Marshall, Fielding, Merriweather, Daingerfield, Taliaferro and others. Thanks so much for sharing! Meriwether Lewis died on his way to Washington, DC in October, 1809. . Surprisingly, he may also have felt like something of a failure. In 1795 he joined the regular army and for a brief period, he was attached to a sub-legion of General Anthony Wayne commanded by Lieutenant William Clark. Most historians agree that he committed suicide; others are convinced he was murdered. 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. John Marks, along with his brother Reuben, in 1784. She claimed to be able to see Lewis through the slit in the door crawling back to his room. He died on October 11, 1809, at the age of 35, under mysterious circumstances that have been the subject of much speculation and debate. Privacy Policy | ContactMe 2010-2023 FamousKin.com. His friends assumed it was suicide. He later served as governor of Upper Louisiana Territory. 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. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations. This page has been accessed 22,092 times. Today, the grave site is maintained by the Natchez Trace Parkway. . Nothing is known of her childhood. He is honored today by a memorial along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Greenwood Publishing Group. 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. (Davis, 1951). He served until 1801 achieving the rank of captain. Lewis picked William Clark as his second-in-command. Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer and military officer born on August 18, 1774, in Virginia. Her daughter and son-in-law put the house for sale on the market at $255,000 in 1982. As a member of Virginian high society, the Lewis family could claim ties to both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. William Lewis and 3. Historians still dispute whether the explorer and then-governor of Louisiana committed suicide or was murdered. [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. Meriwether was the firstborn son of Lucy Meriwether and William Lewis. Captain Meriwether LewisWilliam Clark's expedition partner on the Corps of Discovery's historic trek to the Pacific, Thomas Jefferson's confidante, governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory. discoveries. The Lewis and Clark families, along with representatives of St. Louis Lodge #1, past presidents of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, and the Daughters of the American Revolution carried wreaths and led a formal procession to Lewis' grave. Robert Lewis and 5 . The Charlottesville City Council convened on Wednesday to continue discussing plans for relocating the Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea statue.. This was the apex of a heros career. When his father died in 1779, he inherited his Locust Hill estate. When Clark and Jefferson were informed of Lewis' death, both accepted it as suicide, but his family contended it was murder. At some point in the night she heard multiple gunshots, and what she believed was someone asking for help. He kept in touch with his mother and family through long, chatty letters (Anderson, p. 501, Bakeless). [3] 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. Among the families are direct descendants of William Clark and collateral descendants of Meriwether Lewis. Mrs. Grinder, the tavern-keeper's wife, claimed Lewis acted strangely the night before his death. Meriwether Lewis | American Battlefield Trust Hundreds of people have traced their family ties to members of the Corps of Discovery, two centuries after the historic journey. Meriwether moved to Georgia with his mother and her second husband, Capt. Here his heavy drinking persisted.[6]. Lewis and Clark descendants and family members, along with representatives of St. Louis Lodge . (Bakeless, 1947) Gen. Lucian King Truscott, Jr.; married a Meriwether descendant. Indeed, the 200-year commemoration has led to a broader interest in genealogy among Americans. She said that during dinner Lewis stood and paced about the room talking to himself in the way one would speak to a lawyer. When theres so much uncertainty and doubt, we must have more evidence. She returned to Albemarle for good, and Locust Hill became her property after Meriwether's mysterious death in 1809. Meriwether Lewis, in addition to being a great explorer and trailblazer, was the Governor of Louisiana. Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Paul Allen with a biography of Meriwether Lewis, 1813The explorer was buried near present day Hohenwald, Tennessee, near his place of death. More information is available at her website: abigailtucker.com, 2023 Smithsonian Magazine One of his traveling companions, who arrived later, buried him nearby. Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Va., on Aug. 18, 1774. 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. Son of Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Lewis After returning from the expedition, Lewis's life had the potential to become that of a politician and stateman, and in 1807 President Jefferson appointed him as Governor of the Louisiana Territory. Meriwether Lewis became an American hero upon his return from his expedition across what is now the Northwestern half of the United States. Servants found Lewis badly injured from multiple gunshot wounds. The Department of Interior granted . Wrong username or password. It was also in the Broad River Valley that Lewis first dealt with a native Indian group. South Dakotan says he is descendent of Meriwether Lewis - Bismarck Tribune Ex-partner of Ikpsapewin "Winona" . 