No completely satisfactory explanation for his death has ever been found. Jane Meriwether Lewis (March 31, 1770 - March 13, 1845) The daughter of William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether Lewis, Jane was born on March 31, 1770 and died March 13, 1845. In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University), joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 he was sent as part of a detachment involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. Includes index of interrelated names at bottom of pedigree chart. Lewis then chose his friend William Clark as his second in command. The expedition was the first point of Euro-American contact for several Native American tribes; through translators and sign language, Lewis conducted rudimentary ethnographic studies of the peoples he encountered, even as he laid the groundwork for a trade economy to ensure American hegemony over its vast new interior territory. In addition to his role as naturalist, Meriwether also served to represent the new government, which had purchased the area, to the native peoples living there. The US Navy Polaris nuclear submarine USS Lewis and Clark was named for him and William Clark. Born on a plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia, he and his family moved to Georgia when he was ten but by thirteen he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. One of these was Parson Matthew Maury, an uncle of Matthew Fontaine Maury. Lewis suggested that the expedition would benefit from a co-commander and, with Jefferson's consent, offered the assignment to his friend and former commanding officer, William Clark. The Meriwether Lewis Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will host the event, called Courage UndauntedThe Final Journey., On June 4, 2009, collateral descendants of Lewis launched a Web site aimed at garnering public support for exhumation and scientific study of the explorer's remains to determineonce and for allthe cause of his death. Meriwether Lewis was born August 18, 1774 in Albemarle County, Virginia. They would get to the Pacific Ocea. Meriwether Lewis, John Ordway, George Shannon, John Shields, Peter Weiser, Peter Willard, and Joseph Whitehouse. 111 on September 16, 1808. He was the son of William Lewis, of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether, of English ancestry. Jane (M128), born abt 1705 in New Kent County, is the eighth child and fourth daughter of Nicholas Meriwether II and Elizabeth Crafford/Crawford. [3] When Jefferson began to formulate and to plan for an expedition across the continent, he chose Lewis to lead the expedition. He attempted marriage but never followed through, and started drinking excessively, which negatively affected his relationship with Jefferson. The next morning, she sent for Lewis's servants, who found him weltering in his blood but alive for several hours. Meriwether Lewis at Natchez Trace Par Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, United States, American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, co-leader of Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase., explorer, BIRTH 18 Aug 1774, Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA, DEATH 11 Oct 1809 (aged 35), Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA, BURIAL Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA Show Map. Letter Dated April 20 1803, Meriwether Lewis to Thomas Jefferson, Locust Hill, Ivy, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia, Grinder's Stand, Lewis, Tennessee, United States, Meriwether Lewis in Indian Dress (Shoshone), Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meriwether-Lewis, http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/lewisandclark/biddle/biographies_html/lewis.html, Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, Meriwether Lewis and His Son: The Claim of Joseph DeSomet Lewis and the Problem of History. He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side. It was in Georgia that he met Eric Parker, who was the first to introduce him to the idea of traveling. The death of Meriwether Lewis in the fall of 1809 has long been a subject shrouded in mystery and controversy. Lewis never married he killed himself in 1809, three years after the expedition ended so he has no known direct descendants. He later served as governor of Upper Louisiana Territory. He was also related to Robert E. Lee and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, among others. Governor Meriwether Lewis was on his way from St. Louis to Washington in September, 1809 to protest the federal government's refusal to reimburse him for expenses. Servants found Lewis badly injured from multiple gunshot wounds. This wasnt just anybody who kicked the bucket. Besides, how could an expert marksman botch his own suicide and be forced to shoot himself twice? Hundreds of people have traced their family ties to members of the Corps of Discovery, two centuries after the historic journey. 44 in Albemarle, VA, between 1796 and 1797. But due to quarreling with local political leaders, approval of trading licenses, land grant politics, Indian depredations, excessive drinking and a slow-moving mail system, it appeared that Lewis was a poor administrator who failed to keep in touch with his superiors in Washington. [9] These maladies delayed his arrival in St. Louis to take his position as Governor until a year after being named as such. The decision, backed by Department of the. In 1882, the house was sold to Mrs. Bearley, releasing the house from Lewis family descendents for the first time. Meriwether Lewis Gov. Record information. Thanks so much for sharing! The group he was with was called the Corps of Discovery. In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University), joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 was sent as part of a detachment involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. It was also in the Broad River Valley that