Major Lewis Burwell, II, of Carter's Creek

https://archive.org/stream/recordofburwellf01burw/recordofburwellf0...

https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Burwell_Lewis_1651_or_1652-1710

Lewis Burwell was a planter who enlarged the already considerable estate he had inherited from his father. By 1704 he was one of the largest landowners in six counties, paying taxes on 26,650 acres. Through marriage alliances and inheritances—both of his stepfathers, his father-in-law, and a son-in-law served on the governor's Council, and his first wife inherited her fortune from her uncle, who was a councillor—he expanded his fortune. Burwell served as a major in the militia, a trustee of the College of William and Mary, and sat for one term in the House of Burgesses. The Privy Council appointed him to the governor's Council, but Burwell declined the position. This refusal probably sprung from his daughter's refusal to marry Governor Francis Nicholson, along with declining health.

Burwell was born in 1651 or 1652, probably in Gloucester County, the only child of Lewis Burwell (1622–1652) and Lucy Higginson Burwell. Less than a year after his father's death, his mother married William Bernard, a member of the governor's Council, with whom she had three children before he died on March 31, 1665. By November 1667 she had married Philip Ludwell, who became a councillor eight years later and with whom she had two children. Burwell thus grew up as part of a politically prominent, wealthy, and extended family. About 1674 he married Abigail Smith, the niece and heir of Nathaniel Bacon (1620–1692), who was also a councillor. They had four sons and six daughters before her death on November 12, 1692. Sometime between March 4, 1694, and November 21, 1695, Burwell married Martha Lear Cole, daughter of John Lear, who had served on the Council, and widow of William Cole, yet another councillor. They probably had two sons and three daughters.

Burwell made good use of the connections he gained through the profitable marriages of his mother and greatly enlarged the fortune he had inherited from his father. Already related to the powerful Ludwell family, he saw his sons and daughters marry into the Armistead, Bassett, Berkeley, Carter, and Harrison families. By the 1690s the marriage alliances were no longer one-sided. In six of the seven counties in which he paid taxes in 1704, Burwell was one of the largest landowners, and in Charles City County he owned 8,000 acres, more than any other person. He paid taxes on 26,650 acres that year and was one of the wealthiest men in Virginia. His son Nathaniel Burwell (1680–1721) lived until his death at Fairfield, the striking brick mansion that Burwell had built in the 1690s on Carter's Creek in Gloucester County; another son, Lewis Burwell (d. 1743), lived at Kingsmill, part of the former Bacon estate in James City County; and his daughter Lucy Burwell was the object of a renowned and turbulent courtship by Francis Nicholson, but she spurned the governor and married Edmund Berkeley (d. ca. 1719), of Barn Elms in Middlesex County.

Burwell was a popular member of Tidewater Virginia society, and his name appears regularly in the diary of William Byrd (1674–1744). Burwell became a militia major; a governor, or trustee, of the College of William and Mary; and a trustee of the city of Williamsburg. His name is not included on any extant list of justices of the peace, but a man of his stature would normally have served on the county court, and the loss of most of the Gloucester County records makes it impossible to rule this service out. In 1698 Burwell served a single term in the House of Burgesses, where he sat on the Committee for Propositions and Grievances. Membership on the governor's Council was the highest office to which a Virginian could then realistically aspire, and it usually marked a man or his family as having reached the pinnacle of Virginia society. On September 5, 1700, the Privy Council appointed Burwell to the Council, but on October 13, 1701, he wrote to the Board of Trade and, citing his poor health, but perhaps also believing that his strained relationship with Nicholson would make membership on the Council unpleasant, asked to be excused from service. On May 14, 1702, the Privy Council accepted the Board of Trade's recommendation that Burwell's appointment as councillor be withdrawn, and he consequently never served.

Burwell was the central figure in the rise of a prominent Virginia family. By concentrating on acquiring land and pursuing family connections, he became one of the wealthiest men of his time and maximized his descendants' ability to succeed. Among the many evidences of his prosperity was his donation of a lavish set of communion silver to Abingdon Parish. Burwell died at his plantation on King's Creek in York County on December 19, 1710. He was buried at Fairfield in Gloucester County, but his remains were later moved to Abingdon Church.

Time Line

1651 or 1652 - Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) is born, probably in Gloucester County, to Lewis Burwell (1622–1652) and Lucy Higginson Burwell.

August 1653 - By this time Lucy Higginson Burwell has married William Bernard, with whom she will have three children.

