Hamlin Freeman Lewis

b. 5 June 1816, d. 30 November 1852
  • Hamlin Freeman Lewis was born on 5 June 1816 in Hancock County, Georgia.
  • He married Mary Martin Elmore, daughter of John Archer Elmore and Mary Ann Martin, on 21 January 1840 in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, with Peyton Bibb officiating. Hamlin's brother Dixon married Mary's sister Susan.
  • Hamlin Freeman Lewis and Mary Martin Elmore appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Lowndes County, Alabama. Other members of the household included William Edward Lewis, Lucy Hamlin Lewis and Mary Dixon Hall. Also in the household was (female) Sidney Lampkin (age 25), probably sister of HFL's sister Mary's husband; Frank (age 14) and Stephen (age 11) Lewis, and Elizabeth Reed (age 13), whose origins are not yet known.
  • On Saturday, 26 June 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Came to see us this evening Mr Hamlin Lewis,  Maxey Lewis, Doctor J.E. Scott, Mr George Robinson & Mr Sellers."
  • He was a planter, according to the 1850 census.
  • On Saturday, 26 June 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Came to see us this evening Mr Hamlin Lewis, Macksey Lewis, Doctor J.E. Scott, Mr George Robinson & Mr Sellers."
  • By deed dated 5 July 1852 in Walker County, Texas, Willis Breazeal Wood sold to Hamlin Freeman Lewis an 892-acre tract of land for the sum of $4,460, to be divided into three equal installments, the first of which ($1,486-2/3) was paid on 12 January 1853, the second and third due on the first day of January 1854 and 1855.
         As set forth by Willis B. Wood in a deed dated 23 February 1854, acknowledging the death of Hamlin Lewis, payment schedule was revised making the as yet unpaid second payment due at the time of the third payment, 1 January 1855, from the Estate of Hamlin Freeman Lewis, represented by his widow Mary M. Lewis. [Some additional language at the end of the deed referring to other individuals and financial aspects render the details of the transaction unclear.] Witnessed by S. B. Mayfield and S. Tarpley, notary public Charles B. Stewart, recorded 22 February 1855.
  • On Monday, 5 July 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Confirmed to day a Sale to Hamlin F.Lewis & Robert Scott by Doctor J. E. Scott of Harris & Wood Tract of Land for Willis B. Wood, 1,352 Acres at $5 per Acre, 1/3 this January & the balance at one & two years with interest."
  • On Wednesday, 14 July 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr. Hamlin F. Lewis, Maxey Lewis, Judge H. Elmore, Dr. George Robinson, Mr. Sellers, and Tom Snow left for Alabama on the Stage."
  • Hamlin Freeman Lewis died on 30 November 1852 at age 36 in Angelina County, Texas.
  • He was interred at Waverly Cemetery, Waverly, Walker (later San Jacinto) County, Texas, a reinterrment.
  • The following appeared on 30 December 1852 in The Democrat (Huntsville, Alabama); FROM TEXAS: -- By the steamship Perseverance, Capt. Forbes, we have our Texas exchanges. Galveston dates are to the 10th instant.
         Mr. Dean, of Galveston, has received information of the arrival in Polk County, of some families from Alabama who have been severely attacked with cholera. The heads of the families are Hamiln F. Lewis, brother of Dixon H. Lewis; Robert Scott, brother-in-law [sic] of Hamlin H. Lewis; John E. Scott, nephew of Robert Scott, and Mr. Snow, all from Lowndes county, Alabama, together with the negroes of the widow of Dixon H. Lewis - the negroes in all numbering some 300 or 400. A letter to Mr. Dean, dated Cold Springs, December 2nd, says: "One of the Alabama company, Mr. Snow has died of cholera, together with eight or ten of his negroes." Mr. Dean was also informed, from other sources, that Mr. Hamiln H. Lewis, Mr. Robert Scott, and Mr. John E. Scott have also died of the same disease, together with some 40 or 50 negroes, belonging to Mr. Hamlin H. Lewis, Mrs. Dixon H. Lewis and Mr. Scott.
  • By deed dated 23 February 1854 in Walker County, Texas, Willis Breazeal Wood sold to the Estate of Hamlin Freeman Lewis represented by his widow Mary M. Lewis, a 460-acre tract of land, part of the Donation Claim James F. Winters purchased from Thomas Carothers, for the sum of $2,300. Witnessed by S. B. Mayfield and S. Tarpley, notary public Charles B. Stewart, recorded 20 February 1855.
  • The following appeared on 22 February 1916 in The Houston Post: (New Waverly, February 21) Mrs. Mary Martin Elmore Scott, who is said to be the only real Daughter of the American Revolution in Texas, died last night at 8:15 p. m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joe R. Hill, here at the age of 92. Mrs. Mary Martin Elmore Scott was born at her father's estate in Huntingdon, Autauga county, Alabama, on November 23, 1823. This county was afterwards named Elmore county in honor of her father, John Archer Elmore.
         Her father, John Archer Elmore, enlisted at the age of 16 as a private and served as captain in the army of Virginia and took part in the battle of the cow Pens, and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He also served his country n the war of 1812 as brigadier general of State troops in alabama.
         Her maternal grandfather was captain of a cavalry in the continental army of George Washington and served in Carolina.
         Mrs. Scott moved to Texas in 1856 and was one of the pioneer settlers of Old Waverly, Texas, a station eight miles east of New Waverly, Texas.
         Mrs. Scott's first husband was Hamlin Freeman Lewis, and was a brother of Dixon H. Lewis, who was United States senator of Alabama for 19 years. Hamlin F. Lewis died when 36 years of age in Angelina county, near Lufkin, in 1852, while he was bringing his slaves from Alabama to a place he had bought near this place.
         Mrs. Scott last married Dr. James E. Scott, who was a Methodist minister and a prominent physician of the scetion. Dr. Scott died in 1893 and was buried at Willis. Mrs. Scott is survived by the following children by her first husband, Mr. Lewis: Mrs. J. M. White of Simonton, Texas; Mrs. Annie Jordan of Long Beach, Cal; and Mrs. Elmore Hill of New Waverly, Texas. She is survived by Mrs. Joe R. Hill, daughter of Dr. Scott, besides numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
         Mrs. Scott will be buried Tuesday afternoon at Willis, Texas.
  • Last Edited: 20 Mar 2014

Family: Mary Martin Elmore b. 23 November 1823, d. 16 February 1916