Person Page - 269

     Governor Sir John Leverett. Governor of Massachusetts 1673-79.³ He was born in 1616 in Boston, England.² He was the son of Thomas Leverett and Anne Fitche.² Governor Sir John Leverett was baptised on 7 July 1616 at Boston, Lincolnshire. Leverett migrated to Massachusetts, with his parents, in 1633 on the Griffin. He engaged in foreign trade and had a distinguished military and public career on both sides of the Atlantic. He joined the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company in 1639 and continued as a member of it for 32 years. He became a freeman of Boston in 1640. Four years later he went to England, where he received a command in the Parliamentary army and gained distinction in the war. He returned to Boston, Mass., by 1648. In 1651 he was elected to the General Court and became one of the selectmen of the town of Boston. By 1653-54 the apprehensions felt in Massachusetts respecting Dutch, Indian, and French neighbours had resulted in plans for an expedition against the Dutch in Manhattan. Cromwell sent out three or four ships, and the General Court of Massachusetts took steps to enlist 500 volunteers, to be commanded by Major Robert Sedgwick and his son-in-law Capt. John Leverett. Before the expedition was ready, peace was signed with the Dutch, and it was decided to turn it against the French in Acadia. Sedgwick captured the forts at Saint John, Port-Royal (now Annapolis Royal, N.S.), and Penobscot, the last capitulating on 2 Sept. 1654; and designated Leverett as commander of these forts. Leverett was not with Sedgwick's expedition, as we know from his letter dated at Boston on 8 Sept. 1654 (Rawlinson MSS A18, f.58).

Although the documentary evidence is inconclusive, it is to be presumed that Leverett went to Acadia, for he was addressed by Cromwell in a letter of 3 April 1655 as "Commander of the Forts lately taken from the French" and was urged to use "your utmost care and circumspection, as well to defend and keep the forts above said." He continued to be regarded as commander until the forts were delivered up to Col. Thomas Temple on 1 May 1657, although Leverett had been appointed a colonial agent in England on 13 Nov. 1655. Several of Leverett's petitions for compensation for his expenses as commander in Acadia were among the many faces the Council of State during these troubled years and after the Restoration Leverett was still petitioning for his losses.

On his return to Massachusetts, Leverett was again elected to the General Court for 1663-65. He was major-general of all Massachusetts forces from 1663 to 1673. From 1665 to 1670 he was a member of the council and from 1671 to 1673 he was deputy governor of Massachusetts. He was elected governor of that colony in 1673 and was re-elected annually until his death.³ He firstly married Hannah Hudson, daughter of Ralph Hudson and Mary Thwing, on 18 June 1639? At Boston.^1,4 Governor Sir John Leverett married secondly Sarah Sedgwick, daughter of Robert Sedgwick, in 1647.² Governor Sir John Leverett died on 16 March 1678/79 in Boston, Massachusetts.⁵

     Hon. John Leverett. President of Harvard.³ He was born on 25 August 1662 in Boston, Massachusetts.² He was the son of Hudson Leverett and Sarah Peyton.² John Leverett was prepared for college at the Boston Latin school and was graduated at Harvard, A. B. 1680, A.M. 1683, S.T.B. 1692. He was a tutor in Harvard, 1685-97, and a fellow of Harvard, 1685-1700. He preached occasionally for several years, but abandoned the ministry for law, and practised in Boston, Mass. He represented Cambridge in the Massachusetts legislature, 1698-1701; was speaker of the house of representatives in 1700; a member of the governor's council, 1701; judge of the superior court in September, 1702, and judge of the probate court by appointment from Governor Dudley, 1702-07. He was one of the commissioners from Massachusetts to visit and strengthen the alliance with the Five Nations Indians, 1704, and a commissioner to superintend and direct the army returned from an unsuccessful expedition against Port Royal, N.S., 1707. He served as president of Harvard College from Jan. 14, 1708, until his death in 1724. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of London, March 11, 1713.² Hon. John Leverett married Margaret Rogers, daughter of Rev. Dr. John Rogers and Elizabeth Denison, on 25 November 1697.^1,2 Hon. John Leverett married secondly Sarah Crisp, daughter of Richard Crisp, in 1722?² Hon. John Leverett died on 3 May 1724 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 61.²