November 1667 - Lucy Higginson Burwell Bernard marries Philip Ludwell, with whom she will have two children.

ca. 1674 - Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) marries Abigail Smith, the niece and heir of Nathaniel Bacon the Elder. They will have four sons and six daughters.

November 12, 1692 - Abigail Smith Burwell, wife of Lewis Burwell (d. 1710), dies.

March 4, 1694–November 21, 1695 - At some point between these two dates, Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) marries Martha Lear Cole. They will likely have two sons and three daughters.

1698 - Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) serves a single term in the House of Burgesses.

September 5, 1700 - The Privy Council appoints Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) to the governor's Council at Governor Francis Nicholson's suggestion.

September 22, 1701 - Governor Francis Nicholson delivers a speech to the House of Burgesses in which he makes an unsubtle reference to his love for eighteen-year-old Lucy Burwell, daughter of Major Lewis Burwell. She declines his marriage proposal.

October 13, 1701 - Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) writes to the Board of Trade asking to be excused from service to the governor's Council. He cites his poor health, but may have believed that his strained relationship with Governor Francis Nicholson would make membership on the council unpleasant.

May 14, 1702 - The Privy Council accepts the Board of Trade's recommendation that Lewis Burwell's appointment as councillor be withdrawn.

May 20, 1703 - Six members of the governor's Council—James Blair, Robert Carter, Benjamin Harrison II, John Lightfoot, Philip Ludwell, and Matthew Page—complete a letter to Queen Anne urging her to remove Governor Francis Nicholson.

1704 - Lewis Burwell (d. 1710) pays taxes on 26,650 acres of land. He is among the largest landowners and the wealthiest men in Virginia.

December 19, 1710 - Lewis Burwell dies at his plantation on King's Creek in York County. He is buried at Fairfield in Gloucester County, but his remains are later removed to Abingdon Church.

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Lewis Burwell II

• Hon. Lewis Burwell (1652 - ~1710) was the son of Maj. Lewis Burwell and Lucy Higginson, born circa 1652. He was married twice, first to Abigail Smith (11 Mar 1656/57 - 12 Nov 1692, cousin of Nathaniel Bacon), daughter of Anthony Smith and Martha Bacon, 1672 at Gloucester Co., Virginia and second to Martha Lear, daughter of Col. John Lear.
• He resided at King's Creek, York Co., Virginia. He resided at Carter's Creek, Gloucester Co., Virginia. He was a governor of the College of William and Mary in 1702. He was a member of Council between 1702 and 1711 at Virginia. he died circa 1710. He is the namesake of "Burwell's Bay" in Isle of Wight County [5] This bay was originally called Warascoyack Bay until he acquired significant land upon its shores.[5][6]
• Known children of Hon. Lewis Burwell and Abigail Smith were as follows:
  • Joanna Burwell, b. 1674/75; m. Hon. William Bassett.
  • Elizabeth Burwell, b. Jun 1677; m. Hon. Benjamin Harrison III.
  • Hon. Nathaniel Burwell, b. 1680; m. Elizabeth Carter (daughter of Robert "King" Carter of Corotoman [7][8]
  • Lewis Burwell; b. 16 Oct 1682 at Gloucester Co., VA; d. Sep 1696 at age 13.
  • Lucy Burwell; b. 21 Nov 1683 at Gloucester Co., VA; m. Col. Edmund Berkeley, son of Edmund Berkeley and Mary, 1 Dec 1704; d. 16 Dec 1716 at age 33.
  • Martha Burwell, b. 16 Nov 1685; m. Col. Henry Armistead.
  • Bacon Burwell; b. 22 Feb 1687 at Gloucester Co., VA; d. before 1692; bur. at 'Carter's Creek', Gloucester Co., VA.
  • Jane Burwell; baptized 16 Nov 1688; d. before 15 Mar 1691/92; bur. at 'Carter's Creek', Gloucester Co., VA.
  • James Burwell; b. 4 Feb 1689/90 at Gloucester Co., VA; m. Mary Armistead, daughter of William Armistead and Anna Lee; 1st husband; d. 6 Oct 1718 at age 28. He resided at 'King's Creek', York Co., VA. He was a member of the House of Burgesses at Virginia.
  • ___ Burwell; b. after Mar 1691/92; m. Harry Seaton; 1st wife.
• Known children of Hon. Lewis Burwell and Martha Lear were as follows:
  • ___ Burwell; b. circa 1695; d; young.
  • Mary Burwell; b. 1697; d. 20 Jul 1701.
  • Lewis Burwell; b. 1699; m. Frances Thacker, daughter of Edwin Thacker; d. 6 Sep 1744. He resided at 'Kingsmill', York Co., VA.
  • Jane Burwell; b. circa 1701; d; young.
  • Martha Burwell, b. 1703; m. Col. John Martin.
  • Armistead Burwell; b. 1703; d. 1754.
• He resided at 'Stoneland', Mecklenburg Co., Virginia.
• From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burwell_Family_of_Virginia ___________________________
• Colonel Lewis Burwell1
• M, #284461
• Last Edited=26 May 2008
• Colonel Lewis Burwell married, secondly, Martha Lear, daughter of Colonel John Lear.1
• Child of Colonel Lewis Burwell and Martha Lear
  • 1.Martha Burwell+1 b. 1703, d. 27 May 1738
• Citations
• 1.[S1533] Peter James Rainton, "re: Rainton Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 25 November 2005. Hereinafter cited as "re: Rainton Family."
• From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p28447.htm#i284461 ______________________________

