Re; The Strelley Family ,Oakerthorpe.  Gertrude Rees Lewis.(?).

Whilst I do not wish in any way to malign your well researched article on the Strelley family I need to correct some details regarding Gertrude Rees Lewis, the Welsh connection. Gertrude’s correct name was Sarah Jane Gertrude Lewis. She was the only child of Rees & Emily Lewis. Rees was one of three sons and seven daughters of Edmund & Sarah Lewis. Rees’ other brothers were Lewis and Thomas, more about which shortly. Edmund held title to the Drysiog Estate in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, a small Welsh Estate which was predominantly Agricultural. Upon the discovery and development of the Iron Ore industry in the  area in the 19th century there was a shortage of licensed premises in Ebbw Vale due in no small part to most of the town being owned by Lord Llanover,(formerly Sir Benjamin Hall, the man responsible for the erection of the clock, Big Ben, on the Palace of Westminster). Lady Llanover, was anti drink and even to-day there are no licensed premises on the town’s High Street which still fall within the ownership of the Llanover Estate. The Lewis family recognised this ’gap in the market,’ and set about creating leases and had properties built on the Drysiog to accommodate the workers but more importantly ,to quench the enormous thirst developed by them ,many of the properties became one room Ale Houses ,latterly some became proper Public Houses and at least one is still trading to-day.

Now to return to Sarah. Family Folk Lore is that Sarah was in love with a first cousin, Edmund Roger Lewis the son of Lewis Lewis,  a brother to her Father, Rees. Owing to the close blood relationship the family discouraged marriage and Edmund Roger ultimately married some one else and as is known Sarah married Richard Charles Strelley. It is assumed that they may have met perhaps when Strelley visited the area in connection with Coal Mining activities which of course at that time were predominant.

I cannot challenge the theory that Sarah contributed to the ultimate bankcruptcy of the Strelley’s but certainly she was quite a wealthy woman in her own right.In those times I imagine she would have had a difficult time keeping any of her own money from her husband. Having inherited a 1/3 share of the Drysiog Estate on the demise of her father,Rees,she latterly used the old Drysiog farm as a summer residence. Whether she was using Strelley  money  or her own is not known but in 1895 she donated a peal of six bells to her former local church, Bedwellty, one of the oldest and most striking churches in Monmouthshire. The Bells are variously inscribed to the memory of her parents and were cast by the firm of John Taylor & Sons of Loughborough, a leading bell maker.

Some years ago I had a conversation with a Strelley descendent who informed me that Richard  Strelley did not treat his wife particularly well and she became mentally unbalanced and was known in their family as ‘Poor, mad Sarah’. Certainly reading between the lines in your article leads one to think that the Strelley family gave very little concern or care to anyone but themselves. Sarah ultimately passed away on 7th February 1899 and I am led to believe was only 39 years old. Mad or not, her Will,(I have not seen sight of a copy),certainly left her 1/3 share of the Drysiog Estate to the first and perhaps only love in her life, Edmund Roger Lewis, and I understand the main bulk was also left to him. Her husband was not mentioned at all! When the Strelley’s discovered this fact word was sent to the Lewis family along the theme,’She’s dead.If you want her you had better come and fetch her! The Lewis family duly obliged and the Sarah Jane Gertrude Strelley was laid to rest with her parents in Bedwellty church yard

I hope the foregoing is of interest to members of the Alfreton History Society. I would be pleased to receive any other information concerning Sarah for our Family History research and wonder if Richard J Kuchnowski and his photographs have a connection to the Strelley Family?

Best Wishes.

David Lewis.