Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

John Lewis (c1765/74-1817) and Rhoda Pitman of Robeson Co., NC

[Lewis Home] - [Table of Contents] - John Lewis son of Jacob

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

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

John Lewis was born ca 1765/74 per his ages on the 1800 census of 26-44 (1755/1774) and the 1810 census, 26-44 (1765/1784). He was probably born in Dobbs Co., NC in the section that became Glasgow (1791) and finally Greene (1799), though he was gone from there before either of those new counties came to be.

I believe that John Lewis is a son of Jacob Lewis (bef 1730-1795) who appeared in Dobbs Co., NC records in the 1750s through 1780s, with whom John was associated later in Robeson Co., NC. I’ve seen no direct proof of them being father and son, however, a 1794 deed where Jacob gives all of his personal property to John, does strongly suggest they are father and son.

Jacob Lewis resided in the part of Dobbs Co., NC that is now Greene Co., NC somewhere between the waters of Rainbow Creek and Wheat Swamp Creek near Hookerton. It is that area where John would have been born and raised. Jacob and some of his children left that region in the 1780s going first to what was then Georgetown Dist., SC, then to neighboring Robeson Co., NC where Jacob likely died.

John can be found in many records associated with his likely brothers William and Benjamin, as well as their father Jacob, as already noted, which is more evidence that he’s a son of Jacob.

We have to be careful since “John Lewis” is a common name. However, I think I’ve got him fairly well sorted out.

I didn’t find any records of John Lewis in Dobbs Co., NC records, or the few records that survive anyway. Dobbs County was dissolved in 1791, becoming Lenoir and Glasgow Counties (later renamed Greene). Unfortunately Lenoir County had two court house fires in the late 1800s that destroyed nearly all the old records, including those inherited from Dobbs. Greene County also had a court house fire in the same general time frame, resulting in massive record loss there as well.

John Lewis was not listed on the 1769 tax list in Dobbs, probably an infant then, if even born yet. Nor was he listed on the 1780 tax list there, probably too young.

There is a John Lewis is listed on the 1790 census in Dobbs Co., NC on the same page with his brother Stephen and his son Cader and also James Lewis, either another brother, or Stephen’s son. John was not listed close to them. I’m not 100% sure this is the same John Lewis, but if not him, I don’t know who it is. There was also a John Lewis listed in 1790 Georgetown Dist., SC which might be him instead.

1790 Census, Dobbs Co., NC

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
461	John Lewis	1	~	1	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 16+ (before 1774)        John Lewis (1765/1774)

1f (before 1790)                  Mrs. Lewis, wife

The one in Georgetown had a slightly larger family. John’s father Jacob was there that year, as was brothers Benjamin and William. This census was alphabetical so it can’t be determined if they were living near each other, thus this could be a different John Lewis, especially if the one still in Dobbs is him. However, based on census analysis, the one in Georgetown is a better fit for our John than the one still in Dobbs. I can’t say with any certainty which is which though. It’s certainly possible that neither of these is our John. His father Jacob had two males over 16 in his 1790 household, one of which could have been John if still unmarried at that time.

1790 Census, Georgetown Dist., SC, Prince George Parish

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
507	John Lewis	1	1	3	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 16+ (before 1774)        John Lewis (1765/1774)

1m -16 (1774/1790)            Son?

3f (before 1790)                  1. Mrs. Lewis, wife

                                               2. Daughter?

                                               3. Daughter?

John Lewis moved to Robeson Co., NC in the 1790s, though whether from Dobbs or Georgetown, I don’t know.

There is certain evidence that suggests John’s wife was Rhoda Pitman, born ca 1779/80 per her age on the 1850 census (70). That same census lists her birth place as Marion Dist., SC, but that could be wrong. The rest of that household is also listed as born there, but in truth, many of them were born in Robeson Co., NC. Perhaps she was as well.

If Rhoda is John’s wife, she can’t be the same apparent wife he had in 1790, so that suggests she’s a 2^nd wife, or that those 1790 census entries aren’t the same John. There were Pitmans all over eastern North Carolina in 1790 with quite a few in Robeson Co., NC. There were none in Georgetown Dist., SC in 1790. This suggests they married in Robeson in the 1790s.

I don’t know who Rhoda’s parents are. However, an 1821 deed (see below) shows some possible siblings.

