Meriwether Lewis was born August 18, 1774 in Albemarle County, Virginia. For many years, Lewis' legacy was overlooked, inaccurately assessed, and even tarnished by his alleged suicide. Parson Maury was a son of Charles Goodyear Maury who was Thomas Jefferson's teacher for two years. In 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. Meriwether Lewis Biography - Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline The expedition also collected scientific data, and information on indigenous nations. He died in 1862, leaving the home to his children Charles and Mary Anderson. His father became a Revolutionary War officer and died when Meriwether was 5. He and Meriwether Lewis set out on the adventure in May of 1804. Meriwether Lewis | The Old West By the age of eight, he was already showing the characteristics of courage and resourcefulness that stood him in good stead when he later commanded Jeffersons great expedition to explore the Missouri and Columbian Rivers from 1804 to 1806. He would often venture out in the middle of the night in the dead of winter with only his dogs to go hunting. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809). Gen. Lucian King Truscott, Jr.; married a Meriwether descendant. Lucy Meriwether gave birth to Jane Meriwether Anderson, Meriwether Lewis, Lucinda Lewis (who died in childhood) and Dr. Reuben Lewis while married to William Lewis and John Marks and Mary Garland Marks while married to Captain John Marks. Born on a plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia, he and his family moved to Georgia when he was ten but by thirteen he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. Augustine arrived in Virginia in 1628 at the . Upon the Corps successful return, Jefferson appointed Lewis governor of the Louisiana Territory and granted him a reward of 1500 acres. But, in early October 1809, Meriwether Lewis was found shot in the head in a room of an inn on the old Natchez Trace near present-day Hohenwald, Tennessee. Lewis, who had a better education, possessed a philosophical and speculative outlook and was at home with abstract ideas. But exactly what transpired at a remote inn 200 years ago this Saturday? William Lewis and 3. A day use campground at Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, north of Helena, Meriwether Picnic site. The original house burned down but it was rebuilt in the same style as the original. The year after his wife's death in 1820, Clark married Harriet Kennerly Radford, a widow with three children, and . (There is a question about whether Meriwether did move to Georgia with his family. The second oldest . - If the inscription on the. Lewis never married. Black powder pistols have been test-fired, forgeries claimed and mitochondrial DNA extracted from living relatives. Meriwether is 15 degrees from Jennifer Aniston, 16 degrees from Drew Barrymore, 17 degrees from Candice Bergen, 18 degrees from Alexandre Dumas, 13 degrees from Carrie Fisher, 27 degrees from Whitney Houston, 18 degrees from Hayley Mills, 15 degrees from Liza Minnelli, 13 degrees from Lisa Presley, 19 degrees from Kiefer Sutherland, 14 degrees from Bill Veeck and 21 degrees from Brian Nash on our single family tree. Why I Believe Meriwether Lewis Was Assassinated He was the son of Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill (1733 November 17, 1779), who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (February 4, 1752 September 8, 1837), daughter of Thomas Meriwether and Elizabeth Thornton. Anyone closer than 14 degrees from Meriwether Lewis? He moved with his mother and stepfather Captain John Marks to Georgia in May of 1780. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis. The Cherokee lived in antagonistic proximity to the white settlers, but Lewis seems to have been a champion for them amongst his own people. Other murder theories range from the scandalous (the innkeeper discovered Lewis in flagrante with Mrs. Grinder) to the conspiratorial (a corrupt Army general named James Wilkinson hatched an assassination plot.). They dropped the inquiry for lack of evidence or motive. Descendants and relatives lived in Virginia and elsewhere. Lewis was nominated and recommended to serve as the first Master of the proposed Lodge, which was warranted as Lodge No. Cookie Policy She returned to Albemarle for good, and Locust Hill became her property after Meriwether's mysterious death in 1809. Who Is William Clark A Hero - 633 Words | Internet Public Library Meriwether Lewis was a soldier, public administrator, and famed explorer as co-leader of the Corps of Discovery, commonly referred to as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. p. 108. About the age of 13 he returned to Virginia and to the household of his uncle Nicholas Lewis, his formal education beginning at this time. The bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean has spurred interest in the descendant project, which was launched in 1999. Controversy surrounded the circumstances of his sudden death along the Natchez Trace in Tennessee a controversy that continues to this day. These two Captains shared a common progenitor and were second cousins once removed. He was never married, but family legend shares that he courted Theodesia Burr, the daughter of Aaron Burr. He lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia and also owned a plantation in Spotsylvania County, which later became known as Kenmore. Meriwether Lewis Pedigree Chart | Meriwether Lewis | Ahnentafel No: 1 (4953) Master Surname Index Home > Meriwether Lewis Genealogy > Pedigree Chart Ancestry of Meriwether Lewis Lewis and Clark Expedition Look Click or tap a name to see more details including sources or famous kin. He chose Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition, who in turn solicited the help of William Clark. The journey from St. Louis to the Pacific and back again, lasting from May 1804 to September 1806, is of . He came back from this trip with new knowledge of the Louisiana Territory proving that the Louisiana Purchase benefitted the whole country. Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, to Captain William Lewis (1712 1781) who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (1751 1837). Wrong username or password. In reply to: Re: Meriwether Lewis/Woodson Connection. Charlottesville City Council Moves Forward with Relocating The next morning, she sent for Lewis's servants, who found him weltering in his blood but alive for several hours. They said I could buy it at any store, Shaun said. In addition to his role as naturalist, Meriwether also served to represent the new government, which had purchased the area, to the native peoples living there. Your Privacy Rights Later in his life, he was a captain in the military and served as Jefferson's . Several years after his biggest accomplishment, Lewis was dead. Lewis died and was buried near the Grinder's Stand roadhouse (modern Hoenwald, Lewis Co., TN) on the Natchez Trace, October 11, 1809. In other accounts, the dog was never there at all. Meriwether moved to Georgia with his mother and her second husband, Capt. Father of Joseph "De Smet" Lewis In some versions, Seaman, Lewiss loyal Newfoundland who guarded his master against bears on the long journey West, remained by his grave, refusing to eat or drink. . Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer and military officer born on August 18, 1774, in Virginia. He married Amanda Cosby on 15 December 1827. . Jefferson commissioned a two year expedition to explore these lands and chose Meriwether Lewis as the leader. His brother-in-law was George Washington . Mrs. Grinder, the tavern-keeper's wife, claimed Lewis acted strangely the night before his death. But I dont know if it would change anybodys mind one way or the other.. Clark was more pragmatic and practical. Today, the grave site is maintained by the Natchez Trace Parkway. [2] Originally, he was to provide information on the politics of the United States Army, which had seen an influx of Federalist officers as a result of John Adams's "midnight appointments." He was the son of Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill (1733 November 17, 1779), who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (February 4, 1752 September 8, 1837), daughter of Thomas Meriwether and Elizabeth Thornton who were both of English ancestry. These combined skills would later be useful in his expeditions. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774-October 11, 1809) was a soldier, an explorer, and a personal secretary to Thomas Jefferson. Browse Retail Locations . A broken column, symbol of a life cut short, marks his grave. Supposedly, Theodesia pleaded with Meriwether to decline the journey and marry her, heavily encouraged by her father. Lewis was nominated and recommended to serve as the first Master of the proposed Lodge, which was warranted as Lodge No. History is about finding the truth, he adds. His party affiliation didn't hurt, either. She started the Locust Hill Graveyard in 1810, probably on the hopes that she could have Meriwether's body re-interred there from Tennessee, and because her son-in-law Edmund Anderson and a neighbor died that year and needed to be buried. Lewis and Clark were respectful . (Henley, 2002) She lived there until her death in 1837 with her widowed daughter Jane Meriwether Anderson. [3], Meriwether's father, who served in the Continental Army, died from pneumonia after his horse fell into an icy stream in 1779. Though the Corps of Discovery had traversed thousands of miles of wilderness with few casualties, Lewis and Clark did not find the Northwest Passage to the Pacific, the missions primary goal; the system of trading posts that theyd established began to fall apart before the explorers returned home. certify direct and collateral descendants of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803-1806. Explorer. More Replies: Re: Meriwether Lewis/Woodson Connection. Captain Meriwether Lewis - Virginia Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Thirty-nine years later, in 1848, an effort was launched to locate Lewis's grave and provide a proper memorial. Was Explorer Meriwether Lewis Murdered? : NPR An error has occured while loading the map. He died, apparently of bullet wounds to the head and abdomen, shortly before sunrise the next day. In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University), joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 he was sent as part of a detachment involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. A bronze bust of Lewis commissioned for the event was dedicated