Thomas Lewis was born April 1, 1703 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Thomas married Elizabeth Brigdell around 1732 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Thomas Lewis died before July 6, 1743, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland .
Thomas Lewis was born April 1, 1703 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, the 2nd child and oldest son of William Lewis and his wife Ann Bayly. When Thomas was 2 years old his father died intestate. Thomas's mother administered the estate.
It is uncertain whether Thomas, his younger brother William, and his older half-brother Joseph Pettibone remained with their mother or were appointed guardians. However the Anne Arundel rent roll recorded around 1707 showed Thomas' mother Ann Lewis possessed of the following properties:
“Piney Plaine”
“Tanyard”
“Pettybone's Rest”
“Stinchcomb's Addition”
Thomas' mother Anne possessed “Piney Plaine” in her own right, “Tanyard” in right of Thomas, heir-at-law of his father, and “Pettybone's Rest” in right of Thomas' half-brother Joseph Pettibone, heir-at-law of Joseph Pettibone Sr. It is unclear why Thomas' mother possessed “Stinchcomb's Addition”.
Sometime around 1709 Thomas' mother married Edward Marshall.
In 1716 Thomas' half-brother Joseph Pettibone, about 20 years of age, chose a guardian, James Govane. The following year Joseph became guardian to 14 year old Thomas and his 12 year old brother William, agreeing to teach them to “read, write and cast accounts” and remain as guardian “till they respectively come to age”.
Joseph Pettibone married shortly after becoming Thomas' guardian and within a couple of years had two sons Phillip and Richard Pettibone, half-nephews to Thomas.
In 1724 Thomas reached the age of majority and inherited his father's estate, “Tanyard”, 120 acres located in the Broadneck area of Anne Arundel County.
In 1728 Thomas' half-brother Joseph Pettibone died. The inventory recorded Thomas and his brother William as Joseph's next of kin, the next nearest relatives who would receive the estate if the direct heirs died.
In 1729 Thomas released his cousin John Merriken from his bond on his father's estate and acknowledged receipt of his portion of his father's estate. The release implied that his mother was still alive in 1729 and that Edward Marshall was deceased.
Around 1732 Thomas married Elizabeth Brigdell, daughter of Daniel Brigdell and Margaret Wooten. Elizabeth was the granddaughter of “Elinor” MNU and who also went by the nickname “Hellen”. Elizabeth's grandmother Hellen accumulated a large amount of land in the Broadneck area of Anne Arundel County through her 5 marriages. In 1730 after the death of Hellen's 3rd husband, she created a trust for her grandchildren. A plantation called “Yorkshire Hall”, 149 acres was placed in trust for Elizabeth.
Thomas and Elizabeth had the following known children:
- William Lewis
- Hellen Lewis
- Thomas Lewis
- Elizabeth Lewis
In 1737 Elizabeth's grandmother Hellen set aside legacies for her great grandchildren prior to her 5th marriage. Thomas and Elizabeth's children who were born before 1737 received gifts that were “to be paid them at the day of their marriages”. William Lewis' legacy was 2 cows and calves and Hellen Lewis' legacy was a silver pint can, 2 silver spoons, 6 new pewter plates, 3 new pewter dishes, 2 new leather chairs, and 2 cows and calves.
By 1740 Elizabeth's grandmother was deceased. On February 25, 1741, Elizabeth and Thomas Lewis sold “Yorkshire Hall” to John Brice, Elizabeth's brother John Brigdell witnessed the deed.
Sometime between 1741 and 1743, Elizabeth's brother John Brigdell died. John's son Daniel was bound in servitude to Thomas, his uncle.
On April 13, 1743, Thomas, age 40, wrote his will. Thomas was “very sick and weak of body”. Thomas left all the land he possessed to his 5 year old son Thomas, also stipulating that Thomas was to “be free” at the age of 18. If son Thomas died without heirs, the land was to be equally divided between Thomas' daughters Hellen and Elizabeth. Son William was not included in Thomas' will, or in subsequent administration records, so he is presumed deceased by this date.
By July 6th, 1743, Thomas was deceased, likely dying on his plantation “Tanyard” in the Broadneck of Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Updated: April 2022
Sources:
Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Thomas Lewis, 1703.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts. Liber 25 Folio 329.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts. Liber 28 Folios 131 & 338.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts. Liber 33 Folio 22.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts. Liber 37C Folio 113.
Maryland Historical Society. Maryland Historical Magazine. “Rent Rolls”. Vols 19 - 26.
Maryland State Archives. Provincial Court Judgment Record. VD 1, March 1715 - 1717, pg 405.
Maryland State Archives. Provincial Court Judgment Record. VD 1, March 1715 - 1717, pg 474.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel County. Liber TI Folios 210..
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventory. Liber 13, Folio 308.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel County. Liber IHTI 1 Folio 62.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel County. Liber RD 2 Folio 464.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel County. Liber RB 1 Folio 41.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 23 Folio 175.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories. Liber 28 Folio 129.
Maryland State Archives. Probated Records. Accounts. Liber 20 Folio 224.
