1.
WILLIAM1
LEWIS
was born Bef. 1730, and died 1784 in Fincastle Co/now Wash. Co., VA. on South
Fork of Holston River.
Notes for WILLIAM
LEWIS:
Settled in Virginia in early 1700s??
"Families of
Washington County & Bristol, Virginia 1776-199l_" by Holston Territory
Genealogy Society.
William LEWIS owned land in Fincastle County (now Washington Co.)
bought 9 March 1774 176 acres on the south fork of the Holston River
"Will Book 1777-1792
of Washington County, Virginia" (abstracts only)
p. 102: Inventory &
Appraisement of the Estate of William Lewis, deceased, by John THOMAS and Henry
HENNIS, Appraisers.
One bond against son William Lewis and one bond against
John Lewis.
100 bushels of corn due in the years 1785, 1786, 1787,
1788 and 1789.
Recorded (dates not given) [prob. 1784]
Will of William
Lewis, dated 16 November 1784
Sons:
Griffeth (eldest), William, John & Thomas Lewis
Dau's:
Ann Stevens and Margaret Bishop
Wit:
John ROBINSON & John THOMAS
"I
sign this as my Last will"
William Lewis (his mark)
16 Nov.
1784 ". . . appoint Griffeth Lewis & Abraham Stevens, executors.
Wit: same William Lewis (his mark)
Proven
and recorded 21 December 1784 John Campbell, CWC
281L94 - WILLIAM
LEWIS (Additional Info from Dr. Cohen Lewis):
William
Lewis was living in southwest Virginia on the South Fork of the Holston River
when this area was a part of Fincastle County. The date of his settlement has
not been found nor the date when he became a landowner.
From the original
surveys in Fincastle County Record of Plotts, Book A:
p. 23
- surveyed for Wm Lewis by virtue of the Order of Council made 16 Dec 1773, and
as part
of
the Loyal Company Grant, the annexed figure of land lying in Fincastle Co. on
the South fork
of
Holston, containing 176 acres and bounded as follows...adjoining John Thomas
and Henry
Bowen.
Surveyed 9 March 1774 (on same date for Henry Bowen, 426 acres, part of Loyal
Co. Grant,
South
Fork of Holston and for John Thomas, 404 acres, part of Loyal Co. Grant, South
Fork
of
Holston, both tracts "corner to Wm Lewis".
p. 198
- surveyed for Wm Lewis - part of Loyal Company Grant - lying in Fincastle
County -
southwest side of South Fork of Holston - containing 204 acres - beginning Bank
of Two-mile
Creek
- surveyed 16 May 1775.
The Holston River was
formerly called Indian River, and settlers were in this area long before the
above surveys were made. When Fincastle County was discontinued late in 1775,
this section became Washington County; and I (Dr. Lewis) believe the area where
Wm Lewis lived was later set off to Smyth County. Since no deeds disposing of
the above land have been found, no patent was ever issued to Wm Lewis, and no
land was mentioned in his will, it is the opinion of the Virginia State Library
that he assigned it to someone else, in which case the patent would be recorded
under the assignee's name. The assignment made by Griffith Lewis, the oldest
son of William, was located through a manuscript called "List of Loyal Company
Platts, Certificates, an d Surveys, 1799-1815"; but the column in which the
recordation was to be entered was blank for both of the William Lewis surveys,
nor was there any notation of recordation on either of the original surveys.
I have found no
records of Wm Lewis prior to 1774, nor have I been able to "connect" him with
any other Lewis family in Virginia. He was surely born before 1730 (probably by
1720) and although tradition says this family came from Wales, there is no
documented evidence. At present, I have at least 6 claims and suggestions (none
of them proved) and I do not feel that copying these would merit the space that
would be consumed.... Most of the claims have been disproved.
William Lewis and his
sons seemed to have few records in Washington County until 20 July 1779 when
they appeared in Court and acknowledge d themselves indebted to the Commonwealth
of Virginia, by bonds which would become void if conditions set out were
followed.
--John Lewis, for 500 pounds - good behavior for one year;
securities, William Lewis and John Campbell, 250 pounds each.
--Griffith Lewis, for 500 pounds - appearance at next court;
securities Wm Lewis and John Lewis, 250 pounds each.
--Peter
Razor, 1000 pounds; securities, Wm Lewis and Griffith Lewis, 500 pounds each.
--Thomas
Lewis - for a misdemeanor, ordered to pay 10 pounds and costs.
These records probably
concerned activities of those in Southwest Virginia who were loyal to Great
Britain, of which there were a great many at this time. Since Thomas Lewis had
served for the American Colonies off and on since June 1776, his involvement was
probably very slight, if any.
On 22 November 1780,
William Lewis served on a jury in the Court of Washington County. A lawsuit,
William Lewis against William Paine, was on the docket of this session of court.
Papers of Elmyra
(McGuire) Royse <Mrs. Dayton Royse> -- found March 1999 posted on the
internet: <http://www.geocities.com/~daisi>
1774 - had land survey
on South Fork of Holston River, s.w. Virginia
1775 - William &
Griffith Lewis -- land surveys same area
1784 - William Lewis
died in Washington Co., VA; named in his will were his children: Griffith,
Mragaret, Ann, Wm Jr, John & Thomas
Since many who
settled on South Fork of Holston had the same names as earlier residents of
Loudoun Co., VA, I am interested in that area . A William LEWIS and a William
LEWIS, Jr., appeared on the tax lists of Loudoun Co. in 1766; in that same
vicinity were John and William GRIFFITH; William, James & Joshua JONES; Benjamin
and Thomas JOHN ; John THOMAS; and other "interesting names".
