Elizabeth (Lewis) Gilmer (abt. 1765 - 1855)

Born about 23 Jan 1765 in Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Meriwether Gilmer — married 22 May 1783 in Port Republic, Rockingham, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Aug 1855 at about age 90 in Virginia, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth Lewis was born on January 24, 1765, in Augusta County, Virginia.^[1] She was the daughter of Thomas Lewis and Jane Strother.^[2]

At the age of 18, Elizabeth married Thomas Meriwether Gilmer on May 22, 1783, in Port Republic, Rockingham, Virginia, when he was 19 years old. They had eleven children - Peachy Ridgway, Mary Meriwether, Thomas Lewis, George Rockingham, John, William Benjamin Strother, Charles Lewis, Sophia Lucy Ann, Eliza Lewis (died at 10), James Jackson, and Edward Hamden (died at 6).^[2][3]

Much of what is known about this family comes from a book written by their son, George R. Gilmer (who was also Governor of Georgia and U.S. Congressman).^[4] Describing his mother, he says:

"Elizabeth Lewis, the wife of Thomas M. Gilmer, was the daughter of Thomas Lewis and Jane Strother. She has now passed her 89th year, and been a widow more than thirty-five. Her ceaseless industry and untiring care have aided to make her children rich. She still enjoys the good things of life with a pleasant relish. She has endured its evils with unfailing patience. Malice and envy seem never to have found a resting-place with her for a moment. Cheerfulness constantly shines in her face, and is heard in her voice. Her gentle spirit never reproaches. Necessity alone limits the extent of her kindness. Charity covers the faults of others from her sight, whilst gratitude is ever filling her heart for forgiveness of her own."^[4]

In 1850, Elizabeth was living with her daughter Sophia Bibb and family in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama.^[5]

Elizabeth died in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, on August 21, 1855, at the age of 90.^[6] She was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery.^[7]

Her will, which was signed and witnessed on November 26, 1851, was probated on December 18, 1855, in Montgomery County, Alabama. Her first six bequests were to grant one slave to each of six grandchildren. In her seventh bequest, she left the remainder of her estate to be divided equally among her nine surviving children. She names her sons William, Charles, and James as executors, and stipulates that the estate should be distributed "without the tedious formalities of the Laws."^[8]

Will

Will of Elizabeth L. Gilmer. Montgomery Co., AL, WB 4, pp. 81-82, written 6 Nov 1851, proved 19 Dec 1855. ^[9]

grand son Edward H. Gilmer

grand daughter Louisa S. Bibb

grand daughter Sarah E. Hutcheson

daughter Sophia L. A. Bibb

grand daughter Martha D. Bibb

grand son George K. Gilmer son of Charles L. Gilmer

my children Peachy R. Gilmer, Mary M. Powers, Thomas Lewis Gilmer, George K. (R?) Gilmer, John Gilmer, William B. S. Gilmer, Charles L. Gilmer, Sophia L. S. Bibb and James J. Gilmer

Exrs: sons William B. S. Gilmer, Charles L. Gilmer, James J. Gilmer

Wit: J. C. Davis, O. H. Shaver

Enslaved Persons:

Bryant, about 23 years of age

Louisa, daughter of Nancy

Laura

Mira, her daughter Elizabeth

Nancy and her children

(Burr ?)

Randle

Sources

1. ↑ Gilmer Family Bible. Birth records. Link
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Frazier, Irvin; Cowell, Mark W. Jr.; and Fisher, Lewis F. (1985). The Family of John Lewis, Pioneer. Fisher Publications, Inc., San Antonio, TX. 1985. Pages 80-81.
3. ↑ Frazier (1985) says there was a twelfth son, Walker, who "died young," but this is not recorded in any of the Gilmer family sources, including the Gilmer Family Bible or the book by George R. Gilmer.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Gilmer, George R. (1855). Sketches of some of the first settlers of upper Georgia, of the Cherokees, and the author. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1855. Pages 14-17. Link
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census. Year: 1850; Census Place: Montgomery Ward 1, Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: 12; Page: 123B. Image
6. ↑ Elizabeth Lewis Gilmer - Obituary - Montgomery Weekly Advertiser - Sept 5 1855 - Page 2. Link
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #35879106
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1817-1932; Author: Alabama. Probate Court (Montgomery County); Probate Place: Montgomery, Alabama. Link
9. ↑ Will of Elizabeth L. Gilmer. Montgomery Co., AL, WB 4, pp. 81-82, written 6 Nov 1851, proved 19 Dec 1855. Digital image at Ancestry.com - https://tinyurl.com/y6dd34cn

• SAR Application - Orion T. Dozier Link
• SAR Application - Harvie R. Matthews Link
• DAR Lineage - Adele Raysor Wignall. Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 141 : 1918 Link
• DAR Lineage - Frances Grattan Merritt. Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 025 : 1898 Link
• DAR Lineage - Martha Gilmer Davis. Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Title: Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 068 Link
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 01 May 2022, 05:52), entry for Elizabeth Lewis (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:G7ZM-SR6 ); contributed by various users.