Peter Lewis (1644 - bef. 1716)

Born 11 Sep 1644 in Roxbury, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 4 Apr 1716 before age 71 in Isles of Shoals, Rockingham, New Hampshire

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Biography

Peter Lewis, born September 11, 1644 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; died Bet. February 3, 1712/13 - April 4, 1716. He was the son of John Lewis (see research notes; it's unclear which John Lewis was his father). He married Grace Diamond 1667.

Grace Diamond, born Abt. 1643, the daughter of John Diamond and Grace Sammon.

Peter bought a house and fishing stages on Smuttinose Island from Matthew Giles on 30 Nov. 1668: Wee John Ridman of Hamton… blacksmith & Richard Knight of Boston… weaver… in Consideration of a vallueable some of mony payd… by Peter Lewis of the Iles of Shoules… doe… Confirme unto the said Peter Lewis… all our… Intrust uppon Smuttie nose Iland att the Iles of Shoules… fishing Stage and moreing place & flakes to dri fish uppon the which wase formerly the House Stage & ptanances of Mathew Gilles of Oyster River… situate upon… Smittinose Iland… this 30 of Novembr on Thousand six hundred & sixty Eight…
John Ridman
Richard Knights
R marke
In the prsents of us
Hannah Dolton
Samuel Dalton Senr" ^[1]

He then bought land on Spruce Creek from John Phoenix in 1670 and 1675 and sold his property at the shoals in 1683.

I John ffennicke of the Town of Kittery… Seaman for… the sume of Thyrty seaven pounds, & tenn shillings… payd… by Peter Lewis of ye Iles of Shoales… do… sell… twelve Acers of upland… with twelve acers of Land that was formerly in the… occupation of John ffenicke & is scituate… in… spurse Cricke… bounded by… Pyne point… & a Necke of Land… Called the burned Necke… the Thyrteenth day of March one thousand six hundred & seaventy…
john ffennick
the Marke of R
Deborah ffennick
Witness
Edward Chambers
Richd Lockewood
Deborah Lockewoods"^[2]

Wee John & Deborah ffeanix of Kittery… for the… some of Thyrty two pounds by Peter Lewis of theIsles of Shoals… do… sell… a Parcell of Land with a house upon it… contayneing fourty & five pooles in breadth by the water side… being on the East side of spruse Cricke in the Town ship of Kittery… wron the sd Lewis is now in possession and is bounded… with Spruce Cricke &… with a Cove… adjoining to former land of the sd Peter Lewis… this twelfth day of Aprill… one thousand six hundred seaventy five…
John ffenix
the marke of
Deborah R Fenix
Witness
Samell Wentworth
Joseph Berrye his
Marke I "^[3]

This Indenture made the Second Day of Octobr… one thousand Six hundred Eighty & three between Peter Lewis and Grace his wife late of Smutynose Island one of ye Island of ye Isles of Shoales but now of ye town of Kittery… planter and William Mitchell of ye Isles of Shoales… ffisherman on the other part… Peter Lewis… in Consideration of ye sum of forty two pounds… doe… sell… unto the sd Wm Mitchell… All the land with two dwelling houses on it next Adjoyning to ye house of Thomas Snell with ye garden belonging to ye sd Two houses and the well Adjoyning wth the fflacke Room and lying Room, thereunto belonging… between ye sd houses And the house of Roger Grant & the house of William Oliver & Michael Endles and the halfe a stage Room the other halfe being Walter Mathews and the one third of a Moreing wth Wm Sealy one End of the Moreing fast to Mallago the other end fast to Smuttynose Sweeping a great Rock on that sd Island…
Peter Lewis Senr
The mark of
Grace G Lewis Senr
in ye presence of us
The mark of
Peter L Lewis Junr
The mark of
Lucye L Lewis
Ffrancis Tucker"^[4]

