Throughout my database I have used the spelling Sewell with an E though the majority of the family in America spell Sewall with an A. I was brought up knowing Sewell was spelt with an E and that in line with other trans-Atlantic spelling differences the Americans didn't know how to spell the name properly. When I came to index the name it proved to be much simpler to keep to one spelling, naturally I chose the English form.
In truth the Sewalls of Coventry spelt their names both ways and it is also found recorded as Shewall. The division in spelling arose because at the time of the late troubles in New England and elsewhere in the American colonies, the Loyalist Sewells who withdrew to Canada made the decision to spell the name with an E probably to distinguish themselves from the revolting Sewalls.
Two Henry Sewalls emigrated to America from Coventry and Warwickshire, they were cousins. Henry Sewall (1614-1700) a Puritan, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 and Colonel Henry Sewell (1624-1665) a Catholic, who arrived in Maryland in 1661.
This genealogy was originally compiled from ancestry charts, letters and papers I either inherited or to which I was given access by other members of the family. I then sought other sources, both published and unpublished, and though latterly I came to record the bibliographic details I fear that there are far too many that I have plagiarised ruthlessly and to which I can give no acknowledgement for I simply no longer have their details. For this I must apologise, none of this work is my own. The very nature of a family tree means that it is just a gathering of windblown leaves, most of which I hope that I have put in some sort of order but even this has been done by cribbing from my cousins. Robert Sewell of Canada has the all embracing website on the family roots.
If you really want to see the latest research on the first six generations from Henry Sewall then order my cousin Eben Graves's new book. For copyright reasons you won't find his research published on this site so if you really want to know where the family originated, who married whom, who emigrated, who beat his wife, who was a civic leader, who was illegitimate and who was just plain boring then you will have to buy the book. It is now available from: The New England Historical and Genealogical Society
In truth the Sewalls of Coventry spelt their names both ways and it is also found recorded as Shewall. The division in spelling arose because at the time of the late troubles in New England and elsewhere in the American colonies, the Loyalist Sewells who withdrew to Canada made the decision to spell the name with an E probably to distinguish themselves from the revolting Sewalls.
Two Henry Sewalls emigrated to America from Coventry and Warwickshire, they were cousins. Henry Sewall (1614-1700) a Puritan, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 and Colonel Henry Sewell (1624-1665) a Catholic, who arrived in Maryland in 1661.
This genealogy was originally compiled from ancestry charts, letters and papers I either inherited or to which I was given access by other members of the family. I then sought other sources, both published and unpublished, and though latterly I came to record the bibliographic details I fear that there are far too many that I have plagiarised ruthlessly and to which I can give no acknowledgement for I simply no longer have their details. For this I must apologise, none of this work is my own. The very nature of a family tree means that it is just a gathering of windblown leaves, most of which I hope that I have put in some sort of order but even this has been done by cribbing from my cousins. Robert Sewell of Canada has the all embracing website on the family roots.
If you really want to see the latest research on the first six generations from Henry Sewall then order my cousin Eben Graves's new book. For copyright reasons you won't find his research published on this site so if you really want to know where the family originated, who married whom, who emigrated, who beat his wife, who was a civic leader, who was illegitimate and who was just plain boring then you will have to buy the book. It is now available from: The New England Historical and Genealogical Society