Descendants of Richard Lewis of
Greenmeadow Manor, Monmouthshire, Wales

Generation #1

Note: Information on the Lewis Family before Walden Lewis b. c. 1774 in Virginia comes from assumptions based on multiple sources. Therefore, the information on this page is not reliable for genealogical purposes.

Richard Lewis (Oral History)

Note, this is not the Richard Lewis b. c. 1609 in Brecknock, Wales, who immigrated to Warrosquoyacke/Isle of Wight Co VA in 1635. Also, Richard and his progeny are not of the Warner Hall family of Lewises. DNA evidence proves that Richard is not the cousin of Maj. John Lewis, the father of Councilor John Lewis.

Richard Lewis was born 1623 in Edington, Wiltshire, England, on the family estate. Richard was a descendant of Edward ap Lewis b. c. 1512, Earl of Plymouth, who owned extensive lands in Cardiff and Caerphilly, Glamorganshire, Wales. Richard's father, Edward b. 1586, was the proprietor of Greenmeadow Manor in Cymbran, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Edward ap Lewis settled at the Van in Caerphilly in the early 16th century. He and his descendants acquired extensive lands in the Taff & Rhymney Valleys and in the Vale of Glamorgan, particularly in Llanishen, Whitchurch, Radyr, St. Fagans & Penmark, plus property in Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire. In 1616 Sir Edward Lewis of Van purchased St. Fagans Castle and its surrounding lands from Sir William Herbert and set about improving the castle. . . .

. . .Amongst the many descendants of Edward ap Lewis was a branch which settled at Llanishen near Cardiff. The main line of this family sold their lands in Llanishen to the Marquis of Bute when Wyndham Lewis died in 1835, but another branch of the Llanishen family had earlier settled at the New House in Llanishen when Thomas Lewis a son of the main Llanishen line married the daughter of Henry Morgan of Rhiwbina (a scion of the Morgans of Tredegar) and built the New House. . . .

    Robert Sanders, "The Major Historic Family Estates in the Cardiff Area," Personal Web Page, No date <http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/ESTATES.html> 8 January 2006.

Note: In 1536 Monmouthshire was created from the March Lands as an original shire of Wales as part of the Act of Union. In 1542 Monmouthshire was placed under the Courts of Chancery and Exchequer at Westminster for administrative purposes. This created a misperception that Monmouthshire was an English Shire.

Richard is believed to have immigrated to Virginia in about 1658, settling in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co. In about 1663, Richard married Grace James b. 1640 in Northumberland (now Middlesex) Co VA. 

Richard died 1668 in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co VA where he and his spouse are buried. Note, Richard's estate would have gone first to his wife and then to his oldest son, William. Upon William's premature demise in 1684, his sisters became the administrators of the family estate. Why? Presumably, a child had to be 21 to act as administrator. At the time of William's death, only the three daughters mentioned in the probate proceedings had reached the age of majority. This fixes sons George, David, and Benjamin's date of birth after February 1663 and their mother's date of death before February 1684.

Richard Lewis had land grants dated 1658 in Lancaster Co, Va. One piece of property listed as being at the beginning of Sunderland Creek, and commencing at Burhams Creek. One section is listed as running beside Mr. Thomas Wilby and Robert Middleton and Mr. Paddingtons. Richard received a total of 1200 acres for transporting 24 people into the colony.
Virginia Land Grants, p. 277:
Thomas [Tuggle] patented 210 acres in Middlesex Co. which included 100 acres he had purchased in 1662 from Richard Lewis and 110 acres for transporting 3 persons from England.
Orders Book 2 page 181: Middlesex County, Virginia November 3, 1684
Robert Williamson sues Thomas Tuggle for a survey of land according to a patent of Richard Lewis, deceased.

    Children

    1. William Lewis

Middlesex County Orders 1680-1694:
4 Feb 1683/4 Pg. 151: "Administration of all and singular the personal Estate of William Lewis, deceased, is granted to Grace Lewis, Robert Williamson (as marrying Katheren Lewis), Margaret Lewis they being the daughters of Richard Lewis, deceased, and Sisters to the said William Lewis, deceased. And that they joyntly give and put in good security to this Court for the said Estate and that it bee appraised and that the Sherriffe summons Capt. Henry Nichols, Mr. Robert Price, Mr. Matthew Bentlye, and Mr. Richard Willis or any three of them being sworne by Mr. Abraham Weekes or ye next Justice of Peace and that the Clarke (clerk) be there to take the Inventory and that the Administrators give Bond with good securitie for dew administration."

    2. Grace Lewis

    3. Katherine Lewis

    4. Margaret Lewis

    5. George Lewis b. 1663 Lancaster Co VA

    6. David Lewis

    7. Benjamin Lewis b. c. 1666 Lancaster Co VA

Generation #2

Caveat
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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