The 1771 will of
William JONES of Loudoun Co. named wife Mary, devised land to sons Joshua and
James adjoining the DEHAVEN's and a negro to daughter Mary GRIFFITH, and
mentioned the Baptist Meeting House adjoining his plantation of which Joseph
THOMAS was minister and William LEWIS and Thomas GEORGE were elders. The will
was witnessed by Josias CLAPHAM, William LEWIS, and Sarah GRIFFITH. (This was
probably New Valley in Pennsylvania; the members included emigrants from
Pennsylvania and converts in Virginia.)
On 9 March 1774 in
southwest Virginia "our" William LEWIS and a John THOMAS had adjoining tracts
surveyed; on 15 May 1775 "our" Griffith LEWIS and a Joshua JONES had tracts
surveyed - corner to each other . These were part of the Loyal Company Grant
and was located on South Fork of Holston.
In 1782, John THOMAS,
Thomas JOHN, and Benjamin JOHN were taxed in same district in Washington Co., VA
as were "our" William LEWIS and his sons; in 1784 John THOMAS witnessed the will
of William LEWIS.
On 21 September 1798,
Benjamin JOHN and wife Lydia, Washington Co., V A deeded to Thomas PIERCE of
Wythe Co., VA, an iron ore bank on South Fork of Holston; in a law suit of 1807
- Pierce vs. Razor - it was stated that the iron works had been owned by Joshua
JONES, Peter RAZOR and Benjamin JOHN.
These notes are presented as a possible clue to the earlier residence of William LEWIS and his family; they are not to be considered as proof.
Children of WILLIAM
LEWIS
are:
2. i.
MARGARET2
LEWIS,
b. Abt. 1743; d. Nov. 07, 1820, St. CLairs Bottom, Washington Co.,VA
ii.
WILLIAM
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1744.
Notes for WILLIAM
LEWIS:
possibly born as late as 1766. Would he have been in tax
record of Washington Co. VA
1782-1785? Would he have been old enough?
3. iii.
GRIFFITH
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1750; d. bet. 25 June & 28 Aug. 1806 ,Lee Co, VA.
iv.
THOMAS
LEWIS,
b. May 03, 1755, ,Washington, VA; d. August 09, 1849, ,Morgan, Ky;
m. HANNAH
HOPKINS,
March 03, 1784, ,Washington, VA.
Notes for THOMAS
LEWIS:
Married by Baptist Minister Thomas Woolsey in Washington Co., Virginia. Buried
in Green Lewis Cemetery, Pomp, Ky. Died near mouth of Elkfork of Licking River,
Morgan County, Ky.
Listed in DAR (Daughters of
the American Revolution) Patriot Index, printed January 1979, listed page 414
Served in
Revolutionary War as Private from Washington Co. , Va. as a "spy and ranger".
Received pension
of $41.33 per annum beginning 4 March 1834 .
See his pension
file for more information.
Floyd County, Kentucky DEED
BOOK A 1805-1818
26 August 1809. Indenture
by Henry FRENCH of Mercer County, Kentucky to Thomas CASKEY, Gardner HOPKINS and
Thomas LEWIS, in the amount o f $900, for 1100 acres of land on the waters of
Licking River. Witness: John PERRY, William HOPKINS, and James E.
ELLIOTT
1 August 1812. Indenture
from Gardner HOPKINS to Thomas LEWIS and Thomas CASKEY in the amount of $300 for
a 1/3 interest in land on Licking River. Attest: John PERRY, William
HOPKINS and John LAC Y.
17 February 1816.
Indenture to John TURMAN from Thomas LEWIS in the amount of $30 for 50 acres of
land on Licking River.
26 April 1817. Indenture
from Henry FRENCH to John LEWIS in the amount of $76 for 175 acres on Licking
River.
<NOTE: All records for
that part of Morgan County which was in Floyd County between 1799 and 1808
burned with the Floyd Courthouse in 18 08, so if Thomas LEWIS had been living
here earlier, we have no record>
"Selections from Morgan
County History, Sesquicentennial Vol." by Helen Price Stacy and William Lynn
Nickell, Vol. I.
The Thomas LEWIS
tract included 500 acres on the north side of the Licking River at the mouth of
Elkfork Creek, and the HOPKINS and CASKEY tract was between West Liberty and the
mouth of the Elkfork. Gardner HOPKINS is buried in a cemetery 1 1/2 miles
north o f West Liberty on KY 7. Thomas LEWIS' son acquired land across the
river from the mouth of Elkfork, and at one time Francis LEWIS' son , John P.
LEWIS was the largest land owner in Morgan County. A portion of the Thomas
LEWIS tract has remained in the LEWIS family to this day. It presently (1972)
belongs to Mrs. Dima LEWIS, widow of Green LEWIS who was a grandson of Henry H.
LEWIS, Thomas LEWIS' youngest son. It was on this farm, on the present site of
the Dima LEWIS home that Thomas LEWIS built the big log house which family
tradition claimed was the first log house built in what is now Morgan County.
The house stood until about 30-40 years ago when it was destroyed by fire.
