Person Page - 230

     John Armistead was born circa 1694 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.³ He married Mary Churchill, daughter of Armistead Churchill Sr. and Hannah Harrison, in 1749.^1,4

      .³

     Margaret Saville married John Hopton of Yoxford Hall and Cockfield Hall in 1427
; His 1st wife. Per van de Pas; "Date is of contract or similar."^1,2
Margaret Saville died circa 1452.¹
      ; van de Pas cites: The Complete Baronetage, London, 1983. , Cokayne, George Edward. I 36.¹

     Judith Armistead was born circa 1672.² She married Hon. Robert "King" Carter, son of Col. John Carter and Sarah Ludlow, in 1688.^3,4

Judith Armistead died on 23 February 1699.^5,4
      .²

     Elizabeth Armistead was born on 16 February 1666/67 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.^5,6 She married Ralph Wormeley, son of Col. Ralph Wormeley Sr., Esq. and Agatha Eltonhead, on 16 February 1687
;
Her 1st husband; his 2nd wife.
From "Early Colonial Settlers..." The Hon''''" Ralph Wormeley Esq' And Madam Eliz Armisted of Gloster was married at Coll" Armsteds in Gloster 16th of fiebruary 1687."^1,7,8,6 Elizabeth Armistead married William Churchill, son of John Churchill and Alice (?), on 5 October 1703 at Rosegill, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.^9,10,6

Elizabeth Armistead died on 16 November 1716 at Rosegill, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA, at age 49.^5,1,6

Her estate was probated on 1 January 1716/17 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.¹¹