"I Jane Wethers with ye consent of my Daugter Elizabeth wethers of Kittery… for the consideration of ye Sum of three pounds and three Shillings in manner as followeth- twenty Shillings in Silver… and forty thre shillings to be payd in Searge & Indian Corn… we doe… Set over unto the aforesaid Peter Lewis… a parcel of land behind his lot of land that he know lives on twenty Rod in depth… and Sixty Nine rod in breadth… this twenty fifth day of November… one thousand Six hundred Eighty and five…
the mark of
Jane I Wethers
Elizabeth Wethers
In the presents of us
John Deament
The mark X of
Sarah Brukin…

Received of Peter Lewis in full Satisfaction of this Instant Deed twenty Shillings in Silver and Six bushels and three pecks & a halfe of Indian corn, and five yards & a halfe of Serge Novembr the twenty 9… Elizabeth Wethers. ^[5]

He was listed as a culler of fish at the shoals in 1680. Peter was on the grand jury in Maine in 1668-9, 1695, 1696, 1701 and 1702. He was on the Grand Jury in NH in 1673. However, “At his Majesties Court of Sessions held at York July 2, 1695… Peter Lewis not appearing upon the Jury: is fined to his Majestie thirteen shillings and four pence.” At the following court held at Wells on 1 Oct. 1695: “Whereas Peter Lewis not appearing in time at the last Quarter Sessions of the Peter Lewis peace upon the Grand Jury was fined to his Majtie 13s. 4d it is ordered by this Court that the said Lewis hath his fine Remitted.” ^[6]

Grace was listed as being a midwife in 1720.

I Peter Lewis of Piscataqua… for ye love and affection that I ye sd Peter Lewis doe bear unto Andrew Lewis my Son… Doe… give… unto ye sd Andrew Lewis… and to his wife in case of her being left a Widdow… a parcel of land… bounded by ye sd Peter Lewis… of his house Lott… by ye water Side… and he doe further give it unto ye sd Andrew Lewis full power… to Sell… ye Said Land to any of his brothers and no other… this twenty first day of June… 1698…
Peter Lewis
the mark of
Grace GL Lewis
In ye presence of us
Wm Pepperrell
Andrew Pepperrell"^[7]

This Indenture made this thirteenth day of September… one thousand Seven hundred and Six Between me Peter Lewis Senr in the Town of Kittery… of ye one part and my Son Peter Lewis Junr… Shipwright of the other part…in consideration of that love good will and tender affection which I have and doe bear unto my sd Son Peter Lewis Junr… have given…unto my sd Son Peter Lewis Junr… after my decease and after ye decease of Grace my now wife… all that Messuage… with house barn & out houses whereon I doe now dwell and possess excepting only a Small parcel of land that I reserve out of it lying Adjacent to ye land which have formerly given unto my Son Andrew Lewis… Adjoyning to the place commonly called… Spruce Creek and is… about fifty Acres… bounded… by Spruce Creek on the Western Side… by the lands of Dodavah Curtes & Robt Eastman… by the lands of my Sons Andrew Lewis and David Hutchins and ye parsonage land… And I the sd Peter Lewis Junr doe… promise and agree that… after the Decease of my father & mother… I will get and provide for my brother William Lewis the frame of a dwelling house at a convenient landing place in Spruce Creek of these following Dementions. Twenty eight foot long and twenty foot wide and fourteen feet high between Joynts to be fremed and redy to be rafted and raised at or before the last day of May next ensuing the date hereof And I doe also… promise… that I will maintain one Cow and four Sheep for my sister Grace Lewis winter and summer provided and be it always understood… that she improve the income of the said Cow and Sheep for her own Maintainence and what further or more she doth or may stand in need of after the decease of my father and mother for her comfortable subsistence during her Natural life if She marry not or if She marry until Marrige I will provide and get for her at my own proper Cost… the Leantoe of the dwelling house without any interruption… from me… the 13th day of September… 1706…
Peter Lewis
Peter Lewis Jun
his PL mark
In the presence of us
John Newmarch
His mark
James A Bradeen
Priscilla Bradeen
Her X Mark"^[8]

