GRIFFITH LEWIS  

The following information is credited to Elmyra Royse (Mrs. Dayton Royse) nee Elmyra McGuire. The papers of Mrs. Royse were donated to the Oklahoma Genealogical Society by her son after her death. We of the Lewis and Hopkins families greatly appreciate all her efforts and many years of research, which included these families. I have spent many months reading and sorting and have come to realize the amount of work over many years that went into them.

I would also like to thank Laura Flebbe of Tulsa, OK for many hours spent copying and then forwarding these papers.

GRIFFITH LEWIS-ELDEST SON

Griffith Lewis was named in the 1784 will of William Lewis of Washington County, Virginia, as his eldest son. Griffith was probably born prior to 1750 and died between 25 June and 28 August 1806 in Lee County, Viriginia. The earliest reference to Griffith which I have found is the following survey: For Griffith Lewis...192 acres in Fincastle County, Virginia part of Loyal Company's Grant...lying on both side of the Two-mile Creek, a branch of the South Fork of Holston River...adjoining Jones' land. Surveyed 15 May 1775. (Fincastle County, Record of Plotts, Book A, page 196) On the same day, 273 acres were surveyed on both sides of One-mile Creek for Joshua Jones; and on the next day, land was surveyed for William Lewis on Two-mile Creek as previously noted. Griffith Lewis assigned his land before a patent had been issued; an abstract of the the patent recorded in Virginia Land Grants, Vol. 38, pages 116-117, follows: James Wood, Esq., Gov. of the Commonwealth of VA.,...in consideration of 20 shillings sterling* paid into the treasury...to Peter Mink, Assignee of Griffith Lewis...192 acres surveyed 15 May 1775...lying in Washington Co. on both sides of the two-mile creek, a branch of South Fork of the Holstein River, and bounded...corner to Jones' land...and being part of an Order of Council granted to the Loyal Company to take up and survey 800,000 acres, established and confirmed by a decree of Court of Appeals made in Richmond 2 May 1783...Signed at Richmond, 19 March 1798, by James Wood.

Griffith Lewis was taxed in Washington Co., VA, 1782, 1783, and 1785; lists for years immediately following are missing. Although it is quite possible that there was an earlier marriage, he was probably the Griffey Lewis married by Nicholas Reagan in Washington Co. to Mary Brown - undated. (VA. Colonial Abstracts, Vol. 34, Washington Co. Marriages, 1782-1820, Beverly Fleet, 1949, reprinted 1966, page 48.)

I have abstracted the following from the original records of Lee Co., VA: 14 March 1797, Doswell Rogers of Lee Co., VA to Griffin Lewis of same, for 30 pounds, 100 acres in Lee Co. on north side of Clinch River above the Big Falls...acknowledged and ordered recorded 10 April 1798. (Deed Book 1, page 102)

15 Aug. 1800, Stephen Walling of Sullivan Co., TN to Griffeth Lewis of Lee Co., VA, for $125, 248 acres in Lee Co. on the waters of Clinch River (name also given as Griffey Lewis); deed witnessed by Wills Jones, Joshua Thompson, Doswell (x) Rogers. Proved and ordered recorded 14 July 1801. (Deed Book 1, page 240)

Although Lee Co. tax lists started in 1795, Griffith Lewis first appeared: 1801, 3/27 Lewis, Griffy 1 male 16-up 3 horses 1803 Lewis, Grifford 1 male 16-up 3 horses

9 June 1803, William McCutchin of Carter Co., TN, to Griffith Lewis of Lee Co., VA, for $75, 75 acres on north bank of Clinch River; witnesses, Wells Jones, Thomas Waddell, and Rebeckah (x) Lewis. (Deed Book 1, page 308) 

1804, 3/26      Lewis, Griffith 1 male 16-up    3 horses
      3/26      Lewis, Thomas   1 male 16-up    2 horses
1805, 3/25      Lewis, Griffith 2 males 16-up   4 horses
      3/25      Lewis, Thomas   1 male 16-up    4 horses
1806, 4/1       Lewis, Griffith 1 male 16-up    2 horses
The following is a copy of the orignial will of Griffith Lewis. It was written on both sides of a sheet of paper and where it had been folded, there was a portion which I could not decipher.

Virginia State, Lee Co., June the 25 day 1806 - In the name of God Amen, I Grifeth Lewis, being in a low state of health, but in my real state of mind, wish for to commit my sole to God who gave it and my body for to be buried at the discretion of my executors in a Christian way, and as for my portion of worldly goods that God hath bestowed on me, I wish for to bequeath in the following manner: To my sons Thomas and William I bequeath one hundred acres of land, the place where I now live, to be equally divided between them....for to have an equal divide of the balance with the other legatees.

I wish for to have my other land sold with my other goods at 12 months and one days credit, and after the money is collected my just debts payed by my executors, Thommas Lewis, Thommas Wadle, and Thommas Galyon, and for to give to each legatee an equal divide of the money: my beloved wife Mary, one shair; Rebeccah, one shair; Thommas, one shair: Anne, one shair; Polly, one shair; Rachel, one shair; Leah, one shair; William, one shair; Hana, one shair; Abraham, one shair.

I wish my just debts for to be collected and for to be equally divided between my legatees by my executors...my land of 248 acres under Powel's Mountain and my 75 acres which includes the mill. I will not warrant a patent title to ??? Signed this 25 day June 1806....Grifeth (x) Lewis Test: George Waddle; Thomas (x) Fulton (?)

26 Aug. 1806, Thomas Gilliam, Thomas Lewis, and Thomas Waddle, executors of Griffith Lewis, deceased, to Samuel Robinett of Lee Co., VA for $165, 248 acres in Lee Co. (Deed Book 2, Page 211). Thomas Lewis signed by mark (x).

In the copied will above, spellings are exactly as they appeared.

  • *There are 20 shillings in a pound and 12 pennies in a shilling.
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