Colonial Meriwether Families - Person Sheet
Colonial Meriwether Families - Person Sheet
NameCatharine Washington 
, F
, FBirth11 Feb 1724
Death19 Feb 1750 Age: 26
BurialUnknown, Virginia660
FlagsVolume 1
FatherJohn Washington , M
MotherCatherine Whiting , F (1694-1743)
Spouses
1Fielding Lewis , M
, MBirth07 Jul 1725, Gloucester County, Virginia
Death19 Dec 1781, Fredericksburg, Virginia Age: 56
BurialSaint Georges Episcopal Burying Ground, Fredericksburg, Virginia659
FamGroupNumPLF 9L11277
FlagsNotable, Volume 1
FatherCol. John Lewis IV , M (1694-1754)
MotherFrances Fielding , F (~1701-1731)
Marriage18 Oct 1746
ChildrenJohn , M (1747-1825)
Notes for Fielding (Spouse 1)
He was known as the “Gunmaker of the Revolution” from fame gained in furnishing powder and cannon for the Continental Army.
Reference notes for Fielding (Spouse 1)
Fielding Lewis
American Virtual Biographies 661
LEWIS, Fielding, patriot, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in 1726; died in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in December 1781. He was the proprietor of half the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, of which he was the first mayor, and of much of the adjoining territory, and during the Revolution he was an ardent patriot, superintended a large manufactory of arms in that neighborhood; the site of this establishment is still known as “Gunny Green.” He was a magistrate and a member of the Virginia legislature for many years. He married Elizabeth, sister of George Washington, and built for her a mansion that is still standing, called Kenmore House, which was handsomely constructed and ornamented with carvings that were brought from England for the purpose.
His wife was majestic in person and lovely in mental and moral attributes. Later in life she so much resembled her brother George that, by putting on his long military coat and his hat, she could easily have been mistaken for the general.
Mary, the mother of Washington, died on Mr. Lewis’s farm and is buried there.
Of their sons, GEORGE was a captain in Washington’s lifeguard, ROBERT one of his private secretaries, and ANDREW was aide to General Daniel Morgan in suppressing the whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania. Another son, LAWRENCE, was Washington’s favorite nephew. His wife, Eleanor Parke Custis, born at Abingdon, Fairfax County, Virginia, in March, 1779; died at Audley, Clarke County, Virginia, 15 July, 1852, was the daughter of John Parke Custis, the son of Martha Washington.
At the death of her father, in 1781, she, with her brother George, was adopted by General Washington, and lived at Mount Vernon. Eleanor was regarded as the most brilliant and beautiful young woman of her day, the pride of her grandmother, and the favorite of Washington, who was the playmate of her childhood and the confidant of her girlhood. However abstracted, she could always command his attention, and he would put aside the most important matter to attend to her demands. She was accomplished in drawing, and a good musician. Washington presented her with a harpsichord at the cost of a thousand dollars. Irving relates an anecdote that illustrates their relations: “She was romantic, and fond of wandering in the moonlight alone in the woods. Mrs. Washington thought this unsafe, and forced from her a promise that she would not visit the woods again unaccompanied, but she was brought one evening into the drawing room where her grandmother, seated in her arm chair, began in the presence of the general a severe reproof. Poor Nellie was reminded of her promise, and taxed with her delinquency. She admitted her fault and essayed no excuse, moving to retire from the room. She was just closing the door when she overheard Washington attempting in a low voice to intercede in her behalf. ‘My dear,’ he observed, ‘I would say no more--perhaps she was not alone.’ His intercession stopped Miss Nellie in her retreat. She reopened the door and advanced up to the general with a firm step. ‘Sir.’ said she, ‘you brought me up to speak the truth, and, when I told grandmamma I was alone, I hope you believe I was alone.’ Washington made one of his most magnanimous bows. ‘My child,’ he replied, ‘I beg your pardon.’ In February, 1799, she married his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, the son of his sister Elizabeth. Young Lewis, after Washington’s retirement from public life, had resided at Mount Vernon, and after their marriage they continued there till the death of Mrs. Washington in May, 1802. Her portrait is from the picture by Gilbert Stuart.--Her grandson, Edward Parke Custis, diplomatist, born in Audley, Clarke County, Virginia, 7 February, 1837, was educated at the University of Virginia, and studied law, but subsequently engaged in planting, He served throughout the civil war in the Confederate army, rising to the rank of colonel, and for fifteen months was a prisoner of war. He settled in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1875, served in the legislature in 1877, was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1880, and in 1885 was appointed by President Cleveland United States minister to Portugal.
American Virtual Biographies 661
LEWIS, Fielding, patriot, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in 1726; died in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in December 1781. He was the proprietor of half the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, of which he was the first mayor, and of much of the adjoining territory, and during the Revolution he was an ardent patriot, superintended a large manufactory of arms in that neighborhood; the site of this establishment is still known as “Gunny Green.” He was a magistrate and a member of the Virginia legislature for many years. He married Elizabeth, sister of George Washington, and built for her a mansion that is still standing, called Kenmore House, which was handsomely constructed and ornamented with carvings that were brought from England for the purpose.
His wife was majestic in person and lovely in mental and moral attributes. Later in life she so much resembled her brother George that, by putting on his long military coat and his hat, she could easily have been mistaken for the general.
Mary, the mother of Washington, died on Mr. Lewis’s farm and is buried there.
Of their sons, GEORGE was a captain in Washington’s lifeguard, ROBERT one of his private secretaries, and ANDREW was aide to General Daniel Morgan in suppressing the whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania. Another son, LAWRENCE, was Washington’s favorite nephew. His wife, Eleanor Parke Custis, born at Abingdon, Fairfax County, Virginia, in March, 1779; died at Audley, Clarke County, Virginia, 15 July, 1852, was the daughter of John Parke Custis, the son of Martha Washington.
At the death of her father, in 1781, she, with her brother George, was adopted by General Washington, and lived at Mount Vernon. Eleanor was regarded as the most brilliant and beautiful young woman of her day, the pride of her grandmother, and the favorite of Washington, who was the playmate of her childhood and the confidant of her girlhood. However abstracted, she could always command his attention, and he would put aside the most important matter to attend to her demands. She was accomplished in drawing, and a good musician. Washington presented her with a harpsichord at the cost of a thousand dollars. Irving relates an anecdote that illustrates their relations: “She was romantic, and fond of wandering in the moonlight alone in the woods. Mrs. Washington thought this unsafe, and forced from her a promise that she would not visit the woods again unaccompanied, but she was brought one evening into the drawing room where her grandmother, seated in her arm chair, began in the presence of the general a severe reproof. Poor Nellie was reminded of her promise, and taxed with her delinquency. She admitted her fault and essayed no excuse, moving to retire from the room. She was just closing the door when she overheard Washington attempting in a low voice to intercede in her behalf. ‘My dear,’ he observed, ‘I would say no more--perhaps she was not alone.’ His intercession stopped Miss Nellie in her retreat. She reopened the door and advanced up to the general with a firm step. ‘Sir.’ said she, ‘you brought me up to speak the truth, and, when I told grandmamma I was alone, I hope you believe I was alone.’ Washington made one of his most magnanimous bows. ‘My child,’ he replied, ‘I beg your pardon.’ In February, 1799, she married his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, the son of his sister Elizabeth. Young Lewis, after Washington’s retirement from public life, had resided at Mount Vernon, and after their marriage they continued there till the death of Mrs. Washington in May, 1802. Her portrait is from the picture by Gilbert Stuart.--Her grandson, Edward Parke Custis, diplomatist, born in Audley, Clarke County, Virginia, 7 February, 1837, was educated at the University of Virginia, and studied law, but subsequently engaged in planting, He served throughout the civil war in the Confederate army, rising to the rank of colonel, and for fifteen months was a prisoner of war. He settled in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1875, served in the legislature in 1877, was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1880, and in 1885 was appointed by President Cleveland United States minister to Portugal.
Reference notes for Fielding (Spouse 1)
Fielding Lewis
Findagrave Memorial
Fielding Lewis is the brother-in-law of President George Washington. Fielding married Betty Washington, the sister of President George Washington.
...a leading citizen and patriot in Fredericksburg before and during the Revolutionary War. He married Betty Washington, George Washington's only sister.
Colonel Lewis owned a plantation of about 1300 hundred acres in what is now downtown Fredericksburg. He and his wife built their home there in 1775. Today, that home is known as Kenmore House, named for Kenmuir Castle in Scotland by a future owner, Samuel Gordon, in about 1819. Kenmore House still stands, as well as the Lewis Store, built in the 1740's by Fielding's father, Colonel John Lewis. It was used as a store until the 1830s, when it was converted to a residence. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation is currently in the process of restoring the store to be operated as an interactive museum, with costumed interpreters selling reproduction 18th century wares. Kenmore House is also currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Although not a soldier, Fielding Lewis was a patriot in every sense of the word. He was in charge of the militia in Spotsylvania County, hence the title "Colonel". He provided salt peter, sulphur, powder, and lead for the manufacture of ammunition during the Revolutionary War. He also supplied salt, flour, bacon and clothing to the soldiers, and provided for them when they were wounded.
He was also involved in the outfitting of ships, most notably the Dragon which was built in Fredericksburg. Captain Eleazer Callendar supervised the ship's construction and took command of the ship in October 1777. The Dragon's first mission was to protect the Rappahannock River. Later, it ventured into service in the Chesapeake Bay. It continued to serve after the Revolutionary War and finally sank in the early 1800's while berthed in Norfolk, Virginia.
Fielding Lewis represented Spotsylvania County in the Virginia House of Burgesses on at least 12 occasions, and was in attendance when Patrick Henry, "The Voice of the Revolution", delivered his famous Stamp Act speech to those assembled in Williamsburg in 1765. "If this be treason, make the most of it."