Peter Lewis, laborer, of Kittery, and wife Grace, sister to Adam Diamant (Diamond) late of Ipswich, deceased, for £30 quit claim to Theophilas Cotton and wife, Elizabeth, possessors to Estate of sd. Andrew Diamant, all our rights in 2 certain messuages now in their occupation. No. 1 containing 1+ acres garden, etc; also a lot of salt marsh at Plumb Island, sd. Diamant bought of Benj. Newman, also all the house hold stuff, money, plate, goods, and wares of whatever nature, that said Andrew died seized of. Signed April 13, 1708. Witnessed by Peter Lewis Jr. and Elizabeth Dill.^[9]

I Peter Lewis of Kittery… in Consideration of ye Natural Love I have and do bear unto my welbeloved Son Peter Lewis Junr… Shipwright doe… freely give… a grant of land of Twenty five Acres granted to me by ye sd Town of Kittery ye Tenth day of may… one thousand Seven hundred & three… I have hereunto Set my hand… this Twenty Ninth day of January… one thousand Seven hundred & Twelve Thirteen…
Peter Lewis
In ye Psence of
Anne Tapley
Elizabeth X Lewis
Her X Mark
John Newmarch ^[10]

In the name of God Amen The third day of February in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred & twelve thirteen I Peter Lewis of Kittery in the County of Yorke in the Province of the MasachuSets Bay in New England yeoman, being weak in body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God therefore Calling unto mind the Mortality of my body, & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain this my Last Will and Testament : that is to say; principally & first of all I give & recommend my Soul into the hand of God that gave it; & for my body I commend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executrix nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall receive the Same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise & dospose of the Same in the following manner & form

First I will that all those debts & duties as I do owe in right or Conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever Shall be well & Truly contented & paid or ordained to be paid in convenient time after my decease by my Executrix hereafter nomed.

Item I give unto my Well beloved Son Peter Lewis by these presents a Confermation of all the Land which I have heretofore given him by deeds one bearing date ye 13 day of September Anno Domini 1706 the other bearing date the 29th of January 1712/13, and also after mine & my wives decease I give to him his Heirs & assigns Eight acres of wood land which Lyes at the head of Roberd Easmans Land & Andrew Haleys Land forever to enjoy it after my wives decease

Item I give unto my well beloved Son Andrew Lewis a Confirmation of the Lands whereon he now dwells & possesses for which I have heretofore given him a deed of gift which is in full of that portion which intend to give him.

Item I give unto my well beloved Son William Lewis his Heirs & assigns the moiety or one halfe part of that tract of Land which I have in the woods Lying & being in the Town Ship of Kittery Containing in the whole fifty acres be it more or Less forever:

Item I give unto my well beloved Grandson Nathaniel Lewis Son of my Son Morgan Lewis Deceased the moiety or one halfe part of that tract of Land which I have in the Woods Lying & being in Kittery TownShip Containing in the whole fifty acres be it more or Less the whole to be Equally divided betwene my Son William Lewis & my Said Grandson Nathaniel Lewis.

Item I give unto my well beloved Grand children Benjamin Lewis Grace Lewis Elizabeth Lewis Mehetabel Lewis the Children of my Son Iohn Lewis deceased five Shilling apeace to be levied & raised out of my Estate and paid to them by my Executrix after my decease. Item I give unto my well beloved daughters Grace Lewis one Cow four Ewe sheep on bed & furniture belonging to it forever and her dwelling in the Lentoe of my now dwelling house So long as She Shall Continue unmarried.

Item I give unto my well beloved daughters Mary Hutchins Grace Lewis Anne Tapley Rebecca Pike Elizabeth Lewis Sarah Lewis after the decease of my wife all the household Stuff & other moveables or personall Estate that Shall then be found belonging to my Estate to be Equally divided among them.

Item I give & bequeath unto Grace my dearly beloved wife the vse & Improvement of my whole Estate real & personal during her naturall life for her comfertable Subsistance but if it Should So happen that the Income of my Estate will not maintain her Comfertably that then She hath hereby power & leave to dispose of So much of the moveables as Shall be necessary to Support her. I do likewise Constitute make & ordain my above said wife Gr[a]ce to be my onely & Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament and I do hereby utterly dissalow revoke & dissanull all & every other former Testaments & Will by me in any ways before this time Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seal the day & year above written.
Peter Lewis (Seal)

Signed Sealed pronounced & Declared by the Said Peter Lewis as his last Will & Testament in the preSents of us the Subscribers.

