Helen Glenn Court

Lewis

Tradition long had it that the Lewises of Warner Hall descended from a Robert who had a grant from the crown for 33,3331/3 acres, and that Robert's lineage was ancient and Welsh. Tradition, however, was largely undone in 1948 on the discovery of several tombstones on Poropotancke Creek in King and Queen County: "Here lieth interred the body of John Lewis (born in Munmouth shire) died the 21st of August 1657 aged 63 years." Robert was wrong, Wales was right. The line reaches back to Rhys Goch ap Maenyrch, born c 1070, lord of Ystrad Yw. Firm documentation starts with Richard, grandfather of John. Subsequent research into church, land, and emigration records bears all this out convincingly.

Sources: Bradney, History of Monmouthshire, vol. 1, p. 153; Duke, Kenmore and the Lewises, pp. 4–11; Harris, "John Lewis," pp. 195–205; Hotten, Original Lists of Persons of Quality, pp. 79, 103, 108; Lewis, Lewis Patriarchs, pp. 74–82; Moses, Welsh Lineage, pp. 1–20 ff.; New England Historical & Genealogical Register, vol. 18, p. 81; Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, vol. 1, p. 229; Sorley, Lewis of Warner Hall, pp. 17–29, 293–300, 445–68; St. Teilo's parish register; VA tombstone records.

generation no. 1

Richard Lewis, born c 1540, of Llangatock, Crickhowell, Monmouthshire, gent. Will dated 15 March 1627, proved 18 April 1628. Eldest son kept father's surname, others followed Welsh tradition and used his first (ap Richard).

generation no. 2

Lewis Rychetts Prichard, born c 1565, buried 4 May 1616, St. Teilo's church, Llantilio Pertholey, Abergavenny. Married Catherine, buried 29 September 1615.

generation no. 3

John Lewis, baptized 22 February 1592 at the pre-Norman font in St. Teilo's, died 21 August 1657, buried at Poropotanke Creek. Married (1) 3 February 1610 Johane Lewis, (2) 21 February 1630 Catherine Philip, died before 1653.

generation no. 4

Major John Lewis, baptized 15 December 1633 at St. Teilo's, died c 1681. Heir to Port Holy from kinsman William Lewis. Vestryman St. Peter's Parish, New Kent. No tombstone. Married Isa­bella, daughter of James Miller (settled York Co. by 1648), born 24 August 1640, died 9 February 1703, buried Poropotanke Creek. She married 2nd Robert Yard, later of Petworth Parish in Gloucester Co., at St. Mary's Church, Newington, Surrey, England on 16 October 1682.

generation no. 5

Councillor John Lewis, born 30 November 1669 in Virginia. Married c 1690-92 Elizabeth Warner, who died 1719-20.

generation no. 6 (brothers)

Charles Lewis, of the Byrd, born 1696 at Warner Hall, died 1779. Married 28 May 1717 Mary Howell, remained married for 62 years. Acquired Byrd estate in August 1725. Vestryman at St. Peter's Parish in New Kent Co. from 1721 to 1729. Principle public service was military.

Robert Lewis [collateral], of Belvoir, born 1704 at Warner Hall, died 1765. Married Jane Meriwether, daughter of Nicholas Meriwether and Elizabeth Crawford. Will dated 1 September 1757, proved 21 December 1765.

generation no. 5 (first cousins)

Howell Lewis, born Goochland Co. VA, 13 September 1731, moved with his family in 1797 to Granville Co. NC, where he died 20 November 1813. Married Mary Isabel Willis.

William Lewis [collateral], born 1735, died November 1779. Married his cousin Lucy Meriwether.

generation no. 7 (second cousins)

Mildred Lewis was almost certainly the oldest child, given that she was married when her father was 38 years old and died before his will was written on 17 August 1812. Married 6 September 1769 in Granville Co. NC to John Cobbs of Georgia.

Captain Meriwether Lewis [collateral], born 18 August 1774, private secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, explorer to the Northwest Territory from 1803 to 1805 with William Clark, the Newfoundland dog Seaman, and the Shoshone Sacagawea, later governor of Louisiana, committed suicide 11 October 1809.

Will: Charles Lewis of The Byrd

21 September 1779

In the name of God, Amen.

I, Charles Lewis of Goochland County and Parish of St. James Northam being of sound mind and disposing sense and memory do make constitute and ordain and appoint this writing to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say — I give and devise and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Lewis during the time of her natural life the free use and profits and full enjoyment of my whole estate both real and personal, without impeachment of waste, and after her decease I give and dispose thereof, as follows: to wit: I give and bequeath to my son Charles Lewis and his heirs forever four hundred acres of land in Albemarle County, commonly called Buck Island tract with all and singular its appurtances. I give and bequeath to my son Robert Lewis and his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land in which I now live called by the name of the Bird tract together with all the appurtances, also five acres of land which I purchased of Edmund Rice, also my stick, my clock, great glass, and twenty of his choice out of my stock of cattle, meaning the horned or black cattle.

It is my desire and will that after my wife's decease that my son Howell shall have his first choice of all my negroes, and that my son Robert should have his second choice of all my negroes and that after my son Howell and my son Robert has so made their choice of a negro each, that there should be seven of my youngest negroes set apart from the others of my slaves. I give and devise to my sons John, Charles, Howell and Robert and their heirs as follows, that is to say:

To my son John three, to my son Charles two, to my son Howell one and to my son Robert one, which I do in order to make the number of slaves to these sons equal to what I gave my son James in his life time, and the division and partition of the said same slaves among my said sons John, Charles, Howell and Robert, a divide may be made the drawing the names of the said slaves by lot or otherwise as they my said sons can agree.

My will and desire further is, that on the death of my wife, all the rest and residue of my estate not herein otherwise disposed of, may be divided into eight equal parts or portions I give and devise and bequeath to each of my sons and daughters respectively or their heirs, viz.: John Lewis, Charles Lewis, Howell Lewis, Robert Lewis, Elizabeth Kennon, Anne Taylor, and Frances Lewis and the other eighth part or portion to the sons and daughters of my son James Lewis, deceased, and to their heirs and legal representatives respectfully. And lastly I constitute and appoint my loving wife Mary, Executrix and my sons John, Charles, Howell, Robert, with my friend William Haleman, Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former and other wills by me at any time made, desiring that my estate be not appraised, and that no security be demanded of my Executrix or Executors in the probate of this my last will. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of September one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine.

Charles Lewis (SEAL)

Source: Sorley, Lewises of Warner Hall, pp. 299-300

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