     Knight Leverett was the son of Thomas Leverett.¹ Knight Leverett married Abigail Butolph, daughter of Nicholas Butolph and Mary (Unknown), in 1723.¹

     Martha Higginson Leverett was the daughter of John Leverett and Elizabeth Salisbury. Martha Higginson Leverett married William Coombs Thompson, son of Thomas W. Thompson, on 13 October 1828.

     Mary Leverett was born on 29 October 1701.¹ She was the daughter of Hon. John Leverett and Margaret Rogers.¹ Mary Leverett married John Denison, son of Rev. John Denison and Elizabeth Saltonstall, on 9 April 1719.¹ Mary Leverett died on 27 June 1756 in Ipswich at the age of 54.¹

     Mary Leverett was born on 12 February 1655.² She was the daughter of Governor Sir John Leverett and Sarah Sedgwick.^2,3 Mary Leverett married firstly Paul Dudley, son of Govenor Thomas Dudley and Catherine Deighton, circa 1676 at Cambridge.^1,2,4 Mary Leverett married secondly Colonel Penn Townsend after 1681.² Mary Leverett was buried on 5 July 1699.²

     Sarah Leverett was born on 15 June 1673 in Boston.² She was the daughter of Governor Sir John Leverett and Sarah Sedgwick.^1,2 Sarah Leverett married Nathaniel Byfield, son of Richard Byfield, in 1718.¹ Sarah Leverett died in 1730.¹

     Sarah Leverett was the daughter of Hon. John Leverett and Margaret Rogers.² Sarah Leverett married Rev. Edward Wigglesworth, son of Rev. Michael Wigglesworth and Sybil Sparhawk, on 15 June 1726.¹ Sarah Leverett died on 9 November 1727 s.p.²

     Thomas Leverett was born circa 1585 in England.¹ He married Anne Fitche on 29 October 1610 in Boston, Lincolnshire.^2,3 Thomas Leverett emigrated in 1633 from Boston, Lincolnshire; where he had been an alderman. He died on 3 April 1650 in Boston, Massachusetts.¹

     Thomas Leverett was the son of Hudson Leverett and Sarah Peyton.¹ Thomas Leverett. A surgeon.¹ He married Rebecca Windsor, daughter of Joshua Windsor and Sarah (Unknown), in 1701.¹

     William Leveson was the son of (unknown) Luson and Margaret Harman.¹ William Leveson died in 1582.¹

     Alice Lewis was the daughter of David Lewis of Bulcot.¹ Alice Lewis married Richard Puleston, son of Sir Richard Puleston and Ermin Hanmer.¹

     Alice Lewis married as his second wife, John Puleston of Hafod y Wern & Bersham, son of John Puleston of Bersham and Alswn (Alice) verch Howel ap Ifan.¹

     Betsey Lewis married secondly Henry Gallison, son of Col. John Gallison and Eunice Bourne, on 27 April 1806 there were three children of this marriage.¹ Betsey Lewis died in 1852.¹

     Francis Lewis. A signer of the Declaration of Independence. He married Elizabeth Annesley.¹

     Major George Lewis married Mary Davis on 17 May 1793.