     Reference:
From "Early Colonial Settlers..." cites: Niel D. Thompson; English Origins of the Lomax Family of Charles County, MD; July 1969, The American, Genealogist;
     "Father: John ARMISTEAD b: 1635 in Elizabeth City County, Virginia
Mother: Judith BOWLES b: ABT 1635
     "1703-1709 Middlesex Co Va Deed Book 3; Antient Press: (Page 1)
THIS INDENTURE made the fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and three and in the Second year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith etc, Between WILLIAM CHURCHILL of the County of Middlesex Gentleman of one part and ROBERT CARTER of the County of LANCASTER Esqr. WILLIAM TAYLOE of the County of RICHMOND Gentleman, WILLIAM ARMISTEAD of the County of GLOUCESTER Gentleman, CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON of the County of Middlesex Gentleman and JOHN ROBINSON of the said County of Middlesex Gentleman of the other part WHEREAS by the Grace of God a Marriage is intended to be shortly had and solemnized by and between the said William Churchill and Madam ELIZABETH WORMELEY of the County of Middlesex Widdow and Relict of RALPH WORMELEY Esqr. NOW thereupon this Indenture WITNESSETH that the said Wm. Churchill for the better maintenance and settlement of an Estate on the said Elizabeth for the advantage of the said Elizabeths children she already hath by her late husband and for the great love and affection he hath and beareth to the said Elizabeth as also for other good causes him thereunto moveing doth for himself his heires Executors and Administrators covenant promise and grant to and with the said Robert Carter, John Tayloe, William Armistead, Christo- pher Robinson and John Robinson their heires and every of them by these presents that in case the said marriage shall take effect then the said William Churchill shall forever disown and disclaim any right Title or property that he the said William Churchill by virtue of said marriage by Law might or ought to have or claime of in or to all or any part of the personall Estate of the said Elizabeth Wormeley be it Negroe slaves, money here or in England, plate, household stuff, stocks of cattle, horses, etc. a schedule of the personal estate here in Virginia Vide the Negroes, plate, household stuff, cattle is hereunto annixt and to the end this Contract between the said William Churchill and the said Elizabeth may be obligatory binding and have effect against the said William Churchill according to the true intent and meaning thereof said William Churchill doth hereby for himselfe his heires further covenant grant and agree to and with the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, Wm, Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson their heires and to and with every of them by these presents that he the said William Churchill shall and will sometime within six months after the day of these presents to the said marriage taking effect by good and sufficient entering and conveyance in the Law such as the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson or their Council learned in the Law & all advise devise or require under his hand and seal before two or more credible witnesses to be executed make over and convey unto the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson all his right and title and interest of in and to the said personal Estate of the said Elizabeth to wit of the Negroes, plate. household stuffe, Cattle etc. mentioned and contained in the said Schedule as also all the money that is now in England together with the produce of the Tobacco now going home and of the present years crop upon the ground, the Negroes, plate, household stuffe and cattle, etc. mentioned in the said annex & schedule the said Churchill doth hereby covenant and oblige himself to deliver unto the possession and occupation of the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson, and John Robinson Immediately at the time of the passing of the said writeing and conveyance and the money in England and that the said Churchill is to render an account of and paying into the hands of Robert Carter, William Taylor, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson or the Survivors of them as soon as he the said Churchill can get the Merchants account out of England acquainting him with the Respective times thereof the said Personal Estate to wit the Negroes, plate, household stuffe and cattle etc. in Virginia also the moneys that is and shall be in England as aforesaid to be by the said Churchill annexed made over and delivered into the possession of and paid to the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson to and for the uses intents and purposes following and to no other intents or purposes whatsoever namely the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson unto conveyance and delivery by the said William Churchill of the said Estate herein Virginia as aforesaid are to be redelivered the said personal estate into the possession of the said Churchill or to convey over to him the said Churchill the use and occupation of the said personall Estate to be held and enjoyed together with the labour of the said Negroes for the space of seven years next to come if the said William Churchill and Elizabeth shall so long live but in case of the death of the said Churchill and the said Elizabeth before that time to the time of his or her death and no longer the true intent and meaning of these presents being that the said Churchill is not to claime any property or absolute right of in or to ye said Negreos or their increase, plate, household stuffe or Cattell etc, only the lent thereof for and dureing the said Term of seven years at the end of which he the said Churchill shall redeliver unto the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson or to the Survivors of them the said personall Estate here in Virginia as he received it to Witt the Negroes or as many of them as shall be alive at that time together with the children that shall come to them during the said time of his possession, the plate, household stuffe and the same number of Cattle to be of the ages those are reputed to be at the time of his receipt of them and the rest of the Estate to be and remaine in the possession and under the direction of the said Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson or the Survivors of them dureing the lives of the said William Churchill and Elizabeth Wormeley to be kept at such a place and places as the said Eliza, shall direct and in case of the death of the said William before the said Elizabeth the said Estate to be immediately into possession of the said Elizabeth and the full property thereof to be vested in the said Elizabeth . . (this entry continues for four more pages including a bond signed by William Churchill and the schedule of property)
At a Court held for the County of Middlesex the 4th day of October 1703
William Churchill gent came that day into Court presented and acknowledged this his bond by him made to Robert Carter, William Tayloe, William Armistead, Christopher Robinson and John Robinson Gent. and it was admitted to record.
Test EDWIN THACKER CICur
Truly recorded WIL: STANARD Cl Cur in 1703 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.⁶

Elizabeth Armistead left a will on 9 November 1716; from Churchill Family in Genealogies of VA Families: "....It names son-in-law Mann Page, grandson Ralph Page, son to Mann Page; son John Wormely, son Armistead Churchill, dau. Priscilla Churchill, dau. Elizabeth Churchill, gr. child. Elizabeth and Ralph, children of John Wormely, cousins Judith and Catherine Robinson..."¹¹

     Anne Ellis (?) died WFT Est. 1648-1707.² She was born circa 1612 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.² She married William Armistead, son of Anthony Armistead and Frances Thompson, in 1632.³

      .²

     William Armistead was born circa 1637 at Elizabeth City, Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.²
William Armistead died before 1660; per Gerber 1910:19: "died without issue."^2,1
      .²

     Catherine Armistead was born in 1643 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.¹
Catherine Armistead died on 23 April 1692 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.¹
      .¹

     Capt. Anthony Armistead married Hannah Ellyson, daughter of Dr. Robert Ellyson and Elizabeth Gerrard.^4,2
Capt. Anthony Armistead was born circa 1645 at Elizabeth City, Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.⁵
Capt. Anthony Armistead died before 26 October 1726 at Elizabeth City Co., Virginia, USA.³
      .⁵
Capt. Anthony Armistead and Hannah Ellyson were mentioned in a land transaction on 18 July 1698
Memo:
Davis [1989:384]: "[Hannah] and Captain Armistead deeded 200 acres of land in New Kent County to their son-in-law, John West."²