Floyd County, Kentucky
COUNTY COURT BOOK 1
August Court: Aug. 28,
1809: On the motion of James LACY, ordered that David ELLINGTON, James
ELLIOTT, Thomas LEWIS, and William HOPKINS mark a road from the mouth of Elk
Fork to David ELLINGTON's and report at the next court.
November 28, 1809: On the
order of James LACY, ordered that William MONTGOMERY, Ambrose JONES, William
McCLINTICK and Thomas CASKEY to mark the road from Thomas LEWIS to Jeremiah
LYKINS.
February Term 1810: Ordered
that a deed from Henry FRENCH to Thomas CASKEY, Gardner HOPKINS and Thomas LEWIS
be recorded.
May Term 1810; Monday, May
28th: Order issued to review the road from Thomas LEWIS to Jeremiah LYCAN's.
January Term 1811: Report
of the road from Thomas LEWIS to Jeremiah LYCANs received. James LACY appointed
to superintend and Daniel PE YTON to allot hands.
February Term; 24 Feb.
1812: Ordered on the motion of James LACY that John OAKLEY, John LEWIS, James
ELLIOTT and Thomas CASKEY mark a road from Thomas LEWIS' to the county in the
direction of the Bath Count y courthouse.
September Term 1812:
Report of the road from Thomas LEWIS' to the Bath County line received. John
OAKLEY to supervise. The hands of David ALLINGTON, John PERRY, and Thomas CASKY
to assist.
March Term 1813: Stephen
HARPER, Rowland SALMONS, Thomas LEWIS and John SNYDER to mark a road from the
narrows below Matthew SPURLOCKs to the upper end of the bottom at David
SPURLOCKs.
FLOYD COUNTY COURT BOOK 2
Court held Monday, 22nd of
August 1814, in Prestonsburg: On the motion of James CUMMINGS, Attorney for the
Commonwealth, ordered that attachments be issued against 32 persons, including
Thomas LEWIS. To appear on the first day of September Term next to show why
they have not view, marked or reported their respective roads.
FLOYD COUNTY MARRIAGE
BONDS
Bond dated 27 Feb. 1810 by
John OAKELY and James CUMMINGS for a marriage shortly to be had between John
OAKLEY and Peggy LEWIS.
"This is
to certify that from the best of my recollection I believe
Peggy Lewis to be of age
and that I am well satisfied you should
issue a
license for the marriage of she and John Oakley.
26 day of Feb. 1810 (S) Thomas Lewis"
...
Bond dated 3 March 1813 by
Wells MORGAN and Nathaniel MORGAN for a marriage shortly to be had between Wells
MORGAN and Betsy LEWIS.
"March the 1
day, 1813. This is to certify that my daughter Betsy Lewis and
Wells Morgan
has made a contract of Mattremoney and wan t you to grant him licens.
(S) Thomas Lewis"
...
Bond dated 1 April 1816 by
John CASKEY and John LEWIS for a marriage shortly to be had between John CASKEY
and Hannah LEWIS.
"March the
30 day, 1816. This is to sertify that John Caskey and Hannah Lewis
has made a
contract of Matrimony and I, Thomas Lewis, sends this as a
certificate
for you to grant to Caskey lisens.
(S) Thomas Lewis"
FLOYD COUNTY COURT BOOK 3
January Term: At a court
held at the courthouse in Prestonburg on Monday the 19th of January 1818:
Ordered that Elizabeth FUGET be bound unto Thomas LEWIS.
FLOYD COUNTY COURT BOOK 4
September Term: Monday the
23rd day of September 1822: Thomas LEWIS appointed Surveyor of the road from
the mouth of Yocum to his house.
June Term: Monday, the
28th day of June 1824: The Last Will and Testament of William STRATTON,
deceased, was produced in open court and proved by the oath of Thomas LEWIS, one
of the subscribing witness ' thereto and ordered certified.
Notes for HANNAH
HOPKINS:
Died at Elk Fork of Licking River ; Morgan Co., Ky. Married by Baptist
Minister Thomas Woolsey Her pension application was approved 28 January 1850
(at age 83).
1850 census of Morgan
County, Kentucky:
Lewis,
Hannah age 84 b. Va.
Lewis, Sarah 45
Cogswell, Hannah 23
"Selections from Morgan
County History, Sesquicentennial Volume" by Helen Price Stacy and William Lynn
Nickell, Vol. 1 --
"We have Hannah LEWIS's statement that she was Gardner HOPKINS' sister in a
deposition made for Polly HOPKINS when she filed for a widow pension."
v.
ANN
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1767; m. ABRAHAM
STEVENS/STEPHENS,
Bef. 1784,
Notes for ANN
LEWIS:
Papers of Elmyra (McGUIRE) ROYSE [Mrs. Dayton ROYSE] found on the
internet in March 1999: <www.geocities.com/~daisi>
Ann LEWIS married Abraham STEVENS (STEPHENS) before 1784 will of her father
which named him as an executor. Abraham appeared on Washington Co. tax book of
1785. A patent was issued 15 March 1788 to a Benjamin STEPHENS for 1,000 acres
on south side of S. Fork of Holston (VA Patents, Bk. 15, p. 541).
In Madison Co., KY a Jehu STEVENS was taxed 1787 & 1788; he may be the Jehu
STEVENS who signed 8 Sept. 1783 in Lincoln Co. KY, bond for h is marriage to
Sarah YOCUM; security, George CORN; consent for the license, Matthias YOCUM -
relationship not stated. This is published as John STEVENS, but quite plainly "Jehu"
on the original. Published Lincoln Co. Court Orders name a John STEPHENS in
August 1783 which the original shows as Jehu STEPHENS.
