Thanks to our Lewis Surname DNA Project, a long-standing controversy has been settled. David Lewis, Sr. is NOT the son of John Lewis of Warner Hall.

Several noted genealogists have said he was. Accepting their findings, the Colonial Dames agreed that he was. Because of their findings and the approval of the Colonial Dames, I said he was. But DNA says he isn’t.

It is a marvelous age we live in when DNA can prove one’s lineage. Regardless of my disappointment at the results, I’m very proud to have been a part of bringing the truth to light after years and years and years of controversy.

Therefore, I now acknowledge that David Lewis, Sr. is my earliest known Lewis ancestor. It will be interesting to see what unfolds as our Lewis DNA Project database continues to grow.

Cosette Lewis

MY LEWIS FAMILY

DAVID LEWIS SR., was born in Hanover County, VA and was baptized 5 May 1695. In 1717, he married Anne Terrell, daughter of William Terrell and Susannah Waters. Anne died in 1734. David obtained the patent to what is presently known as the Birdwood plantation and settled there after the death of Anne.

David was a Captain in the Militia, a magistrate, and bore his part in clearing roads and executing other public works. He was in the French and Indian Wars, a member of the House of Burgesses, and a member of the Presbyterian church. In his old age he taught school free of charge to make education available to even the poorest families.

Michael Cook records in Pioneer Lewis Families that “After the death of his third wife, he was engaged to be married a fourth time, aged at least 94, but died very suddenly before the consummation of the marriage.” He died from over exertion while chopping down a tree on a hot day. A tomahawk was one of the items listed on the inventory of his possessions.

DAVID LEWIS, JR., son of David Lewis, Sr. and Anne Terrell, was born in Hanover County, VA in 1720. After the death of his first wife, Rebecca Stovall, he moved to Rutherford County, NC and then moved on to Lancaster District, SC, where he married Elizabeth Lockhart. David and Elizabeth later moved to Spartanburg District and settled on a creek named Lawson’s Fork. David died in 1787 at Lawson’s Fork. Elizabeth continued to live at Lawson’s Fork until her death in 1796. She was the mother of eleven children.

JOEL LEWIS, son of David Lewis, Jr. and Elizabeth Lockhart, was born in 1767 in Spartanburg District, SC and died in Spartanburg District on 3 July 1815. He married Mary Wood Machen of Greenville, SC on 12 May 1781. She went by the name "Polly." They had two children, Frances and John Washington.

JOHN WASHINGTON LEWIS, only son of Joel Lewis and Mary Wood Machen, was born in Spartanburg County, SC. He married Maria Earle of Pendleton, SC in 1835. Maria was the daughter of Samuel Earle.

Dr. John Washington Lewis

Dr. Lewis was a physician, studying under Dr. Harrison of Greenville, SC, and he had a successful practice. However, he decided to go into the ministry and was ordained in 1832. About 1840 he moved to Canton, Georgia having obtained lands in the Georgia Land Lottery. He assisted in organizing Baptist churches in Cherokee County, at one time serving as pastor of Pettit's Creek Church when it was one of the largest in northern Georgia. He built roads in Cherokee and other counties. In 1847 he became an iron master and erected an iron furnace on Stamp Creek in Cass County, GA. He also had a brick kiln on his plantation.

His children were educated at home in the school building he built for them. Both the future Civil War Governor Joseph Brown and his brother James taught the children at various times. Dr. Lewis had advanced the two young men funds for their education at Yale University and they repaid the loan by tutoring his children. They were only two of many young men Dr. Lewis helped obtain an education. James Brown later married Dr. Lewis' oldest daughter, Harriet, and they eventually inherited the plantation. It is known today in Canton as the Brown Farm.

The Lewis Home

The chapel and the other buildings were built with brick made on the plantation

The Chapel

In 1845 Dr. Lewis represented the district in the Senate, securing by his vote the establishment of the Supreme Court in Georgia. He was nominated for Governor in 1856 and was a member of the Confederate Congress. On Jan 1, 1858, Dr. Lewis was appointed superintendent of the W&A Railroad. When he resigned in September 1861 he was succeeded by John S. Rowland, husband of his sister, Frances.

John died at his home in Canton on July 11, 1865; Maria died August 10, 1867. They are buried in a cemetery in Canton overlooking the Etowah River.