     Frances Armistead was born circa 1644 at Elizabeth City, Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.¹ She married Rev. Justinian Aylmer circa 1660 at Jamestown, James City Co., Virginia, USA,
;
Her 1st husband.² Frances Armistead married Anthony Elliott before 1665 at Elizabeth City Co., Virginia, USA,
;
Her 2nd husband; his 2nd wife.³ Frances Armistead married Christopher Wormeley, son of Col. Ralph Wormeley Sr., Esq. and Agatha Eltonhead, on 3 November 1666 at Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA,
;
His 1st wife; her 3rd husband.^4,1
Frances Armistead died on 25 May 1685.^5,1
Frances Armistead was buried on 26 May 1685 at Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.¹
     In Anthony Elliott's will dated 12 August 1666 at Lancaster Co., Virginia, USA, Frances Armistead was named as an heir;
From "Early Colonial Settlers...":
     "Abstracts of Lancaster County, Virginia Wills 1653-1800;
ELLIOTT, Anthony. Will. 12 August 1666. Pro. 9 Jany. 1666. Rec. 1 Feb. 1666.
Sons: William Elliott, third son Robert Elliott, second son Thomas Elliott all land. Wife (name not shown) Brother John Armistead, and son Wm. Elliott Extrs. Wits. Peter Conely, Anthony Armistead. (Loose wills.)³"

     Robert Armistead died WFT Est. 1613-1702.¹ He was born on 1 November 1612 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     John Armistead was born in 1613 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Anthony Armistead died WFT Est. 1616-1705.¹ He was born in 1615 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Frances Armistead died WFT Est. 1618-1711.¹ She was born circa 1617 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Ralph Armistead died WFT Est. 1620-1709.¹ He was born circa 1619 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Jane Armistead died WFT Est. 1621-1714.¹ She was born on 17 September 1620 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Margaret Armistead died WFT Est. 1623-1716.¹ She was born on 16 December 1622 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Henry Armistead died WFT Est. 1629-1718.¹ He was born on 10 January 1627/28 at Kirkdeighton, Yorkshire, England.¹
      .¹

     Mary Armistead was born in 1696 at King George Co., Virginia, USA.^1,2 She married Honorable James Burwell, son of Honorable Lewis II Burwell and Abigail Smith, before 16 December 1711 at Virginia, USA,
; her 1st husband. per WFT E1-0756: "as which time she was 15 years old."^3,1,2 Mary Armistead married Honorable Philip Lightfoot, son of Honorable Philip Lightfoot and Alice Corbin, in 1720 at Virginia, USA.^3,2

Mary Armistead died on 29 June 1775 at York Co., Virginia, USA; Per WFT E1-0756: "In the 30 June 1775 edition of the "Virginia Gazette", appeared "Died, Mrs. Mary Lightfoot at York, relict of the late Hon. Philip Lightfoot, Esq., one of his Majesty's Council of this Colony, in the 79th year of her age. Her corpse passed through town this morning to be deposited in the family vault at Sandy Point."^1,2"
Mary Armistead was buried after 29 June 1775 at Lightfoot Graveyard at Tettington, Tettington, Charles City Co., Virginia, USA;
From Find a Grave:
Birth     1696, King George County, Virginia, USA
Death     29 Jun 1775 (aged 78–79), York County, Virginia, USA
Burial     Lightfoot Graveyard at Tettington, Tettington, Charles City County, Virginia, USA
Family Members
Parents
     Major William H Armistead 1671–1711
     Anna Kendall Lee Armistead 1681–1754
Spouses
     James Burwell 1689–1718
     Gen Philip Lightfoot 1689–1748
Siblings
     John Armistead 1694–1734
     Elizabeth Armistead Burwell 1699–1745
Children
     Nathaniel Bacon Burwell 1714–1746
     Lucy Burwell 1717–1719
     William Lightfoot 1722–1764
Created by: vcudean
Added: Jul 8, 2018
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 191229917
Hide citation.²

Her estate was probated on 21 August 1775 at Virginia, USA.

