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John Lewis (1790/96-1842) and (1) Delilah Powell and (2) Zilpha Powell of Robeson Co., NC


[Lewis Home] - [Table of Contents] - John Lewis (1790/98s-1842)


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.


This family was a bit difficult to research at first. Other researchers show him born ca 1750. They also show him thrice married, 1st to Delilah Powell, 2nd to Nancy Orr and 3rd to Zilpha Powell, sister to his first wife. Unfortunately none of the genealogies I found for John include any sort of documentation. However, he did leave a Will in Robeson Co.,NC in 1842 naming his wife Zilpha and nine children including four unmarried daughters who were all under 21 at that time. Findagrave entries for some of those younger children give their birth dates in the 1820s, thus we have a time line for when he married Zilpha and we have a list of his children, or at least nine of them. We also know he died in 1842 in Robeson Co., NC.


His modern tombstone has the inscription “John Lewis Pvt Wilmington District NC Militia Revolutionary War 1750-1842.”


After studying the available records it is my opinion that earlier researchers have mixed up two different men, both named John Lewis. The one who died in 1842 in Robeson Co., NC (wife Zilpha Powell) was a much younger man who was born in the 1790s. The one who had militia service in New Hanover Co., NC was a different person entirely, perhaps related, but perhaps not. You can read more about that John Lewis here.


Whenever I work on a family that others have already published information about, I have several options. One, forget what they’ve wrote and see what I can find out myself unbiased by their conclusions (ideally), or two, try to prove or disprove what they published, especially if they didn’t already document their findings. In this case I did a little of both and quickly found the online trees have some major mistakes in them. I know it can ruffle feathers when someone comes along and refutes what has already been established by others especially regarding military service. However, we have to go where the evidence takes us. If my information contradicts the “established” genealogy, so be it. Of course if there is evidence I didn’t manage to find, then that’s great, as long as someone shares it with me so I can correct my own findings.


Let’s start at the end, just to get some context.


John Lewis made his Will on 19 Aug 1842 in Robeson Co., NC, “being of sound and perfect mind and memory,” he named:

∙           son William Lewis

∙           son James Lewis

∙           son Aaron Lewis

∙           dau Elizabeth Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           dau Rhoda Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           dau Lutitia Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           dau Zilpah Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           wife Zilpah Lewis

∙           son Starkey Lewis

∙           son John Lewis

He named his son William Lewis and friend Allen Walters as his Executors.

John Lewis signed the Will. Witnesses were Alvin G. Lewis and Thomas Lewis.

The Will was proven May 1843 meaning he’d died by then.


We can learn a few things from the Will other than the names of his wife and children. First, his son William was old enough to be an Executor, thus 21 or older, so born before ca 1821. Secondly, four of his daughters were under 21, thus born ca 1822/1842.


The children in Wills are often named in age order, oldest to youngest, and if that’s the case here, then William is the oldest son, and John is the youngest son. Of course we can’t rely on this as it wasn’t always done like that, though in his case it does seem to be true. It was also customary to name the oldest son as Executor, and in this case it’s William, again, strongly suggesting he’s the oldest.


Widow Zilpha, 67 (c1783) is on the 1850 census in Robeson. Daughter Leticia 22 (c1828) is with her, both listed as born in Robeson Co., NC.


Backtracking from there, using census analysis and other research I’ve come to the conclusion that there was no John Lewis born ca 1750 in Robeson Co., NC at any time, at least not according to the census records. There was a John Lewis in Robeson from ca 1790 until his death in 1817. That is John Lewis (1765/74-1817) son of Jacob Lewis, both formerly of Dobbs Co., NC (now Greene Co., NC). That John was married to Rhoda Pitman.


A younger John Lewis, born in the 1790s, came of age right as the above John died ca 1817. That younger John is the same one who died in 1842 leaving a Will, and whom we are studying here. This John appears on the 1830 and 1840 censuses in Robeson, both of which support a birth of 1790/1800. This John is the one married to Zilpha Powell.


I believe I can account for part of the reason for the mixup. John (d 1842) had sons named William, James and Aaron Lewis per his Will. There was a James (c1772-1855) in Robeson Co., NC, and they’ve assumed he is the same James named in the Will. If that were the case, then John would have to be born ca 1750 to be his father age-wise. However, since we know John was born in the 1790s instead, that James can’t possibly be his son. I think they’re actually brothers, both sons of an elder James Lewis.


