Marty and Karla Grant
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James Lewis (bef 1748-c1802) and Elizabeth (—) of Dobbs, Glasgow, Greene and Robeson Co., NC
[Lewis Home] - [Table of Contents] - James Lewis son of Jacob
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Visit my James Lewis Differentiation page for a list of the various men named James Lewis in eastern NC. This should help sort them out.
James Lewis is my 5 times great uncle if he’s a son of Jacob Lewis as I strongly suspect.
James was born before ca 1748, based on him being included on a 1769 tax list and assuming he was at least 21 then. If Jacob is his father, as I believe, then James was probably born in Bertie (now Hertford) Co., NC where Jacob likely was in the late 1740s.
I don’t have direct proof that James is a son of Jacob Lewis (1720s-c1795), but he was associated with him and his children across multiple counties and two different states, so clearly related in some close manner.
Jacob Lewis and family left Bertie Co., NC ca 1755/56 for what is now Greene Co., NC and settled between Rainbow Creek (Swamp) and Wheat Swamp not far from the present town of Hookerton. This area in 1756 was part of Johnston Co., NC, but became Dobbs in 1758 and remained so until 1791 when Dobbs was dissolved. That year the southern half became Lenoir County and the northern half became Glasgow which was renamed Greene County in 1799 our Lewises were in that northern part, now Greene Co., NC.
Unfortunately court house fires have destroyed the bulk of old Dobbs, Lenoir and Greene County records making research there extremely difficult.
The 1769 tax list for Dobbs Co., NC survives and is quite useful. It was alphabetical so we can’t determine who lived where or near one another. Jacob Lewis and “son” Stephen Lewis were taxed together. James Lewis is listed with his own entry. He had one white male poll (himself) and no slaves.
On 15 Apr 1771, a Land Warrant was issued in Dobbs Co., NC to Jacob Lewis for “a plantation containing” 100 acres on the south side of the Rainbow Swamp joining the said Lewis’s land and Thomas Evans’s land. The survey was dated 15 Oct 1772 and mentioned John Maxwell’s corner. James Lewis and Stephen Lewis were chain bearers. There was no indication this land was actually granted to Jacob Lewis. Perhaps it turned out to already have been claimed.
Stephen Lewis is a proven son of Jacob, and as noted, I believe James is also Jacob’s son.
James Lewis married Elizabeth —, maiden name unknown, probably in this time frame, perhaps in the late 1760s or early 1770s. She was born before 1755 per her age on the 1800 census (45+).
Jacob Lewis made a deed to James Lewis between 1773 and 1775. No details are known as only the index survives, not the original deed. (Dobbs Co., NC Deed Book 10, p. 122.)
On 19 Jun 1778, James Lewis made a land entry for 200 acres in Dobbs Co., NC on the North side of Wheat Swamp, South side of Rainbow and both sides of Long Branch, joining Jacob Lewis, Charles Hiles and George Bell. On 12 Oct 1779 a survey was made for James Lewis in Dobbs Co., NC for 135 acres on north side of Wheat Swamp and south side of “The Rainbow” and both sides of Long Branch. It mentions Jacob Lewis’s corner. The chain bearers were Jacob Lewis and Stephen Lewis. Apparently he wasn’t able to get the entire 200 acres he originally entered, some of it probably previously claimed.
Jacob Lewis was his father and Stephen his brother.
On 27 Apr 1779, James Lewis made a land entry for 100 acres joining Jacob Lewis, John Cale, John Maxwell and Briggs Hill. The survey was in Oct 1779 (day is illegible) describing the land as joining Jacob Lewis and Briggs Hill near the head of Long Branch Jacob Lewis’s corner. Mentions Briggs Hill’s line. Chain Bearers were John Cail and Jacob Lewis.
I don’t know anything about Briggs Hill except he lived in the same vicinity. John Cail (Cale, Kale, etc.) was also a neighbor.
James Lewis is on the 1780 tax list in Dobbs Co., NC taxed for $400 worth of property in Granger District. Listed in the same grouping are his father Jacob Lewis and brothers Stephen Lewis, and William Lewis, each with $400 taxable property. It was not an alphabetical list, so these were all living near each other assuming the tax collector went from house to house, or they all came in to pay taxes as a group if the tax collector didn’t visit. The transcriber of the tax list described Granger District as being in modern Greene County from Snow Hill to south as far as Wheat Swamp, including Hookerton and westward to include Arba. That perfectly describes the area where the Lewis’s had land.
