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John Lewis Jr (abt. 1635 - abt. 1689)

Major John Lewis Jr
Born about in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Walesmap
Son of [uncertain] and [mother unknown]
Brother of and
Husband of — married 1666 in Gloucester County, Colony of Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 53 in Gloucester County, Colony of Virginiamap
Profile last modified | Created 6 Aug 2010
This page has been accessed 19,732 times.
US Southern Colonies.
John Lewis Jr resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776.
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Contents

Biography

Major John Lewis is most noted for being the father of Councilor John Lewis. He is usually referred to as Major to distinguish him from his father and his son of the same name.

John is first cited as headright for his father's 1653 land patent in then York County, Virginia.

John Lewis, Jr. would have been about 20 years of age when he accompanied his father to Virginia and about 24 when his father died. [these ages and the dates of these two events (arrival and father's death) need to be reviewed for consistency]

As "John Lewis Jr," he patented 250 acres, Gloucester County on 29 December 1655 at the main swamp of Poropotanke running down the same from the land of Col. Richard Lee, to Beech Spring &c.[1]

Much confusion results from an additional record which shows a John Lewis as headright for Col. George Reade, the forefather of George Washington, in March 1658.[citation needed] Perhaps, this was his son Colonel John "Councillor" Lewis II.

John Lewis was in America in 1658 can be shown by the York County records of 8 October 1658 and that he was headright of Col. George Reade on March 1658.[citation needed]

On 18 November 1658, he and James Turner were granted 1,000 acres of land and marsh, called Lewis Island, for the transport of 20 persons.[2]

In about 1660, John inherited Chemokins after the death of his brother, William.

On 23 November 1663, John Lewis patented 1,700 acres at the head of Poropotanke creek both sides, adjoining the lands of Mr. Major, Thomas Hanckes, George Austin, up Coates Branch to Col. Richard Lee’s land, to the bridge swamp, thence down the bridge swamp and Poropontanke Swamp at the head of the Creek and so to the place where it began; 120 acres thereof patented to Timothy Lodell and Thomas Broughton Sept. 13, 1651, and assigned to John Lewis; 100 acres thereof patented by Howell Price Oct. 6, 1656 and assigned to said Lewis; and 600 acres not before granted.[3]

By 1666, John married Isabella Miller in New Kent County, Virginia.[citation needed] John and Isabella lived the remainder of their lives, probably on the original homestead. John is said to have managed Chemokins through a series of overseers which included some of his sons.

On 7 August 1667, John was granted 2,000 acres, bounded by plantation of said Lewis, and lands of Timothy Lewis, Jim Land, Geo. Majie, John Chambers, John Aoy, John Land, and Geo. Sissims; for the transport of 19 persons: including William Jones, Morgan, Mary Bently, James Shepherd, Jeremy Morgan, Richard Moore, Tho Page, Sarah (illegible), other names illegible.[4]

On 16 August 1667, John Lewis patented 2,600 acres in Gloucester County and New Kent County, being upon both sides of Poropotanke Swamp, beginning at the mouth of a great branch next below the said Lewis’ plantation by Old Woman’s Poynt; boundaries mentioned as courses are run as follows, Timothy Lowdell’s line, John Levingstone’s line, a branch of Mattapony Swamp, Richard Jamor, Junr’s land, George Major’s land, head of Pepetico Swamp, John Chamberlain’s land, John Fox’s land Poropotanke Swamp, George Austin’s line, head of Coale’s branch, the land of Mr. Richard Lee, Bridge Swamp, Poropotanke Swamp to the mill, and down the creek to the beginning. Due 80 acres purchased of Timothy Lowdell, and 1,000 acres of Howell Price and 600 acres as by patent Nov. 23, 1663, and the residues 820 acres due by and for the transportation of 19 persons.[5]

On 22 April 1668, John was granted 100 acres located on the northeast side of Cainhow’s Swamp, bounded by lands of John Leoissone, Edward Wadkins, and John Kings, for the transport of 2 persons.[6]

In 1675, he was termed Major (in the foot service) and patented in New Kent County 10,000 acres with Lieut. Col. John Smith, Capt. Philip Lightfoot, Mr. Thomas Royston and Mr. John Buckner.[7]

