The Zachary Lewis Family

Generation #3

"Honest" John (2Zachary II, 1Zachary I, 0Research) Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA

John Lewis was born 10/18/1729 in Spotsylvania Co VA. Being the son of Zachary Lewis II, John had all the opportunities of the landed gentry.

In about 1748, John married Anne Lewis, the daughter of Robert "of Belvoir" and a descendant of the famous Councilor John Lewis family. From John and Anne's young ages, this appears to have been an arranged marriage to unite two prominent Virginia families. 

John's profession was the law as per the family tradition, eventually earning the moniker "Honest John, the Lawyer." The first record for John acting as a lawyer was in 1754. Evidently, John practiced in Caroline and Spotsylvania and Culpeper and Orange counties. And as John and his father so frequently traveled from Fredericksburg to Orange Court House, the road became known as Lawyers Road. 

John died 9/12/1780 in Spotsylvania Co VA. But, his line continued.

3. John Lewis p. 137.

The third child, in order of age, of Zachary Lewis and Mary Waller, was born October 17, 1729, baptized by the Rev. Rodham Kenner, November 23, 1729, died September 12, 1780. Will dated Mary 31.1766. Codicil added 1776. Admitted to record October 19, 1780. He married Ann Lewis, daughter of Robert Lewis of Belvoir and his wife Jane Meriwether, and reference to his descendants will be found under the head of Robert Lewis of Belvoir. . . .

Mr. Lewis had only three sons, John Zachary, Robert and Nicholas. Charles Lewis who married Susan R. Waller and died in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1822, was not a son of this John Lewis. . . .

While Mr. Lewis does not mention any daughters, the records show, as explained on another page, that he had two daughters: Mary who married David Wood Meriwether, and Jane who married Zachary Meriwether.

    John Meriwether McAllister, Genealogies of the Lewis and Kindred Families, 1906 <http://books.google.com/books> 3 April 2013.

Spotsylvania Co VA Wills:
WALLER, JOHN, Gentl. Spotsylvania Co., d. Aug. 2, 1753, p. Oct. 1, 1754. Wit. John Semple, Thomas Collins, Larkin Chew, Harry Beverley.
Ex. wife; sons, John, Thomas, William, and my son Benjamin Waller to be executor in trust.
Leg. . .Mary Waller, now the wife of Zachary Lewis; granddaughter, Betty Lewis; granddaughter, Lucy Lewis; granddaughter, Dorothy Lewis; grandson, Waller Lewis; great-grandson, John Zachary Lewis; grandson, John Lewis, my secretare that I left at Mrs. Margaret Gordon's, in the room I used to lie in when there.
Louisa Co VA Deed Bk C, p. 45:
Grantor: Samuel Dolton Jur., Grantee: John Lewis to Richard Durrat, Date: 03-Oct-1760
Samuel Dolton Jur. witness to deed John Lewis to Richard Durrat tract in Louisa.
Spotsylvania, Virginia County Records (1721-1800) p. 22:
LEWIS, ZACHARY, Spotsylvania Co., dtd. July 7, 1764, prob. Feb. 4, 1765.
Whereas he did give to John Lewis, Zachary Lewis, Waller Lewis and Benjamin Lewis all his land lying at the Great Mountains in Culpeper Co.
1772 DEED: Culpeper Co, VA, DB F,
This Indenture Tripartite made 18th May 1772 between JOHN LEWIS of County of Spotsylvania, of one part, WALLER LEWIS, of said County of second part and ZACHARY LEWIS of Louisa Co of other part; Whereas ZACHARY LEWIS of County of Spotsylvania, Father of John, Zachary and Waller Lewis and Benjamin Lewis in his life time being seized in 4,338 acres in Culpeper Co, VA, at the Great Mountains and made his Last Will and Testament dated 7th July 1764, whereas he did give to John Lewis, Zachary Lewis, Waller Lewis and Benjamin Lewis all his land lying at the Great Mountains in Culpeper Co.
Louisa Co VA Guardian Bonds, Inventories & Accounts (1767 - 1814), p. 38 -39:
10/12/1772 Administrator’s Bond of William Buckner for the Estate of Phillip Buckner Know all men by these presents that we William Buckner. Rich’d Phillips, Wm White Junr, Edward Thomas and John Lewis are held and firmly bound to Thomas Johnson, Samuel Ragland, Wm Phillips and Wm Garrett Gent, Justices of Louisa County now sitting, in the sum of one thousand Pounds to the Payment Whereof well and Truly to be made to thes’d Justices and their successors, we Bind Ourselves and Each of us and Each of our Heirs, Executors and administrators Jointly and Severally firmly by these Presents; Sealed with our Seals This Twelvth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy two and in the Twelvth Year of the Reign of our Sovreign Lord George the third. . . .

