This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: photo66666 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lewis/11268.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My Lewis family made the Pittsburgh 1800 census record as boat builders and they have a patent on a heavy duty shallow draft keelboat given to them by Thomas Jefferson when he was Secretary of State in 1789. I have an invoice that Thomas Jefferson actually ordered seven of these keelboats when he was Governor of Virginia in 1780. They were delivered to William Clark's brother General George Rogers Clark. Meriwether Lewis had his boat built in Pittsburgh in 1803. This is still not enough for Historians. There are records for everything purchased for the trip including invoices for musket balls. What's missing is payment for the boat. I believe the boat was free and that's why no record. Records are very clear that Meriwether Lewis was unhappy with the slow pace of the boat builders. He writes Thomas Jefferson that he was looking for another boat. The problem he was finding he writes is that no boat builder from Wheeling to Pittsburgh could build such a boat to carry such a heavy load in shallow water. The Fisher name is also in my family. 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.