The “Aunt & Uncle” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography is of Catherine David Lewis(1688-1747) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:
Catherine David Lewis: A Colonial Life (1688-1747)
Early Life and Family Origins
Catherine David was born on October 18, 1688, in Merion Hills, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, during the early colonial period when Pennsylvania was still known as British America. She came from a Welsh Quaker family that had emigrated to the New World seeking religious freedom and new opportunities.
Her father, Morgan David (1622-1694), originally hailed from Lantwidroyde, Glamorgan, Wales, and likely arrived in America around 1686, possibly aboard the ship Vine. He settled in Merion Township, Pennsylvania, where he established his family among the Welsh Quaker community. Morgan died when Catherine was only six years old, passing away in December 1694.
Catherine's mother, Catherine Howell (1660-1741), was a remarkable woman who lived a long life by colonial standards, reaching the age of 81. After Morgan's death, Catherine Howell married twice more—first to Evan Harry in November 1697, and later to Thomas Thomas after 1723. She outlived all three husbands and died on May 25, 1741, in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware.
Catherine had several siblings, including her sister Elizabeth David Morris (born 1691) and her brother David David (1694-1759). She would remain close to her brothers throughout her life, particularly David and John, with whom she would later make an important journey.
Growing Up in Quaker Pennsylvania
Catherine spent her formative years in Merion Township, a Welsh Quaker settlement established in the 1680s as part of William Penn's "Holy Experiment." Her birth was carefully recorded in the Quaker meeting records, noting she was "ye Daughter of Morgan David and Catharin his Second Wife" born on "ye Eighteenth of ye Eighth Second month"—reflecting the Quaker practice of using numbers rather than traditional month names to avoid pagan associations.
Life in colonial Pennsylvania during the late 1600s and early 1700s was challenging but filled with opportunity. The Welsh Quakers formed tight-knit communities, supporting one another through the difficulties of frontier life. Catherine would have grown up learning the values of simplicity, honesty, and community service that were central to Quaker beliefs.
The Move to Delaware (1716)
Around 1716, when Catherine was about 28 years old, she made a significant life change. Together with her brothers David and John, she migrated from Merion Township, Pennsylvania, to Pencader Hundred in New Castle County, Delaware. This move reflected the pattern of colonial expansion as families sought new land and opportunities beyond the original Pennsylvania settlements.
The journey from Pennsylvania to Delaware, though not tremendously far by today's standards, would have been a considerable undertaking in the early 18th century. The siblings were establishing themselves in a new community, building new homes, and creating new connections while maintaining their Quaker faith and Welsh heritage.
Marriage and Married Life
Shortly after settling in Delaware, Catherine married Griffith Lewis (died 1731), a weaver by trade who lived in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County. Griffith's profession as a weaver was respectable and necessary work in colonial society, as textiles were essential for clothing, bedding, and household goods.
Their marriage, which likely took place around 1716 or 1717, appears to have been childless. This wasn't uncommon in colonial America, where couples sometimes struggled with infertility or infant mortality. Despite having no children, Catherine and Griffith built a life together in their Delaware community for approximately fourteen years.
Widowhood and Later Years
Catherine's life took another turn when Griffith became ill in late 1730. He wrote his will on December 31, 1730, naming his wife Catherine and a nephew, Philip Thom. The absence of any children mentioned in his will confirms the couple remained childless. Griffith died in early January 1731, and his will was probated on January 15, 1731.
At age 42, Catherine found herself a widow in colonial Delaware. She would live another sixteen years as a widow, managing her own affairs and property—a challenging position for a woman in the 18th century, though Quaker communities generally provided better support for widows than many other colonial societies.
Final Years and Legacy
By November 1746, Catherine had become "very sick and weak in body," though she remained "of perfect mind and memory." On November 8, 1746, at age 58, she summoned witnesses to record her last will and testament. Her will provides fascinating insight into her life and values.
Catherine left bequests to religious figures, including the Reverend Owen Thomas the sum of ten pounds & likewise give and bequeath to the Rev'd David Davice thr sum of two pounds, reflecting her continued connection to her faith community. She also remembered Philip Thomas with five shillings and made arrangements for the children of Philip and Sarah Thomas to inherit her lands and property.
Notably, Catherine named Sarah Thomas as her sole executrix and left the distribution of property to certain of Philip and Sarah's children at Sarah's discretion—a remarkable show of trust in another woman during an era when men typically handled such matters.
Catherine died before April 1, 1747, in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. Her will was probated on April 1, 1747, with Jonathan Evans and John Lewis providing sworn testimony that they had witnessed her sign the document. Interestingly, Sarah Thomas renounced her role as executrix, and letters of administration were granted to John Lewis instead.
Historical Context
Catherine's life spanned a fascinating period in American colonial history. She was born just seven years after William Penn founded Pennsylvania, lived through the reigns of multiple British monarchs, and witnessed the steady growth of colonial settlements. The Quaker communities in which she lived were known for their industriousness, their relatively progressive treatment of women, and their peaceful relations with Native Americans.
As a woman in colonial America, Catherine had fewer legal rights than men, yet her ability to own property as a widow, write her own will, and choose how to distribute her estate shows the somewhat better position Quaker women held compared to women in other colonial communities.
Though Catherine left no children to carry on her name, her life represents thousands of colonial women who helped build America's early communities through their daily work, their faith, and their resilience in the face of frontier hardships.
Catherine David Lewis lived through nearly six decades of colonial American history, from the establishment of Pennsylvania's Quaker settlements to the mid-18th century. Her life, carefully documented in Quaker meeting records, wills, and probate documents, gives us a window into the experiences of Welsh Quaker women in early America.
Catherine David Lewis is my 6th Great Grand Aunt.
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