In Lincoln Co., 11 Feb 1788, a marriage bond was obtained for John LEWIS &
Hannah STEPHENS; security, Francis HOPKINS. On 9 Feb Abraham (A-his mark)
STEPHENS certified "that Hannah is over 21 years", no relationship stated. Jehu
and Abraham STEPHENS were taxed 18 April 1789 in Madison Co.; on 18 June 1794,
Thomas LEWIS (169 a. on Sugar Creek), John LEWIS, Jehu, Abraham and Benjamin
STEPHENS were taxed . In a letter addressed to Mr. Abm. STEPHENS, Sugar Creek
Mill, 16 J an. 1795, William ALLEN consented to marriage of his daughter, Peggy
ALLEN, to Benjamin STEVENS; witnesses, John LEWIS and James MORRIS.
The first Garrard Co. KY
tax book listed on 2 June 1797 Abraham STEVENS and John STEVENS (16 to 21).
On 13 Aug. 1797, Thomas
LEWIS and wife Hannah of Montgomery Co., KY , sold to Abraham STEPHENS of
Garrard Co. for 50 pounds 47 1/2 acre s on Sugar Creek. At the same time it
was stated that Thomas LEWIS and Abraham had previously made a joint purchase of
169 acres. (Garrard Deeds A:45 & A:49) On 4 Nov. 1799, Abraham STEPHENS and
wife Ann of Garrard Co. sold this 47 1/2 acres to Jacob BACK (A:255) and moved
to Shelby Co., KY, where Abraham was taxed 1800 through 1815, which is as far as
I have checked; his 1815 tax was for 3 horses, 4 blacks, and 111 acres on Long
Run.
There was another Abraham
STEVENS in Lincoln Co. who was married there in 1784 and bought land in 1797
which he and his wife Susannah of Pulaski Co., KY sold in 1798.
Notes for ABRAHAM
STEVENS/STEPHENS:
Abraham Stevens was executor of her father's will, and appeared on the
Washington County Tax Book of 1785. A patent was issued 15 March 1788 to a
Benjamin Stevens for 1000 acres on south side of South Fork of Holston (Virginia
Patents Book 15, p. 541). Abraham was in Kentucky by 1788: Lincoln,
Madison,Garrard, Shelby Counties.
4. vi. JOHN
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1768.
Generation No. 2
2. MARGARET2 LEWIS (WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1743, and died November 07, 1820 in St. Clairs Bottom, Washington Co, Va.. She married JONATHAN BISHOP Bef. 1774.
Notes for MARGARET
LEWIS:
Papers of Elmyra (McGUIRE) ROYSE - Mrs. Dayton ROYSE: found March 1 999 on the
internet: <www.geocities.com/~daisi>
Margaret LEWIS, born
about 1743; died 7 Nov. 1820, age 77; married Jonathan BISHOP, born 1749; died 6
July 1831, 81 yrs 11 mos. 20 days (Bishop Bible), son of Joseph & Sarah (BOUTON)
BISHOP of Conn., New York, and Virginia.
The BISHOPS came to
southwest Virginia before 12 March 1774 when Joseph BISHOP had 351 acres
surveyed on a branch of South Fork of Holston , adjoining Matt EVINS and Daniel
REMY, and when Matthew BISHOP had 77 acres surveyed on South Fork of Holston.
Both tracts were part of Loyal Company Grant in Fincastle Co., later Washington
Co., where Joseph, Levi and Jonathan BISHOP were taxed in 1782. Jonathan had
surveys of 150 a. 1781 & 1782; he patented 12 July 1785, 150 a. S. Fork Holston
adjoining Isaac ANDERSON, Joseph BISHOP, and Robert CAMPBELL.
On 20 June 1792 Joseph
COLE sold about one acre on north side of S. Fork of Holston for 20 shillings to
James WHEELER, John THOMAS, and Jonathan BISHOP, Acting Trustees of Congregation
and Meeting House formerly known by Sinclair's Bottom. On 16 July 1793 Joseph
COLE and wife Margaret sold Jonathan BISHOP 64 acres on north side of S. Fork
Holston, adjoining Sinclair's old patent survey. Jonathan BISHOP and wife, both
45 or over, were in the 1810 census of Washington Co., in the area of present
Smyth Co., VA.
Notes for JONATHAN
BISHOP:
Died St. Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va.; now it's Smythe Co, Va.
Children of MARGARET
LEWIS
and JONATHAN
BISHOP
are:
i.
JOHN3
BISHOP,
b. Nov. 20, 1774, St. Clair Bottom, Washington Co, Va..
ii.
JOSEPH
BISHOP,
b. 1776, St. Clair Bottom, Washington Co, Va..
iii.
LEVI
BISHOP,
b. January 04, 1777, St Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va..
iv.
NOAH
BISHOP,
b. December 10, 1779, St Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va..
v.
MARY
BISHOP,
b. Aft. 1780, St Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va..
vi.
THOMAS
BISHOP,
b. 1782, St Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va..
vii.
WILLIAM
BISHOP,
b. 1788, St Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va..
viii.
JONATHAN
BISHOP,
b. Aft. 1880, St Clair Bottoms, Washington Co, Va..
3. GRIFFITH2 LEWIS (WILLIAM1) was born Bef. 1750, and died between 25 June & 28 August 1806 in Lee Co, VA. (now Scott Co.) He married MARY BROWN in by Nicholas Reagan.
