This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: petros53 Surnames: Lewis Thomson Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lewis/12177/mb.ashx Message Board Post: When the original Lewis farm in Westerly, RI was first sold,in 1701, a portion was reserved for use as a Lewis family cemetery. The sale record and deed transfer records this use and is the basis for all claims to the protection of the Lewis Burial Ground #1 in Westerly. The records are held in the Westerly town hall. I have just put, online, pictures of these original records written in the hand of the town clerk in 1698 and 1701. The first record records the sale of the farm from Joseph, son of John 1, to his brother Daniel in 1698. The second shows the sale by Daniel to Isaac Thomson in which he reserves from sale that ground (5 rods by 5 rods) where his father Lewis is buried for use as a family cemetery. The third pic is a detail of that important paragraph. Find these pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/pedyr53/LewisBurialGround1Westerly# The text of the detail reads: "There is five rods of ground reserved & not sold. Tis to be understood that where my father Lewis was buried in some part of the aforesaid land that it is fully concluded and agreed that there shall be five rods for ever allowed for a burying place for the aforesaid Daniel Lewis and his relations that shall be desirous to be buried in the fore said burial place. This was written and set down before the signing & sealing." Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.