The LEWIS Family of Lancaster, Worcestor, MA | Send comments and corrections to anneb0704@yahoo.co.uk |
WILLIAM LEWIS (d. 1671) of Lancaster m. Anne Unknown |
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WILLIAM LEWIS (d. 1671) of Lancaster
Parents:
William died on 3 (10) 1671 in Lancaster. [Ref, p. 14]
William was an early inhabitant of Lancaster, signing the town covenant, along with his son John, on 13 (1) 1653. [Ref, pp. 30-31] A Thomas Lewis signed the covenant on the same date. [Ref] On 30 (9) 1653 lots were laid out in Lancaster. Some of the original inhabitants of received 20-acre lots upon the neck lying between the North River and the Penacuck River. William received the seventh of these lots, his property lying next to John White's; his son John received a lot next to his. [Ref, p. 36] After the original division of land in Lancaster, further divisions were contingent on estate size. In 1654 estates were valued and William's - at about £285 - was the fifth largest of the 30 eligible inhabitants; his son John's - at about £18 - was the second smallest. [Ref] He was given about 11 acres of meadow in 1654; his son John was given an acre. [Ref] At a town meeting on 1 (9) 1654 it was agreed to limit the town to 35 families and 25 men were listed as townsman, two of whom were William and his son John. [Ref] On (1) 1659 Goodman Lewis was chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. [Ref] He received the 4th lot in the second division of meadow on 5 Feb 1659; his son John received the 14th lot. [Ref] On 2 Apr 1661 the Middlesex Court released William from all ordinary military training; he was to pay 5 shillings a year. [Ref] William and his son John are on a 28 May 1684 Lancaster tax list, as is a Christopher Lewis. [Ref]
The Lewis's were cousins of Thomas James of Lancaster; he left his property in Lancaster to them. [Ref]
Children of William Lewis and Anne Unknown: