Looking for a Family Connection: Thomas LEWIS

Question

Hello Fellow Genealogists,

I've hit the proverbial brick wall and am looking for a connection or two...to my ancestor Thomas LEWIS.  I am related to Thomas (b. about 1760) from Dutchess Co., NY and later New Brunswick, Canada.  He married at least twice, and my ancestor James LEWIS (b. 1801) was born to his first wife.  As Loyalists, Thomas and first wife left the American colonies and moved New Brunswick in 1783/4.  I have little information to connect to them other than a bible page which shows Thomas, his second wife Esther, and birthdates of some of the children.  Any info you are willing to share is much appreciated!

Thank you so much,

Michael Lewis

Answer 1

Michael, my ancestor also was a thomas Lewis of Duchess County NY who fought in the Rev war but in the continental army. He also was married twice.  His son whom I am descended from..  Messenger Lewis..also fought in the rev war.  I have copies of his pension records and descriptions of the battles in which he fought.  They moved to (I think) either VA or NC.  I have the wills etc.on that connection. Messenger and most of his siblings went into Kentucky and Illinois.I have extensive records from the last will of Tom Lewis.  There were two or three toms before Tom who married (2) Mary Shaw and was the father of Messinger.  This Lewis line was in Dutchess County NY in the early 1600s.  Very Interesting reading.  The Lewis line that came to the colonies in the 1700s are the more famous ones eg: Lewis and Clark and the connection with Jefferson.  One of these is "John. The Pioneer", I think he founded Augusta GA.  Good luvk with your search.

Comments

LR, my wife's 3rd great-grandfather Thomas Lewis and his son, also Thomas Lewis, are our brick walls.  I'm curious to know if your Lewis family has a Thomas Lewis who married Malinda Breckenridge, granddaughter of Alexander Breckenridge (1743-1813) born in Augusta County, VA and also a Revolutionary army veteran.  Alexander and family relocated to Paris, Bourbon County, KY and that's where Malinda and Thomas married in 1825.  Any connection that you see?  Thanks.

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If it was Lewis's from Augusta, GA it would probably more likely be The John Lewis the Pioneer's line.  The other option is that our Tom Lewis,.originally from Connecticut and Duchess Cnty New York.. left a son..Tom Lewis by his first wife..in that area when they moved to Virginia after the Rev War.  I think I have all the Tom Lewis's of those yeas accounted for in our line.  The line of "Jefferson's Nephews" also might be a lead..  Sorry I can't be more help.

Answer 2

Michael, I too am a descendent from Thomas Lewis through the younger brother John by his second wife Esther.  I have found there appear to be two Thomas Lewis's from Dutchess County, NY born 1760.  One was a Loyalist (ours) and the other was a Patriot.  I've scrounged up some data but no sources.  I would love to see a scan of the bible page you have.

Comments

Hi Nancy,

I would be happy to send you a copy of the bible page, specific to your John LEWIS ancestor.  He was indeed born from the Thomas LEWIS marriage to Esther LILLY.  Off the top of my head, I believe his birthdate on the bible page is August 31, 1815.  He would have been born in Canada, most likely in New Brunswick.  John LEWIS married Naamah WALTERS on November 27, 1837 (probably in Ontario).  John died on May 28, 1872 in Michigan.  He was close to James LEWIS, my direct ancestor, and likely he, James and a brother named Isaac came from Canada to Michigan in the late 1840's.  James LEWIS arrived in 1849 and settled in Sanilac Co., Michigan (thumb area).  John moved west across the state and settled in West Michigan (not sure of the area, but do know another cousin of yours that is also related to him).

Very little information exists on our Thomas LEWIS (the Loyalist), other than that he and his first wife were kicked out of the U.S. for supporting the British in the revolution.  They were offered the ability to stay, but must have stuck with their Crown leanings as loyalists, so were granted land in Canada.  Thomas' first wife is a HUGE debate.  Some think it was Rachel VAN BENSCHOTEN, others think it is another person entirely.  No records of Thomas' wife exist in Canada currently (or that I could find).  I suspect that records should exist in the Dutchess County archives, if I could just locate the right person to help us with the research.

Where Thomas LEWIS originally came from is also a mystery.  Family "lore" suggests Wales, as Lewis is a Welsh name.  But it's hearsay to be honest.  They could be English or Irish...who can be sure?  Would love to know what information you have on this family, and how we are related.  Feel free to reach out to me on my personal e-mail at: maizerage_2003@yahoo.com.

Thank you,

Michael

Answer 3

My wife is descendant from a Henry Lewis (1783 Saratoga, NY -1829 Grenville, Ontario), believed to be the son of Loyalist Fredrick Lewis, and also the husband of Margaret Adams, daughter of another Loyalist, Joel Adams UAE.

There appear to be an awful lot of Lewis families in the New York area before and during the Revolutionary war, fighting on both sides of the conflict.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lewis-25845