      ;      Mary married James before 16 Dec 1711, at which time she was 15 years old. James died in October 1718. In his will he appointed "my said most dear wife Mary Burwell" as an executor. This was an infrequent role for women in that day and time and indicates his high esteem for her ability.
     Mary was a widow with two small children at the age of 22. Her daughter Lucy died the next year.
     She married second, Philip Lightfoot. Mary outlived Philip by more than 25 years.
     In the 30 June 1775 edition of the "Virginia Gazette", appeared "Died, Mrs. Mary Lightfoot at York, relict of the late Hon. Philip Lightfoot, Esq., one of his Majesty's Council of this Colony, in the 79th year of her age. Her corpse passed through town this morning to be deposited in the family vault at Sandy Point."
     Her will written 9 Sep 1771 was probated 21 Aug 1775. In it she distributes more than 10,000 pounds Sterling, a very handsome fortune in those days, particularly for a woman. That she had this much is testimony to her ability. Philip felt he could trust her with a sizeable legacy. And he was right. She obviously managed it well.
     In her will she identifies a great number of herdescendants from both marriages. (From "Burwell Residents of King's Creek" by Paul John.)
     She was referred to as "a pretty woman".¹

Mary Armistead left a will on 9 September 1771; Per WFT E1-0756: "Her will written 9 Sep 1771 was probated 21 Aug 1775. In it she distributes more than 10,000 pounds Sterling, a very handsome fortune in those days, particularly for a woman. That she had this much is testimony to her ability. Philip felt he could trust her with a sizeable legacy. And he was right. She obviously managed it well."¹

     Honorable Philip Lightfoot was born in 1689 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.¹ He married Mary Armistead, daughter of Hon. Maj. William H. Armistead and Anne Kendall Lee, in 1720 at Virginia, USA.^1,3

Honorable Philip Lightfoot died on 30 May 1748 at "Sandy Point", Charles City Co., Virginia, USA.^4,1

His estate was probated on 20 June 1748 at Virginia, USA.⁴

     ;      Mary married James before 16 Dec 1711, at which time she was 15 years old. James died in October 1718. In his will he appointed "my said most dear wife Mary Burwell" as an executor. This was an infrequent role for women in that day and time and indicates his high esteem for her ability.
     Mary was a widow with two small children at the age of 22. Her daughter Lucy died the next year.
     She married second, Philip Lightfoot. Mary outlived Philip by more than 25 years.
     In the 30 June 1775 edition of the "Virginia Gazette", appeared "Died, Mrs. Mary Lightfoot at York, relict of the late Hon. Philip Lightfoot, Esq., one of his Majesty's Council of this Colony, in the 79th year of her age. Her corpse passed through town this morning to be deposited in the family vault at Sandy Point."
     Her will written 9 Sep 1771 was probated 21 Aug 1775. In it she distributes more than 10,000 pounds Sterling, a very handsome fortune in those days, particularly for a woman. That she had this much is testimony to her ability. Philip felt he could trust her with a sizeable legacy. And he was right. She obviously managed it well.
     In her will she identifies a great number of herdescendants from both marriages. (From "Burwell Residents of King's Creek" by Paul John.)
     She was referred to as "a pretty woman".⁴

;      Philip was the second son of Philip Lightfoot and Alice Corbin. He was Clerk of York Co. Court from 1707 to 1733 and a Member of the Council 20 Oct 1733. He inherited, in 1727, from his older brother Francis, the Lightfoot family estate at Sandy Point (Westover Parish, Charles City County) which had been willed to Francis by their father.
     Philip's will was signed 31 July 1747 and proved 20 June 1748. His will is impressive reading because of the vast resources it dispenses - plantations in York, Surry, Charles City, Brunswick, Goochland, New Kent and Hanover Counties; houses, storehouses, and lots in Yorktown, Williamsburg and Blandford; more than 180 slaves.
     In his will King's Creek, the Burwell plantation in York Co. receives much attention.⁴

Honorable Philip Lightfoot left a will on 31 July 1747 at Virginia, USA.⁴

     Armistead Lightfoot was born in 1730 at Yorktown, Virginia, USA.^1,2 He married Anne "Nancy" Burwell, daughter of Lewis Burwell and Mary Willis, on 28 September 1759
; her 1st husband.²
Armistead Lightfoot died in 1771 at Yorktown, Virginia, USA.^1,2
      .¹

     William Lightfoot was born in 1722 at Virginia, USA.^2,1 He married Mildred Howell in 1746.¹

William Lightfoot died before 1771.¹
      .²

     John Lightfoot was born circa 1725 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.^2,1 He married Mary "Molly" Clack
; her 1st husband.¹
John Lightfoot died on 6 September 1751 at Brunswick Co., Virginia, USA.¹
      ; !John died without issue.²

     Philip III Lightfoot was born circa 1720 at Virginia Colony, Virginia, USA.¹
Philip III Lightfoot died before 31 July 1747.¹
      .¹

     Judith Armistead was born circa 1698 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.¹

     Joyce Armistead was born circa 1699 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.¹

     Martha Armistead was born in 1695 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.^2,1 She married Col. Lewis III Burwell, son of Honorable Lewis II Burwell and Martha Lear, in 1715
; his 1st wife.¹

     Anna Armistead was born circa 1704 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.¹

     Frances Armistead was born circa 1706 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.¹

     Armistead Burwell Col. was born in 1718 at York Co., Virginia, USA.¹
Armistead Burwell Col. died in 1754 at "Stoneland", Mecklenburg Co., Virginia, USA.¹
      ; Armistead was a member of a committee appointed by the Virginia Assembly to provide material for enlarging the church. In 1759, he was a vestryman and in 1752 & 1754 he was a member of the House of Burgesses. He started building "Stoneland", in Mecklenburg Co, VA, where he died. He was also named in his father's will.
Armistead was a Williamsburg merchant and he moved to a vast tract of land in Mecklenburg County on the Meherrin River (south of what is now Chase City) where "Stoneland" would be built. Both Armistead and his wife are buried in Williamsburg.¹

     Col. Lewis III Burwell was born in 1698/99 at Fairfield, Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA.^3,2,1 He married Martha Armistead, daughter of Hon. Maj. William H. Armistead and Anne Kendall Lee, in 1715
; his 1st wife.² Col. Lewis III Burwell married Elizabeth Armistead, daughter of Hon. Maj. William H. Armistead and Anne Kendall Lee, circa 1724 at Gloucester Co., Virginia, USA,
;
his 2nd wife, sister of his 1st wife.^3,2,4
Col. Lewis III Burwell died on 7 September 1744 at James City Co., Virginia, USA.^3,1
Col. Lewis III Burwell was buried after 7 September 1744 at Burwell Cemetery, Kingsmill On The James, James City Co., Virginia, USA;
From Find a Grave:
Birth     1698, James City County, Virginia, USA
Death     1744 (aged 45–46), James City County, Virginia, USA
Burial     Burwell Cemetery, Kingsmill On The James, James City County, Virginia, USA
     A brief biographical sketch is featured in Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume 1, page 200 (published 1915 and now in the public domain). It is transcribed below:
     "Burwell, Lewis, son of Major Lewis Burwell, of "Carter's Creek," Gloucester county, and Martha Lear, his second wife, was a student at William and Mary College in 1718. He resided at "Kingsmill" in James City County and was a colonel of the militia and burgess in 1742-1747.
     He laid out great sums of money in building a mansion house and gardens on James River. He died about 1744, leaving issue Lewis (q.v.) and Armistead (q.v.)"
?
wife: ELIZABETH ARMISTEAD
born: about 1699
died: October 1, 1745
Elizabeth was a daughter of William Armistead and Anna (Lee) Armistead.
     His father, Lewis Burwell II, was first married to Abigail Smith. They had a son, Lewis Burwell III who died at age 15. After his wife Abigail died, Lewis II married the widow Martha Yeo (Lear) Cole in 1694 at Fairfield Plantation. They ALSO had a son named Lewis Burwell III. (This memorial is for that son.)
     It was not unusual for two sons to be named "Lewis". The name Lewis was a family name that was perpetuated in the family, and when Lewis II's first son named Lewis died young, he merely named another son by his second wife "Lewis" to fill in the gap. There are quite a few examples of this kind of thing (recycling of names) in other VA families, though it happened far more often among the gentry class than the lower classes.
     Lewis Burwell III was a prominent, influential citizen, and a liberal Churchman. He was educated at William and Mary College. Lewis III was a justice of James City County (1726 and 1729), Naval Officer for the upper James River (1729), and member of the House of Burgesses (1742-43).
???????????????????????
Lewis Burwell III and Elizabeth Armistead had two sons:

• LEWIS Burwell IV - born 1716; died 1779
married Frances Thacker in 1746.