The same mistake was made for John’s son William, listed in those trees as born ca 1780, however, William (son of John d 1842) was born in the 1810s. Same for his son Aaron, others list him born ca 1773, yet the census shows him born in the 1810s which works much better with the other actual evidence I’ve found. There were some older Aaron Lewises in the records in neighboring Bladen Co., NC and one in New Hanover. They are part of a different set of Lewises who might be related somehow, but not closely.


Was John married three times though? He certainly could have been, but can it be proven? I didn’t find any marriage records for John Lewis in Robeson, New Hanover or elsewhere. We do know from his Will that his wife in 1842 was named Zilpha. She survived him and is listed on the 1850 census. She is old enough to be the mother of all of his children.


The online trees shows 1st wife as Delilah Powell who was a sister to Zilpha Powell (c1783) his 3rd wife. His 2nd wife was Nancy Orr. I should note there were no Orr families in Robeson Co., NC as far as I’ve seen, but there were plenty of Powells. More on that later. Those online trees have Zilpha (1783) and Delilah as sisters, but Delilah would have to be considerably older than Zilpha to be mother of James 1772, Aaron 1773 and William 1780. It doesn’t work, thus if Delilah was John’s 1st wife, she was probably born in the 1770s herself.


Now, on to what I can actually prove about John Lewis by following documentation, and supposition based on the documentation.


John Lewis was born ca 1790/1796 per census analysis. He was 30-39 on the 1830 census, (1790/1800) and in 1840 census he was 40-49 (1790/1800). We can narrow it down more by his first public record being in 1817 assuming he was at least 21 when that record was made, putting his birth at ca 1796 or earlier.


I don’t know where he was born, whether in Robeson Co., NC or somewhere else in North Carolina, or perhaps in what was then Georgetown Dist., SC where several Lewis families resided prior to moving into Robeson. Likewise, I don’t know who his parents were for sure. The three strongest possibilities, in my opinion, are John Lewis (1765/74-1817) (son of Jacob), James Lewis (bef 1748-1802) (also son of Jacob) and James Lewis (1772-1855), who is likely a son of James (bef 1748), and a grandson of Jacob, thus no matter which of these turns out to be John’s father, he is a grandson or maybe great grandson of Jacob Lewis (c1729-c1795). Of course it’s possible that John isn’t part of that family at all, but it seems to me that he must be as he was associated with them and lived right in their midst.


For the 1800 census John would presumably be with his parents aged under 10 (1790/1800). In Robeson Co., NC all three Lewis households, David, James and James, had one apparent son that age with them. Of course we don’t know that John Lewis was born in Robeson, so there’s no guarantee one of the above is him. David Lewis seems an unlikely suspect since he moved away just after 1800, leaving the two James’s as potential fathers for John. These are father and son James (bef 1748) and James (1772). It is my belief that John is a son of the elder James, though I can’t prove it conclusively.


By 1810, John Lewis would be in his teens, so he could be listed in the aged 10-15 category (1794/1800) or the 16-25 age group (1784/1794), depending on the year he was born. There were seven Lewis households in Robeson that year all but one of which had a potential match for John:

 

p. 148 Benjamin Louis        20201-10010-0-2

p. 148 Martin Louis             00100-20100-0-0 * Would be Martin himself

p. 154 Jas Lowis                   11010-23010-0-0

p. 154 Jas Loius                    10010-20100-0-0 * No match

p. 157 Jno Lewis                  21010-30010-0-0

p. 157 Jacob Lewis              00100-10100-0-0 * Would be Jacob himself

p. 157 Wm Louis                  10100-10100-0-0 * Would be William himself


Looking at the above we can remove Martin, Jacob and William since the age matches in their households are themselves. We can remove one of the Jameses because he had no one in the right age groups, leaving the following as potential homes for John:

 

p. 148 Benjamin Louis        20201-10010-0-2

p. 154 Jas Lowis                   11010-23010-0-0

p. 157 Jno Lewis                  21010-30010-0-0


We can remove Benjamin because he left a Will in 1821 and did not include a son named John. That leaves James (1772-1855) and John Lewis (1765/74-1817) as suspects. Either of them could be John’s father age-wise, and they were in the right section of Robeson (southern). John Lewis (the elder) died in 1817 leaving a Will, however, while he mentioned his wife, sons and daughters, he didn’t list any of them by name.


