Famous Connections The Meriwether family has intertwined with many of the most prominent families of America, especially in the early South. Even at his early age he was interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion. Meriwether Lewis, in addition to being a great explorer and trailblazer, was the Governor of Louisiana. . Clark graciously accepted, having remembered his time spent with Meriwether during their previous Army service.[5]. He died of gunshot wounds in what was a murder. Thomas Meriwether, b.24 APR 1763, St James Northam Parish, Goochland Co, VA, son of Nicholas Meriwether + Margaret Douglas; + Ann Minor, b.abt 1771, Louisa Co, VA . A year after his death, John Grinder, in whose home Lewis died, was brought before a grand jury on a warrant of murder. It was in Georgia that he met Eric Parker, who was the first to introduce him to the idea of traveling. This page has been accessed 22,092 times. A cave, Lewis and Clark Caverns between Three Forks and Whitehall, Montana. 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. However, the subsequent inhabitants of the home have made so many changes that the structure does not really resemble the original house. His mother taught him how to gather wild herbs for medicinal purposes. Mrs. Grinder's testimony is held as a point of contention from both sides of the murder-suicide debate. She later said she saw a wounded Lewis crawling around, begging for water, but was too afraid to help him. She claimed to be able to see Lewis through the slit in the door crawling back to his room. Record information. Gary Stella. Lewis was introverted and moody while Clark was extroverted, even-tempered, and gregarious. Thomas Jefferson recruited Lewis as his secretary-aide that same year and he soon became involved in the planning of the Corps of Discovery expedition across the Louisana Purchase. Lewis resided in the presidential mansion, and frequently conversed with various prominent figures in politics, the arts and other circles. [9] He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. We could do the DNA to find out the color of his hair.. Without her help, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark might not have been successful on their expedition. He had at least 1 son with Ikpasarewin Sara Windwalker. 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 second child and first son of William Lewis (abt.1738-1779) and Lucy Meriwether (1752-1837). Jane had 4 siblings: Lucinda McFarlane and 3 other siblings. Theyve been coming out of the woodwork, Hargrove said. At some point in the night she heard multiple gunshots, and what she believed was someone asking for help. Lewis was a Freemason, initiated, passed and raised in Door To Virtue Lodge No. Ministers . Edward J. Lanham 2/07/05. He withdrew from public circles for several months, staying with his mother in Albemarle County, where he was probably treated by her and his physician [sic] brother Reuben. (Dary, p. 80) By March 1808, he had arrived in St. Louis to assume his duties as governor of the Louisiana Territory. Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774 in Virginia, is best known as the co-captain of the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition. In the 1990s, descendants of the explorer petitioned the government to exhume his body again from the national monument site now covering the property of Grinder's Stand. The Department of Interior granted . The explorer was buried not far from where he died, honored today by a memorial along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Conflicting information from sources indicate he was either rather ill (speculation runs from alcoholism to syphilis or possible psychological issues) or had trouble with hypochondria, and visited his mother in hopes of some care. Lewis suggested that the expedition would benefit from a co-commander and, with Jefferson's consent, offered the assignment to his friend and former commanding officer, William Clark. (There is a question about whether Meriwether did move to Georgia with his family. Most historians agree that he committed suicide; others are convinced he was murdered. He died in 1862, leaving the home to his children Charles and Mary Anderson. At the end of his life he was a horrible drunk, terribly depressed, who could never even finish his [expedition] journals, says Paul Douglas Newman, a professor of history who teaches Lewis and Clark and The Early American Republic at the University of Pittsburgh. Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the proposed expedition, afterward known as the Corps of Discovery. Lewis then chose his friend William Clark as his second in command. American politician, Explorer - 19th century, American explorer, soldier, and 2nd Governor of Louisiana Territory, Born on August 18, 1774 in Ivy, Colony Of Virginia, USA , United States, Died on October 11, 1809 in Hohenwald, Tennessee, USA, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Meriwether LEWIS (1774), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. Besides being the mother of the famed explorer, she had medical skills and often rode throughout the county to treat the sick. It is recorded on the tombstone of Pioneer John that he furnished five sons for the Revolution. In October of 1809, while en route to Washington, D.C., Lewis died of violence at a wayside inn called Grinder's Stand outside Nashville, Tennessee. The expedition was the first point of Euro-American contact for several Native American tribes; through translators and sign language, Lewis conducted rudimentary ethnographic studies of the peoples he encountered, even as he laid the groundwork for a trade economy to ensure American hegemony over its vast new interior territory. William Lewis and 3. 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. Capt. Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774, was an American explorer. The next morning, she sent for Lewis's servants, who found him weltering in his blood but alive for several hours. There were songs and poems written about him. Surprisingly, he may also have felt like something of a failure. In the predawn hours of October 11, the innkeeper heard gunshots. Your Privacy Rights He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side. In 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. "[12] This claim and another by a Joseph DeSmet descendant, Martin Charger, are explored in some detail on the Joseph DeSmet Lewis documents WikiTree page. The buffalo robe that he lay on was soaked with blood and Lewis was barely hanging on to life. In 1882, the house was sold to Mrs. Bearley, releasing the house from Lewis family descendents for the first time. When theres so much uncertainty and doubt, we must have more evidence. Letter Dated April 20 1803, Meriwether Lewis to Thomas Jefferson, Locust Hill, Ivy, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia, Grinder's Stand, Lewis, Tennessee, United States, Meriwether Lewis in Indian Dress (Shoshone), Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meriwether-Lewis, http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/lewisandclark/biddle/biographies_html/lewis.html, Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, Meriwether Lewis and His Son: The Claim of Joseph DeSomet Lewis and the Problem of History. Gen. Lucian King Truscott, Jr.; married a Meriwether descendant. After he retired for the evening, Mrs. Grinder continued to hear him talking to himself. [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." Supposedly, Theodesia pleaded with Meriwether to decline the journey and marry her, heavily encouraged by her father. As with any good genealogical research, if you discover a link to your own family tree, consider it a starting point for further research. It is known that he visited at least twice. Two hundred years later, debate continues over whether the famous explorer committed suicide or was murdered. While modern historians generally accept his death as a suicide, there is some debate. 915 Words4 Pages. On April 1, 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. Upon the Corps successful return, Jefferson appointed Lewis governor of the Louisiana Territory and granted him a reward of 1500 acres. His mother, Lucy Meriwether was his father's cousin. FORUM ARTICLES SEARCH. They settled along the Broad River in the Goosepond Community within the Broad River Valley in Wilkes County (now Oglethorpe County). Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers, are considered incalculable.[3]. [9], During the first half of the journey east, it is reported that on the riverboat he twice attempted to take his own life before becoming the victim of gunshot wounds, at a Natchez Trace inn, in what was either a murder or suicide. Meriwether Lewis' Immediate Family and their Descendents Lucy Meriwether was born at Cloverfields on February 4, 1752. Geni requires JavaScript! [2] She never explained why, at the time, she didn't investigate further concerning Lewis's condition or the source of the gunshots. After William's death in 1781, Lucy remarried and moved the family to Georgia. Lewis became intimately involved in planning the expedition and was sent by Jefferson to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for instruction in cartography and other skills for making scientific observations. They could also potentially learn about his nutritional health, what drugs he was using and if he was suffering from syphilis. She returned to Albemarle for good, and Locust Hill became her property after Meriwether's mysterious death in 1809. He died on October 11, 1809, at the age of 35, under mysterious circumstances that have been the subject of much speculation and debate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_Expedition. 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. Their other children included Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Reuben Lewis, and Lucinda Lewis (1772-) (who died as an infant). . 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 . American explorer, best known as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The alpine plant Lewisia (family Portulacaceae), popular in rock gardens, is named after Lewis, as is Lewis's Woodpecker. Historians would hold such details dear, Starrs says: Nobody even knows how tall Meriwether Lewis was. She claimed to be able to see Lewis through the slit in the door crawling back to his room. Besides being the mother of the famed . People cant just call and say, Im a descendant, she said. Login to find your connection. Single Family Residence - Monroe, NC 3004 Meriwether Lewis Trail, Monroe, NC 28110 This lovely single-story home features 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 modern bathrooms. The next morning, she sent for Lewis's servants, who found him weltering in his blood but alive for several hours. To resolve these issues, Lewis began a trip to Washington City to plead his case to the administration in person. It is connected by marriage with many of the best-known names, such as Washington. While modern historians generally accept his death as a suicide, there is some debate. The decision, backed by Department of the. Descendants of Slaveholder . Meriwether Lewis died on his way to Washington, DC in October, 1809. He was given a powerful position in the new territory he had helped to explore, but tragedy would soon strike. [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. He lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia and also owned a plantation in Spotsylvania County, which later became known as Kenmore. Due to her knowledge and hard work, the expedition was a success. Privacy Statement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis. His father fought in the Revolutionary War and died when Meriwether was only five years old. The last item in the side bar to the left contains links to some that we have identified. Meriwether Lewis was not known to have married (though he apparently considered it at one point). 