WALLER, JOHN, Berkeley Parish, d. Feb. 6, 1776, p. Apr. 18, 1776.
Wit. Thomas Minor, James Mason, Peter Mason. 
Ex. sons, Thomas and Pomfrett Waller, nephew John Lewis, son-in-law James Bullock.
Leg. wife (no name given), the land whereon I now live; son Thomas Waller, the land after my wife's death; daughter Mary Waller; granddaughter, Agnes Waller; daughter Agnes Johnson; granddaughter Agnes Carr Johnson; grandson William Goodloe Johnson; daughter Ann Bullock; daughter Dorothy Goodloe; son Pomfrett Waller; son-in-law James Bullock; my nephew John Lewis. My executors to sell the tract of 200 acres of land in Orange Co., which I bought of Mr. John Guttridge, and also to sell my tract of land and plantation lying on the Mattapony River in King William Co. To son Pomfrett Waller, the two lots of land containing 200 acres that I purchased from Col. Bernard Moore's lottery. (Page 153)
Louisa Co VA Will Bk 2, p. 267:
10/14/1776 Will of John Waddy of Louisa. Whereas Samuel Cobb, late father of my wife Jane, devised to her 710 acres in Bedford County, near a mountain called Nabusines to my wife; to son Samuel land where I now live; appoint friends Waddy Thompson of Louisa, John Lewis of Spotsylvania, and Nelson Thomas of Hanover as Exor's. written 22 Dec 1775; wit: Judith Cobb, G. Johnson Then Amended 22 Dec 1775; Brother Samuel, sisters Ann, Frances, Elizabeth; land mentioned in my grandfather Anthony Waddy's will. Recorded 14 Oct 1776
Spotsylvania Co VA Will Book E, p. 34:LEWIS, John, St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania County,
d. May 31, 1766, Executor's Bond dated Oct 19, 1780.
Ex. my brothers Zachary, Waller and Benjamin Lewis; my brothers-in-law Nicholas, Charles and William Lewis; my friends Fielding Lewis and Joseph Jones, Trustees.
Leg. Wife one-third of estate;
son John Zachary Lewis, land whereon my mother now dwells;
son Robert Lewis, lands in Culpeper and Orange Counties, also land whereon I now live purchased of Giles Tompkins and Thomas Hill, and my lot in Fredericksburg joining the Court House No. 2;
my son Nicholas Lewis, land which I purchased from the Hon. Philip Grymes and Benjamin Temple, with the mill built thereon and the tract of land I purchased of Thomas Graves and George Woodroof.
Codicil dated Nov. 3, 1776, gives to son Robert tract of land on Glady Run, purchased of John Waller, and Ann, his wife.
11/26/1785. Lewis, John attn: of Spotsylvania Co, dec'd, his ex. John Z. Lewis, Robert Lewis, and Nicholas Lewis, will sell a tract of his land in Culpeper Co. containing about 1500 ac. and his son, John Zachary Lewis, both dec'd; their est. their accounts to be settled with the ex Joseph Brook of Spotsylvania Co.
Louisa Co Deed Bk G, p. 363:
Grantor: William Arnold and Judith his wife, Grantee: William Johnson, Date: 07-Sep-1793. William Arnold and Judith his wife of Spots. and George Lumsden and Elizabeth his wife of Louisa to William Johnson of Louisa £20 15s for tract in Louisa containing 88 1/2 acres being 1/2 of the land taken up by Chs. Smith and John Lewis dec'd. adj. Robert Anderson dec'd., Walter Goldsmith, Col. Robert Anderson.
Sig. William Arnold, Judith Arnold, Geo. Lumsden, Elisa. Lumsden.
Wit. W. Callis, Wm. Smith Jr. Rec. 9 Sep 1793.