• ARMISTEAD Burwell - born 1718; died 1754
married Christian Blair
???????????????????????
Family Members
Parents
     MAJ Lewis Burwell II 1651–1710
     Martha Lear Burwell 1668–1704
Spouse
     Elizabeth Armistead Burwell 1699–1745
Siblings
     Jane Lear Burwell Atkinson 1701–1773
     Martha Lear Burwell Martin 1702–1738
     Susannah Burwell Goode 1704–1795
     Mary Lear Burwell
Half Siblings
     Joanna Burwell Bassett 1675–1727
     Elizabeth Burwell Harrison 1677–1734
     Nathaniel Bacon Burwell 1680–1721
     Lewis Burwell III 1682–1696
     Lucy Burwell Berkeley 1683–1716
     Martha Bacon Burwell Armistead 1685–1735
     John Cole 1686–1698
     Bacon Burwell 1687–1692
     Jane Burwell 1688–1692
     James Burwell 1689–1718
     Martha Cole 1690–1698
     Mary Cole 1694–1698
Children
     Lewis Burwell IV 1716–1779
     Armistead Burwell I 1718–1754
Created by: CMWJR
Added: Feb 24, 2021
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 223486180.¹
     Col. Lewis III Burwell lived at "Kingsmill", York Co., Virginia, USA.²

;      Lewis was a student at William and Mary in 1718. Lewis was the progenitor of the "Kingsmill" line, the third major branch of the Burwell family. There were a number of children, however only two have been identified - Lewis Burwell of Kingsmill and Armistead Burwell of Stoneland, Mecklenburg Co.
     In "Burwell Kith and Kin of the Immigrant Lewis Burwell", Stuart Brown, Jr. wrote: [Lewis] was in 1728 Naval Officer of the Upper District of James River and Collector of Customs and was a member of the House of Burgesses for Jamestown and later for James City County. He was one of the "friends and political supporters" who received large loans from John Robinson, Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Treasurer of Virginia.
     He established the riverside village of Burwell's Ferry...the ferry crossed the James River to Isle of Wight County and also served Williamsburg (the present ferry on Route 31 is upriver ten miles). During the Revolutionary War Yorktown campagin, the Burwell's Ferry area was the scene of naval activity. Burwell's Ferry had a warehouse and tavern site and Civil War fortifications."
     In 1718, Lewis' half-brother, Nathaniel (age 38), wrote a letter to another of Lewis' half-brothers, James (age 28) pertaining to Lewis' education. It gives an amusing glimpse into the concerns the older brothers had for Lewis.
     The letter read, in part: "Brother, I'm very much concerned for ye occasion of your Sending & more to see how insensible Lewis is of his own Ignorance, for he can nither read as he aught to do, nor give one letter a true shape when he writes nor spell one line of English & is altogether ignorent of Arithmetick, so that he'l be noways capable of management of his own affairs & unfit for any Gentleman's conversation, & therefore a Scandalous person & a Shame to his Relations, not having one single qualification to recommend him; if he would but apply himself heartily one year to write well, learn ye Mathematics & Consequently arithmetick of Mr. Jones, & to Translate Latin into English of Mr. Ingles to learn him to spell well, I would then take him home & imploy him till he comes of Age in my Office and Plantation Affairs that he might the better to be capable to manage his own, & to my knowledge this will be no disservice to him, & a greater than any other method he'l fall into through his own inclination; for my part, tis not advantage to me whether he be a Blockhead or a man of parts, were he not my Brother, but when I have to do with him, to schoole he shall go, & if he don't go till I can go over, he then Shall be forced to go whether he will or not & be made an example...need not Scare him, & therefore he had better go by fare means than fowl, for go he shall, & Send him forthwith. I am, Yo' Affection' Broth', N. Burwell"
     At the bottom of the letter he wrote: "Abingdon, June 13, 1718" and directly under that he wrote, "Show him this letter". We can only imagine Lewis'
reaction!³