Charles and Ambrose Lewis

Colonial Virginias Brothers Soldiers and Citizens 1750-1833

By Anita Wills

Charles, and Ambrose Lewis were Free Persons of Color, who served in the Revolutionary War, first as Seamen, and Later as Foot Soldiers. Their place of birth was probably Essex County, or Spotsylvania County. According to some Lewis family Historians Charles and Ambrose were the sons of John Lewis of Spotsylvania County Virginia. John Lewis was the Grandson of Zachary Lewis, whose family intermarried with the Washington's, Smiths, and Spotswood's. Ambrose and Charles is said to be common names in the Smith family. The brothers are not the only difficult connections to make in the Lewis Smith line. Their mother is believed to be a Mulatto slave, or servant of the Lewis family.

Ambrose was the younger of the brothers being born about 1758, while Charles was at least five years older. In Ambrose Pension application for 1818, he is about sixty years old, setting his birth year at 1758. When the war broke out, Ambrose was about nineteen years old, and was already a Seaman on board the Page Galley.

In 1772 Charles and Susannah Lewis were married, and living in Henrico County. In 1774 Charles purchased fifteen acres that were adjacent to his land in Henrico County. As Free Persons of Color, Charles and Ambrose would have served Indentures, and that may be the reason they were in different Counties. When the Revolutionary War broke out they both served on board the Dragon Ship as Seamen. Also on board the ship was Benjamin Lewis, the brother of John Lewis, (Ambrose and Charles purported father). John Lewis was born in 1724, but Benjamin was born in 1744, and was not much older than Charles and Ambrose. Later, Benjamin would take up residence in Richmond along with Charles. At times it appears that Benjamin and Charles are closer than Ambrose and Charles.

Charles wife, Susannah Gromarin Lewis, was the daughter of a settler of Henrico County, Gilly Gromarrin. His place of birth is unknown, although he is believed to be Welsh, but he appears in Henrico County in the late sixteen hundreds. Susannah's father is Gilly Junior, and her mother Mary Reeves. Charles and Susannah owned a Mill at Rockets Landing, a Plantation, and leased property to tenants. They also owned slaves, and in The City of Alexandria, several manumitted slaves gave Charles Lewis name as their former owner. Charles did quite well for a Mulatto in Colonial Virginia, possibly because of the Lewis influence, in the region. Not only were Lewis family members in Richmond, there were many also Smith family members.

While Charles lived in Richmond, Ambrose remained in Fredericksburg with his wife, and children. His wife Fanny, may have been the "Negro" Fanny that was manumitted by Charles Lewis. Her Manumission papers are on file in the Alexandria Library, not a place anyone would think to look. If this is true, then Charles may have purchased Fanny from Benjamin Lewis, as he owned a slave by that name. It is possible that he purchased her to set her free.

Charles and Susannah Lewis had the following children: Gilly, Francis, Wiltshire, Mary, Susannah, and Elizabeth. Out of the children, Francis was listed as a "fn", (Free Negro) on an 1801 personal property tax list. In a property owned by Charles Lewis in Ward II, a Charles Haye, had a slave, or tithable named Nancy, and Mulatto named Kate Robertson are living there. Nancy married William Lewis, Charles Grandson (they are my direct ancestors). In an 1801 Personal Property Tax list Gilly, Francis, and Benjamin Lewis are living in Powhatan County.

They may have fled to Powhatan County for the same reason Nancy and William moved to Fredericksburg. In 1800 Gabriel Prosser staged a slave rebellion in Henrico County, and had organized an army of slaves to assist him. Some of the slaves told of the Rebellion, and it was stopped. Charles and his family must have felt some of the heat because in his Will of 1806, he is stating that Gilly, his son could have any slave, if he would return Gille, and her son Daniel. In another passage in the Will he is saying that he would leave his Estate to Gilly if he would return and run it for the benefit of the other children.

Charles and Susannah owned property at Rockets Landing, some of which was used for their Mill. They also leased out property to tenants, including the Rockets Landing property. Charles Haye was one of Charles Tenants, and lived in The City of Richmond Ward II, in 1782. Charles Haye is listed as a Mulatto, as is Nancy, and Kate Robertson, who also occupy the property.

Nancy and William Lewis connected up to Ambrose family, and may have lived in his home. In 1834 she and Fanny would apply for, and receive Land Bounty for Charles and Ambrose. Fanny, and her daughters applied for the Land Bounty as heirs of Ambrose Lewis, and Fanny, Hannah, and Nancy applied for Charles Lewis Land Bounty. Both were issued certificates, but neither certificate was ever traded for land. It is possible the ladies found out that Charles Land Bounty had been claimed previously. However, the attorney the ladies hired to represent them a John Mosby practiced in Richmond, and was acquainted with Charles and Ambrose Lewis. He was the attorney Ambrose mentioned who filed his Pension application in Richmond Virginia.

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