Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Jane Lewis (1769-?)
MSA SC 3520-16861

Biography:

On May 13, 1778, nine year old Jane Lewis, the daughter of Ann George, was bound to Annapolis, MD cabinetmaker John Shaw as an apprentice seamstress. Only two weeks prior to this record, Shaw's wife, Elizabeth, had given birth to their first child and likely was in charge of Jane, who would have helped the family with household duties. Lewis was to serve until the age of sixteen, and in return Shaw would also teach her to read and write and pay her the sum of six pounds currency at the expiration of her servitude "in lieu of freedom dues."[1] Assuming that Jane Lewis served her entire apprenticeship, she likely helped to sew the Shaw flag ordered by the Maryland State House in lieu of the arrival of Congress in November 1783.

Unfortunately, there is no other known record of Jane Lewis or her mother, Ann George. A search through Maryland birth records has come across an Ann Lewis born on November 28, 1733 in the All Hallows Parish, who was the daughter of Margarett (servant of Thomas Stockett). The register noted that the "child supposed to be a mullatto."[2] At this time, no connection can be made between this birth record and Jane Lewis or her mother.

[1] ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Orphans Court Proceedings), 1777-1779, MSA C125-1, MdHR 9524, p.11.
[2] Church Records, Birth and Baptism Index, 1663-1967, MSA S1401, Index 28, All Hallows Register, 1733, f. 33.

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