On 11 Jan 1794, Jacob Lewis of Robeson Co., NC made a deed to John Lewis of the same place, for 150 pounds currency, he sold him the same 200 acres he purchased from Benjamin Lewis in 1792. Jacob Lewis signed with a mark. Witnesses were Benja. Lewis and William Lewis. Benjamin Lewis proved it in April 1794 court. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book D, pp. 250-252.)

Jacob is John’s father. Benjamin and William are John’s brothers.

On the same date (11 Jan 1794), Jacob Lewis made another deed to John Lewis, this one for horses, cattle, hogs, various livestock, and furniture and “all my household kitchen furniture.” Jacob Lewis signed with a mark. Witnesses were Benjamin Lewis and William Lewis. The bill of sale was proven in Jan 1803 court by Benjamin Lewis. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book M, p. 248.)

It says “Bill of Sale” in the bottom section, but I didn’t see any mention of money in the deed itself. I’ll read it again to be sure when I get a chance. These two deeds appears to be Jacob Lewis giving John Lewis his inheritance.

On 13 Jun 1798, William Ashley made a deed to John Lewis, both residents of Robeson Co., NC. For 30 pounds Ashley sold him 60 acres beginning at Lewis’s “upper back corner” ... Varnums line .... Signed William Ashley. Witnessed by Wm Herring, Breton Barnes (his mark). (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book H, pp. 395-396.)

On 2 Oct 1798, the court ordered that John Lewis and William Herring with their hands (helpers) repair the road from Flat Swamp to Fair Bluff. (Robeson Co., NC Court Minutes 1797-1806.)

John Lewis is listed on the 1800 census in Robeson Co., NC. He has two adult males in the household. I believe the older man is his father Jacob, if still living at that time. Alternately, it could be his older brother Stephen Lewis, who is living in Robeson in 1800, but not found on the census.

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

John Lewis

1

1

~

1

1

~

~

1

~

1

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 45+ (before 1755)        Jacob Lewis (c1729) father OR Stephen Lewis (bef 1753) brother

1m 26-44 (1755/1774)       John Lewis (1765/1774)

1m 10-15 (1784/1790)       Son? Nephew?

1m 0-9 (1790/1800)            Son? (1794/1800)

1f 45+ (before 1755)           Mother? Or Stephen’s wife Kerenhappuch?

1f 16-25 (1774/1784)         Rhoda Pitman Lewis (c1780) wife

On 25 Oct 1800 John Lewis witnessed the Will of his brother Stephen Lewis in Robeson Co., NC. Stephen named his wife “Kerenapac Lewis,” daughter Nancy Barfield and son Cader Lewis, to who he left land bordering John Lewis. He named John Flowers and William Ashley as his Executors. John Lewis and Elizabeth Lewis (her mark) and Morgan Elmore (his mark) were witnesses.

Elizabeth Lewis is James Lewis’s wife, thus Stephen’s sister-in-law.

On 6 Oct 1801, John Lewis and Morgan Elmore proved the Will of Stephen Lewis in Court. (Robeson Co., NC Court Minutes 1797-1806.)

On 16 Nov 1802, Cader Lewis of Robeson made a deed to John Lewis, for 100 pounds, he sold him 90 acres where Cader Lewis then lived on the east side of Indian Swamp and south side of Drowning Creek. Mentions line between Benjamin Lewis and Stephen Lewis ... John Lewis’s line ... a line between Cader Lewis and Furney Barfield (Cader’s brother-in-law). Witnesses were James Terry and Ichabud Davis (his mark). (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book O, pp. 185-186.)

On 15 Sep 1807 William Powell made a deed to John Applewhite, both of Robeson, for land between Ashpole and Indian Swamp. Witnesses were Giles Williams and John Lewis. The deed was proven by Giles Williams in Nov 1825 court (long after John Lewis had died). (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book T, p. 404)

John Lewis is listed on the 1810 census in Robeson Co., NC.

1810 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

157

Jno Lewis

2

1

~

1

~

3

~

~

1

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 26-44 (1765/1784)       John Lewis (1765/1774)

1m 10-15 (1794/1800)       Son? (1794/1800)

2m 0-9 (1800/1810)            1. Harmon Lewis (c1803) son?

                                               2. Benjamin Lewis (1806) son?

1f 26-44 (1765/1784)         Rhoda Pitman Lewis (c1780) wife

3f 0-9 (1800/1810)              1. Celia Lewis (c1800) daughter?

