52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 31: WILLIAM LEWIS OF LANCASTER, MA.

Thomas Lewis Jr.'s father in law was my 9x great grandfather William Lewis, another of the founding fathers of Lancaster, Ma. William Richard Cutter has the following description:

William Lewis, the immigrant ancestor, born in England, embarked for New England, June 22, 1632, and made his home at Roxbury. Massachusetts. He was an early member of Rev. John Eliot’s church, and was admitted a freeman May 18, 1642. His name appears in the Roxbury land records as the owner of a house. barn and five acres of land abutting on land of William Heath on the south, heirs of John Graves, on the west, on a highway to the north and eastward. He was also owner of thirty-five acres bounded by the lands of Peleg Heath. north; the heirs of William Heath, east; Arthur Gary, south, and Hugh Prichard, west. In May, 1653, he sold his house lot to Stephen Hopkins and removed to Lancaster, Massachusetts, with his family. He and his son John signed the town covenant there March 13, 1653-54. In the entries of the first inhabitants of Lancaster, William Lewis is rated for two hundred and eighty-five pounds, the eighth estate in point of value. His son John’s estate was placed at eighteen pounds ten shillings. His lands are described in H. S. Nourse’s “Early Records of Lancaster,” page 254; also the lands of his son John. William died December 3, 1671, leaving a widow Amy. His will, dated November 21, 1671, bequeathed to wife Amy; sons Isaac and John; daughters Lydia, Mary and Hannah. He was a weaver by trade, and in 1671 secured land in Boston, and was preparing to build when he died. He was a friend and associate of Governor Bellingham. He married Amy Wells. Children: 1. John, born November 1, 1635; mentioned below. 2. Christopher, born 1636; received by deed from his father, April 19, 1662, the eastern half of the homestead in Lancaster. 3. Lydia, born December 25, 1640; married, January 13, 1670-71, Mordecai McLeod, of Lancaster; was killed with husband and two children by Indians in Monco’s raid, August 22, 1705. 4. Josiah, born July 28, 1641. 5. Isaac, baptized April 14. 1644. 6. Mary, baptized August 2, 1646: married Josiah White. of Lancaster: parents of Captain John White, the Indian fighter. 7. Hannah, baptized March 18. 1648-49.-p544

Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume 1  Lewis historical Publishing Company,  New York, New York,1908