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Start Over Collection George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966

George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966 .75 Cubic Feet 2 boxes; 1 legal document box and 1 half-size legal document box.

Lewis, George Washington, 1804-1879

The George Washington Lewis papers consists chiefly of correspondence to and from George Washington Lewis and between other family members, but also includes a few photographs of the Lewis family and the homes of "Claymont", "Shellfield" and "Marmion"; a plat of "Claymont"; newsclippings; notes on Lewis family history and genealogy; and a few financial and legal documents.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

George Washington Lewis to his daughter, Alice Maria Lewis Wallace, 1875/1877 1 folder(s) Box 1, Folder 30

These letters include a warning against homesickness while away at Mrs. McGuire's Boarding School, their closeness to her through letters and travel, and news of their community and friends (October 15, 1875); gives permission for her to come home at Christmas if Etta comes home as well (December 9, 1875); a discussion about her mistakes in letter writing and family news (March 28, 1876); sends money to pay for her washing while at school and expects her uncle Henry from Baltimore to visit (December 4, 1876); his uneasiness over her health and disparaging remarks about some Negroes who supposedly stole a large amount of bacon from his meat house (January 26, 1877); sends her money to pay for his subscription to a paper and hopes to see her at Easter (February 9, 1877); and sends rules for speaking and writing, several books for her studies and family news (October 11, 1877).

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966
  3. Correspondence

George Washington Lewis to his daughter, Louisa Lewis, 4 letters, 1843/1863 1 folder(s) Box 1, Folder 33

His first letter speaks of his plans to educate Louisa as well as her brothers (January 22, 1843); Lewis complains about the lack of letters from Louisa while he has been in Berkeley Springs and talks about the loss of both his wife Jane and son Sam during the summer, his sorrow, and his poor health (September 3, 1849); Lewis has returned to Washington from Bath Springs and gives an account of his travels and of the family around Washington (September 6, 1849); Lewis describes his visit to his son Tom, in his camp at Petersburg, Virginia,where he found his tent to be insufficient for winter. Lewis discusses his hope for Tom's transfer to Richmond, and his introduction of Tom to Senator Collier from Petersburg. Lewis is thankful they have heard from Byrd and that he is well, since the cavalry has undergone the heaviest fighting so far. He mentions the deaths of St. Tomas Tayloe and Captain Newton, shares all the news about General Lee's front that he knows, says that he doesn't expect a decisive campaign in northern Virginia this fall and fears the loss of Tennessee, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad and the South's saltworks. Also writes that the various quarrels between the Confederate generals could be disastrous and fears the rapid depreciation of Confederate money (October 20, 1863).

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966
  3. Correspondence

George Washington Lewis to his grandmother, Sarah A. ("Sally") Miller, Albany, Westmoreland County, Virginia, 3 letters, 1818/1835 1 folder(s) Box 1, Folder 36

Writes from "Clifton Hill," Morganfield, Kentucky, as a young boy of family news (March 20, 1818); from White Sulphur Springs (January 28, 1822) and from "Claymont" as a grown man writing of the safe arrival of his Aunt Harriet (October 29, 1835).

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966
  3. Correspondence

George Washington Lewis to his wife, Jane Brockenbrough Lewis, 1843 1 folder(s) Box 1, Folder 32

In this incomplete letter, Lewis asks whether the enslaved man William arrived home safely with the items he sent from Fredericksburg. He then reflects upon the distress of the family he left behind due to the long illness and sudden death of Betty Washington Lewis Ashton? (1816-1843) and the poor helpless infants she left behind. Lewis urges Jane to not forget to renew the supply of provisions to the enslaved people at home and to send the enslaved man William to "Claymont" for a cart to bring the enslaved woman Aggy home. Lewis plans to hire her out when he comes home and asks if Fielding will hire her out for him before then if he can.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966
  3. Correspondence

George Washington Lewis to his wife, Lucy Anne Robb Lewis, 5 letters, 1857/1873 1 folder(s) Box 1, Folder 34

Lewis writes to Lucy while she is away visiting her mother and sister Eliza, mentions neighborhood news and refers to two enslaved servants, Brooks who is repairing the kitchen and Margaret who he has had difficulties hiring out (December 31, 1857); writing from the Richmond Senate chamber, Lewis tells of unfavorable news for the Confederacy, mentions the capture of Cumberland Gap, the burning of Bristol, the presence of seven regiments of cavalry, which were cutting off General Jones, forcing Lee to fall back to Richmond and leaving most of Virginia undefended. Lewis states that he may not be able to get home for a while and shares that the Legislature was busy drafting measures for defending the state, calling upon all men 45-60 to be enlisted, including physicians. He tells Lucy to plan on the safest place to stay should the enemy forces overrun the state (September 21, 1863).

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. George Washington Lewis papers, 1805/1966
  3. Correspondence

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