Author: James Edward Mitchell
Lewis (Jonathan) DuBois’ parents were Jonathan DuBois (1710-1746) and, Elizabeth LeFevre (1712-1749), a daughter of Andre LeFevre of Kingston, Ulster County (Co,) New York (NY). Jonathan and Elizabeth married on 25 Dec 1732 at the Dutch reformed Church of Kingston, Ulster Co, NY. Lewis DuBois’ grandfather was Louis DuBois, Jr. [(age 52, 1729) the husband of Rachel Hasbrouck] a descendant of the Huguenot family founder Louis DuBois, a member of a board of “Twelve Men”, elected annually, to represent the original 12 patentees at New Paltz, NY; see, History of New Paltz, New York, and its old families including the Huguenot pioneers and others who settled in New Paltz previous to the revolution,…to 1850”. Jonathan’s will was admitted to Probate in 1749, and gave to his eldest son, Louis J., his large Dutch Bible as a birthright; the will gave his wife Elizabeth all his estate during her widowhood, if she re-married or should die then the estate was to pass to his eldest son, Louis J. (aka Lewis Jonathan); see, Ibid, History of New Paltz, pg 318.

At age 23, Lewis DuBois married during 1756 in the Dutch Church at Kingston, NY, to Catherine Brodhead (1738-1795), a daughter of Wessel Brodhead, a native of Kingston, Ulster Co., and granddaughter of Charles Brodhead and Maryje Ten Broeck from Kingston. Lewis and Catherine had sons, Wessel (1759-1827); Jonathan (1764-1832); Charles (1767-1834); Jonas (1770-1844) and, Louis Brodhead (1774-1843), and daughters, Elizabeth (1762-1832) and, Ann (1777-1854); see, Ibid, pgs 318, 321-322.

Note to reader: An Application For Membership to join the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was approved on 6 Aug 1969 for Professor Edmund Cole Osborne, Worcester, Massachusetts (MA). Edmund Cole Osborne, age 69 cited proofs of his ancestor Colonel Lewis J. DuBois [born (ticked, checked-ink) 20 May 1733], died May “1795” married on 5 Nov 1758 (1st) Catherine Brodhead at the Dutch Church in (ticked, checked-ink) Schraalenburgh, New Jersey (NJ) and, baptized 12 Mar 1738 at Kingston, NY.

An online canvas of the Nat’l. Archives Records Administration (NARA) WDC: 1800 US Census at New Paltz, Ulster, (NY) Sheet No. 242 reflected Number of Families -9745, Name: Louis J. DuBois – 1 male, under 10 years; 1 male, between 10 and under 16; 2 males between 26 and under 45; 1 male of 45 and upward (i.e., Lewis, age 67); and, 1 female between 16 and under 26.

Lewis DuBois, Capt for Dutchess Co, in Col James Clinton’s (3rd) NY State Militia Rgt. of Levies raised between 28 Jun 1775 and 28 Sep during the Canadian Expedition at Ticonderoga; commissioned as a Maj on 25 Jun 1776 by Continental Congress during the American Campaign at Quebec, with instructions to raise the (5th) NY State Rgt., for Continental Army service. DuBois was elevated to full Colonel within a year of his commission and, he began his order to raise the (5th) NY State Rgt.; source, Ibid, pgs 325-331.

The commission of Col Lewis DuBois was dated 17 Nov 1776, while British Army was in possession of New York, NY. Still active, during the Jan. 1777 formation of the new (5th) NY Rgt., DuBois volunteered to march with the Dutchess Co, Orange and Ulster County militias to destroy Kings Bridge over the Hudson River.

In early 1777, DuBois’ newly formed (5th) Rgt., marched to Newburgh District, in preparation to defend against the 6 Oct 1777 British Army forces, led by Gen’l Sir Henry Clinton, threatening Fort Montgomery not far from West Point, NY. During this engagement Col DuBois’ (5th) was overwhelmed as they stood fighting. Taken as British prisoners, were LieutCol Jacobus Bruyn, Maj Samuel Logan, Quartermaster Nehemiah Carpenter, Capt Henry Goodwin, Lieuts Alex. McArthur, Patten Jackson, Henry Pawling, Solomon Pendleton, 2nd Lieuts Samuel Dodge, John Furman, Ebenezer Mott, Ensigns Henry Swartwout, John McClaughry, Abraham Leggett, Sgt. Henry Schoonmaker and “Missing in action” was recorded 96 Privates or not less than 1/3 of the entire strength of the (5th) Rgt, at that time. These NY militiamen did not run – they were recorded to be overwhelmed. Col Lewis DuBois was fighting hand to hand and he was bayoneted in the neck; source, History of New Paltz, New York: Fifth Rgt., Officers Listed, pgs 330-332
https://archive.org/stream/historyofnewpalt00lefe/historyofnewpalt00lefe_djvu.txt

Col Lewis DuBois resigned his commission on 29 Dec 1779; source, Ibid, pg 343.

An online search of http://forebears.io/united-states/new-york/ulster-county produced a handwritten, Will of Lewis Dubois & codicil 19 Nov 1795; Ulster Co, Surrogates Court, New York, Inferred Death Year: Abt 1795, Place: NY; however, this will was Sealed [before [Abm_(raham) Cuyler] signed and dated, “the ninth (9th) day of July Anno Domini one thousand and eight hundred and six (1806).” See: Will Books C & D, 1797-1814 and, Witnesses: Margaret Bruyn, John Bruyn and Chas. Bruyn, “Signed: Lewis J. Dubois” Source, New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999; numbered pgs 441 – 445

Lewis J. DuBois’ will was begun, “In the name of God Amen, I Lewis J. Dubois of Paughwaghtanaink in the Town of the New Paltz in the County of Ulster and the State of New York Yeoman being weak in body but of sound mind and memory helped be almighty God for the Same do make & publish this my last will & testament un manner following to with I give devise & bequeath unto my Son Wessel Dubois and assign forever all that part of my Farm whereon he resides being part of the Lot distinguished by Lot number two on the east side of the Paltz river in the division of the tract granted by letter patent to Lewis Dubois. The tract was bounded upon the line granted to Thomas Garland. Lewis assigned gifts of property with a farm, a new dwelling house and Saw mill to his son Jonas with a meadow & brook situated upon 83 acres. Other property together with improvements & appurtenances was given & devised to his son Lewis [Louis Brodhead Dubois]. Lewis bequeathed to son Charles & to his heirs an undivided right or fourth part in a lot of seventy-four acres of land lying within the tract granted by letters patent to Courtney Schoonmaker Jr., & Hendicus Dubois lying near or on the east side of Shawangunk [(Ridge) Mountains Ulster, Orange and Sullivan Counties]. Lewis directed & ordered that his Son Wessel Shall pay - & deliver unto his Sons Charles and Jonathan a sum of money for any production and use made from the farm. Additional divisions of payments were described by Lewis to be split between his Sons Wessel, Jonas & Lewis (Louis), Jonathan with money also paid & delivered unto Lewis’ two Daughters Elizabeth & Ann unto each of them the Sum of two hundred pounds [Image 489].

A Dubois Cemetery was found mapped in a small grove of trees at Latitude: 41.687871 and Longitude: -74.130978