He served on the Committee of Safety of Fredericksburg and in 1775 was appointed, along with Charles Dick and three others, to establish and equip a manufactory of small arms for the newly formed government. Virginia's third revolutionary convention contributed the first 25,000 pounds, but most of the operating funds came from the personal account of Colonel Lewis. It was the first such factory in America. Two historical markers have been placed at the site near Walker-Grant Middle School on Gunnery Road. One marker describes use of the land during the Spanish American War and a spring located there. The other marker (left) describes the gun factory.
In May 1777, a visitor to the "Fredericksburg Gunnery" reported that workers there were producing "20 musquets, complete with bayonets" a week. Of this production schedule, the Kenmore Association says: "Unfortunately, the patriotic zeal which distinguished Col. Lewis also ruined him financially. He advanced increasingly large sums from his personal funds for the expenses of the Fredericksburg Gunnery as well as for outfitting ships."
Fielding Lewis died in December 1781, just two months after the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The exact date of his death is unknown, but he wrote his will in October 1781 and his estate was settled in January 1782. Historian Paula Felder, a recognized expert on the Lewis and Washington families and author of the book "Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family: A Chronicle of 18th Century Fredericksburg" says Colonel Lewis died while visiting his son, Fielding Lewis, Jr., at his home in the Shenandoah Valley in Frederick County (now Clarke County), Virginia. She bases this on a letter Robert Lewis wrote to his sister Betty "Lewis" Carter in 1826. Both Robert and Betty were children of Fielding Lewis. In the letter, Robert urges Betty to live on Fielding, Jr.'s land. "You would be in the neighborhood where the venerated remains of our dear decd. Father lie."
Colonel Lewis built his home in Fredericksburg and operated a store there. His home, a mansion renamed Kenmore House sometime around 1819, and his store, still stand. It was built by Fielding's father, John, in the 1740s. It is the oldest standing store in the United States. Renovation on the store was completed in 2003. Work on the interior of Kenmore House continues.
SOURCE: Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
Findagrave Memorial
Fielding Lewis is the brother-in-law of President George Washington. Fielding married Betty Washington, the sister of President George Washington.
...a leading citizen and patriot in Fredericksburg before and during the Revolutionary War. He married Betty Washington, George Washington's only sister.
Colonel Lewis owned a plantation of about 1300 hundred acres in what is now downtown Fredericksburg. He and his wife built their home there in 1775. Today, that home is known as Kenmore House, named for Kenmuir Castle in Scotland by a future owner, Samuel Gordon, in about 1819. Kenmore House still stands, as well as the Lewis Store, built in the 1740's by Fielding's father, Colonel John Lewis. It was used as a store until the 1830s, when it was converted to a residence. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation is currently in the process of restoring the store to be operated as an interactive museum, with costumed interpreters selling reproduction 18th century wares. Kenmore House is also currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Although not a soldier, Fielding Lewis was a patriot in every sense of the word. He was in charge of the militia in Spotsylvania County, hence the title "Colonel". He provided salt peter, sulphur, powder, and lead for the manufacture of ammunition during the Revolutionary War. He also supplied salt, flour, bacon and clothing to the soldiers, and provided for them when they were wounded.
He was also involved in the outfitting of ships, most notably the Dragon which was built in Fredericksburg. Captain Eleazer Callendar supervised the ship's construction and took command of the ship in October 1777. The Dragon's first mission was to protect the Rappahannock River. Later, it ventured into service in the Chesapeake Bay. It continued to serve after the Revolutionary War and finally sank in the early 1800's while berthed in Norfolk, Virginia.
Fielding Lewis represented Spotsylvania County in the Virginia House of Burgesses on at least 12 occasions, and was in attendance when Patrick Henry, "The Voice of the Revolution", delivered his famous Stamp Act speech to those assembled in Williamsburg in 1765. "If this be treason, make the most of it."
He served on the Committee of Safety of Fredericksburg and in 1775 was appointed, along with Charles Dick and three others, to establish and equip a manufactory of small arms for the newly formed government. Virginia's third revolutionary convention contributed the first 25,000 pounds, but most of the operating funds came from the personal account of Colonel Lewis. It was the first such factory in America. Two historical markers have been placed at the site near Walker-Grant Middle School on Gunnery Road. One marker describes use of the land during the Spanish American War and a spring located there. The other marker (left) describes the gun factory.
In May 1777, a visitor to the "Fredericksburg Gunnery" reported that workers there were producing "20 musquets, complete with bayonets" a week. Of this production schedule, the Kenmore Association says: "Unfortunately, the patriotic zeal which distinguished Col. Lewis also ruined him financially. He advanced increasingly large sums from his personal funds for the expenses of the Fredericksburg Gunnery as well as for outfitting ships."
Fielding Lewis died in December 1781, just two months after the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The exact date of his death is unknown, but he wrote his will in October 1781 and his estate was settled in January 1782. Historian Paula Felder, a recognized expert on the Lewis and Washington families and author of the book "Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family: A Chronicle of 18th Century Fredericksburg" says Colonel Lewis died while visiting his son, Fielding Lewis, Jr., at his home in the Shenandoah Valley in Frederick County (now Clarke County), Virginia. She bases this on a letter Robert Lewis wrote to his sister Betty "Lewis" Carter in 1826. Both Robert and Betty were children of Fielding Lewis. In the letter, Robert urges Betty to live on Fielding, Jr.'s land. "You would be in the neighborhood where the venerated remains of our dear decd. Father lie."
Colonel Lewis built his home in Fredericksburg and operated a store there. His home, a mansion renamed Kenmore House sometime around 1819, and his store, still stand. It was built by Fielding's father, John, in the 1740s. It is the oldest standing store in the United States. Renovation on the store was completed in 2003. Work on the interior of Kenmore House continues.
SOURCE: Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
Reference notes for Fielding (Spouse 1)
Findagrave Memorial
Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800
WILLS
WILL BOOK E 1772-1798 page 37
LEWIS, FIELDING, St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania Co. d. Oct. 19, 1781, p. Jan. 17, 1782. Wit. George Noble, Benj. Ledwick, John Butler, Gerard Alexander, Will. Booth, William Carpenter. Ex. wife and my sons John, Fielding and George. Leg. wife, Betty Lewis, during life use of all my lands in Spots. Co. except that part rented to my son John; son John, after death of his mother, all my lands in Spots. Co. and in Fredericksburg; son Fielding, 1000 acres of my Frederick Co. lands, on which he lives; son George, remainder of Frederick Co. lands bought of Robert Carter Nicholas, except 1000 acres to my son Lawrence; son-in-law Charles Carter, Esqr; son Lawrence, 1000 acres of land in Frederick Co.; son Robert, one-half of 10,000 acres of land located for me in the Co. of Kentucky by Mr. Hancock Lee, and one-half of 20,000 acres located or to have been located for me by Nathaniel Randolph in the Co. of Kentucky; son Howell, the remaining half of above lands in Kentucky; all my lands purchased at the Land Office except what is already disposed of, to my sons Robert and Howell equally; my share in the Dismal Swamp Co. my lands bought of Marinaduke Naughflett in partnership with Genl. Washington; my lands bought of Dr. Wright and Jones in Nansemond Co., in partnership with Genl. Washington and Dr. Thomas Walker, and the 320 acres of land in Frederick Co. bought of George Mercer's estate, also my share in the Chatham Rope Walk at Richmond to be sold by executors and the money arising to be paid to my six sons before mentioned, in equal portions.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op...flager&id=I40180
Event: Appointment MAR 1748/49 Fredericksburg, VA. 8
Event: Trip 1748 Frederick Co., VA. 9 10
Event: Witness DEC 1750 Williamsburg, James City, VA. 11
Event: Court Appearance NOV 1753 Winchester, Frederick, VA. 12
Event: Election 21 MAY 1754 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 13
Military Service: MAY 1756 Winchester, Frederick, VA. 14
Will: 10 DEC 1781 Frederick Co., VA. 15
Probate: 17 JAN 1782 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 16
Residence: ABT 1759 Fredericksburg, VA. - Millbank
Note: Millbank, next to 'Canning', is styled as one of the most 'expensive ediface's' between Williamsburg and Mount Vernon. 17
Event: with Charles Dick and William Fitzhugh for gunnery & ordinance Commission ABT 1775 Fredericksburg, VA.
_ABBR: Paul Wilstach, Tidewater Virginia (TV - NB5) (Indianapolis, IN.: Bobb' 18
Death: AFT 10 DEC 1781 in Frederick Co., VA. 19 16
Event: Appointment NOV 1753 Fredericksburg, VA. 20
Event: Appointment 1761 Williamsburg, James City, VA. 21
Event: Appointment 1774 Williamsburg, James City, VA. 22
Event: Trip 1744 Fredericksburg, VA. 23
Event: Trip 1769 'Mount Vernon', Fairfax, VA. 24
Event: Witness 13 AUG 1755 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 25
Event: Election 1758 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 26
Event: Election 1760 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 27
Event: Election 1770 Fredericksburg, VA. 28
Event: Election 14 DEC 1774 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 29
Residence: BET 1756 AND 1758 Fredericksburg, VA. 30
Note:
Shortly after his 1746 marriage to Catherine, Francis' father John had built a fine residence (possibly on the location of the present Fredericksburg Library) near the Fielding Store for Francis and his new wife. For some time, Francis was initially under the tutelage of his fathers manager John Thornton in the new venture with the Fielding Store. By April of 1747, Francis was established in the Fredericksburg area as is evidenced by reimbursement received from the Council for services rendered during the September 1746 visit by the Lord Proprietor'stask force headed by William Fairfax.