Lewis first dealt with a native Indian group. Marks raised Meriwether and his two siblings along with his own two children with Lucy, John Hastings Marks and Mary Garland (Marks) Moore (1787-1864). Shaun proudly stood in front of his class at Candalaria Elementary School and offered a framed certificate to prove it. In April 1801, he was appointed personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Single Family Residence - Monroe, NC 3004 Meriwether Lewis Trail, Monroe, NC 28110 This lovely single-story home features 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 modern bathrooms. as much as you want to claim President George Washington as a "close family member" it is not, and never will, be proven true, no matter how many fake find a grave memorial you create, your Lewis line is not related in the slightest way to this family . Both President Jefferson and Meriwether showed support in adding William Clark to the group, the president offering Lewis and Clark both a permanent rank of Captain as part of his proposal. Lewis was born in Albermale County, Virginia on August 18, 1774, to Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether. Everyone who knows anything about Meriwether Lewis beyond that he was one half of the famous exploring duo knows that he died a violent death at the age of 35, just three years after the completion of the most successful exploration mission in American history. Explorer. Our Family Tree: Branch: Ray's Extended Family Tree : View. They said I could buy it at any store, Shaun said. His mother taught him how to gather wild herbs for medicinal purposes. However, the two men were quite different in education and temperament. [2] Their other children included Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Reuben Lewis, and Lucinda Lewis (1772-) (who died as an infant). His opportunity for the graceful exit arrived when Jefferson asked Lewis to command an expedition to find an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean, and study the land along that route. William Lewis and 3. Today, the grave site is maintained by the Natchez Trace Parkway. The murder advocates point to five conflicting testimonies as evidence that her testimony is fabricated and the suicide advocates point to her testimony as proof of suicide. He died shortly after sunrise. Purchased for $20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seaman accompanied Lewis during the expedition and afterward. Though Lewiss mother is said to have believed he was murdered, that idea didnt have much traction until the 1840s, when a commission of Tennesseans set out to honor Lewis by erecting a marker over his grave. Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer and military officer born on August 18, 1774, in Virginia. He and William Clark, born August 1, 1770, accompanied each other on a dangerous expedition. In the 1990s, descendants of the explorer petitioned the government to exhume his body again from the national monument site now covering the property of Grinder's Stand. Even at his early age he was interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion. A reenactment of Lewis' entry into Grinder's Stand was an official concluding event of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis. Meriwether Lewis Pedigree Chart | Meriwether Lewis | Ahnentafel No: 1 (4953) Master Surname Index Home > Meriwether Lewis Genealogy > Pedigree Chart Ancestry of Meriwether Lewis Lewis and Clark Expedition Look Click or tap a name to see more details including sources or famous kin. He served until 1801 achieving the rank of captain. . Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. She returned to Albemarle for good, and Locust Hill became her property after Meriwether's mysterious death in 1809. [5] On August 2, 1808, Lewis and several of his acquaintances submitted a petition to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in which they requested a dispensation to establish a lodge in St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis died on his way to Washington, DC in October, 1809. He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. They settled along the Broad River in the Goosepond Community within the Broad River Valley in Wilkes County (now Oglethorpe County). Geographic names that honor him include Lewis County, Idaho, Lewis County, Kentucky; Lewis County, Tennessee; Lewisburg, Tennessee; Lewiston, Idaho; Lewis County, Washington; the U.S. Army fort Fort Lewis, Washington, the home of the US Army 1st Corps (I Corps), and especially Lewis and Clark County, Montana, the home of the capital city, Helena. But rather than feeling alienated, he would have been busy enjoying a level of Buzz Aldrin-like celebrity. A cave, Lewis and Clark Caverns between Three Forks and Whitehall, Montana. Lewis had known president Jefferson since he was a boy, "he had grown up on a plantation in virginia a few miles from Monticello, and they had went on to make a relationship working together in the White House." They dropped the inquiry for lack of evidence or motive. She gave the property to her daughter as a wedding gift. Originally, he was to provide information on the politics of the United States Army, which had seen an influx of Federalist officers as a result of John Adams's "midnight appointments." Meriwether Lewis dies along the Natchez Trace, Tennessee On October 11, 1809, the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis dies under mysterious circumstances in the early hours of the morning after. http://rs5.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0177_0182.pdf, http://international.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/028/028_0636_0639.pdf, https://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/029/029_0175_0184.pdf. He had so much to live for, says Guice, professor emeritus of history at The University of Southern Mississippi and the editor ofBy His Own Hand? The Lewis family of Virginia is one of the most distinguished families in the State. 