                                               2. Elizabeth Lewis (1800/1810) daughter?

                                               3. Daughter? (1800/1810)

On 17 Oct 1813, William Lewis of Duplin Co., NC made a deed with John Lewis of Robeson Co., NC (his brother) for “certain rights.” He released his claims to a certain tract of land from Thomas, Douglas and Nicholas Powell, heirs of Starling Powell deceased, who had deeded the land to William and Benjamin Lewis. It’s interesting how William’s relinquishment of his right to the land precedes the actual deed by 2 years. That probably means the deed was made orally before ever being written down. (See below for the deed in question which was filed in Robeson County.) William Lewis signed the above deed. Witnesses were John Beck and Thomas Barfield. (Duplin Co., NC Deed Book 4A, pp. 411-412.)

The above are brothers William (1761), Benjamin (bef 1755) and John (1765/74), sons of Jacob Lewis.

On 20 May 1815, John Lewis of Robeson Co., NC and Benjamin Lewis of Marion Dist., SC, sold the land to Solomon Rouse of Duplin. The land was described as on the North Side of Goshen Swamp. It mentions that it was deeded to William and Benjamin and that William had sold his rights to John. The deed was signed by John Lewis and Benjamin Lewis. Witnesses were Lewis Rouse and Solomon Barfield. (Duplin Co., NC Deed Book 4A, pp. 410-411.)

I do not believe that John or Benjamin Lewis ever lived in Duplin, but their brother William Lewis (1761-1841) did live in that area at the time.

On 26 Aug 1817, Elijah Pittman, Joel Bullock and John Lewis signed a marriage bond for Elijah Pitman to marry Dicey Bullock. This might be John Lewis (1790s-1842) instead. He would have come of age around this time. I believe the younger John is a nephew of the older John.

On 9 Sep 1817, John Lewis of Robeson Co., NC made his Will, described himself as “being weak in body by violent sickness but of sound mind and memory.” He names:

∙           My loving wife during her widowhood all my estate both real and personal until my youngest child comes of age

∙           then it is my will that my daughters have all my personal estate equally divided among them ...

∙           to my sons all my lands to be equally divided among them when my youngest child comes of age.

∙           my loving friends James Terry and Benjamin Williams Executors

He signed as John Lewis.

Witnesses were Jo. Lee, Giles Williams and Ezekiel Adams.

It was proven in Nov. 1817 court by Ezekiel Adams meaning John had died between 9 Sep 1817 and November 1817.

The problem with the Will should be obvious, but if not, I’ll point it out. He doesn’t list the names of any of his heirs! Wife, daughters, sons are mentioned, but not named. Not very helpful to us of course.

On 16 Sep 1817, Josiah Pitman of Robeson Co., NC made a deed to John Lewis of Robeson, for $243 he sold 143 acres on the west side of Indian Swamp ... mouth of the Reedy Branch ... John Sterlings line ... Signed by Josiah Pitman. Witnessed by Irvin Grimsley, Gatewood Lewis. Proven in November 1818 court by Grimsley. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book S, p. 57.)

Note that the above deed was made a week after John Lewis made his Will. He was still living until ca November of 1817 so it could be our John Lewis except for one thing. John Lewis sells this land in 1819 to Gatewood Lewis. Our John died by November 1817, so this couldn’t be him. This has to be the younger John, who is a brother of Gatewood Lewis, I believe.

I didn’t find Rhoda Lewis on the 1820 census in Robeson Co., NC. She must have been residing with a married daughter, thus not named since only heads of households were listed by name.

The first record I’ve found for her so far is dated 28 Sep 1821 where William Pitman, Rhody Lewis, Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Pitman and Sally Drinkwaters, all of Robeson Co., NC made a deed to Thomas Waters of the same place for $148 for land on W Sd Indian Swamp ... mouth of Reedy Branch ... Gatewood Lewis's line ... 140a, also one small piece adjoining above 8 acres ...

Although it doesn’t say so explicitly, I believe all of the grantors above are Pitman heirs selling some inherited land. William Pitman and Sarah Drinkwaters signed. The others made their marks. Witnesses were Gatewood Lewis and Irvin Watters (Walters). (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book T, pp. 321).

I made several attempts to find out how the above Pitman heirs connect, but wasn’t able to determine anything conclusively. My best guess is that William Pitman, Rhoda Lewis, the wife of Samuel Johnson who isn’t mentioned, Elizabeth Pitman and Sally Drinkwater(s) are siblings. I also attempted to find who originally owned the land they were selling but wasn’t able to find it.

