Though Lewiss mother is said to have believed he was murdered, that idea didnt have much traction until the 1840s, when a commission of Tennesseans set out to honor Lewis by erecting a marker over his grave. Both Reuben and John (II) grew up to become doctors, taking after their mother's medicinal abilities. - Meriwether Lewis was an honorable man before taking on his role as a significant explorer.-Before fame, he spent his childhood in Georgia hunting and spending most of his time outdoors. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. A valuable member of the expedition party, his working dog attributes were essential to daily life along the route. The group returned to St. Louis in 1806 to start reporting their findings and accomplishments.[7]. During his time in Georgia, Lewis enhanced his skills as a hunter and outdoorsman. He died shortly after sunrise. What were his experiences? In later years a court of inquiry explored whether they could charge the tavern-keeper with Lewis' death. Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the proposed expedition, afterwards known as the Corps of Discovery. (Henley, 2002) She lived there until her death in 1837 with her widowed daughter Jane Meriwether Anderson. If so, login to add it. The intrigue surrounding the famous explorers untimely death has spawned a cottage industry of books and articles, with experts from a variety of fields, including forensics and mental health, weighing in. Meriwether Lewis at Natchez Trace Par Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, United States, American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, co-leader of 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., explorer, BIRTH 18 Aug 1774, Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA, DEATH 11 Oct 1809 (aged 35), Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA, BURIAL Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA Show Map. After his father died of pneumonia, he moved with his mother and stepfather Captain John Marks to Georgia in May 1780. His mother taught him how to gather wild herbs for medicinal purposes. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774-October 11, 1809) was a soldier, an explorer, and a personal secretary to Thomas Jefferson. The original house burned down but it was rebuilt in the same style as the original. At some point in the night she heard multiple gunshots, and what she believed was someone asking for help. There were songs and poems written about him. | 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. Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Manifest Destiny. Meriwether was drawn to army life and at the age of 20, he joined the Virginia Militia to help defeat the Whiskey Rebellion which began in Western Pennsylvania but spread through other western states. However, the subsequent inhabitants of the home have made so many changes that the structure does not really resemble the original house. [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." He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side. If you click the change tab you can see that this is an excellent example of collaboration! [10] He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side. (Davis, 1951) certify direct and collateral descendants of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803-1806. For many years, Lewis's legacy was overlooked, inaccurately assessed, and even tarnished by his alleged suicide. On August 2, 1808, Lewis and several of his acquaintances submitted a petition to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in which they requested a dispensation to establish a lodge in St. Louis. Lewis was a Freemason, initiated, passed and raised in Door To Virtue Lodge No. The expedition started in St. Charles, Missouri. The decision, backed by Department of the. When Clark and Jefferson were informed of Lewis' death, both accepted it as suicide, but his family contended it was murder. After returning from the expedition, Lewis received a reward of 1,600 acres of land. 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 later served as governor of Upper Louisiana Territory. For one thing, with mitochondrial DNA samples hes already taken from several of Lewis female descendants, scientists can confirm that the body really is Lewiss (corpses were not uncommon on the Natchez Trace). 2 2.William Lewis, born 1733; died November 17, 1781.He was the son of 4. . They dropped the inquiry for lack of evidence or motive. Parson Maury was a son of Charles Goodyear Maury who was Thomas Jefferson's teacher for two years. In the early 1790s, Lewis briefly served as President Washington's personal secretary and manager of Mount Vernon. Parson Maury was a son of Charles Goodyear Maury who was Thomas Jefferson's teacher for two years. 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. He died on October 11, 1809, at the age of 35, under mysterious circumstances that have been the subject of much speculation and debate. Viva tuos (I died young: but thou, O Good Republic, live out my years for me with better fortune.) His deathby a gunshot wound to the head and another to the abdomenis a mystery. Descendants and relatives lived in Virginia and elsewhere. Jefferson believed the former, while his family continually maintained the latter. Both Reuben and John (II) grew up to become doctors, taking after their mother's medicinal abilities. However, those closest to Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and William Clark, fully accepted the reports of suicide. Today, the grave site is maintained by the Natchez Trace Parkway. 