Charles Lilburn Lewis
Encyclopedia
Charles Lilburn Lewis sometimes referred to as Charles Lilburn Lewis of Monteagle, was one of the founders of Milton, Virginia
, as well as one of the signers of Albemarle County, Virginia
's Declaration of Independence
in 1779.
was the mother of United States President Thomas Jefferson
.) On September 12, 1769, Lewis married his first cousin, Lucy Jefferson
, President Jefferson's sister. The couple eventually had eight children: Randolph, Isham
, Jane Jefferson, Lilburn
, Mary Randolph, Lucy B., Martha, and Ann M. (Nancy). In another first cousin marriage, Lewis's daughter, Mary Randolph would eventually marry Randolph Jefferson
's son, Thomas, on October 3, 1808.
The family initially lived in a two-story log cabin on a 500-acre tract south of the Rivanna River
around eight miles from Charlottesville, Virginia
. In 1782 Lewis inherited 1500 acres and other property from his father's estate, on which he built a large new home on a bluff overlooking the river; he named the estate Monteagle or Mt. Eagle.
During the American Revolutionary War
, Lewis joined his father in signing a declaration of independence of the citizens of Albemarle County. Although he initially served as a lieutenant, by August of 1782 he had achieved the rank of colonel, serving as the county lieutenant. Lewis also served on the Albemarle jury in 1785.
from Albemarle County, Virginia in 1806. Charles and Mary followed with their three unmarried daughters by 1808. According to Boynton Merrill, Jr. in Jefferson's Nephews: A Frontier Tragedy, Lewis had fallen on hard times at the end of the 18th century and was forced to sell his land and slaves. Randolph and Lilburn purchased large tracts of land along the Ohio River
near Smithland, Kentucky
, and Lilburn built his home, "Rocky Hill", on a high point in the center of a 1,000-acre farm.
On December 15, 1811, Lilburn and Isham had been drinking. Isham had "appeared at Rocky Hill for a visit of undetermined length" the previous year after their mother died. Their older brother Randolph had also died, as had Lilburne's first wife Elizabeth. He had remarried and his wife Letitia was eight months pregnant, but he was worried about debt.
The brothers brutally murdered a 17-year-old slave named "George"
, who had dropped and broken a pitcher of their mother's. That night, the first New Madrid earthquake struck the region. The brothers tried to hide the remains of George, but his body was revealed two months later, when a chimney collapsed in one of the major aftershocks. The brothers were arrested and charged with the murder. Lilburne tried to persuade Isham to join him in a suicide pact; while they were planning it, Lilburned died by accident. Isham was held under investigation, but escaped and disappeared.
Lewis struggled to help his grandchildren. He died in Livingston County.
published a lengthy poem entitled Brother to Dragon: A Tale in Verse and Voices that retells the story of the Lewis family and the murder of George.
Milton, Virginia
Milton is an unincorporated community in Charles City County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
, as well as one of the signers of Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
's Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
in 1779.
Family
Charles Lilburn Lewis was the oldest of eight children born to Colonel Charles Lewis of Buck Island and Mary Randolph. (Her sister Jane Randolph JeffersonJane Randolph Jefferson
Jane Randolph Jefferson, née Jane Randolph was the wife of Peter Jefferson and the mother of president Thomas Jefferson. Born February 9, 1721 in Shadwell Parish, Tower Hamlets, London, she was the daughter of Isham Randolph and Jane Rogers, and a cousin of Peyton Randolph.There is almost no...
was the mother of United States President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.) On September 12, 1769, Lewis married his first cousin, Lucy Jefferson
Lucy Jefferson
Lucy Jefferson , also known as Lucy Jefferson Lewis, was a younger sister of United States President Thomas Jefferson and the wife of Charles Lilburn Lewis.-Early life and education:...
, President Jefferson's sister. The couple eventually had eight children: Randolph, Isham
Slave George
George Lewis was an African American held as a slave; he was murdered in western Kentucky on the night of December 15-16, 1811 by Lilburn and Isham Lewis, grown sons of Dr...
, Jane Jefferson, Lilburn
Slave George
George Lewis was an African American held as a slave; he was murdered in western Kentucky on the night of December 15-16, 1811 by Lilburn and Isham Lewis, grown sons of Dr...
, Mary Randolph, Lucy B., Martha, and Ann M. (Nancy). In another first cousin marriage, Lewis's daughter, Mary Randolph would eventually marry Randolph Jefferson
Randolph Jefferson
Randolph Jefferson was the younger brother of Thomas Jefferson. He was Thomas' only brother to survive infancy, and was a twin to Anna Scott, Thomas' youngest sister. Randolph was 12 years younger than Thomas. He married his first cousin Anne Jefferson Lewis in 1780 or 1781 and they had four sons...
's son, Thomas, on October 3, 1808.
The family initially lived in a two-story log cabin on a 500-acre tract south of the Rivanna River
Rivanna River
The Rivanna River is a tributary of the James River in central Virginia in the United States. The Rivanna's tributaries originate in the Blue Ridge Mountains; via the James River, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay....
around eight miles from Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. In 1782 Lewis inherited 1500 acres and other property from his father's estate, on which he built a large new home on a bluff overlooking the river; he named the estate Monteagle or Mt. Eagle.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, Lewis joined his father in signing a declaration of independence of the citizens of Albemarle County. Although he initially served as a lieutenant, by August of 1782 he had achieved the rank of colonel, serving as the county lieutenant. Lewis also served on the Albemarle jury in 1785.
Migration
The grown sons Randolph and Lilburn moved with their families to Livingston County, KentuckyLivingston County, Kentucky
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 9,804. Its county seat is Smithland. The county is named for Robert R. Livingston...
from Albemarle County, Virginia in 1806. Charles and Mary followed with their three unmarried daughters by 1808. According to Boynton Merrill, Jr. in Jefferson's Nephews: A Frontier Tragedy, Lewis had fallen on hard times at the end of the 18th century and was forced to sell his land and slaves. Randolph and Lilburn purchased large tracts of land along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
near Smithland, Kentucky
Smithland, Kentucky
Smithland is a city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. The population was 401 at the 2000 census...
, and Lilburn built his home, "Rocky Hill", on a high point in the center of a 1,000-acre farm.
On December 15, 1811, Lilburn and Isham had been drinking. Isham had "appeared at Rocky Hill for a visit of undetermined length" the previous year after their mother died. Their older brother Randolph had also died, as had Lilburne's first wife Elizabeth. He had remarried and his wife Letitia was eight months pregnant, but he was worried about debt.
The brothers brutally murdered a 17-year-old slave named "George"
Slave George
George Lewis was an African American held as a slave; he was murdered in western Kentucky on the night of December 15-16, 1811 by Lilburn and Isham Lewis, grown sons of Dr...
, who had dropped and broken a pitcher of their mother's. That night, the first New Madrid earthquake struck the region. The brothers tried to hide the remains of George, but his body was revealed two months later, when a chimney collapsed in one of the major aftershocks. The brothers were arrested and charged with the murder. Lilburne tried to persuade Isham to join him in a suicide pact; while they were planning it, Lilburned died by accident. Isham was held under investigation, but escaped and disappeared.
Lewis struggled to help his grandchildren. He died in Livingston County.
Legacy
In 1953, Robert Penn WarrenRobert Penn Warren
Robert Penn Warren was an American poet, novelist, and literary critic and was one of the founders of New Criticism. He was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He founded the influential literary journal The Southern Review with Cleanth Brooks in 1935...
published a lengthy poem entitled Brother to Dragon: A Tale in Verse and Voices that retells the story of the Lewis family and the murder of George.