Charles Lewis of North Garden was the third son of Robert Lewis Of "Belvoir" and Jane Meriwether, daughter of Nicholas Meriwether II and Elizabeth Crawford. Charles married his first cousin Mary Lewis who was the daughter of Charles Lewis of Buckeyeland and Mary Randolph.
One of the first to offer his services at the outbreak of the Revolution, he was Captain of the First Company of Volunteers raised in Albemarle; Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Volunteer Regiment formed in Albemarle and adjoining Counties; and afterward, Colonel of the 14th Virginia Regiment.
He commanded the Albemarle Volunteer Company of Minutemen that marched to Williamsburg to demand restitution from Lord Dunmore in 1775. His rank rose to Colonel and he led a regiment that served in North Carolina and the Potomac area of Virginia. In the fall of 1776 he served in the campaign that broke the power of the Cherokee Indians. He was given command of the 14th Virginia Regiment, which was part of the Continental line. In March of 1778 he resigned command of the 14th Virginia Regiment and returned to Albemarle County. That December he was appointed to command a regiment assigned to guard the British and German prisoners taken at Saratoga. They were to be quartered at the Barracks outside of Charlottesville. He died shortly after the prisoners arrived.
Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution by John H. Gwathmey, Genealogical Pub. Co. Baltimore, MD 1979.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the following tribute:
"Charles Lewis was one of the early patriots who stepped forward in the commencement of the Revolution and commanded one of the Regiments first raised in Virginia and placed on continental establishment. Happily situated at home with a wife and young family, and a fortune placing him at ease, he left all to aid in the Liberation of his country from foreign usurpation then first unmasking their ultimate end and aim. His good sense, integrity, energy, enterprise and remarkable bodily powers marked him an officer of great promise; but he unfortunately died early in the Revolution."
Lewises, Meriwethers and their kin by Sarah Anderson, Genealogical Pub. Co. Baltimore, MD 1938.
One of the first to offer his services at the outbreak of the Revolution, he was Captain of the First Company of Volunteers raised in Albemarle; Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Volunteer Regiment formed in Albemarle and adjoining Counties; and afterward, Colonel of the 14th Virginia Regiment.
He commanded the Albemarle Volunteer Company of Minutemen that marched to Williamsburg to demand restitution from Lord Dunmore in 1775. His rank rose to Colonel and he led a regiment that served in North Carolina and the Potomac area of Virginia. In the fall of 1776 he served in the campaign that broke the power of the Cherokee Indians. He was given command of the 14th Virginia Regiment, which was part of the Continental line. In March of 1778 he resigned command of the 14th Virginia Regiment and returned to Albemarle County. That December he was appointed to command a regiment assigned to guard the British and German prisoners taken at Saratoga. They were to be quartered at the Barracks outside of Charlottesville. He died shortly after the prisoners arrived.
Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution by John H. Gwathmey, Genealogical Pub. Co. Baltimore, MD 1979.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the following tribute:
"Charles Lewis was one of the early patriots who stepped forward in the commencement of the Revolution and commanded one of the Regiments first raised in Virginia and placed on continental establishment. Happily situated at home with a wife and young family, and a fortune placing him at ease, he left all to aid in the Liberation of his country from foreign usurpation then first unmasking their ultimate end and aim. His good sense, integrity, energy, enterprise and remarkable bodily powers marked him an officer of great promise; but he unfortunately died early in the Revolution."
Lewises, Meriwethers and their kin by Sarah Anderson, Genealogical Pub. Co. Baltimore, MD 1938.