Mary Isham (Randolph) Lewis (1725 - 1803)

Born 15 Oct 1725 in Dungeness, Henrico County, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of Charles Lewis — married 15 Jun 1746 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 31 Oct 1803 at age 78 in Albemarle, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Mary Isham Randolph was born October 15, 1725, in Dungeness, Goochland county, Virginia, a daughter of Isham Randolph and Jane Rogers. ^[1] Mary Randolph, younger sister of Jefferson’s mother, married Charles Lewis, Jr., who settled at Buck Island, Albemarle county; she was about sixty-seven at this time (R. I. Randolph, The Randolphs of Virginia, Chicago, 1936, p. 126; Edgar Woods, Albemarle County, Charlottesville, Va., 1901, p. 251). Her offer of the bed and Thomas Jefferson's order of bedding from Richmond provide a commentary on the state of housekeeping at Monticello after an absence of six years. On January 10, 1790, Thomas Jefferson wrote his Aunt Mary Randolph Lewis the following letter:

I am much obliged to you for your kind offer of the bed; and would avail myself of it as freely if I had occasion, but the goodness of my neighbors with some little provision of our own has placed us at our ease as to that article. I accept with due sensibility your friendly congratulations on my return, and it would be the wish of my heart that it were to remain here, where all my affections are. But that not being as yet my destiny, I shall go again with the hope that neither my absence will be so long nor your time so short but that we shall meet again and again. Neither your health nor age admit reasonable doubts on your part. I shall certainly do myself the pleasure of seeing you at Buck-island before my departure, together with my daughters, who join me in assurances of esteem for you, and am Dear Aunt yours affectionately, Th: Jefferson ^[2]

In 1751, in Albemarle county, Mary married "Colonel" Charles Lewis, Jr. Mary and Charles Lewis became the parents of as many as 14 children. ^[3] Mary's husband was born March 14, 1721, in Henrico county, Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War, Mary and Charles were living in Albemarle county, Virginia, where he signed the "Albemarle Declaration," declaring his support for the Continental Army. ^[4]

Charles Lewis, Jr. is honored for his patriotic service by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution as DAR Ancestor#A069807. He did not serve in the military, during War, but their son, Charles Lilburn Lewis, born circa 1745 (married Lucy Jefferson) also signed the Albemarle Declaration and served as a soldier. Charles Lilburn Lewis is DAR Ancestor #A069818. Applications for membership in the Society of the DAR have been made by the descendants of Mary Randolph and Charles Lewis, Jr. including those of their daughters, Frances Lewis, who married John Thomas; Elizabeth Lewis, who married Bennett Henderson; Mary Randolph Lewis, who married Charles Lewis.

Mary (Randolph) Lewis passed away October 13, 1803, at the age of 77 years, and is buried at Clover Fields Cemetery, Albemarle, Virginia. There is a portrait of Mary on her Find A Grave memorial. ^[5]

Researchers Notes

Mary's Find A Grave memorial indicates that she was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, however, Albemarle County was not formed until 1744.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I033784&tree=Tree1
2. ↑ https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-16-02-0055
3. ↑ https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MH36-DGN/mary-isham-randolph-1725-1803
4. ↑ WOODS, ALBEMARLE COUNTY IN VIRGINIA, PP 365, 366
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14905607/mary-isham-lewis

• Stanard, William G. "The Randolph Family", in William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 8, no. 2 (Oct 1899), p. 122.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created on 31 October 2010 through the import of Pioneer Stock.GED.
• Entered by Janice Hardin, Dec 14, 2011