PICKENS R. LEWIS, son of John W. Lewis and Mariah Earle, was born in Georgia on 1 June 1838. He married Laura Edwards 26 Oct 1858. At the time of his death on July 4, 1892, he and his family were living on a small farm near Canton, Georgia. His death resulted from a shotgun blast to his head.

Civil War Governor of Georgia, Joseph Brown, wrote the following tribute to Pickens which was printed in the local newspaper.

PICKENS R. LEWIS ACCIDENTALLY

KILLS HIMSELF

A Beautiful Tribute from Governor Brown

Friday last, Mr. Pickens R. Lewis of Bartow county, a former citizen of Cherokee and well known to many of our readers, was accidentally killed by the discharge of his gun. He was passing through his farm and in getting over the fence both barrels of his gun were discharged, the load taking effect in his head and producing instant death. His remains were interred near his home. Governor Joseph E. Brown writes this beautiful tribute to his memory:

"In 18--, I taught school in Canton, Cherokee county, and Dr. John W. Lewis, the father of Pickens, was one of my patrons. I had as pupils in my school two of his oldest children---his daughter Harriet, who afterwards became the wife of my brother, Honorable James R. Brown, and Pickens R., who was the oldest son. Pickens was at that time, I should say, about six or seven years old. He was a boy of excellent traits of character, obedient to his parents and attentive to his studies.

"Mrs. Lewis, the wife of Dr. Lewis and the mother of Pickens, was, prior to her marriage, Miss Maria Earl, of Greenville, S.C. The Earl family has been distinguished in that state for more than a century. Honorable Bayliss J. Earl, the brother of Mrs. Lewis, was a brilliant lawyer and a very able man, and was one of the most distinguished judges of the courts of South Carolina. He died nearly fifty years ago.

"Dr. Lewis, the father of Pickens, was well known to the people of Georgia. He was one of the wealthiest men of his day in upper Georgia. He was distinguished for his high order of talent, large grasp of mind in business matters and unfailing energy which generally gave him success in everything he undertook. In January, 1858 he was appointed superintendent of the Western and Atlantic railroad, a place which he filled with marked distinction, taking hold of the state, and putting it upon a firm paying basis. In 1862 he resigned his position upon the Western and Atlantic railroad and accepted the position of confederate states senator from Georgia, of which body he was a distinguished member for a considerable length of time.

"He died in 1865 at the home of Judge James R. Brown, and was buried in Canton, in Cherokee county. He left a widow and seven children, part of whom are now dead, and the others more or less scattered. John W. , the youngest son, is now connected with the Southern Railway and Steamship Association in this city.

"Pickens, the deceased, never aspired to political preferment or official position. He had a very decided turn for mechanics, and preferred to make an honest living by the sweat of his brow rather than attempt to live by office seeking or political methods. He married Miss Laura Edwards, who, with four children, survives him. His family has conducted a farm and he has worked most of the time in the shops of the Western and Atlantic railroad for a number of years past. While he sought no public position he was a Christian gentleman, an upright, honest citizen, a man of high order of integrity, universally respected by all who knew him. He was an incessant student when not engaged in work, and had command of a large fund of information. His sudden death is quite a shock to his neighbors and a large circle of relatives and friends. May he rest in peace."

JOHN WASHINGTON LEWIS, son of Pickens Lewis and Laura Edwards, was born in Stamp Creek, GA on 4 December 1870 and died in Mayo, FL on 8 July 1942. He married Laura King on 17 Apr 1898.

John Washington Lewis

According to family tradition, John was educated at a military academy. However, there is no official verification of that story. At some point after the death of his father, there was some kind of family dispute and John took the family buggy, two horses, all of his belongings and left home. He kept traveling south until he reached Madison County in north Florida where he met and married Laura. He never reconciled with his family.

PICKENS R. LEWIS was the only child of John W. Lewis and Laura King. He was born in Mulberry, Florida on 19 Mar 1902 and died in Tallahassee, Florida on 16 Mar 1981. He married Eunice Herring on 02 Dec 1923.

Pickens R. Lewis

Pickens was a talented man and very proud of his lineage. I dedicate all of my research to him.

He and Eunice had four children: Ernest, Earl, Glenn, and me, Cosette

Contributed by Cosette Lewis. Sponsor - Kit# 18783