Notes for GRIFFITH
LEWIS:
He was probably married twice! 15 May 1775 he had land surveyed Fincastle
Co, Va. 25 Jun 1806 will was dated.
"Washington Co.
Virginia Marriages, Minister's Returns 1776-1855" abstracted by Marty HIATT and
Craig Roberts SCOTT
p. 70 Grifey LEWIS & Mary BROWN 179_ (1791-93) minister: Nicholas REAGAN
"Families of
Washington County & Bristol, Virginia 1776-199_" by the Holston Territory
Genealogy Society
Griffith LEWIS bought
192 acres lying on both sides of Two Mile Creek on the south fork of the Holston
River 15 May 1775. Died 180 6 in Lee Co. (now Scott Co.), VA. His will
names wife Mary and child ren: Rebecca, Thomas, Anne, Polly, Rachel, Leah,
Hannah, Abraham, William.
William LEWIS (1784/88
- 1854) m. Nancy GILLIAM 1792-1876
ch: William Harvey 1833-1912 m. 1854 Sarah PARVIN 1835 -1926
Papers of Elmyra (McGUIRE)
ROYSE <Mrs. Dayton ROYSE> -- found March 1999 on the internet at <www.geocities.com/~daisi>
Griffith LEWIS was
named in the 1784 will of William LEWIS of Washing ton Co., VA, as his eldest
son. Griffith was probably born prior t o 1750 and died between 25 June and 28
August 1806 in Lee Co., VA.
The earliest reference
to Griffith which I have found is the following survey: For Griffith
Lewis...192 acres in Fincastle Co., VA part of Loyal Company's Grant...lying on
both side of the Two-mile Creek , a branch of the South Fork of Holston
River...adjoining JONES' land . Surveyed 15 May 1775. (Fincastle Co., Record
of Plotts, Book A, p .196)
On the same day, 273
acres were surveyed on both sides of One-mile Creek for Joshua JONES; and on the
next day, land was surveyed for William LEWIS on Two-mile Creek as previously
noted.
Griffith LEWIS
assigned his land before a patent had been issued; an abstract of the patent
recorded in Virginia Land Grants, Vol. 38, p ages 116-117, follows: James WOOD,
Esq., Gov. of the Commonwealth o f VA., ...in consideration of 20 shillings
sterling* paid into the treasury...to Peter MINK, Assignee of Griffith
LEWIS...192 acres surveyed 15 May 1775...lying in Washington Co. on both sides
of the two-mile creek, a branch of South Fork of the Holstein River, and
bounded... corner to JONES' land...and being part of an Order of Council granted
to the Loyal Company to take up and survey 800,000 acres, established and
confirmed by a decree of Court of Appeals made in Richmond 2 May 1783...Signed
at Richmond, 19 March 1798, by James WOODS.
Griffith LEWIS was
taxed in Washington Co., VA 1782, 1783 & 1785; lists for years immediately
following are missing. Although it is quite possible that there was an earlier
marriage, he was probably the Griffey LEWIS married by Nicholas REAGAN in
Washington Co. to Mary BROWN - undated. (VA Colonial Abstracts, Vol. 34,
Washington Co. Marriage s, 1782-1820, Beverly Fleet, 1949, reprinted 1966, page
48.)
I have abstracted the
following from the original records of Lee Co. , VA: 14 March 1797, Doswell
ROGERS of Lee Co., VA to Griffin LEWIS of same, for 30 pounds, 100 acres in Lee
Co. on north side of Clinch River above the Big Falls...acknowledged and ordered
recorded 10 April 1798. (Deed Book 1, p. 102) 15 August 1800, Stephen WALLING
of Sullivan Co., TN to Griffeth LEWIS of Lee Co., VA, for $125, 248 acres in Lee
Co. on the waters of Clinch River (name also given as Griffey LEWIS); deed
witnessed by Wills JONES, Joshua THOMPSON, Doswell ( x) ROGERS. Proved and
ordered recorded 14 July 1801. (Deed Book 1 , page 240)
Although Lee Co. tax
lists started in 1795, Griffith LEWIS first appeared: 1801, March 27 LEWIS,
Griffy 1 male 16-up 3 horses; 1803 L EWIS, Grifford 1 male 16-up 3
horses.
9 June 1803, William
McCUTCHIN of Carter Co. TN to Griffith LEWIS o f Lee Co. VA for $75, 75 acres
on north bank of Clinch River; witnesses, Wells JONES, Thomas WADDELL, and
Rebeckah (x) LEWIS. (Deed Boo k 1, page 308)
1804, 3/26
LEWIS, Griffith 1 male 16-up 3 horses
3/26 LEWIS, Thomas 1 male 16-up 2 horses
1805, 3/25
LEWIS, Griffith 2 males 16-up 4 horses
3/25 LEWIS, Thomas 1 male 16-up 4 horses
1806, 4/1
LEWIS, Griffith 1 male 16-up 2 horses
The following is a
copy of the "original" will of Griffith LEWIS. It was written on both sides of
a sheet of paper and where it had been folded, there was a portion which I could
not decipher:
Virginia State, Lee Co., June the 25 day 1806 - In the name of God Amen, I
Grifeth
Lewis, being in a low state of health, but in my real state of
mind, wish for to commit my
sole to God who gave it and my body for to be buried at the
discretion of my executors in
a Christian way, and as for my portion of worldly goods that God
hath bestowed on me,
I wish for to bequeath in the following manner: To my sons
Thomas and William I bequeath
one hundred acres of land, the place where I now live, to be
equally divided between
them....for to have an equal divide of the balance with the
other legatees.
