The Lewis family Bible. Yep, that’s a bullet hole. My cousin Marc Louis Salerno has it; it was given to him by his grandmother, ‘Peggy,’ Margaret Jessie Shields Ellsworth, who got it from her mother, Mary Ann Lewis Shields, youngest child of Robert and Mary McCloskey Lewis.
It was published in 1867 and has an interesting hole in the cover—a hole that penetrates deep into the Old Testament. Family story has it that Robert wore it in combat, tucked in his jacket and over his heart, and that it saved his life during the Civil War. Obviously, there’s an error here, as the War was over before this Bible was printed. However, in the family history, meticulously kept by first Mary McCloskey and then Peggy Shields, it notes that Patrick McCloskey, Mary’s brother and Robert’s fellow member of 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, was killed at Cedar Mountain in 1868.
After the Civil War, the Grand Army of the Republic was largely mustered out. Robert and Patrick were mustered out in September of 1865. However, it appears likely that Patrick, and, given the Bible, the story, and his service in Persia and the Civil War, Robert re-enlisted in the Army and went west in the wars against Native Americans. Cedar Mountain was in fact the site of a battle between Federal Troops and the Northern Paiute bands, including the Shoshoni who were called the Snakes by the whites, in 1868. I will be investigating this possibility asap—but Robert M. Lewis may have seen more of the world—Ireland, England, Afghanistan, India, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina, and the West Coast of America—than most humans who have ever lived. He had an amazing life, but how much did he love war and killing? It’s an important question, and my grandfather, Robert’s grandson, called him a mercenary and didn’t want to display his portrait or his tools of war, his musket and sword, in the family home. Was he simply a professional soldier, good at his craft? Or something more sinister?
The Bible lists all of Robert and Mary’s children, including several who died in infancy or childhood:
Mary Ellen (1869-76) This must have been a terrible loss; their first child and at age seven.
Joseph (10.21.1870-2.23.1929) The oldest surving sibling. The Bible notes that he “died at work in Hartford,” but not if he got married or had children.
William Robert (9.11.73-1.8.17) “found dead in bed”— In addition to being buried with them, William is listed as living with Robert and Mary in the 1880 Census, and with his parents and brother John Patrick in John Patrick’s household in the 1900 Census. It might be possible that he had Down’s Syndrome or a form of autism. On further thought, given when he lived, perhaps William had contracted polio, TB, or suffered with lingering effects from measles, rubella, or other diseases now commonly vaccinated against.
Margaret Ann (4.18.75-2.14.76) She lived only 9 months.
George (2.10.1877-10.6.1965) Longest lived of the siblings. In 1902, George married Renie DeMore who died in 1960. Bible does not mention their children.
John Patrick (1.22.1879-6.20.1960) Married Alma Dessureau. They had one son, John Joseph Lewis. He married Martha Emma Susana Abrahamson, and they had three children and seven grandchildren.
Susan Katie (7.3.1881-3.9.1967) She married Carl Nelson. They had a daughter, Hazel Nelson. She was the last of Robert and Mary’s children to pass.
Clara Mariah (12.3.1883-9.5.1884). Like Margaret Ann, lived only nine months.
Mary Ann (11.20.1884-1.1967). She married Michael Charles Shields. They had two children, Lewis ‘Jack’ Shields and Margaret Jessie ‘Peggy’ Shields, who married Howard Strong Ellsworth.
Going back two generations, the Bible lists Robert’s siblings as Margaret Ann Lewis who married Richard McGibon (they lived in Glasgow, Scotland where he was a ship-builder), John Lewis, William Lewis who died in Belfast in 1870, and Ellen M. Lewis.
Robert’s father was Hugh Lewis who married Mary Ellen Maynor; her parents were John and Margaret Cunningham Maynor. Hugh’s brother was named Robert and their sister was named Mary Jane. Hugh’s family appears to have lived in the village of Ballysculty, Killead Parish, County Antrim in Ulster, Northern Ireland. Hugh’s parents, John and Ellen McKeag Lewis, were married in 1785 in Killead. A trip to Ballysculty is clearly required during my lifetime.
