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Joseph Lewis (1677–1742), son of Thomas Lewis and Hannah Baker

Elizabeth Birge (perhaps 1683–aft. 1742), daughter of John Birge and Sarah Unknown

Joseph, the son of Thomas and Hannah (Baker) Lewis, was born on 13 May 1677 in Swansea, Bristol County, (then) Massachusetts.1,2 He died on 27 May 1742 in Haddam.2,3 He married Elizabeth Birge.2

Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Sarah Birge of Bristol, (then in) Massachusetts.2 She was the daughter of John and Sarah Birge, born 20 September 1683 in Boston.3

Joseph Lewis of Haddam and his wife Elizabeth signed a receipt for a legacy from Elizabeth's father John Birge on 11 May 1734. Joseph, as guardian of his minor children Deborah and John Lewis, signed a receipt for their legacy from their grandfather John Birge on 26 October 1734.4

Joseph Lewis of Haddam made his will on 17 February 1740/1. His will—faded and hard to read—names his wife Elizabeth, his son John, his daughters Sarah Beckwith, Elizabeth Goth Shaler, Rebecca [...], Hannah Arnold [?], and his daughter and Deborah. He named his wife and son John his executors; the witnesses were Esther, Jabez, and Thankful Chapman.6

Children of John Lewis and Elizabeth Birge: Names given in Cutter2

i. Sarah Lewis was born about 1704. Sarah, the wife of Mr. Thomas Beckwith, died on 20 August 1786, age 82.Thomas was born about 1703. He died on 5 November 1770, age 67.7

Thomas and Sarah are buried in the Old Stone Burial Ground in Lyme, New London County.7

ii. Elizabeth Lewis was born about 1705. Elizabeth, the wife of Hezekiah, died on 23 September 1761, age 56 in Haddam.6,8 She married Ensign Hezekiah Shailer on 24 November 1727 in Haddam.4,9 Harrison was the son of Thomas and Catherine (Clark) Shailer and the grandson of Thomas and Marah (Spencer) Shailer and Joseph and Ruth (Spencer) Clark.9 He was born on 9 May 1706 and died on 1 or 10 September 1752.6,9

Hezekiah and Elizabeth are buried in the Thirty Mile Plantation Burial Yard in Haddam.7

Elizabeth's last name is not given in her marriage record.

Elizabeth (Lewis), the wife of Hezekiah, was a church member on 30 June 1756 in Haddam.8

iii. Rebecca Lewis may be the Rebecca Lewis of Haddam who married Joseph Lee on 24 June 1730.5 Joseph, the son of John and Elizabeth (Crampton) Lee, was born on 26 August 1690 in Guilford.4,10

iv. Hannah Lewis was perhaps the Hannah ___ who married Simon Arnold on 8 March 1734 in Haddam.5 Simon, the son of Joseph and Susanna Arnold, was born on 9 May 1711 in Haddam.5 He died on 9 May 1741 in Haddam.4,11

Simon Arnold of Haddam made he will on 24 April 1741; it was proved on 21 July 1741. Inventory was taken on 20 May 1741; it amounted to £1077-04-06. Simon mentioned his wife and his children Joseph, Hannah, and Susannah. He named his brother Joseph Arnold his executor.11

v. Deborah Lewis was born on 16 April 1721 in Haddam. She died on 9 April 1755 in Haddam. She married Daniel Clark.

vi. Captain John Lewis was born on 14 April 1723 in Haddam.2,5 He died on 9 August 1801 in Saybrook.2,7 He married Deborah Unknown on 1 June 17144.2,5 She died on 1 February 1813, age 89.7 According to her Findagrave entry, Deborah was Deborah Warner.7

John and Deborah were admitted to the church in Haddam in March 1759. They were dismissed to the Church of Christ in Chester in May 1767.8

Captain John Lewis was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.7

John and Deborah are buried in the Hearse Hill Cemetery in Chester, Middlesex County, Connecticut.7

Endnotes:

1. Vital Records of Swansea, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992), 9.

2. William Richard Cutter, Genealogical and Family History of Western New York (Provo, UT: Ancestry, 2005), 1187–8.

3. "Boston, MA: Birth, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630–1699," database with images, AmericanAncestors > Boston, p. 159.

4. H.L. Peter Rounds, Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1687–1745, volume 8 (Baltimore: Clearfield, 2001), 235.

5. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors (2011) > Guilford, 159 (Lee); > Haddam, 4 (Arnold), 52–53 (Lewis), 234 (Shailer).

6. "Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," Ancestry (2015: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9049) > Hartford > probate packets, Lamphear–McGee, 1741–1880, images 332–344.

7. Find A Grave website (https://www.findagrave.com).

Name Memorial Number Inscription / comments
Sarah Lewis Beckwith 22326269 "In memory of Mrs. Sarah Beckwith, wife of Mr. Thomas Beckwith, wo died August 20th, 1786 in ye 83rd year of her age." (photo)
Thomas Beckwith 22326265 "In memory of Mr. Thomas Beckwith who died November 5th AD 1770 in the 68th year of his age." (photo)
Deborah Warner Lewis 104312758 "In memory of Deborah Lewis relict of John Lewis who died Feb. 1st in the 90th year of her age."
John Lewis 104312801 "In memory of Mr. John Lewis who died August 9th 1801 in the ... year of his age." / footstone: "Revolutionary War Capt. John Lewis ... age 78." / Revolutionary War marker (photos)
Elisabeth Lewis Shailer 62354461 "wife of Ens. Hezekiah Shailer"
Ensign Hezekiah Shailer 62354423  

8. "Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630–1920," Ancestry (2013: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3032) > vol. 48 Haddam, 197–9 (Lewis), 234 (Shaler).

9. Harrison Shaylor, "The Thomas Shaylor Family," Connecticut Nutmegger 12 (1979): 706–7.

10. Ralph D. Smythe and Bernard C. Steiner, "Descendants of Edward and John Lee," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 53 (1899): 54–55.

11. "Connecticut, Early Probate Records, 1635–1750," database with images, AmericanAncestors > vol. 3, p. 221.

Last revised: 15-Jul-2023