After my genealogy finds in Plimoth Colony my next trip down the genealogy path took me to the state of Virginia to trace my roots of the Lewis family. My 7th great grandparents were William Lewis and Elizabeth Woodson Lewis. My 6th great grandmother was their daughter Mourning Lewis( some resarchers claim that there is a connection to Meriwhether Lewis but as yet I have not found this to be true). When a relative of mine was sending family history information to me and I saw the name Mourning Lewis I was absolutely fascinated by her unusual name. Since this is where my relative's research had ended I was determined to learn more about her and thus did my own searching.
I found that her father William Lewis was born in a place called Turkey Creek,VA in 1660 and Elizabeth Woodson was born 1670 in Curles Plantation ,VA.
From what I have learned this is an area of Virginia between what is now Richmond and Charlottsville.
In 1694 Mourning was born and married Robert Adams in 1711. To them 11 children were born. She died in the year 1765. At this point other's research became a little disconnected but after following the paths of their 10 other children's families it was their 2nd daughter Anne that is my direct line of this family.
Robert Adams became owner of a great amount of land and in his will left his land to his wife Mourning Lewis Adams.
Other researchers have found documents of this and of her will. When I read the contents of her will I was taken by a big surprise and at first I must admit a little bit of shock. In this document there is reference to her leaving some of her land to her children and to her slaves. Of course I knew that there was slavery in our American history but had never connected it to any of my relatives. After some of the shock wore off I realized that everyone in that era had slaves and it was not a presonal reflection of me so, I have decided to include this information here for what it is a piece of history.
A fellow researcher has shared information for this will stating that upon her death the following slaves were in residence on her property: Toby,Benn,Moll,Sukey,Sarah,Betty,Charles,Brister,Edy
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16 comments:
I'm related to Mourning too through the Adams family. I'd love to dig deeper into this story but have come to a dead end with just about the same information you have. No date on your post. If you have found more...my email sagerose2008@gmail.com
I too am related to Mourning Lewis thru the Adams line down thru J. Frank Brown. Thanks for your website. A real treat.
kklatt007@msn.com
What do you all make of what some say, that Mourning is not the daughter of William Lewis and Elizabeth Woodson? Laura Mueller
I suppose it could be true but a lot of people think she is their daughter so I am going with popular belief.
Mourning Lewis would have been my 8th great-grandmother it was her daughter Elizabeth Adams that I am linked to. I have also found that her grandmother, Isabella Miller,is Wal-Mart's Sam Walton's 9th great grandmother-thought it would be interesting info to pass on!
That is very interesting! Thanks!!
Thanks for this and for bits of info I lacked! I am a descendant of Mourning also, through Judith Lewis Adams.
Hello Adams family members. I am descended from Robert and Mourning through their son James. Since Adams is my direct line, I have studied Robert and Mourning almost continuously for 15 years. I am one of those who is not sold on the fact that Mourning is the daughter of William Lewis and Elizabeth Woodson. I have never seen any proof, nor have I ever seen any older documents that show that she was a Lewis. As I have posted in other places, there are some clues that indicate that she may have been a Lewis. Robert and Mourning had 11 children and almost all of them named a son William and a daughter Elizabeth. When you look at the Lewis research information, you almost never see Mourning listed as a child. It is only the Adams researchers who attach her to the Lewis family. I believe that there were only two sons identified in the will of William Lewis. I am working on a project to identify as many greatgrandchildren of Robert and Mourning as possible. There were 11 children, 98 grandchildren that I have identified, and I would guess that there are between 700 and 1000 greatgrandchildren. I would appreciate any input that any of you may offer. Good luck to all in your efforts.
Robert A. (Al) Adams
Mourning is my 10th great grandmother. I am related to her through her daughter Elizabeth Adams Moorman, wife of Achilles Moorman, who was of a prominent Quaker family in Virginia.
How wonderful Mike- your ninth great grandmother and my ninth great grandmother Anna Adams would have been sisters!
Hello, Mourning Lewis? is also my 7th great grandmother, through their daughter Elizabeth. I was looking into the question of whether she was or wasn't a Lewis as well, that is how I came across this blog. It would be nice if she were a Lewis... then I would have a long, interesting group of people on that line!
Lisa
Hi Lisa- I am pretty convinced she was a Lewis. It is great to meet another shirttail cousin!
Hi there.
I see that this is an older post, so I hope this comment makes it to you....
I'm doing my best to prove that Elizabeth (wife of William) was a Woodson. Do you know how/where you got that information? I'm a direct descendant of them through their son John.
Many thanks for any help. I've very much enjoyed paging through your blog!
--Shannon
Rochambeau? I am just passing through. But, saw the name Mourning in my family line: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/henrico/bios/adams.txt
Rocha beau? I was just passing through. Mourning is in my family live. Saw a mention here: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/henrico/bios/adams.txt
Wow! Another cousin! Mourning Lewis is my 7th great-grandmother: Mourning Lewis Adams >Agnes Adams Ferguson>James Ferguson>Mary Ann Ferguson McKenzie> Alexander Sanders McKenzie>Lavinia Mckenzie Duncan>George Duncan>Andrew Duncan>my momma>me. So great to find this post. Thank you for sharing!
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