John Lewis (1790s) married someone in the early 1810s judging by the ages of his oldest children. As noted earlier, other researchers show him thrice married, first to Delilah Powell. Is there any evidence for her and their marriage? There were many Powells in Robeson listed on the 1790, 1800 and 1810 censuses. We do have proof for Zilpha Powell (more on her later).


Unfortunately, I found no records for Delilah Powell or Delilah Lewis, which isn’t to say there aren’t any, only that I couldn’t find them.


The supposed 2nd marriage to Nancy Orr is based on a case of mistaken identity, I believe. First, no Orr families ever resided in Robeson Co., NC during John’s lifetime as far as I’m aware. The nearest were in New Hanover Co., NC which isn’t that far away, so it’s within the realm of possibility he found a wife there. However, I think not. It’s entirely possible the John Lewis of New Hanover was married to Nancy Orr, but I found no proof of that either though the families were definitely acquainted there.


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 the older John Lewis (1765/74-1817) instead. He died just a month or so after this, and he was married to a Pitman. However, all the Lewises lived near each other and were associated with the same families for the most part.


The above is the first record I’ve found for this John Lewis. To be a bondsman, one must be at least 21, thus he was born before ca 1796 or earlier.


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.)


The above deed was made a week after the elder John Lewis made his Will but about two months before he died, thus it could be him instead of John (1790s). However, John Lewis sells this same land to Gatewood Lewis in 1819 which is after elder John died, so that proves this deed is the younger John.


Gatewood Lewis is a proven son of James Lewis (1772), thus probably this John’s nephew.


On 14 Dec 1819, John Lewis of Robeson made a deed to Gatewood Lewis of the same place for $228 John sold Gatewood land on the west side of Indian Swamp being 143 acres (same land purchased from Josiah Pitman in 1817). John Lewis signed. Witnesses were Thomas Walterer and James Lewis. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book Q, p. 568.)


I don’t know which James Lewis that was who witnessed, either James (1772-1855) or James (1775/84-c1829), probably the elder James as that was John’s brother.

 

John Lewis ought to be on the 1820 census, but I haven’t been able to find him. There is a John Laws which could have been a badly written Lewis, but his household isn’t a good match for what John Lewis’s should be. Furthermore, John Laws was an actual person in Robeson at the time. Expanding beyond Robeson, I found two John Lewises in the general vicinity, neither of whom are good matches:

1820 Moore Co., NC

p. 136    John Lewis            010101-01401-0-0

1820 Marion Dist., SC

p. 17       John Louis             200010-20010-0-0


John Lewis’s supposed third wife was Zilpha Powell, apparently a sister to his first wife (per online trees). We do have proof of Zilpha being his wife. An 1822 deed (see below) shows that John Lewis is an heir of Douglas Powell, deceased, who would be Zilpha’s father. His census records show him born before 1755 and still alive through 1820, so he died between 1820 and 1822. Zilpha was born ca 1783. In 1790, Douglas had 2 apparent daughters born before 1790, one of whom was likely her. In 1800 he had one born ca 1784/1790 and one born ca 1774/1784, either of whom could be Zilpha, depending on her actual birth date. The other one would likely be Delilah Powell, if she and Zilpha are really sisters.

 

1790 Census, Robeson Co., NC

               p. 144 Duglas Powell          1-4-3-0-0               Age 16+, born before 1774

1800 Census, Robeson Co., NC

               p. 411 Douglas Powell        41201-11110-0-0 Age 45+, born before 1755

1810 Census, Robeson Co., NC

               p. 160 Duglas Powel           11201-11101-0-3 Age 45+, born before 1765

1820 Census, Robeson Co., NC

               p. 299 Duglas Powell          011001-00101-0-0 Age 45+, born before 1775


On 21 Feb 1822 Jethro Powell of Robeson made a deed to John Lewis of Robeson for $300, sold him 136 acres north east side of Ashpole Swamp, on Play Hill Branch ... Hardy Inman’s corner ... Bullock corner ... being his part partition or dower of the lands of Douglas Powell decd. Signed by Jethro Powell (his mark). Witnesses were James Townsend and John Drinkwater. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book T, p. 171.)


On the same date (21 Feb 1822), John Lewis and wife Zilpha Lewis of Robeson made a deed to Jethro Powell of the same place for $175, sold him 136 acres on the north east side of Ashpole Swamp being their part or portion or dower of the lands of Douglas Powell decd. John Lewis signed. Zilpha Lewis made her mark. Witnesses were James Townsend and John Drinkwater.