    Children

    1. Nicholas Lewis b. 1748 Spotsylvania Co VA

    2. John Zachary Lewis

Spotsylvania Co VA Wills:
WALLER, JOHN, Gentl. Spotsylvania Co., d. Aug. 2, 1753, p. Oct. 1, 1754. Wit. John Semple, Thomas Collins, Larkin Chew, Harry Beverley.
Ex. wife; sons, John, Thomas, William, and my son Benjamin Waller to be executor in trust.
Leg. . .Mary Waller, now the wife of Zachary Lewis; granddaughter, Betty Lewis; granddaughter, Lucy Lewis; granddaughter, Dorothy Lewis; grandson, Waller Lewis; great-grandson, John Zachary Lewis; grandson, John Lewis, my secretare that I left at Mrs. Margaret Gordon's, in the room I used to lie in when there.
Will of John Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA:LEWIS, John, St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania County,
d. May 31, 1766, Executor's Bond dated Oct 19, 1780.
son John Zachary Lewis, land whereon my mother now dwells [Bel-Air Plantation]
Will of Robert Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA:
8/16/1783. Lewis, Robert late of Spotsylvania Co, dec'd, his only heir is Robert Lewis under 21 whose gdn. John Zachary Lewis, Gent.; the siblings of Robert Lewis are John Zachary Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Zachary Meriwether and Jane his wife, and David Wood Meriwether and Mary his wife.
11/26/1785. Lewis, John attn: of Spotsylvania Co, dec'd, his ex. John Z. Lewis, Robert Lewis, and Nicholas Lewis, will sell a tract of his land in Culpeper Co. containing about 1500 ac. and his son, John Zachary Lewis, both dec'd; their est. their accounts to be settled with the ex Joseph Brook of Spotsylvania Co.

    3. Robert Lewis

Will of John Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA:LEWIS, John, St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania County,
son Robert Lewis, lands in Culpeper and Orange Counties, also land whereon I now live purchased of Giles Tompkins and Thomas Hill, and my lot in Fredericksburg joining the Court House No. 2;
Codicil dated Nov. 3, 1776, gives to son Robert tract of land on Glady Run, purchased of John Waller, and Ann, his wife.
Will of Robert Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA:
8/16/1783. Lewis, Robert late of Spotsylvania Co, dec'd, his only heir is Robert Lewis under 21 whose gdn. John Zachary Lewis, Gent.; the siblings of Robert Lewis are John Zachary Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Zachary Meriwether and Jane his wife, and David Wood Meriwether and Mary his wife.

    5. Jane Lewis

Will of Robert Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA:
8/16/1783. Lewis, Robert late of Spotsylvania Co, dec'd, his only heir is Robert Lewis under 21 whose gdn. John Zachary Lewis, Gent.; the siblings of Robert Lewis are John Zachary Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Zachary Meriwether and Jane his wife, and David Wood Meriwether and Mary his wife.

    6. Mary Lewis

Will of Robert Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA:
8/16/1783. Lewis, Robert late of Spotsylvania Co, dec'd, his only heir is Robert Lewis under 21 whose gdn. John Zachary Lewis, Gent.; the siblings of Robert Lewis are John Zachary Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Zachary Meriwether and Jane his wife, and David Wood Meriwether and Mary his wife.

Generation #4

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This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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