I
wish for to have my other land sold with my other goods at 12 months and one
days
credit, and after the money is collected my just debts payed by
my executors, Thommas
LEWIS, Thommas WADLE, and Thommas GALYON, and for to give to
each legatee
an equal divide of the money: my beloved wife Mary, one shair;
Rebeccah, one shair;
Thommas, one shair; Anne, one shair; Polly, one shair; Rachel,
one shair; Leah, one shair;
William, one shair; Hana, one shair; Abraham, one shair.
I wish
my just debts for to be collected and for to be equally divided between my
legatees
by my executors...my land of 248 acres under Powel's Mountain
and my 75 acres which
includes the mill. I will not warrant a patent title to ???
Signed this 25 day June
1806...Grifeth ( X) Lewis
Test:
George WADDLE; Thomas (X) FULTON (?)
In the copied will
above, spellings are exactly as they appeared.
* there are 20 shillings in a pound and 12 pennies in a shilling.
On 2 May 1808 Anne
LEWIS of Bledsoe Co. TN appointed John SKILLERN her attorney-in-fact to collect
legacy left to her in the will of her father Griffin LEWIS (Bledsoe Co. Book A,
p. 13).
Children of GRIFFITH
LEWIS
and MARY
BROWN
are:
i.
REBECCA3
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1775.
ii.
ANNE
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1775.
iii.
POLLY
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1775.
iv.
HANNAH
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1775.
v.
ABRAHAM
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1775.
vi.
THOMAS
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1776.
vii.
WILLIAM
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1790.
viii.
RACHEL
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1794.
ix.
LEAH
LEWIS,
b. Bef. 1794.
4. JOHN2 LEWIS (WILLIAM1) was born Bef. 1768. He married HANNAH STEPHENS Feb. 11, 1788 in Lincoln Co., Ky.
Notes for JOHN
LEWIS:
Resided Ky: Madison/Garrard/Mercer Counties
John LEWIS, son of
William LEWIS of Washington Co. VA was taxed there 1782, 1783, and 1785; lists
for the years immediately following are missing.
In Lincoln Co. KY 11
Feb. 1788, a bond was signed by John LEWIS and Francis HOPKINS {Jr.} for "a
marriage shortly intended between the above bound John LEWIS and Hannah
STEPHENS". Abraham (A-his mark ) STEPHENS certified 9 Feb. that Hannah was over
21; but did not state any relationship. Francis HOPKINS, taxed Washington Co.
VA 1783, was brother of Hannah HOPKINS who married in 1784 Thomas LEWIS, brother
of John. John LEWIS and Thomas LEWIS were taxed 22 April 1789 in Madison Co.
KY.
In January 1791
Madison Co. Court ordered John LEWIS, William COOLEY , Clemmons HILL, and
Abraham STEPHENS to view a road from Fredergil ADAMS' mill to Lincoln Co. line
to intersect the Hickman and Sugar Creek roads. John LEWIS was taxed here
through 1796 when he listed 35 acres on Sugar Creek.
In 1797 this area was
set off to form a part of Garrard Co. 13 August 1797, Thomas LEWIS and wife
Hannah, Montgomery Co. KY conveyed to John LEWIS of Garrard Co. for 50 pounds
32 1/2 acres in Garrard Co . on Sugar Creek; recorded Sept. 1798. John LEWIS
was taxed in Garrard Co. 1797 through 1802 and called John LEWIS of Sugar Creek
to distinguish him from John LEWIS of Canoe Creek.
In 1803 John LEWIS
was taxed in Mercer Co. KY; and on 11 Oct. 1805 John LEWIS and wife Hannah of
Mercer Co. deeded to John HUTCHERSON of Garrard Co. for $300, 35 acres in
Garrard on Sugar Creek. Both signed their names; deed was acknowledged in
Garrard Co. Court and Hannah released her dower rights.
Mercer Co. tax book
in 1806 listed one male, 16-21, with John LEWIS and in 1807 two males, 16-21,
with him. In 1811 and 1813, John LEWIS Sr., John LEWIS Jr., and Thomas LEWIS
were listed consecutively, all then above 21. I did not find John LEWIS Sr.
after 1815. It is said that John and Hannah (STEPHENS) LEWIS had at least 7
children, but no list of them has been found.
Children of JOHN
LEWIS
and HANNAH
STEPHENS
are:
i.
JOHN
JR.3
LEWIS,
b. November 03, 1788; d. Nov. 26, 1854; m. ELIZABETH
REED.
ii.
WILLIAM
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1789
Notes for WILLIAM
LEWIS:
1860 census of Morgan County, Ky. appear the following
people who might be this
William.
William Lewis age 69, Sally Lewis age 59 and Martha
Lewis age 18
iii.
ELIZABETH
LEWIS,
b. Aft. 1789; m. JOHN
SMITH,
May 24, 1814, Mercer Co., Ky..
Note: This may be her
marriage.
