13

Ouestion about who John Lewis married
Mary Button
Jemmima Whitehead
Hannah Marshall
Anna Lamphere
Or a combination of two or three of these women

Question about John’s birth - 1625, 1630 and 1631

Ouestion about when he made the crossing - 1630 or 1661

Ouestion about who John’s father was - Edward Lewis or Unknown

John Lewis b, act. 1631, m. Lynn June 17, 1659 Hannah Marshall; m. Lynn Sept. 2, 1699 Elizabeth Walker King, daughter of Richard Walker and widow of Ralph King, m. Lynn Feb. 10, 1706/7 Sarah Merriam Jenks, daughter of William Merriam and widow of John Jenks.


Eight children born to this marriage:
i. Jonathan LEWIS was born 1659 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island, and died 8 Aug 1708 in , Suffolk County, New York. He married
Jemima WHITEHEAD 31 Dec 1683 in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. He
married Deliverance TOWNSEND 3 Jun 1698 in , Suffolk, New York.

ii. John LEWIS was born ABT 1660 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island, and died 22 Apr 1735 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.
He married Anna LANPHERE 1682 in Westerly, Washington, RI.

iii. Daniel LEWIS was born 1663 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island, and died 4 Aug 1721 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island. He
married Mary MAXON 1701 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island. He
married Mary BUTTON.

iv. James LEWIS was born 3 Jun 1664 in Westerly, Washington,
Rhode Island, and died 6 Sep 1745 in Exeter, Washington, Rhode
Island. He married Anna LANPHERE 1682. He married Ann Or Susannah
BABCOCK 1687 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.

v. David LEWIS was born 1667 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island, and died 6 Sep 1718 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island. He
married Elizabeth BABCOCK 1699 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.

vi. Israel LEWIS was born 1669 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island, and died 28 Jun 1719 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.
He married Ann Or Susannah BABCOCK 1695 in Westerly, Washington,
Rhode Island. He married Jane BABCOCK 1696 in Westerly,
Washington, Rhode Island. He married Mary MARSH 27 Mar 1718 in
Westerly, Washington Co., RI.

vii. Samuel LEWIS was born 1671 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island, and died Jan 1739 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island. He
married Joanna CRANDALL ABT 1695 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode
Island. She died AFT 1734.

viii. Dorcas LEWIS was born ABT 1673 in Westerly, Washington,
Rhode Island, and died 1720. She married Robert BURDICK 1720.


Rhode Island Ancestral File #: 49DP-CR LDS
Note: Buried: Lewis Family Burial Ground located just below the
village of Westerly, near Watch Hill Road. Seven generations of
Lewis's are buried there with no markings on their stones. The
property is no longer owned by the Lewis family.

He had a girl in England, whom he loved very much. Her parents
did not care for John because of his reputation for being a "wild
blade". He was forced to leave her behind as he journeyed to the new
land. She begged him to return to England and bring her to America,
but he refused. Against her parents' wishes, she set sail to be with
John. The day her ship arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, John was
there to greet her. He waded into the waters and swept her into his
arms before she could get to shore. They married soon afterwards.

He came to America with his four brothers. They settled in
Boston, Massachusetts. John bought 600 acres of land from the Indians
near Misquamicut, now known as Westerly, Rhode Island.

He was one of the original pioneers of Rhode Island and one of
five deputies who established Rhode Island as a colony. He took the
Oath of Allegiance to the government of Rhode Island on March 22,
1661. He was well versed in Indian dialect, and signed the Peace
Treaty with the Indians. He served as Captain of the Company for
protection against Indians. He was a famous and brave Indian fighter.
Source: Peggy Lynne Ford, 1987.

John Lewis was one of the original settlers of Westerly, Rhode Island
according to tradition, the first settlers were John Babcock and his
love, Mary Lawton, who eloped from Newport. They landed on the east
side of the Pawcatuck river and built themselves a wigwam. Their
first child, James Babcock, was the first male white child born in the
Narragansett territory. The place of their retreat having been
ascertained by the people of Newport, they deputized five men, viz
, William Vaughan, Robert Stanton, John Fairchild, Hugh
Mosher and James Longbottom, to purchase a title of land
from the Indians. They purchased of on Sosoa his title to the land
and the deed was dated June 29, 1660. It was not long before settlers
began to arrive, and among them were John Lewis and his family. It is
supposed that he came from Newport, but nothing definite can be
ascertained as the records of Newport were captured by the British
during the Revolutionary War and carried to New York. When they were
returned they were in such condition that
they were incomplete.