1780 Dobbs Co., NC Tax List, Granger District
Line # Name Value
52 Jacob Lewis 400
53 James Lewis 400
54 Stephen Lewis 400
55 Willm Lewis 400
On 29 Aug 1782 James Lewis and Jno Haile were chain bearers for a 27 acre survey for Joseph Hail in Dobbs described as on north side of Wheat Swamp ... Millers line ... John Hail’s corner ... Lassiter’s corner ...
On 10 Oct 1783, Jacob Lassiter had an entry of 330 acres surveyed in Dobbs Co., NC, described as on the east side of Sowel Branch, Jacob Lewis’s corner, Thomas Evans’s line, Abraham Bush’s line, Isaac Standly’s line and George Bell’s corner. The chain carriers were James Lewis and George Bell.
At some point in the 1780s Jacob Lewis, son Benjamin and others moved south to what was then Georgetown Dist., SC. At that time Georgetown included all of present day counties of Georgetown, Williamsburg, Horry, Marion, Dillon and a portion of eastern Florence, thus it was quite large back then. The Lewises, or ours at least, had land in the border section between what later became Horry and Marion in both counties. This was fairly close to the North Carolina state line in the Robeson / Columbus county border area. (Columbus didn’t actually exist yet then, it being part of Bladen, later Columbus, at that time.)
I don’t know if this James Lewis ever went to Georgetown, but he may have. There was a James Lewis obtaining grants there as early as 1771 who is probably related, but I don’t think it’s this same James unless he was in both SC and NC at the same time, going back and forth.
Some members of this Lewis family remained in Dobbs Co., NC and were still there for the 1790 census including a James Lewis. I don’t think the James still in Dobbs is our James, rather a namesake nephew or maybe even his son. That James is in a grouping with Cader Lewis (son of Stephen) and Stephen Lewis. John Lewis is on the same page, but not close by. Benjamin Lewis, not related, is a few pages away. I say not related, but he also winds up in Robeson Co., NC which suggests he is perhaps related.
1790 Census, Dobbs Co., NC
Page |
Name |
Males 16+ |
Males under 16 |
Females |
Others |
Slaves |
461 |
Cader Lewis |
1 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
461 |
James Lewis |
1 |
1 |
3 |
~ |
~ |
461 |
Stephen Lewis |
1 |
1 |
2 |
~ |
~ |
461 |
John Lewis |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
463 |
Benjamin Lewis |
1 |
1 |
3 |
~ |
~ |
As noted, the above is probably not our James Lewis, but I include the listing here on the chance it is him or his son. Ours was already in Robeson Co., NC by 1790 listed next door to son Richard Lewis.
1790 Census, Robeson Co., NC
Page |
Name |
Males 16+ |
Males under 16 |
Females |
Others |
Slaves |
136 |
David Lewis |
3 |
6 |
7 |
~ |
~ |
146 |
Richard Lewis |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
146 |
James Lewis |
1 |
2 |
4 |
~ |
~ |
My Analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 16+ (bef 1774) James Lewis (bef 1748)
2m -16 (1774/1790) 1. Son? (1774/1784)
2. Son? (1784/1790)
4f (before 1790) 1. Elizabeth (—) Lewis (Bef 1755) wife
2. Daughter? (Bef 1790) > gone by 1800
3. Daughter? (Bef 1790) > gone by 1800
4. Daughter? (1774/1784)
Robeson County was formed in 1787 from Bladen County, thus if James arrived before 1787, there may be some records for him in Bladen. First we should note there was already a James Lewis in Bladen, two of them in fact. One, James Lewis (1756-aft 1840), was born there. He was a Revolutionary War pensioner. There was an older James Lewis there in the records as far back as 1761. He, and James Jr (1756) appear to have resided in the vicinity of present day Clarkton, so not particularly close to where our Lewises were in what later became Robeson County.
I found no records for our James Lewis in Bladen which suggests he arrived in the area between 1787 and 1790, after Robeson had been created, perhaps with a short stint in South Carolina.
