Betty Washington Lewis

Elizabeth "Betty" Washington Lewis (June 20, 1733 – March 31, 1797) was an American colonist. She is considered a "founding mother" of America.[1] She was the younger sister of George Washington and the only sister to live to adulthood. She was born into the Washington family as the first daughter of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington.

Elizabeth "Betty" Washington Lewis
Born	(1733-06-20)June 20, 1733 Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginia
Died	March 31, 1797(1797-03-31) (aged 63) Culpeper, Virginia, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Fielding Lewis
Children	11

She was born in Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginia, and married Fielding Lewis in 1750. Their children included Lawrence Lewis, who married Eleanor Parke Custis, a granddaughter of Martha Washington, and Robert Lewis. They built a house in Fredericksburg, Kenmore House, in 1770, and owned The Lewis Store until 1776. In later life, she stayed close with her mother. She died in 1797 while visiting her daughter, Betty Lewis Carter, at the Western View Plantation in Culpeper, Virginia, and is buried there.

She and her husband are commemorated with street names in the nearby Ferry Farm subdivision (Fielding Circle and Betty Lewis Drive).

Marriage and family

Fielding Lewis married Catharine Washington on October 18, 1746. She was his second cousin, the daughter of John Washington (a first cousin to George Washington) and Catharine Whiting. They had three children before Catharine died on February 19, 1750.

A few months later, on May 7, 1750, Lewis married Betty Washington (1733-1797), the sister of George Washington and another second cousin. She was 17 years old. They had 11 children together. Betty outlived Lewis by 16 years, dying in 1797.

• Fielding Lewis, II (1751 – 1803); married Anne Alexander, had issue. Married Nancy Alexander, had issue.
• Augustine Lewis (January 22, 1752 – 1756); died as a child.
• Warner Lewis (June 24, 1755 – 1756); died in infancy.
• George Washington Lewis (March 14, 1757 – November 15, 1831); married Catherine Daingerfield, had issue (grandparents of Princess Catherine Murat).
• Mary Lewis (April 22, 1759 – December 25, 1759); died in infancy.
• Charles Lewis (October 3, 1760 – 1793)
• Samuel Lewis (May 14, 1762 – December 31, 1810)
• Elizabeth Lewis (February 23, 1765 – August 9, 1830); married distant cousin Charles Carter, had issue.
• Lawrence Lewis (March 4, 1767 – November 20, 1839); married half-cousin Eleanor Parke Custis, George Washington's step-granddaughter, had issue.
• Robert Lewis (June 25, 1769 – January 17, 1829); married cousin Judith Carter Browne, had issue.
• Howell Lewis, Sr. (December 12, 1771 – December 26, 1822); married Ellen Hackley Pollard, had issue, Henry Howell Lewis.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Betty Washington Lewis

16. Lawrence Washington 8. John Washington 17. Amphyllis Twigden 4. Lawrence Washington 18. Nathaniel Pope 9. Anne Pope 19. Lucy (Luce) Fox 2. Augustine Washington 20. Augustine Warner 10. Augustine Warner Jr. 21. Mary Towneley 5. Mildred Warner 22. George Reade 11. Mildred Read 23. Elizabeth Martian (Martiau) 1. Betty Washington Lewis 24. William Ball 12. William Ball 25. Dorothy Tuttle 6. Joseph Ball 26. Thomas Atherold 13. Hannah Atherold 27. Mary Harvey 3. Mary Ball 28. Peter Montague 14. Peter Montague 29. Cicely Matthews 7. Mary Montague 30. Meindert Doodes 15. Mary Doodes 31. Mary Garrett (or Geret)

References

1. Harry Clinton Green and Mary Wolcott Green, The Pioneer Mothers of America, pages 72 through 78 (1912: G.P. Putnam's sons), found at Google books. Accessed February 19, 2008.

External links

• Pamela Gould, George W., sister, have birthday tea, The Free Lance-Star, February 18, 2008, found at Fredericksburg.com news site. Accessed February 19, 2008.