John LEWIS (1610 – 1647) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.

John Lewis – Coat of Arms

John Lewis was born in 1610 in England or Wales.  He was in Roxbury, Massachusetts as early as 1640. He married Elizabeth [__?__].  John died 16 Nov 1647 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Mass.  A John Lewis is mentioned in a deed in 1662 so maybe he lived until 1667.

Children of John and Elizabeth:

It looks like there may have been two John Lewises in early Maine, one with sons Peter, Andrew and John and the other with daughters Elizabeth and Mary.  Here’s the Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire record for the other John,

John Lewis, Newcastle, cooper, ±50 in 1667, receipted to Edward Colcord for 1600 staves in 1653. Grand Jury 1664, 1673, 1682-3, 1693, 1695 (foreman); Tr. j. 1682, 1684, 1685, 1694; sergt. 1678. Henry Fletcher and Arthur Wharf were his apprentices Culler of pipestaves 1692-7. Lists 49, 52, 55a, 57, 65, 330a, 91, 312acefh. 313abdef, 315abc, 317, 319, 326c, 330a, 331ab, 356L. Will 22 Jan. 1700/01 – 27 May 1701 names w. Elizabeth exec. and directs that, if his 3 daus. d. s. p., his estate shall go to Theodore Atkinson. Ch: Elizabeth, m. 1st Israel Phillips, 2d after 1681, one Eburne. Mary, m. 1st Thomas Cobbett, 2d John Hinckes. Hannah, m. 11 May 1702 Joseph Simpson. (GDMNH pg. 429)

John had twin sons, Andrew and Peter, born September 11, 1644.

Most of the Lewis families were of Welsh origin, though many of the early immigrants came from England to the colonies. The name is particularly difficult to trace, both on account of the great number of immigrants of this surname and of a marked tendency to frequent changes of places of residence. From the first they appear to have been exceptionally venturesome and enterprising. In the Maine families the difficulty is greatly increased by a lack of records.

Children

1. Peter LEWIS (See his page)

3. Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth’s first husband Israel Phillips After 1681

Elizabeth’s second husband Sameul Eburne died between 27 Sep 1738 and 1741

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire pg 214

Elizabeth (Lewis) Phillips, b. ab. 1669, wid. of Israel, dau. of John Lewis, whom he m. aft. 1681, she a dry goods dealer in Portsm. 1698. List 330d. In a N. H. jury list, 6 June 1695, occurs the name Samuel Ebourn, crossed out. In 1702 she acknowledged judgment to Mr. Samuel Eborne, presum. (2). Liv. 27 Sep. 1738, but deceased 1741. Richard, who may have been a son, m. 13 Aug. 1702 Mary (Morse) Sanders, widow of Richard, daughter of Obadiah Morse, he living 1712, she 1724.

Rev. Samuel Eburne, minister at Isl. of Shoals in 1702, presum. the same who was min. at Brookhaven, L. I., from ab. 1685-88, and in 1690 in Virginia. List 309.

4. Mary Lewis

Mary’s first husband Thomas Cobbett was born about 1651. Thomas died before 1707 when Mary married John Hinckes.

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire pg 153

Cobbett, *Thomas,Newcastle, ±21 in 1672-3, ±27 in 1681, ±30 in 1682. An apprentice of Mr. Nathaniel Fryer, he often accompanied his master’s ship James on trading voyages. Jury 1686, master of the sloop -Fellowship- 1693, Assemblyman 1695, Com.t.e. s.c. 1694. Lists 51, 52, 56, 57, 58, 66, 98, 315abc, 319. He m. Mary Lewis (John), and d. bef. 1707 when she had m. John Hinckes, Esq. See Hubbard for narrative of his Indian captivity.

Ketch Richard Great Island May 16, 1685 (GDMNH pg 41)

Thomas Cobbet, master
Saml. Snell. mate
Jo: Jackson
Beriah Higgins
Joshua Jackson
Jeremy Holmes
Richard Archer
Saml. Belcher.

Mary’s second husband John Hinckes was born about 1650 in London England. John died between 1725 and 1734. Death: Living 15 Jun 1725. Called deceased Apr 1734.

Mary’s second husband, John Hinckes (1650-1725/1734) prospered during the reign of Edmund Andros.  Brother of Samuel Hinckes of London. About age 21 in 1671 [b. about 1650]. Marriage to Elizabeth Fryer by 1686. I’m not sure this story is right because other sources state that Elizabeth lived until 1720.  Marriage to Mary Lewis:  Widow of Thomas Cobbett  before 4 Aug 1707.

