Christopher Lewis, London to Virginia

December 4, 2012 — ancestors, London, tobacco, Virginia planters

London COA

Christopher Lewis (1581 – 1673)

is my 8th great grandfather

Rebecca Lewis (1650 – 1725)

Daughter of Christopher

Ann Williams Jones (1705 – 1788)

Daughter of Rebecca

George Darden (1734 – 1807)

Son of Ann Williams

David Darden (1770 – 1820)

Son of George

Minerva Truly Darden (1806 – )

Daughter of David

Sarah E Hughes (1829 – 1911)

Daughter of Minerva Truly

Lucinda Jane Armer (1847 – 1939)

Daughter of Sarah E

George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)

Son of Lucinda Jane

Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)

Daughter of George Harvey

Pamela Morse

 I am the daughter of Ruby Lee

We see that my 8th great grandfather was in the tobacco business, owning land in Virginia starting in 1635.  Sadly I have found no portraits of him.  From the following data we can make a sketch of his life.  He was born in London.

RECORDS AND LAND TRANSACTIONS FOR CHRISTOPHER LEWIS
1635 Christopher Lewis is a headright for a patent of John Upton for 1650 acres on Pagan Point Creek, Isle of Wight County and mentioned again in same land in another patent for 1500 acres adj. Ambrose Bennett (Isle of Wight Deed Book, P. 25, 69, 99)
4 July 1649 400 acres in James City County (Later Surry County) at Blackwater on eastern-most branch pointing up to Chippoakes Creek. (Nugent, p. 183) (Laond Office Patent Book 2, 1643-1651; p. 176)
5 Dec 1651 Christopher Lewis to John Guttridge (Virginia Magazine of History, Vol 5, p. 405)
26 July 1652 750 acres in Isle of Wight one mile to the southwest of Henry White’s Plantation (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Nell Nugent, Vol 1, p. 261)
30 Sept 1652 200 acres to John Burgess (Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol 5, p. 404)
2 Apr 1660 On a jury to investigate the death of a man (Surry County Book !, 1652-1672, p. 150)
1 Mar 1661/62 Between Christopher Lewis and Bartholomew Owen, 200 acres on the west side of Gray’s Creek named Great Level (Surry County Records 1652-84, p. 39)
25 Mar 1662 Christopher Lewis and wife Jane to William Foreman for 60 acres of land part of a dividend bought of Christopher Lawson (Lewis, p. 54) (Surry County Book 1, 1652-72, p. 186)
2 June 1662 John Hux to Christopher Lewis, a mare (Lewis, p. 54)
6 May 1662 Bartholomew Owen of Gray’s Creek, Southwarke Parish to Christopher Lewis, certain livestock. (Lewis p. 53) (Surry County Book 1, 1652-72, p. 187)
3 Jan 1665/6 Gyles Linscott of Warrencock, Surry sells to Christopher Lewis, winecooper, certain livestock (Lewis, p. 54)
31 June 1667 Christopher Lewis makes bond with Christopher Lawson for a debt that Thomas Andrews shall have of Anthony Rossey (Lewis, p. 54)
1668 Roger Williams to pay Christopher Lewis £1730 tobacco by court order (Lewis, p. 54)
1674 Bequeathes to the church warden of Southwark Parish “a silver flagon of two quarts measure” to William Thompson minister “1500 lbs of tobacco” and “desires to be buried in ye chancel of ye church and to have a tombstone over me and a funeral sermon” preached for which his executors are to pay. (Surry County Book 2, 1671-1678; pp. 34, and 36)

Virginia Colony

10 Aug 1676 Mr. Edward, Clerk, is to record a gift from Christopher Lewis, ded’d to Katherine Owen, daughter of Bartholomew Owen (Surry County Record Book II, (March 1671-July 6, 1684, p. 119)

Sources: Lewis Patriarchs of Early Virginia and Maryland; Robert J.C.K. Lewis, 3rd volume, Heritage Books; Westminster Maryland, 1998.

Christopher Lewis died in Virginia in Sept, 1673. His will mentions paying the minister for the funeral services 1500 lbs of tobacco, not to be paid until 1675. He made clear where he wished to be buried, and that he wanted tombstone and sermon in the exchange. They used British Pound Sterling but It sounds like tobacco was the currency most used.