The RECORDS OF THE RHODE ISLAND COLONY, Vol. II, p.238, state that
"John Lewis" of Misquamocott, was admitted a free man October 28,
1668.The records of Westerly were not kept in any regular form until
1683, that of John Lewis, Junior, lot; and of March 3, 1680, James
Lewis, "1 lote", David Lewis, "5 lot", "Israel Lewis, 16 lot, and
Samuel Lewis, "38 lot". However John Lewis was in Westerly in 1661 as
he signed articles of agreement March 22nd of that year. On May 16,
1671, a warrant was issued requiring that inhabitants of Westerly to
appear "tomorrow at Tobias Saunders house to see how they stand as
to their fidelity to His Majesty and this colony".

Twenty-two persons, including John Lewis, appeared and took the oath
of allegiance to the government of Rhode Island. John Lewis died
before 1690 and was buried just below the village of Westerly, near
the road leading to Watch Hill, on the east side of the highway. The
place where he was buried is a large, unfenced spot, in the southeast
corner of a field in front of the house owned at one time by Thomas
E. Saunders. The land once belonged to the Lewis family, and
afterwards to Arnold Kenyon. It is said that seven generations of
Lewis's are buried here, but there is no lettering on the stones.
There is another Lewis burying ground in Westerly situated on the
crest of a gravel hill, south of the house once owned by Pardon
Lewis.

According to a Land Grant Chart in the Rhode Island Historical
Society, compiled by Edward H. West of Portsmouth in 1932, a John
Lewis had a grant of land between 1638 and 1657 in Portsmouth, Rhode
Island on the mainland in the southern part of the town toward
Newport, or what is now Middletown.

This could be the John Lewis here with concerned. If he was the one
b. ca 1631 he might easily have secured this
grant upon reaching legal age. If so, he was probably searching for
productive land outside the Newport area, before the Misquamicut
Purchase. In 1648, John Winthrop was given a half mile square on
the Thames River, at Groton, Connecticut, then called Towowesuck.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE TOWN OF GROTON, pub. 1935, states "This
grant extended north from Broad Street. The following January, lots
of 20, 30 and 40 acres were laid out between the Bill property and the
Atlantic Coast Fisheries. These lots were given to Robert Hempstead, William
Hallat, Samuel Lothroup, John Gager, John Robbison, William Bartlet, Andrew
Loungden, William Nickhols, Carie Latham, Jacob Waterhouse, Robert
Bedell, Thomas Miller, William Boardman, Gils Smith, John Stubens, Isacke
Willie, John Lewis, and William Morton... "These men, along with John
Winthrop, held proprietor's rights though many of them never came to
New London to live, and only Cary Latham ever settled in Groton.

Austin, in his GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF RHODE ISLAND says that
"There has been no relationship found between John Lewis and Robert
Lewis of Newport, who made his Will April 12, 1682, having but two witnesses
although the law required three. Nothing more is learned of this Robert, nor
of his Will except that it was named in a list of others as deficient in
witnesses."

From THE HISTORY OF HOPKINTOWN, RHODE ISLAND by Rev. S.S. Griswold,
it was stated"..John Lewis, who came from England in company with his
four brothers, at the first settlement of this country and settled not far
from the present residence of John H. Cross, Esq., Westerly. His brothers
located themselves near Boston, Massachusetts. John had sevens sons, "Daniel
found his home in Hopkintown, Israel at Long Island, Jonathan at Richmond,
in this state, another at Exeter, while several remained with their father at
Westerly."

From THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS, PENNSYLAVANIA, Vol. I,
pub.1906, it is stated that "John Lewis, the founder of the family in this
country, came from East Greenwich, England in the year 1630. He
bought 600 acres of land from the Indians near Misquamicut, now called Westerly,
Rhode Island. He was a signer of a treaty with the Indians and one of the
five deputies who established the Rhode Island colony, March 22,1661. He
was admitted a freeman October 28, 1668. Tradition has it that John Lewis
was well versed in the Indian Dialect and that was elected captain of a
company for protection against the Indians, and was a famous and brave Indain
fighter. The name of his wife unknown, but she came to America
against the wishes of her parents, to meet John Lewis, who had the reputation of
being a `wild blade`. When the boat on which she embarked neared the land,
John Lewis waded into the surf, clasped her in his arms and carried her to
shore. They were married and were the parents of seven sons and one
daughter..."Tradition given by Mrs. Sally Lewis, wife of Jeffrey
Sheldon Lewis is that "John Lewis came to America and the young lady with
whom he was in love did not come over because her parents did not like him.
She wrote to him asking him to come to England to get her, but he
answered her that he could not but would meet her if she came to him. She wrote
him that she would come, and he went to work and built cabin and when the time
for the boat to arrive came, he went down to the shore at Plymouth and
met her. As soon as the boat touched the shore he jumped on board and met her.
He kissed her and then they went out and got married immediately. They
lived together for a number of years before he died. She survived him
fifteen years." This is related in Lewisiana, Vol.4, p.35. Thus, John Lewis,
b. in England, d. ca 1690 in Westerly, Rhode Island and is buried near
Watch Hill Road; his wife, name unknown, d. in Westerly ca 1705.


