Lt. John Chew, Sr. (1749-1838) was the son of Samuel Chew (b. 1711 Maryland, d. 1775 St. Paul Parish, GA) and Elizabeth Pratt. He was the brother of Roger Chew and Elizabeth (Chew) Weightman (Ref: Deed dated May 1818, Book "G," No. 2, Folio 319, Alexandria, Virginia). His grandfather, Joseph Chew, Jr., was born in Ann Arundel Co., MD in 1689 and died in Alexandria, VA on 05 Nov 1775. Joseph Chew, Jr. married Mary Ford on 23 Jan 1710/11 in Maryland (Ref: Maryland Genealogies, Vol. 1, pp260-61). Lt. John Chew's great grandfather was Joseph Chew, Sr. born about 1662 in Ann Arundel Co., MD and died on 11 Feb 1704/5 in Ann Arundel Co., MD. Joseph Chew (I) married Elizabeth (Hanslap) Battee (b. Abt. 1665, d. May 1716). Colonel Samuel Chew, born about 1626 in York Co., VA and died 15 Mar 1676/7 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, was the father of Joseph Chew (I). This Samuel Chew was a physician and married Ann Ayers of Nansemond Co., VA about 1658 most probably in VA. Ann (Ayers) Chew was born in 1635 in VA and died on 13 Apr 1695 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. Lt. John Chew, Sr.'s (1749-1838) 4th great grandfather, the emigre to Virginia in 1622, was John Chew (1590-1652), a Burgess and a Justice. He was born in 1590 in England and died in York Co., VA circa 1652. His wife, Sarah Gayle (Walker) Chew, was born about 1600 in England and died on 03 Apr 1651 in Virginia. Shortly after his first wife died, John Chew (1590-1652) signed a marriage contract for "Mrs. Rachaell Counstable whom I intend (by God's grace) shortly to make my wife."

NOTE: Some of the information found on the above highlighted memorials is inaccurate.

Most of Lt. John Chew, Sr.,'s early life was spent in Alexandria, VA and most of his later life was spent in Loudoun Co., VA.

John Chew initially served as a Cadet in the Virginia 6th Continental Line during the American Revolution, and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1776, and then to 1st Lieutenant in 1779. According to the records of the "Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters," he was wounded in the left arm at Camden, South Carolina on 16 Aug 1780 resulting in amputation. John Chew appears on a list of invalid pensioners who were in receipt of pensions at the Agency of Virginia from 04 Sep 1789, under the Act of June 7, 1783.

The SAR recognizes the Revolutionary War military service of Lt. John Chew, Sr. as a resident of Loudoun Co., VA. There is a report that "The Society of the Cincinnati" also recognizes his service. Interestingly, the DAR only recognizes his patriotic service described as "Paid Supply Tax, Fairfax Co., 1783 (Ref: Library of VA, 1783 Fairfax Co., Personal Property Tax, Roll #106; Hening's Statutes, Vol. XI, pp112-129.) Obviously, Lt. John Chew, Sr. served his country as a soldier, was severely wounded and later in the war (1783) served as a patriot by paying for and delivering supplies to the troops.

He married Margaret Reed (aka Reeder, Ready), prior to 1796 and together they had 11 children. The family moved to western Loudoun County about 1800, building a home called "Locust Grove" which was situated near Bluemont, Loudoun County, Virginia at the present juncture of routes 7 and 711. Locust Grove is a historic home located at Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia. The house was built in two phases, one before 1817 and another in 1837.

The 1830 US Census of Hillsboro, Loudoun Co., VA, enumerated the household of John Chew (age range 80 thru 89 years of age-his actual age 81 years). Also living in the household was a female in the age range of 60 thru 69 years of age. This would have been his wife, Margaret (Reeder) Chew, who was born 15 Jun 1762.

Lt. John Chew, Sr. is buried in the Ketoctin Church cemetery, above Round Hill in northwestern Loudoun County, VA. The grave was marked by the Ketoctin Chapter DAR in June 1977. [Reference: (amyh5_1)]

Lt. John Chew, Sr.'s will (signed John Chew, Senior) was dated 05 Aug 1834, a codicil was dated 01 Nov 1837, and the will was probated 11 Jun 1838 (Loudoun County Circuit Court, Leesburg, Virginia, Probate Book “Y” pp 221-223). His will mentions his wife, Margaret, and all of his children and their husbands. In particular, he mentions his son, John Chew, Jr., and his inheritance of $1,200 (this is about $32,700 in 2015 dollars). Proof of the fate of John Chew, Jr. (1785-1841), the son, has been the object of intense genealogical research for many years and has been solved recently. See his memorial for details. The "Jamestowne Society" has accepted the Genealogical Proof Standard submitted that proves by circumstantial evidence that Lt. John Chew, Sr. of Loudoun Co., VA was the father of the John Chew, Jr. of Greene Co., GA. Thus, all proven descendants of John Chew, Jr. of Greene Co., GA are eligible for membership in the "Jamestowne Society".

The children of John Chew, Sr. and his wife, Margaret (Reed) Chew, as named in his 1834 will were:

1) Roger Chew, b. 1797 VA, d. 1864 Loudoun Co., VA, m. Sarah Aldridge b. 1810, d. 1876

2) John Chew, Jr.-See below

3) Elizabeth Chew, b. 11 Jun 1778 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 28 Nov 1823 at Alexandria, VA, m. 06 Apr 1801 to Prestley Jacobs, b. December 1774 at Colchester, VA, d. 24 Aug 1852 at Alexandria, VA.

4) Eleanor Chew, b. 1780 Loudoun Co., VA, d. 10 Apr 1854 Winchester, VA, m. 1806 to Aburdy Gustin b. 1777 Orange Co., NY, d. July 1855 at Bath, VA.

5) Mary Chew, b. 04 Sep 1799 Loudoun Co., VA, d. 04 Nov 1868 Loudoun Co., VA, m. Balaam Osburn, b. 02 May 1792, d. 23 Aug 1864 at Loudoun Co., VA.

6) Margaret Chew-Margaret's married name was Carrington.

7) Nancy Chew

8) Henry Chew, b. 13 Feb 1791 VA, d. 25 Feb 1836 PA, m. 19 Apr 1813 Berkeley Co., VA to Amelia Gustin, b. VA, d. 23 Jan 1847.

9) William Chew

10) Richard Chew, b. VA, d. circa 1830 Loudoun Co., VA, m. 12 Nov 1818 Loudoun Co., VA to Mary B. Grady, b.1798 VA, d. 30 Jan 1841 Loudoun Co., VA. 

Sources:

1) "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5" by John Frederick Dorman, 2004, 4th Ed., Vol. I, Page 537.

2) "History of West Virginia, Old and New, Vol. II, (Chicago and New York, 1922) page 321.

3) "Chew Family" by Frank Chew Osburn, 1945, pp16-17.

4) Special Report: Preservation of Revolutionary War Veteran Gravesites in Virginia, House Document No. 42, Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, 2001 by Members of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Appendix B-1 p8, Appendix B-2 p44.