to the Natchez Trace Parkway for a planned visitor center at the grave site area. It was also in the Broad River Valley that Lewis first dealt with a native Indian group. It is believed that he committed suicide. Families trace Lewis and Clark links - NBC News Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening 44 in Albemarle, VA between 1796 and 1797. Parson Maury was a son of Charles Goodyear Maury who was Thomas Jefferson's teacher for two years. FamilySearch Catalog: Lewis family tree : showing many of the M128 Jane (ca.1705/6-<1758) & Robert Lewis | The Meriwether Society At the young age of fifteen, she married Edmund Anderson, (1763-1810) her first cousin in 1785. Born 18 August 1774 - Albemarle Co., VA Deceased 11 October 1809 - Hohenwald, Lewis Co., TN,aged 35 years old Explorer 2 files available Parents William Lewis, Lt. 1733-1779 Lucy Meriwether 1752-1837 Paternal grand-parents, uncles and aunts Robert Lewis, Col. 1701..1702-1765 Jane Meriwether 1705-1755 She claimed to be able to see Lewis through the slit in the door crawling back to his room. Obviously, Theodesia's pleas fell on deaf ears. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis. Theres a certain amount of stress to reentering the world. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Missouri governor and corps of discovery expedition leader, William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame. Meriwether Lewis - Ancestry.com As documented by the Descendants Project this group produced 58 . Lewis was nominated and recommended to serve as the first Master of the proposed Lodge, which was warranted as Lodge No. Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis & Clark's Exp. Generally sharing leadership responsibilities with William Clark, although technically the leader, Lewis led the expedition safely across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific and back, with the loss of just one man, Charles Floyd, who died of apparent appendicitis. President Thomas Jefferson appointed Lewis and Clark to explore the territory that was acquired in the "Louisiana Purchase". Lewis and Clark were accompanied on most of the trip by a young Shoshone woman named Sacagawea. After the expedition, Lewis served as governor of the Louisiana Territory and as a commander of Fort Pickering in Tennessee. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Our Family Tree: Branch: Ray's Extended Family Tree : View. On the mission it was how do we stay alive and collect information? Then suddenly youre heroes. See details for 17912 MERIWETHER LEWIS ST, Ruther Glen, VA 22546, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Full/1 Half Bathrooms, 2902 Sq Ft., Single Family, MLS#: VACV2003024, Status: Pending . Garrett Lewis Minor: 14 MAR 1744 -- 8 MAY 1799: Mary Overton . The Meriwether Lewis Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will host the event, called Courage UndauntedThe Final Journey., On June 4, 2009, collateral descendants of Lewis launched a Web site aimed at garnering public support for exhumation and scientific study of the explorer's remains to determineonce and for allthe cause of his death. Jane, Meriwether was born on month day 1770, at birth place, to William Lewis and Lucy Lewis. He commissioned this the Corps of Discovery Expedition . Indeed, the 200-year commemoration has led to a broader interest in genealogy among Americans. In 1795 he joined the U.S. Army, as a Lieutenant, where he served until 1801, at one point in the detachment of William Clark, who would later become his companion in the Corps of Discovery. To resolve these issues, Lewis began a trip to Washington City to plead his case to the administration in person. [3], The new family soon moved to Georgia and Meriwether spent his time learning outdoorsman skills. Meriwether Lewis was born August 18, 1774, on Locust Hill Plantation in Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia, in the present-day community of Ivy. . After his father died of pneumonia in November 1779, he moved with his mother and stepfather Captain John Marks to Georgia. Lucy Meriwether gave birth to Jane Meriwether Anderson, Meriwether Lewis, Lucinda Lewis (who died in childhood) and Dr. Reuben Lewis while married to William Lewis and John Marks and Mary Garland Marks while married to Captain John Marks. He was also related to Robert E. Lee and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, among others. On October 7, 2009, about 2,500 people (Park Service estimate) from more than twenty-five states met at Lewis' grave on the 200th anniversary of his death. Son of Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Lewis The National Park Service, which controls the land where Lewis is buried, repeatedly has stalled the Lewis family's efforts to exhume the remains for scientific examination and to provide a proper Christian reburial. Certificates are awarded only to families proving their lineage to one of 33 members of the expedition that traveled the full distance from what is now North Dakota to the coast and back, including the Shoshone Indian woman Sacagawea and the black slave York. Between 1804 and 1806, the Corp of Discovery explored thousands of miles of the Missouri and Columbia River watersheds, searching for an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean.