than a watching a documentary, he is fair and objective about whoever he happens to be speaking about.  *This video about Nye Bevan is part of a series about great British politicians who may have made great prime ministers. its interesting that Hugh Gaitskell is missing from this list, and Bevan is, in fact, that Gaitskell's widow said that Nye should have been Labour leader than her own husband (something I never knew). This lecture gives meat to Nye's character and personhood.  instead of just a welsh windbag or firebrand, we see a man of integrity and passionate devotion to his country. Bogdnador's view that he was a "first-class minister" one should read John Pater's "Making of the National Health Service" he was a senior Civil Servant who saw the implementation of the Act that created it, and his view is that Bevan was the first-rate minister and that his talent was wasted by Attlee's poor choice of positions that he put him in. He was appointed as Minister of Labour when Bevan had wanted to be Colonial Secretary because he would have been a great help in working between the nations of the new Commonwealth, Attlee felt that Nye would be too "racially prejudiced" for the position (not in the way you would think). 

NYE'S WELSHNESS?

Those who know him so well are familiar with his view and the famous speech where he describes the "Tories being lower than vermin" his use of rhetoric was well known as he was regarded as only second to Churchill in speechifying! or perhaps equal to. What did he think of Wales and Welshness, devolution, and perhaps even there being a Welsh NHS, might be indicated by his view to a "Welsh Day" that was introduced in Parliament in 1944 (by the Coalition Government) by saying what is the difference between Welsh and Westmoreland sheep? and that problems should be dealt with within the context of Central government, he probably would not be happy with the current setup? We know what he thought of Tories,(but not Tories as people he was a friend of Iain McLeod, they used to go to rugby matches together). One suspects that his view of Welsh nationalism and perhaps Plaid Cymru was similar, llygodMawrr! which is probably why his place as the Greatest Welsh Person is so controversial, who many wanted Owain Glyndwr should be, personally I think that accolade as second should go to Hywel Dda, the first king of Deheubarth, who was the ruler of all wales (except Glamorgan where I live) who codified Welsh law and was progressive because it promoted sex equality, which was advanced not only for its time, but for the next 1000 years, but I digress. I think Bevan recognised his Welshness but thought it was not as important to the common good of all those living in the Isles!

HEALTHCARE REFORM IN AMERICA

what has Bevan to do with healthcare in the US?  Quite a bit actually, because of the same arguments used against the NHS are being used by those opposed to "Medicare for all" advocated by Sanders and Warren as opposed to the amended Obamacare advocated by Joe Biden (the current Democratic nominee). Not only was it affordable, but private hospitals existed alongside the NHS. So when Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune speaking on The McLaughlin Group that he "did not want to lose his insurance" which is simply not true. I can give an example when I worked for Tesco in the 1980s,  the company offered a private health insurance policy with BUPA, which I did take out, but there was private healthcare that existed alongside the NHS. its a shame that in this forthcoming election the best they could come up is a dried out guy like Biden, and i like him, however that is conditional on his current situation

CONCLUSION

I hope those who read this  (the ones I have tagged) listen to this lecture and i would love to listen to their views.

*I was wrong about Bevan being the Prime Minister that never was, a minister whose influence was greater than those who were.