Samuell X Hutchins
his marke
Jonathn X Hutchins
his mark
Jno Newmarch

Probated and recorded 4 April 1716.

Kittery Aprill the 9th 1716
A True and Perfect Inventory… of the sd Peter Lewes

Imprimis To [ ] Beds and furniture Belonging to
him...................................................................22=04=00
To his wereing apparell 12 shill- [ ] and Linen
11 shill...............................................................01-03-00
To three very old muskits 10 shill Brass things much
damaged 12s....................................................01-02-00
To 48 lb of Pewter and sum old pewter........07-00-00
To earthen ware and a glass 5 shill...............00-05-00
To 2 Iron potts 1 Iron Ketle three Tramels...03-00-00
To a spit a pair Bellows GridIron Chafin dish.00-11-00
To 1 pair stillards and old things 9s- a table ½ doz
old chairs 15s....................................................01-04-00
To 2 Buckits three keelers old cask and tubs 2
Botls a [ ]...........................................................00-17-00
To the ½ part of a plough and old chains.....00-15-00
To 19- old sheepe att 8 shill P sheepe...........07-12-00
To a yoak of young oxen.................................09-00-00
To 2 Cowes 8 pounds 1 hefer 3 pounds a Bull
3 pounds...........................................................14-00-00
To 1 hefer 2 years old......................................01-15-00
To 1 old sowe 2 shotts three small jugs.......01-15-00
To the Dwelling house and Barn standing on the Land
that is Conveyed to Peeter Lewes Jur............10-00-00
The abovesd goods and chattels as they were shewed
unto us By mistris Grace Lewes….................82=03-00

Grace Lewis
Her O Mark
Georg frenck
The signe of
James X Breeden
William Godsoe"^[11]

Children of Peter Lewis and Grace Diamond are:

1. Peter Lewis, born 1669; died Bet. May 17 - June 21, 1739; married (1) Lucy Chadbourne Hicks; married (2) Elizabeth.
2. Andrew Lewis, born Bet. 1672 - 1673; died Bet. July 27, 1758 - March 31, 1760; married Mary Hutchins November 29, 1701 in Kittery, York County, Maine.
3. William Lewis, born 1683; married (1) Mary Bef. December 29, 1709; married (2) Sarah Low December 17, 1719.
4. John Lewis, died Bef. 1712; married Mrs. Martha Brookings Wakehan.
5. Grace Lewis, married John Bly October 28, 1718.
6. Morgan Lewis, died Bef. February 3, 1712/13; married Abigail Ingersoll Abt. 1705.
7. Mary Lewis, married David Hutchins.
8. Ann Lewis, married John Tapley.
9. Rebecca Lewis, married Philip Pike.
10. Sarah Lewis
11. Elizabeth Lewis

Research Notes

While Peter is believed to be the son of a John Lewis, no evidence has been presented that John Lewis (1610-1667) is the correct father.

• The line of descent from Peter Lewis through his son Morgan down to Alanson Lewis (abt.1740-1830) is believed to be true, but not certain. We have a Y-111 test from a descendant of Alanson's son, Felix, who matches to a Lewis-line haplogroup subclade of I-L1272.
• We would love to get a Big Y test of each descending line of Peter's other sons (other than Morgan) to verify that Peter is the most likely common ancestor.
• We could also use a Big Y-700 test from one+ lines of Alanson's other sons (other than Felix).

Sources

1. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 57
2. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 94
3. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. III, fol. 81
4. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. VI, fol. 168
5. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. IV, fol. 86
6. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. V, pt. 2, fol. 56, 60
7. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. VII, fol. 29
8. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. VII, fol. 51
9. ↑ Essex County Registry of Deeds- Vol. 22, p. 235
10. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. VII, fol. 251
11. ↑ York County Probate- Vol. II, fol. 111; York County Wills- p. 119; Docket No. 11423

• Old Kittery And Her Families Everett Stackpole, Lewiston Journal Press, 1903-p.581
• Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire-p.428ff
• http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/a/s/h/William-Ashbey/GENE5-0035.html
• www.geni.com has death date