Maj. John LEWIS, Jr b. 1633 Virginia, British Colonial America d. 2 Dec 1689 Chemokins, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America: Our Family History

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1633 - 1689 (56 years)

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Name	John LEWIS [1]
Prefix	Maj.
Suffix	Jr
Born	1633	Virginia, British Colonial America [1]
Christened	15 Dec 1633	Llantilo Pertholey, Monmouthshire, Wales [1]
Gender	Male
FamilySearch ID	LVWW-5MM
MilitaryService	St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America [2]
	County Militia: Rank of Major
Vestryman	St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America [2]
Name	John LEWIS [2]
Name	Major John LEWIS [2]
Residence	1651	Virginia, British Colonial America [2]
Buried	Dec 1689	Lewis Family Plantation, Poropotank Creek, King and Queen, Virginia, British Colonial America [1]
Died	2 Dec 1689	Chemokins, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America [1]
Person ID	I594768072	Carney Wehofer 2024 Genealogy
Last Modified	3 Jan 2023

Father	John LEWIS, Sr, b. 22 Feb 1592, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales , d. 21 Aug 1657, King and Queen, Virginia (Age 65 years)
Mother	Lady Johanne LEIGHTON, b. 1595, England , d. 1652, England (Age 57 years)
Family ID	F536729080	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Isabella MILLER, b. 24 Aug 1640, York, Virginia, British Colonial America , d. 9 Feb 1704, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America (Age 63 years)

Married Abt 1660 Virginia, British Colonial America [2]

Children

	1. Mary LEWIS, b. Abt 1661, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America , d. 13 Feb 1687, Henrico, Virginia, British Colonial America (Age ~ 26 years)
	2. Edward LEWIS, b. 5 Sep 1667, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America , d. 11 Feb 1713, King and Queen, Virginia, British Colonial America (Age 45 years)
	3. Elizabeth LEWIS, b. 1668, d. 4 Jun 1691 (Age 23 years)
	4. John LEWIS, b. 30 Nov 1669, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America , d. 14 Nov 1725, Gloucester, Virginia, British Colonial America (Age 55 years)
	5. Nicholas LEWIS, I, b. 1672, New Kent, New Kent, Virginia , d. 1699, Petsworth Parish, Gloucester, Virginia (Age 27 years)

