Arvin Congleton was a great grandson of Benjamin Lewis Nicholas.

He was born on March 13, 1939, in Holland MI, the son of the late Clayton and Harriett (Burrows) Congleton.

Arvin grew up in Ft. Lauderdale FL, resided several years in Cambridge MA, and lived in the state of New Hampshire since 1974. He graduated from MIT with a degree in electrical engineering and was employed by Raytheon for many years in the radar and missile systems division. At Raytheon, he assisted with the development of the guidance system of the scud busting Patriot Missile. A ham radio operator, Arvin had a fascination for antique radios, receivers, and transmitters.

He was a member of the New England Antique Radio Club, the Photographic Historical Society of New England, the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, and the Chester Senior Citizens Group.67, of Chester NH, died October 26, 2006, at the Parkland Medical Center in Derry NH.

He died October 26, 2006, at the Parkland Medical Center in Derry NH.

How did Thomas Nicholas (1820-1898) meet and marry a girl born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, almost 200 miles north of Bletherston!

There is no Martha Lewis, born: Manchester, Lancashire, England between 1821 and 1825 (1823 +/- 2 years) in the 1841 Census of England & Wales. Thomas and Martha’s marriage certificate which confirms that Thomas and Martha were married 23 June 1842 at St Non’s Parish Church, Llanycefn, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

On the assumption that most couples in the UK marry in the bride’s home parish a further search of the 1841 census, limiting the location to Llanycefyn, Pembrokeshire, Wales and extending the range of Martha’s birth year to +/- 5 years, the following entry was found:

Sych Cant, Llanycefn, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales

The address ‘Sych Cant’ was the address shown on the marriage certificate so this was the right ‘Martha Lewis’. However the head of the household was Evan Lewis born 1791, occupation: Farmer. Unfortunately the 1841 Census only recorded the address, first name, last name, sex, age and occupation and the relationship and place of birth were not recorded. Also an Evan Lewis is one of the witnesses who signed Thomas and Martha’s marriage cerificate. Therefore even though Evan Lewis was not Martha’s father he could have been her uncle and her father, David, was his brother.

The Welsh Tithe Maps (1840) on the National Library of Wales website confirms that ‘Sych Cant’ farm (farmed by Evan Lewis) is located on the road from Llanycefn to Maenclochog…

Link to a Tithe Map from 1840 showing the Ownership, Tenancy and extent of both Whitehook and Holloway Fach

At Peru State College, on Tuesday morning, April 25, 1950, Professor Barney K Baker shot to death the college president, Dr William L Nicholas, and the head of the education division, Dr Paul Ammon Maxwell. He then went home and killed himself. The tragedy followed Dr Baker’s being notified of his future dismissal from the college.