Ellis Lewis
| Ellis Lewis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Employer | FR Co. |
| Occupation | Guard |
| FR People | WHR People | |
Ellis Lewis was born in Borth y gest in 1877 to Evan & Laura Ellen Lewis. His father was a Mariner and came from Talyllyn. His mother was born in Portmadoc. He had at least two brothers (David b.1871 & John b.1885) & two sisters (Sarah b.1875 & Margaret b.1879). His brother John Lewis is recorded as being a Porter in 1901 and a Brakesman in 1911.
Ellis is recorded as being a guard on the Festiniog Railway in 1901 and foreman Passenger Guard in 1911. From Welsh Highland Railway records we know he was a guard on that railway in 1924 but might have only been on loan from the FR. He married Kate in 1902 and they had at least 3 children, Edith Florence b.1904, Laura Ellen b.1906 and Elfed b.1908. Elfed is recorded as being a FR Porter & Clerk from 1925-31 (NUR records)
The Model Engineer of September 22nd 1955 is quoted as saying "One man who watches with super-critical eyes the little train on its 8 m.p.h. journeys up and down the embankment is 78-year-old Mr. Ellis Lewis, who was guard on the railway for 56 years. He can remember the days when he wore a beaver cloth uniform trimmed with silver braid and a similar suit (plus gold braid) was worn by the station master." He was still employed by the FR when it closed in 1946 so he must have started work for the FR in 1890 at the age of 13!
A comment in the FR Archive catalogue quotes file XD97/16066a "1933 Aug. 25 LETTER: Will Jones to Robert Evans ........ mentions Bessie’s role and wage and comments on the way that Guard Lewis sneers at her." This is almost certainly Ellis.
Boyd gets his name wrong and calls him Lewis Ellis.
Census Entry for 1881[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at 12, Garth Terrace, Portmadoc |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1877 in Borth y gest |
| The occupation given is: Scholar |
| and the FR/WHR connection is verified |
Census Entry for 1891[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at 17, Dora St, Portmadoc |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1877 in Borth y gest |
| The occupation given is: Grocer's Assistant |
| and the FR/WHR connection is verified |
Census Entry for 1901[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at 17, Dora St, Portmadoc |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1877 in Borth y gest |
| The occupation given is: Guard (FR) |
| and the FR/WHR connection is verified |
Census Entry for 1911[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at 19, Dora St, Portmadoc |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1877 in Borth y gest |
| The occupation given is: Foreman & Passenger guard |
| and the FR/WHR connection is verified |