A Monumental Monday post for your Thursday…this should tell you how my week is going.
Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, four signers came from New York State. One of them was Francis Lewis. Francis was born on March 21, 1713 in Cardiff, Wales. He was an only child and both his parents died by the age of 5. He was raised by his aunt as he attended school in Scotland and then the prestigious Westminster School in England. After graduation, he started an apprenticeship in a mercantile house in London. When he turned 21, he received his inheritance of his father’s property. He sold it and used the money for his business venture by purchasing goods and then sailing to New York in 1734. He left some of it with his business partner and took the rest to Philadelphia to sell. He returned to New York and continued his foreign trade across in Scotland, Ireland and Africa. He was shipwrecked twice along the coast of Ireland during this time.
In 1745, Francis Lewis married the youngest sister of his business partner, Elizabeth Annesley. They had seven children, four died while infants.
Lewis was successful internationally as he had contacts in several countries. He had a contract with the British military to supply uniforms during the French and Indian War. On August 10, 1756, Lewis was at Fort Oswego with the British and was taken along with 1,700 others including women and children. Lewis was one of the 30 given to Indian allies. His knowledge of Gaelic helped him to communicate with the Native Americans, the dialect was similar. He thought he negotiated his way back to his family but he was sent to France as a prisoner instead.
He was transported in a crate and held prisoner until peace was declared in 1763. In an attempt to repay Lewis for his seven years of imprisonment, the British government awarded Lewis 5,000 acres in New York as compensation. This was located in Whitestone (Queens).
Lewis quickly reestablished his business, flourished and retired from that and entered into politics. When the British government passed the Stamp Act in 1765. The taxation without representation changed his loyalty from the British to the Revolutionaries of the day. He became one of the New York City leaders and was a founding member of the Sons of Liberty. He attended the Stamp Act Congress and was politically active all the way up to being elected a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress.
Lewis signed the Olive Branch Petition, adopted by Congress on July 5, 1775 was a document that pledged American loyalty to the Crown in hopes a fair deal could be negotiated and avoid a war. There must have been an idea that this was going to be rejected because the next day, July 6, 1775 the Declaration of Causes and Necessity to Take Up Arms was also signed. King George did, in fact, not only reject the petition, he did not even read the document. Instead on August 23, 1775 the King declared the American colonies in full rebellion. When Lewis signed the Declaration of Independence on August 3, 1776 (had to wait for instructions from the New York delegates on how to proceed), he was reportedly the fifth wealthiest of the 56 signers. He along with the other Signers knew that if they lost, they would be charged and killed for their treason. He signed anyway.
Francis Lewis was not a public speaker. Instead, he used his vast knowledge of business and administration to help the cause. He also gave much of his wealth for supplies to the Continental army to include uniforms and arms. He was a strong ally to General George Washington and helped him considerably.
Lewis was no stranger to tragedy and loss, but one of the worst ordeals he and his family experienced was the capture of his wife, Elizabeth, by the British Army. Because of his wealth, reputation and his contribution to the Rebellion, a British Captain ordered a small army to go to the Lewis Estate and destroy it. Elizabeth was there and made to watch as the soldiers destroyed the family library, broke up the furniture and ultimately burned it all to the ground. Elizabeth was known for her character, strength and unbreakable spirit. She is reported to have shown incredible fortitude through the whole experience. The British then took Elizabeth Lewis prisoner and held her for two years. Her treatment was inhumane to include withholding food, no bed and inadequate clothing.
When George Washington heard of Mrs. Lewis’s imprisonment, he immediately ordered the capture of the wives of a the British Paymaster and the wife of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, both prominent men working for the Crown. Washington ordered the same treatment of these women as Mrs. Lewis had to endure until her release. Elizabeth’s freedom from captivity came in 1778. The imprisonment left her in poor health and she died in June 1779.
Francis went on to be one of only 16 Signers of the Declaration of Independence to also sign the Articles of Confederation. He retired in 1781 and mostly spent time with his children and grandchildren.
Perhaps Lewis isn’t as well known because he wasn’t out in the public eye making speeches fighting for liberty against the Crown. However his sacrifices should be remembered and shared again and again. He had wealth but he also suffered tremendous loss. At such a young age he was an orphan, shipwrecked twice, imprisoned for seven years, loss four of his children when they were very young, had his beloved wife imprisoned for two years who died because of her mistreatment…and yet he continued. He knew the price of liberty had to be paid and he did. He lost his wealth and regained it numerous times and used it to fund a revolution!
Francis Lewis should not be forgotten. His name is more known in Queens, NY simply because his name is on parks and various places there. Perhaps they even know the significance he played in helping birth a nation. As a native New Yorker, his persistence inspires me to keep pressing on. Let’s hope Francis Lewis continues to set the example needed to participate in our Constitutional Republic in order to preserve the liberty that lingers.
Sources:
https://constitutingamerica.org/90day-dcin-francis-lewis-of-new-york-businessman-prisoner-of-war-stamp-act-second-continental-congress-delegate-signer-declaration-
https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/francis-lewis/