The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-16

that a number of women and children were captured in sight of Fort Lewis, which was then occupied by John Lew. is. old and infirm, his wife, Margaret Lynn, and two female servants, who were so much frightened that they lay prone upon the ground. John LeWls opened the port holes and, fired upon the savages while his wife reloaded the guns and moIded bullets. In this way he sustained a siege of six hours. during which time he killed score ol Indians. when he was relieved py the return of the home guard.
 Thomas Lewis, my great grandfather, the oldest son of John and Margaret Lynn Lewis, was born In lrelanu, April 27, t71S, and received classicai education in Dublin. When Augusta County was organized in l745 he quail fled as surveyor with George Washlne- ton. Each of them received tnls ap- pointment from board or Wnlch President Dawson of William and Mary College was the head. This county lh- cluded In It's limits most of West Nlr- ginia,. and a large portion of the sup- sequent wealth of Gen. Washington was acquired by surveys of land mace by them in common. After the ReVo- lutionary War Gen. Washington spent several days at my great grandlather home. arranging their land claims "A visit as much treasured by the fanily as that of King Charles to Zettl Tud- lum.) Jane Strother, the wife Of lSnom- as Lewis. and daughter of Col. Sefotn- CT. whose estate adjoined that or Col' Washington, was his schooinate, which greatly enhanced the pleasure or the visit. s(My grandfather, T. M Hn- = Aa1 in RnrktnRnAnl County. was paying his addresses to Elizabeth Lewis, and met Col. Wasn- ington sat5the,. ford of the Shenandoan river, in the dusk of the evening, ana he inquired of him the nearest way to Col. Leyis's. Supposing him to De one of the Dutch neighbors who was )eer- ing him for. his frequent Vl9lts, nc re- piled. follow your nose. HIS cnagrih can well be imagined wheP6n arriving at Col. Lewiss ne found Gen. Wasn- ington the honored guest, to whom ne had so curtly replied. Thomas Le"ls entered the House of Burgesses at an early age and was a memDer 2O years. In the memorable session in lIo5 he sustained the Resolutions of Patrick Fl 1nry against the Stamp Act, and those embodying the militia, and by ms single vote representing Western Nlr- gina, carried successfully through those famous resolutions. Thomas Lewis and Samuel Mcdowell were delegates to the Colonial convention held in Richmond in February, ltio' and that eloquent memorial from the committee advising the formation ot State Government and permanent Confederation, was the product or ms trenchant pen. he being distinsulshei for his ability and sclolarly attain ments. He was member Of all Con vantions called to devise ways and means for the establishment of the in- dependence of our country. He was member of the Convention when the Federal Constitution was submitted for the ratification of the Sta ,es, and only voted for 1t on the aCoptiCn of amend menta for the preservation of the llShtS of the States.
 He was a member of the first House of Delegates under the Constitution and was placed on the Committee Of Religion, and when some of our purest Stattsmen hesitated in their course in relation to church establishments 10 which they were attached, went hand in hand with Jefferson in those mes ssures which led to the passage Of the act establishing religious freedom. We was Commissioner of the Con- Ie0GTaIlOn lttt u HCSOllatC Nith IhC Indian tribes who had been defeated at Point Pleasant and concluded a peace by which the best soldiers of Virginia were at liberty to join the army under General Washington. instead of being compelled to defend the frontiers from Indian massacres.
 Samuel Lewis, second son of John Lewis, was distinguished for courage and skill in the Indian war and com manded a corps of Virginians, in which were three of his brothers, at Brad docks defeat and heroically aided in saving the remnant of an army led to destruction by a brave, but conceited leader. This corLs with other Virginia troops, were in advance and the first atacked by the enemy and several from the rest of the army, cut their way through, with the loss of many men. f4e Stfbseqde attained the rank o: colonel and remained in the army until the close of the war.
 William, the third son, was con spicuouS in the Indian war. He wGs q PiesbJ terian Elder and was called the ''civilizer of the border" He was an officer in the Revolutionary War and rendered most valiant service until it's close. When the British troops, com
 
 Legislature from Charlottesville to Staunton. the stiffness of the Sabbath eve was broken by the beat of the drum and volunteers were called for, to prevent the passage of the British through the mountains of Rockfish Gap His elder sons were in the north ern army and he was confined to bed by serious illness, but his wife, with the heroism of a Spartln Mother, said to her three sons of the ages of IT. 15 and 13. SGo to the defense of your native land. I spare not my youngest, my fair haired boy, the comfort of my declining years. 1 devote you all to the service of my country, keep back tthe foot of the invader from the soil of Augusta, or see my face no more. " When this incident was related to General Washington, he enthusiast! cally exclaimed, leave me but a ban ner tor place upon the mountains of Augusta, and l will rally around me the men who will lift our bleeding country from the dust and set her free."
 Andrew, the fourth son of John Lewis attained the highest rank of all the. brothers in military service. He was in the corps commanded by his brother Samuel in Braddock's army. He was member of the convention or March, 1775, and that of June following when he received the commission of general in the Continental line, and soon after drove General Dunmore from his retreat on Gwyn's Island and from the confines of the common wealth. General Lewis announced his orders for attacking the enemy by