[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. 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. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Historians still dispute whether the explorer and then-governor of Louisiana committed suicide or was murdered. Marks raised Meriwether and his two siblings along with his own two children with Lucy, John Hastings Marks and Mary Garland (Marks) Moore (1787-1864). 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. Governor Meriwether Lewis was on his way from St. Louis to Washington in September, 1809 to protest the federal government's refusal to reimburse him for expenses. Why Did Meriwether Lewis Die - 915 Words | Internet Public Library His mother, Lucy Meriwether was his father's cousin. He was also related to Robert E. Lee and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, among others. Mrs. John Grinder who served as his landlady on the last night of his life reported: heard the sound of a gunshot and then the sound of something heavy falling to the floor followed by the words, Oh Lord! heard the sound of another gunshot and in a few moments, Lewis voice Oh, Madame, give me some water and heal my wounds. [she] refused to leave the room where she had been sleeping she waited nearly two hours before [rousing] the servants. [2] Their other children included Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Reuben Lewis, and Lucinda Lewis (1772-) (who died as an infant). Many people in Oregon say they inherited the adventurous spirit of the Lewis and Clark expedition, but third-grader Shaun Stice is a direct descendant. He would often venture out in the middle of the night in the dead of winter with only his dogs to go hunting. Have you taken a DNA test? The expedition started in St. Charles, Missouri. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. Now in his new role, Governor Lewis was soon embroiled in quarrels with his territorial secretary Frederick Bates (1777-1825). He had so much to live for, says Guice, professor emeritus of history at The University of Southern Mississippi and the editor ofBy His Own Hand? Lewis also had the responsibility for making arrangements to publish the Corps of Discovery journals, but had difficulty completing his writing. He was never married, but family legend shares that he courted Theodesia Burr, the daughter of Aaron Burr. Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774 in Virginia, is best known as the co-captain of the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition. He came back and he just could not readjust. 1. A year and a half after the shooting, ornithologist Alexander Wilson, a friend of Lewiss, interviewed Mrs. Grinder, becoming one of the first among many people who have investigated the case. A cave, Lewis and Clark Caverns between Three Forks and Whitehall, Montana. M128 Jane (ca.1705/6-<1758) & Robert Lewis | The Meriwether Society FamilySearch Catalog: Lewis family tree : showing many of the Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers are considered incalculable. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. There were songs and poems written about him. Meriwether Lewis's death has been a source of speculation for many years, often with the mistaken notion that "great men" do not take their own lives, and that suicide blights the memory of a great life. He died on October 11, 1809, at the age of 35, under mysterious circumstances that have been the subject of much speculation and debate. The State of Tennessee erected a monument over his grave in 1848. Meriwether Lewis Pedigree Chart | Meriwether Lewis | Ahnentafel No: 1 The expedition also collected scientific data, and information on indigenous nations. And now Lewis, the consummate adventurer, suddenly found himself stuck in a desk job. The explorer was buried not far from where he died. 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. The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis - JSTOR Daily President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. Sacagawea's Role In The Lewis And Clark Expedition | ipl.org Families trace Lewis and Clark links - NBC News They said I could buy it at any store, Shaun said. People want ownership of the story, and then they feel a part of it.. An error has occured while loading the map. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Lewis requested a glass of whiskey almost as soon as he climbed down from his horse. They settled along the Broad River in the Goosepond Community within the Broad River Valley in Wilkes County (now Oglethorpe County). Descendents of the family point to this legend as a reason why Meriwether men take a long time to get married. Why I Believe Meriwether Lewis Was Assassinated Privacy Policy | ContactMe 2010-2023 FamousKin.com. They settled along the Broad River in the Goosepond Community within the Broad River Valley in Wilkes County (now Oglethorpe County). Although he died without legitimate heirs, he does have the putative DNA model haplotype for his paternal ancestors' lineage, which was that of the Warner Hall. Lewis' descendants have asked the National Park Service to exhume the body for clues. When his father died in 1779, he inherited his Locust Hill estate. The Department of Interior granted . 