(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book T, pp. 342-343.)


I’m not certain if the second deed is them selling the same land back to Jethro Powell that he just sold them, or if they were simply swapping tracts they’d inherited both of which were 136 acres.


On 11 Oct 1826 Nicholas Powell, John Lewis and William Barnes signed a marriage bond for Nicholas Powell to marry Elizabeth Lewis. Nicholas Powell made his mark, John Lewis and William Barnes signed.


Elizabeth Lewis is a daughter of the other John Lewis (wife Rhoda Pitman), I believe. She would be a cousin to this John.


On 21 Feb 1828, Duncan MacAlpin of Robeson, attorney for Mary L. Dubois, Executrix, George Heberton, Abraham Dubois and Nicholas Dubois, Executors of Abraham Dubois, deceased, of City of Philadelphia, PA, made a deed to John Lewis of Robeson Co., NC for $40, they sold him 40 acres on north east side of Ashpole Swamp, the lower side of Play Hill Branch, adjoining his own 136 acre survey. Signed by D. Mac Alpin. No witnesses, Mac Alpin acknowledged the deed in February 1828 court. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book U, pp. 141-142.)


On 23 Aug 1828 Gatewood Lewis made a deed to Henry Lewis (the two are brothers, sons of James 1772). Witnesses were John Lewis and James Lewis. James is the father of Gatewood and Henry, and probably older brother to John. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book U, p. 188.)


On 19 Nov 1829 William Rowland made a deed to John Lewis for $275 he sold him 90 acres on both sides of Play Hill Branch. Also a tract on east side of Ashpole Swamp and both sides of Play Hill Branch of 100 acres. Signed by William Rowland. Witnessed by Frs. Floyd and James Rogers.

(Robeson Co., NC Deed Book U, pp. 509-510.)


John Lewis is listed on the 1830 census in Robeson next to James Lewis (1772) who was next to Henry Lewis (James’s son). William Lewis (1800/10) is six houses away, though his entry might actually say William Laws, it’s hard to be certain. John Laws was on the same page, so that family was in the same general area as the Lewises it seems.


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+

 

236

John Lewis

1

1

3

1

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

 

 Slaves=0

2

1

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 30-39 (1790/1800)       John Lewis (1790/1800)

1m 15-19 (1810/1815)       William Lewis (c1812) son > head of household by 1840

3m 10-14 (1815/1820)       1. James Lewis (1815/1820) son

2. Aaron Lewis (1815/1820) son > head of household by 1840

3. Son (1815/1820) > gone by 1840

1m 5-9 (1820/1825)            Starkey Lewis (c1825) son

1m 0-4 (1825/1830)            John Lewis (c1830) son

1f 40-49 (1780/1790)         Zilpha Powell Lewis (c1783), wife

1f 5-9 (1820/1825)              Elizabeth Lewis (1821) daughter

2f 0-4 (1825/1830)              1. Rhoda Lewis (1823) daughter * not a perfect age match

                                               2. Leticia Lewis (c1828) daughter


On 21 Dec 1838 John Lewis of Robeson made a deed to Thomas Evans of the same place for

$100 for 150 acres on the south side of Ashpole joining Josiah Grantham and Delilah King and Stephen Grantham and Martin Bird and John Foaly? Jr and the aforesaid John Lewis ... John signed the deed. Witnessed by Samuel Johnston (his mark). (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book X, pp. 172-173.)


John Lewis is on the 1840 census in Robeson Co., NC. Several other Lewis families were on the next page, not too many households from him.


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+

 

204

John Lewis

~

1

~

1

1

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

 

 Slaves=0

~

~

2

1

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

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

1m 40-49 (1790/1800)       John Lewis (1790/1800)

1m 20-29 (1810/1820)       James Lewis (1810/1820) son

1m 15-19 (1820/1825)       Starkey Lewis (c1825) son

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            John Lewis (c1830) son

1f 40-49 (1790/1800)         Zilpha Lewis (c1783) wife

1f 15-19 (1820/1825)         Rhoda Lewis (1823) daughter

2f 10-14 (1825/1830)         1. Leticia Lewis (c1828) daughter

                                               2. Zilpha Lewis (c1830) daughter


On 14 Feb 1840, John Lewis, Eli Wishart and Elias Barnes signed a marriage bond for the marriage of Etheldread Owens and Elizabeth Lewis (John’s daughter).