James Lewis received land grants in Georgetown Dist., SC in the 1790s. It isn’t 100% certain if it is our James (bef 1748) or one of the younger men of the same name or perhaps the James who’d been getting land there since ca 1771.
On 10 Jun 1791, John Flowers of Robeson, Planter, made a deed to James Lewis of the same place, Sadler. For 60 pounds ... on E Sd Ashpole Swamp ... Edward Flowers upper line ... Granted to John Flowers 11 Mar 1775 (no acreage listed).
S: John Flowers (his mark)
W: Micajah Ganey, Joseph Hails, Thomas Barnes (his mark)
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book C., pp. 122-123.)
The above is the first deed I found in James’s name.
On 29 Nov 1792, Benjamin Lewis, Planter, of Georgetown Dist., SC made a deed to Jacob Lewis, of the same place, for 150 pounds lawful money, sold him 200 acres of land in Robeson Co., NC on the east side of Indian Swamp. It mentions New Ground field Branch which might not be a place name but a reference to the condition of the land (newly ground field, as in just cleared and plowed). The land is part of a 640 acre patent by David Clark. Signed by Benjamin Lewis. Witnessed by James Lewis and Abraham Witherington. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book C, pp. 416-418.)
Benjamin and James are brothers, both sons of Jacob, I believe.
James son, James Lewis Jr, born ca 1772, would have come of age (21) ca 1793, so from that point onward, it could be him in the records instead of James (bef 1748). In fact, they both appear on some records together, though usually without a suffix to distinguish them.
Big Indian Swamp rises in Robeson Co., NC in Juniper Bay just a little north of Proctorville and flows generally southerly, passing to the west of Proctorville. Little Indian Swamp rises in east Proctorville and flows south not very far before joining Big Indian. Together they become Indian Swamp. It continues flowing southerly a few miles then joins Ashpole Swamp. Indian Swamp’s run is entirely in south eastern Robeson County. Where it joins Ashpole is very near the Dillon Co., SC line, which in 1792 was part of Georgetown Dist., SC. Ashpole flows southerly another couple of mile and joins the Lumber River, back then usually called Drowning Creek.
In Dec 1792 William Cleborn, Planter, of Robeson made a deed to James Lewis of same place, for 40 pounds ... E sd Ashpole ... including the plantation formerly occupied by Robert Cleborn ... p/o of a survey to John Flowers Senr 1775 ... 100a.
S: William Cleborn (his mark)
W: George Grimsley, Joseph Haile
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book F., pp. 187-188.)
On 23 Mar 1793 James Lewis of Robeson made a deed to Richard Lewis of Robeson, for 100 pounds ... E Sd Ashpole ... p/o 640a granted to John Flowers 9 Nov 1774 ... 200a.
S: James Lewis
W: Nathan Williamson, James Lewis
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book C., pp. 446-447.)
This deed is from James Sr to his son Richard, witnessed by his other son James (Jr) (1772). This appears to be the same land purchased from John Flowers in 1791.
On 2 Jan 1794 James Lewis Senr of Robeson, Planter, made a deed to James Lewis Junr of same place, for (cut off) pounds ... N Sd Ashpole ... 150 acres ... granted to John Flowers 1775 p/o 640 acres.
S: James Lewis
W: Benj. Lewis, Stephen Lewis, Cader Lewis
Ack Jul 1795
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book E., pp. 193-194.)
The above is James Sr selling land to James Jr, his son I believe. Witnesses are Benjamin Lewis and Stephen Lewis, brothers of James Sr, and Cader Lewis, son of Stephen.
On the same date (2 Jan 1794), Stephen Lewis of Robeson made a deed to Kadar Lewis (his son Cader Lewis), selling him the 200 acres that Benjamin had sold him the year prior. Stephen Lewis signed. Benjamin Lewis, James Lewis and Richard Lewis witnessed. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book D, pp. 435-436.)
It isn’t clear whether this is James Sr or Jr who witnessed this deed. Stephen and Benjamin are brothers to James Sr. Richard is James’s son, and Cader is Stephen’s son.
On 9 Jan 1794, Richard Lewis of Robeson Co., NC made a deed to Charles Ingram for 200 acres for land between Indian Swamp and Ashpole. Witnesses were Benjamin Lewis, James Lewis and James Lewis. It was proven in court by James Lewis, though it isn’t clear which one. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book E, pp. 26-27.)
