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 A
NN 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

More Lewis notes.

Thomas Lewis & Related Families

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

 


William Lewis, Sr., who died Washington County, Virginia in 1784


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

Daisi Grossman <daisi@att.net>    Home Page: Holland Family Connections

 


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.