Describe the background of Meriwether Lewis. Captain Meriwether Lewis was President Thomas Jefferson's chosen leader for the Corps of Discovery Expedition into the expansive territory of Louisiana, acquired from France in 1803. A deer however had been cornered onto the grounds of Locust Hill by the party hounds, and Mrs. Lewis-Marks shot it and turned it into a succulent dinner before the party even returned. 15th cousin 6 times removed via Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 13th cousin 6 times removed via Katherine Pabenham, 13th cousin 7 times removed via Sir Reynold de Grey, 11th cousin 6 times removed via Sir Henry Percy, 12th cousin 6 times removed via Sir Reynold Grey, 16th cousin 5 times removed via Margaret of France, 15th cousin 5 times removed via Sir Robert de Holland, 14th cousin 7 times removed via Sir Maurice de Berkeley, 12th cousin 5 times removed via Sir Humphrey Stafford, 12th cousin 5 times removed via Sir Reynold Grey, 13th cousin 6 times removed via Sir Richard FitzAlan, 10th cousin 7 times removed via Sir Lionel de Welles, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Henry I, King of England, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Muitchertach O'Toole, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Enna MacMurrough, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Sir Robert de Beaumont, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Richard Fitzgilbert, 10th cousin 2 times removed via Sir Reynold Grey, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Simon I de St. Liz, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Robert FitzHamon, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Ranulf de Briquessart, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Ralph de Gael, 17th cousin 1 time removed via Alan of Galloway, 20th cousin 1 time removed via Walter of Salisbury, 20th cousin 1 time removed via William Talvas III. He also showed an interest in plant knowledge, and his mother, an herbalist, encouraged that interest. http://rs5.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0177_0182.pdf, http://international.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0636_0639.pdf, https://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/029/029_0175_0184.pdf. This much we know: on September 4, 1809, Lewis, then governor of Louisiana Territory, left St. Louis for Washington, D.C., to take care of some personal and professional business. When Meriwether Lewis was born on 18 August 1774, in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Virginia, British Colonial America, his father, William Lewis, was 39 and his mother, Lucy Thornton Meriwether, was 22. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. William Douglas Meriwether became his legal guardian and his Uncle Nicholas Lewis exercised unofficial oversight (Bakeless). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis. I am so glad you like it. Marshall, Fielding, Merriweather, Daingerfield, Taliaferro and others. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809) Was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark. He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. | READ MORE, A frequent contributor to Smithsonian, Abigail Tucker is the author of The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World and Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct. Lewis served as the co-leader of the expedition with William Clark and is credited with mapping much of the western United States and helping to open up the West for American settlement. After resigning from his post at Mount Vernon for financial reasons, Lewis managed his own land holdings in Virginia until he passed away in 1822. Meriwether Lewis, John Ordway, George Shannon, John Shields, Peter Weiser, Peter Willard, and Joseph Whitehouse. The next morning, she sent for Lewis's servants, who found him weltering in his blood but alive for several hours. 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 . In the early 1790s, Lewis briefly served as President Washington's personal secretary and manager of Mount Vernon. It is known that he visited at least twice. Governor Meriwether Lewis was on his way from St. Louis to Washington in September, 1809 to protest the federal government's refusal to reimburse him for expenses. His deathby a gunshot wound to the head and another to the abdomenis a mystery. 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 Sitemap; Home Dashboard; Records . Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers are considered incalculable. Some scholars arent so sure that an exhumation will clarify matters. About 1725, Jane married Robert Lewis (abt 1704-1765), son of Councilor John Lewis (1669-1725) of Warner Hall and his wife Elizabeth Warner (1672-1719) the daughter . Following his return from the West, he visited President Jefferson at the White House where he became ill probably in late 1807. The original house burned down but it was rebuilt in the same style as the original. The next morning, she sent for Lewis's servants, who found him weltering in his blood but alive for several hours. 1,420 Sq. It was during this time in the Army that he met William Clark (1770-1838) for the first time. Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Va., on Aug. 18, 1774. Lucy Meriwether was born at Cloverfields on February 4, 1752. Lewis died and was buried near the Grinder's Stand roadhouse (modern Hoenwald, Lewis Co., TN) on the Natchez Trace, October 11, 1809. History is about finding the truth, he adds. It is generally reckoned as one of the most successful and significant expeditions of its kind in modern history, and Lewis has . 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. 