Both James Sr and Jr witnessed this deed from James Sr’s son Richard. Benjamin Lewis is James Sr’s brother.
On 2 Oct 1794 a Plat was made for a land grant in Georgetown Dist., SC for James Lewis and William Lewis Jr for 500a on Cedar Creek and Reedy Creek joining Benjamin Lewis and near James Lewis’s land. There is more than one Reedy Creek and Cedar Creek in what was then Georgetown District. One Cedar Creek was in what is now Horry Co., SC and Lewises did live there.
The above could be James Lewis (1748) and his brother William (1761) who would be a junior William in the area at that time, since his probable 1st cousin William (wife Mourning Van Pelt) was older than he. Alternately, this land could belong to that William and his son James who was old enough to be taking up land then, or even another option is for William (Jr) son of William and Mourning, and brother James.
The problem is not just that there were several men of the same names in the area, but that almost all the early Georgetown records were lost during the Civil War, so we don’t have much at all from this era.
On 7 Mar 1796, Jacob Lewis received a state land grant in Georgetown Dist., SC of 200 acres surveyed 29 Jul 1795, being on N.E. side of Drowning Creek bounded by James Lewis and land already granted to Jacob Lewis, and also vacant land. Is this our James Lewis or the one who’d been getting land since ca 1771?
On that same date (7 Mar 1796), Jacob Lewis received a land grant of 500 acres in Georgetown District (surveyed 29 Jul 1795), described as bordering his own land and James Lewis and vacant lands. The survey for the above was signed by Josiah Lewis, Deputy Surveyor. Studying the plat I can see where it borders his 1788 land grant which was described as on the NE side of Little Pee Dee, whereas this one is on NE side of Drowning Creek. The two of those come together right by the present town of Nichols in Marion Co., SC. However, for this land to be on the north east side of Drowning Creek, it would have to be on the Horry Co., SC side, I think.
On 4 Apr 1796, Orson Floyd received a land grant in Georgetown Dist., SC of 234 acres on north east side of Little Pee Dee bounded by Jacob Lewis and James Lewis and vacant land. Orson Floyd (alias Austin Floyd) was closely associated with James Floyd who was James Lewis’s brother-in-law. Floyd’s land was in the part of Georgetown that became Horry in 1801, which suggests that James and Jacob Lewis’s land was as well, or at least the tract referred to here.
On 5 Jan 1797 James Lewis Senr of Robeson made a deed to Moses Grantham of same, for 180 pounds ... N sd Ashpole ... 290 acres ... p/o 640a granted to John Flowers 11 Mar 1775 ...
S: James Lewis
W: Francis Haynes, James Terry
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book G., pp. 97-98.)
On (blank) Sep 1797 Josiah and Elias Barnes of Robeson made a deed to James Lewis of same place, 107 pounds ... 200a on Indian Swamp SW of Drowning Creek ... beginning ... E of said swamp ... Edward Flowers upper line ... granted to John Smith 10 May 1772
S: J. Barnes, Elias Barnes.
W: Jesse Lee, Furney Barfield (his mark)
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book I., pp. 58-59.)
Furney Barfield is Stephen Lewis’s son-in-law, thus James Lewis’s nephew. This same land was auctioned off in 1804 after James’s death, and was purchased by his son James (Jr) as high bidder.
On 13 Mar 1800 William Ashley, Merchant made a deed to John Varnam. It was witnessed by James Lewis and James Lewis, and proven in Jan 1802 court by James Lewis.
(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book L., p. 201.)
It’s interesting how the two Jameses made no effort to distinguish themselves by Senr or Junr or in some other way.
The 1800 census for Robeson shows two men named James Lewis. Ours is the older of the two. Unfortunately, this census is alphabetical so we can’t determine if they lived near each other (which I suspect they did).
1800 Census, Robeson Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
713 |
James Lewis |
1 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
714 |
James Lewis |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
2 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My Analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 45+ (bef 1755) James Lewis (bef 1748)
1m 16-25 (1774/1784) 1. Son? (1774/1784)
1m 10-15 (1784/1790) 2. Son? (1784/1790)
1m 0-9 (1790/1800) Son? (1790/1800)
1f 45+ (before 1755) Elizabeth (—) Lewis (Bef 1755) wife
1f 16-25 (1774/1784) Daughter? (1774/1784)
James Lewis died before 5 Jan 1802, for on that date, the Robeson court “Ordered that Stephen Sterling Esquire, Ichabud Davis, William Sterling & Giles Williams meet and lay out one years provision out of the estate of James Lewis deceased as will support his widow & family one year and make return thereof to the next court.” (Robeson Co., NC Court Minutes 1797-1806 p. 181.)
