Welsh Journals

the bulk of her property to her nephews, Francis Lewis and Hanbury Pettingall, and named the two cousins as executors. But the will was proved at Llandaff on the following 30 May by Hanbury Pettingall alone Francis Lewis was of course already in New York. However, he did return later to this country for a period of two years, and probably took up his inheritance at that time. This particular will is of interest as it shows Anne Lewis once more a legatee of a Pettingall will, although she is now described as a widow. Mary Pettingall left the sum of £ 200 to Charles Griffiths of Llanyravon, Llanfrechfa, and John Cadogan of Newport, the interest on which was to be paid to her sister, Anne Lewis, during her life-time, and afterwards to the two named nephews. From the time of his arrival in New York Francis Lewis had a remarkably eventful career. Over the next twenty years he established successful businesses in New York and Philadelphia, and built up a considerable fortune. His main occupation was in trans- Atlantic trade, and he himself made voyages to North European ports. It was a hazardous occupation and he was ship-wrecked twice. In 1756 the Seven Years War broke out between England and France, and in North America this led to the capture of Quebec in 1759. At the outbreak of the War Francis Lewis was occupied as a clothing contractor to the British troops and, as a friend of the English commander, he was present at the capture of the French fort of Oswego. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards he was captured by Indians supporting the French cause, and he was sent to France where an exchange of prisoners took place. Later he received a grant of land from the colonial government in recognition of his military service. By 1765 Francis Lewis had established himself as a prosperous and influential citizen in New York. In 1745 he had married Elizabeth Annersley, and seven children were born of the marriage although only three survived to adulthood. He now retired to Whitestone, Long Island, where his wife was born c. 1715, although he returned to the city for a time in 1771 to assist his son, Francis, in establishing his business. He even made a journey with his son to England to help him form commercial connections there. It is a matter of surmise whether he visited Newport at this time; the Pettingalls that he knew in his boyhood had all passed on by this date. However Francis Lewis's retirement was soon interrupted. By 1774 New York was a centre of revolutionary agitation, and during the seceding years he was wholly occupied in supporting the cause of independence. He became a delegate to the Provincial Convention dealing with the formation of a government for the state of New York, but increasingly he became active in 'continental' affairs and from May, 1775, to November, 1779, he was a delegate to the Continental Congress.