These notes in their entirety received from Beverly Yackle, Lewis/Hopkins researcher and Historian
A few Facts and Comments on The Thomas Lewis and Related Families of Morgan County
By
Bonnie Ruth Lewis
As taken from Selections from Morgan County History, Sesquicentennial Volume
by
Helen Price Stacy and William Lynn Nickell, Vol I
In this year of 1972 as Morgan County celebrates its Sesquicentennial, it seems fitting and necessary that the present descendants of her first families pause to pay tribute to the memory of their pioneering ancestors who, through much struggle and hardship, settled our great country.
Just as Colonel Hazelrigg noted in his Historical Address which celebrated our country's Centennial Anniversary that "it was a matter of congratulation and pride that the descendants of several of the Revolutionary War Soldiers were present to commemorate their memories". I beleive it is even more worthy of note that there are still among us today descendants of these same great and brave men.
While doubtless a better account of the Thomas Lewis family could be written by a more capable hand, the following collection of names and facts is contributed in an attempt to help trace and preserve its history for future generations. It is not contributed in an egotistical way as a means of only drawing attention to our "clan", but more in the old traditional Morgan County manner of gladly offering what we have. And it is submitted with the hope that these facts, limited by space and time, will be a convenient and helpful aid to other interested descendants and genealogists delving into the family's history. It is also hoped that it will serve as a spur to a fuller, more accurate, and satisfying investigation of family history, which is a part of the history of Morgan County.
There are so many Thomas Lewises in Kentucky and Virginia that in compiling family history it is very easy to get confused and misled. Both the pension application of Thomas Lewis and his wife (from Revolutionary War File W-9124, Washington, D.C.) distinguished him from other Thomas Lewises who have come from Virginia to Kentucky.
The Lewises of Morgan County, descendants of Revolutionary War Soldier, Thomas Lewis, have a large ancestry connection with the other first families of the county. Most of these families, especially those of Thomas Caskey, Gardner Hopkins, John Perry, Edmund Wells, Arch Day. John Nickell, John Day, William Wells, Thomas Lewis, James S. Elliott, and Peter Amyx--through marriage are so interrelated that it is impossible to write the story of one of these families without including the others. Ernest P. Lewis of Morgan County traces lineage through three sons of Thomas Lewis and his wife Hannah Hopkins, Francis H. Lewis, William M. Lewis and Gardner Hopkins Lewis lines, and a great-great-great-grandson through the William M. Lewis line.
Gardner Hopkins, also a Revolutionary War veteran, and Thomas Lewis were brothers-in-law. (Besides this being common "handed-down" family knowledge, we have Hannah's statement that she was Gardner's sister in a deposition made for Polly Hopkins when she filed for a widow pension.)
Thomas Caskey, whose daughter Ellen or Ellender, married Thomas Lewis' son Francis, was also the son-in-law of Gardner Hopkins. In a deposition in Gardner Hopkins's Revolutionary file, Thomas Caskey deposed that he became intimately acquainted with Gardner Hopkins and his family of Orange County, New York, in 1788 and that he and Gardner's daughter Lydia were married 19 Dec., 1790 "in the same room of the same house where her parents were married".
From the accompanying copy of this application for a pension (Revolutionary War File W-9124) we know that Morgan County's Thomas Lewis was living in Washington Co., Virginia when he was drafted in 1776 at Abingdon...and that he settled in Kentucky on the Dix River in 1782. (Part of the time he served as a spy or scout under Capt. A. Bowan, fought the Indians, and took part in the expedition led by George Rogers Clark.) From Hannah's pension application we know that he returned to Washington County, Virginia and married Hannah Hopkins, then a resident of that county, on the third day of March, 1784...and that they were married by the Baptist preacher, Thomas Woolsey. Census records show that they were living in Kentucky when their oldest child, Francis H. Lewis was born on March 3, 1786.
In Colonel Hazelrigg's address given at West Liberty July 4, 1876 in which he attempted to trace Morgan County's first half-century he stated, "It is an authentic fact that Thomas Caskey, Gardner Hopkins, Thomas Lewis, John Perry, John Nickell, John Day, Wm. Wells, Arch Day, Edmund Wells, John Lacy and Daniel Williams located here and made permanent improvements early as 1800, some of them perhaps before that time".
William Lewis, second son of Thomas, was living at the time Colonel Hazelrigg made this speech and is a logical possibility that he could have been one of the sources consulted for some of the county's early history, because Colonel Hazelrigg further states, "All of the parties who participated in the organization of the county have gone to their reward except Edmund Vest and William Lewis. William Lewis is in his 90th year, and quite feeble in body yet his mind is rich in memories of incidents connected with the early settlement of the county."
According to family tradition and some census records, the older members of Thomas Lewis' family who were born before 1800, were born in the Dix River area and Montgomery County. It had always been family tradition that Gardner Hopkins Lewis, born November 8, 1801, was the first child of Thomas and Hannah to be born in what is now Morgan County. To the dissappointment of my relatives interested in documenting family genealogies my only record of this is that older members of the family said he said this. I am more positive, however of where he died. My aunt Cora Gardner Lewis often remarks that she was born exactly 100 years after Gardner Hopkins Lewis I, "in the same room in the same house in which he died". He died in the childhood home of my father, the home of my grand-father, Gardner H. Lewis II, a grandson of Gardner H. Lewis I, in December, 1887. His wife was "Polly" Amyx Lewis.