It is reported that Fielding played an important role in the feisty and often raucous society of colonial Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. His integrity and quiet demeanor are reported to have helped on specific occasions to contain the competing factions in both the church and court politics of the area. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 69). The following references to Fieldings life by no means covers the entirety of his record, but simply offers simply highlights and some examples of his many enterprisingand public activities. In the period just after 1748, Fielding purchased 3,078 acres in the fertile area of Frederick County and in about 1753 another 1200 acres in the Dismal Swamp area of Augusta County.
In March of 1750, Fielding filed in the matter of the estate of Mildred Willis. At about the time that he married Elizabeth 'Betty' Washington, Fielding built a manion just northwest of Fredericksburg that he would call 'Kenmore'. It had ornamental ceilings done in stucco. In 1752, Fielding paid Richard Royston of Gloucester County 861 lbs. for 861 acres of land adjoining his fathers tract near Fredericksburg, and built a mill at Hazel Run. In February 1752, George Washington surveyed the remaining half of the Buckner-Royston Patent for his brother-in-law, and Fielding purchased the tract the following month. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 77, 101). His purchases included at least 3078 acres that were part of the holdings of Robert Carter Nicholas lying in the Valley in then Frederick County (now Clarke Co.), Virginia. In 1752, Fielding Lewis, George (the President) Washington, John Thornton and Charles Dick were early members of the Masonic Lodge of Fredericksburg. Later, Fielding acquired land along the Chriswell Mine Road, and in 1755, the area that he acquired was referenced as 'Mr. Fielding Lewis' Qtr called the Halfway House'. It was located about half way between the mine at the North Anna River and the Hazel Run wharves located in the town of Fredericksburg.
One of the principal crops that Fielding raised at his Spotsylvania plantation was wheat. As a result he maintaine a significant interest in mills and in August of 1752, he petitioned the courts for permission to erect a water grist mill on some of the acerage that he had recently purchased. It is believed that he supplied George Washington with several superior strains that were subsequently produced at Washington's Mount Vernon farm. In 1754, Francis laid off another lot (lot 59) in Fredericksburg, when he sold it to William Waller. (Currently this lot is located at the corner of Charles and George Streets). The same year, he inherited (in his fathers estate) the 400 acre tract on which he was living outside of Fredericksburg which combined with the Royston land to comprise a plantation of more than 1200 acres. The principal result of Fielding's fathers death is that he now came to manage the business in the city of Fredericksburg as well as the Spotsylvania lands on his own. In July of 1755, Fielding was elected toa one year term as treasurer of the organization and would later serve on term as Grand Master. In March of 1756, Fielding was awarded an appointment from Governor Dinwiddie to supply provisions to the Virigina Regiment. About this same time, Francis took up an additional 600 acres in Spotsylvania County. This land evidently came into Francis's possession via his older brother Warner. (Ref: Spotsylvania County Deed Book E., p. 758). In February 1757, Fielding made one of the first major independent decisions regarding the Lewis Store. He sold the one acre business complex for 450 lbs., that had been originally built by his father, to John Thornton. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 131. Spotsylvania Co. Deed Bk. E., p. 357, 24 February 1757.) On 9 October 1757, Fielding lent his brother Charles 650 lbs. and took a mortgage of Vaux Hall and guaranteed his brother a seven year least on the property. Between 1756 and 1758 Fielding was involved in numerous commercial transactions with James Madison (father of the President) of Montpilier in Orange Co., VA.
In December of 1757, Fielding was commissioned as head of the Spotsylvania Milita as a result of the actions taken by John Thornton against John Spotswood in regard to the march to Winchester, Frederick, VA. in May of 1756. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 214-215). In the latter half of 1760, Fielding sold 32 of his town lots, grossing more than 1000 lbs. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 138, and Forgotten Companions, Paula S. Felder, pp. 138-139). He became a commissioned a County Lieutenant in 1758, and Commander-in-chief of the County militia in 1761. In May of 1763, Fielding, along with George Washington, Thomas Walker and Burwell Bassett traveled south to inspect the area known as 'the Dismal Swamp'. This effort to drain of 1000 acres of the available land eventuallyentailed the survey of at least 40,000 acres. (Ref: 'Articles of Agreement of the Dismal Swamp Company, 1763', Virginia Magazine of Historyand Biography, Vol. 37 (1929), pp. 64-65). Unfortunately, the project never came to success and the affluent Anthony Bacon (the London factor) would later hold Fielding responsible for his losses and take legal action against him.
By April 1765, Fielding was enlisted to administer a school patterned after the Williamsburg model in Fredericksburg, but it was eventuallyterminated in 1770. In 1766, Fielding and George Washington were assigned to dispose of the land of Geroge Carter who had died in England. In 1767, Fielding borrowed 1400 lbs. from his friend Gabriel Jonesof Rockingham county. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 185). This loan may have been in anticipation of imminent purchasesFielding had in mind. Fielding purchased the Vaux Hall property fromhis brother Charles. This purchase included 1000 acres on the Ni River and was purchased for about 1000 lbs. (one reference suggests that the sale price was 1500 lbs., Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 205 suggests that the price was 100 lbs. (?)). The Vaux Hall property later passed to Francis's son John. Fielding's life style was notone of extravagant tastes although his income might have allowed it.He did have a 'light post chariot and a good wine cellar. It is reported that Fielding et. al. favored division of the Parish after Januaryof 1768. He was elected to the new St. George's Parish Vestry in 1769.
In 1769, Fielding embarked on a plan to build a plantation manor house just beyond the new limits of Fredericksburg, later to be called Kenmore. In 1769 and in 1770, he imported a total of sixty indentured servants from Liverpool, England for that purpose. In 1769, Fielding and George Washington combined a visit to Lord Fairfax on business, with astopover at lands (approximately 3000 acres that included at least one mill) that Fielding had recently taken up in Frederick Co., VA.. That land would be ultimately become the location of his son Fieldings residence after his marriage.
Early in 1770, Fielding and Charles Washington were authorized to build a gallery in the addition to the church, where Fielding was a vestryman. In 1770, he was involved as a justice in at least five separate court matters. In August of 1770, he was appointed to the committee overseeing the repair of the Hacel Run Bridge. By 1771, Fielding was actively involved in the effort to build a new home in Fredericksburg. In 1772, he was assigned another administrative chore by an act of the Virginia Assembly when he was appointed to a committee 'to strike a dividing line between the counties of Stafford and King George. In 1773, he was elected as a member of the House of Burgesses. In 1773, Fielding wrote to his brother in law George Washington that he stood to lose at least 200 lbs. due to the indebtedness of Roger Dixon. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 127; also see Kenmore Archives). That same year he mortgaged much of his plantation to the trustees of Fredericksburg for 830 lbs. In about 1775, William, with Fielding Lewis and Charles Dick was responsible for a ammunitions plant that supplied a 'Hundred stand of arms' for the revolutionary war effort in Fredericksburg. Soon, when public funds seemed to dry up, Fielding came to the rescue and lent the state of Virginia every dollar he could raise from his own private fortune.
It is believed that the home of Fielding and his wife Elizabeth was located on lots 83, 84, 85 and 86 on the entire block bounded by Princess Anne, Fauquier, Caroline and Lewis Streets; in Fredericksburg. It is reported that this home was eventually purchased by Edward Carter,a grandson of Robert 'King' Carter in about 1776. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 141) In 1775, Fielding, Elizabeth and their family began their move into the new home, later called Kenmore.
During the Revolution (being unable to enter the army because of bad eyes), he advanced £7,000 for the manufacture of arms at the 'Gunnery', established by the State of Virginia at Fredericksburg. For this outlay, he was repaid in depreciated money which was worth about two Pence on the Pound. Fielding invested his repayment largely in Western lands in the hope of offsetting his losses. During 1776, Fielding attended ot local matters and fulfilled his traditional responsibilites such as attending a vestry meeting in February and presiding at the courts held in March throught June. In March 1777, Fielding purchased half o the brick warehouse on Sophia Street, on lot 11 of Fredericksburg. This purchase is believed to have been in relation to his purchaseof the small sloop, the 'Betsey', which weighted 35 tons. This is reported to have been necessary as a result of the cutoff of goods from England the the ability of the British blockade to effectively stop the trade of larger vessels. Also during March of 1777, Fielding was present for the meetings of the Spring Court. In April of 1778, Fielding advertised cargos from two ships arriving at Fredericksburg, the 'Betsey' and the 'Harleguin'. In November of 1778, Fielding, in the company of Charles Dick and Ebenezer Hazard traveled to Williamsburg. Their trip appears to have been successful as the gun factory in Fredericksburg soon received an infusion of 5000 lbs. by December.
In October of 1779, Francis Thornton and Fielding Lewis were among sixty-five signators on the petition suggesting that the Hunter Family'svirtual monopoly of the rivercrossing between Fredericksburg and Falmouths be overtuirned. (Ref: Virginia State Petitions, The Library of Virginia. Archives Research Services). In 1780, early in the year, Fielding sent his son Fielding Jr. westward to purchase over 30000 acresof land as well as an additional 20000 acres between Pittsburgh and the Green River in Kentucky. Fielding Sr., as he had for the past several summers, departed the Fredericksburg area so as to spend the summer in the area of Berkley Springs. On 11 April 1780, Fielding was named as one of the managers of the Fredericksburg Company. (Ref: Maruy v. Robinson, Fredericksburg Hustings Court of Law (CR-HU-L 1785). By September, he had returned in time to preside at the Fall Court. In November, Fielding was in attendance at the House of Delegates in Williamsburg. Also, in 1780, Fielding had been appointed to receive collections from Culpeper and Orange Counties, but his failing health prevented him from completing his assignment. The increasing inflation as aresult of the war, as well as the devaluation of money caused a greatfinancial distress at the gun factory in Fredericksburg. Fielding had suffered fusiness losses, he had drained his resources So as to try and solve this situation, Fielding began to sell off some of his properties. Toward the end of the year, he sold a town lot and most of his Vaux Hall property These two sales are believed to have netted him about 7000 lbs. These sales resulted with enough funds to supply the needs of the gun factory in 1780. (Ref: Spotsylvania County Deed Book J, p. 594, 612, 615).
During his life, Fielding had been elected to the House of Burgesses twice and elected senior churchwarden four times by his fellow membersof the vestry. In April of 1781, Fielding (in his last letter to hislifelong friend and brother-in-law) wrote to General Washington in regard to the health of his mother Mary (Ball) Washington and did speak of her continuing recovery. In addition to this, he himseld 'had beenan invalid confined to his onw home since October of 1780'. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 286). On 17 May 1781, in his last noted action , Fielding was involved in a trip to the courthouse on the Po River to record the sale of his properties (of the former Warner patent, and subsequently known as Vaux Hall)on the Ni River. The will of Fielding was presented in Spotsylvania Co., VA. on 17 Januar 1782. He willed the 'Kenmore' mansion to his wife Betty, for the remainder of her life. One of the legacies that heleft to his son John was the still unpaid debt too Gabriel Jones of 1767, which by then with interest totaled 2191 lbs.. In addition to that John received all of his fathers land between Far Hill Road and theRappahannock river. The terms of the codicil of 10 December 1781 setthe division of the estate not to begin until December 1782.
Additional references for Fielding include:
1.) 'Ancestral Records & Portraits', Vol. 1, compilation of the Colonial Dames of America, 1910, p. 131.
2.) 'William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine', Vol. 10, No. 1. (July, 1901), pp. 48-54.
Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800
WILLS
WILL BOOK E 1772-1798 page 37
LEWIS, FIELDING, St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania Co. d. Oct. 19, 1781, p. Jan. 17, 1782. Wit. George Noble, Benj. Ledwick, John Butler, Gerard Alexander, Will. Booth, William Carpenter. Ex. wife and my sons John, Fielding and George. Leg. wife, Betty Lewis, during life use of all my lands in Spots. Co. except that part rented to my son John; son John, after death of his mother, all my lands in Spots. Co. and in Fredericksburg; son Fielding, 1000 acres of my Frederick Co. lands, on which he lives; son George, remainder of Frederick Co. lands bought of Robert Carter Nicholas, except 1000 acres to my son Lawrence; son-in-law Charles Carter, Esqr; son Lawrence, 1000 acres of land in Frederick Co.; son Robert, one-half of 10,000 acres of land located for me in the Co. of Kentucky by Mr. Hancock Lee, and one-half of 20,000 acres located or to have been located for me by Nathaniel Randolph in the Co. of Kentucky; son Howell, the remaining half of above lands in Kentucky; all my lands purchased at the Land Office except what is already disposed of, to my sons Robert and Howell equally; my share in the Dismal Swamp Co. my lands bought of Marinaduke Naughflett in partnership with Genl. Washington; my lands bought of Dr. Wright and Jones in Nansemond Co., in partnership with Genl. Washington and Dr. Thomas Walker, and the 320 acres of land in Frederick Co. bought of George Mercer's estate, also my share in the Chatham Rope Walk at Richmond to be sold by executors and the money arising to be paid to my six sons before mentioned, in equal portions.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op...flager&id=I40180
Event: Appointment MAR 1748/49 Fredericksburg, VA. 8
Event: Trip 1748 Frederick Co., VA. 9 10
Event: Witness DEC 1750 Williamsburg, James City, VA. 11
Event: Court Appearance NOV 1753 Winchester, Frederick, VA. 12
Event: Election 21 MAY 1754 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 13
Military Service: MAY 1756 Winchester, Frederick, VA. 14
Will: 10 DEC 1781 Frederick Co., VA. 15
Probate: 17 JAN 1782 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 16
Residence: ABT 1759 Fredericksburg, VA. - Millbank
Note: Millbank, next to 'Canning', is styled as one of the most 'expensive ediface's' between Williamsburg and Mount Vernon. 17
Event: with Charles Dick and William Fitzhugh for gunnery & ordinance Commission ABT 1775 Fredericksburg, VA.
_ABBR: Paul Wilstach, Tidewater Virginia (TV - NB5) (Indianapolis, IN.: Bobb' 18
Death: AFT 10 DEC 1781 in Frederick Co., VA. 19 16
Event: Appointment NOV 1753 Fredericksburg, VA. 20
Event: Appointment 1761 Williamsburg, James City, VA. 21
Event: Appointment 1774 Williamsburg, James City, VA. 22
Event: Trip 1744 Fredericksburg, VA. 23
Event: Trip 1769 'Mount Vernon', Fairfax, VA. 24
Event: Witness 13 AUG 1755 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 25
Event: Election 1758 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 26
Event: Election 1760 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 27
Event: Election 1770 Fredericksburg, VA. 28
Event: Election 14 DEC 1774 Spotsylvania Co., VA. 29
Residence: BET 1756 AND 1758 Fredericksburg, VA. 30
Note:
Shortly after his 1746 marriage to Catherine, Francis' father John had built a fine residence (possibly on the location of the present Fredericksburg Library) near the Fielding Store for Francis and his new wife. For some time, Francis was initially under the tutelage of his fathers manager John Thornton in the new venture with the Fielding Store. By April of 1747, Francis was established in the Fredericksburg area as is evidenced by reimbursement received from the Council for services rendered during the September 1746 visit by the Lord Proprietor'stask force headed by William Fairfax.
It is reported that Fielding played an important role in the feisty and often raucous society of colonial Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. His integrity and quiet demeanor are reported to have helped on specific occasions to contain the competing factions in both the church and court politics of the area. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 69). The following references to Fieldings life by no means covers the entirety of his record, but simply offers simply highlights and some examples of his many enterprisingand public activities. In the period just after 1748, Fielding purchased 3,078 acres in the fertile area of Frederick County and in about 1753 another 1200 acres in the Dismal Swamp area of Augusta County.
In March of 1750, Fielding filed in the matter of the estate of Mildred Willis. At about the time that he married Elizabeth 'Betty' Washington, Fielding built a manion just northwest of Fredericksburg that he would call 'Kenmore'. It had ornamental ceilings done in stucco. In 1752, Fielding paid Richard Royston of Gloucester County 861 lbs. for 861 acres of land adjoining his fathers tract near Fredericksburg, and built a mill at Hazel Run. In February 1752, George Washington surveyed the remaining half of the Buckner-Royston Patent for his brother-in-law, and Fielding purchased the tract the following month. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 77, 101). His purchases included at least 3078 acres that were part of the holdings of Robert Carter Nicholas lying in the Valley in then Frederick County (now Clarke Co.), Virginia. In 1752, Fielding Lewis, George (the President) Washington, John Thornton and Charles Dick were early members of the Masonic Lodge of Fredericksburg. Later, Fielding acquired land along the Chriswell Mine Road, and in 1755, the area that he acquired was referenced as 'Mr. Fielding Lewis' Qtr called the Halfway House'. It was located about half way between the mine at the North Anna River and the Hazel Run wharves located in the town of Fredericksburg.
One of the principal crops that Fielding raised at his Spotsylvania plantation was wheat. As a result he maintaine a significant interest in mills and in August of 1752, he petitioned the courts for permission to erect a water grist mill on some of the acerage that he had recently purchased. It is believed that he supplied George Washington with several superior strains that were subsequently produced at Washington's Mount Vernon farm. In 1754, Francis laid off another lot (lot 59) in Fredericksburg, when he sold it to William Waller. (Currently this lot is located at the corner of Charles and George Streets). The same year, he inherited (in his fathers estate) the 400 acre tract on which he was living outside of Fredericksburg which combined with the Royston land to comprise a plantation of more than 1200 acres. The principal result of Fielding's fathers death is that he now came to manage the business in the city of Fredericksburg as well as the Spotsylvania lands on his own. In July of 1755, Fielding was elected toa one year term as treasurer of the organization and would later serve on term as Grand Master. In March of 1756, Fielding was awarded an appointment from Governor Dinwiddie to supply provisions to the Virigina Regiment. About this same time, Francis took up an additional 600 acres in Spotsylvania County. This land evidently came into Francis's possession via his older brother Warner. (Ref: Spotsylvania County Deed Book E., p. 758). In February 1757, Fielding made one of the first major independent decisions regarding the Lewis Store. He sold the one acre business complex for 450 lbs., that had been originally built by his father, to John Thornton. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 131. Spotsylvania Co. Deed Bk. E., p. 357, 24 February 1757.) On 9 October 1757, Fielding lent his brother Charles 650 lbs. and took a mortgage of Vaux Hall and guaranteed his brother a seven year least on the property. Between 1756 and 1758 Fielding was involved in numerous commercial transactions with James Madison (father of the President) of Montpilier in Orange Co., VA.
In December of 1757, Fielding was commissioned as head of the Spotsylvania Milita as a result of the actions taken by John Thornton against John Spotswood in regard to the march to Winchester, Frederick, VA. in May of 1756. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 214-215). In the latter half of 1760, Fielding sold 32 of his town lots, grossing more than 1000 lbs. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 138, and Forgotten Companions, Paula S. Felder, pp. 138-139). He became a commissioned a County Lieutenant in 1758, and Commander-in-chief of the County militia in 1761. In May of 1763, Fielding, along with George Washington, Thomas Walker and Burwell Bassett traveled south to inspect the area known as 'the Dismal Swamp'. This effort to drain of 1000 acres of the available land eventuallyentailed the survey of at least 40,000 acres. (Ref: 'Articles of Agreement of the Dismal Swamp Company, 1763', Virginia Magazine of Historyand Biography, Vol. 37 (1929), pp. 64-65). Unfortunately, the project never came to success and the affluent Anthony Bacon (the London factor) would later hold Fielding responsible for his losses and take legal action against him.
