Since Lewis is a surname we have looked for I am forwarding this from another list. She is doing lookups in an encyclopedia. Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: WVHAMRICK <WVHAMRICK@prodigy.net> To: <WVMONROE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2000 2:13 PM Subject: [WVMONROE] Re: Lewis > Source: "West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia," Jim Comstock, 1976, p. > 2771 > > LEWIS, John, a surveyor, was one of the first to survey in Greenbrier > County, having been employed by the Greenbrier Land Company in 1749 and > 1750. He was said to have named the Greenbrier River, calling it the > "Lady of the Mountains" and applying to it the name of Greenbrier > because of abundant growth of that plant along its banks (See sup. vol. > 1, p. 6): > > IN THE GREENBRIER COUNTRY > The first permanent settlement west of the Blue Ridge was made by Joist > Hite, who, in 1732, came with fifteen other families, and settled in > what is now Frederick county, Virginia; he was soon followed by many > others. About the year 1749, there was a man in Frederick county > subject to lunacy, and when at times laboring under its influence, he > would ramble long distances into the wilderness. In one of these > wanderings he came upon the waters of Greenbrier river, and, surprised > to find them flowing in a westerly direction, he made the fact known on > his return in Winchester, and that country abounded in game. In > consequence of this information, two men (recently from New England), > named Suel (Sewell) and Martin (Marlin), visited the locality, and took > up their residence on Greenbrier river. The former moved 40 miles west > of their first improvement, and fell a prey to the Indians, and the > latter soon returned to the settlements. John Lewis and his son Andrew > came to the same section in 1741, and thoroughly explored it, and when > permission was granted to the Greenbrier company (of which John Lewis > was a member) to locate 100,000 acres on the waters of the river, they > became the agents to make the surveys and locations. The war between > France and England, in 1754, checked their proceedings, and in 1761, > they were prevented from resuming them by royal edict, which commanded > all those who had made settlements on the western waters, to remove from > them, in order that peace maight be maintained with the Indians, who > claimed the right to the domain. Previous to the issuing of this > proclamation, some families had moved to Greenbrier and made two > settlements - one on Muddy creek, and the other in the Big levels; > these, disregarding the royal command, remained until they were > destroyed by the Indians, in 1763, and from the time until 1769, > Greenbrier was uninhabited; at the later date, Captain John Stuart and a > few other young men began to settle and improve the country. > > In 1756, settlements were also made on New river and on Holstein, and > among the daring adventurers who effected them were Evan Shelby, William > Campbell, William Preston, Thomas Walden and Daniel Boone, all of whom > became distinguished in the history of the country. The lands taken up > by them were held as "corn rights," each acquiring a title to an hundred > acres of land for every acre planted in corn. > > ...much more on John Lewis.... > > LEWIS, John W., early Greenbrier County family head. (See sup. vol. 6, > p. 236): > > JOHN W. LEWIS--born January 23, 1834, in Blue Sulphur district, a son of > George and Susan (Hockman) Lewis, in this district, April 18, 1861, was > united in bands of wedlock with Ruth M. Huffman, who was born in Blue > Sulphur district, September 5, 1837, a daughter of Enos and Jane > (George) Huffman. The further history of her parents will be found > recorded in the personal sketches of her brothers, E. E. and S. R. > Huffman, in this volume. The grandparents of John W. Lewis were among > the earliest of the settlers in this county, and both his father and > mother were born in the county, his father in 1808. George Lewis died > in 1872, and Susan, his widow, is still a resident in Blue Sulphur > district. Her father was Jacob Hockman, who was of German origin, who > came to this county from the Shenandoah valley, bringing Mary, his young > wife, with him. They have long since passed from the scene of their > earthly labors. George W. Lewis was a soldier of the Confederacy, > brother of John W. He was killed in the retreat at battle of Droop > Mountain. Caleb V., another brother, was in the same service, and was > basely assassinated by some Northern stragglers from the army, who > pretended to surrender, and in handing over their guns shot at their > captors and he was killed. Edna A., born March 19, 1862, and George W., > born January 11, 1864, both at home; are the children of Mr. and Mrs. > Lewis. John W. Lewis owns and farms 300 acres, lying on Muddy creek > bottom, in Blue Sulphur district, and he receives his mail at Palestine, > Greenbrier county, West Virginia. > > Caroline > WVHAMRICK@prodigy.net > > > > WHJPSEA@aol.com wrote: > > > > I'm looking for parents of Betsy Mann who married Jacob Harmon Nov. 13, 1797 > > in Botetourt Co, but moved to Monroe Co., where their daughter Elizabeth > > married John Lewis March 6, 1820--parbably part of Monroe that became > > Allegheny Co. > > > > Bill Johnson > > Harrisburg, PA > > > ==== WVMONROE Mailing List ==== > For list assistance: Contact: commander@inetone.net >