     Georgetta Lewis was the daughter of Emma M.W. Dana.¹

     Hugh Lewis was the son of William Lewis of Presaddfed and Margaret Puleston.¹

     Lothrop Lewis was the son of Major George Lewis and Mary Davis.¹ Lothrop Lewis married Tabitha Longfellow, daughter of Hon. Stephen Longfellow and Patience Young, on 17 August 1793.¹

     Margaret Lewis was born in 1780.¹ She was the daughter of Maj. Gen. Morgan Lewis and Gertrude Livingston.¹ Margaret Lewis married Judge Maturin Livingston, son of Robert James Livingston and Susanna Smith.² Margaret Lewis died on 28 September 1860.²

     Mary Lewis was the daughter of William Lewis of Presaddfed and Margaret Puleston.^1,2 Mary Lewis married William Coytemore as his second wife, son of William Coytemore of Llanllechid and Ellen Puleston.¹

     Maj. Gen. Morgan Lewis was born on 16 October 1754.¹ He was the son of Francis Lewis and Elizabeth Annesley.² He attended the public school at Elizabethtown, N.J., and graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1773, A.M., 1776. His intention was to devote himself to the ministry, but yielding to his father's wishes he studied law.

In 1774 he joined the Continental army as a volunteer; was subsequently chosen captain of a regiment of New York militia; but upon the organization of the 2nd New York militia regiment he was commissioned major. He was appointed chief-of-staff to Gen. Horatio Gates, with the rank of colonel, and accompanied him into Canada, and soon after Congress appointed him quartermaster-general of the Northern Army. He was prominent throughout the campaign that ended with the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, and in 1775 he planned and executed the night attack on Stone Arabia, and was in command at the battle of Crown Point, where he was accompanied by Governor Clinton.

At the close of the war Colonel Lewis returned to New York, where he was admitted to the bar and practised in New York city. He was elected a member of the assembly; became one of the judges of the court of common pleas; was appointed attorney-general of the state in 1791; judge of the supreme court in 1792; chief justice in 1793; and was governor of the state, 1804-07. In 1806 he was defeated for re-election by Daniel D. Tompkins and retired to his estate at Staatsburg, Duchess County, N.Y., where he devoted much of his time to agriculture. Having given up the practice of law, Lewis established a cloth factory and for several years devoted himself to manufacturing. The failure of a mercantile house to which his goods were assigned caused him to discontinue the business. In 1810 he was elected to the state senate, and he declined the position of secretary of war in President Madison's cabinet in 1812, but accepted the appointment of quartermaster-general of the armies of the United States. He was promoted major-general in March, 1813, and in April repaired to the Niagara frontier. He commanded at the capture of Fort George, and also at Sacket Harbor and French Creek. In the summer of 1814 he was in command at New York. He procured the release of the American prisoners in Canada, advancing from his private fortune the money for its accomplishment, and also rewarding his own tenants who had served in or sent sons to the war, by allowing them free rent for the time they served in the army. He was a Free-mason and was elected Grand Master in 1831. He was president of the New York Historical Society, vice-president-general of the Society of the Cincinnati, 1829-39, and president-general, 1839-44; president of the council of the University of the City of New York, 1831-34, and a trustee of Columbia College, 1784-1804.² Maj. Gen. Morgan Lewis married Gertrude Livingston, daughter of Judge Robert Robert Livingston and Margaret Beekman, on 11 May 1779.³ Maj. Gen. Morgan Lewis died on 7 April 1844 at the age of 89.^1,2

     Ralph Lewis was the son of Emma M.W. Dana.¹

     Susanna Lewis was born say 25 March 1761. She married Gilbert James Livingston, son of James Livingston and Judith Newcomb, on 28 February 1779.¹ Susanna Lewis died on 27 July 1822 in New York.

     William Lewis of Presaddfed married Margaret Puleston, daughter of Sir John Puleston of Bersham.^2,3 William Lewis of Presaddfed was born in 1526.²

     William Ralph Lewis married Lucy Chaworth-Musters Durnford, daughter of Alexander Tilloch Galt Durnford and Marjorie Chaworth-Musters Currie.¹ William Ralph Lewis died before 2009.¹

     Ester Libby married secondly Rev. Thomas Lancaster, son of Thomas Lancaster and Dorothy Northend, on 11 July 1816.¹

     Annatje Lievens married Capt. Goosen Gerritse Van Schaick.