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Jacob Lewis (c1720/34-aft 1755) of Onslow Co., NC
[Lewis Home] - [Table of Contents] - Jacob Lewis son of Anthony
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Visit my Jacob Lewis Differentiation page for a list of the various men named Jacob Lewis in eastern NC. This should help sort them out.
Jacob Lewis was born between ca 1720 and 1734, either in Chowan (now Bertie) Co., NC or in Onslow Co., NC. He is a proven son of Anthony Lewis and Elizabeth of Bertie Co., NC and Onslow Co., NC.
On 22 Apr 1734 Anthony Lewis registered the livestock marks of three of his sons in Onslow court, which suggests they were not old enough to register their marks themselves (under 14). The custom (and law in some places) was that a person had to be 14 or older to register their marks. That puts their birth dates at between ca 1720 and 1734.
∙ Anthony Lewis Senr records his son Jacob Lewis's mark on under Square in each ear & & half moon under the left ear
∙ Anthony Lewis Senr records for his son Matthew Lewis mark ...
∙ Anthony Lewis Senr records for his son Abraham Lewis's mark ...
Jacob Lewis (c1682-1744) moved to Onslow around this same time, also from Bertie, and appears in several records in the 1730s through his death in 1744. He is probably related to this younger Jacob, but I don’t know how exactly. It’s notable that in no instance is Jacob (1682) ever referred to as Jacob “Senr” which suggests the younger Jacob was no longer living, or had moved away, or was simply not old enough yet to be potentially confused with the older man of the same name.
All the records for “Jacob Lewis” in Onslow in the 1730s through 1744 (except the 1734 livestock mark registration already cited) are clearly for the older Jacob based on location and associations. The older Jacob died between Jan and Mar 1745, thus any records after that would likely be for Anthony’s son.
On 5 Jul 1745 in an estate sale for Himerall Taylor, by John Starkey, administrator, Jacob Lewis purchased a hand saw for 1.10 (1 pound, 10 shillings). This would have to be Anthony’s son or some other Jacob since the elder Jacob was dead by this time.
Jacob Lewis was named in the April 1755 estate inventory of Matthew Lewis, deceased, in Onslow Co., NC, “1 Pound two shills. and Two Pence Proc. Mony Due by Jacob Lewis.” This same estate is also recorded in Craven County records for some reason though clearly listed as Onslow in the record.
That is the last record I found for Jacob Lewis in Onslow County. He either died around that time or moved away. I suspect the latter.
It is entirely possible that he is the same Jacob Lewis (bef 1740-aft 1780) who appeared in neighboring New Hanover County records beginning in 1761, but I’m not real sure of it, thus I’m leaving them as two different people for now.
There is also the possibility this is the same as my Jacob Lewis (bef 1730-1795) who appeared in Dobbs Co., NC records in the 1750s, though I don’t believe so.
Unfortunately there are no surviving Wills, probate or estate records that would prove who Jacob’s children were. However, if he is the same Jacob later in New Hanover County, then he has at least seven proven children. Likewise, if it turns out he’s the same Jacob later in Dobbs Co., NC, then he too has several children, some proven, some not. See their pages (linked above) for more on them.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Jacob Lewis.
Revised: May 6, 2026
Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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