Gatewood Lewis is a son of James Lewis (1772-1855), who is John Lewis’s older brother, thus he’s Rhoda’s nephew by marriage.

I did not find Rhoda listed on the 1830 census. Someone her age is residing with Harmon Lewis in Robeson on that census, and I suspect it’s her. Gatewood Lewis was a few houses away.

1830 Census, Robeson Co., NC

Page

Name (Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

illeg.

Harman Lewis

~

~

~

1

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

2

~

2

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 20-29 (1800/1810)       Harmon Lewis (c1803)

1m 15-19 (1810/1815)       Wright Lewis (1811) brother

1f 40-49 (1780/1790)         Rhoda Pitman Lewis (c1780) mother

2f 20-29 (1800/1810)         1. Sister?

                                               2. Sister?

2f 10-14 (1815/1820)         1. Sister?

                                               2. Sister?

On 20 Jan 1836 Benjamin Lewis and Harman Lewis made a deed to Joseph C. Lee for $280 for at least two tracts of land, (1) beginning on the mouth of Mill Branch, where Lewis’s line joins Giles Williams’s line ... Bright Williams’s line ... Adams line and Indian Swamp. No acreage given. (2) 100 acres East side of Ashpole and west side of Coward Swamp beginning on three maples ... 1 acre excepted on the upper .... The whole of the above contains 450 acres. Only Wright Lewis’s right excepted. Benjamin Lewis and Harmon Lewis both signed. Witnesses were L. Lewis, Daniel McPhatter (his mark) and John Lewis. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book W, p. 307-308.)

The above is, I believe, Benjamin and Harmon selling their portion of the land inherited from their father in his 1817 Will. He stipulated that it be divided when his youngest child had become of age, so this was around that time, I believe. Note that Wright Lewis was named with his rights to the land being excepted, and he is a proven son of Rhoda, and by extension, John.

Recall also that Joseph Lee witnessed John Lewis’s 1817 Will. I don’t know if Joseph C. Lee is that same Joseph Lee though, but could be.

L. Lewis is Lemuel Lewis (1804) son of Benjamin Lewis (d 1821), not related to our Lewises but lived near enough for them to be acquainted.

I would guess the John Lewis who also witnessed the deed is John Lewis (1790s-1842) probable son of James (1772). This John would be Harmon and Benjamin’s 1^st cousin.

I didn’t find any record of John Lewis acquiring the specific 450 acres that Benjamin and Harmon were selling here though. An 1830 deed from Giles Williams Sr to Giles Jr mentions Indian Swamp and land bordering John Lewis and another tract on Coward Swamp, so that does show the correlation to the land Harmon and Benjamin sold in 1836. An 1832 deed from Joseph C. Lee to Lucy Ann Kelly mentions Indian Swamp and land joining “the widdow Lewis” and another tract on Coward Swamp.

On 29 Oct 1837, Joseph C. Lee made a deed to Wright Lewis for $50, for 50 acres “that his mother Rhoda Lewis now lives on which is undivided and relinquished by us to her during her lifetime.” He signed as Jo. C. Lee. Witnessed by Haynes Lennon. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book X, pp. 255-256.)

The above proves that Wright is Rhoda’s son. It also helps link her to John Lewis, because if you recall, “Jo. Lee” was one of the witnesses to John’s 1817 Will.

How did Joseph C. Lee get this 50 acres? There is no detailed description in the deed, and the wording makes me wonder if he was also an heir to John Lewis by marriage. His wife’s name is Helen S. (—) (c1810) per the 1850 census. Was she a daughter of John Lewis perhaps?

Rhoda was on the 1840 census in Robeson. She was next to her son-in-law Isaac Lewis (son of Hardy Lewis) and two houses from her son Wright Lewis. William Lewis (1761-1841) was just a few houses away. He was John’s older brother, thus Rhoda’s brother-in-law. He’d just recently returned to Robeson after years of living elsewhere.

1840 Census, Robeson Co., NC

Page

Name (Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

206

Rhody Lewis

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

1

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1f 50-59 (1780/1790)         Rhoda Pitman Lewis (c1780) widow of John?

1f 20-29 (1810/1820)         Daughter?

1f 15-19 (1820/1825)         Daughter?

Rhoda was with her son Wright Lewis on the 1850 census in (then) neighboring Marion Dist., SC. I *think* they were in the section of Marion that later became Dillon County (in 1910).

