John Lewis (abt. 1727 - abt. 1787)

Born about 1727 in County Donegal, Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (McCreedy) Lewis — married 24 May 1785 in Augusta, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1787 at about age 60 in Greenbrier, Virginia, United States

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Biography

John was born about 1740. John Lewis ...

John is first found in the Matthew Trading Post ledger in 1771 along with son, John, and he is listed as Colonel. He is found in the property tax list except for 1783 and 1784 when he supposedly went to Kentucky to claim 700 acres of land for military service but returned to Greenbrier County to claim 700 acres there. No records have been found to show that he was in the Rev. War. In 1774 a John Lewis claimed 590 acres of land in Rich Hollow. It was probably the same John as it was the property that he was living on. Col John died in Mar or Apr 1787.

Notes

Greenbrier Co, WV Family Heritage 1997 located in the Greenbrier Library, Lewisburg, WV pg 202:

"The purpose for this article is to bring attention to John Lewis, Sr, as an early settler in Greenbrier County, WV. His will has been in the Greenbrier Co. records for over 200 years. He and his five sons and four daughters have a prominent place in the history of Greenbrier. Additionally, this article will help to separate the two John Lewises, John Sr. and John Jr, for other researchers."

"John Lewis Sr. (1730/40 - 1787) came from Cow Pasture River of Augusta County, Va. He arrived in Greenbrier Co. in about 1771 with two brothers, Benjamin and George (perhaps George arriving later). Their father, George Lewis, Sr, settled on the Cow Pasture before 1746. He had 430 acres surveyed in 1746 patented in 1752, and this land joined the holdings of Colonel Charles Lewis and John McCreary (1).

On October 11, 1755, George Lewis, Sr sold 215 acres to John Lewis, Sr. (2). The deed read ...where George Lewis now lives, survey to the corner of Benjamin Lewis 215 acres..." Later on September 11, 1772, John and Mary Lewis sold their acreage to Colonel Charles Lewis (3). Benjamin and Susanna also sold their 215 acres to David Frame on March 23, 1772 (4).

With these dates and land transactions in mind, it is logical to think that the families were moving, or had already located in Greenbrier. The Mathews Trading Post Ledger lists: "George Lewis (old man)," Benjamin Lewis," and "John Lewis (Geo. son) (5)."  : It is noted that George Lewis is identified as "old man" undoubtedly the father and not brother George.

The account for John dates from 1771 to 1774 with various items including "sundries for wife." John and wife, Mary, daughter of John and Agnes Crawford McCreary (ca 1763) were married before leaving the Cow Pasture River area. Mary had four sisters and three brothers. The sisters were: Sarah, born in Ireland (married John Trimble), Nancy (married James Huston); Betsy (married George Wilson), and Jane (married Andrew Donally). The brothers were Lieutenant Colonel John McCreary (married Miss Estill), Robert (married Polly McClanahan), and William who died young. John and Mary had other relatives who settled in Greenbrier Co (6). They were James Huston, brother-in-law and nearby neighbor and the Andrew Donally family.

John Lewis, Sr, did not live to be an "old" early settler. His will of March 18, 1787 (7) clarifies this whole generation. He names his wife, Mary, sons John, George, Robert, Benjamin, and William, and daughters Sarah, Phoebe, Agnes Howard, and Catherine Keeney (Michael). Witnesses were James Huston, John Rodgers, and William Jones. Regarding the 700 acres patented to John in 1787 (8), "My sons are to share and share alike."

The heirs were John, Jr. (married Rachel Viney, May 24, 1775), George (married Leah Viney, December 18, 1786), Robert (married Elizabeth "Betsy" Morris, August 1, 1791), Benjamin (married _______) William (married Dinah Viney, 1795. Sarah (married John Griffith, May 20, 1788), "Febe" (Phoebe) married William Dickens, March 25, 1790, Agnes (married _____Howard, and Catherine (married Michael Keeney, January 11, 1781).

Later, Robert, Benjamin, and William sold their share to John, Jr. (Another interesting marriage record is that of Wilson Lewis married to Rachael Griffith, daughter of Thomas Griffith, on January 26. 1794 in Botetourt County. Wilson Lewis was a neighbor to the Lewis families on Muddy Creek Mountain. He could possibly be a younger son of George Lewis of Cow Pasture.)"

Submitted by: Mrs. Vena Lee Baird. published in the Greenbrier Co, WV Family Heritage 1997. page 202?

Birth

Date: Abt 1727

Place: County Donegal, Ireland^[1]

Alternate birth: Augusta County, VA

Event

Type: Alt. Birth

Date: Abt 1727

Place: , Lancaster, Pennsylvania^[2]

Marriage

Husband: John Lewis

Wife: Mary McCreedy

Place: Augusta, Virginia, USA^[3]

Event:

Type: Alt. Marriage

Date: 24 Oct 1790; Greenbrier, West Virginia, USA^[4]

Child: George Lewis

Husband: George Lewis

Wife: Catherine Crawford

Marriage:

Date: Bef 1724; County Donegal, Ireland^[5]

Child: John Lewis

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S9 Page: accessed 17 May 2015), John Lewis I.
2. ↑ Source: #S9 Page: accessed 17 May 2015), John Lewis I.
3. ↑ Source: #S9 Page: accessed 17 May 2015), Mary McCreery.
4. ↑ Source: #S9 Page: accessed 17 May 2015), Mary McCreery.
5. ↑ Source: #S9 Page: accessed 17 May 2015), Notes for Catherine Crawford.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:9HZD-FJZ : accessed 2016-04-10), entry for John Lewis Col., submitted by regraham2749173.

• Source: S9 Abbreviation: Genealogy.com J W Lewis Title: "My Genealogy Home Page," database, \i Genealogy.com\i0   Author: John W Lewis Publication: (http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/l/e/w/Robert-W-Lewis/index.html)

• See also:

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to Ray Chapman for creating Lewis-10983 on Monday, December 30, 2013.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions and edits.

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