Lewes family, of Llysnewydd and Dyffryn

Family

Lewes family, of Llysnewydd and Dyffryn

The Lewes family was descended from the Lewes family of Abernantbychan, Cardiganshire. John Lewes (1680-1742) of Carmarthen married Hester Beynon of Castell Gorfod and purchased the Llanllyr estate in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire in 1720 from Henry Sumner. John and Hestor's son, John Lewes (1711-1783) of Llanllyr married Rebecca Price of Dyffryn, Carmarthenshire. He inherited Llysnewydd in the parish of Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, on the death of a cousin. Llysnewydd itself had been in the possession of the Lewes family since 1610 when John Lewes, third son of David Lewes of Gernos, Cardiganshire, purchased the property.

John and Rebecca's son and heir was William Lewes (1746-1828) of Llysnewydd and Llanllyr, who also inherited the Dyffryn estate after 1805 from his relative William Jones. The Dyffryn estate remained in the family until 1882 . It was in the possession of a Colonel W.N. Jones in about 1920.

The Llysnewydd and Llanllyr estates were split up after the death of William Lewes (1746-1828). His eldest son, William Lewes (1789-1848) inherited Llysnewydd. His family still occupied Llysnewydd in 1984. The Llanllyr estate was inherited by William's third son, Captain John Lewes (1793-1860) who was given Llanllyr on his marriage to Mary Anne (1802-42), daughter of John Vaughan Lloyd of Brynog, Cardiganshire, and resided at Brynog. His son, John Lewes (1829-1900) married Mary Jane Griffiths of Llwyndyrys, daughter of the Rev. C. Griffith in 1858. Following his marriage, John Lewes bought his father out of the Llanllyr estate. Llanllyr house was demolished and rebuilt under Colonel John Lewes. He was succeeded by his son John Lewes (1860-1931), who married Louisa Hext from Cornwall in 1890.