Thomas Lewis (Virginia politician) facts for kids

Thomas Lewis (born April 27, 1718, died January 31, 1790) was an important person in early Virginia. He was born in Ireland and later moved to America. He worked as a surveyor, which means he measured land, and also as a lawyer. Thomas Lewis helped settle western Virginia, an area that is now part of West Virginia. He was also involved in the events leading up to the American War for Independence. After the war, he continued to help develop the new state. He was a founder of Liberty Hall, which later became Washington and Lee University.

The Life of Thomas Lewis

Early Years and Family

Thomas Lewis was born in County Donegal, Ireland on April 27, 1718. His parents were John and Margaret Lewis. When Thomas was ten years old, his father moved to Philadelphia in 1728. Two years later, in 1730, his whole family, including Thomas and his brothers Andrew and William, joined him in America.

In 1732, the Lewis family moved to the western frontier of Virginia. They followed the Shenandoah River south and settled in what was then Spotsylvania County. The family built a farm and a strong stone house to protect themselves.

A wealthy man named William Beverley was given a large piece of land in Virginia in 1736. This land became Augusta County. The Lewis family was living on this land without permission. To fix this, Thomas Lewis bought 2,000 acres (about 8 square kilometers) from Beverley in 1739. This land was near what is now Staunton, Virginia. He named his new home "Bellefonte."

Thomas Lewis was a very dedicated student. He was also very nearsighted, which meant he couldn't see far without help. He learned how to survey land and how to practice law. By 1739, he started buying more land for himself. This land was in areas that are now Rockingham and Bath counties.

On January 26, 1749, Thomas Lewis married Jane Strother. She was from Stafford County. They moved north to what would become Rockingham County. There, they built a large farm called "Lynnwood" near Port Republic. Thomas and Jane had thirteen children. One of their sons, Thomas Lewis, Jr., later served in the U.S. Congress.

Public Service and Surveying

In 1738, the Virginia government decided to create Augusta County. But it took seven years for enough people to move there to officially organize it. Thomas Lewis became one of the first county judges when the county was formed in 1745.

Soon after, in 1746, Lewis and Peter Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's father) helped survey a large land grant. This grant belonged to Lord Fairfax and covered over 5 million acres. Thomas Lewis kept detailed journals of his surveying trips. These journals help us understand what early Virginia was like. In 1746, he also helped plan the first layout for the town of Staunton.

Lewis held many local jobs. He was the surveyor for Augusta County for many years. He also helped start Liberty Hall, which was first called Augusta Academy. In 1776, during the American Revolution, it was renamed Liberty Hall. It later became Washington College and then Washington and Lee University. It is one of the oldest colleges in the United States. Other important people, including his brother Andrew Lewis, were also founding members.

Political Roles

Thomas Lewis's father had served in the House of Burgesses, which was Virginia's government body. Thomas Lewis followed in his footsteps. He was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1765, representing Augusta County.

When the American Revolution began, a new temporary government took the place of the Burgesses. In 1775, Thomas Lewis was a delegate for Augusta County in this new government. His brother, Andrew, was also a delegate for another county. In 1776, when Virginia created its new state government, Thomas Lewis was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.

In 1778, Lewis traveled to Pittsburgh with a group to talk with the Delaware Indians. They signed a treaty to make sure the Delaware Indians would stay neutral during the rest of the war. In 1779, he helped solve a border dispute between Virginia and Pennsylvania. In 1788, Lewis was a delegate for Rockingham County. He attended the Virginia convention that approved the U.S. Constitution.

Final Years

In 1789, when the Kanawha County court was created, Thomas Lewis was chosen as one of its twelve officers. The court met for the first time on October 5, 1789, in Charleston.

Thomas Lewis died at his home, Lynnwood, in 1790. By then, he had become one of the largest landowners in the county. In 1794, the Virginia government created the town of Point Pleasant. This town was built on Lewis's property at the mouth of the Kanawha River.

Thomas Lewis is buried next to his wife, Jane, in the Lewis Family burial ground in Rockingham County.

Works

• The Fairfax Line: Thomas Lewis's Journal of 1746; Footnotes and index by John Wayland, New Market, Virginia: The Henkel Press (1925 reprint edition).