By April 1765, Fielding was enlisted to administer a school patterned after the Williamsburg model in Fredericksburg, but it was eventuallyterminated in 1770. In 1766, Fielding and George Washington were assigned to dispose of the land of Geroge Carter who had died in England. In 1767, Fielding borrowed 1400 lbs. from his friend Gabriel Jonesof Rockingham county. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 185). This loan may have been in anticipation of imminent purchasesFielding had in mind. Fielding purchased the Vaux Hall property fromhis brother Charles. This purchase included 1000 acres on the Ni River and was purchased for about 1000 lbs. (one reference suggests that the sale price was 1500 lbs., Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 205 suggests that the price was 100 lbs. (?)). The Vaux Hall property later passed to Francis's son John. Fielding's life style was notone of extravagant tastes although his income might have allowed it.He did have a 'light post chariot and a good wine cellar. It is reported that Fielding et. al. favored division of the Parish after Januaryof 1768. He was elected to the new St. George's Parish Vestry in 1769.
In 1769, Fielding embarked on a plan to build a plantation manor house just beyond the new limits of Fredericksburg, later to be called Kenmore. In 1769 and in 1770, he imported a total of sixty indentured servants from Liverpool, England for that purpose. In 1769, Fielding and George Washington combined a visit to Lord Fairfax on business, with astopover at lands (approximately 3000 acres that included at least one mill) that Fielding had recently taken up in Frederick Co., VA.. That land would be ultimately become the location of his son Fieldings residence after his marriage.
Early in 1770, Fielding and Charles Washington were authorized to build a gallery in the addition to the church, where Fielding was a vestryman. In 1770, he was involved as a justice in at least five separate court matters. In August of 1770, he was appointed to the committee overseeing the repair of the Hacel Run Bridge. By 1771, Fielding was actively involved in the effort to build a new home in Fredericksburg. In 1772, he was assigned another administrative chore by an act of the Virginia Assembly when he was appointed to a committee 'to strike a dividing line between the counties of Stafford and King George. In 1773, he was elected as a member of the House of Burgesses. In 1773, Fielding wrote to his brother in law George Washington that he stood to lose at least 200 lbs. due to the indebtedness of Roger Dixon. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 127; also see Kenmore Archives). That same year he mortgaged much of his plantation to the trustees of Fredericksburg for 830 lbs. In about 1775, William, with Fielding Lewis and Charles Dick was responsible for a ammunitions plant that supplied a 'Hundred stand of arms' for the revolutionary war effort in Fredericksburg. Soon, when public funds seemed to dry up, Fielding came to the rescue and lent the state of Virginia every dollar he could raise from his own private fortune.
It is believed that the home of Fielding and his wife Elizabeth was located on lots 83, 84, 85 and 86 on the entire block bounded by Princess Anne, Fauquier, Caroline and Lewis Streets; in Fredericksburg. It is reported that this home was eventually purchased by Edward Carter,a grandson of Robert 'King' Carter in about 1776. (Ref: Forgotton Companions, Paula S. Felder, p. 141) In 1775, Fielding, Elizabeth and their family began their move into the new home, later called Kenmore.
During the Revolution (being unable to enter the army because of bad eyes), he advanced £7,000 for the manufacture of arms at the 'Gunnery', established by the State of Virginia at Fredericksburg. For this outlay, he was repaid in depreciated money which was worth about two Pence on the Pound. Fielding invested his repayment largely in Western lands in the hope of offsetting his losses. During 1776, Fielding attended ot local matters and fulfilled his traditional responsibilites such as attending a vestry meeting in February and presiding at the courts held in March throught June. In March 1777, Fielding purchased half o the brick warehouse on Sophia Street, on lot 11 of Fredericksburg. This purchase is believed to have been in relation to his purchaseof the small sloop, the 'Betsey', which weighted 35 tons. This is reported to have been necessary as a result of the cutoff of goods from England the the ability of the British blockade to effectively stop the trade of larger vessels. Also during March of 1777, Fielding was present for the meetings of the Spring Court. In April of 1778, Fielding advertised cargos from two ships arriving at Fredericksburg, the 'Betsey' and the 'Harleguin'. In November of 1778, Fielding, in the company of Charles Dick and Ebenezer Hazard traveled to Williamsburg. Their trip appears to have been successful as the gun factory in Fredericksburg soon received an infusion of 5000 lbs. by December.
In October of 1779, Francis Thornton and Fielding Lewis were among sixty-five signators on the petition suggesting that the Hunter Family'svirtual monopoly of the rivercrossing between Fredericksburg and Falmouths be overtuirned. (Ref: Virginia State Petitions, The Library of Virginia. Archives Research Services). In 1780, early in the year, Fielding sent his son Fielding Jr. westward to purchase over 30000 acresof land as well as an additional 20000 acres between Pittsburgh and the Green River in Kentucky. Fielding Sr., as he had for the past several summers, departed the Fredericksburg area so as to spend the summer in the area of Berkley Springs. On 11 April 1780, Fielding was named as one of the managers of the Fredericksburg Company. (Ref: Maruy v. Robinson, Fredericksburg Hustings Court of Law (CR-HU-L 1785). By September, he had returned in time to preside at the Fall Court. In November, Fielding was in attendance at the House of Delegates in Williamsburg. Also, in 1780, Fielding had been appointed to receive collections from Culpeper and Orange Counties, but his failing health prevented him from completing his assignment. The increasing inflation as aresult of the war, as well as the devaluation of money caused a greatfinancial distress at the gun factory in Fredericksburg. Fielding had suffered fusiness losses, he had drained his resources So as to try and solve this situation, Fielding began to sell off some of his properties. Toward the end of the year, he sold a town lot and most of his Vaux Hall property These two sales are believed to have netted him about 7000 lbs. These sales resulted with enough funds to supply the needs of the gun factory in 1780. (Ref: Spotsylvania County Deed Book J, p. 594, 612, 615).
During his life, Fielding had been elected to the House of Burgesses twice and elected senior churchwarden four times by his fellow membersof the vestry. In April of 1781, Fielding (in his last letter to hislifelong friend and brother-in-law) wrote to General Washington in regard to the health of his mother Mary (Ball) Washington and did speak of her continuing recovery. In addition to this, he himseld 'had beenan invalid confined to his onw home since October of 1780'. (Ref: Fielding Lewis and the Washington Family, Paula S. Felder, p. 286). On 17 May 1781, in his last noted action , Fielding was involved in a trip to the courthouse on the Po River to record the sale of his properties (of the former Warner patent, and subsequently known as Vaux Hall)on the Ni River. The will of Fielding was presented in Spotsylvania Co., VA. on 17 Januar 1782. He willed the 'Kenmore' mansion to his wife Betty, for the remainder of her life. One of the legacies that heleft to his son John was the still unpaid debt too Gabriel Jones of 1767, which by then with interest totaled 2191 lbs.. In addition to that John received all of his fathers land between Far Hill Road and theRappahannock river. The terms of the codicil of 10 December 1781 setthe division of the estate not to begin until December 1782.
Additional references for Fielding include:
1.) 'Ancestral Records & Portraits', Vol. 1, compilation of the Colonial Dames of America, 1910, p. 131.
2.) 'William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine', Vol. 10, No. 1. (July, 1901), pp. 48-54.
Reference notes for Fielding (Spouse 1)
Findagrave Memorial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fielding_Lewis
Fielding Lewis (July 7, 1725 – December 7, 1781) was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War and the brother-in-law of George Washington. A successful merchant in Fredericksburg, VA, he had a plantation, which later became known as Kenmore. Notable for its Georgian mansion, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in the twentieth century.
Early life and education
Lewis was born at Warner Hall, a plantation in Gloucester County, Virginia, the son of John Lewis (1694-1754), a merchant and planter, and Frances Fielding (c1702-1731). He was the third of seven children.[1] His paternal uncle, Robert Lewis (1704-1765), became the grandfather of Meriwether Lewis, who would explore the Louisiana Purchase.[2]
His father had a store in Fredericksburg. In 1749 John Lewis had a fine retail building constructed to display his wares and provide space for a selling floor and storage. The sandstone quoins, usually found only on larger mansions, were a sign of his aspirations. His son Fielding joined him in the business, taking it over in the 1750s.
The originally one-and-a-half story building was expanded to two stories in the early 19th century. Despite competition and changing tastes, the handsome building operated successfully as a store for nearly 100 years, until 1820, when it was finally adapted for residential use. Donated to the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation in 1996, the building has been studied and stabilized for restoration. It is believed to be one of the oldest retail buildings in the United States.[3]
Marriage and family
Lewis married Catharine Washington on October 18, 1746. She was his second cousin, the daughter of John Washington and Catharine Whiting, and a first cousin to George Washington. They had three children before Catharine died on February 19, 1750.
A few months later, on May 7, 1750, Lewis married Betty Washington (1733-1797), the sister of George Washington and another second cousin. She was 17 years old. They had 11 children together. Betty outlived Lewis by 16 years, dying in 1797.
Fielding Lewis, II(1751-1803); married Anne Alexander, had issue. Married Nancy Alexander, had issue.
Augustine Lewis(January 22, 1752-1756); died in infancy.
Warner Lewis(June 24, 1755-1756); died in infancy.
George Washington Lewis(March 14, 1757-November 15, 1831); married Catherine Daingerfield, had issue.
Mary Lewis(April 22, 1759-December 25, 1759); died in infancy.
Charles Lewis(October 3, 1760-1793)
Samuel Lewis(May 14, 1762-December 31, 1810)
Elizabeth Lewis(February 23, 1765-August 9, 1830); married distant cousin Charles Carter, had issue.
Lawrence Lewis(March 4, 1767-November 20, 1839); married half-cousin Eleanor Parke Custis, had issue.