Last Modified 3 Jan 2023

Family ID F536729076 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Notes

JOHN LEWIS was christened, 15 Dec. 1633, Liantilio, Pertholey, Monmouthshire, Wales. (Parish Records) He was the son of the John Lewis who immigrated with his family to York Co., Virginia and received, 1 July 1653, a Patent of 250 acres at the head of Totopotomoys Creek (afterwards known as Lewis Creek.). He had transported 5 persons: John Lewis, Lidia Lewis, Wm. Lewis, Edward Lewis, John Lewis Jr. (Land Patent Book No. 3 p. 4.) This plantation became known as "Chemokins" and was given to John's older brother, William Lewis, when his father died about 1657.
As a young man John Lewis, Jr. began to acquire land as follows:
?29 December 1655 - 250 acres, Gloucester Co. at the main swamp of Poropotanke running down the same from the land of Col. Richard Lee, to Beech Spring &c. (Land Patent Book No. 4, p. 6.) John added to his holdings in 1658: "To all and whereas and now know ye that I the said Samuel Mathews Esq and give and grant unto John Lewis and James Turner one thousand acres of Land and Marsh called Lewis' Island lying and being in the County of New Kent Bonded on the East side on the north side and on the west side with the River and on the south side with Parencess Creek that divides this Land from the Land of John Pouncy. The said Land being due unto the said John Lewis and James Turner by and for the Transportation of twenty persons and to have and yealding and dated the 18th of November 1658. (New Kent Co VA Deeds, p 321)
?About 1660, John inherited "Chemokins" after the death of his brother, William. John is said to have managed "Chemokins" through a series of overseers which included some of his sons.
?18 Mar 1662 - John Lewis & James Turner 1000 Acres Patent issued in the said Lewis & Turner's names and granted by William Berkeley, Knight, his Magesties Governor & Ira Hickman.
?30 Oct 1662 - To all etc whereas etc me Know ye that I the said Sir William Berkeley Governor & give and grant unto John Lewis and Thomas Mitchell one thousand six hundred and Eighty acres of land lying and being in the county of New Kent beginning at a Spanish Oak in the Line of W. Mitchell Land. . .to Lt Cole Jacob's Corner. . .line of Mr. Mitchell's Land. . .The said Land being due by Transportation and To have & to Hold and to be Sold and yielding and paying and which payment to be made yearly from the entry of the survey and rights in the office being the 30th of October 1662 provided and Dated the 15th of January 1662/3. (New Kent Co VA Deeds, p 565.)
?23 Nov. 1663 - Patent of 1700 acres at the head of Poropotanke creek both sides, adjoining the lands of Mr. Major, Thomas Hanckes, George Austin, up Coates Branch to Col. Richard Lee's land, to the bridge swamp, thence down the bridge swamp and Porpopontanke Swamp to the head of the Creek and so to the place where it began; 120 acres thereof patented to Timothy Lodell and Thomas Broughton Sept. 13, 1651, and assigned to John Lewis; 100 acres thereof patented by Howell Price Oct. 6, 1656 and assigned to said LEWIS; and 600 acres not before granted. (Land Patent Book No. 5, p. 299)
About 1665 or 1666 John married Isabella Miller, b. 24 Aug 1640 at New Kent Co VA. John and Isabella probably lived the remainder of their lives on the original homestead. However, by this time he owned around 3890 acres and continued to acquire additional land and within two years had more than doubled his land holding to over 8500 acres.
?7 Aug 1667 - To all and whosoever and now know ye that I the said Wm. Berkley, Knt., Governor, do give and grant and on John Lewis two thousand acres of Land in New Kent and proper upon fiven of proper banke swamp beginning at the mount of a great branch north below the said Lewis Plantation. . .to a hickory in Tymothy Lewis oak Line. . .by a branch of Mahogany Swamp. . .to the corner of Geo Majie Land. . .possetion Swamp. . .along John Chambers Land. . .from up land of John Aoy to in South Swamp. . .to John Land. . .Geo Sissims lyne of trees. . .to said road of Cobb branch. . .to the Land where it began. Land being as follows. Eighty acres part through of Tymothy Lewis and one Thousand acres of and six hundred acres granted to the same Lewis by plat Dted the 23 November 1663 and the being hundred and Twenty being due by and for the Transfer of nineteen persons.
?16 Aug 1667 ? patent to John Lewis of "2600 acres in Glouchester and New Kent Counties being upon both sides of Poropotanke Swamp, beginning at the mouth of a great branch next below the said LEWIS' plantation by Old Woman's Poynt; boundaries mentioned as courses are run as follows: Timothy Lowdell's line, John Levingstone's line, a branch of Mattapony Swamp, Richard Jamor, Junr's land, George Major's land, head of Pepetico Swamp, John Chamberlain's land, John Fox's land Poropotanke Swamp, George Austin's line, head of Coale's branch, the land of Mr. Richard Lee, Bridge Swamp, Poropotanke Swamp to the mill, and down the creek to the beginning. Due 80 acres purchased of Timothy Lowdell, and 1000 acres of Howell Price and 600 acres as by patent Nov. 23, 1663, and the residues 820 acres due by and for the transportation of 19 persons. (Land Patent Book No. 6, p. 17.)