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. Cookie Policy This profile is managed by the Virginia Project. Explorer and U.S. Army officer, Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) has been saluted as America's foremost explorer. So Richard Ashcraft's mother was a Great aunt to Meriwether Lewis. 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. 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. [5], Lewis joined the Army in 1794 and spent six years in the militia, serving during the "Whiskey Rebellion". Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Paul Allen with a biography of Meriwether Lewis, 1813The explorer was buried near present day Hohenwald, Tennessee, near his place of death. Nearby homes similar to 7134 John Marshall Mews have recently sold between $252K to $396K at an average of $245 per square foot. That rifle came in handy as well when a hunting party from Locust Hill failed to kill a deer. He commissioned this the Corps of Discovery Expedition . He kept in touch with his mother and family through long, chatty letters (Anderson, p. 501, Bakeless). Have you taken a DNA test? He came back from this trip with new knowledge of the Louisiana Territory proving that the Louisiana Purchase benefitted the whole country. During his time in Georgia, Lewis enhanced his skills as a hunter and outdoorsman. After Jane's death in 1845, her son, Dr. Meriwether Lewis Anderson, inherited Locust Hill. Even at his early age he was interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion. Whether Lewis committed suicide or was murdered remains a mystery to this day. Both President Jefferson and Meriwether showed support in adding William Clark to the group, the president offering Lewis and Clark both a permanent rank of Captain as part of his proposal. Thanks so much for sharing! [6], It was at Jefferson's suggestion that the Corps of Discovery expedition was undertaken and the plan was approved by Congress in 1803. Ex-partner of Ikpsapewin "Winona" Jane married Edmund Anderson in 1785, at age 14 at marriage place, Virginia. Despite warnings that they would all be drowned, the men of the Lewis and Clark expedition paddled toward the ferocious rapids. As Thomas Jefferson's letter to Meriwether Lewis said, "It may better those who may endeavour to civilise and instruct them." . Leave a message for others who see this profile. 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. He is best known for his role as the co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a pioneering expedition that explored the western portion of the Louisiana Purchase in 1804-1806. She married William Lewis of Locust Hill; he died in 1779 and she married Captain John Marks six months later. In the course of the journey, Lewis observed, collected, and described hundreds of plants and animal species previously unknown to science. People want ownership of the story, and then they feel a part of it.. 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. (He had had one brother who died while serving in the Confederate Army. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, politician, 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 . It was also in the Broad River Valley that Lewis first dealt with a native Indian group. 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. Their mission 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 Country for the United States before European nations. He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. 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. 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. Who was he? After returning from the expedition, Lewis received a reward of 1,600 acres of land. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774October 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, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. The details of the case are so sketchy that its like trying to grab a shadow, Holmberg says. Clark was more pragmatic and practical. [10] He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side. Everyone who knows anything about Meriwether Lewis beyond that he was one half of the famous exploring duo knows that he died a violent death at the age of 35, just three years after the completion of the most successful exploration mission in American history. Several years after his biggest accomplishment, Lewis was dead. [9] These maladies delayed his arrival in St. Louis to take his position as Governor until a year after being named as such. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. Examples of plants Lewis discovered on the expedition were also brought from the Trail states and laid on his grave to honor him. 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. He registered for military service in 1861. 1 1.Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774; died October 17, 1809 in Lewis County, Tennesse.He was the son of 2. When his father died in 1779, he inherited his Locust Hill estate. 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. He married Amanda Cosby on 15 December 1827. . In her will, she was careful to address the dispersion of the books among her offspring; appraisers valued the total collection at the modern equivalent of several hundred dollars. When Clark and Jefferson were informed of Lewis' death, both accepted it as suicide, but his family contended it was murder. Meriwether Lewis was born on the family plantation in Virginia. 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. Sadly, William Lewis died of pneumonia when his son was five, and so Meriwether spent most of his formative years in Georgia with his mother Lucy and stepfather John Marks. As a young boy Meriwether enjoyed hunting in the woods . It was in Georgia that he met Eric Parker, who was the first to introduce him to the idea of traveling. 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. When Meriwether Lewis Sr. was born on 11 September 1802, in Buckingham, Virginia, United States, his father, Edward Lewis, was 31 and his mother, Mary Freeland, was 31.
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