Francis Lewis

Stylized, cursive signature-style text that says 'Team Lorenz'.
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin wearing a dark coat, white cravat, and seated against a brown background.

BORN – March 24, 1713, in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales.  Parents (Welsh ancestry) – Francis Lewis (___- d1717) and Amy Pettingale Lewis (___- d1718).  Children – Francis Lewis (b1713-d1803).  Both parents died when Francis was young and he was raised by relatives. 

DIED – December 31, 1802 (age 89), in New York City while living with his sons.  Religion – Anglican / Episcopalian.  Buried – In an unmarked grave at Trinity Church Cemetery, (Manhattan) New York, NY. 

APPEARANCE – The picture above is a portrait of Francis Lewis painted by Albert Rosenthal in 1906, based on an engraving from John Sanderson.  Rarely participated in the general debates in Congress but was very effective in committee work.

FAMILY – Married - Elizabeth Annesley (b1715-d1779) in 1745.  Seven Children (three surviving to adulthood) - Francis Lewis Jr. (b1741-d1814), Anne Lewis Robertson (b1748-d1802), Morgan Lewis (b1754-d1844), ___.

OCCUPATION – MERCHANT, LEGISLATOR.  Attended Westminster School in London, England.  Apprenticed as a Merchant.  Immigrated to New York City in 1734 (age 21).  Became a successful Merchant, travelling widely throughout Europe, Russia, Africa.  Captured in 1756 by the French during the French and Indian War and sent to France.  Given 5,000 acres of land by the British on his return.  Moved to Whitestone (now Flushing), NY in 1765.  Member of the Continental Congress representing New York from 1775 to 1779.      

AT SIGNING – Age 66 at signing.     

AFTER SIGNING – Continued to serve in Congress in Philadelphia until 1779.  His home in Whitestone, NY, was destroyed by the British.  His wife was arrested, imprisoned and very poorly treated which ruined her health.  Spent heavily on the war from his personal fortune.   Died penniless.   

HISTORIC SITES

Gravestite – Unmarked grave at Trinity Church Cemetery, New York, NY (1697).  Located at at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway (Manhattan), New York, NY, Church Phone - 212-602-0800, Church Website - www.trinitywallstreet.org.  Francis Lewis was a member of the church.

Whitestone Home – Francis Lewis Park, Whitestone (Queens), NY.  Bounded by Third Avenue, 147 Street, the East River, and Parsons Boulevard, Whitestone (Queens), NY, Website www.nycgovparks.org.  Historians believe that the Lewis house stood at Third Avenue and 147th Street next to the park, or at Seventh Avenue and 152nd Street. 

City park with visible tombstones and a statue, surrounded by tall buildings and people walking.

Gravesite of Francis Lewis, Trinity Church Cemetery, New York, NY (1697). 

Located at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway (Manhattan), New York, NY, Church Phone - 212-602-0800, Church Website - www.trinitywallstreet.org.   

Francis Lewis was a member of the church and is buried in an unmarked grave in the church cemetery.  Other famous people buried there include – Alexander Hamilton, General Horatio Gates, Robert Fulton (steamboat inventor), General Franklin Wharton (Commandant of the Marine Corps).