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. 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? 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. Meriwether Lewis was a soldier, public administrator, and famed explorer as co-leader of the Corps of Discovery, commonly referred to as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They settled along the Broad River in the Goosepond Community within the Broad River Valley in Wilkes County (now Oglethorpe County). "[12] This claim and another by a Joseph DeSmet descendant, Martin Charger, are explored in some detail on the Joseph DeSmet Lewis documents WikiTree page. The men of the family from the time when they first settled in the colony, about the middle of the seventeenth century, have been men of action and distinction; they have won for themselves the most remarkable record as soldiers. 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, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story. I fear the weight of his mind has overcome him, he wrote after receiving word of Lewiss fate. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809). 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. When Jefferson began to formulate and to plan for an expedition across the continent, he chose Lewis to lead the expedition. Meriwether Lewis Gov. Later in his life, he was a captain in the military and served as Jefferson's . 3 Beds. 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." (Thornton was the daughter of Francis Thornton and Mary Taliaferro). However, the subsequent inhabitants of the home have made so many changes that the structure does not really resemble the original house. He died shortly after sunrise. They dropped the inquiry for lack of evidence or motive. The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis. Theyve been coming out of the woodwork, Hargrove said. Augustine Warner, Sr. (September 28th 1611 - December 24th, [1] 1674), was an English planter and politician. The expedition was tasked with exploring the Missouri River and its tributaries, mapping the western territories, and making contact with Native American tribes. She is reported to have notable culinary and intellectual skills as well. He is honored today by a memorial along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Their oldest, Jane Meriwether married Colonel Robert Lewis; they became Meriwether Lewis' paternal great-grandparents. Clark was more pragmatic and practical. The trip had many perilous moments for Meriwether; who managed to survive falls, gun shot wounds, and accidental poisoning. President Thomas Jefferson appointed Lewis and Clark to explore the territory that was acquired in the "Louisiana Purchase". Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in the present-day community of Ivy. This profile is managed by the Virginia Project. 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.) Half brother of Dr. John Hastings Marks and Mary Garland Moore, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/623/meriwether-lewis. [5], Lewis joined the Army in 1794 and spent six years in the militia, serving during the "Whiskey Rebellion". In other accounts, the dog was never there at all. The US Navy Polaris nuclear submarine USS Lewis and Clark was named for him and William Clark. Without her help, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark might not have been successful on their expedition. She said that during dinner Lewis stood and paced about the room talking to himself in the way one would speak to a lawyer. After Jane's death in 1845, her son, Dr. Meriwether Lewis Anderson, inherited Locust Hill. On April 1, 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. Thirty-nine years later, in 1848, an effort was launched to locate Lewis's grave and provide a proper memorial. He gave the Grinders money to maintain Lewiss grave and visited the site himself. An American icon, Lewis was also a human being, and the expedition was the pinnacle of Lewiss life, Newman says. Though the Corps of Discovery had traversed thousands of miles of wilderness with few casualties, Lewis and Clark did not find the Northwest Passage to the Pacific, the missions primary goal; the system of trading posts that theyd established began to fall apart before the explorers returned home. 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). Ministers . William Douglas Meriwether became his legal guardian and his Uncle Nicholas Lewis exercised unofficial oversight (Bakeless). Re: Meriwether Lewis/Woodson Connection By Gary Stella February 06, 2005 at 12:59:36. Complex and often contradictory, the incarnations of Meriwether Lewis provide insight into the man behind the titles. He attempted marriage but never followed through, and started drinking excessively, which negatively affected his relationship with Jefferson. [6], It was at Jefferson's suggestion that the Corps of Discovery expedition was undertaken and the plan was approved by Congress in 1803. 