Appeared in Sagadahoc before Philips’ War.
1671: Age about 21.
1672: In Pemaquid.
Escaped to Piscataqua.
1682: Robert Elliot “brothered” him, and all gave their support to the government hostile to local interested. His promotion was rapid.
1683 – 1686, May: Councilor for NH and Assistant in Court of Chancery.
1686, May: Councilor under President Dudley. He occupied the position until Andros’ overthrow in 1689.
1686: Chief Justice of Court of Pleas and General Sessions, NH. Occupied the position until Andros’ overthrow in 1689.
1686: Captain of the Fort and Train Band, Great Island. Occupied the position until Andros’ overthrow in 1689.
1692: Councilor (President) again under William III.
1696: Captain, Fort William and Mary.
1699: Chief Justice of the Superior Court, NH.
ca. 1702: He had “left the country,” as far as Kittery, but soon came back.
1704/5, 10 Feb: Nathanell Ffrayer siner inhabitant of the townes shipe of New Castle, NH, New England, made his will. Gave to daughter Sarah Elliot and to her disposal all that land that lyeth between my house and Robt. Elliot house home to Mr. John Hinckes “ware house alowing A foot way for said Hinckes to goe to his back house” which I gave to my daughter Elliot 1698. Constitute my sons in law Robt. Elliot and John Hinks Esq. to be overseers.

His later years find him principal in various suits, usually as defendant.
Apr 1708: Formerly of Newcastle, his great new home was attached.
1722: Of Newcastle. Sold there.
1723: Taxed at Grafford’s Lane, Portsmouth.
1724: Of Kittery. Sued by Lawrence Ellis for shaving him 1716-1719.
1725, May: Of Kittery. He sued the town of Newcastle for disbursement in building the meeting house in 1704, and for his negro ringing the bell 3 years.
1725, 15 Jun: Last found.

5. John Lewis Jr.

John’s wife Eleanor Redding  was killed by Indians in 1677.  Her parents were Thomas Redding and Eleanor Pennoyer.

Thomas Redding, in 1637 a soldier ag. the Pequots from Plymouth, where he m. 20 July 1639 Eleanor (Ellen) Pennoyer, ±55 in 1678, sister of Mr. William Pennoyer, cit. and cloth-worker of London, who remembered her and her ch. in his will in 1670. Of Scituate in 1644 but rem. only a year or less. First recorded in Saco 1653 (subm. to Mass. and took O. A.), but may have arrived, earlier, Kittery gr. 1653. In 1654 he sold his homestead of 52 acres. on E. side of Saco river to Wm. Carkeet and bought 3 islands at Cape Porpus, living on the ‘great island’ (±50 a.) and managing a fishing trade. One of his sons disappeared in 1655, but, after he had accused Thomas Warrener of murder, the boy was found. Soon departed for Casco Bay where he owned 200 acres at No. Yarmouth (Redding’s creek and Wescustogo river). He also lived for a time at Mere Pt. under Mr. Purchase, and may poss. have owned lands there and on Jewell’s Island.

His wife was admonished for slandering her neighbor Anne Lane in 1666.   He died about 1673, when the widow sold to James Andrews. When Philip’s war broke out wid. Redding’s house was attacked and burned and two of her sons murdered. She fled to Salem and in 1677 petitioned the General Court for aid, asking, quite naturally, that her brother’s legacy for ‘instructing these Heathen’ who had killed her sons be diverted to her.

She and her daughter Rebecca were convicted of ‘being abroad at night’ in 1680 and Rebecca was advised to seek some good service. She raised money by mortgaging the North Yarm. property to Mrs. Mary Higginson in 1680. By 1682 she was in Boston where she was receiving aid as late as 1686.

Ch: a son, age 5 when he was left at Scituate in 1645 by his fa. who was charged with it in ct. Appren. to Gowen White. Joseph. Inv. 30 June 1673 taken at Falm. by John Munjoy, personal prop. in hands of John Ingersoll.   Ruth, m. Joseph Donnell(3). The Portsm. conveyancer who wrote deeds for her ch. in 1745, doubtless being familiar with Thaddeus Riddan and his Portsm. desc., called Mrs. Donnell’s fa. -Thaddeus- Redding in error. Rebecca, m. John Taylor, Boston ship-carpenter, by 1681 (ct.). John, fisherman, ±30 in 1683, ±60 in 1713-4, prob. he who m. at Sandwich 22 Oct. 1676 Mary Basset and had dau. Eleanor b. there 22 Feb. 1677. Of Weymouth, 1678. Of Wells by 1689-90 when he appr. Philip Hatch’s est. and was sued by Robert Stewart. Gave bonds to keep peace with Wm. Hilton, 1691. Mov. to Ipswich by 1698, when he had a 2d w. Jane, and finally to Gloucester, where he d. 17 Nov. 1716, ag. 62. The wid. m. 14 Oct. 1718 Richard Babson. He q.c. the Cape Porpus islands and the No. Yarm. prop. in 1715 and 1716. Ch. Elias?, debtor to est. of George Munjoy in 1685, prob. error for -Ellen-, the wid. of (1). Robert, Casco Bay wit. 1674-5, 1675, prob. one of the two sons k. by Ind. in 1677. The other son. And a plausible guess would be that Eleanor, wife of John Lewis(8), killed by Ind. in 1677, was a daughter. (GDMNH pg. 578/9)