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. In the course of the journey, Lewis observed, collected, and described hundreds of plants and animal species previously unknown to science. Maybe there is an answer beneath the monument to help us understand, says James Holmberg, curator of Special Collections at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Ky., who has published work on Lewiss life and death. Family & Relationships; Fiction; Games; Gardening; Health & Fitness; History; See Full Categories List. The Charlottesville City Council convened on Wednesday to continue discussing plans for relocating the Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea statue.. These combined skills would later be useful in his expeditions. Library of Congress, http://international.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0636_0639.pdf, Letter to Thomas Jefferson, Oct 3, 1803, Lewis was nominated and recommended to serve as the first Master of the proposed Lodge, which was warranted as Lodge No. Marks raised Meriwether and his two siblings along with his own two children with Lucy, John Hastings Marks and Mary Garland (Marks) Moore (1787-1864). [citation needed] Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers, are considered incalculable. They would get to the Pacific Ocea. His opportunity for the graceful exit arrived when Jefferson asked Lewis to command an expedition to find an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean, and study the land along that route. 44 in Albemarle, VA between 1796 and 1797. Even into old-age, she thought nothing of riding several miles to go treat an ill acquaintance. 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. 44 in Albemarle, Virginia, between 1796 and 1797. Lewis picked William Clark as his second-in-command. Lewis started out with the intention of traveling to Washington by ship from New Orleans but changed his plans while en route down the Mississippi and decided to make an overland journey via the Natchez Trace instead. Meriwether moved to Georgia with his mother and her second husband, Capt. Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the proposed expedition, afterward known as the Corps of Discovery. The Lewis and Clark families, along with representatives of St. Louis Lodge #1, past presidents of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, and the Daughters of the American Revolution carried wreaths and led a formal procession to Lewis' grave. By 1794 he had joined the Virginia militia and was sent as part of a unit involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. Ft. 11 Betsy Ross Cv, Ruther Glen, VA 22546. Servants found Lewis badly injured from multiple gunshot wounds. (Lay, 2002). [2] In other accounts, the dog was never there at all. Parson Maury was a son of Charles Goodyear Maury who was Thomas Jefferson's teacher for two years. However, the subsequent inhabitants of the home have made so many changes that the structure does not really resemble the original house. On April 1, 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. Meriwether Lewis's death has been a source of speculation for many years, often with the mistaken notion that "great men" do not take their own lives, and that suicide blights the memory of a great life. Lewis, Meriwether, 1774-1809 Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) Clark, William, 1770-1838 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. Edward J. Lanham 2/07/05. Nearby homes similar to 7134 John Marshall Mews have recently sold between $252K to $396K at an average of $245 per square foot. Scholars have reconstructed lunar cycles to prove that the innkeepers wife couldnt have seen what she said she saw that moonless night. Robert Lewis and 5 . A monument erected in 1848 now stands in his honor near the place the tavern occupied, and is under the care of the National Parks Service.[11]. It was in Georgia that he met Eric Parker, who was the first to introduce him to the idea of traveling. Allrightsreserved. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations. 2 2.William Lewis, born 1733; died November 17, 1781.He was the son of 4. Clark descendant Peyton "Bud" Clark, Lewis collateral descendants Howell Bowen and Tom McSwain, and Stephen Ambrose's daughter Stephanie Ambrose Tubbs spoke. She claimed to be able to see Lewis through the slit in the door crawling back to his room. She said that during dinner Lewis stood and paced about the room talking to himself in the way one would speak to a lawyer. Mrs. Grinder, the tavern-keeper's wife, claimed Lewis acted strangely the night before his death. Mrs. John Grinder who served as his landlady on the last night of his life reported: heard the sound of a gunshot and then the sound of something heavy falling to the floor followed by the words, Oh Lord! heard the sound of another gunshot and in a few moments, Lewis voice Oh, Madame, give me some water and heal my wounds. [she] refused to leave the room where she had been sleeping she waited nearly two hours before [rousing] the servants. Explorer and U.S. Army officer, Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) has been saluted as America's foremost explorer. 44 in Albemarle, VA, between 1796 and 1797. However Lewis died, his death had a considerable effect on the young country. More information is available at her website: abigailtucker.com, 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Help. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774 in Albemarle County, Virginia, in the Lewis family estate in Locust Hill to Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether Lewis as their first son and second child. He and William Clark, born August 1, 1770, accompanied each other on a dangerous expedition. Lewis and Clark were respectful . Upon the Corps successful return, Jefferson appointed Lewis governor of the Louisiana Territory and granted him a reward of 1500 acres. When Jefferson began to formulate and to plan for an expedition across the continent, he chose Lewis to lead the expedition. She was instrumental to the success of their mission as her presence let the Native American tribes they met along the way know that their intentions were peaceful. A broken column, symbol of a life cut short, marks his grave. Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer and military officer born on August 18, 1774, in Virginia. Lewis never married. Mrs. Grinder's testimony is held as a point of contention from both sides of the murder-suicide debate. With regards to her cooking, Thomas Jefferson reportedly remarked "Merriwether Lewis' mother made very nice hams-better than even Monticello could produce." Jane, Meriwether was born on month day 1770, at birth place, to William Lewis and Lucy Lewis. But in addition to his role as a famed explorer, he was a young plantation owner, a committed military man, a controversial politician, and a confidant of President Jefferson. 915 Words4 Pages. Your Privacy Rights Read more on Genealogy.com! He moved with his mother and stepfather Captain John Marks to Georgia in May of 1780. I fear the weight of his mind has overcome him, he wrote after receiving word of Lewiss fate. Due to her knowledge and hard work, the expedition was a success. HOHENWALD, Tenn.Meriwether Lewis conquered rivers, mountains and bears leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition across 8,000 miles of wilderness from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back. Lucy Meriwether was well known in Albemarle County throughout her adult life. . Guice believes that bandits roaming the notoriously dangerous Natchez Trace killed Lewis. The mission of the Corps was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade and sovereignty over the natives near the Missouri River, and claim the Pacific Northwest and Oregon territory for the United States before European nations. In 1792, after the death of his step-father the year before, he traveled to the Broad River community to accompany his mother and his two half-siblings, John and Mary, back to Locust Hill. p. 108. But rather than feeling alienated, he would have been busy enjoying a level of Buzz Aldrin-like celebrity. On August 11, 1806, near the end of the expedition, Lewis was shot in the left thigh by Pierre Cruzatte, a near-blind man under his command, while both were hunting for elk. He died, apparently of bullet wounds to the head and abdomen, shortly before sunrise the next day. The alpine plant Lewisia (family Portulacaceae), popular in rock gardens, is named after Lewis, as is Lewis's Woodpecker. She observed his face to flush as if it had come on him in a fit. Even at his early age he was interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion. More than 400 descendants have been documented so far, and about 100 have applications pending. Although he died without legitimate heirs, he does have the putative DNA model haplotype for his paternal ancestor's lineage, which was that of the Warner Hall. Death of Capt. The Certificate says Shaun is related to Sgt. Meriwether Lewis was the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that was commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory. Who was he? Besides being the mother of the famed explorer, she had medical skills and often rode throughout the county to treat the sick. James Waddell, a blind parson, and Parson Matthew Maury. Lucy Meriwether. The Cherokee lived in antagonistic proximity to the white settlers, but Lewis seems to have been a champion for them amongst his own people. He was the second child and first son of William Lewis (abt.1738-1779) and Lucy Meriwether (1752-1837). 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. Purchased for $20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seaman accompanied Lewis during the expedition and afterward. He lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia and also owned a plantation in Spotsylvania County, which later became known as Kenmore. Servants found Lewis badly injured from multiple gunshot wounds. The expedition also collected scientific data, and information on indigenous nations. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr. (January 10, 1809 - October 28, 1881) was an architect, civil engineer, politician, and a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Aug 18 1774 - Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virgina, Oct 14 1809 - Natchez Trace, Breton County, Tennessee, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Ivy, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia, Oct 11 1809 - Grinder's Stand, Lewis, Tennesssee, United States, Jane Meriwether Anderson, Lucinda Lewis, Reuben Lewis, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Charlottesville, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America, Oct 11 1809 - Grinder's Stand, Natchez Trace, Lewis, Tennessee, United States, riwether Lewis, Jane Meriwether Anderson (born Lewis), Lucinda Lewis, Dr. Reuben Lewis, John Hastings Marks, Mary Garland Moore (born Marks), Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Ivy, Albemarle, Virginia, United States, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Albemarle, VA, USA, Oct 11 1809 - Natchez Trace, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States, Aug 18 1774 - Albemarle County, Virginia, Verenigde Staten, Oct 11 1809 - Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill,Near Charlottesville,Virginia, Oct 11 1809 - At Grinder's Inn in Lewis County,Tennessee, Aug 18 1774 - Charlottesville, United States, Oct 11 1809 - Natchez Trace, Tennessee-Murder Or Suicide, Locust Hill Plantation, Albemarle County, Virginia, British Colonial America, Natchez Trace Parkway, Mile Post 385.9, Lewis County, Tennessee, United States, Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, United States, Navigation-Navigators/the Science of Navigation, http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2295. As a member of Virginian high society, the Lewis family could claim ties to both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.