M. (1) 1644 in Hartford, Connecticut
Wife: Mary Hopkins
M. (2) 22 Nov 1671 in Boston, Massachusetts
Wife: Mary Cheever
D. 18 Aug 1690 in Farmington, Connecticut
The story of William Lewis is entangled with the early history of Connecticut, having arrived there with his parents in 1635, then serving in local leadership roles throughout his life.
In 1644, William married Mary Hopkins in Hartford, and over the next 23 years, they had ten children. Mary died in 1671 and later that year, William married Mary Cheever, the daughter of Boston Latin School headmaster, Ezekiel Cheever. The wedding took place in Boston on November 22nd. William and his second wife had six children, with the youngest born in 1681 when William was over 60-years-old.
William was a prominent person in Farmington. Along with being town clerk, he was deputy to the Connecticut General Court in 1689 and 1690. He also served in the town’s militia, first as a lieutenant in 1651, then as captain in 1665. He led the militia during King Philip’s War which was involved in the Narragansett campaign in 1675.
Like some men who lived in colonial New England, William owned several slaves, two of whom were Native Americans. He was also known to have an African slave named Sampson. Puritans may not be thought of as having been slaveowners, but in 1640, there were actually more Africans in New England than there were in Virginia. Some of William’s enslaved people were left to his family in his will, and were freed later on.
Part of the inventory of William's estate with two slaves on last line.
On August 18, 1690, William died. He was buried in the Ancient Burying Ground in Farmington. His wife remarried in 1692; she passed away in 1728. Famous descendants of William include Franklin Delano Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, W.K. Kellogg, television inventor Philo Farnsworth and Mitt Romney.
The lasting legacy of William is perhaps the house he built during the 1660s on property he got from his father. He lived there with his family and presumably, his younger children were born there. The house remained in the family after his death and was expanded during the 18th century, becoming a much larger house. By the American Revolution, it became the Elm Tree Inn, a landmark in Farmington for many years. Today the building is a condominium with over eight units. At least one of them includes the original house built by William.
The house that grew around William's house, as it looks today.
Children by Mary Hopkins:
1. Mary Lewis — B. 6 May 1645, Farmington, Connecticut; D. about 1691, Farmington, Connecticut; M. Benjamin Judd (1643-1689), about 1667, Farmington, Connecticut
2. Phillip Lewis – B. 13 Dec 1646, Hartford, Connecticut; D. about 1723, Fairfield, Connecticut; M. Sarah Ashley (1648-1698), about 1669, Hartford, Connecticut
3. Samuel Lewis — B. 18 Aug 1648, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 28 Nov 1725, Farmington, Connecticut; M. (1) Elizabeth Orton (~1654-?), about 1687, Farmington, Connecticut; (2) Mary (?-1745)
4. Sarah Lewis — B. 1 Oct 1652, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 10 Aug 1722, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. Samuel Boltwood (1648-1704)
5. Hannah Lewis — B. about 1653, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 24 Feb 1725, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. (1) Samuel Crow (1649-1676), 17 May 1671, Hadley, Massachusetts; (2) Daniel Marsh (1653-1725), 5 Nov 1676, Hadley, Massachusetts
6. William Lewis — B. about Mar 1657, Farmington, Connecticut; D. about 1737, Farmington, Connecticut; M. Sarah Moore (1681-?)
7. Felix Lewis — B. 12 Dec 1658, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 1738, Hadley, Massachusetts; M. Thomas Selden (1655-1734), 1675, Hadley, Massachusetts
8. Ebenezer Lewis — B. 1660, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 22 Jan 1709, Wallingford, Connecticut; M. Elizabeth Merriman (1669-1750), 2 Dec 1685, Wallingford, Connecticut
9. John Lewis — B. 15 May 1665, Farmington, Connecticut; D. Oct 1694
10. James Lewis — B. 10 Jul 1667, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 1728, Jamaica, Long Island, New York; M. Mary Meekins (1670-?), about 1694, Farmington, Connecticut
Children by Mary Cheever:
1. Elizabeth Lewis — B. 20 Oct 1672, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 1674, Farmington, Connecticut
2. Ezekiel Lewis — B. 7 Nov 1674, Connecticut; D. 14 Aug 1755, Boston, Massachusetts; M. (1) Mary Braden (1669-1703), 18 Mar 1702, Boston, Massachusetts; (2) Abigail Kilcup (~1678-?), 11 Oct 1704, Boston, Massachusetts
3. Nathaniel Lewis – B. 1 Oct 1676, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 24 Feb 1752, Farmington, Connecticut; M. (1) Abigail Ashley (1681-1727), 25 Nov 1699, Westfield, Massachusetts; (2) Thankful Pomeroy (1679-1773), 4 Jul 1726, Northampton, Massachusetts
4. Abigail Lewis — B. 19 Sep 1678, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 24 Jan 1707, Farmington, Connecticut; M. William Wadsworth (~1671-1751), 10 Dec 1696, Farmington, Connecticut
5. Joseph Lewis — B. 15 Mar 1679, Farmington, Connecticut; D. about 1680, Farmington, Connecticut
6. Daniel Lewis — B. 16 Jul 1681, Farmington, Connecticut; D. 16 Mar 1682, Farmington, Connecticut
Sources:
Book VXIII of the Genealogy of the Lewis family, William Richard Cutter, 1891
Passengers on the “Lion” From England to Boston, 1632, and five generations of their descendants, Sandra Sutphin Olney, 1992
Connecticut Houses: An Historical and Architectural Study, Norman Morrison Isham and Albert Frederic Brown, 1900
History, Charter and By-laws: List of Officers and Members Together with a Record of the Service Performed by Their Ancestors in the Wars of the Colonies, Society of Colonial Wars, Illinois, 1896
Find A Grave
ElmTree Inn historical papers, Connecticut Historical Commission
FamousKin.com
