Page 44 - Family cookbook v30_Neat

38

Ann Alexander Lewis and Thomas Davison

Great Grandparents of Robert Herndon Davison

Ann Alexander the daughter of Nancy Ann Alexander and Fielding Lewis Jr. was born in 1787. She was the
granddaughter of George Washington’s sister Betty. Ann’s mother died when she was only 2‐years‐old, and

because her father had financial difficulties, Ann was sent to be raised by her grandmother. When she was
about 10 years old, Grandmother Betty had a plan for Ann’s education. She decided to take Ann to live with

her daughter, Betty Lewis Carter at Western View Plantation. There she would be able to join with the Carter
children to be educated by their resident tutor. While there, Grandmother Betty, who had been in declining

health died of respiratory problems. Betty’s son, George Lewis wrote a letter to Fielding Lewis Jr. to let him
know of his mother’s death. In this letter, he included a paragraph to reassure him about his daughter’s

circumstances.

“You will, no doubt be anxious to know what is to be done with poor little Nancy. [Ann] She is in
good health, and at present with Sister Carter, where it was intended by mother, had she not

have died, to have left her for some time for the advantage of her education, Mr. Carter having
a teacher in his family, and I have not a doubt but she will receive all the care and attention that

she has all along experienced from the dearest and best of women”

It is presumed that Ann did remain with the Carter family for a while, even though Alexander E. Spotswood Jr.
was appointed as her guardian. Alexander (a second cousin) was the husband of her eldest sister, Elizabeth.

They were married the same year that Ann was born.

The next record we find for Ann was from 1804. Ann was engaged to be married but, in the end, decided that
it was not in her best interests. In a letter from Ann’s uncle, Robert Lewis to his brother Lawrence Lewis, he

says that “Nancy” has broken her engagement to Mr. Roy:

“Nancy Lewis has left her sweetheart I understand—After Spotswood had been foolish enough
to make an expensive preparation for a wedding. Mr. Roy made his appearances, pretended to

be astonished at it & observed he never had been earnest—He has shewn completely the cloven

foot…”

Mr. Roy’s loss is Thomas Davison’s gain. By 1808, Ann and the Spotswood's had relocated to Barren County,
Kentucky and she was preparing to marry Thomas Davison. A prenuptial marriage contract was prepared, with