We know that Thomas Lewis, together with Gardner Hopkins, his brother-in-law, and Thomas Caskey purchased 1100 acres of land on the Licking River at the mouth of Elkfork Creek, as shown by early land records in the court house at Prestonsburg, KY. (deed book A-54). This portion of Morgan County at that time was included in Floyd County. They are all listed as residents of Floyd County at that time. This land was purchased from Henry French of Mercer County, KY, and the deed was witnessed by John Perry, James S. Elliott and William Hopkins. (All records for that part of Morgan County which was in Floyd between 1799 and 1808 burned with the Floyd County courthouse in 1808, so if Thomas Lewis had been living here earlier we have no record.)
The Thomas Lewis tract included 500 acres on the north side of the Licking River at the mouth of Elkfork Creek, and the Hopkins and Caskey tract was between West Liberty and the mouth of the Elkfork. Gardner Hopkins is buried in a cemetery 1 1/2 miles north of West Liberty on KY 7. Thomas Lewis' son acquired land across the river from the mouth of Elkfork, and at one time Francis Lewis' son, John P. Lewis was the largest land owner in Morgan County. A portion of the Thomas Lewis tract has remained in the Lewis family to this day. It presently (1972) belongs to Mrs. Dima Lewis, widow of Green Lewis who was a grandson of Henry H. Lewis, Thomas Lewis' youngest son. It was on this farm, on the present site of the Dima Lewis home that Thomas Lewis built the big log house which family tradition claimed was the first log house built in what is now Morgan County. The house stood until about 30-40 years ago when it was destroyed by fire.
Francis H. Lewis oldest son of Thomas Lewis helped organize Morgan County and was the first Tax Commissioner. He married John Perry's daughter Eleanor. His second wife was Ellender, daughter of Thomas Caskey.
William M. Lewis was appointed by Gov. Adair as one of the first Justices of the peace in Morgan County. He married Jane, daughter of John Perry. William Henry Harrison Lewis son of William M. Lewis was a Union volunteer in Co. A, 54th Reg. of Ky. Inf. during the civil war. He married Elizabeth Henry daughter of "Big" Lewis Henry and Annie Allan Henry of Caney area of Morgan County. William H. Lewis son of William Henry Harrison Lewis (Red Head Bill) was a Justice of the peace in the Yocum and Blaze area and raised the first tobacco for commercial use in the county. He was also the first person to make tobacco hogshead in Morgan County.
If you have corrections or additions and would like to share them please contact:
Dr. Helen Price Stacy 555 Prestonsburg Street West Libery, KY 41472-1141
The following information is credited to Elmyra Royse (Mrs. Dayton Royse) nee Elmyra McGuire. The papers of Mrs. Royse were donated to the Oklahoma Genealogical Society by her son after her death. We of the Lewis and Hopkins families greatly appreciate all her efforts and many years of research, which included these families.
I would also like to thank Laura Flebbe of Tulsa, OK for many hours spent copying and then forwarding these papers. I have spent many months reading and sorting and have come to realize the amount of work over many years that went into them.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~holland/wmlewis.htm
William Lewis (first generation found - wife's name not known)-
1774, had land survey on S. Fork of Holston R., S.W. Virginia;
1775, William & Griffith Lewis - land surveys same area;
1784, William Lewis died in Washington Co., VA; named in his will:
1. Griffith, eldest son, of Washington and Lee County, Virginia; wife in 1806 was Mary (Brown?). 2. Margaret, born about 1743, married Jonathan Bishop; lived in Washington County, Virginia in present Smyth County area. 3. Ann, married by 1784 Abraham Stevens (Stephens); moved to Kentucky 4. William Jr., taxed at least 1782 through 1785 in Washington County, Virginia; no furthur records for William Jr. 5. John, born before 1761, married Hannah Stephens in Kentucky. 6. Thomas, born 5 March 1755, married Hannah Hopkins; moved to Kentucky; died 1849 in Morgan County, Kentucky.
********************
Since many who settled on South Fork of Holston had the same names as earlier residents of Loudoun County, Virginia, I am interested in that area. A William Lewis and a William Lewis, Jr., appeared on the tax lists of Loudoun County in 1766; in that same vicinity were John and William Griffith; William, James, and Joshua Jones; Benjamin and Thomas John; John Thomas; and other "interesting names."
The 1771 will of William Jones of Loudoun County named wife Mary, devised land to sons Joshua and James adjoining the Dehaven's and a negro to daughter Mary Griffith, and mentioned the Baptist Meeting House adjoining his plantation of which Joseph Thomas was minister and William Lewis and Thomas George were elders. The will was witnessed by Josias Clapham, William Lewis, and Sarah Griffith. (This was probably New Valley in Pennsylvania; the members included emigrants from Pennsylvania and converts in Virginia.)
On 9 March 1774 in Southwest Virginia "our" William Lewis and a John Thomas had adjoining tracts surveyed; on May 15, 1775, "our" Griffith Lewis and a Joshua Jones had tracts surveyed - corner to each other. These were part of the Loyal Company Grant and was located on South Fork of Holston. In 1782, John Thomas, Thomas John, and Benjamin John were taxed in same district in Washington County, Virginia as were "our" William Lewis and his sons; in 1784 John Thomas witnessed the will of William Lewis.
On September 21, 1798, Benjamin John and wife Lydia, Washington County, Virginia deeded to Thomas Pierce of Wythe County, Virginia, an iron ore bank on South Fork of Holston; in a law suit of 1807 - Pierce vs. Razor - it was stated that the iron works had been owned by Joshua Jones, Peter Razor, and Benjamin John.
These notes are presented as a possible clue to the earlier residence of William Lewis and his family; they are not to be considered as proof.