On the same day, next page, the court also “Ordered that the Administrators of James Lewis Deceased sell the personal property of the deceased Estate.”
Then, a few lines down, “Administration of the Estate of James Lewis was granted to Richard Lewis & Elizabeth Lewis who entered unto bond in the sum of two hundred pounds with Benjamin and James Lewis their securities and Quallified (sic) as such and returned an Inventory fo said Estate & ordered to be filed.”
The court records above prove that James was dead by 5 Jan 1802. They also prove his widow was named Elizabeth. They also strongly suggest that Richard Lewis was James’s son, since he was named Administrator along with the widow. The securities (bondsmen) for the administration bond were Benjamin Lewis (James’s brother) and James Lewis, which is either James’s own son of that name (born 1772), or Benjamin’s son of the same name, both of whom were in Robeson Co., NC then and old enough, though I believe it’s more likely James 1772.
On 4 Jan 1803 the Robeson Court “Ordered that William Ashley, Stephen Sterling & John Flowers Esquires be appointed a Committee to audit the accounts of Elizabeth & Richard Lewis Admrs. of James Lewis, deceased.”
That is the last record I found for Elizabeth Lewis. I don’t know when she died, though sometime after 1803, presumably in Robeson Co., NC.
The 1802 court records strongly suggest that Richard Lewis is a son of James Lewis. However, I’ve found no other records that proves who his other children may have been. However, some can be easily attached to him based on circumstantial evidence. Of course some of these might belong to one of his brothers instead, so it’s not certain who belongs here.
1. Richard Lewis was born before ca 1772, presumably in Dobbs (now Greene) Co., NC. He was in Robeson Co., NC for the 1790 census, apparently already married, though with no children yet, so probably not married very long yet. He was not on the 1800 census in Robeson, but there was a Richard in (then) neighboring Georgetown Dist., SC who might be him. He was still near the Robeson area because he became Administrator of his father’s estate in 1802. He is listed on the 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 and 1850 censuses in Horry Dist., SC. I have not identified his first wife yet, but he married a second wife named Mary sometime ca 1825. She was born ca 1800 in SC. Deed records prove that Richard is the father of Richard Jr (c1795) (m 1st Mary Mincey, 2nd Sweeting Starling) and Elizabeth Lewis wife of (John?) McDaniel.
2. James Lewis (1772-1855) witnessed a deed with James Lewis (bef 1748) and witnessed a deed from James Lewis (bef 1748) showing a connection. There’s the possibility that the other James Lewis (wife Lucretia Davis) is James’s son instead of this James (wife Edith Walters), but I think it’s James 1772 instead because he’s older than the other James and it appears to be the older one associated with James (1748).
3. Unidentified Son (1774/1784) with James in 1790 aged under 16 (1774/1790) and home in 1800 aged 16-25 (1774/1784). I suspect this is either Jacob Lewis (1784/94) or William Lewis (1784/94) both of whom were on the 1810 census in Robeson, but gone after that.
4. Unidentified Son (1784/1790) with James in 1790 aged under 16 (1774/1790) and home in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790). I suspect this is either Jacob Lewis (1784/94) or William Lewis (1784/94) both of whom were on the 1810 census in Robeson but gone after that.
5. Unidentified Daughter (before 1790) was with James in 1790 (no ages), but gone by 1800 so married or dead by then.
6. Unidentified Daughter (before 1790) was with James in 1790 (no ages), but gone by 1800 so married or dead by then.
7. Unidentified Daughter (1774/1784) with James in 1790 no ages (before 1790), and home in 1800 aged 16-25 (1774/1784).
8. Unidentified Son (1790/1800), home with James in 1800, aged under 10 (1790/1800). This is probably John Lewis (1790/96) who was associated with James Lewis (1772).
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for James Lewis and Elizabeth (—).
Revised: May 28, 2026
Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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