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. He came back and he just could not readjust. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. [2] Before he left St. Louis, Lewis had given several associates the power to distribute his possessions in the event of his death; while traveling, he composed a will. On October 7, 2009, about 2,500 people (Park Service estimate) from more than twenty-five states met at Lewis' grave on the 200th anniversary of his death. She observed his face to flush as if it had come on him in a fit. During a ceremony on Oct. 7, 2009, marking the 200th anniversary of his death, a bronze bust of Lewis will be dedicated to the Natchez Trace Parkway for a planned visitor center. The Certificate says Shaun is related to Sgt. Lucy Meriwether was well known in Albemarle County throughout her adult life. In April 1801, he was appointed personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). It was during this time in the Army that he met William Clark (1770-1838) for the first time. The Lewises also won a gallant record in the War of 1812, the Mexican War and in the Confederate States Army. [citation needed] Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U.S., and the lore of great world explorers, are considered incalculable. Obviously, Theodesia's pleas fell on deaf ears. She married William Lewis of Locust Hill; he died in 1779 and she married Captain John Marks six months later. The verdict: Suicide. The details of the case are so sketchy that its like trying to grab a shadow, Holmberg says. Lewis was a Freemason, initiated, passed, and raised in Door To Virtue Lodge No. She returned to Albemarle for good, and Locust Hill became her property after Meriwether's mysterious death in 1809. In later years a court of inquiry explored whether they could charge the tavern-keeper with Lewis' death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_Expedition. 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. Meriwether Lewis Achievements - 1168 Words | Cram 111 on September 16, 1808. The deadline for applications is Dec. 31. 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? There were five colonels in the RevolutionColonel Nicholas, Colonel Fielding, Colonel William, Colonel Charles and Colonel Joeland quite a number of majors and captains. The Lewis family of Virginia is one of the most distinguished families in the State. The explorer was buried not far from where he died. Meriwether Lewis dies along the Natchez Trace, Tennessee But, in early October 1809, Meriwether Lewis was found shot in the head in a room of an inn on the old Natchez Trace near present-day Hohenwald, Tennessee. A bronze bust of Lewis commissioned for the event was dedicated to the Natchez Trace Parkway for a planned visitor center at the grave site area. Lewis was born in Albermale County, Virginia on August 18, 1774, to Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether. Complex and often contradictory, the incarnations of Meriwether Lewis provide insight into the man behind the titles. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809). Interestingly, John Guice, one of the most prominent critics of the suicide theory, uses a very different astronaut comparison. His older brother Nicholas Lewis became his guardian. Descendants Push to Exhume Explorer Meriwether Lewis to Find - WSJ Library of Congress, http://international.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0636_0639.pdf, Letter to Thomas Jefferson, Oct 3, 1803, After he excused himself from dinner, he went to his bedroom. Jefferson had mentored Meriwether in his youth and was a friend, as well as appreciative of Meriwether's unique skills. Fielding Lewis - Wikipedia 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 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. He was the second child and first son of William Lewis (abt.1738-1779) and Lucy Meriwether (1752-1837). Clark was a devoted family man and a valued friend. It has absolutely rekindled interest in family history, said Carol Bronson, executive director of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation in Great Falls, Mont. 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. That night, Mrs. Grinder, the innkeepers wife, heard several shots. 44 in Albemarle, Virginia, between 1796 and 1797. By the age of eight, he was already showing the characteristics of courage and resourcefulness that stood him in good stead when he later commanded Jeffersons great expedition to explore the Missouri and Columbian Rivers from 1804 to 1806. In the predawn hours of October 11, the innkeeper heard gunshots. Conflicting information from sources indicate he was either rather ill (speculation runs from alcoholism to syphilis or possible psychological issues) or had trouble with hypochondria, and visited his mother in hopes of some care. Leave a message for others who see this profile. He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. Lucy Meriwether. Nearby homes similar to 7134 John Marshall Mews have recently sold between $252K to $396K at an average of $245 per square foot. [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. She could not afford many books, but collected a small library throughout her life. The original house burned down but it was rebuilt in the same style as the original. After his wife's death, Robert Lewis married Elizabeth Thornton, Lucy's mother . Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Manifest Destiny. He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. What did Clark and Lewis discover? - BIO-Answers.com He would often venture out in the middle of the night in the dead of winter with only his dogs to go hunting. It covers the descendants of Robert Lewis (1607-ca.1645) and his wife, Elizabeth, who emigrated from Wales to Gloucester County, Virginia in 1635. 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. 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. Thirty-nine years later, in 1848, an effort was launched to locate Lewis's grave and provide a proper memorial. Meriwether Lewis - Ancestry.com It was in Georgia that he met Eric Parker, who was the first to introduce him to the idea of traveling. It is recorded on the tombstone of Pioneer John that he furnished five sons for the Revolution. PORTSMOUTH, Va - Puller Chronicles Volume 1, Second Edition, by Meriwether Ball, is a fascinating look at LtGen Lewis B. Puller's family and faith which made him an American and Marine Corps icon. Mrs. Grinder, the tavern-keeper's wife, claimed Lewis acted strangely the night before his death. South Dakotan says he is descendent of Meriwether Lewis South Dakotan says he is descendent of Meriwether Lewis The Associated Press Jul 13, 2003 0 LOWER BRULE, S.D. 10664People12Records12Sources Meriwether Lewisfound in 40 treesView all Meriwether Lewisfrom tree Railey and Allied Families Record information. 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. In 1795, he joined the regular 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. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Aug 18 1774 - Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virgina, Oct 14 1809 - Natchez Trace, Breton County, Tennessee, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Ivy, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia, Oct 11 1809 - Grinder's Stand, Lewis, Tennesssee, United States, Jane Meriwether Anderson, Lucinda Lewis, Reuben Lewis, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Charlottesville, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America, Oct 11 1809 - Grinder's Stand, Natchez Trace, Lewis, Tennessee, United States, riwether Lewis, Jane Meriwether Anderson (born Lewis), Lucinda Lewis, Dr. Reuben Lewis, John Hastings Marks, Mary Garland Moore (born Marks), Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Ivy, Albemarle, Virginia, United States, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill, Albemarle, VA, USA, Oct 11 1809 - Natchez Trace, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States, Aug 18 1774 - Albemarle County, Virginia, Verenigde Staten, Oct 11 1809 - Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA, Aug 18 1774 - Locust Hill,Near Charlottesville,Virginia, Oct 11 1809 - At Grinder's Inn in Lewis County,Tennessee, Aug 18 1774 - Charlottesville, United States, Oct 11 1809 - Natchez Trace, Tennessee-Murder Or Suicide, Locust Hill Plantation, Albemarle County, Virginia, British Colonial America, Natchez Trace Parkway, Mile Post 385.9, Lewis County, Tennessee, United States, Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, United States, Navigation-Navigators/the Science of Navigation, http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2295. In the predawn hours of October 11, the innkeeper heard gunshots. Not so, says Sandra Hargrove, a member of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Descendant Certificate Project. In the course of the journey, Lewis observed, collected, and described hundreds of plants and animal species previously unknown to science. (804) 448-4664. In 1882, the house was sold to Mrs. Bearley, releasing the house from Lewis family descendents for the first time. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Missouri governor and corps of discovery expedition leader, William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame. The District of Columbia and governors of twenty states sent flags flown over state capital buildings to be carried to Lewis' grave by residents of the states associated with the Lewis and Clark Trail. Even at his early age he was interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion. As documented by the Descendants Project this group produced 58 . Ancestors of Meriwether Lewis Generation No. Mrs. Grinder's testimony is held as a point of contention from both sides of the murder-suicide debate. 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". Lewis departed St. Louis for the Louisiana Purchasevia the Ohio River in the summer of 1803, gathering supplies, equipment, and personnel along the way. Augustine Warner, Sr. (September 28th 1611 - December 24th, [1] 1674), was an English planter and politician. Family:Robert Lewis and Jane Meriwether (2) - Genealogy Record information. 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). Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the proposed expedition, afterwards known as the Corps of Discovery. In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University), joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 he was sent as part of a detachment involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. Geographic names that honor him include 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. American politician, Explorer - 19th century, 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, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Meriwether LEWIS (1774), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. A day use campground at Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, north of Helena, Meriwether Picnic site.