Capt. John West sold a part of his Chemokins tract to Major William Lewis who was granted by patent 2,600 acres of land on the southwest side of the York River including one half the divident commonly called Portholy alias Chymahocans, purchased by the said Lewis of Col. John West containing 1,550 acres of land, bounded from the mouth of Mattadequin Creek south southwest towards the head of Tanxe Weyanoke Run. Mr. Joseph Croshaw’s line towards Chimahocans dividend, and 775 acres purchased of Col. John West and 1,825 acres for the transportation of thirty-seven persons.[8] This was a large tract of land that extended up from Weanoke Creek to Mattadequin Creek and back to the bluff, which was designated mountains in the early patents. This land was devised by the Will of Major William Lewis to John Lewis of King and Queen County.[9] When John died his large estate was divided between his two sons, Edward Lewis and John Lewis.[10]

John was living at Chemokins at the time of Bacon’s Rebellion (1676). It appears he suffered substantially during the ruckus. One of the rebel officers was called before a court afterwards and charged that while at Major Lewis’ plantation in New Kent he killed three hogs and four sheep, used a great deal of corn, and took meal for the whole rebel army at Major Pate’s (who also resided in the area).

He served as a Vestryman of St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, and a Major in the county militia. In 1680, he was captain of horse in the militia of New Kent, and one of its justices.

John died 2 December 1689 in New Kent County, Virginia.[citation needed]

John Lewis died in 1689 and was buried in the Lewis Family Cemetery on Poropotank Creek in what is now King and Queen County, Virginia.[citation needed][11]

Isabella would later marry Robert Yard of England. But after her death, Isabella was returned to the Lewis Plantation and is buried in the Old Lewis Cemetery in what is now King and Queen County, Virginia.

Their son Colonel John "Councillor" Lewis married Elizabeth Warner, the daughter of Augustine Warner and Mildred Reade.

Children

John Lewis Jr.'s children included:[citation needed]

  1. Mary Lewis
  2. Rebecca Lewis
  3. Edward Lewis
  4. Elizabeth Lewis
  5. John Lewis
  6. Sarah Lewis
  7. Nicholas Lewis
  8. John Zachary Lewis [first name John? two sons named John?]
  9. Abraham Lewis Sr.
  10. Gawin Lewis
  11. Patience Lewis
  12. Angelica Lewis
  13. Owen Lewis

These claimed children are attached to different fathers:[citation needed]

  1. Charles Lewis
  2. William Lewis
  3. David Lewis

Research Notes

Place Creation

  • York County, Virginia, was created in 1634 as one of the original eight shires.
  • Gloucester County, Virginia, was created in 1651 from York County.
  • New Kent County, Virginia, was created in 1654 from York County.
  • King and Queen County, Virginia, was created in 12 May 1691 from New Kent County.

Vital Statistics

Estimated Birth & Birth Location'
Prior to 16 February 2021, the datafields for this profile had his birth as 15 Dec 1635, Pertholey, Monmouthshire, Wales, and the text had the following statements:

  • Maj. John Lewis was born c. 1634 in Monmouthshire, Wales.[citation needed]
  • Others believe he was born in Warner Hall, Gloucester, Virginia.[citation needed]

Questionable Death Date
It was John Lewis of Henrico County whose probate was filed on 2 Apr 1688 on the oath of witnesses Anne Tye and John Mackmioll.[12] The inventory was taken on 2 Dec 1689 leaving a third each to the relict (now wife of Samuel Trottman), son William, and daughter Sarah to be held by her guardian William Lewis.[13]

Prior Merge
In the merge (15 December 2017) of Lewis-3791 and Lewis-15239, datafields from Lewis-15239 were retained. See this page to see the datafields not retained, which included the following information:

  • Birth location Warner Hall, Gloucester County, Virginia.
  • Marriage date 1666 (Lewis-15239 had 24 August 1640), both had wife as Elizabeth Miller.
  • Death date 2 December 1689.
  • Only son for Lewis-152339 was John Zachary Lewis, all other children were attached to Lewis-3791.
  • Wife is Isabelle Miller.
  • Life and Migration Info on John Lewis b~1592 Monmouthshire Wales UK. See page not available : accessed 9 Jul 2023.
  • He may have died as late as 1726.
  • John Lewis (1633-1726) never married Isabella Warner.

