Lewis, Betty Washington (1733–1797)

brother John Augustine Washington in period has now arrived when our most vig- March 1776: “The appointment of Lewis I orous exertions are wanted, when it is think was also judicious, for notwithstand- highly and indispensably necessary for gen- ing the odium thrown upon his Conduct at tlemen of abilities in any line, but more es- the Kanawha I always look’d upon him as a pecially in the military, not to withhold Man of Spirit and a good Officer—his ex- themselves from public employment, or perience is equal to any one we have.” Not suffer any small punctilios to persuade them everyone shared Washington’s enthusiasm to retire from their country’s service. The about his old friend’s appointment, how- cause requires your aid; no one more sin- ever. Lewis, observed historian Douglas cerely wishes it than I do.” Lewis neverthe- Southall Freeman, was a good fighter, but less resigned his commission in mid-April he was also “distant and taciturn in manner 1777. He afterward was appointed a com- and lacked art in dealing with persons of missioner to treat with the Indians at Fort station.” Lewis had been the commanding Pitt, and he served on the Virginia execu- general of the Virginia forces that defeated tive council from 1780 until his death in the Indians under Cornstalk at the Battle of Bedford County, Virginia, in September Point Pleasant near the mouth of the 1781. One of Lewis’s sons, Thomas Lewis Kanawha River in May 1774. Despite the (1754–1824), occasionally corresponded victory, Lewis was criticized by some for with Washington in the 1780s and 1790s remaining in the rear during the fighting about land settlement on the Great while his troops suffered heavy casualties.A Kanawha and Ohio Rivers. contemporary ballad encapsulated the views of his critics: Related entries: Braddock Expedition; Dunmore, John Murray,Fourth Earl of Old Andrew Lewis in his tent he did set With his cowards around him, alas he did Suggestions for further reading: sweat, “To George William Fairfax,”25 September 1758 (Col. Ser., vol. 6). His blankets spread over him and hearing “From Andrew Lewis,”31 October 1758 (Col. the guns roar, Ser., vol. 6). Saying was I at home I would come here “To John Augustine Washington,”31 March 1776 no more (War Ser., vol. 3). “To Andrew Lewis,”30 March 1777 (War Ser., Others blamed the heavy casualties at vol. 9). Johnson, Patricia Givens. 1980. General Andrew Point Pleasant on Lord Dunmore, however, Lewis of Roanoke and Greenbrier. and Lewis redeemed himself in the eyes of Christiansburg,VA. many Virginians in July 1777 when he defeated Lord Dunmore’s forces at Gwynn Is- land near the mouth of the Rappahannock River, causing Dunmore finally to flee the Lewis, Betty Washington colony altogether. (1733–1797) When Congress failed to promote Lewis to major general in the spring of 1777, etty Lewis was born at Popes Creek, Washington tried to soothe Lewis’s her brother George’s birthplace, in the wounded pride by reminding him that he Byear following his birth and brought up at too “was much disappointed at not perceiv- Ferry Farm, the family farm near Freder- ing your name in the list of major-generals, icksburg, Virginia. She married Fielding and most sincerely wish that the neglect Lewis, Sr., in 1750, and they settled on the may not induce you to abandon the serv- outskirts of Fredericksburg, where they ice. Let me beseech you to reflect that the erected a handsome mansion, later known as © Grizzard Jr, Frank E., Mar 26, 2003, George Washington : A Biographical Companion ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara , ISBN: 9781576075586 Lewis, Betty Washington 191 Kenmore. Washington became good friends of breast cancer, the responsibility for meet- and a business associate of his brother-in-law, ing the doctors, procuring medicine, and and he frequently stayed at his sister’s home generally looking after her welfare fell to when visiting Fredericksburg on business or Betty.When Mary finally succumbed to her traveling to and from Williamsburg. illness in August 1789, Washington was in Fielding Lewis died in 1782, leaving New York City serving as the country’s first Betty and her children in somewhat reduced president, and Betty’s own sons were absent, circumstances. Betty’s stepson John Lewis so the funeral arrangements and the settling (1747–1825), the son of her husband’s first of her estate largely fell to Betty. wife, Catherine Washington Lewis, and a Betty’s own health began to deteriorate partner in his father’s gunpowder manufac- in the 1790s, and she found it more and ture during the Revolutionary War, was to more difficult to maintain the house. In inherit, after his stepmother’s death, his fa- 1796 she went to live with her son George ther’s property in Fredericksburg and Spot- and his wife, Catherine Daingerfield Lewis sylvania County. Washington helped the (1764–1820), at Marmion in King George family with the settlement of the estate, and County, Virginia. She died the following in the coming years, he took on the respon- spring while visiting her daughter Betty sibility of seeing that Betty’s sons got a start Lewis Carter (1765–1830) and son-in-law in life.Two of the youngest boys, Robert and Charles Carter, Jr. (1765–1829), at Western Howell, he took into his presidential house- View in Culpeper County, where she had hold as clerks, similar to the way he had carried her granddaughter Nancy (b. 1790), taken their older brother George (1757– the daughter of Fielding, Jr.,“for the advan- 1821) into his military family at the begin- tage of her education.” The “melancholy ning of the Revolutionary War.Another son, occasion” of Betty’s death, wrote Washing- Lawrence, whose first wife, Susannah Ed- ton,“filled me with inexpressable concern.” mundson, died in childbirth in 1790 after a No doubt it gave him pause, for the passing year of marriage, was hired in the 1790s to of “my only sister” left only him and his al- help manage his uncle’s property. Lawrence coholic brother Charles of all his siblings. married Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Nelly Custis, in 1799. Related entries: Lewis, Fielding, Sr.; Lewis, In turn, Washington sought Betty’s assis- Howell; Lewis, Lawrence; Lewis, Robert tance in raising the child of another sibling, Suggestions for further reading: his niece, Harriot Washington (1776–1822),a “To Betty Lewis,”15 March 1789 (Pres. Ser., vol. 1). daughter of Samuel Washington and his “From Betty Lewis,”24 July 1789 (Pres. Ser., vol. 3). fourth wife,Anne Steptoe Allerton Washing- “From Burgess Ball,”25 August 1789 (Pres. Ser., vol. 3). ton (1739–1777), who became largely de- “From Betty Lewis,”18 May 1790 (Pres. Ser., pendent on her uncle George after Samuel’s vol. 5). death in 1781 and who, after living several “From Betty Lewis,”16 September 1790 (Pres. years at Mount Vernon, was sent to live with Ser., vol. 6). Felder, Paula S. 1998. Fielding Lewis and the Betty, where she remained for several years Washington Family. Fredericksburg,VA. until her marriage to Andrew Parks in July 1796. Betty also increasingly took on the responsibility of caring for her aging mother, who had moved from Ferry Farm in early Lewis, Eleanor Parke Custis 1772 to a small house on Charles Street in (“Nelly”; 1779–1852) the center of Fredericksburg, about 300 yards from her own home.As Mary Ball Washing- elly Custis’s close ties with her ton’s life slowly ebbed away from the ravages grandfather began almost at the