John Lewis, Casco Bay, had land adjacent to his father in 1657, and a later grant of 100 acres.  Licensed to keep public house in 1674.  Probably not the J. L. who sold 700 acres at Mere Point to John Lane in 1673. Last mentioned as a soldier under Scottow at Black Pt. in 1677, he and w. Eleanor (List 86) may have been victims of the Indians. His land, sold to Nathaniel Wallis, 27 Feb. 1674, was claimed by Azor Gale 13 Sept. 1679 and by Phineas Jones in 1732.

Prob. ch: Mary, of Casco Bay when she m. in Portsmouth 2 Jan. 1704/05 William Haines(13). 9 ch., the last 3, b. 1719-1724, being named Eleanor, John and George Lewis.

John, who was at Great Island, Maine, in 1662. John Jr. had a daughter Hannah, who married, May 1, 1702 to Joseph Simpson, and died June 26, 1712, according to records of Newcastle, New Hampshire. See “Old Kittery Families”  Hannah is often listed as the daughter of John Sr, but her 1702 marriage was too late to make this arrangement a likely one.

Sebascodegan Island or Great Island is an island at the eastern edge of Casco Bay on the Gulf of Maine. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow inlet. [Google Map] It is a part of the town of Harpswell with the mainland portion of Harpswell to its west and Orr’s Island and Bailey Island to its south. The town of Brunswick occupies the mainland to the north, and the towns of West Bath and Phippsburg occupy the mainland to the east, across the New Meadows River.

21 May 1667 – John granted 1 acre on Great Island.

John served several coroner’s juries.  I don’t think fishing was a safe occupation in the 17th Century.

John Lewis Coroner’s Jury

John was a witness to two Great Island Court cases in 1672/73

John Lewis and Ellener Lewis (perhaps his wife?) testified in this 1672 court case.

John Lewis Court Case — Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire pg 15

John Lewis, his future brother-in-laws Mr. [John] Hincks and Thomas Cobbet were included on this 1684 Great Island Tax List

Great Island Tax List 1684 — Source Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire

.

Henry Horrell ,b. ab. 1662-3, appr. to John Lewis, Great Isl. 1682-4. (GDMNH pg. 350)

Henry,boy seaman under John Lewis, drowned at Salis. 17 Apr. 1657; Robt. Quimby indicted for thrusting him into the water.

Simon Hinkson, ±19 in Dec. 1672, his master John Lewis of Great Island.  Scarborough. soldier 1676. Poss. he spent the next few yrs. in Newcastle, marrying there Rebecca, wid. of Wm. Davie (4), Scarb. 1681-88; grants 1682, 1686.  If he surv. the 2d War, likely he was in Newc. or Lynn, unnoticed. From Lynn in 1719 his widow wrote to her s. Jacob Clark (14), Great Isl., sending love to s. and dau. Graffam and sister Clark. Ch: Rebecca, m. Caleb Graffam (Stephen). And likely the foll. m. in Lynn: Naomi or Amy (poss. sister), m. 26 Dec. 1700 Jas. Mills. Peter, m. 16 Sept. 1714 Elizabeth Jeffords (Jeffrey 5). 7 ch. rec. incl. Naomi and Rebecca. Hannah, m. 8 Aug. 1717 David Edmonds. (GDMNH pg. 339)

John Jenkins, blacksmith, Portsm. His age, ±44 in 1660, ±50 in Oct. 1665, would permit him to be the J. J. ag. 20, who came in the ‘Susan and Ellen‘  to Boston 1635. At Portsmouth early with w. Ann; both dep. in 1660 ab. Wm. Clifton’s land and the talk at their ho. in 1637. In May 1647 he was in charge of Wannerton’s ho. Gr. j. 1655. O.F. 11 July 1659.  Besides his trade, he cleaned the meeting house. and rang the bell, but liked to idle, and was censured in 1663. Will 2–17 Sep. 1667 names as exec. w. Ann, who soon m. John Moses, and ch: Francis. Mary, m. James Drew(5). Nathaniel, not found later. James. John. In 1673 one John, ±20, was servant of John Lewis, Great Island., who sued Dr. Francis Morgan for not curing him. Poss. the same taxed 1681. (GDMNH pg. 387)

Sources:

Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume 4

http://helenesgenes.com/Lewis.html#pet

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire (GDMNH)– pp.428ff

Old Kittery And Her Families (1903) By: Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn, 1850-1927 -p.581

http://mainegenie.cwahi.net/LEWIS.htm

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=28417624&st=1