Sources:

Abbrev: Cooks
Title: Pioneer Lewis Families
Author: Michael L. Cook, C.G.
Publication: 1978

Abbrev: Records
Title: The Records of Rhode Island Colony
Publication: Vol II, page 238

Abbrev: Historical
Title: The Historical Sketches of the town of Groton
Publication: 1935

Abbrev: Historical
Title: Genealogy Dictionary of Rhode Island
Author: Austin

Abbrev: Griswold
Title: History of Hopkintown, Rhode Island
Author: Rev. S.S. Griswold

Abbrev: Valleys
Title: The Wyoming and Lackawana Valleys, Pennsylvania
Publication: Vol I, 1906

1. John LEWIS Sr. was born in England. He died before 1690 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island.

REP. MEN of OLD RI FAMILIES, Vol. 4, page 2189.
John Lewis is credited with having come from England in company with his four brothers in the early settlement of this country, locating in what is now Westerly RI; his brothers are said to have located near Boston. John is of record in Westerly in 1661, and was made a freeman of the town in 1668. He died in 1690 in Pawcatuck, and was buried just below the village of Westerly near the road leading to Watch Hill. His children were: Jonathan, John, Daniel, James, David, Isreal, Samuel and Dorcas, several of whom remained with their father.

RANDALL LEWIS, of Hopkinton RI, page 20 thru 27.
The visionary traditional "three emigrant borther" fallacy seems to be attached to John who is said to have come from Wales to America, landing in Plymouth MA and locating in Newport, RI where he is supposed to have resided for a few years until his fiancee arrived from over seas to wed and become the head of a prolific branch of Lewis race in little Rhody.

BABCOCK & ALLIED FAMILIES, pp. 62, 63.
John Lewis is first mentioned in the Rhode Island records as signing the articles of argreement about the settlement of Westerly on March 22, 1661. He was one of the founders of the town, and is supposed to have been at Newport, RI previous to this date, but the records of Newport were damaged during the Revolution, and this supposition therefore cannot be verified. On October 28, 1668, he was freeman at Westerly, and on May 18, 1669, his name appears on a list of the inhabitants of the town. He took the oath of allegiance on May 16, 1671, in response to a warrant issued to the inhabitants of Westerly to appear "tomorrow at Tobias Saunders home to see how they stand as to their fidelity to His Majesty and his colony." Before 1690 he died, and was buried just below the village of Westerly. Nothing is known of his wife.

PIONEER LEWIS FAMILIES, by Michael L. Cook, C. G. Vol. 1, Cook Publications, 1978, page 35.
John Lewis was in Westerly in 1661 as he signed articles of agrement March 22ne of that year. John Lewis died before 1690 and was buried just below the village of Westerly, near the road leading to Watch Hill, on the east side of the highway. The place where he was buried is a large, unfenced spot, in the southeast corner of a field in front of the house owned at one time by Thomas E. Saunders. The land once belonged to the Lewis family, and afterwards to Arnold Kenyon. It is said that seven generations of Lewises are buried here, but there is no lettering on the stones. There is another Lewis burying ground in Westerly situated on the crest of a gravel hill, south of the house once owned by Pardon Lewis.

John married Ruth before 1658 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island. Ruth was born in England. She died about 1705 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island.

They had the following children:

2 M i
Jonathan LEWIS was born 1658 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island. He died Aug 1710.

Pioneer Lewis Families, page 36.

Jonathan married Jemima WHITEHEAD.

Jonathan also married Deliverance CARMAN.
+ 3 M ii John LEWIS Jr. was born 1660 and died 29 Feb 1748.
+ 4 M iii Daniel LEWIS was born 1661 and died Feb 1718.
+ 5 M iv James LEWIS was born 1664 and died 6 Sep 1745.
6 M v
David LEWIS was born 1667 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island. He died 6 Sep 1718.

David married Elizabeth BABCOCK, daughter of James BABCOCK Jr. and Jane BROWN. Elizabeth died 1716.

m. Daniel Lewis, brother of James. one child of record, Elisha.
+ 7 M vi Isreal LEWIS was born 1669 and died 28 Jun 1719.
8 M vii
Samuel LEWIS was born 1671 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island. He died Jan 1739.

Lewis Genealogy, page 78.
Samuel, will Aug 5, 1743; property to children.
Samuel, Jonathan, Joanna, Sarah.

Samuel married Joanna.
9 F viii
Dorcas LEWIS was born 1673 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island.