Nicholas Lewis was born on May 6, 1736 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Nicholas married Hannah Small on April 14, 1761, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Nicholas Lewis died on July 14, 1765, in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland.
Nicholas Lewis was born May 6, 1736, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, the first son and second child of William Lewis and Ann Merrikin. Nicholas' mother Ann was the widow of Nathaniel Stinchcomb and mother of 6 of Nathaniel's children. Nicholas, his sister, and his half-siblings grew up on their mother's plantation, a 200 acre part of “Scotland”.
By 1749, 3 of Nicholas' half brothers had died, Nathaniel, John and Charles Stinchcomb.
By July 1750 Nicholas' father William was deceased. Nicholas was 14 years of age. His father devised Nicholas a slave. Nicholas' father had also purchased 164 acre of land called “The Tryal” also known as “The Tryall” or “The Trial”. When Nicholas reached the age of majority in 1757, Charles Homewood deeded the land to Nicholas.
Charles Homewood Anne Arundel Gentleman and heir at law of Capt Thomas Homewood late of Anne Arundel to Nicholas Lewis, son and heir at law of William Lewis late of Anne Arundel, for the sum of 33 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence the said Thomas Homewood did grant to the said William Lewis that tract or parcel of land called “The Tryal” containing 164 acres on the south side of Magothy River.
In 1761 Nicholas married Hannah Small, daughter of Richard Small. Nicholas and Hannah had 2 known children:
It is not known whether Nicholas' family remained on his mother's plantation or moved to ”The Tryal” a short distance away.
In February 1765 Nicholas' mother Ann wrote her Will. Her son and Nicholas' half-brother Lewis Stinchcomb had recently died. By April 17, 1765, Nicholas' mother was deceased. Ann devised to Nicholas “my plantation whereon I now live being part of a tract of land called “Scotland” containing 200 acres”. Ann did not mention Nicholas' sister Rachel or his half-brother Thomas Stinchcomb so they are presumed to have been deceased.
On May 11, 1765, Nicholas purchased “Rattle Snake Point” from his half-nephew Nathan Todd, “Mariner”, described as 52 acres of land between the land of Rezin Hammond called “Burle's Banks” and the land that Nicholas owned called “Scotland” located on the bay between the mouth of Magothy River and Skidmore Point.
In early June 1765, Nicholas was listed as next of kin on the probate records of his half-brother Lewis Stinchcomb.
On June 24, 1765, Nicholas wrote his will and on July 14, 1765, Nicholas Lewis died at the age of 29 on his plantation “Scotland”, in the Broadneck of Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland.
Nicholas devised part of the plantation “I now live on called Scotland” to son William Lewis, 2 years of age, and the other part of the plantation to daughter Hellen Lewis, less than a year old. Each part was about 100 acres. Son William Lewis was also devised “The Tryal” and “Rattle Snake Point”. Nicholas' wife Hannah and Charles Small were named executors of the will. As Nicholas' widow, Hannah was entitled to a widow's dower during her life, a third of the 3 properties.
When Nicholas' estate was inventoried, Hannah was married to Charles Small. Next of kin were listed as Mary Todd, Nicholas' half sister and Ann Jones, a granddaughter of Mary Todd.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Completed: March 2021
Sources:
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, Nicholus Lewiss, 1736.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 27 Folio 364.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel County. Liber BB 2 Folio 38.
"Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970", database, FamilySearch, Nicholis Lewis, 1761.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Nicholis Lewis in entry for William Lewis, 1762.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Nicholis Lewis in entry for Helly Lewis, 1764.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 33 Folio 152.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel County. Liber BB 3 Folio 363.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories. Liber 87 Folio 227.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 33, Folio 331.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories. Liber 89, Folio 216.
