The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: VA/NC
Qualifying Service: Captain
Author: Fred D. Learned
Col. Joel Lewis was b. 28 Aug 1760 Albemarle County, VA; died 22 Feb 1816 Nashville, TN and is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Nashville, TN. He was the son of William Terrell Lewis, Sr. of Albemarle, VA, who had re-settled his family in Old Surry County, NC “within sight of Pilot Mountain” just prior to the Revolution, who also died in Nashville, TN c 1802. Each of his father William’s four sons served as officers in the Revolution, they are: Major Micajah b. 1755 (killed 1781); Major Wm. Terrell, Jr. b. 1757; Col. Joel b. 1760; & Major James Martin b. 1762.
At the beginning of the American Revolution Joel in 1776 was an Ensign in NC Continental Line. In 1777 he fought in Battles of Brandywine Creek (PA) and Germantown (PA). In 1780 he raised 22 men and was commissioned a Captain and served under Col. Joseph Winston & Jos. Williams in Surry County Militia. He led his Company in numerous battles, Colson’s Mill (NC), Hanging Rock (SC), Camden, SC and Kings Mountain, SC where he was wounded 3 times. In early 1781, his Surry County Militia Regiment was at battles of Hart’s Mill, Haw River, Dickey’s Farm and Weitzell’s Mill, after which in July 1781 he was commissioned Major of NC State Regiment and at close of war was promoted Colonel of that same regiment.
After the war on 22 nd day of March 1785 he married Miriam (Myraim) Eastman in Old Surry County, NC. They removed in 1789 to Nashville, TN where he and his brother James were inn keepers. After Col. Lewis’ death his widow Miriam m. Col. Ralph Crabb March 1818.
Children of Lewis & Miriam (Eastham) Lewis include:
1) Sarah (b. 2-16- 1787/d. 12-27- 1870) m. 1 st James King; m. 2 nd 1812 Col. Thomas Claiborne 2) James Martin (b. 1788) m. Sarah (Sally) Barfield 3) John Haywood (b 1790) m. Mary Betis (Betts) 4) Eastham (b 1792), d. young 5) Martin (b. 1794), d. age 17 (c 1811) 6) Eliza Augusta (b. 1796) m. Dr. Wm. W. Lea 7) William Dixon (b. 1798) m. 1 st Sallie Sellers, m 2 nd Jane Terry 8) Hickman (b. 1801) m. Virginia Lindsay 9) William C. Claiborne (b. 1803) d. childhood 10) Rachel (b. 1805) d. childhood 11) Mary Louisa (b. c 1807) m. Ed R. Wallace 12) Anna Octavia (b. c 1809) m. William Knox 13) Capt. Joel (b. c 1811) unmarried 14) Eastham (b. c 1813) unmarried 15) Darthula (b. c 1816) m. Mr. Harrison 16) Lucy (b. c 1819) d at age 16 (c 1835) 17) David (b. c 1820) d childhood 18) Micajah (b. c 1822) d childhood
Sources:
Widow Pension Application of Joel Lewis W780 by his widow Miriam Crabb (1843) http://revwarapps.org/w780.pdf Genealogy of Lewis Family, Volume 1, pg 99-109, (1893) Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Tennessee (1974) The American Revolution in North Carolina (website) http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/revolution_patriot_troops_nc.html
Additional biography submitted 16 Jan 2017 by Frederick Arnold Weyler , TN Society, Andrew Jackson Chapt.: Three Lewis brothers, Micajah, James and Joel, from the north side of the Yadkin River within sight of Pilot Mountain were wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Two escorts were assigned to each as the patriots returned toward Quaker Meadows. They stayed south of the rain-swollen Catawba River from Quaker Meadows at Greenlee Ford. A dozen or two wounded patriots were spread among area homes. The Lewis brothers enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Mackey (probably Thomas Mackey) near Calvin in Burke County, NC where they received care from Dr. Joseph Dobson through November 1780.
The widow’s pension declaration of Joel’s wife, Miriam Eastham Lewis Crabb, may be viewed at http://revwarapps.org/w780.pdf Miriam stated that Joel dropped out of college to serve in the war. He was a student at Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University and VMI) with a few other Kings Mountain veterans.
Joel Lewis was captain of a militia district and performed jury duty (e.g. 15Aug1781) in Surry County, North Carolina. On 5/5/1783, the NC General Assembly back dated a promotion to Colonel and Commandant of the NC State Regiment as of Benjamin Williams's resignation on 11/5/1781.
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