Lewis Burwell (abt. 1652 - 1710)

Born about 1652 in Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail Bacon (Smith) Burwell — married 1674 in Gloucester County, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Martha Yeo (Lear) Burwell — married 1694 in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1710 at about age 58 in Gloucester County, Colony of Virginia

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Ancestor of William Henry Harrison 9th US President

Biography

Lewis Burwell is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

Lewis Burwell was a Virginia colonist.

Lewis Burwell ^[1]

Lewis Burwell, son of Lewis Burwell and Lucy Higginson, was born about 1652 in Virginia.

He was probably the "Llewis Burwell" who was a signatory of a 1676 grievance petition signed by 6 Gloucester Co. men in the wake of Bacon's Rebellion.^[2] Gloucester County was a focal point of the Rebellion, and the name of Lewis's son Nathaniel Bacon Burwell would suggest some pro-Bacon sympathies.

"Carter's Creek," the old seat of the Burwells, is situated on a creek of that name and not far back from York River. On the high triple chimney are cut the letters LBA. 1694. Besides the tombstones mentioned in this paper of the Burwell family there are extant the tombstone (badly injured) of Elizabeth (Burwell) Harrison, of "Westover", and her brother, James Burwell, of King's Creek,York county (inscription published in Virginia Historical Papers, Vol. XI.).^[3]

"Fairfield is the 17th- and 18th-century plantation and ancestral home of the Burwell family and represents an historical site of great importance to Gloucester County and Virginia. A large brick manor was constructed at Fairfield in 1694, and stood until it was destroyed by fire in 1897. As the home of one of Virginia's most prominent and influential families and a signature example of colonial plantation culture, this National Register and Virginia Historic Landmark property encompasses a complete cross section of Gloucester County's history. ^[4]

"Lewis Burwell of "Carter's Creek," Gloucester, and of "King's Creek," York, was a son of Maj. Lewis Burwell and Lucy Higginson, his wife. He was a justice of Gloucester in 1680 and a trustee of William and Mary College in 1692. He was probably appointed to the council by the governor in 1700. Such appointments were always provisional and had to be ratified by the English authorities and on Dec. 4, 1700, the lords of trade wrote to Gov. Nicholson that he had been appointed to the council. On Oct. 13, 1701, Maj. Burwell wrote to the lords of trade that he had received his majesty's command requiring his service as one of the council of the colony. It was his very great misfortune that upon this occasion it was not in his power to pay the respect of duty and obedience which he had always been ambitious to do, and therefore he prayed their lordships' intercession with his majesty not to insist upon his commands. Sickness and lameness, with which he was very often afflicted, made it impossible for him to attend. Accordingly, on May 7, 1702, the lords of trade recommended to the Queen that Lewis Burwell be discharged from the council, which was done. It was with one of this Maj. Burwell's daughters that Gov. Nicholson became infatuated, as Dr. Blair reports. He died Dec. 19, 1710. He married (first) Abigail Smith, niece of Hon. Nathaniel Bacon, Esq., and (second) Martha, widow of Col. William Cole, formerly secretary of state, and daughter of Councillor Col. John Lear. "

Adventurers of Purse & Person, 4th Ed., Vol. 1, 2004, Dorman, p. 433: Lewis Burwell, son of Lewis Burwell, inherited not only his father's holdings but through his first marriage came into possession of an estate which included "King's Creek" in York County. In 1704 he held 26,650 acres in King William, Charles City, New Kent, James City, York and Isle of Wight Counties. He was appointed a member of the Council, 1702, and served until his death.^[5] He was also a governor of the College of William and Mary, 1702. He m. 1st Abigail Smith b. 11 Mar 1657 d. 12 Nov 1692 dau of Anthony Smith of Colchester, Eng, and his wife Martha Bacon, sister of Nathaniel Bacon 1620-1693 the elder. Lewis m. 2nd Martha Lear Cole d. 4 Aug 1704, widow of William Cole, dau of Col John Lear (d. 1695).^[6]

Marriages & Children

Lewis married first Abigail Bacon (Smith) Burwell about 1674 in Gloucester County, Virginia. They had four sons and six daughters.