Robert Lewis(June 25, 1769-January 17, 1829); married cousin Judith Carter Browne, had issue.
Howell Lewis, Sr.(December 12, 1771-December 26, 1822); married Ellen Hackley Pollard, had issue.
Their son Lawrence Lewis later married Eleanor Parke Custis, George Washington's adopted daughter and step-granddaughter, tying the families closely together.
Career
Lewis was established as a successful merchant before the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed as Commissary General of Munitions during the war, and commissioned at the rank of Colonel.[4]
He and his second wife Betty resided on a plantation (later named Kenmore) in Fredericksburg. Like others in the planter elite, they were supported by the labor of slaves. Betty's mother Mary Ball Washington frequently visited them and had a favorite spot she called her "meditation rock".
In 1769, Fielding and Betty started construction of a large Georgian mansion on their property, which was completed in 1775. It has some of the most refined colonial interior finishes of any surviving mansion. Named by later owners as Kenmore Plantation, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lewis died in Fredericksburg in 1781 at the end of the Revolutionary War. Before her death in 1789, Mary Washington asked to be buried at her favorite spot at Kenmore, and her daughter Betty arranged for that.
In 1833 a memorial was started at Mary Washington's gravesite, but never completed. Following the United States Centennial in 1889, numerous historic and lineage societies were formed; the Mary Washington Memorial Association held fundraising events and commissioned a memorial for her gravesite. It was dedicated in 1894 at Mary Washington's gravesite in a ceremony presided over by President Grover Cleveland of the United States.
Legacy and honors
The Lewis mansion and property was later named Kenmore Plantation when purchased before the Civil War by people outside the Lewis family. It is now operated as a house museum, and is open to the public for viewing.
In the late 20th century, the Kenmore Plantation purchased Ferry Farm, the property said to be George Washington's boyhood home, to keep it from being developed.
Lewis' great-granddaughter Catherine Willis Gray married into the Bonaparte family of France. A sixth-generation descendant, Fielding Lewis Wright, served as Governor of Mississippi.
Fielding and his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Lewis are each commemorated with street names in the Ferry Farm subdivision outside Fredericksburg, with Fielding Circle and Betty Lewis Drive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fielding_Lewis
Fielding Lewis (July 7, 1725 – December 7, 1781) was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War and the brother-in-law of George Washington. A successful merchant in Fredericksburg, VA, he had a plantation, which later became known as Kenmore. Notable for its Georgian mansion, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in the twentieth century.
Early life and education
Lewis was born at Warner Hall, a plantation in Gloucester County, Virginia, the son of John Lewis (1694-1754), a merchant and planter, and Frances Fielding (c1702-1731). He was the third of seven children.[1] His paternal uncle, Robert Lewis (1704-1765), became the grandfather of Meriwether Lewis, who would explore the Louisiana Purchase.[2]
His father had a store in Fredericksburg. In 1749 John Lewis had a fine retail building constructed to display his wares and provide space for a selling floor and storage. The sandstone quoins, usually found only on larger mansions, were a sign of his aspirations. His son Fielding joined him in the business, taking it over in the 1750s.
The originally one-and-a-half story building was expanded to two stories in the early 19th century. Despite competition and changing tastes, the handsome building operated successfully as a store for nearly 100 years, until 1820, when it was finally adapted for residential use. Donated to the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation in 1996, the building has been studied and stabilized for restoration. It is believed to be one of the oldest retail buildings in the United States.[3]
Marriage and family
Lewis married Catharine Washington on October 18, 1746. She was his second cousin, the daughter of John Washington and Catharine Whiting, and a first cousin to George Washington. They had three children before Catharine died on February 19, 1750.
A few months later, on May 7, 1750, Lewis married Betty Washington (1733-1797), the sister of George Washington and another second cousin. She was 17 years old. They had 11 children together. Betty outlived Lewis by 16 years, dying in 1797.
Fielding Lewis, II(1751-1803); married Anne Alexander, had issue. Married Nancy Alexander, had issue.
Augustine Lewis(January 22, 1752-1756); died in infancy.
Warner Lewis(June 24, 1755-1756); died in infancy.
George Washington Lewis(March 14, 1757-November 15, 1831); married Catherine Daingerfield, had issue.
Mary Lewis(April 22, 1759-December 25, 1759); died in infancy.
Charles Lewis(October 3, 1760-1793)
Samuel Lewis(May 14, 1762-December 31, 1810)
Elizabeth Lewis(February 23, 1765-August 9, 1830); married distant cousin Charles Carter, had issue.
Lawrence Lewis(March 4, 1767-November 20, 1839); married half-cousin Eleanor Parke Custis, had issue.
Robert Lewis(June 25, 1769-January 17, 1829); married cousin Judith Carter Browne, had issue.
Howell Lewis, Sr.(December 12, 1771-December 26, 1822); married Ellen Hackley Pollard, had issue.
Their son Lawrence Lewis later married Eleanor Parke Custis, George Washington's adopted daughter and step-granddaughter, tying the families closely together.
Career
Lewis was established as a successful merchant before the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed as Commissary General of Munitions during the war, and commissioned at the rank of Colonel.[4]
He and his second wife Betty resided on a plantation (later named Kenmore) in Fredericksburg. Like others in the planter elite, they were supported by the labor of slaves. Betty's mother Mary Ball Washington frequently visited them and had a favorite spot she called her "meditation rock".
In 1769, Fielding and Betty started construction of a large Georgian mansion on their property, which was completed in 1775. It has some of the most refined colonial interior finishes of any surviving mansion. Named by later owners as Kenmore Plantation, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lewis died in Fredericksburg in 1781 at the end of the Revolutionary War. Before her death in 1789, Mary Washington asked to be buried at her favorite spot at Kenmore, and her daughter Betty arranged for that.
In 1833 a memorial was started at Mary Washington's gravesite, but never completed. Following the United States Centennial in 1889, numerous historic and lineage societies were formed; the Mary Washington Memorial Association held fundraising events and commissioned a memorial for her gravesite. It was dedicated in 1894 at Mary Washington's gravesite in a ceremony presided over by President Grover Cleveland of the United States.
Legacy and honors
The Lewis mansion and property was later named Kenmore Plantation when purchased before the Civil War by people outside the Lewis family. It is now operated as a house museum, and is open to the public for viewing.
In the late 20th century, the Kenmore Plantation purchased Ferry Farm, the property said to be George Washington's boyhood home, to keep it from being developed.
Lewis' great-granddaughter Catherine Willis Gray married into the Bonaparte family of France. A sixth-generation descendant, Fielding Lewis Wright, served as Governor of Mississippi.
Fielding and his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Lewis are each commemorated with street names in the Ferry Farm subdivision outside Fredericksburg, with Fielding Circle and Betty Lewis Drive.
Reference notes for Fielding (Spouse 1)
Findagrave Memorial
Ref: Spotsvylania Co. Virginia Deed Book H, 1771-1774 (Spotsylvania County Records, Pg 301)
Decr 25, 1772
JOHN CAMPBELL, ESQR and Mary, his wife, and ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD ESQR to FIELDING LEWIS and Joseph Brock, Gentl, CHURCHWARDENS OF ST GEORGE PARISH, LEASE
50 acres in St. Geo Parish, Spots Co
315 lbs tobacco
Jno Brock, John Munro, Jona Wilson
no date of record
(he was married to Elizabeth Washington, sister to President GEORGE WASHINGTON. The Lewis' witnessessing some other deeds are most likely their sons)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~...g0000052.html#I17365
http://www.kenmore.org/kenmore/owners.html
http://kenmore.org/education/lesson_plans/economy/tobacco-and-slavery.html
Growing tobacco required lots of land and hard work. Tobacco planters would begin cultivating their tobacco crop in late December or early January. However, many planters began just after Christmas, with the first task of sowing the seed. The entire season of plan planting and harvesting tobacco lasted into August and September, when the tobacco plants were finally cut and dried. Once a tobacco plant was finally ready for sale, it had to be packed inside of barrels called hogsheads before it could be shipped to England. The hogsheads were carried to inspection sites such as the one that was located in Fredericksburg, by wagon, boat or even rolled. Prominent businessmen living along the Rappahannock River such as Fielding Lewis of Kenmore and William Fitzhugh of Chatham probably brought their tobacco to Fredericksburg for inspection. Mr. Fitzhugh owned and operated one of the first slave labor plantations in the Stafford area, where tobacco was the primary crop. Another prominent name in the Fredericksburg area during the 1700s was John Mercer. John Mercer lived in Stafford County along the Potomac Creek, and owned many slave, indentured servants, and tobacco warehouses.
http://www.rbais.com/cfl-vassar/lewis.html
Fielding Lewis represented Spotsylvania County in the Virginia House of Burgesses on at least 12 occasions, and was in attendance when Patrick Henry, "The Voice of the Revolution", delivered his famous Stamp Act speech to those assembled in Williamsburg in 1765. "If this be treason, make the most of it."
He served on the Committee of Safety of Fredericksburg and in 1775 was appointed, along with Charles Dick and three others, to establish and equip a manufactory of small arms for the newly formed government. Virginia's third revolutionary convention contributed the first 25,000 pounds, but most of the operating funds came from the personal account of Colonel Lewis. It was the first such factory in America. Two historical markers have been placed at the site near Walker-Grant Middle School on Gunnery Road.
http://files.usgwarchives.org/va/gloucester/bios/lewis01.txt
14 COL. FIELDING(5) LEWIS, born July 7, 1725, son of Col John(4) Lewis and Frances Fielding, his wife, resided in Spotsylvania county. He was a prominent patriot of the Revolution, and ad- Page 49. vanced L7,000 to carry on the factory for the manufacture of arms at Fredericksburg. His beautiful home, "Kenmore," in Fredericksburg, is an object of great interest to visitors to that historic city.
