A surname of England, from the English place name Ledwell (Oxfordshire). (E.C. Smith).
At Caplin Bay: |
RC Basilica - St John's - Marriage Records: Nov. 27, 1886 - Sebastian Ledwell (Ferryland) m. Mary Swain (Ferryland). Witnesses: William Meade & Katie Swain. |
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McAlpine's 1894 Directory - Sebastian Ledwell, fisherman. |
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McAlpine's 1898 Directory: Sebastian Ledwell, fisherman |
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McAlpine's 1904 Directory: Sebastian Ledwell, fisherman |
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Newfoundland Census 1921: Sebastian Ledwell b. Dec. 1857- Placentia & Mary Ledwell b. Mar. 1858 - Caplin Bay. |
Family History: |
The Ledwell family of Caplin Bay began in 1886 with the marriage of Sebastin Ledwell (from Little Placentia) to Mary Swain, daughter of Robert Swain, Jr. and Ellen Evoy. Although a later-comer to Caplin Bay, the Ledwell surname appears to have been in Newfoundland since at least the mid 1700s. While the family surname is undoubtedly of English origin, it is generally held that the family ancestor who arrived in Newfoundland came from Ireland. Family folklore relates that the Ledwell surname likely arrived in Ireland with Cromwell's army, and generations later one of his descendants arrived in Newfoundland from Co. Waterford. Like many surnames, the Ledwell surname has a number of variant spellings. For example, in Ireland there is a surname Lidwell, which is prevalent in Co. Tipperary. It has also been recorded as Ledwick in older Newfoundland records. The Ledwell family of Newfoundland are also known to have connections with Ledwell families in P.E.I and the southern U.S.A. |
Present Status: |
There are a few families with the Ledwell surname at Calvert and quite a few descendants from intermarriage with other families. In addition to those at Calvert, there are descendants of Sebastian and Mary Ledwell throughout other parts of Newfoundland and the rest of Canada, the U.S.A., and in other countries. |
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