1 1.Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774; died October 17, 1809 in Lewis County, Tennesse.He was the son of 2. [10] He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side. He was related to George Washington by marriage: his first cousin once removed was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. He died in 1862, leaving the home to his children Charles and Mary Anderson. His wound hampered him for the rest of the journey. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. She never explained why, at the time, she didn't investigate further concerning Lewis's condition or the source of the gunshots. He was also related to Robert E. Lee and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, among others. Meriwether Lewis, (born Aug. 18, 1774, near Charlottesville, Va. [U.S.]died Oct. 11, 1809, near Nashville, Tenn., U.S.), American explorer, who with William Clark led the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the uncharted American interior to the Pacific Northwest in 1804-06. (Lay, 2002). Why was he chosen to lead the expedition? Augustine arrived in Virginia in 1628 at the . Two hundred years later, debate continues over whether the famous explorer committed suicide or was murdered. Meriwether Lewis was born on the family plantation in Virginia. It is generally reckoned as one of the most successful and significant expeditions of its kind in modern history, and Lewis has . "[12] This claim and another by a Joseph DeSmet descendant, Martin Charger, are explored in some detail on the Joseph DeSmet Lewis documents WikiTree page. Generally sharing leadership responsibilities with William Clark, although technically the leader, Lewis led the expedition safely across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific and back, with the loss of just one man, Charles Floyd, who died of apparent appendicitis. In other accounts, the dog was never there at all. Though the Corps of Discovery had traversed thousands of miles of wilderness with few casualties, Lewis and Clark did not find the Northwest Passage to the Pacific, the missions primary goal; the system of trading posts that theyd established began to fall apart before the explorers returned home. Clark descendant Peyton "Bud" Clark, Lewis collateral descendants Howell Bowen and Tom McSwain, and Stephen Ambrose's daughter Stephanie Ambrose Tubbs spoke. (Anderson, 1984) Together, they had nine children. Marshall, Fielding, Merriweather, Daingerfield, Taliaferro and others. 1. Wrong username or password. To resolve these issues, Lewis began a trip to Washington City to plead his case to the administration in person. As with any good genealogical research, if you discover a link to your own family tree, consider it a starting point for further research. This profile is managed by the Virginia Project. For one thing, with mitochondrial DNA samples hes already taken from several of Lewis female descendants, scientists can confirm that the body really is Lewiss (corpses were not uncommon on the Natchez Trace). Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Va., on Aug. 18, 1774. Garrett Lewis Minor: 14 MAR 1744 -- 8 MAY 1799: Mary Overton . President Jefferson asked him to be his private secretary; the president then appointed him commander of the Lewis and Clark expedition at the age of 30. Although he died without legitimate heirs, he does have the putative DNA model haplotype for his paternal ancestor's lineage, which was that of the Warner Hall. Fielding Lewis (July 7, 1725 - December 7, 1781) was an American merchant, member of the House of Burgesses and a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War. Clark bandaged and treated Lewis's wound, and the Corps continued the long way back to St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774-October 11, 1809) was a soldier, an explorer, and a personal secretary to Thomas Jefferson. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, to Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill (1733 November 17, 1779),[1] who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (February 4, 1752 September 8, 1837), daughter of Thomas Meriwether and wife Elizabeth Thornton, in turn daughter of Francis Thornton and wife Mary Taliaferro. Who was he? She is reported to have notable culinary and intellectual skills as well. He gave the Grinders money to maintain Lewiss grave and visited the site himself. After returning from the expedition, Lewis's life had the potential to become that of a politician and stateman, and in 1807 President Jefferson appointed him as Governor of the Louisiana Territory. Thomas Jefferson recruited Lewis as his secretary-aide that same year and he soon became involved in the planning of the Corps of Discovery expedition across the Louisana Purchase. On August 11, 1806, near the end of the expedition, Lewis was shot in the left thigh by Pierre Cruzatte, a near-blind man under his command, while both were hunting for elk. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr. (January 10, 1809 - October 28, 1881) was an architect, civil engineer, politician, and a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. On August 11, 1806, near the end of the expedition, Lewis was shot in the left thigh by Pierre Cruzatte, a near-blind man under his command, while both were hunting for elk. After he excused himself from dinner, he went to his bedroom. Due to his shy personality, Lewis never married. (Thornton was the daughter of Francis Thornton and Mary Taliaferro). It is known that he visited at least twice. Most historians agree that he committed suicide; others are convinced he was murdered. People want ownership of the story, and then they feel a part of it.. He was the son of Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill (1733 November 17, 1779), who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (February 4, 1752 September 8, 1837), daughter of Thomas Meriwether and Elizabeth Thornton. Clark was a devoted family man and a valued friend. - Meriwether Lewis was an honorable man before taking on his role as a significant explorer.