As noted before, John Lewis made his Will on 19 Aug 1842 in Robeson Co., NC, “being of sound and perfect mind and memory,” he named:

∙           son William Lewis

∙           son James Lewis

∙           son Aaron Lewis

∙           dau Elizabeth Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           dau Rhoda Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           dau Lutitia Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           dau Zilpah Lewis at her marriage or age of 21 ...

∙           wife Zilpah Lewis

∙           son Starkey Lewis

∙           son John Lewis

He named his son William Lewis and friend Allen Walters as his Executors.

John Lewis signed the Will. Witnesses were Alvin G. Lewis and Thomas Lewis.

The Will was proven May 1843 meaning he’d died by then.


Thomas and Alvin G. Lewis are sons of James Lewis (1772), thus probably John’s nephews.


Widow Zilpha is listed on the 1850 census in Robeson next door to son John (c1830) who is residing with a Thompson family and next to son Stark Lewis and his wife.


1850 Census, Robeson Co., NC, Southern Division, House 753, Family 753

Name

Age

Sex

Race

Occupation

Real $

Birth Place

Zilpha Lewis

67

F

 

 

860

Robeson Co, NC

Leticia

22

F

 

 

 

“

Henry S.

2

M

 

 

 

“

Zilpha Powell Lewis is on the 1860 census with her son Stark Lewis in Henderson Co., TN. Son Aaron Lewis is a few houses away. Notably, several of my Marion Dist., SC relatives (non Lewis families) moved to this same county prior to this, and the Lewises are living right amongst them in 1860, suggesting they may have connections, or at least were acquainted. Keep in mind that back then Marion Dist., SC and Robeson Co., NC bordered each other.


1860 Census, Henderson Co., TN, Civil District No 14, Shady Hill PO, House # 1417, Family 1482

Name

Age

Sex

Race

Occupation

Real $

Pers $

Birth Place

Stark Lewis

25

M

 

Farmer

200

1500

NC

M. J.

28

F

 

 

 

 

GA

S. D.

10

M

 

 

 

 

TN

L. A.

8

F

 

 

 

 

NC

J. R.

6

M

 

 

 

 

NC

Olif

4

F

 

 

 

 

NC

R. A.

2

M

 

 

 

 

NC

Zilpha

78

F

 

 

 

 

NC

I didn’t find Zilpha on the 1870 census. She may have died in the 1860s, perhaps in Henderson Co., TN.





Children


John Lewis left a Will in 1842 naming nine children. Census analysis suggests there may have been at least one other son, though perhaps he died prior to 1842 leaving no heirs.


Regarding the oldest children, I’m not sure which belongs to which wife, assuming he was actually married more than once. The youngest six may all be Zilpha’s.

 

1.         William Lewis (c1812) was named first in John’s Will, so presumably the oldest. He seems to be with his parents on the 1830 census aged 15-19 (1810/1815). On 23 Jan 1834, William Lewis obtained a marriage bond in Robeson to marry Fereby Humphrey. Lemuel Bullock and Thomas Lewis were bondsmen. William signed the bond with a mark. Thomas Lewis is son of James Lewis (1772), thus a 1st cousin to William. Thomas married Mary Anne Humphrey in 1837, perhaps sister to Fereby? That would make cousins William and Thomas Lewis brothers-in-law.

 

William Lewis is on the 1840 census in Robeson next to brother Aaron, aged 20-29 (1810/1820), with a son 5-9, wife 20-29 and two daughters under 5.

 

William and family moved to Independence Co., AR ca 1849 and are listed there on the 1850 census. He died there ca Oct 1855. His widow is listed on the 1860 census in the same place. She was in Red River Co., TX by 1870 and still there in 1880.

 

Note: Other researchers have put William F. Lewis (c1780-1848 New Hanover Co., NC) as a son of this John Lewis, but that is incorrect as he’s actually older than this John Lewis.

 

2.         James Lewis (1815/1820) was named second in John’s Will. He seems to be with his parents in 1830 age 10-14 (1815/1820) and in 1840 age 20-29 (1810/1820). On 6 Dec 1845, James Lewis “Jr” (likely to distinguish him from his uncle James-1772) obtained a marriage bond in Robeson Co., NC to marry Rebecca Bracey (spelled Breicie on bond). William Lewis and John Small were bondsmen. James signed with a mark. She was born ca 1806/07 per her age in 1850 (43).