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. Lewis resided in the presidential mansion, and frequently conversed with various prominent figures in politics, the arts and other circles. It covers the descendants of Robert Lewis (1607-ca.1645) and his wife, Elizabeth, who emigrated from Wales to Gloucester County, Virginia in 1635. The U.S. Army was also present through the 101st Airborne Infantry Band and its Army chaplain. 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. 111 on September 16, 1808. Geni requires JavaScript! CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. The Meriwether Lewis Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will host the event, called Courage UndauntedThe Final Journey., On June 4, 2009, collateral descendants of Lewis launched a Web site aimed at garnering public support for exhumation and scientific study of the explorer's remains to determineonce and for allthe cause of his death. Lewis became intimately involved in planning the expedition and was sent by Jefferson to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for additional instruction in cartography and other skills for making scientific observations. Due to her knowledge and hard work, the expedition was a success. Family & Relationships; Fiction; Games; Gardening; Health & Fitness; History; See Full Categories List. She started the Locust Hill Graveyard in 1810, probably on the hopes that she could have Meriwether's body re-interred there from Tennessee, and because her son-in-law Edmund Anderson and a neighbor died that year and needed to be buried. The Lewis and Clark expedition is often called America's national epic of exploration. 2 Baths. Browse Retail Locations . [citation needed] Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers, are considered incalculable. A year after his death, John Grinder, in whose home Lewis died, was brought before a grand jury on a warrant of murder. What were his experiences? He was the second child and first son of William Lewis (abt.1738-1779) and Lucy Meriwether (1752-1837). When Meriwether Lewis Sr. was born on 11 September 1802, in Buckingham, Virginia, United States, his father, Edward Lewis, was 31 and his mother, Mary Freeland, was 31. (2006). John Lewis married Elizabeth Warner (GGGGG-granddaughter to King James IV Stewart of England). Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774, was an American explorer. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations. Categories: This Day In History October 11 | This Day In History August 18 | Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Tennessee | Explorers | Whiskey Rebellion | American Heroes | Missouri Territory Governors | Namesakes US Counties | Example Profiles of the Week | Lewis and Clark Expedition | Albemarle County, Virginia | Virginia, Notables | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. Library of Congress, http://international.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0636_0639.pdf, Letter to Thomas Jefferson, Oct 3, 1803, 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. She started the Locust Hill Graveyard in 1810, probably on the hopes that she could have Meriwether's body re-interred there from Tennessee, and because her son-in-law Edmund Anderson and a neighbor died that year and needed to be buried. James Waddell, a blind parson, and Parson Matthew Maury. There, reflecting on the adventure-loving young man who had mapped the gloomy and savage wilderness which I was just entering alone, Wilson broke down and wept. Meriwether Lewis dies along the Natchez Trace, Tennessee On October 11, 1809, the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis dies under mysterious circumstances in the early hours of the morning after. Whether Lewis committed suicide or was murdered remains a mystery to this day. 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.. Surprisingly, he may also have felt like something of a failure. 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. His father was of Welsh descent and his mother was of . The Death of Meriwether Lewis: Suicide or Murder? (He had had one brother who died while serving in the Confederate Army. Lucy Meriwether. 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. So Richard Ashcraft's mother was a Great aunt to Meriwether Lewis. In the early 1790s, Lewis briefly served as President Washington's personal secretary and manager of Mount Vernon. Privacy Statement Among the families are direct descendants of William Clark and collateral descendants of Meriwether Lewis. Born Meriwether LEWIS American explorer, soldier, and 2nd Governor of Louisiana Territory Born on August 18, 1774 in Ivy, Colony Of Virginia, USA , United States Died on October 11, 1809 in Hohenwald, Tennessee, USA Born on August 18 64 Deceased on October 11 39 Explorer - 19th century 31 Family tree Report an error Lewis John 1669 - 1725 Warner 17912 MERIWETHER LEWIS ST, Ruther Glen, VA 22546 | MLS VACV2003024 Were Lewis And Clark Respectful To The Native Americans | Bartleby He died in 1862, leaving the home to his children Charles and Mary Anderson. But due to quarreling with local political leaders, approval of trading licenses, land grant politics, Indian depredations, excessive drinking and a slow-moving mail system, it appeared that Lewis was a poor administrator who failed to keep in touch with his superiors in Washington. 