-Before fame, he spent his childhood in Georgia hunting and spending most of his time outdoors. He chose Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition, who in turn solicited the help of William Clark. Lewis, who had a better education, possessed a philosophical and speculative outlook and was at home with abstract ideas. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark . He had an older sister, Jane, and later a little brother, Reuben, would be born into the family. Mrs. Grinder, the tavern-keeper's wife, claimed Lewis acted strangely the night before his death. The mission of the Corps was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade and sovereignty over the natives near the Missouri River, and claim the Pacific Northwest and Oregon territory for the United States before European nations. By some accounts, Lewis arrived at the inn with servants; by others, he arrived alone. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, to Captain William Lewis (1712 1781) who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (1751 1837). His older brother Nicholas Lewis became his guardian. After crossing the Rocky Mountains, the expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in the area of present-day Oregon (which lay beyond the nation's new boundaries) in November 1805. The land is now the Meriwether Lewis State Park in Tennessee. She said that during dinner Lewis stood and paced about the room talking to himself in the way one would speak to a lawyer. For many years, Lewis' legacy was overlooked, inaccurately assessed, and even tarnished by his alleged suicide. President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. It was like coming back from the moon.. Here his heavy drinking persisted.[6]. The District of Columbia and governors of twenty states sent flags flown over state capital buildings to be carried to Lewis' grave by residents of the states associated with the Lewis and Clark Trail. Even at his early age he was interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion. The original house burned down but it was rebuilt in the same style as the original. Lewis became intimately involved in planning the expedition and was sent by Jefferson to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for additional instruction in cartography and other skills for making scientific observations. Surprisingly, he may also have felt like something of a failure. Examples of plants Lewis discovered on the expedition were also brought from the Trail states and laid on his grave to honor him. It is connected by marriage with many of the best-known names, such as Washington. These two Captains shared a common progenitor and were second cousins once removed. Son of Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Lewis Guice believes that bandits roaming the notoriously dangerous Natchez Trace killed Lewis. A valuable member of the expedition party, his working dog attributes were essential to daily life along the route. He was the second child and first son of William Lewis (abt.1738-1779) and Lucy Meriwether (1752-1837). Record information. According to K. Edward Lay, a professor in the Architecture School at the University of Virginia, the present-day structure was probably built around 1900, perhaps incorporating a stone chimney from 1825. He died, apparently of bullet wounds to the head and abdomen, shortly before sunrise the next day. Complex and often contradictory, the incarnations of Meriwether Lewis provide insight into the man behind the titles. Categories: This Day In History October 11 | This Day In History August 18 | Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Tennessee | Explorers | Whiskey Rebellion | American Heroes | Missouri Territory Governors | Namesakes US Counties | Example Profiles of the Week | Lewis and Clark Expedition | Albemarle County, Virginia | Virginia, Notables | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. Sucked into the tempest, their canoes pitched and rolled in the thrashing water and thumped over jagged rocks, but the men kept paddling. Robert Lewis and 5 . 10664People12Records12Sources Meriwether Lewisfound in 40 treesView all Meriwether Lewisfrom tree Railey and Allied Families Record information. Nicholas Lewis, who inherited "The Farm" from his grandfather Nicholas Meriwether, married Lucy's first cousin, Mary Walker, daughter of Dr. Thomas Walker and Lucy's aunt, Mildred Thornton Of the remaining nine children, six of them married other Lewises. Jane had 4 siblings: Lucinda McFarlane and 3 other siblings. Edward J. Lanham 2/07/05. More than 400 descendants have been documented so far, and about 100 have applications pending. In 1801, Meriwether Lewis left the army due to an invitation to serve as Thomas Jefferson's secretary while Jefferson was in office. [3], Meriwether's father, who served in the Continental Army, died from pneumonia after his horse fell into an icy stream in 1779. When Meriwether Lewis was born on 18 August 1774, in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Virginia, British Colonial America, his father, William Lewis, was 39 and his mother, Lucy Thornton Meriwether, was 22. []http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis Wikipedia article on Meriwether Lewis]. She said that during dinner Lewis stood and paced about the room talking to himself in the way one would speak to a lawyer. It was during this time in the Army that he met William Clark (1770-1838) for the first time. Descendants and relatives lived in Virginia and elsewhere. Whether Lewis committed suicide or was murdered remains a mystery to this day. He kept in touch with his mother and family through long, chatty letters (Anderson, p. 501, Bakeless). We could do the DNA to find out the color of his hair.. William Douglas Meriwether became his legal