?22 Apr 1668 ? "To all etc to whom go now know yea that I the sayd Berkerly, Knt, Governor, etc. give and grant unto an John Lewis one hundred acres of Land Lying in part County and on the NE side of Caine hole swamp. . .of John Leoissone land next Edward Wadkins land. . .to Cain hole swamp. . .to the head spring this land and John Kings then joining to the said Leoissone Land. . .The Land Grant being by and for the transportation of two persons and to have and to hold adjoining and paying present 22nd day of April 1668. Tho C."
In 1675 John Lewis along with Lieut. Smity, Capt Lightfoot, Mr. Royston and Buckner patented 10,000 acres. His share of the acquisition would bring his land holdings to over 10,500 acres. At this same time John Lewis was termed major in the foot service and served as Surveyor in Gloucester Co VA in 1676.
Bacon's Rebellion: In 1676 a thousand Virginians of all classes and races, led by Nathaniel Bacon, rose up in arms, against the rule of Governor William Berkeley. Indian attackes and the colony's dismissive policy as it related to the political challenges of its western frontier, along with other challenges helped to motivate a popular uprising against Berkeley who had failed to address the demands of the colonists regarding their safety. Bacon's forces attacked Indians, chased Governor William Berkeley from Jamestown, Virginia, and ultimately torched the capital. John Lewis' residence in 1676 was near Major Thomas Pate's, where Bacon's forces were encamped, he suffered severely from the depredations of his troops. Col. John West, a person greatly impaired in his stock and goods by the Rebels, and a most constant Loyal Gentleman during the late Rebellion, and was for some time after Bacon's death Imprisoned by the Rebel Party." "Major John Lewis a suffered loses." At Middlesex Court in Feb 1677 one Mathew Bentley was summoned to answer the charge that during the late rebellion, when in command of forty or fifty men-in-arms at Major Lewis' plantation in New Kent county, he killed three hogs and four sheep, used a great deal of corn, and took meal for the whole rebel army at Major Pate's. The Pate residence was just south of Chemokins. (Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, p. 67.)
Will of James Miller. To my loving brother, Maj. John Lewis. . .a horse. . .to my loving sister Mrs. Isabell Lewis wife of Major John Lewis. . .whole estate during her life and after her death. . .to my two nephews Edward and John Lewis, the Younger. . .to them and their heirs forever. . .My aforesaid sister my sole executrix. (New Kent Co VA Probate: 3/29/1678.)
1680, John Lewis was captain of horse in the militia of New Kent, and one of its justices.
Maj. John Lewis died 2 Dec 1689 in New Kent Co. Virginia and was buried on the Lewis Plantation, in King and Queen Co., Virginia. John is most noted for being the father of Councilor John Lewis.
Isabella would later marry Robert Yard of England. But after her death, Isabella was returned to the Lewis Plantation and is buried in the Old Lewis Cemetery in what is now King and Queen Co VA. "Here lieth interred the body of Mrs. Isabella Yard born the 24th of August 1640 and departed this life the ninth day of February 1703/4 aged 63 years 5 months & 16 days.
Children of John Lewis and Isabella Miller:
1.MARY LEWIS: b. 1661 New Kent, Va.
2.EIIZABETH LEWIS: b. c. 1663 New Kent, Va.; married, abt. 1681, in New Kent, Va. to Robert Woodson (brother of Elizabeth Woodson) b. 1660 Henrico, Va. She died, 4 June 1691, Henrico, Va.
3.Cpt. EDWARD LEWIS: b. 5 Sep 1667 New Kent, Va; married c. 1688 in New Kent, Va., to Susannah Lewis, b. c. 1670. He died 11 Feb 1713 King and Queen, Va., and was Buried on Lewis Plantation, King and Queen, VA
4.SARAH LEWIS: b. 1668 New Kent, Va. married, 21 Oct.1692, in New Kent, Va. to Robert Woodson.
5."Councilor"/Col. JOHN LEWIS (III): b. 30 Nov. 1669 New Kent Co Va.; married c. 1689 in Gloucester, Va. to Elizabeth Warner, b. 24 Nov. 1672 Gloucester, Va. Daughter of Col. Augustine Warner and Mildred Read. They had 14 children but only 8 names are preserved.
6. WILLIAM LEWIS: b. c. 1671 New Kent, Va.; married 1690 in Henrico, Va. to Elizabeth Woodson (sister of Robert Woodson) b. 1670 Henrico, Va. He died 25 Dec. 1706 New Kent, Va.
7.NICHOLAS LEWIS: b. c. 1672 New Kent, Va.; died before 1699 New Kent, Va.
8.THOMAS LEWIS: b. c. 1674 New Kent, Va.; died 1725 King George, Va.
9.JAMES LEWIS: b. 1675 New Kent, Va.
10.MILDRED LEWIS: b. 1676 New Kent, Va.
11.GAVIN LEWIS: b. c. 1680 New Kent, Va.
12.PATIENCE LEWIS: b. 1682 New Kent, Va.; married c. 1707 in Virginia to Paul Harralson, b. c. 1680 in Virginia. She died 1750 at Wateree, Richland, So. Carolina.
13.OWEN LEWIS:

NOTE: Find A Grave source has him linked to the wrong parents--another one of their many mistakes

Sources

[S1160] FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 3 Jan 2023), entry for John Lewis, person ID L4B6-D63. (Reliability: 3).
[S1160] FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 3 Jan 2023), entry for John Lewis, person ID LVWW-5MM. (Reliability: 3).