Disproven Marriage

There are many genealogies and family histories that claim this John Lewis Jr (abt.1635-abt.1689) married Isabella Warner (1640-1703), daughter (sometimes "probably daughter") of Augustine Warner Sr and sister of Augustine Warner Jr. For example:

  • Thomas M. Green's Historic Families of Kentucky.[14]
  • Sarah Travers Lewis (Scott) Anderson's Lewises, Meriwethers and Their Kin.[15]

These genealogies have since been proven incorrect. This John Lewis Jr married instead Isabella (Miller) Lewis (1640-abt.1703).[16]

Questionable Gateway Ancestors

John Lewis Jr. was previously categoried in the Questionable Gateway Ancestors category, a category no longer used by the Magna Carta Project.

Since John Lewis is not one of the 240 Gateway Ancestors documented by Douglas Richardson in Magna Carta Ancestry, he is not within the scope of the Magna Carta Project.

Review Notes

[These Notes were inline in the Biography, but not integrated with the Biography. They need to be reviewed and integrated if reliably sourced.]

Note: John was the older of two sons who came to Virginia in 1653 with John the Emigrant. He was born in Abergavenny, and baptized Dec 15, 1633[17]
He obtained his first land grant in 1655, after turning 21. When Major William Lewis died, he willed the Chemokins estate to John. John was a Vestryman of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County.
He was also a Major in the New Kent County Militia (hence his identifier of Major John). New Kent is the county and parish where Chemokins is located. In one court record, Major John Lewis is mentioned as a surveyor.[18]
He married Isabella Miller, daughter of James Miller the Elder of York County, and they had sons John and Edward.
Major John Lewis's Family notes:
Major John's wife Isabella had a brother named James (the Younger), who died without heirs. In his Will, he left his entire estate to his sister, with reversion to her sons John and Edward.
Isabella's gravestone is in the small cemetery where Emigrant John is also buried. This would indicate she died before Major John, and he had her buried in his family cemetery and ordered a stone for her. Major John Lewis' tombstone has never been discovered, and the exact date of his death is unknown. No probate of his Will, if he had one, has been found.
Note: John had at least two sons, John and Edward, after Johanne's death. One author says his second wife was Catherine Phillip, but I am not aware of source documents to support that assertion.
John Lewis's son John was baptized at the Church of St Teilo on December 15, 1633, and the church record does not name his mother. It appears the Patronymic naming system was abandoned by 1633 because emigrant John is listed in the church register as John Lewis and not John Lewis Prickett. The baptism of emigrant John's youngest son Edward is not in the church

Sources

  1. Land Patent Book 4, p6. [more citation details sought]
  2. New Kent County Deeds, p321. [more citation details sought]
  3. Land Patent Book 5, p299. [more citation details sought]
  4. New Kent County Deeds, Vol. ?, p?. [more citation details sought]
  5. Land Patent Book 6, p17. [more citation details sought]
  6. New Kent County Deeds, Vol. ?, p?. [more citation details sought]
  7. General Court Records, Vol. ?, p?. [more citation details sought]
  8. Patent Book No. 4, page 55
  9. Hening, 377-379.
  10. Old New Kent County History, Vol. 1, pp. 189-90.
  11. Find A Grave: Memorial #77192418 for Maj John Lewis II (1633–1689) (memorial only, no gravestone photo).
  12. Benjamin B Weisiger, compiler, Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia, Part 1, 1654-1737, (Richmond VA: self published, 1976), p 22 (item p.266).
  13. Weisiger, Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia, Part 1, 1654-1737, p 27 (item p.105).
  14. Thomas Marshall Green, Historic Families of Kentucky. (Cincinnati, Ohio: Robert Clarke &. Co., 1889), p85; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/historicfamilies00gree/page/84/mode/2up?view=theater&q=Isabella+warner).
  15. Sarah Travers Lewis (Scott) Anderson, Lewises, Meriwethers and Their Kin. (Richmond, Virginia: The Dietz Press, 1938), p21; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/lewisesmeriwethe00ande/page/20/mode/2up?q=Isabella+warner).
  16. Sorley, p28.
  17. Register of St Teilo church, Moses p.25.
  18. Sorely, p27.