Lewis married second Martha Yeo (Lear) Burwell in 1694. They had two sons and three daughters.^[3]

Death & Legacy

The will of Lewis Burwell was proved 19 February 1710 and recorded in York County, Virginia. In it he mentions sons, Nathaniel, James, and Lewis; grandson, Lewis, son of Nathaniel; son-in-law, Henry Seaton; daughters, Joanna, Elizabeth, Lucy, Martha, Jane, andMartha, jun.; godson, William Burwell.^[3]

Research Notes

Maj. Lewis Burwell (1621 -1653), father of Lewis Burwell, II, was bap. 5 Mar 1621/22 at Ampthill, Bedford, England; he married Lucy Higginson. Maj. Lewis Burwell was buried at Abington Church, Gloucester County, Virginia. He resided at Carter's Creek (also in Gloucester county). He later resided at 'Fairfield Plantation, Gloucester County, Virginia' starting in 1648.

When he died, his wife (Lucy Higginson) remarried twice; first, to Col. William Bernard, son of Francis Bernard and Mary Woolhouse, and later to Col. Philip Ludwell, son of Thomas Ludwell and Jane Cottington; 3rd husband. Known children of Maj. Lewis Burwell and Lucy Higginson were: Hon. Lewis Burwell, b. circa 1652; m. Abigail Smith; m. Martha Lear.

Sources

1. ↑ Burwell, Lewis - A1307; born 1652, died 19 December 1710 York Co.; Jamestowne: 1698 (Burgess).
2. ↑ UK Public Record Office CO 1/39/244 (America and West Indies, colonial papers 1677 Jan. - Mar.), cited by https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~aholton/121readings_html/bacngrev.html - page no longer exists, but the signatories were Philip Lightfoot, James Taylor, John Buckner, John Rogers, Llewis Burwell, and Thomas Kemp
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Tyler, Lyon G. “Notes by the Editor.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 2, no. 4, 1894, pp. 230–236. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1915403. Accessed 9 July 2021.
4. ↑ The Fairfield Foundation
5. ↑ New River Notes, Colonial Virginia Register
6. ↑ Jester, Annie. Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1625' (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1956) Page 109

See also:

• Burwell Family Bible; Carter's Grove, James City County and Millwood, Clarke County, Virginia; BS 185 1739. 09 2X OV; Copyright © 2013 The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

• pg. 133, 'Virginia Heraldica, being a registry of Virginia gentry entitled to coat armor, with genealogical notes of the families'; ed. by William Armstrong Crozier[1]

• excerpt from Wikipedia - sources can be found at Burwell Family of Virginia

• Find-A-Grave: MAJ Lewis Burwell II BIRTH 1651 Hayes, Gloucester Co. VA DEATH 19 Dec 1710 (aged 58–59) York Co. VA BURIAL Abingdon Episcopal Church, White Marsh, Gloucester Co. VA Parents: Lewis Fairfield Burwell 1621–1652, Lucy Higginson Ludwell 1626–1675 Spouses: Martha Lear Burwell 1668–1704 (m. 1695), Abigail Bacon Smith Burwell 1656–1692

Acknowledgements

• Burwell-20 was created through the import of Tribal Pages 0004.ged on 25 March 2011.
• This person was created through the import of MildredMcEwan.ged on 02 April 2011.
• This person was created through the import of Ancestry Wiki.ged on 14 March 2011.
• WikiTree profile Burwell-92 created through the import of familytreex.ged on Jul 20, 2011 by Adri Oldershaw.
• WikiTree profile Burwell-146 created through the import of 46l4cb_2617164eb9pf478824cdl0.ged on Oct 17, 2012 by John Drinkwater.
• WikiTree profile Burwell-147 created through the import of 46l4cb_2617164eb9pf478824cdl0.ged on Oct 17, 2012 by John Drinkwater.