Person:Thomas Lewis (9)

Thomas came to America with his parents in 1634. He removed from Lynn to Northampton MA in 1661/2 where he had a home lot of 4 acres, which he sold to Matthew Clesson in 1667. He was chosen to assist in building a mill June 27 1666 in Northampton. He removed to Swansea where at a town meeting held Dec 1 1669 "Thomas Lewis was admitted inhabitant and member of this township, and to have a twelve acre lot where any two of the Com'te for admission of inhabitants shall approve of his settlement." He was elected Selectman on May 21 1672 and is mentioned in Bristol Rhode Island as early as 1681. He was taxed at Mendon MA 1691,1692 and 1693, He was elected Selectman May 1 1693 for the year but declined to serve. He died at Bristol on April 26 1709. RI Vital Records say he was about 76 when he died. The History of Swansea MA lists Thomas as a first signer at the time the town was established.

Legacy

Will of Thomas Lewis - August 11, 1708

In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Lewis of Bristol in ye County of Bristol in New England, being aged and very Infirm, and not knowing when or how soon I may be Removed out of a Chaingable world, to prevent Jarrs & Contentions after my Decease do make constitute and ordaine this to be my last Will & Testament in manner and form following; that is to say, I commend my Soul into ye hands of God and body to ye earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my fr ends, and as to my temporal estate which it hath pleased God of his mercy to lend me, I give bequeath and bestow in the following manner, Viz:

After my ffuneral Charges and Just Debts are payed and sattisfyed by my Executrix hereafter mentioned, I give and bequeath unto my aged and beloved wife all my whole estate both Reall and personal after my decease During her natural Life with full power and Authority by Virtue of these presents to make sale of ye whole my Two acre lott in Bristol with the Dwelling house thereon except what I have before given by deed of Gift to my Daughter Hepzebath or any part or parsell of my said lott to such person or persons who shall appear to purchass the same hereby Impowering of my said wife Hannah Lewis to make, sign, seal and fully to execute a good and sufficient Deed and Legall Convayance of the said two acre lott or any part or parcell thereof so sold as aforesaid for her necessary & Comfortable livelyhood During her natural life and after her Decease what shall be Remaining of my estate to be Devided to and among my Children in as Just and equal proportion as may be according to the direction of the law in such case made and provided, having a regard allwayes to what any of my Sons or Daughters have had formerly of my estate before my decease. And of this my Last Will & Testament I constitute and ordain my Beloved wife Hannah Lewis my sole Executrix

Hereby making null & voydd all other and form Wills Legacies or Executors by me in any wise before this time named willed or bequeathed and in Testimony hereof I Thomas Lewis have hereunto sett my hand and fixed my seal the Eleventh day of August, A. D. 1708.

Thomas Lewis [Seal]

1. ↑ Lewis, George Harlan. Edmund Lewis of Lynn, Massachusetts : and some of his descendants. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977).
2. ↑ Edmund Lewis, in Anderson, Robert Charles; George F. Sanborn; and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635. (Boston, Massachusetts: NEHGS, 1999-2011).

   Children... ii THOMAS LEWIS, b. about July 1633 ("aged 3 quarters [of a year" on 30 April 1634 [Hotten 281]); m. Lynn 11 November 1659 Hannah Baker.

3.   Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   3:88.

   THOMAS, Lynn, s. of Edmund, m. 11 Nov. 1659, Hannah Baker, d. perhaps, of Edward, had Edward, b. 28 July 1660; and Thomas, 29 Apr. 1668, was freem. 1690.

4. ↑ Lewis, Delbert Franklin. Twelve generations of Lewises in America, 1634-1997: Edmund Lewis (1601-1651) to David Franklin Lewis (1992- ). (Baltimore [Maryland]: Gateway Press, 1999).
5. ↑ Baptisms, in Ipswich St. Mary at the Elms Parish Records.

   Lewes, Tho. to Edm. and Mary