Lewis Alexander Tanner - father of William Lewis Tanner

Lewis Alexander Tanner

Lewis Alexander Tanner was born February 12, 1818 in either Lenox, Massachusetts, Pennsyvlania, or Connecticut.  In the book “William Tanner, Senior and his descendants, 1910” by Reverend George C. Tanner his birth is listed in Massachusetts. On the 1850 census, it states Connecticut. On a U.S. Civil War draft registration record, 1863-1865 his place of birth is listed as Pennsylvania. I am still researching this. He was the son of William Tanner and Anna Williams.  Lewis had four brothers and three sisters. 

            On January 26, 1841 he married Sarah Dibble Perkins in Meriden, Connecticut.

Sarah Dibble (Perkins) Tanner

 Their first child, Mary Alenah was born October 25, 1842 followed by William Lewis on Mary 3, 1844.  On July 26, 1845 Norman Alexander was born.  All three were born in Meriden, New Haven, Connecticut. 

Mary Alenah Tanner

William Lewis Tanner

Norman Alexander Tanner

Sometime between 1845 and Jan 1849, Lewis and Sarah moved their family to New Haven, Connecticut.  Their address was 117 East Pearl Street, which is only a block away from the Quinnipiac River, just up from the New Haven Harbor. 

117 East Pearl Street, New Haven, Connecticut

Map showing how close they were to the harbor. 

During this time, Lewis was a tinsmith and had a partner named Seth De Wolf who lived with them. They started to make oyster cans, a lucrative business at the time. Reverend George C. Tanner wrote that Lewis was one of the first to manufacture tin oyster cans. The cans were made by hand, cutting tin sheets that were bent around a cylindrical mold and the seam soldered.  Tops and bottoms were cut and soldered to the body. A cap hole was left in the top through which oysters were inserted. It was closed by soldering a cap over the hole.  The same type of can was used by vegetable and fruit canners in the summer and fall. Information about the tin cans were found just by a google search.  Lewis and Seth had their tin shop on the side of the house. They also made jacks for the kids and tin boxes. 

Homemade jacks and a wooden  ball made by Lewis A. Tanner

Tin boxes made by Lewis A. Tanner

On January 28, 1849, Sarah Anne was born in New Haven, passing away less than a month later on February 18, 1849.  Nancy Ally was born November 12, 1851 in New Haven.  Francis L was born next on May 8, 1854, living a few months and passing away on September 15, 1854.  In January 1856, when Nancy was about four years old, she also passed away.

 Lastly, Ida Lewie was born on November 18, 1860.

Ida Lewie Tanner

Lewis Alexander Tanner (Tintype)

(Their address at 117 E. Pearl Street is from both Van Buren Lamb and the picture of their house and also from U.S. City Directories, New Haven, Connecticut, City Directory, 1879 page 239. Accessed through Ancestry.com.)

(Lewis’ occupation is also noted in the above mentioned William Tanner book and is stated on the 1860 Federal Census).

(Lewis’ brother’s occupation noted in the book William Tanner, Sr. of South Kingston, Rhode Island and his descendants in four parts.  By Rev. George C. Tanner, D.D. Faribault, Minnesota)

(Lewis & Sarah’s marriage is recorded in the Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630 – 1920)(All their children are listed on censuses, gravestones and the above mentioned book)