Generation 1

WILLIAM LEWIS (d. 1671) of Lancaster

Parents:

William died on 3 (10) 1671 in Lancaster. [Ref, p. 14]

William was an early inhabitant of Lancaster, signing the town covenant, along with his son John, on 13 (1) 1653. [Ref, pp. 30-31] A Thomas Lewis signed the covenant on the same date. [Ref] On 30 (9) 1653 lots were laid out in Lancaster. Some of the original inhabitants of received 20-acre lots upon the neck lying between the North River and the Penacuck River. William received the seventh of these lots, his property lying next to John White's; his son John received a lot next to his. [Ref, p. 36] After the original division of land in Lancaster, further divisions were contingent on estate size. In 1654 estates were valued and William's - at about £285 - was the fifth largest of the 30 eligible inhabitants; his son John's - at about £18 - was the second smallest. [Ref] He was given about 11 acres of meadow in 1654; his son John was given an acre. [Ref] At a town meeting on 1 (9) 1654 it was agreed to limit the town to 35 families and 25 men were listed as townsman, two of whom were William and his son John. [Ref] On (1) 1659 Goodman Lewis was chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. [Ref] He received the 4th lot in the second division of meadow on 5 Feb 1659; his son John received the 14th lot. [Ref] On 2 Apr 1661 the Middlesex Court released William from all ordinary military training; he was to pay 5 shillings a year. [Ref] William and his son John are on a 28 May 1684 Lancaster tax list, as is a Christopher Lewis. [Ref]

The Lewis's were cousins of Thomas James of Lancaster; he left his property in Lancaster to them. [Ref]

Children of William Lewis and Anne Unknown:

1. Mary Lewis married Josiah White.
2. John Lewis married Hannah Unknown. [Ref] He was one of the 13 inhabitants of Lancaster who signed an agreement with John Prescott for the building of the first corn mill in Lancaster. [Ref, p. 32] John was one of 11 Lancaster men who petitioned the General Court in (probably) 1654 for Lancaster to have a similar governance to other towns and requested that the Court appoint a man or men to lay out town boundaries. [Ref] After the Indian massacre in 1675 he moved to Dorchester and did not return. [Ref]
   some descendants of John Lewis
   
3. Lydia Lewis married Mordecai McLeod [Ref] on 31 (11) 1670 in Lancaster. [Ref, p. 14, only her first name is given] Mordecai "MacLoad a Scotsman" was killed in Monoco's raid on Lancaster, Sunday p.m. 12 Aug 1673 o.s. [Ref, p. 15] Lydia was also killed in the raid. [Ref, p. 15, "Lydia [Lewis] wife of Mordecai"]
   The whole family was slaughtered by Indians on 22 Aug 1675 in Lancaster. [Ref]
   some descendants of Lydia Lewis