915 Words4 Pages. After his wife's death, Robert Lewis married Elizabeth Thornton, Lucy's mother . . Lewis concluded 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. Lewis' descendants have asked the National Park Service to exhume the body for clues. In the course of the journey, Lewis observed, collected, and described hundreds of plants and animal species previously unknown to science. On April 1, 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. He moved with his family to Georgia when he was ten. Cookie Settings, Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars. The Web site is SolvetheMystery. After he retired for the evening, Mrs. Grinder continued to hear him talking to himself. 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]. Geni requires JavaScript! The account given by the the innkeeper's wife was inconsistent, and with each telling becoming further muddled. About the age of 13 he returned to Virginia and to the household of his uncle Nicholas Lewis, his formal education beginning at this time. 10664People12Records12Sources Meriwether Lewisfound in 40 treesView all Meriwether Lewisfrom tree Railey and Allied Families Record information. Lucy Meriwether. [4] Six months later, his mother married another Army officer, Captain John Marks (abt.1750-1800), who managed a 1,000 acre plantation about 10 miles from Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home. It is always preferable to locate primary records where possible. The Certificate says Shaun is related to Sgt. Jefferson commissioned a two year expedition to explore these lands and chose Meriwether Lewis as the leader. Meriwether moved to Georgia with his mother and her second husband, Capt. Ft. 11 Betsy Ross Cv, Ruther Glen, VA 22546. (Bakeless, 1947) A male acquaintance once described her as having a perfect person and complimented her on having "activity beyond her sex." It was also in the Broad River Valley that Lewis first dealt with a native Indian group. His position was to protect the western lands from encroachers which was not favorable to the rush of settlers looking to open new lands for settlements. Meriwether Lewis became an American hero upon his return from his expedition across what is now the Northwestern half of the United States. 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. Lewis departed St. Louis for the Louisiana Purchasevia the Ohio River in the summer of 1803, gathering supplies, equipment, and personnel along the way. Historians still dispute whether the explorer and then-governor of Louisiana committed suicide or was murdered. Her family is said to be descendents of Sir Roland Crawford, the grandfather of Sir William Wallace (the subject of Mel Gibson's 1994 epic movie Braveheart.) She even scared away a crowd of rowdy British soldiers during the time that she lived at Locust Hill, her husband's family's home, with a rifle. 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. These are fantastic!!! Create a FREE Account. Why was he chosen to lead the expedition? After returning from the expedition, Lewis received a reward of 1,400 acres (5.7 km) of land. 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. However the two men were quite different in education and temperament. At some point in the night she heard multiple gunshots, and what she believed was someone asking for help. Help. 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. In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University), joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 was sent as part of a detachment involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. Janice Lynn Lewis your "pioneer John"' Is not part of this Lewis family, your Pioneer John Lewis "is from an unrelated Lewis family just as your Canadian Lewis family is not related to this Lewis family. Famous Connections The Meriwether family has intertwined with many of the most prominent families of America, especially in the early South. President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. He also initially made arrangements to publish the Corp of Discovery journals but for some unknown reason never hired an editor or provided any text for the promised publications. Abigail Tucker Lewis then chose his friend William Clark as his second in command. The Natchez Trace was the old pioneer road between Natchez, Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee. Their other children included Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Reuben Lewis, and Lucinda Lewis (1772-) (who died as an infant). She is reported to have notable culinary and intellectual skills as well. The Charlottesville City Council convened on Wednesday to continue discussing plans for relocating the Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea statue.. Because of bureaucratic delays in the U.S. Army, Clark officially only held the rank of Second Lieutenant at the time, but Lewis concealed this from expedition members and shared the leadership of the expedition, always referring to Clark as "Captain". Lewis and Clark were accompanied on most of the trip by a young Shoshone woman named Sacagawea. 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 . Browse Retail Locations . Around the time that the expedition commenced, they had arrived at the point in the relationship where Lewis either had to marry Theodesia or find a respectable way to exit the relationship. 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. {Benson}) They settled in the Goose Pond community in the Broad River area of northeast Georgia, where the boys enjoyed plentiful hunting and fishing. She gave the property to her daughter as a wedding gift. In 1807, Jefferson appointed him governor of the Louisiana Territory; he settled in St. Louis. Anyone closer than 14 degrees from Meriwether Lewis? She could not afford many books, but collected a small library throughout her life. In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University). By 1794 he had joined the Virginia militia and was sent as part of a unit involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. His father served in the Continental Army as a lieutenant and died of pneumonia in November 1779 while his mother was a famous herb doctor. Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose which nothing but impossibilities could divert from its direction, honest, disinterested, liberal, of sound understanding and a fidelity to truth so scrupulous that whatever he should report would be as certain as if seen by ourselves, with all these qualifications as if selected and implanted by nature in one body for this express purpose, I could have no hesitation in confiding the enterprise to him. This project came to be known as the Lewis and Clark Descendants Project. 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. 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. Black powder pistols have been test-fired, forgeries claimed and mitochondrial DNA extracted from living relatives. Mrs. Grinder, the tavern-keeper's wife, claimed Lewis acted strangely the night before his death. 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. Meriwether Lewis was a famous explorer who became famous as the co-leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-06, which explored the territory of the Louisiana Purchase after the United States acquired it from France in 1803, as well as the Pacific Northwest.. FORUM ARTICLES SEARCH. Other murder theories range from the scandalous (the innkeeper discovered Lewis in flagrante with Mrs. Grinder) to the conspiratorial (a corrupt Army general named James Wilkinson hatched an assassination plot.). 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. When theres so much uncertainty and doubt, we must have more evidence. American explorer, best known as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 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. With Jefferson's consent, Lewis offered the post of co-captain of the expedition to William Clark. 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. One of his traveling companions, who arrived later, buried him nearby. He died in 1862, leaving the home to his children Charles and Mary Anderson. More than 400 descendants have been documented so far, and about 100 have applications pending. He had an older sister, Jane, and later a little brother, Reuben, would be born into the family. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. 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. In 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. The progenitor of a prominent colonial family, and great-great grandfather of President George Washington, he was born in Norwich, Norfolk, the son of Thomas Warner and Elizabeth Sotherton. On balance, his characteristics and developed sense of observation coupled with his detailed written accounts of what he observed, would prove to be ideal as a leader of the important Corps of Discovery expedition. Meriwether Lewis was the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that was commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory. His father fought in the Revolutionary War and died when Meriwether was only five years old. For many years, Lewis' legacy was overlooked, inaccurately assessed, and even tarnished by his alleged suicide. For many years, Lewis' legacy was overlooked, inaccurately assessed, and even tarnished by his alleged suicide. [3] Why Did Meriwether Lewis Die. Historians would hold such details dear, Starrs says: Nobody even knows how tall Meriwether Lewis was. . Lewis was introverted and moody while Clark was extroverted, even-tempered, and gregarious. 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 related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. In reply to: Re: Meriwether Lewis/Woodson Connection. - If the inscription on the. 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. Meriwether Lewis never married. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. He then joined the regular army and achieved the rank of captain at the age of 23. Marshall, Fielding, Merriweather, Daingerfield, Taliaferro and others. Clark and Lewis were both relatively young and adventurous and had shared experience as woodsmen-frontiersmen and Army officers. 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." The murder advocates point to five conflicting testimonies as evidence that her testimony is fabricated and the suicide advocates point to her testimony as proof of suicide. The National Park Service has reversed a previous decision allowing Meriwether Lewis' body to be exhumed in an attempt to determining how he died. On April 1, 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. The second oldest . 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. Lewis was born in Albermale County, Virginia on August 18, 1774, to Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether. On September 3, 1809, Lewis set out for Washington D.C. where he hoped to resolve issues regarding the denied payment of drafts he had drawn against the War Department while serving as the first American governor of the Louisiana Territory. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis. 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. By some accounts, Lewis arrived at the inn with servants; by others, he arrived alone. After William's death in 1781, Lucy remarried and moved the family to Georgia. 111 on September 16, 1808. He was the governor of a huge territory. A cave, Lewis and Clark Caverns between Three Forks and Whitehall, Montana. Lewis was nominated and recommended to serve as the first Master of the proposed Lodge, which was warranted as Lodge No. 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. When Clark and Jefferson were informed of Lewis' death, both accepted it as suicide, but his family contended it was murder. Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774 in Virginia, is best known as the co-captain of the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition. She married William Lewis of Locust Hill; he died in 1779 and she married Captain John Marks six months later. 3 Beds. 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. (He had had one brother who died while serving in the Confederate Army.) He gave the Grinders money to maintain Lewiss grave and visited the site himself. Clark descendant Peyton "Bud" Clark, Lewis collateral descendants Howell Bowen and Tom McSwain, and Stephen Ambrose's daughter Stephanie Ambrose Tubbs spoke. The US Navy Polaris nuclear submarine USS Lewis and Clark was named for him and William Clark. In June 1803, Jefferson provided Lewis with basic objectives for the mission, focusing on the exploration of the Missouri river and any related streams which might provide access to the Pacific Ocean. Ancestors of Meriwether Lewis Generation No. The relationship between Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea and her family was an example of respect between the two groups. Name: Meriwether Lewis Birth Year: 1774 Birth date: August 18, 1774 Birth State: Virginia Birth City: near Ivy Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: Meriwether Lewis teamed. Lewis, who had a better education, possessed a philosophical and speculative outlook and was at home with abstract ideas. Her daughter and son-in-law put the house for sale on the market at $255,000 in 1982. Half brother of Dr. John Hastings Marks and Mary Garland Moore, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/623/meriwether-lewis. One of these was Parson Matthew Maury, an uncle of Matthew Fontaine Maury. Lucy Meriwether was born at Cloverfields on February 4, 1752. Obviously, Theodesia's pleas fell on deaf ears. In 1801, Meriwether Lewis left the army due to an invitation to serve as Thomas Jefferson's secretary while Jefferson was in office. Supposedly, Theodesia pleaded with Meriwether to decline the journey and marry her, heavily encouraged by her father. Lewis was a Freemason, initiated, passed and raised in Door To Virtue Lodge No. He married Amanda Cosby on 15 December 1827. . As a young boy Meriwether enjoyed hunting in the woods . He commissioned this the Corps of Discovery Expedition . (804) 448-4664. The verdict: Suicide. 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. Allrightsreserved. Gen. Lucian King Truscott, Jr.; married a Meriwether descendant. The deadline for applications is Dec. 31. [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. The expedition was tasked with exploring the Missouri River and its tributaries, mapping the western territories, and making contact with Native American tribes. Sitemap; Home Dashboard; Records . Several years after his biggest accomplishment, Lewis was dead. Family & Relationships; Fiction; Games; Gardening; Health & Fitness; History; See Full Categories List. In 1795 he joined the U.S. Army, as a Lieutenant, where he served until 1801, at one point in the detachment of William Clark, who would later become his companion in the Corps of Discovery. The charges were dismissed since no evidence or motive existed against him. The Tennessee State Commission charged with locating the grave and erecting the monument wrote in its official report that it was likely Lewis died at the hands of an assassin. He died, apparently of bullet wounds to the head and abdomen, shortly before sunrise the next day. It is known that he visited at least twice. [9] He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. Between 1804 and 1806, the Corps of Discovery explored thousands of miles of the Missouri and Columbia River watersheds, searching for an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean. [3], Meriwether's father, who served in the Continental Army, died from pneumonia after his horse fell into an icy stream in 1779. In 1807, Jefferson appointed him governor of the Louisiana Territory; he settled in St. Louis. 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. 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. Lewis and Clark descendants and family members, along with representatives of St. Louis Lodge . If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Purchased for $20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seaman accompanied Lewis during the expedition and afterward. 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. Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers, are considered incalculable.[3]. . Geographic names that honor him include Lewis County, Idaho, Lewis County, Tennessee; Lewisburg, Tennessee; Lewiston, Idaho; Lewis County, Washington; the U.S. Army fort Fort Lewis, Washington, the home of the US Army 1st Corps (I Corps), and especially Lewis and Clark County, Montana, the home of the capital city, Helena. This wasnt just anybody who kicked the bucket. Besides, how could an expert marksman botch his own suicide and be forced to shoot himself twice? as much as you want to claim President George Washington as a "close family member" it is not, and never will, be proven true, no matter how many fake find a grave memorial you create, your Lewis line is not related in the slightest way to this family . (2006). Activists take issue with Sacagawea's posture: she crouches behind Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, a positioning some say is demeaning for depicting the appearance of subservience. At home in Albemarle County, he pursued his studies with Dr. Charles Everitt, a physician, and then Rev. The alpine plant Lewisia (family Portulacaceae), popular in rock gardens, is named after Lewis, as is Lewis's Woodpecker. Privacy Statement Despite warnings that they would all be drowned, the men of the Lewis and Clark expedition paddled toward the ferocious rapids. Her daughter and son-in-law put the house for sale on the market at $255,000 in 1982.