Benjamin Lewis (bef 1719-aft 1748) of Chowan, Bertie and Tyrrell Co., NC

Marty and Karla Grant

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[Lewis Home] - [Table of Contents] - Benjamin Lewis

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Visit my Benjamin Lewis Differentiation page for a list of the various men named Benjamin Lewis in eastern NC. This should help sort them out.

I’m not related to this Benjamin Lewis as far as I can prove, but there might be a connection.

Benjamin Lewis was born before 21 Jul 1719 for on that date he was named in his father’s Will in Chowan County. He was named second, after son John and before son William. If named in age order we can perhaps determine Benjamin’s approximate birth date from this. John Lewis was named as Executor, so he had to be at least 21 for that, so born before ca 1698. Thus, we can guestimate that Benjamin might have been born ca 1700. That could be off considerably. We can be certain he was born before 21 Jul 1719 though.

Benjamin Lewis is a proven son of Richard Lewis and Elizabeth Messler as named in Richard’s Will dated 21 Jul 1719 in Chowan Co., NC.

Ben’s father Richard Lewis may have been in Chowan by 1700, so if Benjamin was born that year, then he was probably born in Chowan as well. If born earlier, he was born wherever Richard was prior to that, perhaps in Virginia.

The 1721 tax list for Chowan includes entries for Anthony Lewis, Anthony Lewis Jr, Isaac Lewis and Jacob Lewis. All of those lived in the section of Chowan that was shortly to become Bertie (in 1722). Notice that neither John, Benjamin or William (sons of Richard) were listed, perhaps none old enough yet, though John should have been listed if old enough to be his father’s Executor in 1719.

In 1722 Bertie Precinct was formed, taking many of the Lewises into Bertie, no longer being residents of Chowan. However, it appears that Richard’s family remained in what was still Chowan.

On 17 Jul 1735 William Lewis and Benjamin Lewis went to Chowan court and proved a power of attorney from William Luton to Couston Luton to which they were witnesses. (Chowan Co., NC Court Minutes 1735-1738.)

The above is the first record I found for Benjamin other than him being named in his father’s 1719 Will. That suggests perhaps he was younger than I guessed. If born ca 1700, then he would be 35 in 1735, so should have appeared in some records along the way. If born closer to ca 1719, then perhaps he only recently came of age by 1735.

Benjamin Lewis probably married someone, name unknown, in the 1730s. He moved to neighboring Bertie County around this same time, perhaps due to her family being there?

On 14 Feb 1738, Phillip Walston of Bertie made a deed to Benjamin Lewis for 45 pounds he sold him 100 acres on the south side of Rockquist Swamp where Benjamin Lewis apparently already lived. Walston signed the deed. Witnesses were Thomas Whitnell and Phill Walston. (Bertie Co., NC Deed Book E, p. 392.)

On 14 Jul 1738, Benjamin Lewis of Bertie, made a deed in Chowan to William Luten of Chowan for 100 pounds he sold him 100 acres on the west? side of Queen Anns Creek in Chowan. It mentions William Luten’s line. Benjamin Lewis signed. Witnesses were John Luten and William Halough (his mark W). (Chowan Co., NC Deed Book A, p. 128.)

On 3 Nov 1744, the Chowan Court ordered the Sheriff to summon Benjamin Lewis and Jonathan Hanley (or Manley?) “Both of the county and province afd” (aforesaid, meaning residents of Chowan). This means Benjamin was back in Chowan by 1744. They were summoned to provide testimony in a court case James Parker vs Robert Howell. (Chowan Co., NC Court Records 1737-1742.)

That was the last record I found for Benjamin in Chowan. He apparently moved across the Albemarle Sound to Tyrrell County by 1748.

On 16 Jan 1748, Benjamin Lewis of Tyrrell Co., NC, sold the 100 acres of land in Bertie on Rockquist Swamp to Phillip Walston for 20 pounds. This is probably Phillip Walston (Jr) son of the Phillip Walston who sold Lewis the land in 1738. Benjamin Lewis signed the deed. Witnesses were Samuel Singleton and Nathaniel Knott. (Bertie Co., NC Deed Book G, p. 164.)

I didn’t find any records for Benjamin Lewis in Tyrrell. There were some other Lewises there, perhaps related, including a Thomas Lewis and wife Ann, Jesse Lewis also with a wife named Ann and a William Lewis and a John Lewis. Benjamin had brothers named John and William, but I don’t know if they are the same ones who appeared in Tyrrell records.

On 12 Mar 1756, a Benjamin Lewis entered land in Johnston Co., NC, being 400 acres joining Micajah Rice, Henry Edmonds and Jonas Moone (or Moore) and William Meares. This land was in the section of Johnston that shortly (1758) became Dobbs Co., NC, which is precisely where my ancestor Jacob Lewis (c1729-c1795) moved to at the same time, with some of the same neighbors. This section became Glasgow Co., NC in 1791, and Greene Co., NC in 1799. Benjamin also entered 336 acres there in 1757. I don’t think this is the same Benjamin Lewis formerly of Chowan, but it could be.

There is also a Benjamin Lewis who appears briefly in Duplin and Sampson County records in the late 1750s. I don’t know which Benjamin that was, perhaps the same one in Johnston/Dobbs.

On 23 Sep 1758, a Benjamin Lewis witnessed a Beaufort Co., NC deed, along with George Page and John Green. The deed was between Farnifold Green and wife Holand of Craven Co., NC to William Dunbar of Beaufort. (Beaufort Co., NC Deed Book 3, pp. 403-405.)

That could be the same Benjamin Lewis, as Beaufort and Tyrrell bordered each other at that time.

There is a Benjamin Lewis who appeared in Craven Co., NC in 1759. That could be the same Benjamin formerly of Tyrrell, Chowan and Bertie, but I don’t know that it is. He purchased land from Joseph Pringle on 17 Dec 1759 both listed as residents of Craven County. The land was on the west side of Cove Creek (or Coxe Creek). Witnesses were John Turner, Ephraim Lane and Samuel Lane. (Craven Co., NC Deed Book 2, pp. 303-304.)

On 24 Nov 1761, Benjamin Lewis of Craven, Planter, made a deed to Samuel Blackford of the same place for 20 pounds, 100 acres on the west side of Cove (or Coxe) Creek. Signed by Benjamin Lewis. Witnessed by John Turner and Epherim Lane. (Who both witnessed the 1759 deed when Benjamin purchased this land.) (Craven Co., NC Book of Wills and Inventories 1752-1762, pp. 343-345.)

Again, take note that I don’t know that Benjamin of Craven is the same Benjamin formerly of Chowan.

I didn’t find any records of Benjamin in Craven after 1761, but I could have missed something.

As noted, I’m not sure what happened to Benjamin after 1748 in Tyrrell. I suspect the one in Beaufort and Craven just after that could be the same Benjamin, but I don’t know that for certain. He could have moved much further away during that period, or perhaps died not long after 1748.

Children

I have no evidence for any children for Benjamin Lewis yet. I have a highly speculative theory that he could be the father (or at least uncle) to Jacob Lewis (bef 1740-aft 1780) of New Hanover Co., NC for certain reasons. See Jacob’s page for more information on why I’ve made that potential connection between them. I could be far off the mark there.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Benjamin Lewis.

Revised: May 8, 2026

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