1850 Census, Marion Dist., SC, House 1395, Family 1401

I didn’t find Rhoda on the 1860 census. Her son Wright Lewis moved to Monroe Co., MS by then, but she wasn’t living with him there on the 1860 census.

---

Children

Although John Lewis left a Will in 1817 indicating he had children, he didn’t include any of their names, thus we have no documents to prove who they were. I have some likely suspects using census analysis and circumstantial evidence.

 

1.         Unidentified Son (1784/1790). John in 1790 Georgetown had a son aged under 16 (1774/1790) with him in 1790. If that is the same John, then this may be the same son with him in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790). He was gone by 1810. There was a William Lewis (1784/94) who began appearing in the Robeson records beginning in 1805. He’s there on the 1810 census near John and also near Jacob Lewis (1784/94). One of these could be a son of John, but not both, at least not per census analysis. They could just as easily be sons of James Lewis (1748-1802).

 

2.         Unidentified Daughter (before 1790). John in 1790 Georgetown had two apparent daughters with him (born before 1790). They were not with our John in 1800, so if 1790 John and 1800 John are the same person, then they had married or died before then.

 

3.         Unidentified Daughter (before 1790). John in 1790 Georgetown had two apparent daughters with him (born before 1790). They were not with our John in 1800, so if 1790 John and 1800 John are the same person, then they had married or died before then.

 

4.         Unidentified Son (1794/1800). John had an apparent son this age with him in 1800, aged under 10 (1790/1800) and still home in 1810, aged 10-15 (1794/1800). I don’t know who this was. John Lewis (1790s-1842) fits here nicely, but I rather think he’s a son of James Lewis (1748-1802) instead, but I could be wrong.

 

5.         Unidentified Son (1800/1810). John had two apparent sons this age with him on the 1810 census, aged under 10 (1800/1810). This is probably Harmon Lewis (c1803) who sold land in 1836 along with Benjamin Lewis, to Joseph C. Lee on the east side of Indian Swamp where John Lewis had his land. Harmon married Winny Grantham before 1830 in Robeson Co., NC. They moved to Macon Co., GA in the mid 1830s. He’s there on the 1840 and 1850 censuses.

 

6.         Unidentified Son (1800/1810). John had two apparent sons this age with him on the 1810 census, aged under 10 (1800/1810). This is likely Benjamin Lewis (1806-1881) who was associated with Harmon Lewis and lived in the same area. He married 1^st to Laticia Page in 1830 Robeson. She died ca 1850/52. He married 2^nd to Abi (—) Cribb, widow of John C. Cribb ca 1851/52 in Marion Dist., SC. She died shortly afterwards. Benjamin married 3^rd to Mary Jane Moody ca 1855, probably in Wayne Co., GA. Her family was from Marion Dist., SC.

 

7.         Unidentified Daughter (1800/1810). John had three apparent daughters this age with him on the 1810 census, aged under 10 (1800/1810). This is probably Celia Lewis (c1800) who married Isaac Lewis in 1824. Isaac was a son of Hardy Lewis, son of William & Mourning Lewis. Isaac purchased land next to Rhoda and lived by her on the 1840 census in Robeson, however they went back to (then) neighboring Marion Dist., SC by 1850.

 

8.         Unidentified Daughter (1800/1810). John had three apparent daughters this age with him on the 1810 census, aged under 10 (1800/1810). This is likely Elizabeth Lewis (1800/1810) who married Nicholas Powell in 1826. He is a son of Douglas Powell which makes him the younger brother of Zilpha Powell who married John Lewis (1790s-1842). Nicholas and family were in Marion Dist., SC in 1830, and living next to Wright Lewis in 1840 and two houses from widow Rhoda. John Lewis (c1790s) was bondsman for their marriage. Elizabeth died in the 1840s. Nicholas Powell married a 2^nd Elizabeth (—) afterwards. She died in the 1850s, and he married 3^rd to Ailsey Stanley before 1860.

 

9.         Unidentified Daughter (1800/1810). John had three apparent daughters this age with him on the 1810 census, aged under 10 (1800/1810).

 

10.       Wright Lewis (1811). Wright Lewis is a proven son of Rhoda Lewis by an 1837 deed and she was residing with him in 1850.

 

11.       Unidentified Daughter (1810/1820). Rhoda Lewis had an apparent daughter this age with her in 1840, 20-29 (1810/1820).

---

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Lewis and Rhoda Pitman.

Revised: May 31, 2026

Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]