Hon. Lewis Burwell (Lewis3, Edward2, Edward1); b. circa 1652; m. Abigail Smith, daughter of Anthony Smith and Martha Bacon, 1672 at Gloucester Co., VA; 1st wife; m. Martha Lear, daughter of Col. John Lear; 2nd husband, 2nd wife; d. 1710.

He resided at 'King's Creek', York Co., VA. He resided at 'Carter's Creek', Gloucester Co., VA. He was a governor of the College of William and Mary in 1702. He was a member of Council between 1702 and 1711 at Virginia. He left a will on 11 Oct 1710; proved 10 Feb 1710/11.

Abigail Smith was born on 11 Mar 1656/57. She resided at Colchester, England. She died on 12 Nov 1692 at York Co., VA, at age 35.

Known children of Hon. Lewis Burwell and Abigail Smith were as follows:

    5.          i. Joanna Burwell, b. 1674/75; m. Hon. William  Bassett.

6. ii. Elizabeth Burwell, b. Jun 1677; m. Hon. Benjamin Harrison.
7. iii. Hon. Nathaniel Burwell, b. 1680; m. Elizabeth Carter.
iv. Lewis Burwell; b. 16 Oct 1682 at Gloucester Co., VA; d. Sep 1696 at age 13.
v. Lucy Burwell; b. 21 Nov 1683 at Gloucester Co., VA; m. Col. Edmund Berkeley, son of Edmund Berkeley and Mary, 1 Dec 1704; d. 16 Dec 1716 at age 33.
8. vi. Martha Burwell, b. 16 Nov 1685; m. Col. Henry Armistead.
vii. Bacon Burwell; b. 22 Feb 1687 at Gloucester Co.,nVA; d. before 1692; bur. at 'Carter's Creek', Gloucester Co., VA.
viii. Jane Burwell; baptized 16 Nov 1688; d. before 15 Mar 1691/92; bur. at 'Carter's Creek', Gloucester Co., VA.
ix. James Burwell; b. 4 Feb 1689/90 at Gloucester Co., VA; m. Mary Armistead, daughter of William Armistead and Anna Lee; 1st husband; d. 6 Oct 1718 at age 28 He resided at 'King's Creek', York Co., VA. He was a member of the House of Burgesses at Virginia. He left a will on 6 Sep 1718; proved 15 Sep 1718.
x. ___ Burwell; b. after Mar 1691/92; m. Harry Seaton; 1st wife.
Martha Lear married William Cole; 1st husband. She died on 4 Aug 1704.

Known children of Hon. Lewis Burwell and Martha Lear were as follows:

                i. ___ Burwell; b. circa 1695; d; young.

ii. Mary Burwell; b. 1697; d. 20 Jul 1701.
iii. Lewis Burwell; b. 1699; m. Frances Thacker, daughter of Edwin Thacker; d. 6 Sep 1744. He resided at 'Kingsmill', York Co., VA.
iv. Jane Burwell; b. circa 1701; d; young.
9. v. Martha Burwell, b. 1703; m. Col. John Martin.
vi. Armistead Burwell; b. 1703; d. 1754.
He resided at 'Stoneland', Mecklenburg Co., VA.
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~marshall/esmd42.htm

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GEDCOM Source

@R753407887@ Findagrave

GEDCOM Source

MAJ Lewis Burwell, II 19 Dec 1710 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18764228/lewis-burwell

References

• “Berkeley Manuscripts.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 6, no. 3, 1898, pp. 135–152. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1914598. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.