James Lewis, Jr. and Clora ? of New Hanover County

James Lewis, Jr. of New Hanover County
James Lewis, Jr. was born in what is now Brunswick County on August 22, 1756 - at the time, it was still part of Bladen County. James Lewis, Jr. and his father James Lewis, Sr. enlisted in the newly formed NC Militia in early 1776, which was formed in Bladen County, North Carolina. He served under Capt. James Shipman and Lt. James Morehead - he joined immediately after the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. At the end of this service, he and his father moved to Britton's Neck in what is today Marion County, SC, where they remained until after the Fall of Charleston in May of 1780. While there, in 1779, he joined with Capt. Joseph Graves, under Maj. John Ervin and Col. Hugh Giles in the Lower Craven County Regiment of SC Militia. He was stationed at Sewee Bay, east of Charleston, for three months. He volunteered again under the same officers and they marched from Britton's Neck towards Augusta, GA, and on their way they were ordered to take some British prisoners back to Charleston. He remained in the vicinity of Charleston for six months and was then discharged. After the Fall of Charleston (May 12, 1780), he returned with his father back to Bladen County (what is now Brunswick County). In July 1780, he volunteered under Capt. Daniel Shipman in the Bladen County Regiment of NC Militia. His lieutenant was William Bryan. These were under Maj. James Richardson and Col. Thomas Brown. He served two tours with this captain. He also assisted in driving cattle from one location to another along the Cape Fear River. His revolutionary war pension statement* can be found online at: http://southerncampaign.org/pen/s8841.pdf. Although born and raised in Brunswick County, James Lewis, Jr. visited kinfolk in the Black River area, where his father had grown up, and decided after the Revolutionary War to settle in the Black River area. Around 1790, he married a lady named Clora (last name unknown) and had two children, Catherine and Simon. James Jr. increased his land holdings and eventually became a wealthy man. When Catherine married, he gave her a sizeable tract of land as a wedding gift. James Jr. gave the balance of his holdings to his son, Simon, with lifetime rights for himself. His wife Clora had apparently already passed away, so he lived his last years quietly at his home. He died on January 24, 1845 and was buried in the family graveyard.
Catherine Lewis was born around 1800 in New Hanover County at the time, Pender County now. Around 1818 she married John Herring III and they had four sons and one daughter - Joshua, John, Simon, Benjamin, and Susannah. The author has no further information on this family.
Simon Lewis was born on January 13, 1795 in New Hanover County at the time, Pender County now. He lived and worked with his father until he was grown. On November 22, 1829, Simon married Margaret Ann Corbitt, when he was 34 years old. Over the years, Simon's land holdings surpassed what his father had amassed and these holdings developed into a very fine plantation. Simon and Margaret had twelve children. He died on April 8, 1890 at ninety-five years old and was buried in the family cemetary.
The Descendents of Simon Lewis and Margaret Ann Corbitt

*Interestingly, not mentioned in his revolutionary war pension statement, Capt. James Shipman was married to a Lucy Lewis, from another Lewis family in Bladen County. Also identified in his pension statement is an affadavit of Richard M. Lewis, Sr. - the brother of Lucy Lewis and brother-in-law of Capt. James Shipman. Finally, on August 13, 1833, James Shipman gave a deposition to Aaron Lewis, Jr., a Justice of the Peace for Bladen County, NC - he is the son of Aaron Lewis, the brother of Lucy Lewis and Richard M. Lewis, Sr. - again, the brother-in-law of Capt. James Shipman. The interesting part is - none acknowledge that they are kinfolk - which all information available today proves to be consistent - these two Lewis lines are not connected as far as anyone knows. However... the Author sorta thinks that there is more than meets the eye about these two Lewis lines that seem to follow each other around. There is very likely a connection, it's just that it hasn't been pieced together as yet - at least not by this Author.