Andrew Lewis

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Andrew Lewis (October 9, 1720 – September 26, 1781) was an American pioneer, surveyor, and soldier from Virginia. He served as a colonel of militia during the French and Indian War, and as a brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War. He is most famous for his 1774 victory in the Battle of Point Pleasant in Dunmore's War.

Appearance

About 6'-2". Reddish hair. Ruddy complexion.

Early years

Lewis was born in County Donegal, Ireland to John Lewis and Margaret Lynn. In 1732 John Lewis fled to America after having killed his landlord during an altercation. He brought his family to Virginia, including his sons Andrew and Thomas. He was the nephew of James Patton. They became some of the first settlers in western Augusta County. Andrew gained a basic education, and learned the skills of a surveyor.

Early in the 1740s Lewis married Elizabeth Givens, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Cathey) Givens formerly of County Antrim, Ireland. Lewis and his wife established their own home. They called it Richfield, and it was located in what today is Roanoke County near Salem. Over the coming years they would have seven children: Samuel (c.1748-1763), John (1750–1788), Thomas (1752–1800), Andrew Jr. (1759–1844), Ann (1760), William (1764–1812), and Charles (c.1768-1781).

Lewis spent fifteen years developing his farm and working as a surveyor in southwestern Virginia. He surveyed much of the Greenbrier District of Augusta County, later Greenbrier County, West Virginia. He became the commander, as county lieutenant and later captain of the Augusta County militia, after some years involvement in protecting against Indian raids.

He was an active partner in the Greenbrier Land Company.

French and Indian War

The French and Indian War brought serious conflict to the Virginia frontier. The frontier militia was more formally organized, and Lewis became a captain in Colonel George Washington's regiment. He was at Fort Necessity when Washington was forced to surrender it in 1754.

When Washington's proposal for a series of frontier fortifications was approved, Lewis was promoted to major to oversee the section along the Greenbrier River. On February 18, 1756, The Big Sandy Expedition, commanded by Major Andrew Lewis departed from Fort Frederick with his White and Virginia Cherokee troops to raid Shawnee towns along the Big Sandy and Ohio rivers in retaliation for Shawnee attacks on frontier forts. He took part in a number of expeditions against both Indian settlements and French outposts. While a part of the Forbes Expedition, he took part in Major James Grant's attack on Fort Duquesne, and was captured in September 1758. He was taken to Quebec and held as a prisoner until late in 1759.

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