 

James Lewis died between ca 1848 and 1850 for Rebecca is on the 1850 census in Robeson as an apparent widow with a son John B. Lewis age 1, listed between two Bracey households, notably John Bracey age 46 (c1803/04) who was living alone. Was he Rebecca’s brother? I suspect so because her son John B. Lewis was residing with John Bracey in 1860. I didn’t find Rebecca in 1860.

 

I didn’t find James Lewis listed on the 1850 census mortality schedule which should include anyone who died between ca June 1849 and June 1850, so he must have died before June 1849, or else Rebecca simply didn’t report it to the census taker.

 

Note: Other researchers have put James Lewis (1772-1855) as a son of this John Lewis, but that is incorrect as he’s actually older than this John Lewis.

 

3.         Aaron L. Lewis (c1816) was named third in John’s Will. He seems to be with his parents in 1830, aged 10-14 (1815/1820). He was head of his own household in 1840 next to brother William Lewis with apparently only himself and his wife in the house, suggesting a recent marriage. I didn’t find a marriage record for him in Robeson. His wife Amy Owens was born ca 1816 in South Carolina, so perhaps they married there. Her maiden name is proven by the death certificate of one of their son James. Aaron’s sister Elizabeth married Etheldred Owens in 1840, related to Amy perhaps?

 

They were in Henderson Co., TN by 1850, which is where some of the siblings and mother Zilpha later joined them. Aaron and family are on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census there. I didn’t check beyond that.

 

Note: Other researchers have put Aaron Wright Lewis (1773-1855) as a son of this John Lewis, but that is incorrect as he’s actually older than this John Lewis.

 

4.         Elizabeth Lewis (1821) was the first named daughter in John’s Will. She appears to be home with her parents in 1830 aged 5-9 (1820/1825). She married Etheldred Owens on or about 13 Feb 1840 in Robeson Co., NC. By 1850 they were in Henderson Co., TN.

 

One troubling thing about Elizabeth is that in John’s Will, dated 19 Aug 1842, he writes: “I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Elizabeth Lewis at her marriage or the age of twenty one year ...” However, her marriage bond, which he signed as a bondsman was dated 13 Feb 1840, two years before he made this Will, thus she was already married. Also, if her 6 Feb 1821 birth date is correct, she was already 21 when he made the Will. I can think of two explanations. One, Elizabeth (1821) who married Etheldred Owens in 1840 is not John’s daughter, but perhaps a niece instead. Or two, he simply made a mistake in the Will, or more likely, whoever transcribed it for him made the mistake if he didn’t actually write it out himself.

 

5.         Rhoda Lewis (1823) was seemingly with her parents in 1830 aged under 5 (1825/1830) which is off a bit, but still likely her. She still seems to be home in 1840 aged 15-19 (1820/1825). On 6 Jan 1844 Thomas Walters obtained a marriage bond in Robeson to marry Rhoda Lewis. They are listed in Robeson on the 1850 census a few houses from her mother.

 

6.         Stark (or Starkey) Lewis (c1826) is with his parents in 1830 and 1840. By 1850 he’s married to Martha Collins. By 1860 they’re in Henderson Co., TN.

 

7.         Leticia Lewis (1826) is living with her mother on the 1850 census, “Leticia” age 22 (c1827/28). She married Enoch Bass on or around 22 Jun 1853 in Robeson Co., NC. They moved to Mississippi Co., MO at some point where she died in 1908.

 

8.         Zilpha Lewis (c1827) was named in her father’s 1842 Will as the last daughter, meaning the youngest. She married Joshua Williams on or about 10 Dec 1845 in Robeson Co., NC. They are in Robeson for the 1850 census.

 

9.         John Lewis (c1830) is on the 1850 census next to his mother in Robeson, residing with Archibald Thompson (c1830) and wife Rose Ann (Bullock) Thompson (c1831), relation to John unknown, perhaps none. There is a John Lewis in 1860 Macon Co., GA age 29 (c1830/31 NC), who *could* be this same John. Note that Harmon Lewis (c1803) moved to Robeson to Macon before 1840. Harmon is a son of John Lewis and Rhoda Pitman, thus a cousin to this John (c1830). I’m not sure what became of this John (1830).




For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Lewis and Zilpha Powell.



Revised: June 4, 2026


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


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