He married twice; first, on October 18, 1746, Catherine, aunt to General Washington and daughter of Major John Washington, of "Highgate," in Gloucester county, and Catherine Whiting, daughter of Col. Henry Whiting, by whom he had issue,
40 John Lewis, born June 22, 1747. His uncle, Mr. John Lewis, and Mr. Charles Dick, godfathers, and Mrs. Mary Washington and Mrs. Lee, godmothers.
17 CHARLES(5) LEWIS, brother of Fielding(5) Lewis, and son of Col. John(4) Lewis and Frances Fielding, resided in Caroline county, where he married Lucy Taliaferro, daughter of John Taliaferro and Mary Catlett*, of Snow Creek, Spotsylvania county, and had issue, 54 John(6) Taliaferro Lewis, 55 Charles Augustine, and 56 Mary Warner Lewis, who married Philip Lightfoot, of Cedar Creek, Caroline county (QUARTERLY, III., p. 107-109). Col. Charles Lewis kept a journal detailing very minutely all the marches and movements of a company of men, commencing October 10, 1755. The detachment was a part of the command of Andrew Lewis. This Col. Charles(5) Lewis died _______________________________________________________________________
*This will of Mary Taliaferro, dated in Spotsylvania January, 1771, names daughter Mary Jones, wife of Joseph Jones, "her present husband," and daughter Lucy Lewis, grandchildren John Taliaferro Lewis, Charles Augustine Lewis, and Mary Warner Lewis. Makes sons Charles Lewis and Joseph Jones exors.
http://www.rbais.com/cfl-vassar/lewis.html
http://www.kenmore.org/genealogy/lewis/fielding_children.html
http://www.kenmore.org/collections/portraits/betty_and_fielding.html
http://www.hffi.org/fieldinglewisstore.html
The Lewis Store is one of the last physical reminders of one of the most basic transformations in American history: the consumer revolution of the second half of the eighteenth century, which changed the American economy and the lives of ordinary people forever. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the economic growth of the American colonies was making manufactured consumer goods – everything from lace tablecloths to brass shoe buckles – cheap enough for ordinary people to buy. Consumer demand skyrocketed, and merchants set up stores in towns like Fredericksburg to meet the growing demand. This consumer revolution was as fundamental to the lives of ordinary people as the more familiar American Revolution. Indeed, it gave tangible meaning to the ideas of the Revolutionary movement, which appealed to the ambitions of ordinary people for economic and social improvement. The Revolution asserted the right of all Americans to the “pursuit of happiness,” which, for ordinary people, included the opportunity to acquire things that had once been reserved to their social superiors. The consumer revolution turned the United States into a nation of shopkeepers and consumers, and redefined the idea of equality.
The selling floor, where the merchant displayed his wares, occupied the front of the store. A door in the back of the selling room led into a narrow storage hall – another unusual feature – that divided the selling room from the merchant’s counting room, which occupied the back of the building. The half story above — accessible through a narrow interior staircase and a loading door at the front of the store — was used for storage. So was the basement, which was reached through an exterior bulkhead.
The Lewis Store is located at the corner of Caroline Street, Fredericksburg's main shopping avenue, and Lewis Street. The store is on the northern end of the downtown business district, a short distance from the Rising Sun Tavern and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, two popular eighteenth-century attractions, and is directly across from the Fredericksburg library. The adjacent lots on Caroline Street are undeveloped. This gives the grounds of the Lewis Store an open, park-like appearance consistent with the low density of eighteenth-century development in the town.
http://www.kenmore.org/genealogy/lewis/fielding_children.html
Sources: -William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, V. 10, No. 1. Jul., 1901, pp. 48-54 -The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, vol. 3, p. 128, Univ. of VA Press, -----Charlottesville, VA. -Washington, by Douglas Southall Freeman, 1985 by Charles Scribners Sons, p. 2.
City of Fredericksburg, Va
Sally Carter; John Carter; Edward Carter; John Vermonett; Jane Vermonett; William Stannard; Elizabeth Stannard; George Carter; William Champe Carter; Hill Carter; Whitaker Carter; Robert Carter; George Carter; Wakelyn Welch; Robert Cary & Co.; Rebecca Backhouse (admrx.); John Backhouse (decd); Henry Fleming; Hodgson & Tate; Laurence Call & Co.; James Currie; Alexander Quarrier; George T. Norton; John Norton & Sons; Daniel L. Hylton & Co.; James Ladd (exor.); John Atkinson (decd); Alexander Trent Emancipation Stepney; Charles Quash (wheelwright); Black Smith Phil; Waggoner Lott; Waitingman Will Estate acct. of Edward Carter est. - Spotsylvania - 1792-1794 Estate I&A of Edward Carter est. - Amherst Co. Estate I&A of Edward Carter est. - Spotsylvania - 1792 Family Sally Carter, mother of Charles Carter Locality Albemarle Co.; Charles City Co.; Amherst Co.; Spotsylvania Co.; Fredericksburg Marriage Samuel K. Bradford -mr- Jane Carter, daughter of Edward Carter Marriage Charles Carter -mr- FNU Lewis, daughter of Fielding Lewis Marriage George Carter -mr- Sally Carter, daughter of Edward Carter Marriage John Varmonett -mr- Jane Bradford Marriage William Stannard -mr- Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Edward Carter Marriage John B. Cutting -mr- Sally Carter, widow of George Carter Overseer Stepney (slave) - overseer of the land of Edward Carter in Albemarle Plaintiff Charles Carter (exor.); Edward Carter (decd); Francis T. Brooke; Polly Champe Brooke; Ann Williams Carter Slave Abba & children Ned, Betsey, Jack & Carroline; Abraham; Aggy; Ajax; Alce; Alcy; Alexander; Amey & children Betty & Nancy; Amherst George; Amherst Will; Amos; Anderson; Anthony; Beck; Bella; Betty; Billy; Cain & wife Hannah & child Billy; Celia; Charity; Charles & wife Betty; Charles (wheelwright); Charles; Cheuner; Chloe; Cooper & wife Eava & child Nathan; Critty; Cyrus; Daniel; Davie; Davy; Dick & wife Nelly & child Sucky; Dick & son of Dick; Dolly; Edmond; Eiddy; Evans & wife Betty & children Sillar, Tom & Elijah; Eve; Frank, Lotts wife; Franky; Gabriel; Gloucester; Grace & children Mary, Chener & Eliza; Hannah & children Jenny & Charlotte; Hannah; Harry; Holiman; Humphrey; Isaac & wife Fillis & children Beck, Sally & Isaac; Isham; Israel; Jack & children Phill & Suky; Jack; Jacob & wife Chener & children Billy & Moses; James & wife Bellar & children Betsy, James, Solomon, Sally, Davy; James Trooper; James; James; Jane & children Anne & Mariah; Janey; Jeane; Jem; Jenny & children Henry, William & Frankey; Jim; Johanna; John Cain; John; Johnney; Joiner Billy; Joseph; Judy; Juno; Kate; Laurence; Lewis; Liddy; Liverpool; Lott; Lotta; Louisa, daughter of James & Bellar; Mariah; Martin & wife Cate & children Randolph, Joice, Mary & Yancy; Martin; Martin; Mary; Matt & children Cain & Zachariah; Matt; Mike; Milly; Mima & children Tabby & Pleasant; Mingo Joe; Minor; Molly & child Charles; Molly & child Sam; Molly; Murvin; Nan & children Nancy, Isbel & Charlotte; Nanny; Ned & wife Ziller; Ned; Nell; Nelly; Nice; Patty; Peter; Phanny; Pheby; Phill; Phillip; Phillis, child of Betty; Polly; Pompey; Rachel; Rose; Sall; Sally & child Weakly; Sam; Sambo & wife Polly & children Mariah, Nancy, Thompson, Matt & Lucy; Samuel; Sarah & child Fanny; Scipio; Squire; Stephen; Suckey; Tempy; Thomas; Tilla & child Amey; Timbo; Toby; Tom; Tony; Unity; Violet; Waterman Dick; Waterman Joe; Will; Winny - property of Edward Carter Tract Cheathams; Blenheim; Habbershams; Dicks & Wheelers; Glosters Will Edward Carter - Spotsylvania Co. - 1792 Citation Record title
Carter &c vs Carter &c Year recorded 1829 Collection CR-SC-H Record ID 72-2
Ref: Spotsvylania Co. Virginia Deed Book H, 1771-1774 (Spotsylvania County Records, Pg 301)
Decr 25, 1772
JOHN CAMPBELL, ESQR and Mary, his wife, and ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD ESQR to FIELDING LEWIS and Joseph Brock, Gentl, CHURCHWARDENS OF ST GEORGE PARISH, LEASE
50 acres in St. Geo Parish, Spots Co
315 lbs tobacco
Jno Brock, John Munro, Jona Wilson
no date of record
(he was married to Elizabeth Washington, sister to President GEORGE WASHINGTON. The Lewis' witnessessing some other deeds are most likely their sons)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~...g0000052.html#I17365
http://www.kenmore.org/kenmore/owners.html
http://kenmore.org/education/lesson_plans/economy/tobacco-and-slavery.html
Growing tobacco required lots of land and hard work. Tobacco planters would begin cultivating their tobacco crop in late December or early January. However, many planters began just after Christmas, with the first task of sowing the seed. The entire season of plan planting and harvesting tobacco lasted into August and September, when the tobacco plants were finally cut and dried. Once a tobacco plant was finally ready for sale, it had to be packed inside of barrels called hogsheads before it could be shipped to England. The hogsheads were carried to inspection sites such as the one that was located in Fredericksburg, by wagon, boat or even rolled. Prominent businessmen living along the Rappahannock River such as Fielding Lewis of Kenmore and William Fitzhugh of Chatham probably brought their tobacco to Fredericksburg for inspection. Mr. Fitzhugh owned and operated one of the first slave labor plantations in the Stafford area, where tobacco was the primary crop. Another prominent name in the Fredericksburg area during the 1700s was John Mercer. John Mercer lived in Stafford County along the Potomac Creek, and owned many slave, indentured servants, and tobacco warehouses.
http://www.rbais.com/cfl-vassar/lewis.html
Fielding Lewis represented Spotsylvania County in the Virginia House of Burgesses on at least 12 occasions, and was in attendance when Patrick Henry, "The Voice of the Revolution", delivered his famous Stamp Act speech to those assembled in Williamsburg in 1765. "If this be treason, make the most of it."