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. After he retired for the evening, Mrs. Grinder continued to hear him talking to himself. Captain Meriwether Lewis was President Thomas Jefferson's chosen leader for the Corps of Discovery Expedition into the expansive territory of Louisiana, acquired from France in 1803. A deer however had been cornered onto the grounds of Locust Hill by the party hounds, and Mrs. Lewis-Marks shot it and turned it into a succulent dinner before the party even returned. Meriwether Lewis Facts and Accomplishments - The History Junkie Lewis never married he killed himself in 1809, three years after the expedition ended so he has no known direct descendants. However, the subsequent inhabitants of the home have made so many changes that the structure does not really resemble the original house. She married William Lewis of Locust Hill; he died in 1779 and she married Captain John Marks six months later. Meriwether moved to Georgia with his mother and her second husband, Capt. The alpine plant Lewisia (family Portulacaceae), popular in rock gardens, is named after Lewis, as is Lewis's Woodpecker. Login to find your connection. 1 1.Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774; died October 17, 1809 in Lewis County, Tennesse.He was the son of 2. [5] 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. [9] These maladies delayed his arrival in St. Louis to take his position as Governor until a year after being named as such. Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in the present-day community of Ivy. With regards to her cooking, Thomas Jefferson reportedly remarked "Merriwether Lewis' mother made very nice hams-better than even Monticello could produce." 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. Garrett Lewis Minor: 14 MAR 1744 -- 8 MAY 1799: Mary Overton . Meriwether Lewis - Ancestry.com The account given by the the innkeeper's wife was inconsistent, and with each telling becoming further muddled. Descendants Push to Exhume Explorer Meriwether Lewis to Find - WSJ His brother-in-law was George Washington . Cookie Policy (Henley, 2002) She lived there until her death in 1837 with her widowed daughter Jane Meriwether Anderson. Supposedly, Theodesia pleaded with Meriwether to decline the journey and marry her, heavily encouraged by her father. Username and password are case sensitive. The bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean has spurred interest in the descendant project, which was launched in 1999. However Lewis died, his death had a considerable effect on the young country. They dropped the inquiry for lack of evidence or motive. Describe the background of Meriwether Lewis. After returning from the expedition, Lewis received a reward of 1,400 acres (5.7 km) of land. Some scholars arent so sure that an exhumation will clarify matters. At the time of his death Lewiss depressive tendencies were compounded by other problems: he was having financial troubles and likely suffered from alcoholism and other illnesses, possibly syphilis or malaria, the latter of which was known to cause bouts of dementia. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the proposed expedition, afterward known as the Corps of Discovery. According to K. Edward Lay, a professor in the Architecture School at the University of Virginia, the present-day structure was probably built around 1900, perhaps incorporating a stone chimney from 1825. Examples of plants Lewis discovered on the expedition were also brought from the Trail states and laid on his grave to honor him. After crossing the Rocky Mountains, the expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in the area of present-day Oregon (which lay beyond the nation's new boundaries) in November 1805. 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. More than 400 descendants have been documented so far, and about 100 have applications pending. 44 in Albemarle, VA between 1796 and 1797. Meriwether Lewis | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello As a member of Virginian high society, the Lewis family could claim ties to both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. She gave the property to her daughter as a wedding gift. Born on a plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia, he and his family moved to Georgia when he was ten but by thirteen he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. Meriwether Lewis - Wikipedia Edward J. Lanham 2/07/05. He withdrew from public circles for several months, staying with his mother in Albemarle County, where he was probably treated by her and his physician [sic] brother Reuben. (Dary, p. 80) By March 1808, he had arrived in St. Louis to assume his duties as governor of the Louisiana Territory.
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