Military Service, American Revolution

John Marks was a captain of the 10th Virginia regiment 1779.

Dated: 29 Mar 1791
Proved: 30 Oct 1791

Executors: John Gilmer, Nicholas Johnson, Lucy (Meriwether) Marks
Witnesses: Henry Tyler, Thomas Meriwether, William Johnson, Francis Meriwether

Wife: Lucy
Children: John Hastings & Polly Garland Marks
Brother: Peter Marks
Nephews: Hastings and Peter Marks

DEATH
In Dec 1836 Lucy Marks stated that “to the best of my recollection he died in April 1791.”

SACRED
to the memory of
Mrs. LUCY MARKS
who departed this life
September 8th, 1837;
in the 86th year of her age.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”

NAME: Several sources state name was Lucy Thornton Meriwether; need verification.

EXPLORER’S MOTHER TELLS LIFE STORY
Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

Few of the women behind the men of the Corps of Discovery have been remembered by history. One, Lucy Meriwether Marks, Meriwether Lewis’s mother, has not only been remembered, her life has been re-created by Merna DeBolt of Carson. DeBolt will bring Lucy Marks to Ridgefield for a performance to benefit the Ridgefield Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee. The performance will begin Fri., Oct. 7, 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theater. Donations will be accepted, but the performance is free.

DeBolt, 76, retired as a library aide in Skamamia County about 10 years ago. At the same time the Columbia Gorge Interpretative Center was opening near Skamamia Lodge. DeBolt volunteered.

"They were looking for people to portray historical characters to school groups,” DeBolt said. "I decided to be Lucy Marks. Lewis and Clark was becoming very popular and I wanted to be someone connected to the story."

DeBolt portrays Lucy Marks as a mother searching to learn the true cause of her son’s death. Meriwether Lewis died of gunshot wounds in Tennessee, and because he suffered from depression, his death is popularly considered a suicide. Lucy Marks, however, never accepted that her son had shot himself. She cited the lack of powder burns on Meriwether’s shirt as one reason. His belongings were scattered throughout the room, leading to her belief that someone had ransacked the place.

"I think she had a strong personality," DeBolt said. The mother of three by William Lewis, Lucy was widowed when she was young. She married William’s best friend, Capt. John Marks, and had two more children. The family moved to a plantation in Georgia, but Meriwether returned to his Albemarle County, VA, home, where he became a protege of Thomas Jefferson.

"Thomas Jefferson was a great family friend, and he took Meriwether under his wing,” DeBolt said. Much of DeBolt’s information about Lucy Marks comes from letters written to her by Meriwether Lewis and Thomas Jefferson. “Thomas Jefferson said she was one of the most interesting women to talk to," DeBolt said. "She had a love of plants; she was a herbologist who used herbs to treat the sick. Everyone came to Miss Lucy for treatment. When she was older she would go on horseback to treat people."

During the Corps of Discovery trek, Meriwether Lewis wrote to his mother from the Mandan Village on the way west. She did not hear from him again until he returned to Virginia more than a year later. "Meriwether adored her," DeBolt said. "He said she was strict and stern but a devoted Christian woman who had much charity in her bosom."

DeBolt has taken Lucy Marks to several places in Washington and Oregon, and she said she learns something new almost every time she appears. "People come up and tell me they’re related to one of the (Lewis) family,” she said. “I pretend to be Lucy Marks, and sometimes I think I am."

Lucy Meriwether — Mother of Meriwether Lewis
Lucy Meriwether Chapter, NSDAR: https://www.texasdar.org/chapters/LucyMeriwether/lucy.html

Lucy Meriwether (Lewis) was an obvious choice for our chapter's namesake. Besides being the ancestor of five of our founding members, she was the wife of an officer in George Washington’s army and the mother of Meriwether Lewis. Her famous son, along with William Clark, headed an expedition to explore lands where no white man had ever traveled.

Like her son, Lucy's courage was infallible. Her husband died in 1781, leaving Mrs. Lewis with three small children. With the help of her brother and brother-in-law, she continued to manage "Locust Hill," their 1800 acre plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. On one occasion, a group of British officers attempted to confiscate the plantation since it was occupied by a "mere" woman and 3 children. When they confronted her, Lucy jumped to her feet, grabbed a rifle from over the fireplace, and aimed at the officers. “The door is behind you! Open it and go! Never come back. I warn you that I am a good shot.” The officers left, never to return.

Lucy had proved earlier she knew how to shoot a rifle. With no food in the house for supper, her husband and some friends left one morning to hunt deer. Late that afternoon, one of the servants threw open the parlor door and exclaimed, “Miss Lucy, I see a big deer in the yard.” Miss Lucy took the rifle from its rack and killed the deer. The hunters later returned empty-handed.

When Mr. Lewis died, their land was sold to cover his debt. Since the proceeds were not enough, his debtors wanted to also take Mrs. Lewis’ land. She appealed to her neighbor, Thomas Jefferson, who intervened for her.

Eventually, Lucy remarried and moved by wagon train with her new husband to Georgia. But, he died after a short time and she returned to Virginia with her children.

MARR **Based on deposition by Lucy (Meriwether) Lewis Marks, stating she married Capt. John Marks 13 May 1780. _____ has 13 May 1782. ARR states marriage to Capt. Marks was in 1783.