He served on the Committee of Safety of Fredericksburg and in 1775 was appointed, along with Charles Dick and three others, to establish and equip a manufactory of small arms for the newly formed government. Virginia's third revolutionary convention contributed the first 25,000 pounds, but most of the operating funds came from the personal account of Colonel Lewis. It was the first such factory in America. Two historical markers have been placed at the site near Walker-Grant Middle School on Gunnery Road.
http://files.usgwarchives.org/va/gloucester/bios/lewis01.txt
14 COL. FIELDING(5) LEWIS, born July 7, 1725, son of Col John(4) Lewis and Frances Fielding, his wife, resided in Spotsylvania county. He was a prominent patriot of the Revolution, and ad- Page 49. vanced L7,000 to carry on the factory for the manufacture of arms at Fredericksburg. His beautiful home, "Kenmore," in Fredericksburg, is an object of great interest to visitors to that historic city.
He married twice; first, on October 18, 1746, Catherine, aunt to General Washington and daughter of Major John Washington, of "Highgate," in Gloucester county, and Catherine Whiting, daughter of Col. Henry Whiting, by whom he had issue,
40 John Lewis, born June 22, 1747. His uncle, Mr. John Lewis, and Mr. Charles Dick, godfathers, and Mrs. Mary Washington and Mrs. Lee, godmothers.
17 CHARLES(5) LEWIS, brother of Fielding(5) Lewis, and son of Col. John(4) Lewis and Frances Fielding, resided in Caroline county, where he married Lucy Taliaferro, daughter of John Taliaferro and Mary Catlett*, of Snow Creek, Spotsylvania county, and had issue, 54 John(6) Taliaferro Lewis, 55 Charles Augustine, and 56 Mary Warner Lewis, who married Philip Lightfoot, of Cedar Creek, Caroline county (QUARTERLY, III., p. 107-109). Col. Charles Lewis kept a journal detailing very minutely all the marches and movements of a company of men, commencing October 10, 1755. The detachment was a part of the command of Andrew Lewis. This Col. Charles(5) Lewis died _______________________________________________________________________
*This will of Mary Taliaferro, dated in Spotsylvania January, 1771, names daughter Mary Jones, wife of Joseph Jones, "her present husband," and daughter Lucy Lewis, grandchildren John Taliaferro Lewis, Charles Augustine Lewis, and Mary Warner Lewis. Makes sons Charles Lewis and Joseph Jones exors.
http://www.rbais.com/cfl-vassar/lewis.html
http://www.kenmore.org/genealogy/lewis/fielding_children.html
http://www.kenmore.org/collections/portraits/betty_and_fielding.html
http://www.hffi.org/fieldinglewisstore.html
The Lewis Store is one of the last physical reminders of one of the most basic transformations in American history: the consumer revolution of the second half of the eighteenth century, which changed the American economy and the lives of ordinary people forever. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the economic growth of the American colonies was making manufactured consumer goods – everything from lace tablecloths to brass shoe buckles – cheap enough for ordinary people to buy. Consumer demand skyrocketed, and merchants set up stores in towns like Fredericksburg to meet the growing demand. This consumer revolution was as fundamental to the lives of ordinary people as the more familiar American Revolution. Indeed, it gave tangible meaning to the ideas of the Revolutionary movement, which appealed to the ambitions of ordinary people for economic and social improvement. The Revolution asserted the right of all Americans to the “pursuit of happiness,” which, for ordinary people, included the opportunity to acquire things that had once been reserved to their social superiors. The consumer revolution turned the United States into a nation of shopkeepers and consumers, and redefined the idea of equality.
The selling floor, where the merchant displayed his wares, occupied the front of the store. A door in the back of the selling room led into a narrow storage hall – another unusual feature – that divided the selling room from the merchant’s counting room, which occupied the back of the building. The half story above — accessible through a narrow interior staircase and a loading door at the front of the store — was used for storage. So was the basement, which was reached through an exterior bulkhead.
The Lewis Store is located at the corner of Caroline Street, Fredericksburg's main shopping avenue, and Lewis Street. The store is on the northern end of the downtown business district, a short distance from the Rising Sun Tavern and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, two popular eighteenth-century attractions, and is directly across from the Fredericksburg library. The adjacent lots on Caroline Street are undeveloped. This gives the grounds of the Lewis Store an open, park-like appearance consistent with the low density of eighteenth-century development in the town.
http://www.kenmore.org/genealogy/lewis/fielding_children.html
Sources: -William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, V. 10, No. 1. Jul., 1901, pp. 48-54 -The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, vol. 3, p. 128, Univ. of VA Press, -----Charlottesville, VA. -Washington, by Douglas Southall Freeman, 1985 by Charles Scribners Sons, p. 2.
City of Fredericksburg, Va
Sally Carter; John Carter; Edward Carter; John Vermonett; Jane Vermonett; William Stannard; Elizabeth Stannard; George Carter; William Champe Carter; Hill Carter; Whitaker Carter; Robert Carter; George Carter; Wakelyn Welch; Robert Cary & Co.; Rebecca Backhouse (admrx.); John Backhouse (decd); Henry Fleming; Hodgson & Tate; Laurence Call & Co.; James Currie; Alexander Quarrier; George T. Norton; John Norton & Sons; Daniel L. Hylton & Co.; James Ladd (exor.); John Atkinson (decd); Alexander Trent Emancipation Stepney; Charles Quash (wheelwright); Black Smith Phil; Waggoner Lott; Waitingman Will Estate acct. of Edward Carter est. - Spotsylvania - 1792-1794 Estate I&A of Edward Carter est. - Amherst Co. Estate I&A of Edward Carter est. - Spotsylvania - 1792 Family Sally Carter, mother of Charles Carter Locality Albemarle Co.; Charles City Co.; Amherst Co.; Spotsylvania Co.; Fredericksburg Marriage Samuel K. Bradford -mr- Jane Carter, daughter of Edward Carter Marriage Charles Carter -mr- FNU Lewis, daughter of Fielding Lewis Marriage George Carter -mr- Sally Carter, daughter of Edward Carter Marriage John Varmonett -mr- Jane Bradford Marriage William Stannard -mr- Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Edward Carter Marriage John B. Cutting -mr- Sally Carter, widow of George Carter Overseer Stepney (slave) - overseer of the land of Edward Carter in Albemarle Plaintiff Charles Carter (exor.); Edward Carter (decd); Francis T. Brooke; Polly Champe Brooke; Ann Williams Carter Slave Abba & children Ned, Betsey, Jack & Carroline; Abraham; Aggy; Ajax; Alce; Alcy; Alexander; Amey & children Betty & Nancy; Amherst George; Amherst Will; Amos; Anderson; Anthony; Beck; Bella; Betty; Billy; Cain & wife Hannah & child Billy; Celia; Charity; Charles & wife Betty; Charles (wheelwright); Charles; Cheuner; Chloe; Cooper & wife Eava & child Nathan; Critty; Cyrus; Daniel; Davie; Davy; Dick & wife Nelly & child Sucky; Dick & son of Dick; Dolly; Edmond; Eiddy; Evans & wife Betty & children Sillar, Tom & Elijah; Eve; Frank, Lotts wife; Franky; Gabriel; Gloucester; Grace & children Mary, Chener & Eliza; Hannah & children Jenny & Charlotte; Hannah; Harry; Holiman; Humphrey; Isaac & wife Fillis & children Beck, Sally & Isaac; Isham; Israel; Jack & children Phill & Suky; Jack; Jacob & wife Chener & children Billy & Moses; James & wife Bellar & children Betsy, James, Solomon, Sally, Davy; James Trooper; James; James; Jane & children Anne & Mariah; Janey; Jeane; Jem; Jenny & children Henry, William & Frankey; Jim; Johanna; John Cain; John; Johnney; Joiner Billy; Joseph; Judy; Juno; Kate; Laurence; Lewis; Liddy; Liverpool; Lott; Lotta; Louisa, daughter of James & Bellar; Mariah; Martin & wife Cate & children Randolph, Joice, Mary & Yancy; Martin; Martin; Mary; Matt & children Cain & Zachariah; Matt; Mike; Milly; Mima & children Tabby & Pleasant; Mingo Joe; Minor; Molly & child Charles; Molly & child Sam; Molly; Murvin; Nan & children Nancy, Isbel & Charlotte; Nanny; Ned & wife Ziller; Ned; Nell; Nelly; Nice; Patty; Peter; Phanny; Pheby; Phill; Phillip; Phillis, child of Betty; Polly; Pompey; Rachel; Rose; Sall; Sally & child Weakly; Sam; Sambo & wife Polly & children Mariah, Nancy, Thompson, Matt & Lucy; Samuel; Sarah & child Fanny; Scipio; Squire; Stephen; Suckey; Tempy; Thomas; Tilla & child Amey; Timbo; Toby; Tom; Tony; Unity; Violet; Waterman Dick; Waterman Joe; Will; Winny - property of Edward Carter Tract Cheathams; Blenheim; Habbershams; Dicks & Wheelers; Glosters Will Edward Carter - Spotsylvania Co. - 1792 Citation Record title
Carter &c vs Carter &c Year recorded 1829 Collection CR-SC-H Record ID 72-2