See also:

See also - other family trees:





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 127

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Lewis-28278 and Lewis-239 appear to represent the same person because: This identity of this unsourced profile evolved over time. It has been edited per a proposed edit described in a 17 Apr 2023 Comment, and should now be merged into Lewis-239.
posted by Ken Spratlin
where is the documentation of all the children listed in this profile, my ancestor John lewis b. 1669 is well documented, but who are the other children? Where is the proof for them being in this family? if there are no documents with proof of connection, I say remove them from this profile.
posted by Wendy Browne
edited by Wendy Browne
The Sarah Lewis who married Robert Woodson Jr was not daughter of this John Lewis as shown by the following records and should be removed as his child. According to Weisiger's wills of Hernrico County (quote): Accounts of estate of John Lewis, dec'd, divided into three parts, and have given to the relict (now wife to Samuel Trottman) one third, to William Lewis (son and exec.) one third, and to Sarah, daughter of the dec'd, one third is to be held in possession of her guardian William Lewis. A later entry said (quote): I Robert Woodson, Jr. acknowledge to have received of my brother in law William Lewis, my full share of what is due my wife Sarah, one of the orphans of John Lewis, dec'd. Source: Benjamin B Weisiger, compiler, Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia, Part 1, 1654-1737, (Richmond VA: self published, 1976), p 27 (item p. 105) and p 44 (p.672).
posted by Kay (Offutt) Schmidt
edited by Kay (Offutt) Schmidt
Right, this is her father https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lewis-19348 and there is even a duplicate oh her listed.
posted by Anthony Lock Sr.
Sounds good . Go ahead………,……..,
posted on Lewis-28278 (merged) by Dr. Ted Vandevis
This issue has now been open for 3 years. When originally created, this profile was the son of Lewis-3772. This profile also referenced a FamilySearch person profile that was deleted apparently before 4 March 2022. This profile is now unsourced and lacks any identity other than that which we can infer from the Changes history. Only the original intent now has any meaning due to the current lack of sources and identity.

Lewis-3772 already has two sons named John Lewis.

I propose the birth and death dates and places be edited to match those of the first of those two sons, John Lewis Jr. (1635-1689), and merged into that profile.

I will proceed in 3 days unless a sourced identity is assigned to this profile.

Ken Spratlin, Managed Profiles Coordinator, US Southern Colonies Project

posted on Lewis-28278 (merged) by Ken Spratlin
Lewis-3284 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: Not much matches
Lewis-6147 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different father
The location of his marriage to Isabella was changed to Gloucester. But the biography says:
And by 1666 in New Kent County, Virginia, John married Isabella Miller b. 8/24/1640 New Kent County, Virginia.

There doesn't appear to be a reliable source attached for either New Kent or Gloucester.

posted by Ken Spratlin
FWIW - both Gloucester & New Kent counties were formed from York County before 1666 ... and the bio notes that Isabella Miller was the "daughter of James Miller the Elder of York County" (no apparent source for that either though)

county formation info from https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~george/countyformations/virginiaformationmaps.html

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
That he married Isabella Miller _of_ York County is in Lewis of Warner Hall: The History of a Family, Including the Genealogy of Descendants in Both the Male and Female Lines, Biographical Sketches of Its Members, and Their Descent from Other Early Virginia Families (see page 28), which also says that John is "reputed to have married about the year 1666" (not sure if that's referring to the [inaccurate] tradition that he married Isabella Warner or his marriage to Isabella Miller, of which the book says there "can be no doubt").

Boddie, in Southside Virginia families, has him married to Isabella Miller also, but does not give a year or location. See page 314 (#326).

edit - corrected typos

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
edited by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Lewis-3284 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-1672 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same countries/spouses/DOD
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-6606 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same countries/not the same spouses
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-12955 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same DOD or countries of death
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-8136 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-13525 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-12374 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same time frame
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-12159 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-11551 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: one living/one deceased
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-7967 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3686 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-7951 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-7943 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-7029 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-684 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same countries
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2528 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-7020 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-6989 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same time frame
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-4641 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
edited by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2524 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3295 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-1130 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same spouses
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3315 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/DOD
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3427 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same time frame
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-6986 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3293 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-1673 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same countries
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-440 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-1768 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-1988 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2826 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-19348 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same spouses
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3452 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different DOD
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-1475 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-3235 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-4941 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-18825 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2708 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: not the same countries
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2526 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-518 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2814 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau
Lewis-2701 and Lewis-239 do not represent the same person because: different countries/not the same fathers
posted by Aline Barbeau