guardian and his Uncle Nicholas Lewis exercised unofficial oversight (Bakeless). Sitemap; Home Dashboard; Records . $252,000 Last Sold Price. The mission lasted two years, starting in 1804 and ending in 1806. Lewis had reportedly attempted to take his own life several times a few weeks earlier and was known to suffer from what Jefferson called sensible depressions of mind. Clark had also observed his companions melancholy states. In 1792, after the death of his step-father the year before, he traveled to the Broad River community to accompany his mother and his two half-siblings, John and Mary, back to Locust Hill. He was also related to Robert E Lee and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, among others. (There is a question about whether Meriwether did move to Georgia with his family. Generally sharing leadership responsibilities with William Clark, although technically the leader, Lewis led the expedition safely across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific and back, with the loss of just one man, Charles Floyd, who died of apparent appendicitis. The Web site, www.SolvetheMystery.org , explains the Lewis family's more than decade-long quest to gain federal permission for the exhumation as well as a Christian reburial. When theres so much uncertainty and doubt, we must have more evidence. The Charlottesville City Council convened on Wednesday to continue discussing plans for relocating the Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea statue.. 111 on September 16, 1808. On October 7, 2009, about 2,500 people (Park Service estimate) from more than twenty-five states met at Lewis' grave on the 200th anniversary of his death. Reenactors who participated in the official bicentennial marched to Lewis' grave in period uniform accompanied by drum and fife. Born Meriwether LEWIS American explorer, soldier, and 2nd Governor of Louisiana Territory Born on August 18, 1774 in Ivy, Colony Of Virginia, USA , United States Died on October 11, 1809 in Hohenwald, Tennessee, USA Born on August 18 64 Deceased on October 11 39 Explorer - 19th century 31 Family tree Report an error Lewis John 1669 - 1725 Warner He moved with his family to Georgia when he was ten. [10] He also faced financial issues after a personal outlay for a trip that the War Department refused to reimburse. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations. The US Navy Polaris nuclear submarine USS Lewis and Clark was named for him and William Clark. He came back and he just could not readjust. A year and a half after the shooting, ornithologist Alexander Wilson, a friend of Lewiss, interviewed Mrs. Grinder, becoming one of the first among many people who have investigated the case. In 1803 Congress appropriated funds for the Expedition, and Lewis was commissioned as its leader. She later said she saw a wounded Lewis crawling around, begging for water, but was too afraid to help him. Despite warnings that they would all be drowned, the men of the Lewis and Clark expedition paddled toward the ferocious rapids. Lewis departed St. Louis for the Louisiana Purchasevia the Ohio River in the summer of 1803, gathering supplies, equipment, and personnel along the way. He died in 1862, leaving the home to his children Charles and Mary Anderson. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. In October of 1809, while en route to Washington, D.C., Lewis died of violence at a wayside inn called Grinder's Stand outside Nashville, Tennessee. She returned to Albemarle for good, and Locust Hill became her property after Meriwether's mysterious death in 1809. In 1807, Jefferson appointed him governor of the Louisiana Territory; he settled in St. Louis. It has absolutely rekindled interest in family history, said Carol Bronson, executive director of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation in Great Falls, Mont. Mrs. Grinder's testimony is held as a point of contention from both sides of the murder-suicide debate. Upon the Corps successful return, Jefferson appointed Lewis governor of the Louisiana Territory and granted him a reward of 1500 acres. Virginia gentleman: Born in 1774, in Albemarle County, Virginia, Meriwether Lewis was the first child of Lucy Meriwether and William Lewis. On September 3, 1809, Lewis set out for Washington D.C. to answer complaints about his actions as governor. Lewis and Clark did follow through with this promise. HOHENWALD, Tenn.Meriwether Lewis conquered rivers, mountains and bears leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition across 8,000 miles of wilderness from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back. Meriwether Lewis never married and never had any children. I fear the weight of his mind has overcome him, he wrote after receiving word of Lewiss fate. Lewis died and was buried near the Grinder's Stand roadhouse (modern Hoenwald, Lewis Co., TN) on the Natchez Trace, October 11, 1809. (Thornton was the daughter of Francis Thornton and Mary Taliaferro). Clark was more pragmatic and practical. 111 on September 16, 1808. Lewis was a Freemason, initiated, passed and raised in Door To Virtue Lodge No. This project came to be known as the Lewis and Clark Descendants Project. The National Park Service, which controls the land where Lewis is buried, repeatedly has stalled the Lewis family's efforts to exhume the remains for scientific examination and to provide a proper Christian reburial. They had nine children. Not so, says Sandra Hargrove, a member of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Descendant Certificate Project. He commissioned this the Corps of Discovery Expedition . He moved with his mother and stepfather Captain John Marks to Georgia in May of 1780. Ministers . Meriwether Lewis was a famous explorer who became famous as the co-leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-06, which explored the territory of the Louisiana Purchase after the United States acquired it from France in 1803, as well as the Pacific Northwest..